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Ring of Honor
METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 4/26: The Addiction captures Tag Titles & reveals new faction with Chris Sabin, plus Four Corner Survival, A.C.H., more; Overall Reax

May 1, 2015 - 10:45:34 PM
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ROH TV Report
April 26, 2015
Taped 4/4 in San Antonio, Tex.
Report by Mike Metzger (@mD0uble), PWTorch contributor


The show opened with a video package featuring The Addiction. Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian said that they came to Ring of Honor to prove that they were truly the best in the business. Kazarian referenced their two unsuccessful bids for the ROH World Tag Team Titles against reDRagon at Best in the World and Field of Honor last year. Daniels considered changing the plan of attack. Kaz concluded the promo by saying that they would put on their coats of honor and slay the dragon tonight.

[M.M. Reax: Effective promo, but this seemed to come out of left field. This is only the second time I remember hearing from The Addiction since their debut last year. One of the big issues with ROH TV is its gaps in storytelling. The Addiction last appeared on ROH on March 23 in a forgettable victory against A.C.H. and Matt Sydal, and there has been zero mention of them since. ]

1 -- B.J. WHITMER (w/Adam Page) vs. WILL FERRARA vs. CAPRICE COLEMAN vs. MOOSE (w/Veda Scott and Stokely Hathaway) -- Four Corner Survival match

Ferrara, Coleman, and Moose all shook hands, while Whitmer refused to adhere to the Code of Honor. Whitmer and Moose started the match. Whitmer called for a test of strength, but ended up flapping his arms around rather than locking up with Moose. B.J. then casually walked over and tagged Ferrara. The much smaller Ferrara called for a test of strength from Moose. Moose refused, but Ferrara shoved him down and tried to mount some offense. Ferrrara charged at the big man, but ate a huge dropkick instead.

Moose tagged in Whitmer, who came in and had his way with Ferrara. The crowd chanted “Jimmy Jacobs,” as Kevin Kelly referenced that Jacobs was recently kicked out of The Decade at Supercard of Honor. Whitmer continued to dominate with a huge powerslam and a nearfall, as the show went to its first break at the 3:00 mark.

[Commercial Break]

Not long after returning from break, Ferrara was able to create some separation and tag in Moose. The former NFL star splashed Whitmer twice in the corner, until Coleman ran into the ring and hit Moose with a huracanrana. Ferrara came in, danced with Coleman for a moment, and then splashed onto Whitmer on the outside! Coleman quickly followed up with a springboard moonsault onto Whitmer and Ferrara! Moose then finished the sequence with a huge flip dive onto all three of his opponents!

Moose tossed Whitmer back into the ring and went for a spear, but ate B.J.’s boot instead. Whitmer quickly followed up with an exploder suplex, but Ferrara ran in and broke up his momentum with a sunset flip powerbomb he calls Code Red. Coleman came in and hit a no-hands huracanrana on Ferrara while crotched on the top rope! Coleman flew more than half-way across the ring and hit a leg drop off the top rope! Coleman went for a cover, but Moose broke it up. The big man clotheslined Caprice out of his boots and covered him, but Coleman kicked out!

Moose speared Coleman, but Whitmer had blind-tagged Moose before he took off. Whitmer shoved Moose out of the ring and pinned Coleman for the victory.

WINNER: B.J. Whitmer via pinfall in 9:20.

After the match, Whitmer grabbed the mic and talked trash to Moose. He said that the match was just an example of why he is the best at what he does and Moose is just, well, Moose. Whitmer seemed to be challenging Moose to a match, but then told the “big goofy bastard” that he wouldn’t fight him tonight. Moose got in his face, but the show cut away before anything else happened.

ANALYSIS: Good match with some impressive dives from all three men and some great feats of athleticism from Coleman. Moose continues to be poorly used by ROH. I get it that he is supposed to be a mis-cast heel being led astray by Veda Scott. It has just been so poorly executed, though, and I don’t think a feud with B.J. Whitmer is going to help matters at this point. (**1/2)

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Whitmer and Page were still in the ring. They had a set up a chair with an A.C.H. shirt draped over it. Page had the mic and demanded answers from A.C.H. He wondered why A.C.H. didn’t show any heart when he wrestled Samoa Joe, A.J. Styles and Alberto El Patron recently. Page said that A.C.H. was just like the people in the crowd because he had no attitude, no charisma, no heart. Page said he wanted nothing more than to erase the three letters A.C.H. from Ring of Honor for good. Page grabbed the shirt and pulled out a lighter. Before he could incinerate it, A.C.H.’s music played.

A.C.H. ran out and sent both Page and Whitmer to the outside. A.C.H. grabbed the microphone and said that the Decade might slow him down, but they’ll never slow his plans up (sic?). A.C.H. insulted Page and cut an impassioned speech where he stood on the chair and said he had attitude, charisma and heart! Corino yelled, “I love this kid!” Page ran into the ring and an impromptu match began!

2 -- ADAM PAGE (w/B.J. Whitmer) vs. A.C.H.

Both men immediately traded blows, until A.C.H. dropkicked Page to the floor. However, Whitmer distracted A.C.H., which allowed Page to flip over the ropes and deliver a stiff lariat to A.C.H. Page made the cover, but only got two. Page went for his reverse piledriver finisher, but A.C.H. fought out and kicked Page on the top turnbuckle from the apron. A.C.H. climbed up top for a 450 splash, but Whitmer got on the apron. The brief distraction allowed Page to hit his finisher for the pin.

WINNER: Adam Page via pinfall in 1:55.

After the match, Page and Whitmer stomped on A.C.H. Matt Sydal ran to the ring and made the save.

ANALYSIS: Good for what it was. It was fun to watch A.C.H. battle against major special attractions, but I think it will be better for him in the long run to develop his character in a long-term program, even if it is against The Decade. (*1/4)

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, clips aired of Michael Elgin challenging War Machine to a handicap match three weeks ago on ROH TV. The match ended in a DQ when Elgin used a chair. War Machine demanded that Elgin find a partner. The show shifted to a backstage promo from Elgin. The former ROH champ said that looking for tag partners didn’t lead to the ROH World Title, but he had “friends in high places.“ He announced that his friends were the Killer Elite Squad. He didn’t actually mention who they were, but ardent fans should know the Killer Elite Squad is the team of Davey Boy Smith, Jr. and Lance Archer and they are the current NWA World Tag Team Champions.

3 -- ROH Tag champions REDRAGON (KYLE O'REILLY & BOBBY FISH) vs. THE ADDICTION (CHRISTOPHER DANIELS & KAZARIAN) -- ROH Tag Title match

Before the match, Steve Corino speculated that this could be The Addiction’s last match if they didn’t win the titles. Both teams got a good reaction (and plenty of streamers) from the San Antonio crowd. They all adhered to the Code of Honor. Daniels and O’Reilly started the match. They felt each other out for the first 30 seconds and then wrestled on the mat for another minute. O’Reilly locked on an early cross arm-breaker, but Daniels quickly got to the ropes. Fish tagged in and continued to control the match. Daniels was able to back Fish into his corner and tag in Kazarian. They hit a nice double-team that ended with Kaz delivering a double foot-stomp to Fish.

Kazarian stayed in control for about 30 seconds, until O’Reilly locked on an armbar from the ring apron! The distraction allowed Fish to tag O’Reilly officially into the match. O’Reilly worked the arm and quickly tagged Fish back in. Bobby hit a springboard senton and covered Kaz for two. O’Reilly came in and continued to double-team Kaz. He eventually fought back with a nice move in which he tucked his head underneath Fish’s leg and then dropped him backward. This allowed Kaz to tag Daniels at the 5:30 mark!

Daniels was a house of fire and hit a Saito suplex on Fish. The champs tried to double-team again, but this time Daniels remained in control and caught both of his opponents in a nice DDT/STO combo! Daniels followed up with a Blue Thunder Bomb on Fish, but Bobby kicked out at two! Daniels positioned Fish on the top turnbuckle and hit a modified Michinoku Driver. Daniels immediately went for a Koji Clutch, but O’Reilly ran in and broke it up, as the match went to a commercial at the 6:55 point in the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 8:55, the challengers were still in control. Kaz applied a chinlock on Fish, but he eventually fought his way out. Kaz went for a cover, but Fish rolled out of it. Kaz stayed with it, though, and applied a hold. This brought in O’Reilly who applied a cross arm-breaker. Daniels then ran in and hit a springboard moonsault on O’Reilly to break it up! Fish and Kaz went back and forth for a moment, until Fish slammed Kaz. Both men made hot tags!

O’Reilly came in and exploded into several strikes on Daniels. A miscommunication between Daniels and Kaz allowed O’Reilly to apply a another cross arm-breaker! Kaz tried to break it up by stomping orally, but O’Reilly wouldn’t let go of the hold! O’Reilly then grabbed Kaz and locked him into a submission hold as well! Awesome spot!

All four men brawled in the ring, but reDRagon ultimately remained in control. Daniels did fight back however, as he hit the champs with a double clothesline. The champs fought right back with a nice double-team DDT, immediately followed by a German suplex in which O’Reilly kicked Daniels in the head to initiate! O’Reilly went for the cover, but Daniels kicked out at two! Fish called for Chasing the Dragon, but Daniels wriggled free. Kaz came in, which allowed Daniels to hit his holding hand foot stomp to O’Reilly’s chest and then immediately ran toward Fish and hit an STO! Kaz hit a springboard Ace Crusher on O’Reilly, but he kicked out at two!

The challengers hit their powerbomb/neckbreaker combo on O’Reilly, but Fish ran in and made the save. Fish tried to fight back, but Kaz hit a springboard DDT. O'Reilly came in and hit his Axe and Smash combo on Kazarian. The champs channeled “Ravishing" Rick Rude with some hip gyrations, but Daniels ran in knocked them down with a stiff double clothesline. Another awesome sequence.

Fish and Kazarian squared off. Fish nailed a t-bone suplex that sent Kaz to the outside. Daniels and Fish then jockeyed for position, but Fish avoided the situation completely and flip dove onto Kaz on the outside instead! A member of the Knights of the Red Dawn (KRD) was shown in the front row. Back in the ring, Daniels hit an STO and then a Best Moonsault Ever! The KRD member entered the ring and superkicked O’Reilly square in the jaw! Kaz effortlessly threw the masked man out of the ring and then the challengers hit their Celebrity Rehab finisher to score the victory!

WINNERS: The Addiction via pinfall in 16:45 to capture the ROH Tag Titles.

The Addiction celebrated after the match. Fish grabbed the KRD member on the outside and threw him back into the ring. Steve Corino wondered if all four men would gang up on the one KRD member. Fish removed the mask to reveal... Chris Sabin! The crowd was in shock. Both teams stared Sabin down, but all of a sudden, the new champions struck O’Reilly and Fish from behind with the title belts.

O’Reilly’s bloody face was censored, as the former champions writhed in pain on the mat. Daniels, Kazarian, and Sabin all held up red masks and mockingly lifted them in the air. The Knights of the Rising Dawn were revealed.

The former champions retreated to the outside. Fish held up his bloodied partner and walked over to the commentary desk. Fish was irate, having been champion for 700 days, yet “that” was how it ended. The camera panned to the red mask laying prone on the mat, as the show faded to black.

ANALYSIS: Absolute must-see match and closing angle for any wrestling fan. One could argue that reDRagon carried the Addiction to their best match in ROH to date, but Daniels and Kaz held up their end with some creative spots and solid athleticism throughout. The post-match angle wasn’t quite Rock winning the title and joining the Corporation at Survivor Series 1998, but a satisfying payoff to a mystery man storyline. (****)

Next Week: Jay Lethal defends the TV strap against Tommaso Ciampa, in what seems like a dated title defense following Ciampa’s departure from the company.

FINAL REAX: ROH may not seem like a priority in today’s over-saturated pro wrestling landscape, but this is the episode to watch if you are pressed for time and want a pulse on what’s happening in Ring of Honor right now. The undercard is developing quite nicely, while there are promising up-and-comers to watch like A.C.H. and Kyle O’Reilly. Similar to last year, the promotion seems to be hitting their stride ahead of their co-promoted NJPW shows and their Best in the World PPV in June.


We suggest these recent related articles...
METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 9/27 & 9/30: NJPW vs. ROH Series continues - Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Adam Cole, Sydal vs. KUSHIDA, more
METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 9/20 & 9/23: New Japan's top champions Okada & Goto in tag main event, ROH/NJPW announcement, more; Reax to post-PPV episode
METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 9/13 & 9/16: The Kingdom vs. War Machine main event, ReDragon vs. House of Truth, final build-up to "All-Star Extravaganza" PPV, more; Reax
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