ROH TV Report
Aired June 7, 2015 in syndication
To air June 10, 2015 on Dest. America
Taped 5/16 in Toronto, Ont.
Report by Mike Metzger (@md0uble), PWTorch contributor

Backstage: ROH World Tag champions Frankie Kazarian and Christopher Daniels hyped tonight’s main event against reDRagon. Kaz congratulated the former champs on getting a title re-match after complaining and moaning enough about it. Daniels referenced their last match in which he and Kaz turned heel and won the titles. He said that if they were willing to go to those lengths to win the titles, one could only wonder what lengths they would go to in order to retain the ROH World Tag Team Championship tonight.

The ROH TV opening aired.

The camera panned the jam-packed Ted Reeve Arena, as Kevin Kelly hyped tonight’s main event between the Addiction and reDRagon. Kelly quickly mentioned that Bobby Fish had been attacked earlier in the day, as the Addiction made their way to the ring.

Daniels grabbed the mic and announced to the crowd that Fish wasn’t medically cleared to compete. Kelly was outraged on commentary, outright blaming Kaz and Daniels for the injury. Daniels went on to say that they would accept no substitutions for opponents since the contract specifically stated Fish and O’Reilly would be their opponents. Daniels continued by saying that if Fish and O’Reilly couldn’t compete tonight, they would lose their shot and have to re-climb the rankings by facing teams like “The Monkeys” and “The Conquistadors,” which drew a pop from the crowd. All of a sudden, reDRagon’s music played and out came Kyle O’Reilly! O’Reilly took off his shirt in the entranceway and then ran down to the ring

1 - ROH Tag Team champions THE ADDICTION (Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian) vs. KYLE O’REILLY - 2-on-1 handicap ROH Tag Title match

The bell rang and O’Reilly immediately delivered some kicks to Kaz and then chopped Daniels in the corner! A miscue from The Addiction caused the champs to clothesline each other. O’Reilly went for a cross arm-breaker on Kaz, but this gave Daniels and opportunity to capitalize. The champs double-teamed O’Reilly for a bit, until it settled down to just Daniels and O’Reilly in the ring.

Daniels hit O’Reilly with a snapmare and then a stomp. Kaz came in for another double-team, but O’Reilly outsmarted them and rolled up Kaz for two. O’Reilly nailed Daniels with a baseball slide through the ropes, and then proceeded to beat down both Kaz and Daniels on the outside! At one point, he even sat Kaz down on a chair and delivered several kicks. Daniels tried to make the save, but landed in Kaz’s crotch on the chair

This provided the opening for O’Reilly to dive onto both men while sitting on the chair! Back in the ring, O’Reilly isolated Kaz and applied another cross arm-breaker! Kaz writhed in pain, but Daniels quickly ran in and nailed O’Reilly with the title belt to cause a disqualification.

WINNER: Kyle O’Reilly via disqualification in 4:15; Addiction retained the Tag Titles.

After the match, The Addiction hit O’Reilly with their Celebrity Rehab finisher on top of one of the title belts! Before the champs could do more damage, Matt Sydal and A.C.H. ran out to make the save.

ANALYSIS: Good stuff here from O’Reilly while it lasted. He looked believable in taking on both opponents, but didn’t over-do it. This has been one of the best feuds ROH has booked in a long time and I can’t wait for the eventual full-blown re-match at Best in the World in two weeks. As good as the reDRagon-Young Bucks matches have been over the last two years, it is refreshing to see an old-fashioned blood feud over the ROH Tag Titles. (*3/4)

[Commercial Break]

Last Week: The Briscoes defeated the House of Truth’s Donovan Dijak and J. Diesel in tag team action, but Dijak attacked Mark after the match with his Feast Your Eyes finisher on the floor. The show cut to backstage comments from Mark Briscoe, who promised to give Dijak a proper ROH welcome at the Best in the World PPV on June 19.

2 - DALTON CASTLE (w/his “boys”) vs. JUSHIN “THUNDER” LIGER

There were some “Dalton Castle” chants and then a huge ovation as Castle did his elaborate entrance in which he stretches out his ring robe to reveal huge peacock feathers. This ovation was then put to shame by the entrance of Jushin “Thunder” Liger! There were dueling chants as both men adhered to the Code of Honor before the bell. Both men felt each other out to start. Liger quickly applied a surfboard, as Castle’s “boys” looked on at ringside. Liger broke the hold and the match reset.

Castle seized the opportunity and tossed Liger to the outside. Rather than dive onto Liger, Castle flamboyantly posed in the ring. They fought on the outside, where Castle hit a very impressive huracanrana with the assistance of the ring apron! Castle posed with his “boys” as the show went to a commercial at the 2:55 mark.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 5:25, Castle was still in control of the match. Liger regained control in a short amount of time, though, as he tossed Castle to the outside and followed up with a flip dive! Liger then called Castle’s “boys” into the ring and posed with them to the delight of the crowd! An angry Castle re-appeared and demanded his “boys” exit the ring and then nailed Liger with a Greco Roman throw. Castle followed up with three consecutive body splashes, but he couldn’t put Liger away. Castle followed up with a Vader Bomb in the corner, but Liger kicked out again!

Castle applied a chinlock for a few seconds. He charged at Liger in the corner, but the veteran got his boots up! Both wrestlers then clotheslined each other. Liger got up first and nailed Castle with a palm strike! He followed up with a huracanrana from the top, but Castle kicked out at two! Liger went up top for a splash, but Castle got his knees up! Castle then hit an airplane spin in which he flapjacked Liger onto the mat, but Liger kicked out of the pin attempt. Liger fought back with a backbreaker and a Liger Bomb, but Castle kicked out at two! Liger quickly hit a brainbuster to finally put Castle away.

WINNER: Jushin “Thunder” Liger via pinfall in 11:23.

ANALYSIS: Solid action throughout from both guys. Liger was involved in another fun comedy spot with Castle’s “boys.” Still hard to tell if Castle is playing a face or heel, but the ROH crowds sure love his schtick. ROH can definitely use hot up-and-coming acts like Castle and Donovan Dijak with WWE NXT hungry for independent talent. (**1/2)

[Commercial Break]

Backstage: Jushin “Thunder” Liger offered some Japanese words of wisdom to Cheeseburger. Liger and Burger practiced some palm strikes. The show then cut to clips of “Brutal” Bob Evans turning on Cheeseburger several weeks ago on ROH TV.

3 - “BRUTAL” BOB EVANS vs. CHEESEBURGER

Cheeseburger came out to a cheesy-looking logo on the big screen and even worse theme music. He went to pose in a corner. but Evans yanked him down and the bell rang. Cheeseburger fought back with some fists, then hit a baseball slide and Evans rolled to the outside. Cheeseburger chased after him, but Evans responded with a cheap shot. Cheeseburger came right back with a Thesz Press onto Evans on the floor! Cheeseburger then climbed atop the hockey boards and hit a Swanton on Evans!

Back in the ring, Cheeseburger nailed Evans with a palm strike which he learned from Liger earlier! Evans responded with a huge shoulder tackle. He covered Cheeseburger, but yanked him up at two. He dominated Burger for a little, until Cheeseburger fought back with a dropkick! Burger then charged at Evans on the apron, but Bob caught him, yelled “I hate you” at the top of his lungs, and then delivered a sidewalk slam on Cheeseburger through the table! The announcers and the crowd were stunned, as the referee ran over and stopped the match.

WINNER: No contest due to ref stoppage at about 3:00.

ANALYSIS: Fine for what it was. The crowd is into Cheeseburger, but he is just so small that I don’t see him ever growing out of comedy act status. He does fill the role of lovable babyface who can be squashed by new monster heels, so his character does serve a purpose at least. (*1/2)

Backstage: ROH TV champion Jay Lethal hyped next week’s contract signing with his opponent at Best in the World, ROH World champion Jay Briscoe. Truth Martini suggested Briscoe bring his own pen because he would be signing his death warrant.

[Commercial Break]

Inside ROH: Host Mandy Leon previewed the upcoming “Battle of the Belts” match between Jay Briscoe and Jay Lethal at the Best in the World PPV on June 19. The show aired various clips from both TV and live events that chronicled the recent build-up to the match.

[Reax: Mandy Leon’s delivery still needs some work, but this was an excellent recap of the current main event feud between Briscoe and Lethal. One of the critiques brought up on a recent edition Radican’s Wrestling Community Audio has been that the TV show doesn’t always feature storyline developments that happen at live events. The Inside ROH feature is a great vehicle that ties everything together quite nicely.]

[Commercial Break]

Backstage: ROH World Champion Jay Briscoe hyped next week’s contract signing with Jay Lethal, daring Lethal to try something stupid so the whole world can see a free preview of Best in the World.

Ringside: Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino announced that Addiction-reDRagon for the ROH World Tag Team Title has been officially signed for Best in the World!

3 - IWGP Hvt. Tag Team champions THE KINGDOM (Michael Bennett & Matt Taven w/Maria Kanellis) vs. THE BULLET CLUB (Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows) - non-title match

The Kingdom has a new look with sunglasses and leather jackets. The Bullet Club received a huge pop when their music hit. The bell rang very late into the show (at about the 50:00 mark). Anderson immediately chased Maria to the outside and mistakenly fell on top of her when exiting the ring. They recovered well and Anderson proceeded to chase Maria around the ring, playing on the storyline that he can’t control himself when around Maria.

Meanwhilem Taven knocked Gallows to the outside and then delivered a huge dive onto both members of the Bullet Club! Bennett quickly followed up with a flip dive onto his opponents. The Kingdom posed on the outside, as the crowd booed. Taven went for another dive, but Anderson caught him in an Ace Crusher in mid-air! Gallows dropped Bennett face-first on the ring apron, as the show went to break at the 1:55 mark.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 2:55, Anderson and Gallows were double-teaming Bennett in the ring. Anderson followed up with a front kick on Bennett while Gallows held him in place. Anderson and Gallows continued to double-team Bennett. They hit a back suplex/neckbreaker combo, but Taven reappeared with a big splash out of nowhere! The Kingdom went into double-team mode and nailed both opponents with double dropkicks! They isolated Anderson, but he fought back with some fists. He went for another Ace Crusher, but ate a superkick from Taven and then a spear from Bennett! Bennett went for the cover, but Anderson kicked out at two!

Taven nailed an Asai Moonsault on Gallows on the outside, while Anderson regained control in the ring. Anderson shoved NJPW referee “Red Shoes” to the mat. Bennett regained control, but shoved the ref down himself before he unloaded on Anderson in the corner. Anderson reversed the momentum and shoved the ref down yet again. The bell finally rang with no winner announced.

WINNERS: No contest at 6:08.

After the match, Gallows introduced a couple of chairs in the ring. They positioned Bennett for their Magic Killer finisher on the chairs, but Maria got up on the apron to cause a distraction. Gallows grabbed her and it looked like Anderson and Gallows were about to hit their finisher on her, but Bennett broke it up. He received an Ace Crusher on a chair for his troubles. Taven tried to make the save from the top rope, but was caught by Gallows and then received their finisher on the chairs. The Bullet Club posed for the crowd, as the show faded to black.

ANALYSIS: I guess ROH and New Japan really didn’t want anyone going over here. It seemed to make sense to have a no contest here because there will be a six-man tag match at Best in the World between The Kingdom and Bullet Club. But upon further review, The Young Bucks and A.J. Styles will be representing the Bullet Club at the PPV, not Anderson and Gallows. Close enough, I guess. (*3/4)

FINAL REAX: Storyline-heavy episode, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing considering Best in the World is next Friday already. Similar to last year’s Best in the World PPV, the build for the 2015 show is mostly centered around the main event. ROH has come a long way since then in its TV production values and continuity.

This week’s episode was much different from last week’s inaugural episode on Destination America, with several non-finishes. Perhaps ROH is trying to play to the TNA fanbase, although it doesn’t seem like ROH knew these episodes would air on Destination America when they were taped. While this week’s episode certainly wasn’t “TNA bad” as far as non-finishes are concerned, new viewers on Destination America have yet to see a stand-out match from Ring of Honor, a promotion that touts its in-ring product above all else.

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