ROH TV Report
Aired September 20, 2015 in syndication
To air September 23, 2015 on Dest. America
Taped 8/21 in Philadelphia, Pa.
Report by Mike Metzger (@md0uble), PWTorch contributor

The ROH "Creating Excellence" signature aired, followed by the ROH TV opening.

1 -- SILAS YOUNG vs. MICHAEL ELGIN

Kevin Kelly said that "the fall-out from All Star Extravaganza was being felt," although he did not go into specifics as Silas threw streamers back at the fans. Kelly also hyped Elgin by saying he "shocked the world" by performing so well in NJPW's G1 Climax Tournament. Corino seconded that sentiment and even went on to say that the "fans have really, really accepted 'Big Mike' again." We'll see about that. Both men shook hands and the bell rang. Both men spent the first minute feeling each other out, while the announcers continued to talk about Elgin's renewed confidence.

Elgin took control with a big shoulder tackle and then a press slam. Elgin then hoisted up Silas for a count of 33 before suplexing him to the mat! The fans chanted "Big Mike," but Silas kicked Elgin in the knee and DDT'ed him on the apron. Silas followed up with a springboard double-foot stomp and then taunted the crowd, as the show went to its first break at the 2:45 point in the match.

[Commercial Break]

(During the break, a new commercial aired hyping some of the DVD and VOD selections available on ROHWrestling.com. I thought this spot was well done, as it highlighted some of the specific events that took place during the summer with compelling reasons to order each show.)

Back at 5:20, Silas hit a bulldog and scored a nearfall on Elgin. The announcers said that he had dominated throughout the break. Elgin tried to splash Silas in the corner, but missed. They jockeyed for position until Silas delivered a backbreaker to Elgin, which was good for another two count. Silas went for a clothesline, but Elgin ducked and hit a German suplex. Elgin followed up with a running forearm to Silas in the corner. He continued to pummel his opponent and then nailed a version of the Black Hole Slam. He covered Silas, but Young kicked out at two.

Reset at 7:55 as both men traded blows in the center. Elgin came out on top with some stiff shots and then an enziguiri. Silas fought back with a kick to the head. Silas then hit the Pee Gee Waja Plunge, but it was not enough to put Elgin away. Silas was shocked, while the fans cheered on Elgin. "Big Mike" hit another enziguiri and then a big boot. Silas momentarily stopped another kick, but Elgin came right back with a big lariat! Elgin then hit a deadlift Falcon Arrow off the top rope, but somehow Silas kicked out at two!

Elgin was now in shock, as the fans chanted "Big Mike" some more. Elgin went for an Elgin Bomb, but Silas reversed into a jackknife cover for two. Silas then hit his Misery pop-up cutter, but Elgin wisely rolled out of the ring. Silas followed and ripped up the padding. He went for a suplex, but Elgin reversed into a running powerbomb into the hockey boards on the outside! Elgin quickly rolled Young back into the ring and hit an Elgin Bomb for the victory!

WINNER: Michael Elgin via pinfall in 11:32.

After the match, Elgin extended his hand for the Code of Honor, but Silas simply walked away.

ANALYSIS: Above-average match between these two. The rehab of Elgin is underway and it seems to be working so far, which is no small feat in front of the Philadelphia crowd. (***)

Backstage: Adam Cole cut a promo on Shinsuke Nakamura, his opponent next week on ROH TV. Cole called it a "dream match" because they were two of the best wrestlers in the world. Cole said that he won the ROH World Title in Philly, he returned to action in Philly and he would beat Nakamura there next week.

[Commercial Break]

Clips aired from a few weeks ago on ROH TV when Prince Nana handed a stuffed envelope to Caprice Coleman. The announcers wondered what was inside.

2 -- CAPRICE COLEMAN vs. A.C.H.

Both men shook hands before the bell. The announcers talked up how Coleman was known as a mentor in the locker room, as Coleman and A.C.H. chain wrestled in the ring. Coleman came out on top of the stalemate with a dropkick. He hit some chops, but A.C.H. kicked him out of the ring. A.C.H. went for his patented running kick on the apron, but Coleman blocked it. Back in the ring, Coleman hit a big legdrop, as the announcers wondered if Coleman had grown frustrated after Cedric Alexander turned his back on him. A.C.H. hit a dropkick that sent Coleman in the outside. This set up Caprice for A.C.H.'s running kick from the apron, which he hit successfully that time!

A.C.H. followed Coleman to the outside and delivered some chops. He followed up by tossing Coleman into the hockey boards. A.C.H. rolled Caprice back in and covered him, but Coleman kicked out at two. A.C.H. went for a suplex, but Coleman wriggled free. A.C.H. tried to come back with his "Get Over Here" move off the ropes, but Coleman sloppily caught him and then slammed him to the mat! After another nearfall, Coleman hit three consecutive Northern Lights suplexes, a sequence he calls "Trinity." A.C.H. kicked out of another pin attempt, however.

Both men jockeyed for position. Coleman hit a one-inch punch to A.C.H.'s throat. It seemed to have no effect on A.C.H., as he came right back with a chop that knocked Coleman off his feet. A.C.H. went to capitalize, but the delayed reaction from the one-inch punch finally hit him.This allowed Coleman to hit the Sky Splitter from the top rope, but A.C.H. again kicked out at two! Coleman followed up with a jumping super huracanrana, but A.C.H. somehow landed on his feet and then hit a big superkick! A.C.H. followed up with a huge Michinoku Driver and then the 450 Splash for the win.

WINNER: A.C.H. via pinfall in 6:50.

After the match, Steve Corino was so intrigued about Prince Nana's envelope that he decided to walk over and interview Coleman after the match. Coleman said that there was money and a letter inside the envelope. Coleman said he took the money and then read the letter over and over. Coleman simply said, "I get it. None of you are right, I get it," before walking away.

ANALYSIS: Good match between these two, although it felt bland with two babyfaces in there. I know ROH is trying to paint Coleman as conflicted and the announcers did a great job of putting that over. But, I think the face vs. face dynamic took away from the match overall. As much as I liked the throwback post-match interview, I'm not so sure we need yet another heel turn in the mid-card. (**1/2)

[Commercial Break]

Inside ROH: Mandy Leon introduced the segment and then threw to clips of ROH and NJPW officials announcing an increased partnership between the two companies in 2016. NJPW referee Tiger Hattori said that the Japanese fans wanted to see more of ROH. Ring of Honor COO Joe Koff then announced a full Ring of Honor event would take place in Japan in February, including perhaps the first-ever defense of the ROH World Title there. Koff also announced that New Japan stars will appear at ROH's 14th Anniversary event next February in Las Vegas and also announced that the annual May co-promoted tour will be expanded to add new cities.

Mandy, who was wearing a NJPW t-shirt, then announced that Matt Sydal will be facing KUSHIDA in addition to Adam Cole-Shinsuke Nakamura on next week's edition of ROH TV. Ring of Honor "Executive Consultant" Delirious then wandered onto the set and did his usual schtick of grunting out words at a frenzied pace. I think I heard the word February in there. Mandy was cracking up on-camera as she signed off.

[Reax: Great news for ROH, although it seems like this is the only newsworthy event to come out of ROH in the past few months. The NJPW partnership has really helped ROH over the past couple years, but there seem to be diminishing returns. On paper, it appears that ROH has one of the most packed rosters in history with all of the special attractions that pass through the company. The unfortunate reality is that what they can actually do with these stars is severely limited due to their conflicting schedules and need to be kept strong against the ROH regulars.]

[Commercial Break]

3 -- ROPPONGI VICE (ROCKY ROMERO & TRENT BARETTA) & IWGP Hvt. champion KAZUCHIKA OKADA vs. IWGP Intercontinental champion HIROOKI GOTO & THE BROCOES (JAY & MARK BRISCOE) - six-man tag match

Goto refused to shake hands before the bell, but the rest of the wrestlers adhered to the Code of Honor. Jay Briscoe and Romero were ready to start the match, but Okada tagged in instead. He stared Jay down for a moment, as the fans chanted "Okada!" Both men traded blows until Okada got the upper hand. Okada tagged in Romero. Rocky went for a shoulder tackle, but Jay was unphased. Jay fought out of the corner with an elbow and then tagged in Goto! Romero raked Goto in the eyes and tagged in Baretta.

Goto hit Baretta with a couple of shoulder tackles. Baretta tried to fight back, but found himself on the receiving end of yet another shoulder tackle from Goto. Mark tagged in and grabbed Baretta's headband. He looked at it for a moment before putting it on his head and breaking into Red Neck Kung Fu! Mark hit Uncle Mule Kick and then went for a charge in the corner, but Baretta lifted himself up and hit a double-foot stomp! This prompted Okada and Romero to run over and knock Jay and Goto off the ring apron! Baretta retrieved his headband and then tagged in Romero, who applied a chin lock to Mark.

Okada tagged in and hit a springboard senton. He went for the cover, but Mark kicked out. Okada slammed Mark to the mat and then tagged Baretta. Trent did the spot where he makes a lot of fuss running back and forth on the ring apron, but then simply just stomped on his opponent. Okada tagged back in and did the same spot! Then Okada and RPG Vice all did the Rainmaker pose in the ring! Awesome sequence.

Before long, Mark was able to reverse Okada into a Death Valley Driver and make the hot tag to Goto! Goto nailed Okada with some kicks to the mid-section and then followed up with a spinning heel kick in the corner. Goto hit a Saito suplex, which was good for a nearfall. Goto charged, but Okada was able to reverse into a flapjack. Okada followed up with a DDT and then a running elbow. He covered Goto, but couldn't put him away. Okada hit a huge top rope elbow and then did his signature Rainmaker pose in the ring! Goto reversed with a neckbreaker out of nowhere. and both men were down as the show cut to a break at the 7:19 point in the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 8:19, Jay Briscoe was pummeling both members of Roppongi VIce, but they reversed with a pair of knees. Their team then triple-teamed Jay for a moment. Baretta hit a running knee strike and then Romero went for the cover, but Jay kicked out at two. Jay nailed Romero with a jawbreaker and then tagged in his brother! Mark charged and hit everyone in the opposite corner. Romero fought right back and hit a series of charging clotheslines in the corner. Mark fought out with some Red Neck Kung Fu. Jay and Goto came in, and then the three partners triple-teamed Romero! The Briscoes hit a Razor's Edge/neckbreaker combo on Romero, but Baretta ran in to break it up.

Baretta nailed Jay with a superklck, but Goto came in and clotheslined him to the mat. Okada ran in and hit a neckbreaker on Goto. Mark Briscoe reappeared and dropped Okada on his head! Romero came in and hit a spinning kick on Mark and then everyone was down! Mark and Rocky were the two legal men in the ring. Romero hung in the ropes, which caused Mark to inadvertently launch himself to the outside. RPG Vice went for a move on the outside, but the Goto broke it up and then the Briscoes hit a Doomsday Device off the apron!

Back in the ring, Mark nailed Baretta with Froggy Bow off the top rope, but he still couldn't put him away. Jay went for the Jay Driller on Baretta, but Romero broke it up with a dropkick from the outside. Mark came in and hit a fisherman buster on Romero. Okada appeared and nailed Mark with a Tombstone piledriver! Goto got involved, but Okada responded with a beautiful dropkick! Okada went for the Rainmaker, but Goto hit back with a headbutt that sent both men to the mat! Jay and Trent were left alone in the ring. They traded blows until Trent hit Jay with an enziguri. He charged it Briscoe in the corner, but Jay hit back with an elbow and then hit the Jay Driller for the victory!

WINNERS: Hirooki Goto & The Briscoes via pinfall in 14:01.

ANALYSIS: Excellent match between these two teams. There was hard-hitting action throughout with some fun spots sprinkled in between. It made up for the fact that this was essentially an exhibition match with zero back-story or buildup whatsoever. At least the ROH guys went over, I guess. (***1/2)

After the match, the Briscoes and Goto celebrated in the ring while Kevin Kelly hyped Adam Cole vs. Shinsuke Nakamura next week on ROH TV!

FINAL REAX: An enjoyable hour of ROH TV, although I really wish there was a better way to present these post-PPV editions of the show. I know it is logistically impossible with the syndicated show airing so soon after a Friday night PPV, but the generic statements the announcers made about the PPV sounded like early WWF Raw episodes from the 1990s. At the very least, ROH could air a fresh episode air next week, but it looks like viewers are in store for yet another hour from August's Philadelphia TV taping.

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