ROH TV Report
Aired June 28, 2015 in syndication
To air July 1, 2015 on Dest. America
Taped 5/12 & 5/13 in Philadelphia, Pa.
Report by Mike Metzger (@md0uble), PWTorch contributor

The ROH TV opening aired.

A Kevin Kelly voice-over opened the show, as the the camera panned the 2300 Arena (ECW Arena) in Philly. Kelly announced that matches taped in New York City the day after Best in the World will begin airing next week. This week will feature some of the best moments from the ROH/NJPW War of the Worlds event that took place six weeks ago in Philadelphia.

1 -- ROH Tag Team champions THE ADDICTION (CHRISTOPHER DANIELS & FRANKIE KAZARIAN) vs. KAZUCHIKA OKADA & GEDO - non-title match

During the introductions, The Addiction demanded ring announcer Bobby Cruise refer to them as the "ROH World Tag Team Champions of the World." He obliged, although Kevin Kelly thought it was a bit redundant. Gedo and Kazarian started the match with some chain wrestling. Gedo got the early advantage with some fists, but Kaz was able to roll over and tag Daniels. The fans demanded Gedo tag Okada and he obliged.

Daniels and Okada stared each other down, while there was a pretty decent battle chant for both men. Daniels shoved Gedo on the apron and then went after Okada. Gedo got some revenge when he raked Daniels's eyes from the outside. This allowed Okada to take control and tag Gedo. Daniels was able to quickly tag in Kaz, who ran right into another eye rake from Gedo. Gedo ran the ropes, but was held by Daniels from the outside. This allowed Kaz to hit a springboard leg drop. The Addiction was in firm control of the match, as they double-teamed Gedo. They hit a neckbreaker combo on Gedo, which was good for a nearfall. The show then went to break at the 5:15 mark.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 7:45, Kaz was still in control of Gedo. Kaz locked on a leg submission, but Okada ran in to break it up. Daniels ran in and stomped Gedo while the ref was distracted with Okada. Daniels then got in the face of NJPW referee Red Shoes. Daniels tried to intimidate the smaller referee, but Red Shoes got right back in his face which popped the crowd. Daniels hit his holding-hands foot stomp on Gedo, but Kaz couldn't put him away. Gedo then hit a reverse STO out of nowhere and made the hot tag to Okada!

Kaz did not make a tag, though, so Okada just dominated him for several moments. Daniels tried to interfere, but Okada dropkicked him off the top rope to the outside! Okada then hit White Noise over his knee on Kaz and went for the cover, but Kazarian kicked out at two. Okada went for a Tombstone, but Daniels ran in and kicked Okada in the leg. The Addiction hit a double-team springboard leg drop, but Okada kicked out of the pin attempt. Okada and Kaz ran the ropes and then collided in the center of the ring!

Okada tagged Gedo, who was able to fight off the double-team from the Addiction. Gedo nailed a superkick on Daniels, but couldn't put him away. Gedo came off the top rope, but Daniels caught him and hit a Yuri Nagi. Okada tried to make the save, but the Addiction hit him with a clothesline/legsweep combo. They turned their attention to Gedo and hit their Celebrity Rehab finisher for the victory.

WINNERS: The Addiction via pinfall in 13:35.

After the match, Okada dropkicked Kaz from behind. Daniels attacked Okada, but "The Rainmaker" fought back with a dropkick to Daniels! He followed up with his Rainmaker lariat to the delight of the crowd.

ANALYSIS: Standard tag match. The finish made sense, as ROH's tag champs looked strong and Okada was protected by Gedo taking the fall. Nothing too crazy here, although the Addiction showcased an impressive arsenal of double-team maneuvers. I would love to see a full-blown Young Bucks-Addiction feud at some point because I think both teams could put together some memorable matches. (**1/2)

[Commercial Break]

2 -- ADAM PAGE vs. WATANABE

This match was joined in progress, as Watanabe had Page in an armbar on the mat. Watanabe turned over and went for a cover, but Page quickly kicked out. Watanabe went back to a standing side headlock, as Colby Corino looked on at ringside. On commentary, Kelly asked Steve Corino about Colby. Corino said that he wanted the best for his son, but thought that Colby was pursuing his dream the wrong way. Rather than join the New Japan Dojo, for instance, he "took a shortcut" and joined the Decade instead.

Meanwhile in the ring, Page backed into a corner while the fans chanted "Suplex City" for Watanabe. Page raked the eyes of Watanabe and then chopped him in the corner. Watanabe fought back with a forearm smash and then a slap to Page's face. He quickly followed up with a German suplex that drew a huge pop from the crowd! Watanabe ran the ropes, but Colby tripped him from the outside. The ref missed it, but Watanabe went outside and German suplexed young Colby on the outside! The momentary distraction allowed Page to attack Watanabe from behind, as the show went to a break at the 3:00 mark.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 5:30, Page hit a powerslam on Watanabe. The Philly crowd was all over Page, as he applied a hold. Watanabe reversed it, however, and then nailed Page with a swinging neckbreaker. He went for the cover, but Page kicked out at two. Page charged at Watanabe, but the Japanese star sent him to the outside. Watanabe went for a German suplex on the floor, but Page landed on his feet! Colby then shoved Watanabe into the ringpost, which opened him up for a Shooting Star Press from Page off the ring apron! Page rolled his opponent back into the ring, hit a DDT and went for the cover, but Watanabe kicked out at two!

Page looked shocked, as the fans cheered on Watanabe. Page went for his reverse piledriver finisher, but Watanabe wriggled free and grabbed Page for a suplex! Page escaped, but Watanabe quickly crotched him on the top turnbuckle. Watanabe hit a German superplex and crawled over for the cover, but Page kicked out! Watanabe called for a lariat, but Page ducked. Watanabe went for an O'Connor Roll, but Page kicked out. The force of the kick-out sent Watanbe into the ropes, where Colby hit him with a kick! This opened Watanabe up for Page's reverse piledriver, which he calls the Rite of Passage.

WINNER: Adam Page via pinfall in 10:23 (shown on TV).

ANALYSIS: This started out slow, but things really picked up after the commercial break. Both men looked good here, especially Page who eked out a victory with the help of Colby. I liked this all-around, including the efficient booking of an up-and-coming ROH heel going over the New Japan star with the Corino family drama mixed in. (**3/4)

[Commercial Break]

3 -- IWGP Hvt. champion A.J. STYLES vs. ADAM COLE -- non-title match

Both men shook hands, but then Cole grabbed Styles's hand and spat in it! Cole taunted the crowd and then tied up with Styles. Both men felt each other out for the first 75 seconds, until Cole applied a headlock in the center. Cole held Styles for about 30 seconds, until A.J. elbowed his way out. Styles then caught Cole and dropped him neck-first over his knee! Styles took control and just pounded on Cole in the corner. Cole fought back with some fists, but missed a dropkick. This opened him up to a running forearm from Styles! A.J. applied a front facelock, but Cole broke out of it by raking Styles in the eyes. Styles hit a big dropkick, as the show went to a commercial at the 3:50 mark.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 4:50, Cole caught Styles on the outside and delivered a wheelbarrow German suplex on the ring apron! Cole rolled Styles back into the ring and stomped him in the corner. Cole taunted the crowd some more and went for a figure-four. Styles kicked out of it, but Cole came right back with a Shining Wizard! Cole then applied a chin lock on the mat for about 30 seconds until A.J. elbowed his way out. Cole then turned his attention to ringside and spat in Kevin Kelly's face! The momentary distraction caused A.J. to suplex Cole into the corner!

A.J. picked Cole up and slammed him to the mat. Styles called for a Styles Clash, but Cole sandbagged him. Cole escaped fully and then suplexed A.J. head-first over his knee! He went for the cover, but Styles kicked out at two! Cole crotched A.J. on the top turnbuckle and went for a German superplex, but Styles escaped and then dropped Cole across the top turnbuckle. A.J. went for his flying forearm, but Cole reversed with a superkick out of nowhere! Cole applied the figure-four leglock in the middle of the ring, as Styles writhed in pain! A.J. thought about tapping, but eventually got to the bottom rope after about 45 seconds in the hold.

Cole began favoring his arm, but ignored it and went after Styles on the apron. Cole appeared to be going for a Florida Key from the apron onto the floor, but A.J. clutched onto the ropes. Styles ended up reversing into a suplex onto the ring apron! The show then went to another break at the 12:20 point in the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 13:20, A.J. was in firm control of the match. He chopped Cole, but Adam fought back with some fists. Both men burst into flurries of offense at the same time, with Cole coming out on top with a superkick to Styles after A.J. missed a pele kick! The crowd chanted this is awesome," while both men struggled to their feet. Cole hit a sunset flip and then went for a Styles Clash, but Styles fought out of it. Cole would not give up, however, as he hit Styles with a Styles Clash!

The fans battle-chanted, while both men fought in the corner. Cole went for a Canadian Destroyer, but Styles moved out of the way. A.J. went for a moonsault, but Cole moved and nailed him with a superkick to the back of the head! Cole hit a German suplex. He went to follow up with another Shining Wizard, but A.J. ducked and nailed him with a pele kick! Styles then hit two modified piledrivers and then a Styles Clash to put away Cole.

WINNER: A.J. Styles via pinfall in 17:30.

After the match, Cole extended his hand to Styles. A.J. hesitated, until Cole literally grabbed his hand and forced him to shake hands with him. Cole clutched his injured arm and left the ring, as Styles celebrated to close out the show.

ANALYSIS: This match started with an old-school feel and ended with a hard-hitting sequence that has become the norm for A.J. Styles matches in 2015. Adam Cole definitely did his part as well, hitting some spectacular superkicks throughout the match. It seemed obvious that Styles would go over here, but this certainly fun to watch. (***1/2)

FINAL REAX: Another showcase of ROH's solid in-ring action, which should be a real treat for new Destination America viewers. ROH is walking a fine line with another wrestling-heavy "Road Rage" edition of their TV show this week, though. I'm sure the brief "break" will give some hardcore ROH fans a chance to catch up and order the Best in the World replay, but wrestling fans in general expect more from a wrestling television product in 2015.

Rather than capitalize on Impact Wrestling's significant online buzz last week and loaded line-up this week, ROH fans and potential cross-over viewers will have to wait yet another week (almost three weeks total) to see the Best in the World aftermath begin to play out. ROH has made significant improvements in their TV product over the last year, but there's no reason they can't continue to improve it going forward.

[Torch photo credit Wade Keller (c) PWTorch.com]

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