ROH TV Report
Aired August 2, 2015 in syndication
To air August 5, 2015 on Dest. America
Taped 6/20 in New York, N.Y.
Report by Mike Metzger (@md0uble), PWTorch contributor

The ROH "Creating Excellence" signature aired.

Backstage: Roderick Strong said that he and ROH World & TV champion Jay Lethal both had something to prove at Death Before Dishonor, but nothing was settled after 60 minutes. Roddy said they he would have beaten Lethal if time had not run out and Lethal knew it. Strong closed out the promo by demanding that ROH matchmaker Nigel McGuinness make Lethal's next title defense a re-match against him.

[Reax: The wonders of post-production! Kudos to ROH for dubbing this in. Timeslot change aside, ROH needs to have timely follow up on their big shows if they want to be taken seriously as the #2 U.S. promotion with a national cable TV clearance.]

The ROH TV opening aired.

Kevin Kelly wondered in an overdub how ROH matchmaker Nigel McGuinness would respond to Roderick Strong's comments. Kelly then did his usual welcome and announced tonight's main event would pit Adam Cole against former Future Shock partner Kyle O'Reilly!

1 -- WAR MACHINE (HANSON & RAYMOND ROWE) vs. YOUNG BUCKS (NICK & MATT JACKSON)

The referee asked for the Code of Honor, but the Bucks responded with a double crotch chop instead. The bell rang and War Machine quickly dumped Matt out of the ring. Nick tried to fight both off his opponents, but he was no match for Hanson and Rowe. Matt tried to re-enter, but War Machine knocked him back to the floor and then threw Nick on top of him!

War Machine went outside to pursue their opponents, but ate a double superkick from the Bucks! They were barely phased, however, as the Bucks went for moonsaults off the apron in-stereo. Hanson and Rowe caught both of their opponents, however, and then lawn-darted them into one another in mid-air! Awesome spot at only 1:20 into the match! War Machine went for a double chokeslam on Matt on the apron, but the Bucks reversed with another pair of superkicks! They quickly followed up with a Swanton combo on Rowe on the apron!

The Bucks turned their attention to Hanson in the ring, as Matt hit him with a Kevin Owens-style Corner Cannonball. They hit a moonsault/splash combo from the top, but Hanson kicked out at two. The Bucks went for another double-team off the ropes, but Hanson avoided with a cartwheel and then hit a huge double clothesline! The Bucks immediately responded with a double superkick that sent Hanson to the outside. The Bucks then hit a baseball slide/flip dive combo onto War Machine on the outside, but Nick came down hard on his ankle and appeared hurt. This slowed the match to a halt and then the match cut to a break at 4:25.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 6:55, Nick was still hurt at ringside and was surrounded by several ROH referees and officials. Rowe was tired of waiting, so he threw Matt back into the ring. Rowe hit Matt with Shotgun Knees and then Hanson followed up with a Bronco Buster. A.J. Styles appeared at ringside to a huge pop and then checked on his fellow Bullet Club member Nick. Back in the ring, Hanson dominated Matt with some knee strikes to the body. Hanson scored a nearfall and then tagged Rowe back into the match.

Matt went for an upset roll-up, but Rowe kicked out and nailed Matt with a stiff clothesline. Rowe hit a Yuri Nagi and then tagged Hanson, who came in and continued to dominate Matt. Matt eventually fought back with some fists on both Hanson and Rowe, but they caught him and hit a double slam. Rowe then slammed Hanson onto Matt. Hanson went to powerbomb Rowe on top of Matt, but Jackson rolled out of the way at the last second!

Hanson went for a powerbomb, but Matt fought out and low-bridged Hanson out of the ring. Styles then got on the apron and the crowd erupted. Corino wondered if referee Paul Turner would allow it, and apparently he did as A.J. came in and was a house afire! A.J. nailed Rowe with a huracanrana from the top, but Rowe got up and threw some fists. Styles went for a lariat, but hit the ref instead! Things started to break down as all four men entered the ring. War Machine went for a powerbomb/splash combo on Matt, but With the ref down, Nick re-entered the match and broke it up with a pair of superkicks to both his opponents! Styles then hit the Styles Clash on Hanson for the victory.

WINNERS: Matt Jackson & A.J. Styles via pinfall in 12:40.

After the match, the crowd chanted "Bullet Club" despite the them feigning an injury to steal a victory.

ANALYSIS: Interesting way to keep War Machine strong without having Styles and the Bucks lose. With reDRagon being booked in singles matches at All-Star Extravaganza, War Machine might be gunning for ROH tag champs The Addiction sooner rather than later. (***1/2)

Backstage: Adam Cole talked about tonight's match with Kyle O'Reilly. He said that he never in his life went into a match with more questions about who he was. Cole referenced the six-man tag match a few weeks ago on ROH TV where he shook O'Reilly's hand after the match. He said that people kept asking him if he had left the Kingdom.

Cole denied any friction with The Kingdom and claimed that he was just good friends with O'Reilly. He said that O'Reilly was the first to call him after his surgery. Cole also said that he was there at O'Reilly's wedding. He went on to say that they broke into the business together as Future Shock and broke out together when they fought against each other in New York City. He talked about a mutual respect and admiration that had developed over the years and said that it would continue after tonight's main event.

[Commercial Break]

2 -- CEDRIC ALEXANDER (w/Veda Scott) vs. ROMANTIC TOUCH

Caprice Coleman joined the commentators for this match. Coleman said he understood Cedric's situation and just hoped it wasn't too late to save him. Before the bell, Cedric hit a charging dropkick while Touch's back was turned. The bell rang for some reason and then Cedric hit him with two more dropkicks. Coleman tried to justify Cedric's actions on commentary, while Cedric choked Touch with his own leather jacket in the ring!

Cedric grabbed Touch by the mask and then punched him in the jaw. Touch fought back with some elbows. Cedric went for a 540 kick but missed. Touch then dropkicked Cedric to the outside! Touch followed up with a flip dive and then gyrated for some fans in the front row. Touch went to re-enter the ring, but Veda grabbed his leg. The momentary distraction allowed Cedric to kick the rope into Touch's groin. Caprice finally admitted he was witnessing a changed man in Cedric, as he hit the Lumbar Check for the victory.

WINNER: Cedric Alexander via pinfall in 2:40.

After the match, Veda took the mic and talked directly to Cedric. She said that all the people who told Cedric to "do the right thing" had lied to him his entire life. Scott said she would never lie to him and then demanded he rip off Touch's mask to finally expose Rhett Titus for the "fraud" he was. Cedric went for the mask, but Coleman ran in to break it up. Cedric punched his former partner in the face, but Moose ran down and chased Cedric out of the ring before things broke down further.

ANALYSIS: Boy, was I hoping Touch's mask would be ripped off. Poor Rhett Titus has been saddled with this lower-card comedy act gimmick since Kenny King unceremoniously left the company a few years back. The worst part about it is that the gimmick has been made redundant by "Party Peacock" Dalton Castle. I did like that Cedric got to squash a jobber and the continuity of Veda having a long-standing issue with Romantic Touch, though. (*3/4)

Backstage: ROH World & TV Champion Jay Lethal held up the ROH World Title to Truth Martini and asked him what it smelled like. Truth replied, "chicken coop." Lethal agreed and said that it was his goal to "remove the stain" of every previous champion to hold the belt. He turned his attention to Roderick Strong and congratulated him for going an hour with him, but he still couldn't get the job done. Lethal talked himself up and then told Strong he would have to go back to the end of the line so other people can find out that "Jay Lethal is the greatest wrestler in the world." Martini took over and had a message for all the wrestlers in line: "If life don't check you, Jay Lethal will."

[Commercial Break]

Inside ROH: Mandy Leon spoke of the contenders in line to Jay Lethal and then specifically referenced Kyle O'Reilly, a man she says "has Jay Lethal's number so far in 2015." She then cut to clips of O'Reilly pinning Lethal in a tag match in Milwaukee this past March with an assist from Jay Briscoe. The next clip was from Hopkins, Minn. in April when O'Reilly fought Lethal to a 30 minute time limit draw. Leon asked viewers if they thought Kyle O'Reilly could be the next ROH World Champion and then encouraged them to take to social media so their voice could be heard.

[Reax: Very intriguing. I have been calling for Kyle O'Reilly to be given a main event singles push for the better part of a year. ReDRagon is a great team and there is still a lot for them to do in ROH, but I feel that O'Reilly is on borrowed time before he is eventually snatched away by WWE NXT. I wonder if ROH is serious about transitioning O'Reilly into a main event slot, or if O'Reilly's upcoming match against Jay Lethal at the All-Star Extravaganza iPPV in September is just a one-time deal.]

[Commercial Break]

3 -- ADAM COLE vs. KYLE O'REILLY

Christopher Daniels joined the commentary desk for this match. Both men shook hands and then the bell rang. Kevin Kelly reminded fans about the Knights of the Rising Dawn being revealed as The Addiction and Chris Sabin, which was good because that storyline has really gone by the wayside in recent weeks. O'Reilly and Cole felt each other out until there was a stalemate at 1:00. They wrestled on the mat for another minute or so, until O'Reilly applied a couple of headlocks on the mat. "Headlock City" chant from the crowd, as the show went to a break at 2:57.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 3:57, O'Reilly applied yet another headlock. Cole tried to escape, but O'Reilly was able to keep the hold locked on. Cole rolled out of the ring, but O'Reilly followed and grabbed another headlock! Unfortunately for O'Reilly, Cole took advantage and threw O'Reilly into the hockey boards on the outside. Daniels tried to get involved, but Cole walked over and decked Daniels! Daniels attacked Cole and referee Todd Sinclair called for the bell.

WINNER: Kyle O'Reilly via disqualification in 5:50, although no formal announcement was made.

Daniels rolled Cole into the ring and started beating on him. O'Reilly ran in and broke it up. Kazarian appeared and then all four men brawled in the ring as the fans chanted "Future Shock!" Cole and O'Reilly tossed both Addiction members to the outside and then Cole took the mic. He said he was tired of the Addiction's "bullcrap." Cole assumed The Addiction was aware of Future Shock's history and then challenged them to a match tonight!

3b -- ROH World Tag Team champions THE ADDICTION (CHRISTOPHER DANIELS & FRANKIE KAZARIAN) vs. FUTURE SHOCK (ADAM COLE & KYLE O'REILLY) -- impromptu non-title match

After a brief moment to get things settled down, Kazarian and Cole entered the ring and the bell rang! Both men jockeyed for position until Cole hit a neckbreaker. Kaz rolled away and tagged Daniels. Cole went for a superkick, but Daniels ducked. O'Reilly tagged in and then Future Shock took turns chopping and kicking Daniels in the ropes. They tore Daniels shirt off and then Cole nailed Daniels with a baseball slide. Kevin Kelly wondered what Maria Kanellis thought of Cole teaming with his former partner, as the show went to another break at the 1:10 mark of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 2:10, Daniels was begging off in the center. O'Reilly showed no remorse, but Kaz was able to hit him from the outside. Daniels tagged Kaz and then the Addiction double-teamed O'Reilly. Kaz hit a snap suplex and then tagged Daniels back in. Kaz hit a neckbreaker before leaving the ring, while Daniels hit Cole on the apron. Kaz dominated O'Reilly with some stomps and then tagged Daniels. O'Reilly fought back and tossed Kaz into Daniels and then made the hot tag to Cole!

Cole disposed of Kaz and then charged at Daniels in the corner. Daniels raked Cole's eyes, but Cole fought back by dropping Daniels over his knee! Cole followed up with a Shining Wizard and a cover, but Daniels kicked out at two. Cole applied the figure-four leglock, but Kaz broke it up. O'Reilly came in and nailed Kaz. The Addiction quickly hit their powerbomb/neckbreaker combo on O'Reilly. The Addiction went for another double-team, but Cole snuck in and rolled up Daniels for the victory!

WINNERS: Future Shock via pinfall in 5:45.

ANALYSIS: The one-on-one match barely got going, but I loved the "headlock city" spots from O'Reilly. I liked how efficient it was compared to Brock Lesnar's "Suplex City" routine, where you drop a guy on his head repeatedly. It was also fun to see Future Shock reunite, if only for one night. A nice way to tie some stories together, although no mention was made of O'Reilly's burgeoning singles career. (***) for the whole segment.

After the match, Chris Sabin ran in and helped The Addiction beat on O'Reilly and Cole. Bobby Fish ran in and then the babyfaces chased the former Knights of the Rising Dawn from ringside. The Kingdom appeared at the entranceway and looked upset at Cole. Cole, O'Reilly and Fish stood tall in the ring as the fans chanted "New reDRagon."

FINAL REAX: Much better episode than last week. Not sure why it takes two weeks for ROH to begin airing their next set of tapings, but I am really glad they were able to splice in promos from Lethal and Strong after Death Before Dishonor. It is just a necessity now that they are on national cable TV. I also like ROH booker Delirious's style of intermingling multiple storylines into one match/segment. There are a lot of up-and-coming stars on all levels of the card right now, with just the right amount of character and storyline development sprinkled throughout. Night-and-day compared to last summer's post-Best in the World hangover.

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