SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
HITS
Beer City Bruiser & Brian Milonas vs. Coast To Coast (LSG & Shaheem Ali): Nice video package before the match begins where we saw Bruiser & Milonas attack LSG before the Gauntlet tag match that saw Milonas & Bruiser get a couple of wins in a few weeks back. Coast To Coast (CTC) cuts a quick promo before the match telling us they will get even with Bruiser & Milonas for their actions. On to the match we go. This was a good opening match. From the start, CTC goes on the attack. Who can blame them for waiting for the bell considering how Bruiser & Milonas attacked LSG. These guys have some heat with each other and their personal issues made the match mean something. Good bit of back and forth throughout this 9-10 minute opener. There were a few crazy bumps and moments during the match. Seeing Bruiser miss a canon ball on the outside made me cringe and then soon after Milonas, while holding on to Ali, catches LSG as LSG came off the top rope. Milonas then double slams them both but the impressive strength of Milonas on that catch was incredible. LSG got in some nice offense too hitting a couple of nice moves which conclude with a 450 splash off the top rope to Milonas. Milonas kicked out though. As we work towards the finish, Milonas gets LSG set up for last call. Milonas hits the superplex. Bruiser hits the frog splash, but Ali makes a last second save to break up the count. Credit Ian Riccaboni on commentary who sold it like the match was definitely over. CTC soon after takes out Bruiser and then nails Milonas with their finisher. Milonas is pinned by LSG. Excellent opening match between these two teams. This is a nice littler feud between these two. I wonder if it is the end or if they’ll continue. There could be more mileage here for these two. If not, it’s been a good set of matches between the two.
Jay Lethal Promo: What more can we say about Lethal, he is one of the company’s biggest stars. Lethal claims he is lost without any gold around his waist. Lethal claims he went to ROH management and they told him if he wants another shot at gold he needs to go beat some top competitors and rack up some wins. Lethal claims he’s going to go back and defeat the people who have beaten him recently no matter how long that takes. He says again that he is lost right now but that will change soon. This seems kind of weird in a way. I say weird because I do not think Lethal needs to prove anything. Even without gold on his waist, he is one of ROH’s biggest stars. However, I do understand the logic of making him go back and beat those who have beaten him recently. For TV purposes, this leads to some great matchups and matches over the next month or so. With that said, I am for it and let’s see how Lethal does getting revenge against these opponents.
The Young Bucks Promo Backstage: The Young Bucks address the Tag Team Gauntlet match that they won recently making them the number 1 contenders to the ROH World Tag titles. This was super quick but served its purpose to plug next week’s match between the Bucks and Briscoes.
Will Ferrara a/k/a Little Willy vs. Jonathan Gresham: From a pure comedy standpoint, this was entertaining. I came unglued when Rhett Titus, who was accompanying Little Willy to the ring, said “Jonathan Gresham, the human octopus, Little Willy is going to turn you into calamari” as he and Little Willy headed to the ring. The match was good. Gresham’s talent and wrestling ability cannot be denied. The guy is underrated in my opinion. It was a typical Gresham match that we have come to be accustomed to. Nothing flash but if you enjoy Gresham’s “pure style” wrestling you will enjoy this. It’s not my cup of tea but I still enjoyed. Gresham gets the win with a nice roll into a bridge on Ferrara. Really smooth finish from Gresham. After the match, Titus runs in and starts beating down Gresham. Machine Guns make the save and chase off Titus & Ferrara. With the Machine Guns getting involved it makes me wonder if this will lead to something with the Guns and Titus & Ferrara.
Cody and Marty Scurll Promo: Cody talks about the June 29th Best in the World PPV. He reminds us that it’s his birthday and the 1-year anniversary of him winning the ROH World title. Cody then says Castle will get to battle the number 1 contender to the ROH title and that is when Scurll buts in to say that Castle will face him (Scurll). Cody waves off Scurll and says no Marty, remember, there are no problems with Bullet Club. Just go with me here. Scurll then turns around and repeats that Castle will face him (Scurll). Ok, they are still teasing this friction which is fine. It leaves a little mystery as to what may happen. Stay tuned and we will have to see how this progresses with Scurll, Cody, and Castle leading up to Best in the World.
SoCal Uncensored Promo: I thought this promo was fine, but it also felt like the same message we have been hearing. I’ll assume we have to wait till Best in the World for these teams to meet for the ROH World 6-Man Tag Team titles. That feels like a long way to go before things climax with their match. That said, I could be wrong, but I look forward to seeing how creative they get with things in between now and then.
Shane Taylor vs. Ryan Nova: Shane Taylor is on the microphone before the match. Taylor talks about before coming to ROH he got paid to run the streets and beat people down. Now, he is in ROH beating people down in the same way. Taylor then tells Nova that ROH is wasting time paying people like Nova when they could be paying him more to do what he does best. Taylor says he is going to start knocking cats out the box and that means “more money, your problem.” Taylor then went on to destroy Nova inside of a minute when referee Todd Sinclair stopped the match. I like them building up Taylor. I have watched Taylor for years on the independent scene and he is a heck of a talent. He’s been in that mid-card area for a while with the promotion, but I have seen him do much more than what he has shown so far in his time with ROH. I am not sure if this will lead to Taylor being featured more but I enjoy them allowing him some promo time and a quick enhancement talent match.
Dalton Castle & The Boys vs. The Kingdom: The Kingdom head to the ring with the ROH World 6-Man Tag titles. Taven cuts a quick promo talking about his match with Castle coming up and that this is a small preview of what is coming when they lock horns and Taven takes the belt from Castle. O’Ryan & Marseglia are concerned about SCU. Taven tells them not to worry because he has “a guy.” Well, when they come back to the arena The Kingdom are shown handing the belts to Taylor who never left ringside after his match with Nova. Taylor graciously accepts the belts from The Kingdom in exchange for a fistful of bills. Cannot blame Taylor. He just told us he was here for the money. Taven clearly tells Taylor when handing him the belts, “don’t let them take these titles.” Castle & The Boys head to the ring. Castle tells Taven that in Lowell, MA Taven gets a shot at the ROH World title but that tonight he hopes The Kingdom is ready for what Castle and The Boys are bringing to the table. On to the match we go. Lengthy main event but things did not get cooking until Christopher Daniels comes down to ringside. Daniels tries to take the belts from Taylor. Taylor shoves Daniels down and Daniels retreats to the back. Castle does a spot soon after where Castle repeatedly sends The Boys to the outside of the ring with dives over the top ropes taking out members of The Kingdom. Taven quickly turns the tables though shortly after. The ring is cleared. Taven hits his finisher on one of The Boys. Taven goes for the pin and The Kingdom get the win over Castle and The Boys. Good main event that went as expected with The Kingdom defeating Castle and The Boys. After the match, The Kingdom continue to beat down Castle and The Boys. The Kingdom continue beating down Castle as they try to injure Castle even more in hopes of injuring Castle more before Castle’s match coming up Wednesday May 9 against Taven. Taven jumps off the middle ropes on to Castle’s already injured hand that is in between a folding chair. Nice bit of storytelling there at the end with them working the injury to Castle. Good match and solid ending to the show.
MISSES
Far from a perfect show but I was entertained the full hour.
NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S COLUMN: ROH HITS & MISSES 4/23: Women of Honor Semi-Finals and Final, Klein vs. Iwatani, Sakai vs. Dashwood, Klein vs. Sakai in Women of Honor Tournament Final
Mike Mills is the PWTorch.com ROH TV Hits and Misses Specialist, providing his point of view on ROH TV weekly. You can follow Mike at @BTT_Podcast and @Mike504Saints on Twitter and you can check out his old school wrestling podcasts at tinyurl.com/BTTPod
NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S COLUMN: ROH HITS & MISSES 4/30: Young vs. Gordon for the ROH World TV Title, Sumie Sakai vs. Stella Grey, The Kingdom, Scurll, Chuckie T vs. Woods, Bully Ray
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