DOJO PRO TV REPORT (Season 1, Episode 7): “Cowboy” James Storm vs. White Belt

DOJO PRO TV REPORT – S1E07
RELEASED JULY 9, 2018
TAPED IN NASHVILLE, TN
AVAILABLE IN THE U.S. AND U.K. THROUGH AMAZON PRIME
REPORT BY HARLEY R. PAGEOT, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Commentary: Marc Warzecha

DOJO PRO presents the ultimate professional wrestling opportunity. A gauntlet competition in which 13 independent wrestlers fight their way up the ladder. The winner of each match receives the Dojo Pro White Belt and continues on. At the top, the Dojo Pro Black Belt, and a shot at the Ring Of Honor World Television Championship.

Opening video.

-In the studio Matt Lott reminded us that we’re halfway through the gauntlet and Joey Janela is currently in possession of the Dojo Pro White Belt. When the rankings for the gauntlet were established a slot for a veteran was set aside at the #6 position and that’s where James Storm comes in.

-Video package on James Storm. If you don’t know who he is, you must have been living under a rock. He’s the legend, the cowboy, James Storm. He doesn’t like the veteran label because it makes him feel old but he does enjoy the respect that comes with it.

Janela said Storm hasn’t been relevant in ten years. He was still upset at being ranked #8 and said he should have been #1. Storm’s been wrestling for over 20 years. Janela said Storm can look forward to the exposure of wrestling him. Storm said Janela can say what he wants because Storm’s going to beat the hell out of him.

(Pageot’s Perspective: Storm felt very natural and unscripted here, a confident veteran able to put over himself and his opponent without resorting to clichés, platitudes, or catch phrases.

Storm was trained by Wolfie D of PG-13 and hails from Liepers Fork, Tennessee. At age 41 he’s a former TNA World Champion, a record-setting 7-time TNA tag team champion, and a record-setting 7-time NWA tag team champion.)

-Janela entered first with the white belt over his shoulder. “Sorry about your damn luck” rang out through the arena and Storm walked out with cowboy hat on and vest. He slapped hands with the fans on both sides of the ring. There’s a palpable charisma and star power glowing off of him. Ring announcer Dominic Malnar handled the introductions. The referee is Adam Real.

DOJO PRO WHITE BELT “BAD BOY” JOEY JANELA vs. “COWBOY” JAMES STORM

Storm drove Janela into the corner. Janela returned the favor and slapped Storm. Storm with a shoulder block and hip toss. Leapfrog in the corner and a slingblade. Janela rolled to ringside to avoid the Last Call. Storm lifted up a fan’s leg and held it so that he could run Janela’s head into his boot. Janela ran Storm into the ring post and ripped up the ringside mats. He looked for a suplex on the exposed floor but Storm prevented it. Janela hit a hip toss onto the floor instead. Storm rolled into the ring at the ref’s count of 7. Janela whipped Storm into the corner. Storm fired up with an inverted atomic drop and clothesline. Leaping neckbreaker for a two-count. He called for the Last Call again but Janela caught his foot and hit a discus forearm and a death valley driver for two. Storm with a lungblower for two. Janela escaped The Eye Of The Storm. Double clothesline put both men down at 7:00. They threw hands in the center of the ring. Storm with an Alabama slam and The Eye Of The Storm but Janela kicked out at two. Storm went up top so Janela fell into the ropes to knock him off. Janela followed with a double stomp from the top rope for the win.

WINNER: Joey Janela in 8:59 to retain the Dojo Pro White Belt.

-Janela will defend the white belt against Ricky Starks on the next episode. Interviewer Rob Johnston joined Janela in the ring. Johnston said no one saw that coming, which Janela of course took offense to. Storm could be seen still recovering in the ring. Janela said Storm is past his prime and this is Janela’s time. Janela shoved Johnston to the mat so Storm hit him with a Last Call superkick. Sorry about your damn luck.

(Pageot’s Perspective: Wow. Who would have thought Storm would lose relatively clean in his first appearance in the shortest match of the entire series? Did he leave his taxi running? Janela’s clearly being built up as the biggest heel of the series thus far. I don’t know enough about Starks or Solow to predict which will knock him off but I can’t imagine we’ll see the heel Janela against the heel MJF so the bad boy’s going to have to go at some point.)

Find Harley on Twitter @talkinghonor and listen to he and Emily Fear talk all things ROH every Tuesday on the PWTorch Livecast “Talking Honor.”