SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
ROH HONOR FOR ALL
JULY 20, 2018
NASHVILLE, TN AT NASHVILLE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM
AIRED ON ROH HONOR CLUB
REPORT BY HARLEY R. PAGEOT, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Commentary: Ian Riccaboni, Colt Cabana
Riccaboni and Cabana introduced the show on camera and announced the tag triple threat as tonight’s main event.
-Backstage with Scorpio Sky. He listed Punishment Martinez’s physical attributes and said Martinez’s opponents are beat before they set foot in the ring with him due to their fear. Sky has no fear, though. He’s had his ass kicked for 15 years. What’s Martinez going to do to him?
-Backstage with Martinez. He offered condolences to Sky.
(1) PUNISHMENT MARTINEZ vs. SCORPIO SKY – ROH WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
Sky got a more favorable reaction than usual, likely due to SoCal Uncensored’s presence on Being The Elite as of late. Sky went right after Martinez with knees and strikes but Martinez ended up putting him down with a shoulder block. Sky with a dropkick and clubbing blows but Martinez with a right hand. Martinez worked over Sky. Sky tried to come back with kicks but Martinez hit a thunderclap. Jumping back elbow from Martinez in the corner. Martinez with a release falcon arrow for the first two-count of the night. Sky rallied, ducking and dodging Martinez’s offense. Jumping hurricanrana took Martinez off the top rope. Sky with a leaping flip over the top rope onto Martinez on the floor. “SCU” chant from the crowd. A slingshot cutter gave Sky a two-count. Sky avoided the Psycho Driver but ate a clothesline. Brainbuster from Sky for two and a half. Martinez with The Silencer (curb stomp) on the apron. South Of Heaven chokeslam ends it.
WINNER: Punishment Martinez in 8:32 to retain the TV title.
(Pageot’s Perspective: Sky has the worst singles record of anyone in ROH this year at 0-7 now so it seemed highly unlikely that he’d win the title but the crowd support of him might end up being the notable story going forward. You can attribute part of that to the BTE rub or part of it to SCU fighting off The Briscoes and saving The Young Bucks at Best In The World. How Sky fits into the “Daniels & Kaz are fired following Final Battle in December” story remains to be seen.)
(2) WOH WORLD CHAMPION SUMIE SAKAI vs. KAREN Q – PROVING GROUND MATCH
If Q can win here or take Sakai to the time limit, she’ll earn a future Women Of Honor Championship title shot. Fast, hard-hitting action to start. Top rope dropkick from Sakai got her a two-count at 0:58. Q with a vertical suplex for two. Q caught a charging Sakai with a clothesline. Sakai blocked the Spring Roll. Q with a running forearm + back elbow + kick combination on Sakai in the corner. Ura nage for another two-count. She sat Sakai on the top rope but the champ fought her off and hit a high crossbody. Neckbreaker from Sakai for two. Full nelson slam from Q for two. Q with the Spring Roll (full crab) but Sakai made it to the ropes. Q avoided Smash Mouth and hit a buckle bomb and Samoan drop for two and a half. Sakai kissed the WOH title and placed the belt on the apron. She then slid a steel chair into the ring. As the referee removed the chair Q threw the belt to Sakai. Sakai caught it and looked confused. Q yelled to the ref that Sakai was trying to hit her with the belt. He was skeptical and took the belt away allowing Sakai to catch Q with a roll-up.
WINNER: Sumie Sakai in 8:24.
(Pageot’s Perspective: Cabana put over Q’s idea as, if Sakai had been disqualified, Q would have received the title shot she wanted. Q’s a hidden gem in the WOH division not in a position too dissimilar from Jonathan Gresham where she always looks impressive even if she doesn’t win all that much. Sakai has the best singles record of anyone in ROH this year at 8-0 now.)
(3) CHRIS SABIN vs. “THE OCTOPUS” JONATHAN GRESHAM vs. KENNY KING vs. SHANE TAYLOR – FOUR CORNER SURVIVAL
This is Sabin’s first ROH appearance in over two months and his first since he and Alex Shelley began discussing the idea of going their separate ways and abandoning the Motor City Machine Guns. He was still introduced as representing MCMG, though. Taylor followed the code of honor with King but not Gresham or Sabin. Sabin and Gresham started things off. The commentators pointed out that these two were in Search & Destroy together and feuded with The Rebellion, which included King and Taylor. Quick, fluid back and forth chain wrestling from Gresham and Sabin. King and Taylor asked for the tags. They shook hands again and then suddenly punched Sabin and Gresham off the apron. King did the Rebellion hand symbol but Taylor suckerpunched him. Blind tag from Gresham to King. Everyone teamed up on Taylor but he caught Sabin and Gresham simultaneously and tossed them both with a Samoan drop/fallaway slam combo. Taylor roughed up Gresham. Gresham countered a suplex into a sleeper hold but Taylor flung him off. King and Sabin broke up a pin. Gresham eventually got the sleeper in again while hanging on Taylor’s back. “Octopus” chant from the crowd. Taylor blocked a hurricanrana into a sit-out powerbomb. Double tags. Sabin with an inverted atomic drop to King. Chin-checker from King and a spinebuster but Sabin kicked out at two. Knockout punch from Taylor to King, which the referee counted as a tag. Sabin with a step-up enziguiri and tornado DDT. “Sabin” chant. Gresham tagged Sabin. Gresham with running kicks on Taylor in the corner and a dropkick but Taylor powered out at one. Gresham with the sleeper again. Taylor ended up with Gresham on his back and Sabin in his arms only for King to hit a springboard blockbuster that took out all three men. Sabin and King lifted up Taylor together for a fireman’s carry takeover. Cannonball from Taylor off the apron took out Sabin and King on the floor. He chucked his opponents into the guardrail only for Gresham to hit a suicide dive into a sleeper hold. Taylor climbed onto the apron and into the ring with Gresham still holding on. Taylor collapsed mid-ring with Gresham cinching in the sleeper. The referee called for the bell!
WINNER: Jonathan Gresham in 14:14 via referee stoppage.
(Pageot’s Perspective: Terrific! A really fun match and a great moment for Gresham. ROH is rife with babyfaces at the moment and lacking in heels, as evidenced by the 3:1 ratio in this match. They made the most of it, though, with Taylor being the focus of the bulk of the match as the dominating big man that everyone wanted out of the equation. Cabana and Riccaboni put over Gresham coming in with a game plan and executing it. I loved that as well. Gresham going back and back to the sleeper hold fits in so well with his character as the intelligent mat wrestler. He picked one man and one tactic and worked and worked at it, not giving up until it gave him the result he was looking for.)
-Riccaboni said Chuck Taylor asked for this next match in defense of everyone Bully Ray’s been picking on recently. Ray paced the ringside area with his chain, bullying the production crew and security. Ray asked for a mic. Riccaboni asked how many times we have to hear him say the same thing over and over. Ray said he doesn’t have a problem with Taylor as Taylor’s not a young boy. He’s been wrestling for 16 years for companies like PWG. He drew comparisons between PWG and ECW. Ray said it’s not what Taylor thought and he’ll be happy to wrestle him tonight. Taylor asked if Ray thought he was an idiot. He saw what Ray did to Flip Gordon and Cheeseburger. Taylor said the entire ROH locker room is begging Ray to leave. Everyone know he’s a bully and Taylor thinks he’s a douchebag. Ray can shove all those things he said up his fat ass. Cabana cheered and applauded giddily.
(4) CHUCKIE T vs. BULLY RAY
Taylor with forearms, kicks, and a dropkick. With Taylor on the top rope Ray shoved referee Todd Sinclair into the ropes, crotching Taylor. Sinclair lost it and reamed Ray out, threatening to disqualify him if he did anything else. Ray responded by kicking Taylor in the crotch right in front of him.
WINNER: Chuckie T in 1:19 by DQ.
-Ray shoved Sinclair to the mat and grabbed his chain. He whipped Taylor with it across the back. Riccaboni begged Cabana to do something “for ntus.” Cabana charged the ring and unloaded on Ray but Ray put him down with the chain. Ray whipped Cabana with the chain too as Riccaboni ranted about Ray ruining ROH. Beretta suddenly hit the ring! He speared Ray and discarded his chain and Ray high-tailed it. He threw chairs into the ring, which Beretta grabbed. “We want tables” chant from the crowd as Ray left. Best Friends hugged in the middle of the ring.
(Pageot’s Perspective: It makes sense to give Ray the upper hand over Cabana this time while Beretta’s return still allowed us to close on a happy moment. He had been out on injury for the past four months, last seen on March 11 TV. When will ROH hire a new enforcer? Sinclair should be begging Joe Koff after Ray’s assaulted him twice at this point.)
-Caprice Coleman came out to replace Cabana on commentary. He was in full babyface mode.
-The Dawgs came out for an unannounced eight-man tag. They’re teaming with their new drinking buddies against Cheeseburger and his rookie squad.
(5) CHEESEBURGER, F.R. JOSIE, RYAN NOVA, & ELI ISOM vs. SILAS YOUNG, BEER CITY BRUISER, & THE DAWGS (Rhett Titus & Will Ferrara)
Riccaboni mentioned that six of these eight men are products of the ROH Dojo. Josie and Titus started things off. Titus took control quickly and tagged to Young. They double-teamed Josie but Josie escaped to tag Isom. The commentators discussed his huge moment on last week’s television and confirmed Isom, King, & Taylor will receive their shot at the six-man titles in three weeks’ time on TV. Quick tags back and forth allowing all eight men the opportunity to get a little in-ring time. Burger and Nova tried to whip Bruiser but couldn’t move him. They tagged in Isom to help but still couldn’t budge him. Tag to Nova and all four men were finally able to whip Bruiser to the far corner. They took turns charging but Young grabbed Nova’s foot from the floor. Bruiser with a twisting Vader bomb to Nova. Titus with the back rake of doom. Nova made the hot tag to Burger. House of fire on Titus for a two-count. Titus blocked the shotei palm strike. Blind tag from Isom. He discarded Titus and hit some right hands on Bruiser. Top rope frog-crossbody to Bruiser. Burger saved Isom from the Dawgs’ finisher and Isom hit the overheard bridge to Titus that got him the pin on Daniels last week. Titus kicked out, though. Burger with a shotei to Bruiser and then one for Ferrara. He lined up Young, escaped a Misery attempt, but took the Young Combination. Josie ate Misery but Young couldn’t make the pin. Young with a powerbomb. Bruiser with a top rope splash on Josie for the win.
WINNERS: Bruiser, Young, & The Dawgs in 12:13.
(Pageot’s Perspective: Isom getting the pin seemed the most likely outcome coming out of last week’s TV so I like that they teased it only for the match to continue. Rather than telling the story of Isom suddenly becoming an unstoppable force, it becomes a story of “anyone can beat anyone on any given day.” Reminding us of that now and again helps make every match feel more unpredictable.)
-Matt Taven came out dressed for a day at the beach and carrying something in a velvet bag. He said what was in the bag was something only fit for royalty – the real ROH world title. He mentioned his visual eight-count on Dalton Castle in the four-way match that saw Jay Lethal become new world champion. He addressed “Martin Squirrel” and said he’s failed every time he’s had a world title shot. He thinks Scurll needs to work his way back up the ranks and prove himself before he gets the opportunity to step in the ring with him, the real ROH World Champion. Taven said Scurll will face Marseglia tonight instead. Taven joined commentary.
(6) ROH WORLD SIX-MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPION “THE HORROR KING” VINNY MARSEGLIA vs. “THE VILLAIN” MARTY SCURLL
Sinclair had Marseglia’s ax removed from the ring at the first opportunity. Marseglia caught Scurll with a dropkick at 1:16. Taven dominated commentary, taking shots at Dalton Castle and Jay Lethal and picking fights with Coleman. Marseglia hit a suplex on the floor and ripped up the ringside mats. Scurll fought back and they returned to the ring. Marseglia brought his red balloon into the ring and popped it in Scurll’s ear at 5:50. The commentators tried to put over how much that actually hurts. By 8:40 Marseglia had been on offense nearly the entire match. Superplex from Scurll but Marseglia kicked out at two. Marseglia blocked a tornado DDT attempt as Scurll sold a back injury. Side Russian leg sweep from Marseglia for two. Scurll wanted a suplex but his back gave out. He finally hit a brainbuster but Marseglia kicked out. Slingblade and diving headbutt from Marseglia. Piledriver from Scurll at 14:15. Scurll got his knees up on a swanton from Marseglia. Chickenwing from Scurll and Marseglia tapped.
WINNER: Marty Scurll in 15:38.
-Taven jumped Scurll and pummeled him. TK O’Ryan showed up and joined in. They set up Scurll for Rockstar Supernova but stopped when Cody’s music hit. He charged the ring with a steel chair and cleaned house. As Cody stomped away at Taven O’Ryan returned, though. They paired off and fought until a fleet of security ran down to separate the teams.
(Pageot’s Perspective: Definitely the bathroom break match, which probably sounds weird considering how popular Scurll is with the ROH fans. Marseglia is just a mess as a character, though, and the balloon pop is not over. Taven also distracted from the match. I found myself listening to the three men on commentary more than paying attention to what was happening in the ring for the most part. For Scurll to go from challenging for the world title in the main event of two pay-per-views in a row to selling for a lower midcard tag wrestler for 15 minutes was weird, even if it is just the set up for a longer Scurll-Taven feud. This being the longest match of the night so far was a questionable decision, though.)
-Eventually everyone got cleared and sent to the back aside from Cody and O’Ryan so the referee decided to go straight into our next match.
(7) ROH WORLD SIX-MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPION TK O’RYAN vs. “THE AMERICAN NIGHTMARE” CODY (w/ Brandi Rhodes & Burnard The Business Bear)
One minute into the match Cody called to the back and his wife and his bear came running down to be in his corner. At 3:20 O’Ryan grabbed Brandi to use as a shield. He then ran Cody into the ring post and shoved Burnard down and stomped away at him. Conrad Thompson, the man behind the Starrcast convention taking place during All In weekend, was shown in the crowd. O’Ryan mouthed off at him. Cody with the figure four at 6:12 but O’Ryan made it to the ropes. O’Ryan spit on Cody at 8:00, then took a slap from Brandi on the floor and a suicide dive from Cody. Cody smashed a fan’s soda across the side of O’Ryan’s head. Cody went up top and O’Ryan shoved the ref into the ropes, crotching Cody. “A page out of Bully Ray’s playbook,” Riccaboni pointed out. Top rope powerslam from O’Ryan for a two-count. O’Ryan goaded Brandi into the ring. As the referee held her back O’Ryan clubbed Cody with his six-man title but Cody kicked out at two and three-quarters. CrossRhodes seals it.
WINNER: Cody in 11:21.
-Cody introduced Burnard to Thompson after the match and they shook hands.
(Pageot’s Perspective: This one also fell a little flat for me. Maybe I just don’t care about The Kingdom? We’re also over the two-hour mark now with no video packages or any real breaks to catch our breath or grab a drink. A weird thing to complain about, I know. Maybe it’s only an issue if you’re doing a live written report while watching the show.)
-Cody joined Riccaboni and Coleman for the NWA title match.
(8a) “THE DEALER” NICK ALDIS vs. FLIP GORDON – NWA WORLD’S HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Gordon’s right shoulder was taped up. Gordon with a side headlock. Aldis powered out. Gordon got hot and yelled at Aldis that he’ll be the champion and #ALLIN. Aldis with a delayed vertical suplex. Fallaway slam. Aldis with a sleeper hold, Gordon with a jawbreaker. Aldis with the King’s Lynn Cloverleaf. Kinder Surprise sent Aldis to the floor. Suicide dive. Springboard dropkick back into the ring. Springboard spear for a two-count. Crossface from Gordon but Aldis made it to the ropes. Samoan pop and running shooting star press. Top rope moonsault but Aldis kicked out again. Gordon’s knee was hurt, though, which Cody and Coleman kept focusing on. Aldis with a piledriver. Top rope elbow drop.
WINNER: Nick Aldis in 11:56 to retain the NWA title.
-The commentators were quick to notice that Gordon had his foot on the bottom rope during the pin. A couple referees ran out from the back to alert Sinclair and even Cody joined in, supporting Gordon. Aldis headed backstage with his title. Sinclair ordered the match be re-started. Aldis walked back out on stage and stared at them in disbelief.
(8b) “THE DEALER” NICK ALDIS vs. FLIP GORDON – NWA WORLD’S HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Gordon flipped over the ropes onto Aldis on the floor as the bell rang. Superkick. Star-Spangled Stunner for one… two… no! “That was three” chant from the crowd. Cody rejoined commentary. Gordon’s foot got caught on the top rope on a springboard attempt due to his hurt knee. Aldis with twi powerbombs. Gordon kicked out and into the King’s Lynn Cloverleaf. He tried to crawl to the ropes as Aldis wrenched in the hold. Gordon blacked out.
WINNER: Nick Aldis in 2:36 (14:32 total) to retain the NWA title.
-Cody headed to the ring to check on Gordon. “Book Flip” chant from the crowd. Cody and Aldis eyed each other warily. Aldis offered a hand to Gordon and Cody took the other one. They helped Gordon to his feet and Gordon and Aldis followed the code of honor. Cody patted Gordon on the shoulder and whispered something to him before holding up his arm. Gordon was left alone in the ring to “Flip” chants and whistles of appreciation. Then Bully Ray showed up and low blowed him from behind. “I didn’t forget about you, Flip!”
-Ray stormed the commentary table and got in Riccaboni’s face. “Where’s your boy?!” he demanded (referring to Cabana). He called Coleman a nobody and lunged at them as they scattered. We went in silence to a promo still for tonight’s main event.
(Pageot’s Perspective: Aldis really does feel like he stepped out of a time machine. His look, his move set, and his mannerisms are all classic ’70s wrestling and it makes him stand out in such a distinct way. Gordon is arguably the biggest breakout star ROH has had in the past two years and continues to grow with every appearance. Cody was also great on commentary. He came across as very intelligent and with logical answers to all of Coleman and Riccaboni’s questions as he drew upon the history and format of pro wrestling. Is the Cody-Gordon rivalry finally over now? Every heated Bullet Club feud ends with the two parties as best friends so it wouldn’t be that much of a surprise. Will Bully Ray get himself a partner to team up against Cabana and Gordon? D-Von’s not an option but Shane Taylor could be a natural fit.)
(9) ROH WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS THE BRISCOES (Jay Briscoe & Mark Briscoe) vs. THE YOUNG BUCKS (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) vs. SOCAL UNCENSORED (Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian w/Scorpio Sky) – NON-TITLE MATCH
Mark and Daniels started. Kaz joined in so Mark scurried off and tagged Nick. Back and forth from Nick and Kaz. The Briscoes crashed the party and attacked both men. Matt saved Nick and they cleared the Briscoes. Double-teamwork from the Bucks on Daniels. Jay with a blind tag to Matt. Kaz fought off both Briscoes but fell to their heel tactics. They knocked Daniels and the Bucks off the apron. The Briscoes worked over Kaz. Kaz tagged both Bucks at the same time so they entered and unloaded on the Briscoes with their signature offense. Double sharpshooters but SCU broke it up. Stereo superkicks to the Briscoes. Flips onto SCU and suicide dives onto the Briscoes. Mark was left alone in the ring with the Bucks but took them both out. Daniels tagged in and took down Mark. Jay saved his brother from an Angel’s Wings. People went down left and right ending with Daniels in a sharpshooter from Nick. Daniels crawled over and covered Mark for a pin while still in the sharpshooter.
Bodies everywhere. Flips and superkicks. Best Moonsault Ever from Daniels to Jay but a superkick from Nick stopped the pin garnering the first “this is awesome” chant of the night. Jay and Daniels threw hands. Death valley driver to Daniels. Tag to Mark. Jay and Nick teamed for a Doomsday Device on Daniels. Jay Driller + froggy-bow combo to Daniels but Nick saved the match. The Bucks were left alone with Mark and gave him a Meltzer Driver for the win.
WINNERS: The Young Bucks in 14:35.
-Riccaboni and Coleman spoke about how this has to put the Bucks back at the front of the line for a shot at the ROH tag titles. One of Marseglia’s red balloons ended up in the ring so Nick held it for Matt to superkick.
(Pageot’s Perspective: There were so many combinations and counters and reversals built into this match that I gave up trying to document them. When you have six men this good, who know each other so well and have wrestled each other so many times, the fluidity and interconnectivity is off the charts. This was a blast and I’d love to see this again with ladders as well for Ladder War VII. Hell, if the Bucks decide to give WWE a shot this winter when their ROH contracts run out and Daniels and Kaz elect to retire at the end of this year when their contracts finish… what a way to close out a huge era of ROH that would be.)
Find Harley on Twitter @talkinghonor and listen to he and Emily Fear talk all things ROH every Tuesday on the PWTorch Livecast “Talking Honor.”
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