SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
ROH ROAD TO G1 SUPERCARD
JANUARY 26, 2019
SAN ANTONIO, TX AT AUSTIN HIGHWAY EVENT CENTER
AIRED ON ROH HONOR CLUB
REPORT BY HARLEY R. PAGEOT, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Commentary: Ian Riccaboni, Colt Cabana
We opened in the arena with Riccaboni and Cabana running down the night’s card.
(1) SHINOBI SHADOW SQUAD (Cheeseburger, Eli Isom, & Ryan Nova) vs. NJPW YOUNG LIONS (Alex Coughlin, Karl Fredericks, & Clark Connors)
Isom hit a brainbuster on Coughlin for the win.
WINNERS: Shinobi Shadow Squad in 9:12.
(Pageot’s Perspective: After six hours of ROH and 20 matches already in the past two days coverage will likely be briefer than usual tonight, if only due to my own exhaustion.)
-The Kingdom made their entrance. Taven asked where 3S went. They wanted to congratulate them on finally winning another match. 3S returned to the ring. Taven said they’d one day defend the six-man titles against 3S and teased putting the belts on the line right then. He immediately rescinded the offer and said they’ll defend them when they feel like it. He declared the Kingdom the greatest trio in wrestling history. 3S entered the ring and went nose to nose with the Kingdom. The faces got tossed quickly.
Dalton Castle’s music hit. He and his Boys made their entrance. Castle took a mic on stage and said that wasn’t very nice. He asked why they’re grouchy and said it sounded like the crowd wanted to see a six-man title match. If only there were a worthy team available, like some former champions who also picked up a victory over Shane Taylor & The Briscoes two nights ago. But Castle admitted they would never agree to put the titles on the line because they’re afraid of the embarrassment of losing the titles to Castle & the Boys. Taven called for a referee.
(2) THE KINGDOM (Matt Taven, Vinny Marseglia, & TK O’Ryan) vs. DALTON CASTLE & THE BOYS (Dalton Castle, Brandon, & Brent) – ROH WORLD SIX-MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
After being on the defensive for most of the match Castle cleared the Kingdom to ringside and took turns tossing the Boys over the top ropes onto the three Kingdom members repeatedly. After Brent accidentally elbowed Castle O’Ryan and Marseglia hit House Of A Thousand Horses on Castle and pinned him.
WINNERS: The Kingdom in 11:06 to retain the six-man titles.
-The Boys tried to help Castle to his feet but he shoved them away. He helped them up again seconds later and apologized. They left together.
(Pageot’s Perspective: Castle’s losing streak continues. This has all the hallmarks of the story where the former world champion turns heel out of frustration but I just can’t see Castle as a heel.)
(3) “HOT SAUCE” TRACY WILLIAMS (w/Tenille Dashwood) vs. RHETT TITUS
Titus avoided a frogsplash but Williams caught him with a clothesline. He wrenched in a chinlock and Titus tapped immediately.
WINNER: Tracy Williams in 11:15.
(4) VILLAIN ENTERPRISES (PCO & Brody King) vs. BEAT DOWN CLAN (Kenny King & MVP) vs. THE BOUNCERS (Beer City Bruiser & Brian Milonas) – TAG WARS, SEMIFINALS
Brody and PCO hit a double chokeslam on Bruiser. BDC took out Brody. The Bouncers returned to isolate MVP. Milonas with a side slam. Bruiser held Kenny up for a legdrop from Milonas. Bruiser hit a splash off the top rope onto MVP and the Kings at ringside. PCO looked to hit a moonsault of his own but Milonas caught him up top. Kenny and MVP powerbombed Milonas off the second rope. King hit a corkscrew flip over the top rope onto Milonas at ringside. MVP hit his ballin’ elbow drop on Bruiser. Suplex. Brody clotheslined himself and MVP to the floor. PCO hit his top rope moonsault onto Bruiser.
WINNERS: Villain Enterprises in 10:58.
(Pageot’s Perspective: Great match with a somewhat disappointing result. VE are already feuding with The Kingdom for the six-man titles. Do they really need to be competing for the other tag titles at the same time? I thought we might see BDC vs. Lethal & Gresham in the finals to further the Kenny-Lethal feud but instead it seems like it will be PCO & Brody vs. Robinson & Finlay.)
(5) ROH WORLD CHAMPION JAY LETHAL & “THE OCTOPUS” JONATHAN GRESHAM vs. LIFEBLOOD (IWGP United States Champion Juice Robinson & David Finlay) vs. COAST 2 COAST (Shaheem Ali & LSG) – TAG WARS, SEMIFINALS
C2C set up Finlay for their finisher but Robinson pushed LSG off the top rope. Trash Panda from Finlay to Ali ended it.
WINNERS: Lifeblood in 10:47.
(Pageot’s Perspective: I know you want all the new signees to look like top stars and be pushed as big additions to the promotion but I can’t help but feel badly for people like C2C, Gresham, and the Bouncers. They were all steadily climbing the ranks last year and picking up momentum only to be immediately leapfrogged by the new kids in town. Six months ago C2C were undefeated and poised to be the next breakout team of the tag division. I fear they’ll be little more than an afterthought in 2019.)
(6) KELLY KLEIN (w/Camp Klein) vs. SUMIE SAKAI – WOH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Sakai started to get on a roll early on but one of Klein’s crew members pulled her to ringside and got between them. This allowed Klein to take control again. Klein caught Sakai with a knee. Sakai locked in a triangle choke but Klein powered out and slammed her down. Release German suplex from Klein. TJ neckbreaker from Sakai for a two-count. Sakai with a top rope frankensteiner for another two. Sakai looked for a top rope moonsault but Klein rolled out of the way. Klein with a flurry of back elbows in the corner. Sakai countered a suplex into a DDT and both women were down. Klein looked to suplex Sakai from the apron to the floor. Sakai hit a running forearm that knocked Klein off the apron and into the arms of Camp Klein. Sakai with a top rope crossbody onto all the campers at ringside, then a high crossbody onto Klein in the ring. Fisherwoman’s buster for another two-count in the ring. As she ran the ropes one of Klein’s goons tripped her. Klein hit a big boot but Sakai kicked out. K-Power but Sakai kicked out again! Smash Mouth but Klein kicked out at two and a half. Sakai went up top but Klein met her and nailed a super K-Power. Klein took her sweet time making a cover, eventually deciding to lock in End Of The Match instead. Referee Todd Sinclair called for the bell because Sakai was out.
WINNER: Kelly Klein in 12:03 by referee stoppage to retain the WOH world title.
-Twisted Sisterz hit the ring and nailed Sakai with a double powerbomb. Riccaboni said that Madison Rayne was not in attendance to lend support. Thunder Rosa took a mic. She said they don’t care about anyone’s well-being. Holidead said everyone in Women Of Honor was being put on notice.
(Pageot’s Perspective: Fantastic match, maybe the best since the WOH title was introduced. And shoutout to the San Antonio crowd. They’ve been very vocal and energetic all night, really absorbed in every match and that atmosphere is helping everyone shine.)
-Twisted Sisterz left and Cabana went to the ring to check on Sakai. He carried her backstage and Riccaboni was joined by NWA commentator Joe Galli.
(7) ROH WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION JEFF COBB & NWA NATIONAL HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION WILLIE MACK vs. “THE LAST REAL MAN” SILAS YOUNG & SHANE TAYLOR
Taylor and Young looked to superplex Mack but Cobb turned it into a tower of doom. With everyone down Bully Ray hit the ring. He got in referee Todd Sinclair’s face, accusing him of screwing him at Final Battle and last night. Cobb spun Ray around and they went face to face. Ray jawed at him. Cobb dropped his straps. Young low-blowed Cobb from behind.
WINNERS: Cobb & Mack in 15:11 via disqualification.
-Ray mocked Cobb and Mack while the three heels stood over them. Ray left to a chorus of “asshole” from the live crowd.
(Pageot’s Perspective: I never would have imagined I’d see The Mack team with The Monster Matanza Cueto in an ROH ring. What a world.)
-Galli left and Cabana returned. He said Sakai suffered a concussion and had been taken to a local medical facility.
(8) BANDIDO vs. ROCKY ROMERO
Bandido was still banged up from his match with Young on Thursday. Romero was reluctant to target the injuries early on but gradually realized it was in his best interest if he wanted to pick up the win. Bandido was on defense for most of the match. Cabana told the story that whenever Bandido was able to land a big move he was too hurt to make the cover in time, allowing Romero the window to kick out. A 21plex eventually put Romero away.
WINNER: Bandido in 19:29.
(Pageot’s Perspective: Another terrific match. Of all the new signings to ROH in 2019 Bandido has probably looked the best and come across as the biggest star, partly because he’s been given long singles matches to do so and partly because his offense is so splashy and fun.)
(9) “THE VILLAIN” MARTY SCURLL vs. MARK HASKINS
The two Brits hugged before the bell and chatted about old times. Then the second the bell rang they went right at each other with fists. Haskins got the sharpshooter at 10:00 but Scurll made it to the ropes. He connected with From Haskins With Love and followed with an armbreaker. Scurll rolled through, though, and looked for the chicken-wing. Haskins with a roll-up for two and a fireman’s carry driver for another two. They traded pin attempts with Scurll coming out on top.
WINNER: Marty Scurll in 12:15.
(Pageot’s Perspective: Good match as you would expect from two men who know each other as well as these two do.)
-Riccaboni and Cabana spoke about the next Honor Club event, Bound By Honor, on February 10 in Miami. They said Zack Sabre Jr., Mayu Iwatani, and Rush will all be there. Kelly Klein hit the booth and stole Riccaboni’s headset. She spoke directly to Iwatani and said she wants to face her in Miami.
-Tenille Dashwood joined commentary for the main event.
(10) VILLAIN ENTERPRISES (PCO & Brody King) vs. LIFEBLOOD (IWGP United States Champion Juice Robinson & David Finlay) – TAG WARS, FINALS
The winners will challenge the Briscoes for the tag titles at the 17th Anniversary Show on March 15 and be entered into the 2019 Crockett Cup. The feed went down at the 10:38 mark. It came back at 13:00 with Finlay getting a near-fall on King. King hit a Gonzo Bomb on Finlay for the win.
WINNERS: Villain Enterprises in 13:38.
-Robinson offered the code of honor. PCO looked like he was considering it but King pushed him away to a smattering of boos. A dejected Lifeblood left as the Briscoes hit the ring. They and Villain Enterprises threw hands. The Briscoes attacked them with chairs at ringside. Froggybow from Mark onto PCO on a table on the floor. He no-sold it. Security tried to separate the teams but got beat up for their trouble. Jay threw King into the guardrail. PCO and Mark traded chair shots to the head with both men no-selling.
-We went off the air after 3 hours and 35 minutes.
(Pageot’s Perspective: Very strange. All signs on television are pointing to PCO, King, & Scurll feuding with The Kingdom for the six-man titles through the near future so I don’t know why they’re simultaneously going after the other tag titles as well. Despite their name Villain Enterprises have been positioned as babyfaces until now so King’s rejection of the code of honor after the match was confusing and the crowd didn’t seem to know what to make of it. I’m sure other people will have lots to say about all the chair shots to the head at the end there but after three nights, nine and a half hours, and 30 matches I’m tapping out.)
Find Harley on Twitter @talkinghonor and listen to he and Emily Fear talk all things ROH every Tuesday on the PWTorch Dailycast “Talking Honor.”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.