ROH on Sinclair – Episode 004 – 15th October 2011
This is the final episode from the first ROH/SBG tapings in August of 2011. Overall I’d consider the early episodes of the new show to be a pretty resounding success. Of course there’s lots to work on, tweak and improve, but there are clear examples of where the promotion has learnt from the failures of the HDNet show and worked to improve it this time around. Hopefully it’s a trend that continues this evening. We have a double main event billed – one of which is the Briscoes and the All Night Express clashing again, a month removed from Ladder War 3, with the #1 contendership to WGTT on the line. I think the other one is Edwards/Elgin but I’ve not seen that formally announced yet. For the last time we’re in Chicago Ridge, IL with Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness
We start with a Briscoes promo – and by this point they are so good at the angry redneck thing that it’s incredibly entertaining. The implication that WGTT smell like dead chickens made me laugh loudly
Jay Briscoe/Mark Briscoe vs All Night Express
Technically this match served as a prelude to Ladder War 3 since it was taped before Death Before Dishonor 9, but as we watch chronologically this can serve as a prologue – with the two teams going back into battle a month after that gruelling and violent match looking to become top contenders for the Tag Titles (even though ANX already have a shot as a result of winning in New York).
The Tale Of The Tape points out that the Briscoes are 27 and 26 respectively, but have over 11 years experience which is absolutely crazy. They waste no time in taking the fight to the floor, which actually works against them as King comes off the apron with a corkscrew senton! Back in the ring the All Nights work to isolate Mark from his older brother. Sadly the Briscoes don’t follow the rules, and Jay stomps in the ring despite Todd Sinclair’s protest to hit a brutal MAFIA KICK/CHOP BLOCK combo which nearly cuts Rhett Titus in half. It’s Jay and Mark now working Titus over, keeping him from his partner for a couple of minutes uninterrupted. Eventually Rhett plants Mark with the Snake Eyes then gets the hot tag to King. Capture suplex gets 2 on Jay! The Briscoes try to run…so Kenny BACK DROPS HIS OWN PARTNER AT THEM! One Night Stand is blocked though, with Mark pulling Titus out of the ring then FLYING OFF THE TOP ROPE AFTER HIM! Frog Elbow on King gets 2! Kevin Kelly’s whining and crying like a little girl as Mark and Rhett nearly fight onto the announce table is hilarious. The WWE Spanish announce team have never pissed and moaned like that! Anyway, Jay kicks King in the balls then rolls him up for 3 at 08:08
Rating - ** - I think this is the first time I’ve come away from a match on the new TV show and felt disappointed. I wasn’t expecting them to repeat the highs of some of their recent grudge matches in Detroit, Chicago or Manhattan…but I do think they had a better TV-style match in them than this. I’ve mostly given the 2* rating because they managed to effectively convey the heat between them. Most of the action was actually pretty generic, and the crowd was near enough silent too.
Rhett is pissed off at being cheated out of the match and foolishly tries to fight both Briscoes by himself. Security has to come in and pull Jay and Mark off as they maul him for such stupidity.
FOCUS ON – Tonight it’s Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team in the spotlight. Interestingly, this is as much about Haas and Benjamin putting ROH over as it is about getting them over which makes sense considering that they are two of the most recognisable faces to the casual fans.
Jim Cornette at ringside ranting about Jay Briscoe using a low blow to win. He withdraws Jay and Mark’s status as #1 contenders as a result
INSIDE ROH – Kevin Kelly and Jim Cornette try to explain the enigma of Truth Martini to new fans, along with a brief introduction to Michael Elgin as well. Elsewhere Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards both concede that, even though they’re friends, they both want to be World Champion and they will have to have a rematch of their Best In The World classic sometime soon.
Michael Elgin vs Eddie Edwards
This match is billed as a top contenders bout for the ROH World Title. In reality we know Eddie already earned a title shot by winning the Ringmaster’s Challenge at Death Before Dishonor 9, but the fact that ROH are willing to even group Elgin amongst the ‘top contenders’ as a massive vote of confidence for him.
Eddie is a renowned striker, so when Elgin shakes one of his chops off like he doesn’t even feel it, it makes a major statement in the first minute of a match! They trade elbows and again it seems like Elgin’s shots are far more effective than Eddie’s! He starts shaking off boots to the face and barges through the former World Champion – easily taking him off his feet. Edwards tries to increase the pace, but sees his armdrag blocked and Elgin actually picks him up from that position! Achilles Lock attempted out of desperation! That does the trick and puts Michael down for the first time, allowing him to land an Asai moonsault for 2. Flying Codebreaker CAUGHT and Elgin starts battering Edwards into the turnbuckles repeatedly! Eddie is flat on his back as we go to commercials, and picked up in rolling backbreakers upon our return! Elgin is just overpowering and shaking off everything Eddie throws at him! He even starts running through chops…so Eddie levels him with TWO superkicks to finally get him down. He manages to trip him out of the ring and hits the ropes for the ELBOW SUICIDA! That actually breaks the new guardrails and sends a few fans crashing back into their seats. In the ring he lands the Codebreaker, then an enziguri…but Elgin just stands there and nearly flips him with a big lariat for 2. Eddie superkicks him through the ropes…DOUBLE STOMP ON THE APRON! As ever, that’s followed with the double stomp back into the ring. Die Hard COUNTERED with a Buckle Bomb by Michael! But then Edwards rolls out of the Spiral Bomb into another superkick. DIE HARD NAILED! Eddie takes the win at 12:15 (shown)
Rating - *** - Their house show match at Defy Or Deny was obviously better, and given a much more generous time allocation…but for a free TV main event this was undeniably very entertaining. I loved the story they told as it was simple and really helped put both guys over. Elgin looks like a beast and a genuine threat as he repeatedly got to shake off, no sell and decimate a former ROH Champion, and Eddie’s ‘die hard’ persona was also furthered in the process. Hopefully these two will get a chance to lock up again soon.
Roderick Strong, Michael Elgin and Truth Martini all surround Eddie Edwards after the match, prompting Nigel McGuinness to step into the ring and separate everyone…
Tape Rating - ** - In my opinion this was the weakest of the shows thus far. Briscoes/ANX was borderline disappointing, and since the ‘Inside ROH’ feature was based largely around Truth Martini (who I’ve never particularly liked) I didn’t enjoy that as much either. The main event was a lot of fun again and we leave with lots of question marks such as the status of the Tag Title #1 contendership, when will we get Richards/Edwards 3 etc...so there's lots of reasons to tune in next week