ROH on Sinclair – Episode 012 – 10th December 2011
Just two shows to go before Final Battle 2011 and the card is really starting to take shape. Ridiculous as the Dan Severn stuff is, Richards/Edwards 3 is enough to sell the show by itself – so when you throw in an undercard including a 3-way TV Title Match, a Tag Title grudge match, the Roderick Strong Invitational and Kevin Steen’s opportunity to win his career back it’s starting to look pretty stacked. The card is there, all that’s left is ROH to finish these last two weeks of television in a strong manner. The headline bout tonight pits Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team against the All Night Express in a Proving Ground Match. This was taped in Louisville, KY with Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness.
Bravado Brothers vs Caprice Coleman/Cedric Alexander
C&C aren’t happy about the lack of respect they’ve been shown by the Briscoes in recent weeks. They’re ready to fight them again anytime Jay and Mark want, but for now they have to prove their credentials against the tag division’s resident whipping boys the Bravados.
Cedric starts with Harlem, although Lancelot is soon in the ring as well assisting his brother in putting Alexander on the canvas. C&C and get some retribution with some double teaming on Lance. The Bravados are probably better at cheating though, as Harlem rocks Cedric with a cheap shot from the outside which gives his team the advantage once again. Back suplex neckbreaker gets a 2-count for the brothers. Caprice clears the ring then heads outside with a ringpost 619 on Harlem. Somersault plancha from Alexander scores too! The Bravados retaliate with the Gentleman’s Approach for 2. INVERTED DDT/DOMINATOR COMBO! Coleman and Alexander win at 06:06
Rating - ** - This was very reminiscent of the Bucks/Future Shock tag main event from last week, except it wasn’t as long or as good…and neither of these teams are in the same league as those four guys. Pretty fun for an opening contest, although I could have done with seeing a little more of the Bravados personality. That double team finish Caprice and Cedric have come up with is great.
TJ Perkins vs Chris Silvio
Although this is basically an enhancement match for TJ (he could do with a few wins considering he’s lost almost constantly since signing his SBG contract), at least Silvio’s ‘Psychedelic Superstar’ gimmick makes him a pretty unique opponent.
Since we’re in OVW’s building, Silvio is actually more over than TJP. Some slack production from the team list him as ‘SILVO’ on the Tale Of The Tape graphic. Quick start by Perkins, landing multiple dropkicks and headscissors…although it doesn’t dent Chris’ confidence as he continues posing and gesturing to the crowd. He sweeps TJ’s legs as he thinks about a dive then violently shunts him into the ringpost to turn the match in his favour. Sadly Silvio slips trying a double axehandle off the top rope and looks like a bit of a lemon as he barely connects. Perkins capitalises with another headscissors and this time does connect with a tope suicida. Silvio wants a superplex but winds up eating a flying double knee strike. Detonation Kick wins it for TJ at 06:12
Rating - DUD - This was lousy on pretty much every level. Too long, obvious botches and miscommunications, multiple very fake-looking exchanges too. I like Perkins but considering how long he’s been in the business he’s a very inconsistent performer. He didn’t want to work hard at all here and phoned in his performance. Silvio has a decent gimmick but is as limited and unimpressive as the rest of the OVW crew. That these two got more time than Bravados/C&C is inexcusable…
INSIDE ROH – We run through the multiple time-limit draws that have led us to Final Battle and Jay Lethal’s TV Title defence against both El Generico and Mike Bennett. The Prodigy criticises ROH for having to book two guys against him. Jay is good in the ring but his interviews bore the sh*t out of me. There’s more Edwards/Severn stupidity, and Kevin Kelly announces Final Battle will also have a 5 team Gauntlet Match with more details to come.
NEXT WEEK – Davey Richards vs Michael Elgin in a Proving Ground Match.
Charlie Haas/Shelton Benjamin vs All Night Express
This is under Proving Ground rules meaning Rhett and Kenny need to go to the time limit or defeat WGTT to earn themselves a Tag Title shot. Their record against Haas and Benjamin is pretty lousy though. Even when you take into account how far ANX have progressed this year, it would probably be considered a shock if they were to earn a title shot here.
King ducks the Dragon Whip, but Shelton catches his Capo Kick seconds later as those two guys run through an engaging opening couple of minutes. The champions assume control soon afterwards, looking to cut the ring in half and isolate Rhett Titus. Kenny has to save his partner - snap suplexing Haas into the mounted forearm strikes. But Rhett keeps making mistakes and injures his shoulder attempting an ill-advised shoulder tackle and connecting with nothing but the ringpost. It’s there that we go to commercials but when we come back WGTT are still on control and working over the now-injured arm and shoulder. Benjamin shows exceptional dedication to that focus by unleashing a German suplex and making a point of actually dropping him on that shoulder. But Titus fights back by whipping Shelton (who is still nursing injured ribs remember) straight into an inadvertently exposed turnbuckle bolt. Charlie is on hand to stop Rhett tagging…so he gets a ride into the exposed turnbuckle too! Hot tag to Kenny who flies into a jumping enzi kick up the ropes on Haas. Super Sex Factor from Titus gets 2! Olympic Slam from Haas...Shotgun Knees from King! BELLY TO BELLY SUPERPLEX BY SHELTON! WGTT set up the Leap Of Faith but Titus low bridges Benjamin! The Briscoes run in and deliver a chair shot directly to the injured ribs of Benjamin. ONE NIGHT STAND! ANX win at 10:49 (shown)…and incredibly they have the Briscoes to thank for their guaranteed title shot!
Rating - *** - A shorter time allocation meant everything these four did was quick and purposeful so I actually found this to be their best match together – definitely better than the recent WGTT/ANX Tag Title match. The screwy finish is annoying but necessary given what’s happening with Haas, Benjamin and the Briscoes at the moment.
Benjamin is in need of medical help as he struggles to catch his breath after that chair attack. Charlie Haas ends the show promising to kill the Briscoes…
Tape Rating - * - The main event was ok, but one low end 3* match with a cheap finish is a pretty poor return on an hour of television. I hated Perkins/Silvio, Inside ROH was skippable, no storylines were advanced at all outside of WGTT/ANX either. As a standalone episode this wasn’t good, and as part of the Final Battle hype machine it wasn’t great either. Give this one a miss…