ROH on Sinclair – Episode 023 – 25th February 2012
There are only two things you need to know about this episode of ROH on SBG. Firstly, it’s just two weeks until the 10th Anniversary Show so we need to see the hard sell on that ppv…and secondly, it’s Richards/Lethal II – once again with Lethal challenging for Davey’s World Championship. We’re still taping in Baltimore, MD with Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness.
Caprice Coleman/Cedric Alexander vs Young Bucks
Contrasting motivations for the two teams involved in this one. The Jacksons say they’re only going to give this one about 60% as it’s nothing more than preparation for their Tag Title shot in New York, whilst C&C want to score a big victory over the #1 contenders to get themselves into the reckoning for another championship opportunity.
Matt doesn’t take Alexander seriously at all, and is caught totally off guard as C&C nail him with a leg lariat Hart Attack variant for 2. But engaging the Bucks in combo moves is a seriously bad idea, as the Jackons deliver a signature sequence ending with Nick hitting a tope suicida which wipes Coleman out. Cedric eats a boot to the face as well, and the #1 contenders are soon in total control. They isolate the younger member of the opposing team, so it’s Alexander absorbing some punishment before diving into a hot tag which allows Caprice to explode back into the contest! ROLLING MOONSAULT TO THE FLOOR BY NICK…MISSES! SOMERSAULT PLANCHA BY CEDRIC! Caprice is a fraction of a second away from victory after flattening Nick with a flying crossbody. Mind Trip gets 2 on Matt. Cedric tries a frog splash, only to be WAFFLED with a superkick from Matt. MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK! Coleman is done, and the Bucks take the victory at 05:28
Rating - *** - There wasn’t much more these four guys could do in five minutes of TV time to be honest. It was a fun little spotfest to open the show, getting the live crowd revved up and the episode off to a great start. Caprice and Cedric really seem to be spinning the wheels and getting nowhere at the moment, which is a shame because some of their performances on ROH undercards thus far in 2012 have been really solid.
Tommaso Ciampa interrupts Prince Nana, and tells the ROH viewers that he’s desperate for Lethal to win the World Title tonight so he can take it from him at the 10th Anniversary.
Kevin Kelly calls the Briscoes to the ring for an interview. They vent on the Bucks, complain about House Of Truth not giving them $5000 (which they didn’t earn by the way) and facing WGTT at Showdown In The Sun.
INSIDE ROH – Jimmy Jacobs is planning to become evil one more time when he faces Kevin Steen. In a separate interview Mr Wrestling begs Jimmy to hurt him and make him bleed in New York, so Jacobs realises how good being evil feels.
Also booked for the Hammerstein is the return of the All Night Express, as Rhett Titus comes off the injured list and joins Kenny King to face Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team.
NEXT WEEK – Eddie Edwards vs Roderick Strong to determine who gets a World Title shot at Showdown In The Sun. Roderick knows Eddie is on a losing streak and plans to flatten him.
Veda Scott talks to Edwards and Adam Cole, who think Davey won’t be able to concentrate on his title defence this evening since he has them to face at the iPPV.
Davey Richards vs Jay Lethal – ROH World Title Match
Not sure whether it will be mentioned on TV, but this is a rematch from their superb bout at Homecoming 2012, which still stands as ROH’s best match of the year thus far. That night Lethal took everything Davey had to offer and pushed him to the limit – impressing the champion so much that Richards offered him an immediate rematch. This is the culmination of ROH’s Fighting February, and the first time that they’ve let the World and TV Champions square off in a singles match on TV.
I’m absolutely appalled that ROH haven’t mentioned the Philadelphia match yet. It’s a glaring missed opportunity to sell some DVD’s. The crowd is split for this, although the majority do seem to be supporting Lethal as he does his best to absorb an early onslaught of mat wrestling attacks from the champion. Credit to him, he turns it round to catch Davey in both submission and pinfall attempts of his own – and even forces Richards to take evasive action as he throws a kick in his direction. Hiptoss Dropkick nailed and forces Davey to retreat into the ropes as he finds it increasingly difficult to deal with the challenger as he grows in confidence. Eventually he lands a boot to the jaw, enabling him to start tying Jay up in a Muta Lock. Lethal is wounded there but turns it around to deliver a tilta-whirl backbreaker into a submission of his own…only for Richards to counter THAT with a horse collar. Approaching 7 minutes and this is totally evenly matched thus far. Lethal tries to establish an advantage with a second rope flying heel kick but I still noticeably selling the submission holds he’s already endured. Tommaso Ciampa sets up a chair at ringside to watch the action as we leave it for the final commercial break. When we come back it’s STILL even as they jostle for position over the turnbuckles. Richards steamrolls through Lethal with a running punt from the apron…AND DESTROYS HIM AGAINST THE GUARDRAILS WITH A TOPE SUICIDA! There’s no room on that side of the ring and both guys took a hell of a spill there!
Ciampa and Richards square up to each other, only for Kyle O’Reilly to arrive on the scene to wisely pull his mentor away from the situation. The distraction gives Lethal an opportunity and he takes it by nailing the handspring elbow – which is actually great psychology as he’d tried the Lethal Injection during the commercials and seen it countered to the Anklelock. Lethal Combination nailed for 2. As the action continues the entire House Of Truth makes their way to the ring as well, this time distracting Jay as he climbs for the Macho Elbow. Richards starts hammering at the arm then ties him up for the SUPERPLEX INTO FALCON ARROW ARMBAR! Eddie Edwards and Adam Cole are out scouting too, and all of a sudden the only ally Davey has amongst a sea of guys at ringside is O’Reilly. He and Lethal LAY INTO EACH OTHER WITH STRIKES! ALARM CLOCK COUNTERED…DAVEY COUNTERS BACK TO THE ARMBREAKER! LETHAL COUNTERS OUT…SUPERKICK DUEL! DAVEY WITH A LARIAT! The champion heads to the top rope, but starts arguing with Eddie Edwards…as House Of Truth jump Kyle O’Reilly! LETHAL WITH THE MACHO ELBOW! DAVEY KICKS OUT! Half the crowd thought it was over, as everyone starts fighting on the floor. He goes for the Lethal Injection, but the guys fighting on the floor jog the ropes. KNOCK-OUT KICK! Richards retains at 16:07 (shown), after what looked like an inadvertent assist from Adam Cole.
Rating - **** - Homecoming 2012 was obviously better, and I could easily sit here and vent my frustration that ROH decided to go for that cheap finish. BUT, the reality is this is a televised product now. Feuds need to be advanced, and as an ROH hardcore fan I got to see Davey and Jay do their thing and go to a clean finish already this year. And, being positive, for free TV this was a terrific match – and one that really solidified Lethal’s progression from returning TNA guy to accepted ROH main event level talent. To me this is the match that showed that Lethal had outgrown the TV Title and was ready to hang with the top line talents in the promotion.
As Davey’s music hits security is still desperately trying to separate everyone brawling around the ring. Surprisingly, a camera shows Tommaso still sitting motionless in his chair. He never moved, never fought anyone and looks devastated that Lethal didn’t win…
Tape Rating - *** - Had they put a clean finish on Richards/Lethal II we might have been taking 4* for this episode as I really enjoyed it. Bucks/C&C was a blast, we had MASSES of hype for the 10th Anniversary and a kick ass main event to close out Fighting February. I know I’ve been as guilty as anyone for bashing ROH this year, but even as a critic I can stand back and applaud this as a fantastic week of Ring Of Honor television.