ROH on Sinclair – Episode 027 – 24th March 2012
This is the last chance for ROH to get some ippv buys for their double headed contribution to Wrestlemania weekend (the spring break of pro-wrestling as ROH are calling it). They are in competition with not only the WWE, but also multiple other independent promotions. Wrestling fans only have so much money to spend (even if ROH’s two ippvs for $20 is a great deal) and if they want the buys they need to use this show to convince them fans should be watching Ring Of Honor this weekend. Expect the hard sell for Showdown In The Sun, alongside the continuation of the March Mayhem tournament. It’s Baltimore, MD’s Du Burns Arena - with Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness
Jim Cornette prepares to interview the three participants in Friday night’s big World Title match. To summarise their comments: Davey doesn’t trust anyone, Eddie is still sore about the break-up of the American Wolves, whilst Roderick smirks that Elgin is going to handover his Blind Destiny title shot to him on Night 2 if he doesn’t win it in the triple threat. Jay Lethal shows up to complain that he isn’t in title contention…before the inevitable arrival of Kevin Steen to run them all down and call himself the next World Champion. I'm not sure this really accomplished much - but I suppose at this stage a perfunctory in-ring segment to shill the ppv is adequate
Caprice Coleman/Cedric Alexander vs Charlie Haas/Shelton Benjamin
I think this is the first time we’ve seen WGTT in the ring on TV since Charlie defied Cornette to beat up Mark Briscoe with a steel chair. He paid their fines, but we’ve only seen them in backstage promos since. They think their lack of TV time is because they pissed the Executive Producer off, but don’t care and have their sights set on regaining the Tag Titles in Florida. C&C resent to being viewed as a routine warm up match and plan to make a statement by beating the veterans this evening.
Benjamin pats Caprice on the head rather than shake his hand, and clearly isn’t taking this seriously at all. Coleman unloads with some punches and a high leg lariat…but is soon shut down and in need of a tag. Haas amusingly throws him out of the ring, but credit to Cedric who storms back in and joins his partner to knock both opponents out of the ring. STEREO TOPES from C&C find the mark, only for Shelton to connect with a huge kick to the side of Alexander’s head in the melee. WGTT isolate the youngest man in the match from there with Charlie doing his best to end his career after a GUARDRAIL BACK SUPLEX! Cedric somehow absorbs that and springs off Shelton into a huge enzi kick on Haas. Hot tag to Caprice who gets CRAZY hangtime on a double crossbody. Cedric returns to bloody Shelton with a superkick. C&C line up the super rana/frog splash combo…only for Benjamin to save with a rope run mafia kick. Leap Of Faith countered…and here comes Jay Briscoe to smash Haas in the face with a chair! COLEMAN WINS! C&C score a huge win at 08:41 (shown)
Rating - *** - They get a lot of flack (rightly so) but to defend WGTT, thus far in 2012 they’ve had some entertaining undercard, TV-length matches. Their experience working shorter length matches for this sort of format really does shine through. I liked their Homecoming 2012 encounter with Future Shock, and rated their 10th Anniversary clash with ANX higher than most too. Caprice and Cedric have been so underrated this year it’s pretty sad, so I was glad to see them get the rub and a big win. I’d have probably gone 2* had WGTT gone over.
Shelton steals Veda Scott’s microphone and promises a Briscoe ‘genocide’ in Florida…
INSIDE ROH – It’s the last chance for Kevin Kelly to run down the big ppv matches this weekend.
Michael Elgin vs Adam Cole
Since Roderick Strong was eliminated by Jay Lethal last week, Elgin is the only chance House Of Truth have left of pocketing the $24,000 winners purse for March Mayhem. Adam Cole blocks his path, buoyed by a recent ppv pinfall over Davey Richards and getting psyched to face his former tag partner at Showdown In The Sun this weekend.
Elgin, who’s momentum has slowed drastically since he won Survival Of The Fittest, gets a nice ovation from the crowd…and wastes no time mauling the smaller man. O’Reilly is busy running Cole down on commentary but much to his annoyance Adam lands a tope with such force he bounces off Elgin and lands on his feet. Elgin’s response? GERMAN SUPLEX INTO THE TURNBUCKLES! Kyle is actually really great as an idiotic douche on commentary by the way. Elgin is busy working Cole’s back over with big stretches, slams and suplexes. Truth Martini takes some cheap shots for good measure and Adam is in real trouble. Buckle Bomb is blocked though – with Elgin falling through the ropes into the path of a SLINGSHOT DDT ON THE APRON! Florida Key attempted, which is absolutely suicidal on a guy of Unbreakable’s size…and Elgin levels him with a swinging side slam for 2. SPINNING BACK FIST! COLE NO SELLS! JUMPING ENZI! SUPERKICK! LARIAT BY ELGIN! Both guys are flat out on the canvas! Cole is up first to nail a sunset bomb then a Superfly Splash which gets a nearfall. Roderick Strong runs in…AND ACCIDENTALLY KICKS ELGIN! Just like last week’s Strong/Lethal match, Cole pounces to roll Elgin up and get the win at 10:21 (shown).
Rating - *** - Throw a better finish on that and these guys could have been pushing up towards the 4* mark. This was a hell of a fight, and a big step up from their Rise & Prove match (although I’ve given it the same rating). Cole has been delivering the goods all year, and it’s good to see ROH finally getting behind him with big wins over Richards and Elgin so far this month. Realistically, Elgin didn’t need to win here with a guaranteed title shot and a potential Blind Destiny title match too…and the conclusion furthers the growing dissension within the HOT whilst continuing Cole’s rise up the card. And by the way, O’Reilly (who was such a solid undercard babyface in 2011) was awesome on commentary. He is so believable as a heelish dork and Team Richards stooge and it added to the match we were watching.
Roderick doesn’t seem too bothered about Elgin’s loss, and happily beats the hell out of Cole until Eddie Edwards runs into save.
NEXT WEEK – Edwards/Bennett and Ciampa/O’Reilly in March Mayhem
Tape Rating - *** - Two good matches and plenty of build to the pay-per-view. Like I said during my review of Episode 26, it’s easy to criticise ROH in 2012…but the way they’ve come from Final Battle (which ultimately fell a little flat) and shaken up the product to deliver a strong build into Showdown In The Sun this weekend is hugely commendable. For all the talk of thin rosters, bad shows and so on, they have two great cards lined up and any number of matches which could potentially be the best bout of the entire weekend in Florida. Oh, and Cole/Elgin from this episode is worth checking out if you’re a Ringside Member…