ROH on Sinclair – Episode 035 – 19th May 2012

I’m looking forward to this episode. Granted last week’s episode was a bit tedious (albeit masked slightly by a decent Richards/Rhino match) and on the same night as this was being broadcast Jim Cornette and his booking team were putting on a really poor live event in Richmond…but lets not forget the Border Wars ppv was really good, it gave us a new World Champion and lots of questions to be answered as we move into the summer. This show should be good too with scheduled matches of Young Bucks vs All Night Express to end that feud, and a third match in the entertaining series of encounters between ‘Die Hard’ Eddie Edwards and ‘The Prodigy’ Mike Bennett. As ever we are in Baltimore, MD. Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness are on commentary.

Mike Bennett vs Eddie Edwards
This is a rematch from the March Mayhem tournament, when Bennett eliminated Edwards in a qualification match thanks in no small part to the distractions caused by Maria. Eddie didn’t like losing, and didn’t like missing out on the March Mayhem monopoly money so demanded another shot with The Prodigy. Ironically on the same evening this was broadcast he was again fighting Bennett looking for revenge at The Battle Of Richmond.

The Bennett/Maria coordinated banana-coloured ring attire is hideous and awesome in equal measure. It’s an even start, but Bennett makes an error in trying to engage Edwards in some mat wrestling and is easily out-classed in that department. Eddie nails a rana then rolls him into the Achilles Lock – Lance Storm style. Bennett counters out with ease, so Eddie effortlessly glides into the STF instead. Shades of Samoa Joe with that one. Running boot knocks The Prodigy out of the ring…and out of Eddie’s comfort zone. Mike immediately capitalises with a Russian legsweep into the guardrails as we cut to a commercial break. SWEEP BACKBREAKER off the turnbuckles as we come back – Bennett having been in total control during the interlude. Eddie is hurting and looks out on his feet as wildly throws boots and elbows in Bennett’s direction. A big punt knocks Prodigy outside, and despite the intervention of Brutal Bob Edwards still lands the MOONSAULT TO THE FLOOR! Back inside he lands the Backpack Stunner and goes right back into the Achilles Lock. Again Bob Evans interjects himself to save his protégé though. Bennett takes full advantage with a spinebuster! DOUBLE STOMP ON EVANS! Mike is furious and doesn’t expect Eddie’s flash roll-up. Die Hard wins at 09:27 (shown)

Rating - *** - Another solid instalment in this entertaining midcard rivalry. In 2009 Eddie was a focal point of ROH with the American Wolves. In 2010 he had some stellar matches and held the TV Title, whilst in 2011 he had an amazing run winning the World Title and put on some amazing MOTYC’s with the likes of Davey and Roderick. But in 2012 he’s had to step back and, for the first time in years, he’s not really being featured in storylines or title hunt. But the thing is, he’s so good that even in throwaway midcard matches like he’s been wrestling for most of the year, he’s been tremendous. He had a great match with Steen in Florida which went totally unpromoted. He shared an engaging ppv opener with Rhino at Border Wars. He’s had some awesome TV matches with the likes of Strong and O’Reilly. He, along with Lance Storm, is really helping Bennett improve this year with some good matches – and on the rare occasions he is given the spotlight (Rise & Prove, 10th Anniversary, Showdown In The Sun Day 1) he still delivers at a main event level too. I presume he is working without a written SBG contract hence the reason for his demotion into the midcard, lack of promotion, and the fact he hasn’t won a match with his actual finish in months. If you’re looking for comparisons, I have this one as better than their March Mayhem match, but not quite as good as Battle Of Richmond when they had more time to play with.

Bennett assaults Edwards after the match then feeds him to Bob Evans who drills him with scoop backbreaker. There’s a slap from Maria for good measure…and this issue doesn’t seem to be over yet.

We’re set for a singles match between Grizzly Redwood and debutant Kamel Dickinson, but they are interrupted by the House Of Truth. Martini demands that the match is changed to a handicap clash with Grizz and Dickinson teaming up to face Michael Elgin.

Michael Elgin vs Grizzly Redwood/Kamel Dickinson
Apparently Truth wanted this match to prove to everyone that Elgin is indeed ‘Unbreakable’. The HOT has a history of interrupted Redwood when he is on TV…and if you’re honest Grizzly really isn’t featured very often by ROH anymore. If he wants a more prominent role within the company, more TV time and more live event bookings then he’ll need to do something special here. His partner is from Bermuda, and Kelly promotes him as coming from a boxing/MMA background.

Elgin tosses Dickinson around with ease then catches him in midair to deliver a huge powerslam. Spiral Bomb nailed…and the referee calls for medical attention as his night appears to be over. Grizz dives for a Heat Seeking Missile but is CAUGHT…and destroyed with a CHOKESLAM ONTO THE APRON! Incredibly he is still able to jump off the ropes into a tornado DDT. Unbreakable angrily stomps him into the canvas…as Jay Lethal comes to the ring and demands to be a substitute partner for the injured Kamel. Is it wrestlers make the rules night or something? Redwood lunges into a tag to Lethal, who flies in looking to take some frustration out on the House Of Truth who took his TV Title from him. Spinning Back Fist countered to the Lethal Combination for 2. Roderick Strong is on the outside and MURDERS Grizzly against the barricades and applauds as Jay stumbles into a Bossman Slam. Strong stops Jay hitting the Lethal Injection and causes him to EAT the Back Fist. Elgin sets up the Spiral Bomb, but is then stopped by Roddy…who starts attacking Lethal handing his partner a disqualification loss he doesn’t seem best pleased with at 06:59

Rating - ** - Overbooked to sh*t, but seeing Elgin beat people up is a lot of fun and the combination of furthering the Strong/Elgin tension and progressing the Lethal/HOT stuff too meant this at least had a purpose. Not really sure what the point of throwing the newbie out there was for though. He certainly didn’t get to show any of what he could do given that he was killed by Elgin and out of the match in less than 90 seconds.

Truth Martini desperately tries to keep the peace between Elgin and Strong…until Unbreakable steps aside and smirks as Jay flattens Roderick with the Lethal Injection.

INSIDE ROH – There’s a spotlight on the Bucks/ANX feud which is concluded tonight, and the announcement that the next ippv is Best In The World 2012 from New York.

NEXT WEEK – Road Rage featuring the entire Richards/Steen ppv match which fans paid their hard-earned money to see but could have seen for free instead. I’ll get to that next week…

Young Bucks vs All Night Express – Elimination Match
We all know the lengthy history between these teams. The Bucks returned to ROH in 2011, and ended it embroiled in a feud with the All Nights after they repeatedly attacked Rhett Titus’ bad knee – eventually hospitalising him after Final Battle and leaving the injury so severe he required surgery. Since Rhett returned ANX have pursued vengeance against the ‘rockstars’. The two teams shared a 1-1 draw in the Dual Duel at Showdown In The Sun weekend and will determine a winner in the rubber match here in our main event.

ANX attack the Bucks before they can do their signature muscle flex pose, with Titus dropping Matt with a running neckbreaker. The Jacksons hit back with a springboard splash/standing moonsault combo and start to play the numbers game with Rhett. Other than elimination rules this is a standard tag match and they start pulling out the standard heel team tricks to isolate Titus and frustrate King as he fights to try and get involved. Eventually Kenny does get the tag of course, and wastes no time scooping Matt up with the capture suplex. Nick saves his brother wit a superkick then drops Rhett with the slingshot facecrusher. SHOTGUN KNEES ON THE APRON BY KING! SPRINGBOARD DDT ON THE APRON BY MATT! SOMERSAULT PLANCHA BY TITUS! ANX set up the Doomsday Blockbuster but again Nick is on hand to save his brother with a superkick. Stereo Superkick on King gets the YB’s the first fall and eliminates Kenny at 05:09. Titus is on his own and sensibly tosses one of the Bucks out of the ring before tearing into the other…but as we return from the advertisement break it’s clear than the Jacksons are using the handicap situation to their advantage. Suplex into a slingshot senton from Nick Jackson gets 2. There’s a big smile on Nick’s face as he starts attacking Titus’ knee for the first time. The pace really slows now, and it comes as a real surprise with the Bucks miscue on a double boot attempt at Matt winds up getting kicked in the head by his own partner. Titus foolishly tries to pin him with a northern lights suplex and Nick takes full advantage by double stomping him in the exposed ribs. More Bang For Your Buck countered with a flash pin – eliminating Matt at 09:50 (shown). Rhett is limping badly but still propels himself upwards into his dropkick for 2. Pop-up Samoan drop nailed for 2. Matt Jackson tries to get involved…so Kenny King gives him a gourdbuster on the apron. Titus wins with an implant DDT at 11:57 (shown).

Rating - ** - This was ok for a free TV main event, but the elimination stipulations (and the fact that Titus can barely walk since he rushed back too quickly from his surgery) really restricted what they could do. The time to end this feud was at Showdown In The Sun in the Street Fight, but instead ROH screwed them with a stupid finish and only ten minutes of ring time. This was four guys who all work hard, have been booked like trash (whilst WGTT trundle around in undeserved main event spots) trying to make the best of a bad situation. Kenny King would be gone from ROH within a couple of months, and the Young Bucks were about to be put on their infamous ‘summer off’ before their contracts expired too. If I’m honest I’m not too bothered either, since I’d much rather watch Nick and Matt in the likes of DGUSA or PWG who actually promote and use them in a half decent way.

Tape Rating - ** - Much better than last week. Eddie/Bennett was worth checking out, and it’s nice to see storylines either progressed or closed off as with the main event and Elgin/Strong/Lethal angle. The main event did leave a sour taste in my mouth, but much like with my entire Battle Of Richmond review, that’s more to do with my frustrations at ROH’s booking and general creative direction rather than with the actual workers.

ROH on SBG Episodes 32-35 – Top 5 Matches
5) Kevin Steen vs Kyle O’Reilly (*** - Episode 033)
4) Roderick Strong vs Adam Cole (*** - Episode 032)
3) Tommaso Ciampa vs Matt Taven (*** - Episode 033)
2) Eddie Edwards vs Mike Bennett (*** - Episode 035)
1) Davey Richards vs Rhino (*** - Episode 034)
 

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