ROH on Sinclair – Episode 036 – 26th May 2012
When ROH had problems with their technology at the WrestleMania weekend shows in Florida I somewhat looked the other way when they decided to put loads of content from those pay-per-views onto their free TV show as part of the ‘Road Rage’ concept. I wasn’t happy about it, but I could see the reasons why and, other than Steen/Generico (and Generico isn’t a contracted talent at this point anyway) they didn't give away any main events. This episode is a different kettle of fish completely. It’s Road Rage from Border Wars tonight and we are promised (‘in it’s entirety’) the main event between Davey Richards and Kevin Steen for the World Title. Yes – the main event of the ppv, for free just two weeks after it aired. Given that they had issues with their website for this show, and the rest of the card (other than Lethal/Ciampa) was decent without being amazing, the decision to give the main event away for free two weeks later is a disgraceful slap in the face to all their buyers. Where is the incentive to pump money into the product and purchase an ippv when the technology ROH uses sucks ass and they are giving it away for free on TV within weeks anyway? I understand they need to update fans on the events of the ppv, and I understand they need to show footage of Steen becoming champion. But the whole match? If it’s true and they air the whole thing, it is an absolute farce and the perfect way to end what has been, since Border Wars, a really sh*tty month for Ring Of Honor. This was taped in Toronto, ONT with Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness calling it.
Nigel and Kevin are in the ring in Canada for a specially taped introduction before we go to a full results recap and highlight package. Describing Strong/Finlay as a ‘mat classic’ is possibly the over-statement of the century by the way.
The TV show also has some exclusive content showing Nigel McGuinness talking to Eddie Edwards about the World Title showdown, then some promos from Richards and Steen. Why weren’t these on the actual ppv? There is some really good stuff…
Anyway – time to make a mockery of the fans who paid for Border Wars as the main event is shown for free just two weeks later. As ever, I’m not watching this in full as I reviewed the actual show. I really hope there have been edits and cuts here and ROH aren’t actually showing the match ‘in full’ as they’ve been advertising and bragging. It’s a sad state of affairs when I hope the company are lying to their TV fans over having taken the money of the ppv buyers only to give away the major draw for free. Anyway – the below is cut and pasted from my full Border Wars review which you can find on my McXal’s Reviews archive…
SIDENOTE – At a glance it appears that this has been heavily censored, if not edited, to show on TV. It looks like a WWE DVD showing footage from the Attitude Era as there are blurred out portions of screen everywhere covering over people swearing and making obscene gestures – and any chant with a swear in it is totally muted too.
Davey Richards vs Kevin Steen – ROH World Title Match
Since he returned to ROH at Final Battle 2011 Steen has been begging for a World Title shot. He wants to win the belt and hold the company hostage. Executive Producer Jim Cornette tried desperately to block his path – even in the face of Mr Wrestling going undefeated in singles matches thus far in 2011. Finally it took Steen gatecrashing the Border Wars press conference and openly taunting Davey Richards to get the match booked. Richards demanded that Cornette book the match, and promised to deliver victory. In fact, Davey was so confident he also demanded that Steen’s Package Piledriver be made legal again for one night only. He’s maintained his silence in the face of some vicious abuse from Steen all year, and comes into this match having been in a car accident only weeks earlier. He’ll also face a hostile crowd as this is in Steen’s home country. Will a new champion be crowd or will the American Wolf deliver the victory he promised to end Steen’s title ambitions.
Jimmy Jacobs is in Steen’s corner, whilst Kyle O’Reilly was supposed to second Davey but instead had to go home due to a family tragedy. Steve Corino is at the announce table too. The crowd is as hot for this as any ROH crowd has been in years, and are vocally behind the challenger. Steen takes a nasty bump on the apron in the early going though, before Davey gets up and close with some of his haters after landing a tope suicida. Jimmy Jacobs gets into an argument with him, and that gives Steen a window to strike and nail a hanging DDT out of the ropes. He injured Davey’s ribs at Rising Above 2012 and continues to attack them with repeated trips into the guardrails. Weirdly Corino is yet to say a single word on commentary. EXPLODER ON THE APRON BY RICHARDS! Crowd absolutely hates that and it only gets worse as he stalks the ring hitting the Canadian challenger with multiple kicks. Trailer Hitch applied – the champion sensibly working the legs of the big man. Mr Wrestling falls out of the ring, but is able to hide behind Jacobs as Davey swings a punt at him.
Jimmy eats boot, but Steen again capitalises to POWERBOMB Richards into the side of the ring. Richards crawls to his feet, so it’s a POWERBOMB INTO THE APRON AGAIN! Cannonball senton squashes the ribcage again for 2. Steen’s leg is obviously bothering him though. He limps up the ropes but gets knees on the Steen-ton Bomb! HEAD DROP SUPLEX! STEEN NO SELLS! Davey clatters into him again with a lariat to put him down, with the crowd heckling him with a ‘you can’t beat him’ chant. F-5 blocked…KICK DUEL! DISCUS LARIAT BY STEEN! Both men are down! Steen absorbs some elbow strikes, then catches Davey with the pumphandle cradlebreaker for 2. STEEN PUTS DAVEY’S MOUTHPIECE IN! Package Piledriver blocked and Davey dropkicks out the knees. The challenger tries to apply the Sharpshooter but his leg buckles underneath him – casting real doubt over whether he has it in him to take the belt. Davey hits the dragon screw in the ropes to capitalise, hanging the leg there making him scream in pain as the champ climbs the ropes for a wild double stomp.
ANKLELOCK! It’s escaped, but Steen’s leg gives way again as he tries both the Package Piledriver and the F-5. Seemingly with no finishing moves, Steen is helpless as Davey hooks him up for the DR DRIVEEEEEER! STEEN KICKS OUT! Since the piledriver is legal in this, that move is legal again, but even that wasn’t enough to end Wrestling’s Worst Nightmare. Kawada kicks…STEEN SLAPS DAVEY IN THE FACE! His nose is busted open…BUT HE SLAPS THE SH*T OUT OF DAVEY! F-5! ONLY 2! MOONSAULT NAILED! Again it’s just 2, mostly thanks to the time it took the injured Steen to cover. He still wants to execute the Package Piledriver but just can’t get Richards up…and EATS a Shining Wizard. Kick to the face! STEEN FLIPS HIM OFF! ANKLELOCK ON DAVEY! COUNTERED TO THE ANKLELOCK ON STEEN! COUNTERED TO THE SHARPSHOOTER! BACK TO THE ANKLELOCK! Kevin climbs up the ropes, and actually rips off the turnbuckle pad in escaping. SLEEPER SUPLEX! PACKAGE PILEDRIVER! STEEN WINS! STEEN WINS! A NEW CHAMPION IS CROWNED! 24:23 is the time!
Rating - ****1/2 - It might not have been as technically good as Richards/Elgin, as violent as Steen/Generico or as well laid out as the Young Wolves Rising tag, but for me this has to be considered a top MOTYC as we approach the halfway point of the year. It was everything pro-wrestling should be, and exactly the kind of match ROH was built upon. Outstanding, physical, hard-hitting wrestling – telling a gripping story in front of a great crowd. The fans here reminded me of the Aries/Punk match at Death Before Dishonor 3, as they absolutely BEGGED Steen to take the belt. Davey was excellent too, heeling it up to the maximum and leading the increasingly tired Steen through an absolute classic. The closing sequence, with multiple submission counters into the Package Piledriver had the place going batsh*t crazy. I really think this may have been my favourite ROH match of 2012 thus far. It wasn’t always perfect, but for sheer emotion this is hard to top.
Kevin Kelly is backstage after the show, but is ushered away from Davey Richards’ locker room by medical personnel as he tries to get some reaction to losing the belt. Kevin Steen isn’t so bashful, and invites Kevin into his dressing room where he’s eating cake and promising to hold ROH hostage.
Tape Rating - DUD - Look, the reality is this was a great match and probably my ROH MOTY for the year thus far even over Richards/Elgin. But giving it away for free on TV is such a crappy thing to do and it has left me infuriated. WWE didn’t put the full Rock/Austin match on Raw two weeks after WrestleMania 17 – why the hell are ROH putting a major match and World Title change (that two weeks previously they were happily taking people’s money to see) out for free? It’s a sickening lack of respect towards their loyal fans in my opinion – and no amount of TV exclusive highlight reels, bonus interviews and Kevin Kelly hanging out backstage can make up for that. I appreciate others won’t feel as strongly as me, but I strongly object to what has been done here. I loved the Road Rage concept when it was introduced. Taking the SBG cameras to random house shows was an awesome way of making the house show DVD’s more important, a terrific way to give the casual fan more of an insight into the ‘full’ ROH experience and also a great way of selling a few extra DVD’s. It worked really well with the Battle In The Carolinas set. By now using the Road Rage concept to give ppv content away for free, all they are doing is screwing fans over…and continuing to put on substandard mundane house shows like The Battle Of Richmond. In 2012 ROH has taken an absolute hammering from the critics. By and large I’ve tried to defend them where possible. I still love Davey Richards’ work. I do think they are starting to cultivate and promote their young stars (Ciampa, Elgin, O’Reilly, Cole & Bennett for instance)…and putting the belt on Steen obviously shows they care about what the fans think. But, since Border Wars, I can promise you I’ve not felt this low about Ring Of Honor in ten years watching this promotion – both as a critic and (first and foremost) a fan.