ROH on Sinclair – Episode 037 – 2nd June 2012
After last week drew a line under Border Wars and officially confirmed a new World Champion, tonight fresh content taped airs with all the fallout from that ppv and kick starting the build to the next big ppv show – Best In The World 2012 later this month. There are lots of questions to be answered – like how does Steen intend to ‘hold the company hostage’, where Davey Richards goes from here, who is first in line to challenge the new champion and so forth. Hopefully we’ll start seeing some answers as we go back to the Du Burns Arena in Baltimore, MD to join Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness.
Mike Mondo vs Adam Cole
It’s hard to tell who cuts the more ridiculous pre-match promo. Mondo’s ‘No Fear’ gimmick produces equally awful promos and goofy sound-bites as his ‘biggest little man’ thing did…whilst Cole saying he’s on the ‘run of his career with momentum on his side’ given that in the last few weeks he’s lost a Chikara Trios Match, a TV Title Match, a World Title Match and a big ppv encounter with Elgin is absolutely laughable. But, these two have both been putting in some solid in-ring performances recently so I’m actually looking forward to the match.
Kyle O’Reilly is on commentary looking to scout Cole, but he also takes time to tell the announce team that he thinks Davey will definitely take the title back if he gets a rematch. Cole dropkicks Mondo out of the ring then wipes him out with a tope suicida. It appears to make him over-confident though, and he puts his neck through the ropes without looking and walks into a hanging neckbreaker. The commentators announce that it’s O’Reilly vs Cole at Best In The World in a ‘Hybrid Fighting Rules’ Match. No hybrid fighting in this match, although Kyle admits to enjoying it as Mondo ties Adam in the ropes and relentlessly chokes him. Another neckbreaker scores and gets ‘No Fear’ a 2-count. Skullf*ck comes next to continue the assault on the neck. The pace slows as he tenaciously clings to a chinlock until Cole kicks and punches his way free. He clubs the hell out of Mondo in the corner and has to be restrained by the referee…then welcomes Mike back into the centre of the ring with the Shining Wizard. They go to the outside where Cole LEAPFROGS Mondo to send him face-first into the guardrails…and he gets 2 with the Flying Crossbody. Double Arm DDT countered into a backslide – giving Cole the hard-fought victory at 07:46
Rating - ** - Cole was in tremendous form, and I was entertained by O’Reilly on commentary…but I thought the match felt sluggish and uninteresting when Mondo was in control. I know I’m on record as not being the biggest Mondo fan, but I’ve praised his performances since the spring. Sadly this felt a return to old ways as he gambled around the ring doing lots of mundane kick/punch/rest hold stuff – and this only really became interesting when Adam was doing something cool for him to react to. Not a bad match by any means but I felt like Cole was very evidently the stronger contributor.
Tommaso Ciampa vs Nick Westgate
I openly questioned ROH’s decision to have Lethal go over Tommaso at Border Wars. Their match was really good, but I didn’t see what was gained from ending Ciampa’s streak in Canada last month. How they manage him going forward is absolutely critical, and you’d expect a dominant and emphatic win here against a jobber.
Tommaso paces around ring clutching his head and muttering to himself like a total nut during the introductions. He flattens Westgate with a big lariat at the bell and drags him into the ropes for a flurry of brutal forearms then a stomp which sends Nick’s skull bouncing off the apron and tumbling out of the ring. BARE KNEE STRIKE! MMA KNEES! Ciampa wins it by stoppage at 01:37
Rating - N/A - An effective squash match. Tommaso showcased his increasingly deranged ‘psychopath’ persona on television for the first time and got a quick, brutal and emphatic win as a rebound after losing his undefeated streak on ppv.
INSIDE ROH – There’s lots of Best In The World hype in this one. We have O’Reilly/Cole confirmed. ANX are announced as WGTT’s challengers for the ppv. Kevin Kelly debates whether it will be a Strong/Lethal TV Title match or a Lethal/Ciampa rematch. Finlay is signed for another ROH shot and faces Michael Elgin. And Eddie Edwards wants to get back into the World Title picture by beating former World Champions. He overcame Rhino on ppv, faces Davey Richards next week and has issued a challenge to Homicide to face him in Manhattan.
Caprice Coleman/Cedric Alexander vs All Night Express
Although they’re not yet the champions, being announced as #1 contenders weeks out from the ppv puts a bull’s-eye on the All Nights. Caprice and Cedric have had a decent first half of 2012, putting in some decent showings and scoring some surprising wins. They are yet to have a defining breakout moment though, and will be looking to establish their own credentials for another shot at the Tag Titles by beating the top contenders in the TV main event.
King starts with Alexander, with both men looking crisp and athletic. They knock shins going for corkscrew enziguris and draw a round of applause from the crowd. Titus tags in with a huge kick to the ribs…and sensibly Caprice gets himself into the match to give his partner time to recover. ROPE-ROLL ASAI MOONSAULT TO THE FLOOR! SOMERSAULT PLANCHA BY CEDRIC! Coleman re-enters the ring with amazing hang-time on a crossbody block for 2. Kenny kills his momentum with a knee strike to the head with Rhett following quickly with a slingshot tackle. ANX start cutting the ring in half and isolating Caprice. He takes some real abuse, but returns fire by stepping OFF Kenny into a swinging DDT to Titus. Hot tag brings Cedric in with kicks from all angles. Jumping enzi/Mind Trip combo on Rhett gets 2! Alexander tries a springboard but gets CAUGHT in a spinebuster by Kenny! Axe Kick from Caprice…LARIAT from Titus! C&C have a double suplex blocked, and ANX score with a dropkick/capo kick combo! Doomsday Blockbuster COUNTERED with a rope-run enzi by Alexander. SUPER RANA/FROG SPLASH COMBO! SHOTGUN KNEES BY KING! DOOMSDAY BLOCKBUSTER! The All Nights win it in an entertaining 09:23 (shown)
Rating - *** - I’d go so far as to call that the best All Night Express standard tag match since Rhett came back from his injury. Non-stop action, spot-heavy action from four hungry and talented individuals who are obviously desperate for more exposure in a tag division which has been dominated by WGTT and the Briscoes for the last year. Not everything was clean for sure, but it was always exciting and got a great response from the lively crowd. It’s not the first time C&C have produced a great little TV match this year (they’ve done decent things on TV against WGTT, the Young Bucks, Team Ambition and more already)…and you feel like they have to get a shot at something more meaningful (be in longer matches or an angle of some kind) soon…
The show concludes with an in-ring promo segment featuring the new World Champion. He enters to a standing ovation, flanked by Jimmy Jacobs and Steve Corino. The King Of Old School steals Kevin Kelly’s microphone and conducts the interview with Steen himself. Mr Wrestling takes great delight in being champion…but is interrupted by Jim Cornette. Jim fires Corino from his commentary job on DVD’s (which he’s only done like twice anyway)…although Steve seems to think his contract is watertight. Davey Richards arrives to complain about being called a ‘Cornette boy’, puts Steen over, then tells Cornette to book the rematch or he’ll beat him up. Cornette agrees – but on the same deal he gave Steen. Meaning if Davey loses, he never gets another shot.
NEXT WEEK – Richards/Edwards 4 in the ‘Die Hard Challenge’
Tape Rating - ** - The in-ring content was solid rather than amazing…but the strength of this episode was in the way it promoted the next ppv. Say what you want about his booking, one thing Cornette does very well is lay out blocks of television to build to big shows. ROH is really in the groove of building to a ppv event, then quickly and efficiently moving onto the next one. This episode was a prime example of that machine in action – and we leave with Steen/Richards 2, WGTT/ANX, Finlay/Elgin, Cole/O’Reilly 2 and Edwards/Homicide all booked for the ppv as well as a TV Title plotline and a new character direction for Tommaso. ANX/C&C was a decent match, and the promo segment at the end was pretty good…but like I said, when it comes to using their free TV show to hype ppv shows Ring Of Honor is getting very slick. If only they didn’t blow it by putting the ppv stuff on free TV a couple of weeks later…