ROH on Sinclair – Episode 039 – 16th June 2012
So last week was really strong, with an excellent main event in Richards/Edwards 4. There are just two more weeks of TV left to promote Best In The World, and tonight the TV Title situation takes centre stage. Roderick, who is scheduled to defend against both Lethal and Ciampa at the ppv, faces Tommaso in a singles match tonight. There’s also the rumour of ongoing shady business dealings between The Embassy Ltd and the House Of Truth which we may shed more light on during the hour. Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness are in Baltimore, MD
We begin with a highlight package of last week’s thrilling Davey Richards vs Eddie Edwards main event. Edwards announces that he has declined the victory and asked ROH officials to record the match as a ‘no contest’ as a result of Jimmy Jacobs’ interference. What a tool…
Mike Bennett vs Adam Page
I think Page got this shot after impressing at one of ROH’s training seminars – and when it was announced he’d be appearing he actually got quite a bit of buzz so I’m keen to see what he brings to the table here in my first exposure to him. Bennett has always been a little underrated in my opinion, and has been quietly going about having a very solid 2012. He’s out of the title picture for now and trying to rebound after the loss to Lance Storm at the last ppv…so a win here is essential.
Page is only 20, and starts red hot by chasing The Prodigy around the ring with chops. He sets up for a tornado DDT, but is distracted by Maria Kanellis and eats a standing dropkick from Bennett. Mike takes the stricken youngster to the outside and gives him a Russian legsweep into the guardrails for good measure. With the back now hurting, he locks onto a chinlock…only for Adam to fight free and floor him with a dropkick of his own. Spinning heel kick comes next and scores a 2-count. Bennett’s legs are shaking, so it’s to his credit that he rebounds off the ropes and drills Page with a spear. TKO nailed, and that’s enough to give Prodigy the win at 05:02
Rating - ** - Decent showing from the young kid making his debut. Nothing spectacular, but he was crisp and precise in everything he did, whilst bumping and throwing himself around with real gusto to make Bennett look good too. I would suggest ROH officials were fairly happy with that so we may well see him again. Bennett continues to be a solid hand in the midcard, without ROH showing any real signs of giving him a genuine push.
Bennett and Bob Evans put a beatdown on the youngster until Eddie Edwards runs in to save. Bennett is sick of Eddie interfering in their business…so challenges him to a match – with Brutal Bob.
After commercials Jacobs, Corino and Steen (I think by this point they were officially known as SCUM) interrupt Kelly and McGuinness as they run through some Best In The World hype. Steen announces that it’s going to be Team Ambition against he and Jimmy next week, as Cornette tries to give Davey a chance to soften him up before the ppv. The champion demands that the title match is made an Anything Goes Match.
Jay Briscoe/Mark Briscoe vs QT Marshall/Sam Shaw
More debutants on display here, and it’s also the first time we’ve seen the Briscoes in televised tag team action for some time. Apparently Marshall and Shaw are two more who impressed at the tryout camps ROH have been running and, as such, have been rewarded with chances to show what they can do on a bigger stage. Since I’m writing this months out, obviously I’m aware that QT would go on to get a full ROH contract, despite most ROH fans slating him. Lets see what all the fuss is about.
Both Marshall and Shaw have the big muscular look that Cornette is a documented fan of. The Briscoes team up to put QT on the mat in the early going. Truth Martini is on commentary demanding to know why the Briscoes haven’t answered his challenge for them to face the Guardians Of Truth. Shaw delivers a cheapshot to Jay, enabling Marshall to connect with a lariat for 2. Suplex/dropkick combo from the new guys gets 2. Mark tags in with Redneck Kung Fu to both opponents, before they hit a chokeslam/Froggy Bow combo. Doomsday Device on Shaw for the win at 04:55
Rating - * - Nothing wrong with this at all, I just felt it was too long and evenly matched to be a squash, and too dull to be considered a decent ‘regular’ tag match. Marshall and Shaw looked decent enough. A little bland perhaps, but certainly well-built athletes who can move about the ring just fine. I’m interested to see where ROH take the Briscoes now the feud with WGTT is finally over.
Truth Martini interrupts the celebrations to reiterate his demand for a Briscoes/Guardians match on pay-per-view. Jay accepts and eagerly anticipates beating the new team up in New York.
Veda Scott interviews Prince Nana and RD Evans about why Ciampa is challenging Strong for the TV Title tonight, despite the existing relationship between The Embassy and the House Of Truth. Evans admits they’d advised Tommaso to pursue something other than the TV Title, and declines to let Nana comment on the nature of his relationship with Truth Martini.
INSIDE ROH – Kevin Kelly runs down the Best In The World card. Briscoes vs Guardians Of Truth and a live Prodigy Service Announcement have been added to the show.
In the Team Ambition locker room Davey Richards calls Kyle O’Reilly a whiner, tells him to grow up and do his talking in the ring next week when they face Steen and Jacobs.
Roderick Strong demands to know why Tommaso Ciampa is getting TWO shots at the TV Title. Truth Martini acts shifty and leads Strong away from the cameras.
Roderick Strong vs Tommaso Ciampa – ROH TV Title Match
Supposedly part of the deal which took Rhino from The Embassy to the House was a stipulation that Ciampa wouldn’t challenge Roddy for the Television championship. Obviously this is now happening as Ciampa has a shot tonight and has been put into the TV Title Match at Best In The World too. Rumours of more business dealings are still swirling, and Martini was desperate to assure Strong that there was a fix in place tonight to guarantee he leaves with the belt.
The Code Of Honor is followed – except it’s Nana, Evans and Martini doing the handshaking rather than the wrestlers. Ciampa still looks to be very unstable, as he has been since losing his undefeated streak, and angrily beats Roderick into the corner to get us started. Strong retaliates with chops and a back suplex for 2. He succeeds in wounding Ciampa, but the challenger is a resourceful athlete and responds by trapping his leg in the ropes then clobbering him with a running clothesline. Crouching Dropkick nailed for 2 as we come back from the final advertisement break. Bare Knee Strike misses but Roderick is clearly rattled after taking several minutes of physical abuse from the Dominant Male. Stronghold blocked…and the two men NAIL each other with fierce strikes. Ciampa drops Strong with the Air Raid Crash for 2. Electric chair drop…INTO AN OCEAN CYCLONE SUPLEX from Tommaso! Prince Nana runs in…only to be knocked out by Strong. PROJECT CIAMPA! But RD Evans is on the apron distracting the ref! Sinclair turns round to see an irate Nana flailing away at the champion – which results in Ciampa being disqualified at 07:51 (shown)
Rating - *** - I liked this match a lot more than I know some will. The finish was ridiculous, although it was to be expected with Nana, Evans, Mia and Martini all at ringside. BUT, I thought the match that came before it was very decent. Ciampa has been one of ROH’s most improved workers thus far this year, and his new psychopath persona has added extra depth to his ring work. The way he stalks the ring, rocking, talking to himself and still being tremendously hard-hitting and physical with his opponents is really fun to watch. And if you want to work a hard-hitting and physical style, Roderick Strong is obviously well-equipped to do that too. The two men chopped, kicked and slammed the sh*t out of each other. Considering how short this was, and how underwhelming and silly the finish was, I’d argue this had no reason to be as good as it actually was. Good show from both men, and a decent appetiser for the TV Title bout in New York.
Prince Nana continues putting the boots to Roderick as Ciampa sits on the canvas seemingly having a breakdown. He is furious at Nana and RD Evans, then leaves without them…
NEXT WEEK – Edwards vs Brutal Bob and Team Ambition vs Steen and Jacobs.
Tape Rating - *** - I enjoyed this weeks show. Obviously it wasn’t as good as last week which had Elgin/Taven and Richards/Edwards, but as an instalment in a week-to-week episodic TV format I thought this was very efficient. We saw new talent debut (with Page and Marshall set to feature more in future events), angles built for the ppv and a hard-hitting free main event which hyped the big show, and also provided a cliff-hanger ending to lure viewers into coming back to check out the show again.