ROH on Sinclair – Episode 076 – 2nd March 2013
Normally I don’t review the TV episode that takes place on the same night as an ippv until after I’ve watched the pay-per-view show. I’m making an exception and switching things up so they make sense chronologically as, this evening our main event is scheduled to be a Tag Title Match pitting current (emphasis on current, not taking into account events in Chicago on the same evening this aired) champions, the Briscoes, against Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team. Kevin Kelly and Caleb Seltzer will call the action from Baltimore, MD.
Steve Corino/Rhino vs The Flatliners
It’s been a while since we’ve seen the Canadian duo of Burns and Asylum (The Flatliners) make an ROH appearance. They had a few shots during the HDNet period but didn’t amount to much and went away as quickly as they came. They’re back for another shot, but have tough opposition in the form of current SCUM allies, but men who’s allegiances to each other go all the way back to ECW where they both held the World Championship – Corino and Rhino.
Corino and Burns start, with the outsider totally unafraid of the King Of Old School – quickly backing him into the corner with an onslaught of right hands. Asylum dusts him off too…and Rhino has seen enough. He stomps into the ring without a tag and easily floors Burns with a clothesline. Colby Shock on him gets 2. Burns takes some punishment for a couple of minutes, before tagging in Asylum and joining him to hit a lungblower/German suplex combo. GORE on Asylum! SCUM win at 04:31
Rating - * - Too long for a squash, and way too boring for a regular match. To be fair, the Flatliners didn’t look bad here, but didn’t get much chance to shine against Corino and Rhino who were very much cruising along without looking to break a sweat.
Nigel McGuinness is in the ring, ready to make a decision on the Cole/Hardy situation and resolve the issue with Matt holding the TV Title belt hostage (he stole it at Defy Or Deny 2). Hardy shows up to accuse Nigel of favouritism…to which Nigel throws down a gauntlet. He books Cole/Hardy 2 for TV in a couple of weeks, but the TV Title will only be on the line if Matt can prove he’s earned the shot with honour by winning a Four Corner Survival next week.
We’re all set for a Grizzy Redwood vs Vinny Marseglia match. Thankfully we’re spared that by Kevin Steen stomping to the ring and interrupting – dishing out a Package Piledriver to a defiant Vinny in the process. He offers Redwood a match with the champ instead…
Kevin Steen vs Grizzly Redwood – ROH World Title Match
Since Steen is contractually obligated to defend the belt in every singles match, he has just offered Redwood a championship match voluntarily. I don’t think Grizz has had a sniff of the World Title since he was victimised by Austin Aries in one of his ‘Lucky Lottery’ segments.
Steen tries another Package Piledriver right out of the gate…and pancakes Grizz into the mat when he dares to escape. Tornado DDT attempted, and even though he can’t hit the move Redwood has enough about him to counter the F-5 into a sleeper hold. Steen VADER DIVES backwards to escape! Redwood gets his knees up to block the Steen-ton (as Kevin Kelly calls Steen/Mondo from last year one of 2012’s MOTY’s!!) and lands the flying DDT. Heat Seeking Missile nailed too! One risk too many though, with Steen catching his attempt at a crossbody for a fallaway slam into the rails! Apron Bomb scores…followed by the F-5. Steen retains at 04:03
Rating - ** - I was mildly entertained by this. Redwood doesn’t get anywhere near enough credit as a worker. He’s so little that it’s actually over-looked quite how solid his execution and timing truly is. Little of that mattered though, and I just felt this went on a little too long for what was simply an extended beatdown. It certainly didn’t help by ongoing problem of Steen’s reign being damaged by having to defend his championship in every singles match either.
Steen raises more eyebrows by helping Redwood to his feet and offering him a handshake before leaving. Is this him being a ‘proud’ ROH champion now Jim Cornette has gone?
INSIDE ROH – Truth Martini discusses his actions last week, saying that he brought Taven into the House Of Truth because he was impressed with his desire to take advantage of the opportunity he was presented with (when he tried to cheat to overcome Tadarius Thomas).
Jay Briscoe/Mark Briscoe vs Charlie Haas/Shelton Benjamin – ROH Tag Title Match
It’s not just the Tag Titles on the line for this one. These two teams have a rivalry stretching back nearly two years, and as it’s renewed tonight there’s added pressure on the challengers as Charlie Haas agreed to Nigel McGuinness’ stipulation that if WGTT lose tonight they will be forced to split up. In a tag team match Jay and Mark never got an ultimate measure of revenge on WGTT back in 2012. This is their opportunity!
Haas signals his intent straight out of the gate, easily out-wrestling Jay then trying to punch his lights out in the corner. Mark dives in looking for revenge for what happened at Border Wars last year – choking Haas with a shirt then hitting the ropes for a SOMERSAULT PLANCHA to the floor as WGTT try to flee. On commentary Kevin Kelly openly discusses some of the rumours linking Shelton with a return to the WWE (supposedly he was at the Royal Rumble and slated to be entered into it until WWE pulled the plug at the last minute). Haas hits a huge German suplex on Mark, giving the challengers the advantage as we cut to an advertisement break. Guardrail backbreaker nailed…with Cheeseburger getting assaulted by Charlie as he sits ringside working security. The distraction with the young kid works to Mark’s advantage as it gives him a window to make the crucial tag to his brother. He blocks Shelton’s Stinger Splash then picks Haas up for the Doomsday Device. The Briscoes are set to retain…but Benjamin drags Todd Sinclair out of the ring at the last! Jay Driller countered with a spinebuster before tags all round meaning Mark and Shelton are legal. Froggy Bow countered with the ROPE RUN BELLY TO BELLY SUPERPLEX FOR 2! Paydirt blocked though, with Mark hitting the rolling DVD. On the outside Haas dives out of the path of a flying Jay, who collides with the guardrails on his way down. Wrestling’s Greatest Finisher nailed…but this time it’s Jay who makes the save by dragging Sinclair outside. Paydirt on Jay! But as WGTT look to have it won Haas runs into the ring to give SHELTON an Olympic Slam. Mark hits the Froggy Bow to retain at 11:18 (shown)
Rating - *** - Personally I thought that was better than a lot of their matches in their actual feud. It was still slow as hell, but at least Haas’ new heel character gave fans the impression he gave a sh*t about what was happening, and Benjamin didn’t botch anything (which is always a plus). The Briscoes get a huge victory and the major honour of ending WGTT’s run in ROH, whilst Haas has an ‘out’ and a reason to keep him in the spotlight whilst Shelton is sidelined as he prioritises NJPW and chasing another WWE contract. I’m not sure it makes sense to have Haas agree to this match then deliberately lose – but lets wait for an explanation before we, as armchair bookers, start bashing Delirious for it.
Charlie rips up a WGTT shirt, tossing remains onto the fallen body of his now-former partner before walking out under a barrage of garbage missiles.
NEXT WEEK – Hardy/Richards/Elgin/Strong in 4CS action.
Tape Rating - ** - Considering this had the ‘dead spot’ broadcast date of the same night as a ppv, this was actually ok. Sure you had the dregs of the taping (like SCUM/Flatliners), but we also got a decent Hardy/McGuinness segment (Matt is a lot easier to watch when he’s not wrestling) and a surprisingly decent main event with a genuinely shocking and intriguing conclusion. If you like seeing Grizzly Redwood getting his ass handed to him there’s also a World Title Match with your name on in this hour too. I didn’t have high hopes for this episode but it turned out rather well.