ROH on Sinclair – Episode 077 – 9th March 2013
So after an explosive, action-packed 11th Anniversary ppv with a truly shocking and memorable conclusion, the ROH TV circuit continues today. ROH have started taping their next TV blocks the day after a ppv taping, so hopefully we shouldn’t have to wait too long for new content and for all the aftermath of that stunning declaration of war on ROH by Steve Corino’s SCUM troops. Tonight’s main event is a star-filled Four Corner Survival pitting Davey Richards, Roderick Strong, Michael Elgin and Matt Hardy against each other. If Hardy wins honourably Nigel will grant him a TV Title shot against Adam Cole. Kevin Kelly and Caleb Seltzer are in Baltimore, MD.
Rhett Titus vs Eddie Edwards
This was taped before the ppv so clearly this is pre-SCUM Titus. I know that, on paper, this is nothing more than a filler match for the show. But personally I think there’s a lot of significance on this one. Eddie’s role in ROH has significantly downsized since 2011 (I don’t have time to discuss the merits of that decision right now), but he remains one of the very best in-ring workers ROH has on it’s roster. If even he walk Titus to a half-decent TV-length match then I have real concerns over Titus’ future.
Bobby Fish is on commentary (they are starting to over-use the guest-commentator gimmick) to provide added insight on Eddie’s skills. Edwards himself looks relaxed and has no problems out-wrestling Titus in the opening minute. They botch something leading to Rhett nearly falling on his head, then go to a near-miss to duelling dropkick spot. Rhett tries to lay in some chops – an obvious error as Die Hard completely schools him with his own chops in return. Tree of woe dropkick from the floor scores as the former World Champion cruises through this match. Backpack Stunner countered by Rhett’s signature dropkick which represents his first significant offensive strike. Sadly for him he is quickly shut down again by Eddie’s sliding enziguri. Overhead belly to belly suplex from Rhettski…and this time he’s able to capitalise, hitting a running lariat for 2. MOONSAULT OFF THE APRON by Edwards! He returns to the ring with a missile dropkick which slingshots Titus all the way across the ring and into the opposite turnbuckles. That’s prime position for Edwards to unload the Machine Gun Chops. Backpack Stunner scores for 2. Edwards is getting annoyed now, and takes a silly risk going for a super rana which Titus counters into an AVALANCHE Snake Eyes. Super-ugly IED succeeds that, getting the former Aries student another nearfall in what has otherwise been a totally one-sided affair. Titus fancies his chances with an aerial manoeuvre, and duly misses with a frog splash. Achilles Lock on the bad knee…with head stomps! The ref stops it for Eddie to win at 09:41
Rating - ** - The decision to give this match ten minutes of uninterrupted TV time was strange (we’ve had a number of main events shorter than that in 2013), but I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to. Titus was his usual self - that is to say he was pretty poor. Thankfully the majority of this was an exhibition of Eddie’s skills, as he beat Rhett all over the ring. Sadly Eddie isn’t on the level of someone like a Bryan Danielson where he can drag stunning matches out of everyone on the planet. Dragging 2013 Rhett Titus to a decent ten minute singles match is actually a real achievement.
Davey Richards is in the locker room, and he tells Veda Scott that Matt Hardy will need to do more than talk if he wants to survive against three ROH main event talents.
Mia Yim vs MsChif
This is a Ring Of Honor return for Mia, who hasn’t been seen in this promotion since RD Evans leveraged control of The Embassy away from Prince Nana and drove him out. She is the latest American Joshi talent to be brought in for a televised bout MsChif (who appears to have been positioned as the centrepiece of the latest Women Of Honor rebirth attempt).
First significant takedown goes to MsChif, who lands a rolling prawn takedown for 2. Yim isn’t phased, retaliating with a tarantula stretch in the ropes then a flying kick. She hangs MsChif in the ropes, hammering her with kicks across the sternum. She tries a guillotine choke but Chif uses her flexibility for a CRAZY counter to a MutaLock. Mia shows what she learnt in The Embassy as she bites free of that hold then pokes her opponent in the eyes. ASAI MOONSAULT gets a nearfall! The more experienced athlete dumps Yim on her neck with a German suplex, but as she tries for a superplex Mia counters again to a hanging armbar. SKY YIM MISSES! Desecrator countered to a German on MsChif! Just when she looks out of it Chif manages to hit the Desecrator out of nothing. That gives her the hard-fought victory at 05:49
Rating - ** - I liked this more than Edwards/Titus. Had they put a better finish on it (MsChif basically no selling Mia’s German to hit her own finish and win ticked me off) I’d have gone 3* on it. Everything was pretty clean, everything was crisp, they moved at a good pace and they packed in lots of impressive spots. If the Women Of Honor division threw up matches like this more often it would certainly get some momentum behind it. Mia regularly tours Japan now, and the improvements in her work since she last wrestled a match in Ring Of Honor were very apparent.
New backstage interviewer guy (who just doesn’t look like someone who should ever be on TV) tries to get Roderick Strong’s thoughts on the main event. Roddy backs himself to win it, then kicks the newbie out of his locker room.
INSIDE ROH – Highlights of ROH’s participation in National Pro-Wrestling Day are shown. The Briscoes successfully defended the Tag Titles against Steve Corino and Jimmy Jacobs, but the real headlines are ROH declining to send the World Champion as they didn’t want to be embarrassed at such a prestigious event, and SCUM vowing to ‘kill ROH’…
Roderick Strong vs Matt Hardy vs Davey Richards vs Michael Elgin
There are lots of personal differences between these four, and remember Hardy needs to prove he is an honourable and worthy fighter for Nigel McGuinness to consider making his forthcoming bout with Adam Cole a TV Title match. Elgin and Strong are fresh from their physical (and under-rated) 2/3 Falls Match in Chicago, which finally saw Unbreakable claim a victory against his former stable-mate. There are always fireworks when the likes of Davey, Elgin and Strong get together, with a number of MOTYC’s shared between those three. Interestingly, the only man to ever beat Matt Hardy in ROH is in this match too – Roderick beat Matt back in 2005 during his run on the Summer Of Punk shows.
As you’d expect, Hardy isn’t interested in starting out. He leaves it to the former NRC members Strong and Richards to get the ball rolling. He eventually tries his hand working with Elgin…but is soon scrambling for a tag after Unbreakable mows him down with a tackle. Strong takes the tag to take a cheap shot at his ex-teammate, then dives into a tag to Richards before Michael can get any retribution. Richards and Elgin have no problem getting in there, renewing their rivalry with great relish. Strong looks for another cheap shot on Elgin, but this time he is caught out and driven into the canvas with a violent front slam. Hardy and Strong start teaming up as we go to the final commercial break, but that alliance was obviously short lived as when we return Matt is taking a missile dropkick from Davey. Unbreakable stops the American Wolf from getting the win, and those two go to war with vicious elbow smashes. Handspring Enzi COUNTERED to a torture rack backbreaker! Side Effect from Hardy, who then turns into a jumping knee from Roderick. RUNNING PUNTS to Elgin and Strong from Davey. Twist Of Fate COUNTERED TO THE ANKLELOCK! Meanwhile Roddy and Elgin are teeing off on each other – leading to a back suplex on the apron! Hardy floors Davey with the Twist Of Fate, but can’t win because the referee is on the floor checking on the other two! Hardy is irate, and it nearly gets worse as Strong blind tags himself in and tries to steal Matt’s pin! Matt isn’t even watching anymore, instead turning to yell at Nigel (who is on commentary) saying he should have won. In the ring Elgin blocks the Sick Kick with a big lariat for 2. Unbreakable posts Hardy…SPINNING BACK FIST ON STRONG! BUCKLE BOMB! SPIRAL BOMB! Elgin beats Strong again at 11:53 (shown)
Rating - *** - I really feared Hardy’s involvement was going to drag this one down, but he actually didn’t harm it at all. Admittedly it may have been less of an athletic spectacle with him involved, but he is certainly experienced enough to play a good chickensh*t heel on television and it’s something he did well in this match. The portion of the contest with him bawling on the apron to Nigel claiming he’s the rightful winner…before Elgin obliterated him against the ringpost was a lot of fun. The other three also showed healthy respect for each other and produced some lovely spots and flashes from the previous MOTYC’s they’ve had together. In what has been a poor year for match quality on ROH’s TV show, this was one of the better main events we’ve had thus far.
Hardy is still throwing an epic temper tantrum as the show goes off air. He wants his TV Title shot and thinks he earned it this evening. Will Nigel agree?
Tape Rating - ** - More of the same from ROH on SBG I’m afraid. It wasn’t a bad episode, but once again it was mostly rather forgettable and rushed. None of the matches were bad, but none of them were worth going out of your way to see. As this was taped before the 11th Anniversary Show it meant no real storylines were advanced either. Unless you’re a big Hardy fan and want to see him in a TV main event there wasn’t a lot to see here.