ROH on Sinclair – Episode 098 – 3rd August 2013

They had a lot of pressure on them, but in many ways the last two episodes of ROH on SBG have absolutely delivered. The Briscoe/Hardy World Title Match was infinitely better than many feared, whilst Steel Cage Warfare delivered an exciting and rewarding conclusion to the lengthy ROH vs SCUM feud – and settling such a major storyline on free television immediately becomes a USP over the major promotions who would reserve such a thing for ppv. They also played a major part in shaping the kind of Ring Of Honor product we’re going to see in the coming weeks and months. The Briscoes, a focal point for Sinclair’s ROH for so long, are out of the picture for a while. We have no World Champion, no SCUM, a renewed focus on the Tag division (ironic considering the division’s iconic and defining team the Briscoes won’t be involved in that) and we have a Match Maker hell-bent on restoring ‘purity’ and honour to the promotion. There are no more iPPV’s to promote either, and with ROH now shifting to a TV/VOD/DVD model instead that means every show needs to be decent – and there are some big ones in the pipeline between now and Death Before Dishonor when we’re scheduled to crown a new World Champion – starting with tonight which simultaneously sees the first broadcast from the Providence TV tapings as well as the debut at the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. We join Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness (replacing Steve Corino) in Providence, RI

3.0 vs Adrenaline RUSH
This could be a hectic way to get the show started. Chikara’s own 3.0 make their return (after the apparent demise of Chikara) and are paired off with a duo who won’t have any issues keeping up with TD and ACH. Nigel backs this to be a strong showcase for the tag division filling the void left by having no World Champion at present.

ACH starts with Parker, but immediately witnesses the colossal experience 3.0 have as a team when Matthews catches him in the ropes for a guillotine from the outside. Tadarius tags in and leaves them totally confused with his whacky striking style. LEAPFROG SPEAR ON ACH from 3.0, showing great resilience after Thomas knocked their respective blocks off. Boston Crab applied by Shane Matthews, only for TD to save with a running boot. SPRINGBOARD CORKSCREW SENTON TO THE FLOOR from Thomas! BIG BANG ATTACK BY ACH! He pins Matthews at 03:14

Rating - ** - I’m really disappointed this was kept so brief but they certainly packed a lot in. 3.0 got a great reception and they definitely need to look at getting those guys in more often. This crowd had no problem buying them as credible opponents for the popular TD/ACH combo. Thomas, in particular, had a great showing here.

Nigel McGuinness steps into the ring next to formally announce the ROH World Championship as vacant for the first time in it’s eleven year history (a decision which remains an utter disgrace) and to confirm that we’ll be seeing a tournament to crown a new champion. That is scheduled to culminate at Death Before Dishonor, in the birth city of ROH – Philadelphia. He also promises to promote the Tag Championships and is bringing in top teams from all over the world to boost the division. Right on cue reDRagon join him. Bobby Fish proclaims his team to be the ‘saviours of Ring Of Honor’ and offers to put the belts up in their scheduled main event against the Forever Hooligans. The American Wolves are here too, announcing that they won’t be in the World Title tournament as they are focused on retaking the Tag Championships. They want the winner of reDRagon/Hooligans…

NEXT WEEK – ‘Honor Personified’ 6-man pitting the American Wolves and BJ Whitmer against Kevin Steen, Michael Elgin and Tommaso Ciampa.

INSIDE ROH – Kevin Kelly goes into more detail on Jay Briscoe’s injury, Michael Elgin’s refusal to be handed the title as #1 contender and reveals the brackets for the World Title tournament.

NEXT WEEK – Michael Bennett will look to bury ‘The Prodigy’ gimmick once and for all by beating his former trainer ‘Brutal’ Bob Evans

QT Marshall is at ringside arguing with Nigel McGuinness, either about not being booked, or not being put in the title tournament (I wasn’t entirely sure which). He continues his protest at not being in the tournament by getting in the ring with a microphone. Amazingly, Nigel rewards this by adding him to the following match against EVERYONE in the live crowd’s wishes.


Silas Young vs Adam Page vs QT Marshall
These guys (Page and Silas – obviously not QT) had a hell of a battle a few weeks ago in Baltimore, and ROH officials were apparently so impressed that they’ve signed a rematch – with the winner being offered a wildcard entry into the ROH World Championship tournament. The stakes are high, so will it be the youth and exhuberrance of Page or the age and experience of Young that win the day? Or will QT win just to piss everyone off?

Young tries to cheap shot Page but fails and is dropkicked out of the ring. Marshall catches Adam attempting a pescado and drops him into a powerslam for 2. He then gets 2 on Silas with a Rocker Dropper. The original participants are sick of Marshall’s contributions to their match, and Page elbow smashes him into a lariat from Young. Page flattens him with a crossbody. DROP-SAULT on both opponents gets 2! He back body drops QT to the floor, but is too hyped up and walks blindly into the backbreaker/clothesline combo from Young. Headstand Arabian Press misses! Marshall shoves Adam off the top rope…only to be small packaged by Silas for 3 at 04:25. Silas is in the tournament!

Rating - ** - Much like the opening match, this was too short to really mean anything but was packed so full of spots and fought at such a frenetic pace that it was hard not to enjoy it. I am bitterly disappointed they put Marshall in and didn’t go with the Page/Silas rematch that people really wanted to see, but there you go. After QT’s great performance against Ciampa at the last tapings I see what they were trying to achieve, and he certainly contributed some comedic value to this if nothing else.

reDRagon vs Forever Hooligans – ROH Tag Title Match
This is a rematch from Episode 81, when Forever Hooligans became the first team to challenge newly minted Tag Champions Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly in Chicago. They came up short, but together with the champs produced one of the best TV matches of the year so far. This was originally scheduled to be a Proving Ground Match, but following Fish’s generous offer to put the belts up here and now, Romero and Koslov will become double Tag Champions (they already hold the IWGP Jr. Tag straps) if they can leave Providence with a victory.

Romero starts with Fish, as Nigel and Kevin ponder exactly why Bobby was so willing to offer up a title defence. It could simply be he wants the biggest stage possible to showcase his skills, particularly as he and Rocky go through an awesome couple of minutes of chain wrestling and strike exchanges which is an absolute joy to watch. The pace quickens with O’Reilly and Koslov in the ring, but they are equally crisp and precise in what they do. Fish cuts Alex off as he lines up a tope atomico…but he ducks under him second time around to NAIL that high spot! Romero pulls a TJ Perkins and hangs in the ropes, luring Bobby outside for a TOPE SUICIDA! Back from commercials and the challengers are still well in charge of their opponents. O’Reilly is trapped in the ring, and is so beaten down that the Hooligans do their usual ‘pretend to fight’ sequence for sh*ts and giggles. FISH SPEARS KOSLOV INTO THE RAILS! O’REILLY WITH THE MISSILE DROPKICK OFF THE APRON! The crowd loved that, and those high risks just paid off for reDRagon just as the dives out of the ring worked for the Hooligans previously. Tilta-whirl backbreaker/flying knee drop combo gets 2! They try to isolate Romero, working over his midsection in the process. Eventually Rocky gets the better of a kick exchange with Fish – getting the hot tag to Koslov who enters the ring with a MASSIVE springboard crossbody. Corkscrew enzi nearly decapitates Bobby…and he pulls out the Cossack hat. COSSACK KICKS! DOUBLE STOMP TO THE FACE! O’Reilly saves in slightly a desperate manner! DOOMSDAY KNEE STRIKE ON KYLE! SCOOP TOMBSTONE! SHOOTING STAR PRESS BY KOSLOV! O’REILLY SAVES AGAIN! He throws kicks and chops at Romero, then dumps Alex on his head with a Saito suplex to leave all four on the canvas. Kyle and Rocky are the legal men and they are first to their feet to tear into each other with more strikes. REGALPLEX…Koslov saves! The champs hit Total Elimination for 2! Chasing The Dragon…but Koslov saves. Romero with the backslide…NEW CHAMPIONS! It’s over at 13:10 (shown), and Forever Hooligans have the belts!

Rating - **** - These two teams seem to have real chemistry together. The Hooligans/Wolves encounter at the Anniversary Show in Chicago was a bit of an anticlimax, but this was the second time reDRagon have brought the best out of the visiting NJPW duo on television. If you’re looking to compare the two I thought the first one was slightly more intelligent and technically savvy – but this was non-stop excitement and featured what was, at the time, a massively shocking title change. You can argue about the merits of taking the belts from reDRagon when they were really hitting their stride, but if the aim is to shine a spotlight on the Tag Titles and use them as your main event titles in the absence of a World Champion for a couple of months this was a great way to start.

Tape Rating - *** - 3.0/RUSH and Young/Page/Marshall were fun sprints but left me wanting more, and I’ve more than had my say on how disgusted I am with the break in the World Championship’s lineage, but this episode was worth checking out for the main event alone. NOBODY picked Forever Hooligans, part-time roster members with extensive overseas commitments as champions in the biggest company in Japan, as the guys to dethrone reDRagon. Adding an element of unpredictability, intrigue and excitement into a tag division you’re asking to carry your company really isn’t a bad thing.
 

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