ROH on Sinclair – Episode 102 – 31st August 2013
Four more men are vying for spots in the ROH World Title tournament quarter-finals this evening. After Jay Lethal advanced last week in a cracking little main event against Sonjay Dutt, tonight Mark Briscoe, Adam Cole, ACH and Karl Anderson are seeking to join him. Plus the match we’ve all been waiting for – Brian Fury challenging Matt Taven for the TV Title. Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness are on commentary for (what I believe is) the final episode taped from Providence, RI.
Matt Taven vs Brian Fury – ROH TV Title Match
It seems that Taven has mowed down every one ROH permanent roster member who is interested in challenging for his TV Title – so now it’s time for the enhancement talents to have a go. Fury won last week’s #1 contendership four corner match despite being the most anonymous of the competitors in that one. Perhaps this week will be his chance to shine as he steps into the ring with Taven – who now has to be considered one of the most dominant TV Champions in ROH history.
Taven doesn’t look like he’s taking this very seriously as he starts dusting Fury in the head then chilling out in the corner with the Hoopla Hotties. Brian really isn’t impressed and drills him with an early Michinoku Driver, then an Alabamaslam for 2. Matt catches him on the jaw with a heel kick, causing Fury to lose all his momentum. Running neckbreaker from Brian, as Nigel McGuinness gets into an altercation with Truth Martini outside the ring. Kasey Ray nails the Lita-can-rana, setting Fury up for Taven’s Five Star Frog Splash. Climax wins it for Taven at 03:34
Rating - * - Taven looked impressive, so for that reason it wasn’t a total bust. However, this match was still a serious waste of precious television time. It did nothing for champion, challenger or the championship itself. Fury was incredibly generic and not really worthy of the elevated slot given to him either. What it boils down to is another meaningless statistic for Matt Taven’s TV Title reign. He continues to win matches, look half decent in the process, but still hasn’t gotten over because his run hasn’t achieved anything. There’s been no iconic or defining match, there’s been no break-out star-making moment, and no memorable feuds either.
Michael Elgin gets some in-ring promo time. He is pleased Nigel McGuinness listened to him when he refused to be handed the World Title as official #1 contender following Jay Briscoe’s injury. Kevin Steen strolls down to interrupt him, pointing out that he couldn’t beat him at Glory By Honor and stating that Unbreakable won’t beat him in the tournament either. Michael Bennett, flanked by Maria of course, also enters the fray – demanding to know why Elgin and Steen have had countless main events whilst he’s been held back for not being ready, or because he’s ‘leaving’. Tommaso Ciampa storms in, tells them all HE will be the next champion…then leaves.
ACH vs Karl Anderson
The reward for some outstanding singles performances by ACH in 2013 is a spot in this tournament. His won/loss record may not be stunning, but he’s certainly had some classic matches and deserves to be in this field. He was the man the fans voted into the field – as I said, it’s a reward for how great he’s been this year. It’s a massive ask for him though, as the up and comer is pitched against the experienced and established gaijin main event level talent from NJPW – Machine Gun Karl Anderson. Up to this point Karl was undefeated during his Ring Of Honor return.
ACH shows no fear, back flipping around the ring from multiple angles, then delivering a flying headscissors with such impact that Anderson decides to leave the ring for a rethink. Karl returns, and stops playing nice, stops giving clean breaks out…and instead stomps ACH right in the ribs then clobbers him into the canvas. ACH tries a split-legged moonsault to the floor. He misses, lands on his feet…RUNNING BOOT BY ANDERSON! That was a game changer, and he follows it with a massive stalling suplex for 2. The size and experience deficit looks like too much for ACH to overcome, with Karl disrespectfully flapping little kicks at him before mounting him for a succession of close-range punches. ACH retaliates with chops and kicks then prawns Karl over the top rope. AIR JORDAN CORKSCREW PLANCHA! He follows it with a high flying crossbody from the top on the way back into the ring. Anderson tries the Ace Crusher, only for ACH to COUNTER with a flatliner for 2! MAFIA KICK from Anderson to stop ACH going upstairs looking for the 450 Splash. LIGERBOMB…gets 2! ACH escapes the sit-out Tombstone and scales the ropes. 450 SPLASH NAILED…for 2! Karl desperately goes for the Ace Crusher and is nearly caught out with a face kick. ACH attempts a second 450 Splash but instead gets ACE CRUSHER! Karl advances at 10:07 (shown).
Rating - *** - I’d much rather they’d have given this a little more time and put this one as main event rather than Cole/Mark. No disrespect to those guys, but this one felt incredibly fresh and was only just getting going when it ended. Anderson is obviously a special attraction talent, so for ROH to use up one of his rare bookings and rare slots in his schedule for ACH was a massive show of faith in the young Texan. He delivered a crisp, error-free performance and portrayed an excellent mouse to Karl Anderson’s cat throughout. I could have done with Anderson picking a game plan and sticking to it. He started trying to be nice and honourable. Then switched to being a ground and pound heel…but then went back to being a respectful, clean breaking guy just looking to hit spots. Still, this is the midcard of a 45-minute SBG TV show. As far as matches in that slot go this was actually really good. Anderson is world class, and ACH really didn’t look out of place in there with him.
Adam Cole vs Mark Briscoe
This is our main event, and the final World Title tourney match taped in Providence. Inside the ring Cole has had a decent but unremarkable 2013, but the growth and progression of his character has many people tipping him as a favourite for the title. In his way is the returning Mark Briscoe. He is now recovered from the concussion he suffered at Best In The World 2013 against his brother, and the SCUM assault the following night at the TV tapings. Jay feels he was unfairly stripped of the belt by Nigel, who should have been on his side considering his history of fighting injured, and now his little brother has entered the tournament looking to make sure the championship stays in the family.
Cole throws an early superkick attempt, trying to test just how healthy Briscoe’s head is following his concussion. Mark is the more experienced man, and sensibly tries to tie Cole up in grapples on the canvas. He zones in on the neck, targeting it with Redneck Kung Fu thrusts then dropping him down onto it with a crisp, high vertical suplex. Iconoclasm blocked…so Briscoe boots him in the face instead! Cole drops to the outside…SUPERKICK ON THE FLOOR! That’s where the commercial cut is, and when we come back Cole is dominant – right on top of Mark and choking him with a snug chinlock. DVD over the knee scores for 2. Adam knows the head is a target, and continually blasts it with kicks from all angles. They then knock heads in the middle of the ring – which is significantly more damaging to Mark than it is for Adam. SPRINGBOARD STANDING DROPKICK in the corner by Briscoe…followed by the Uncle Mule Kick for 2. Urinage blocked by Cole, so Mark rattles him with a jumping enzi then hits that urinage for another nearfall. Cole elbows Briscoe in the head, but amazingly Mark fights him off with HEADBUTTS! Flying tomahawk chop from Mark – but it’s countered in MID-AIR with a superkick! Cradlebreaker drops Briscoe on top of his head again. Cole looks increasingly angry at his failure to put Mark away, and changes his game to one of repeated and focused strikes on the head. Mark absorbs them and starts karate chopping the neck! SHINING WIZARD gets Cole 2. Florida Key blocked with the rolling DVD! Mark is incredibly woozy now though, and nearly falls out of the ring trying to climb the ropes. RUNNING BOOT TO THE HEAD! Adam attempts a superplex, but Mark headbutts him away. FROGGY BOW WITH HEAD SELLING! And Mark looks DEAD after hitting it! Todd Sinclair checks to see if Briscoe can continue, physically stopping Cole from getting on him as Mark stumbles around apparently unaware of where he is. COLE SUPERKICKS HIM IN THE SIDE OF THE HEAD! JAY DRILLER! Cole advances at 12:31 (shown)
Rating - **** - I haven’t enjoyed a singles match from either of these two as much as this in some time. The pace may have been a little slow at times, but the story-telling was utterly compelling. As Kevin Kelly said on commentary – last week Jay Lethal played the nice guy and didn’t work Sonjay Dutt’s shoulder even though it was covered in medical tape. This week, unlike Lethal, Cole didn’t hesitate to attack Briscoe’s head. He tried to knock his block off with a superkick in the first five seconds and didn’t change his game plan throughout. It was gritty pro-wrestling drama at it’s finest, and built to the incredible crescendo with Mark hitting that Froggy Bow (whilst selling the injury) then slumping unconscious – reminiscent of the climactic scene in ‘The Wrestler’. Cole’s deranged, heelish decision to give him an unprotected superkick then use his own brother’s finisher to beat him was unforgettable too. I may get accused of over-rating this, but wrestling should be all about great story-telling, and bringing genuine emotion into the squared circle. These guys accomplished that in what was a tense main event you couldn’t take your eyes off.
Tape Rating - *** - Much better than last week’s episode. Taven/Fury was the waste of television time you will have predicted, but all the focus around the World Title tournament was great. Getting all the heavy hitters for the tournament into the ring together was decent – and the two tourney matches from this week are very much worth your time to check out. I said in my review that I’d have preferred Anderson/ACH to main event over Cole/Briscoe. I hold my hands up – I was completely wrong on that. Those two ended up producing one of my favourite SBG main events of 2013 so far.