ROH on Sinclair – Episode 121 – 11th January 2014
For the first time since October of last year, ROH has some new TV-exclusive content for us. They taped these right at the start if 2014 and have wasted no time getting some editing done and getting them on the air. There’s a good reason too, as the tapings featured the in-ring returns of not one, but TWO major, main event level talents. Chris Hero returned to the company at Final Battle following his WWE release, and steps back into the ring tonight to face Kevin Steen. In the coming weeks we’ll also have the return of AJ Styles to look forward to – something I genuinely never thought I’d see. For the first time since 2008 ROH is back in Nashville, TN, and running the TNA Asylum (Tennessee State Fairgrounds). Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino are in attendance for commentary.
SIDENOTE – I think ROH needs some new opening credits for 2014. The likes of Davey Richards, Eddie Edwards, Rhino, Mike Mondo and Rhett Titus (technically) don’t work here anymore, yet are all featured prominently in an opening montage that hasn’t changed in sometime. Adam Cole, the World Champion, is barely visible either.
We go straight into the 2014 Top Prospect Tournament. Michael Bennett and Matt Taven are previous winners, and they have both achieved significant success in ROH following their victory in this tournament. The field this year is a bit of a mixed bunch. The likes of Raymond Rowe, Hanson, Corey Hollis, Kongo and Cheeseburger have made previous appearances (with varying degrees of success). They are joined by Andrew Everett, Bill Daly and Romantic Touch, who are all making their TV debuts. The majority of the field are unknown quantities here in ROH, which makes it a wide open competition this year. Who will step up to earn a permanent spot? Prince Nana joins commentary for all tournament matches – the deal being that since he is the ‘ROH Talent Scout’ he’s the one that signed all these competitors up.
Raymond Rowe vs Kongo
This is our first TPT match, between two men who have appeared before. Rowe has actually made a couple of appearances, and looked rather impressive on both occasions. He has a great look, and seems to hit exceptionally hard. I was initially sceptical that he would fit in with the ‘current’ ROH product, but I’m glad he appears to be getting another opportunity. His opponent is Kongo, who was on TV once last year as part of a random TV Title contenders match. He works some kind of Umaga-influenced savage gimmick, but last time out was simply too heavy and immobile to be any good in the ring. We’ll see if he’s improved since then.
No handshake from Kongo, who’s facepaint kind of looks like someone has drawn a slice of pizza on his cheek. Despite his considerable size, even he is rocked by the incredibly powerful strikes of Rowe. Kongo misses a running fatty splash and is knocked out of the ring – where Ray shunts him into the ringpost. MASSIVE fisherman buster out of nowhere by the big savage! GERMAN SUPLEX BY ROWE! ONE-COUNT OF DISRESPECT! Rowe doesn’t like that, and goes one better with a 2-count following a shotgun knee attack in the corner. POOOUUUUUNCE by Kongo! He hits a vicious running hip attack, then goes to the second rope. VADER SPLASH misses! FULL NELSON KNEE STRIKE by Rowe! That’s an awesome finisher, and he wins at 04:16
Rating - *** - How much fun was that? This was just two large individuals beating the snot out of each other, and was impossible not to like. Rowe has already showed in his previous outings that he can structure a half-decent undercard match. Here he got to demonstrate some of his remarkable power and offensive manoeuvres, and they certainly were impressive. I really liked that finisher too (effectively a Go 2 Sleep-style knee strike, to the back of the head, lifted from a full nelson position). Kongo also delivered a much-improved showing. He’s still too large for what he’s trying to achieve, and would really benefit from dropping 50-75 lbs just to move a little more quickly and fluently in the ring. However, his performance here was everything you need from a heavy wrestler – using his weight to his advantage, but also not afraid to take some sizeable bumps to make his opponent look good.
Michael Elgin shows up to vent some post-Final Battle frustration. He hits a spinning back fist on Kongo – who simply stands there. RELEASE CROSSFIRE BOMB BY ELGIN! He legitimately lifted the massive Kongo OVER his head! Adam Cole is put on notice, as Elgin is still coming for the World Title in 2014. That brings Chris Hero out for his first appearance on SBG TV since Episode 1 back in 2011. He throws his hat in the Championship ring…and here comes Kevin Steen. He still hasn’t had a rematch for the World Title that he lost at Supercard Of Honor, which he thinks puts him ahead of both Elgin and Hero in the queue.
SIDNOTE – Steen referencing Kassius Ohno in his promo was hilarious
THREE WEEKS – AJ Styles returns to ROH
It’s time for the next Top Prospect Tournament Match. 'Benchmark' Bill Daly withdraws from the tournament due to a ‘high ankle sprain’, and declares himself the official 2014 Top Prospect already – therefore he feels he has already earned a TV Title shot asap. Mike Posey challenges his own tag partner instead…
Corey Hollis vs Mike Posey
Posey has snatched an opportunity, inserting himself into the TPT to face his own partner. There’s no doubt that Mike will feel a little slighted that Hollis was given the tournament spot and is considered the top guy in Alabama Attitude (quite rightly), so will want to make a point here.
Hollis makes a point at Posey’s expense, putting him on the deck for repeated slaps to the back of the head. And he maintains the pressure, tossing Posey outside for a pescado. Posey is a man on a mission though, and drives Corey’s shoulder into the ringpost. He attacks the arm with gusto and it has his tag partner in serious trouble. Hollis retorts with a ONE-ARM swinging neckbreaker for 2. SLINGSHOT Angel’s Wings by Posey! He hits an enzi strike to the bad shoulder…only for Corey to no sell for a northern lariat. Guillotine leg drop from the top gets Posey a nearfall. Hollis leans into a spinning elbow strike, and advances in the tournament at 04:41
Rating - ** - Far better than I expected it to be, and actually Posey’s best ROH showing. Whomever is booking these Top Prospect Tournament matches, it’s clear that the workers are being allowed to showcase as much offence as they can in their brief time allowances – and it’s making for entertaining viewing. Posey working in a somewhat heel-ish manner certainly worked, and his assault on the arm was very decent. Hollis is very obviously the star of the team though, and had the crowd engaged in a manner Mike simply can’t manage. He could use some work on his selling (which was patchy), but Hollis was the right man to advance.
Clips from Pursuit Night 2 next, showing the conclusion of the Tag Title main event and the emotional post-match promo where Caprice announced the end of the C&C WrestleFactory.
Caprice Coleman vs Jay Lethal
This match finds both workers at a career crossroads. Coleman is in his first match since the C&C split. Everyone acknowledges that Cedric Alexander has a major upside and looks set to be a big star, but Caprice will stay on the roster and continue to earn bookings too. His opponent endured a frustrating 2013. Lethal is obviously a top level Ring Of Honor athlete, but after he failed to win a championship last year (despite a few opportunities) he must wonder what he needs to do in 2014 to find success.
As you’d expect in a former TNA-stronghold, Jay Lethal is hugely over. They start with some super-fluent chain wrestling which only ends when Jay knocks Coleman out of the ring into the path of a tope suicida. Caprice misses the 619 around the ringpost, but recovers quickly to deliver a roundhouse kick to the side of the head. SPRINGBOARD MOONSAULT TO THE FLOOR! Lethal retaliates with a back flip hurricanrana…then Caprice springs to the top rope for a FLYING leg lariat. Asai moonsault gets knees – and both men are down. Lethal Injection COUNTERED into the rolling northern lights! Lethal Combination scores instead…HAIL TO THE KING COUNTERED WITH A RUNNING SUPER RANA! Lethal blocks the Mind Trip…so Caprice blocks another Lethal Combo! Superkick nailed, into the Lethal Injection at last. Jay gets the win at 06:09
Rating - *** - A complete spotfest, but I really enjoyed it. These guys are very experienced, well-travelled athletes, and they demonstrated that with an exceptionally well-executed, high-flying exhibition match. They could have worked this as a squash and nobody would have minded, so it’s to ROH and Lethal’s credit that they let Caprice get plenty of offence in to produce a fun little match.
Jay takes to the microphone to formally accept the offer of a TV Title shot from new champion Tommaso Ciampa. He says he’ll be back next week to commentate on Ciampa’s match…
Speaking of challenges, Jay Briscoe challenges Adam Cole to a match next week, with his ‘Real World Championship’ on the line.
Chris Hero vs Kevin Steen
It’s a full two years since Hero was last in an ROH ring – losing to Michael Elgin at Homecoming 2012. After his controversial time in NXT was ended he wasted no time in launching himself back into the independent scene, with multiple bookings for PWG, Gabe’s WWN promotions – and finally a return to Ring Of Honor at Final Battle 2013. He made it clear he’s coming for a World Title shot, which places him on a collision course with Kevin Steen – who himself is still waiting for a championship rematch for the belt he lost last April.
Hero’s popularity rivals Steen’s tonight, drawing large ‘Chris Is Awesome’ chants then a significant pop for his first cravat of the contest. He clearly has the edge on Steen when it comes to pure wrestling, but when we come back from commercials it’s clear Mr Wrestling has seized the initiative by taking the fight to the floor. He even shows some of the agility he’s regained after dropping some weight – by getting a nearfall using a slingshot somersault senton. Hero’s strikes are starting to weaken, until he MISAWA ROLLS over the ropes to the apron, then dives back in for a sliding boot. Another massive kick knocks Steen on his ass for 2. Death Blow blocked…Package Piledriver blocked! ROLLING ELBOW COUNTERED WITH THE F-5! FOR 2! Steen literally springs to the top rope, into the STEEN-TON which gets another nearfall! Pop-up powerbomb from Kevin, but he slumps in the corner starting to feel the effects of the repeated heavy duty strikes from his opponent. ROLLLING ELBOW! ROLLING BOOT! Hero sets up the Death Blow…but The Decade run in to distract him! SLEEPER SUPLEX! Steen beats Hero in his return match at 08:37 (shown).
Rating - *** - Disappointingly short, but there was certainly enough quality in it to make you positive that Hero’s return to ROH should be a fruitful one. I liked the story they went for, with Steen using his ROH familiarity (Hero has been in WWE rings for the last two years), brawling ability and high impact spots to get the better of a technically superior and hard-hitting adversary. It came down to whether Steen would be able to hit enough big spots to beat Hero before he was KO’d by That Young Knock-out Kid. Unfortunately we never found out the answer thanks to outside interference – but at least The Decade have a clear mantra now. They feel underappreciated in their loyalty to ROH, and want to target those that are leaving (i.e. Eddie Edwards) or those that have returned after trying to make it elsewhere (i.e. Chris Hero…and AJ Styles perhaps?)
Strong, Jacobs and Whitmer continue to mock Hero…and as Steen tries to leave the arena Cliff Compton jumps the rail and attacks him
Tape Rating - *** - A welcome return to ROH television after almost two months of what was effectively Road Rage stuff for those of us that watch DVD’s/buy VOD’s. No match went particularly long, but all eight men wrestling tonight went out of their way to pack as much action into their respective time allowances as possible. Rowe/Kongo was an entertaining big man encounter, Lethal/Caprice was a terrific spotfest, and Hero’s return in the main event yielded a really hard-fought and physical bout too. Even Mike Posey didn’t suck as much as usual! Packing four decent matches, a few promos and a decent little segment positioning the top challengers to Adam Cole’s title at the start of 2014 into 50-minutes of television is quite an achievement.