ROH on Sinclair – Episode 124 – 1st February 2014
This is a big show for ROH. It marks their final episode from the early-January TV tapings, and it features the return of one of the most talented, respected and enduringly popular American wrestlers of the last decade. AJ Styles debuted for ROH in 2002, but his priority was always TNA. Aside from the odd hiatus here and there, his Ring Of Honor tenure lasted into 2006 when he and ROH decided it might be the right time for him to cut ties. I think few ever really thought they’d see AJ Styles in ROH again. He was extremely talented, an established main event player for TNA, and you always figured that if TNA were foolish enough to lose him then WWE would be waiting to scoop him up. Unfortunately for Styles, that’s not how things have worked out. TNA ran his contract down (whilst promoting him in a major storyline), and in the end made him an offer that he did not deem even close to what he felt he was worth. When the offer was not increased, AJ was on his way, and with a WWE offer apparently not on the table (and Jeff Jarrett’s new promotion not yet off the ground) he was off to hit the indies. For once Sinclair/ROH weren’t dragging their feet – and after a few days of rumours it was officially announced – AJ was back in Ring Of Honor. He’s not a contracted talent, but they have nailed him down for a decent amount of forthcoming shows. Tonight we have his first ROH match in eight years, facing Roderick Strong. Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino are in Nashville, TN.
Hanson vs Andrew Everett
This is the second of the 2014 Top Prospect Tournament semi-finals. For the second match in a row it pits the massive Hanson against a significantly smaller worker. He breezed past Cheeseburger in Round 1, and now has the skilful and athletic Everett (who made it past Romantic Touch) blocking his path to a spot in the final against Raymond Rowe.
Everett swarms around Hanson like a fly, and is easily swatted away as such. He manages to knock the big man to the floor with a dropsault…but gets CAUGHT attempting a running moonsault to the floor! LAWN DART into the ringpost! Everett lands a couple of forearms – and thinking he’s been successful tries to run the ropes only to he destroyed with a lariat to the back of the head! DOUBLE SPRINGBOARD FLYING HEADSCISSORS! He follows that with a springboard dropkick and takes Hanson off his feet for the first time. Hanson clearly didn’t enjoy selling the smaller man’s offence, and clobbers him out of the ring. TOPE SUICIDA MISSES! SPRINGBOARD SSP BY EVERETT! He tries one more springboard move, but this time flies into Hanson’s SPIN KICK OF DOOM! It’s all over, and Hanson advances to the finals at 05:19
Rating - *** - There were a couple of instances where I caught Hanson needlessly selling Everett’s weak-looking little forearm strikes, but everything else was a complete adrenaline rush. Hanson looked like a violent killer, and Everett continued to look like an absolutely outstanding high-flyer. I hope we get to see a lot more of both men as 2014 continues.
Michael Bennett vs Cedric Alexander
At the time of the tapings this was the first time anyone had heard from Bennett since Final Battle, where he lost to Kevin Steen and was subsequently banned from using the Piledriver. Maria protests the loss (he wasn’t carried out on a stretcher), and announces that Bennett has developed a new, even more deadly finisher – which Cedric will feel the wrath of tonight.
Fast start from Alexander, flipping past Bennett into a fierce dropkick. Bennett is a smart worker though, and quickly slows the pace – trapping Ced in the corner where he can’t build up some speed and where he’s susceptible to a number of hard strikes. Cedric manages to knock him off the apron, only for Maria to replace him on there just when a dive is possible. SOMERSAULT PLANCHA OVER MARIA ONTO BENNETT! She rakes Ced’s back in frustration, and that’s where we cut to commercials. When we return it’s clear that was a turning point as we see Michael rushing him into the guardrails. Bennett obviously wants to work him over outside the ring…emphasised as he hits a vicious spinebuster into the APRON! It’s only when they get back inside that Alexander is able to evade some Bennett offence and send him crotch-first into the middle turnbuckle. Springboard lariat finds the mark too…and when Bennett ducks a rebound enzi kick he simply pops back into a corkscrew enziguri instead! One more springboard attempted…COUNTERED with a spear! Box Office Smash gets 2! TKO blocked by Alexander…into an IED flurry! KICK TO KILL! Bennett rolls to the floor to escape losing the match right there. Alexander looks for a frog splash only to propel himself into Bennett’s knees. ANACONDA VICE! Bennett wins at 08:58 (shown).
Rating - *** - The live crowd took a while to get into it, but for free television that was a killer little match. It was so smartly worked, with Bennett working at a slow pace (whilst still delivering multiple high impact spots to please the crowd), and interspersed with flashes of high velocity action from Cedric. Throw in minimal Maria interference (what there was led to an awesome Alexander spot) and a clean finish which progresses Bennett’s character moving into 2014…this really was a great watch.
Corino selling the Anaconda Vice like he’s never seen it in his life really makes me laugh. He and Kevin are joined by Nigel McGuinness for the main event – which is next.
Roderick Strong vs AJ Styles
After his split with TNA, and almost eight years away from ROH – AJ Styles now makes his return. He’s a former Tag and Pure Wrestling Champion, but has never won the World Championship despite multiple shots. Much like Hero, he too wants to get into the World Title picture, and will know he needs wins to do it. And, much like Hero, his return after a lengthy run in another company has raised the ire of The Decade. They aren’t happy that a guy who has chosen to leave ROH on multiple occasions is being given such hype, whilst someone like Strong, who has an uninterrupted ten years in Ring Of Honor, is seemingly further away from the World Title than ever.
They go straight to the mat, and at this point the crowd is so into things they cheer every time AJ gets the edge, then boo every time the pendulum swings in Roddy’s favour. Strong makes fun of Styles, which he does NOT take kindly too – tossing him down and begging Roderick to out-wrestle him if he thinks he can. Strong rises to the challenge, and shoulder blocks him own before doing AJ’s signature arms-wide pose. Dropkick from Styles, followed by a running dropkick to the floor! He is controlling proceedings, delivering an emphatic pumphandle gutbuster. He makes a single mistake, trying a springboard move too early and eating a dropkick…and he ricochets backwards hanging his throat over the top rope. Strong pounces, dragging AJ straight to the floor where he can use the unforgiving guardrails to his advantage. Back suplex on the apron blocked…HALF NELSON BACKBREAKER INTO THE SIDE OF THE RING! His back is hurting him now, and as they collide in the middle of the ring each attempting crossbody blocks it leaves both of them struggling on the canvas. Styles hits the springboard elbow smash, and plants Strong with a DVD over the knee for 2. Too early for the Styles Clash though, and Strong scoops him up for the Olympic Slam – dropping him on that back again. Urinage backbreaker gets 2. Death By Roderick blocked…quebrada inverted DDT blocked too! Roddy misses an elbow strike, and this time eats the quebrada inverted DDT! AJ gets caught climbing to the top rope as both men really start to slow down and look fatigued. Massive superplex from Strong, once again putting him down on that suspect back causing him to writhe in pain. Gibson Driver escaped, pushing Strong into the corner for the PELE KICK! BRAINBUSTER gets 2! Styles tries a springboard move, but is so worn down and in such back pain that he slips off the top rope and barely makes contact with Strong. They jostle for position in the corner until Roddy pulls him out for a cradle backbreaker! DEATH BY RODERICK for 2! Strong flays away at the neck and back…only for Styles to fire right back! CALF CUTTER…countered to a pinfall which nearly gives Strong the win. They unload on each other with strikes…SICK KICK NAILED! AJ KICKS OUT! ORANGE CRUSH BACKBREAKER COUNTERED WITH A RANA! STRONG HITS A KNEE STRIKE! DISCUS LARIAT BY AJ! STYLES CLASH! STRONG LANDS ON HIS HEAD! It’s over at 18:13 (shown).
Rating - **** - What a comeback match for AJ. Credit to ROH’s production guys for putting the show together to allow them plenty of time, and did these guys ever fill it with some quality. Critics have spent years bashing AJ for his selective selling and so forth, and sure there was an element of that here. But what you can’t praise highly enough is his exceptional ability to produce amazing high impact spots, and the ‘big match’ intensity he brings every time he’s in the ring. Not all of this was clean (that finish looked horrific – no idea why Strong tucked his head like that, and the same thing happened to AJ with a British wrestler the following month), but what a war it was. Roderick looked to make a statement at AJ’s expense, hammering him with strikes and attacking the back with his usual aggression…with Styles taking everything he had and still coming back. The last minute was as good a minute of wrestling as ROH have produced in some time. My favourite ROH match of 2014 so far.
BJ Whitmer and Jimmy Jacobs come out to attack AJ, as officials rush to check on Roderick. Chris Hero leads a bunch of wrestlers to the ring to chase The Decade off
NEXT WEEK – We begin Road Rage from Wrestling’s Finest in Pittsburgh, PA.
Tape Rating - **** - Great show to round out the stop-off in Nashville. The main event was basically half the episode and it lived up to expectations – very much being something you need to check out if you haven’t already seen it. I’m sure plenty has already been written about AJ/Roddy, so lets talk about the undercard, which was great on this show. Hanson/Everett was another entertaining little sprint from the Top Prospect Tournament, and Bennett/Alexander was better than you might have expected too.