ROH on Sinclair – Episode 127 – 22nd February 2014
Even though this technically airs after the 12th Anniversary, it still represents a big chance to push some VOD buys. Up to this point I don’t think ROH has even mentioned the 12th Anniversary Show on television at all – and that needs to change tonight. Since the VOD won’t go live until Monday 24th at the earliest, they should use another Road Rage from Pittsburgh, PA as a chance to bolster those buys. Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino are at ringside to call the action.
SIDENOTE – Roderick Strong’s commentary, which wasn’t audible on the DVD, can be clearly heard on the TV broadcast edit of the following match.
Andrew Everett vs Cedric Alexander
Everett made quite the impression with his high-flying ROH debut as part of the Top Prospect Tournament. His reward is another booking here, and getting to face the man many consider to be a future main eventer. Alexander grew immeasurably as a performer in 2013 – to the extent that Caprice Coleman voluntarily disbanded the C&C WrestleFactory to let him pursue singles success.
Roddy is on commentary it seems, although his microphone isn’t working so you can’t actually hear him. Everett back flips into a hurricanrana…and the pace quickens as he misses a standing moonsault, lands on his feet then instantly ducks a corkscrew enzi from Cedric. Alexander evades an attempted dive spot to knock Andrew off the apron. SUPER HIGH back drop, which almost drops Everett on his neck gets 2! They trade kicks before Ced finally manages to blast his opponent with an enziguri strike. Everett knocks him out of the ring with a dropsault – and the crowd sense something’s about to happen. SPRINGBOARD SHOOTING STAR TO THE FLOOR! He returns to the ring to nail a wild springboard missile dropkick, and follows it with a HEAD DROP rana for 2! He attempts it a second time, but this time Alexander catches and counters him into a faceplant! Springboard lariat is somehow COUNTERED into a one-arm pinning combination from Everett! Rope-run forearm smash by Alexander – only to be dropped on his face! 630 SENTON BY EVERETT…INTO CED’S KNEES! BACK DROP BACKBREAKER! Alexander wins at 10:55. That finish is called the Lumbar Check.
Rating - **** - I’ll admit to this being an extremely generous rating, but I felt it necessary to praise what was an extremely positive performance from both individuals. The first few minutes were a little bland, but once they started clicking through the gears it became absorbing viewing. It felt like this was supposed to be a match to get Cedric over. People know he’s talented, and ROH have made a clear statement of intent by breaking him away from Caprice for a singles run. However, Everett’s courageous and exciting showing (coupled with Alexander’s willingness to bump like a lunatic for him) meant that the newcomer left with his reputation massively enhanced too. As a high-flying exhibition match this was a blast, and had the live crowd jumping out of their seats. Isn’t that what wrestling is supposed to be about?
Roderick tosses his water bottle at Cedric, then walks out. He doesn’t take kindly to Cedric stealing his backbreaker deal it seems
Kyle O’Reilly vs Kevin Steen
These two have met before, mostly during the Steen/Richards feud in 2012. However, with a World Title reign for Mr Wrestling and multiple Tag Title runs for Kyle since then, we’ll now see how much each man has improved. Will Steen be distracted by his increasingly heated issue with Cliff Compton?
Steen immediately starts playing mind games with O’Reilly, luring him into a ‘wrestling’ match whilst getting the crowd increasingly riled up and boisterous about minor things like rope breaks. He showcases more of the agility that has come with his recent weight loss by nipping up from the canvas. Such is his early success that he starts screaming at Steve Corino to compliment him on his wrestling ability. Kyle looks to strike his way back into the contest…but again Steen is up to the task he SLAPS HIM OUT OF THE RING! Steen is genuinely so popular he can brawl around ringside and pull-out multiple pro-Steen signs from the front row to pose with. In the end that may actually have distracted him, allowing O’Reilly enough time to recover and cling to the ropes to block the Apron Bomb. F-5 blocked as well, then Kyle has to lunge into the ropes to block the Sharpshooter. The Tag Champion is really struggling to get any kind of foothold in the match…before finally managing to legsweep Steen down onto his own arm – seemingly injuring the shoulder. Instantly the left arm hangs limp by his side, prompting Steen to desperately fend Kyle off with very obvious closed-fist strikes. O’Reilly rams the shoulder into the turnbuckles, lulling himself into a false sense of security which Kevin punishes by delivering a massive lariat for 2. His response is to hammerlock Steen’s arm and drive it into the ringpost. Apron missile dropkick…COUNTERED TO THE APRON BOMB! Arm-selling Steen-ton Bomb gets 2! Kyle blocks the Sharpshooter by kicking the arm…but sees his attempt at a guillotine choke countered into the Cannonball! He sets up the Package Piledriver, but simply can’t get Kyle off his feet from that position. F-5 COUNTERED TO THE ARM-AGEDDON ARMBREAKER! Steen makes the ropes despite not seeming to have much left in the tank. He bites at O’Reilly, somehow lifting him into an AVALANCHE FISHERMAN BUSTER! There is a delay in covering though, as his arm is still causing him so much pain. PACKAGE PILEDRIVER…COUNTERED BACK TO ARM-AGEDDON! WITH ADDED WRIST CRANKING! And still Steen makes the ropes! O’Reilly becomes enraged when he realises Steen has stolen his mouth guard (and is now wearing it), and starts pummelling the arm with kicks. Steen hoists him into a powerbomb – then the PACKAGE PILEDRIVER! The bad arm meant he couldn’t drag O’Reilly into the middle of the ring though, and Kyle gets a foot on the ropes. Cliff Compton invades the arena and tries to hop the rails, prompting Steen to confront him. APRON MISSILE DROPKICK BY O’REILLY! ARM-AGEDDON! COUNTERED TO THE SHARPSHOOTER! KYLE TAPS! Steen wins at 17:32
Rating - **** - It’s easy to see why fans were raving about this one, as it was a cracking match. Steen is ROH’s franchise player right now (whether he’s in the main events or not), and O’Reilly is almost criminally under-rated as a worker. Together they produced a gripping main event (for the SBG show), that wound up completely stealing the show in Pittsburgh. Steen dominated the early exchanges by using his size and intelligence to get the better of his hot-headed but technically superior opponent. In response, O’Reilly savaged his arm and produced some sensational counters into his cross armbreaker finishing submission. It really was like watching Steen in the ring with Davey Richards again – which I view as a good thing.
Cliff Compton is still causing trouble in the crowd. At Steen’s behest he hops the guardrails and starts decking security guards. Steen lays out referee Paul Turner with an F-5…and the two men go at it! It’s a crazy scene, as ringside crew guys are sent flying…before Kevin lifts Compton into an F-5 TO THE FLOOR! He steals Bobby Cruise’s ringside table, then drags Compton to the apron. Another security guy tries to get involved, distracting Steen for long enough to allow Cliff to repeatedly punch Steen in the balls. SUPERFLY SPLASH FROM THE TOP, THROUGH THE TABLE ON THE FLOOR! Steen is out cold, and Cliff leaves having made a serious impact.
Tape Rating - N/A - Again the 12th Anniversary (and option to view on VOD) was barely mentioned which is really poor form. Whilst that is annoying as hell, the episode itself was fantastic, with crisp editing letting them get pretty much all of two outstanding matches in a 45-minute broadcast. The Ced vs Everett opener was an aerial thriller and a crucial part of the Cedric/Decade feud which kicked into another gear at State Of The Art, and the main event was a hell of a match between two truly world class performers. Well worth checking out if you’ve not seen Wrestling’s Finest.