ROH on Sinclair – Episode 163 – 1st November 2014
It’s been a moderately successful set of TV tapings this time around. No episode has been truly outstanding, but there hasn’t been a bad one either. Every show has had something to offer, and we’ve seen a couple of really strong matches. Hopefully this show rounds out the Wheeling, WV tapings in a positive way. The main event sees Matt Sydal return to Ring Of Honor to take on his former tag partner in this promotion – AJ Styles. Kevin Kelly and Truth Martini provide commentary.
Matt Sydal cuts a rather uncomfortable promo telling everyone we’re going to see his rebirth tonight.
Mark Briscoe vs Caprice Coleman
When you have to bill this as a ‘battle of ordained ministers’ you know there’s not much going on here. Mark was assaulted by The Kingdom last week so may still be carrying injuries from that, whilst Caprice is hovering dangerously close to losing his roster spot and needs a few big wins to move him up the card.
Even Kelly struggles to care about this match, and visibly turns away from the ring to interview Martini instead. Cactus Elbow misses for Briscoe, allowing Coleman to hit the One Inch Punch. It causes Mark to collapse to the ground, in the path of a springboard moonsault. Bless-TO gets a nearfall before Briscoe blocks the Mind Trip and uses some Redneck Kung Fu to fight back into the contest. Froggy Bow countered with the vertical leap frankensteiner…then a running Mind Trip for 2. Urinage suplex from Mark, into the Cut-Throat Driver for the win at 07:05
Rating - * - Nobody cared about this match. The crowd sat on their hands, the commentators talked about literally anything else…hell, even the two competitors were visibly going through the motions. If you like these guys, and like seeing the same spots they do in every match then maybe you’ll like this more than I did. I thought it was a lazy match and a waste of TV time. Most Mark Briscoe singles matches are terrible these days...
Nigel McGuinness summons the suspended Tommaso Ciampa to the ring, looking to address his persistent unscheduled appearances at events. He announces that Tommaso is going to be reinstated, but under a ‘zero tolerance’ policy meaning that he will be fired if he attacks anymore referees, commentators or officials. Ciampa is annoyed he doesn’t have a title shot, and makes fun of Nigel for quitting wrestling. He makes fun of Jay Briscoe (who also comes to the ring) as well, and plans to end his two year undefeated streak. Ciampa and Briscoe have to be separated. The Kingdom take advantage of the chaos to sneak in for another attack on Jay. TRIPLE SUPERKICK ON JAY! Cole gives Mark Briscoe a superkick as well when he tries to save.
SIDENOTE – Really good stuff on the microphone from both Ciampa and Nigel there.
BJ Whitmer is backstage with Adam Page. They are tagging tonight, and BJ wants Page show what he has learned from his months in The Decade
Brutal Burgers vs BJ Whitmer/Adam Page
I can’t keep repeating myself by pointing out how much I dislike Cheeseburger (and the Brutal Burgers team). Hopefully this is kept short and they are nothing more than a stepping stone for Adam Page. Whitmer has been a strong supporter of Page within The Decade, whilst Roderick clearly doesn’t like the kid and Jacobs preferred Tadarius Thomas. A win here would definitely give BJ more credibility when arguing with his stable-mates.
Page starts the match but is overwhelmed by the experience of Evans. Cheeseburger doesn’t have the same luck and is quickly roughed up by Whitmer. Page no sells all of Cheese’s offence to plant him face-first into the mat as well. Brutal Bob traps Adam in an armbar, then scoops his partner on his back for the ‘Super Size Stunner’. Page wins it with the inverted Tombstone on Cheeseburger at 04:20
Rating - * - It went on too long, and Bob Evans got far too much protection. However, they got there in the end and Adam Page comes out of this with a deserved victory. Page was the best performer by miles
Page puts an exclamation point on his victory by giving Cheese another inverted Tombstone…
Mark Briscoe, Romantic Touch and Delirious deliver a bizarre ‘Happy Halloween’ message.
Matt Sydal vs AJ Styles
Originally Sydal was scheduled to return at Best In The World, and had even been flown out to Nashville – but couldn’t get out of his WWE contract in time to do so. After spending most of the final 18 months of his WWE career on the injured list, he now returns to the indies and returns to companies like ROH and PWG where he made his name in the first place. It was a match with AJ Styles back at Hell Freezes Over in 2006 that really started Sydal’s rise to prominence in this company. He and AJ went on to form a decent tag team as well, so they have plenty of history together. Styles quit a big company earlier this year and has gone on to have arguably the best year of his entire career. Can Matt emulate his success on his own big return to the indies?
Sydal gets the better of the first few exchanges and out-wrestles Styles on multiple occasions. AJ is more than happy to engage him, leading to a really awesome and exceptionally crisp back and forth mat exchange. When we cut from commercials it appears that AJ has forced an advantage as he drops his opponent into a backbreaker. He catches him going for a springboard crossbody seconds later and gives him ROLLING swinging backbreakers doing yet more damage to the core. A bow and arrow stretch inflicts more pain to the back, and also makes you question whether Matt will even be able to execute the Sydal Press. Crucifix driver by Reborn, followed by The Slice…but he stays down holding his back and can’t capitalise. Styles shows a ruthless streak by kicking at Matt’s bad ankle…and he taps it again seconds later when Sydal seemed set for a springboard moonsault to the floor. They go to the top rope and AJ catches another mistake from his opponent by DUCKING out of an attempted springboard super rana – causing Sydal to land roughly against the buckles. METEORA KNEES get 2! Matt drags Styles back to the top….but then has to frantically kick his way out of a Styles Clash. SYDAL PRESS MISSES! More damage to that midsection there. HOLLOW POINT! STYLES CLASH! Styles defeats Sydal at 12:44 (shown).
Rating - **** - Perhaps not as spectacular as some may have predicted, but this was a solid wrestling match. Styles is acknowledged as one of the best in the world right now and delivered a performance befitting that reputation. After struggling to get the better of the fired up returning Sydal early he gained an advantage by attacking the midsection – which led him to victory. Matt, in return, showed plenty of tenacity and fight but couldn’t overcome the IWGP Champion. I’ll leave it to you to decide whether you think it was the right idea jobbing Sydal out in his big comeback
Truth Martini leaves commentary and is seen having a quiet discussion with Sydal as the show ends.
Tape Rating - *** - There were two pretty lousy matches on this show, but thankfully a strong in-ring segment and the hot main event salvaged things. Styles/Sydal wasn’t as good as some predicted, and probably wasn’t as good as their 2006 match either…but it was a fine comeback for Matt and a really decent match for free television.
Top 5 Wheeling Taping Matches
5) Adam Page vs Tadarius Thomas (*** - Episode 161)
4) reDRagon vs Roderick Strong/Jimmy Jacobs (*** - Episode 162)
3) Honor Rumble (**** - Episode 160)
2) AJ Styles vs Matt Sydal (**** - Episode 163)
1) Adam Cole vs Cedric Alexander (**** - Episode 161)