By Jason Powell

ROH Wrestling on SBG television affiliates
Taped in Toronto, Ontario at Ted Reeve Arena

[Q1] Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino opened the show on commentary and hyped the three-way No. 1 contenders match for the tag titles. Kelly said three men will also compete in a three-way to become No. 1 contenders to the TV Title. Corino blew a gasket because no one from SCUM was competing in these matches...

1. ACH and Tadarius Thomas vs. QT Marshall and RD Evans vs. Caprice Coleman and Cedric Alexander to become No. 1 contenders to the ROH Tag Titles. Marshall declined to shake hands. Evans tried to be cool while shaking hands with his African American opponents. One of the wrestlers held onto his hand, Marshall took a shot, and the match was on.

There were plenty of high spots early with wrestlers from both babyface teams hitting big moves over the top rope onto a pile of opponents. [C] Kevin Steen cut a promo about facing a member of SCUM at the Columbus, Ohio live event on June 8... Adam Cole was featured in the text message spot of the week...

Back to the match, ACH hit a flurry of crowd pleasing offense on Coleman. There was a series where the wrestlers all took turns hitting rapid fire moves on one another. ACH got the best of the flurry with a series of moves on Evans. There was a rough huracanrana that saw ACH fling Evans to the floor.

ACH made up for it with another big dive over the top rope that popped the crowd. Coleman and Alexander came back with their finishing combination on Thomas and scored the pin. Kelly said Coleman and Alexander will challenge Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly for the ROH Tag Titles at the Best in the World iPPV...

Caprice Coleman and Cedric Alexander beat ACH and Tadarius Thomas, and RD Evans and QT Marshall to become No. 1 contenders for the ROH Tag Titles.

Powell's POV: More of a spot fest than anything. The live crowd really liked ACH's spot. They were impressed by the Coleman and Alexander finishing sequence, but they seemed indifferent regarding them actually winning the match. I prefer Evans as a manager, but he definitely brought some needed personality to the match to go along with all the spots.

[Q2] [C] Kelly noted that Paul London suffered a serious concussion at Border Wars... Footage aired from the London vs. Davey Richards match that took place at Border Wars along with a plug for the replay. The footage included the ugly double stomp on London that caused the concussion...

Powell's POV: I'm a bit surprised ROH opted to show this footage when it make the company look bad for allowing the match to continue. That said, the live crowd was certainly appreciative, particularly during the post match exchange where Richards asked for them to applaud London.

Kelly hyped an update on Paul London, plus the three-way match for the ROH TV Title... [C] The Cole text spot aired again...

Kevin Kelly hosted the Inside Ring of Honor segment. Kelly set up comments from Jay and Mark Briscoe heading into their ROH Title match at Best in the World. Mark was featured first and spoke about being picked on by Jay for 28 years. He recalled Jay punching him in the nose and breaking it for no reason when they were younger.

Mark also told a story about Jay shooting him with a pellet gun. He recalled one more time where Jay tried, but this time Mark had grown up and slammed him. He said nothing has changed since then.

Jay spoke in a separate promo session. He said he's proud of Mark for becoming the father and husband that he is. Jay said he's always had to keep Mark in line. He said his brother doesn't have sense. He said he knocked Mark's teeth out and broke his nose. "Now in Baltimore, I'm going to have to straighten your ass out again," Briscoe said. He said they would have the whole family in attendance to see it...

[Q3] Michael Elgin headed to the ring in street clothes where he joined Nigel McGuiness. Paul London was introduced. Corino said London was wearing a London shirt from 2003. He asked where he's been for the last ten years. Nigel congratulated London on a fantastic match with Davey Richards.

Nigel said London had a spot in ROH for life when he walked away in 2003. Nigel said everyone gets older and has to step away. However, he said that after watching London's match, he doesn't need to step away. The crowd chanted "You still got it" at London. Nigel pointed to London's head and told him to take care of that first.

Powell's POV: Much better. I hope the company has come up with a policy about allowing obviously concussed wrestlers to continue working, but Nigel showing concern for head trauma and postponing the match was well done and made the company look good.

Nigel said he will make London vs. Elgin in a future singles match once London is healthy. Nigel said he knows London would have wrestled anybody. He gave London the mic so that he could say a few words to the fans. Before he could speak. QT Marshall and RD Evans' entrance music interrupted them.

Evans complained about the injustice that has occurred in the tag division. He complained that Fish and O'Reilly didn't show up at Border Wars (they were not advertised). Evans told Nigel that he and Marshall should be named the new tag champions. The crowd chanted "You just lost." Evans pointed out that they were not pinned nor did they submit in the three-way.

London stepped up. Evans told London not to listen to Nigel because he doesn't know anything about when it's time to step away. Evans said London's time is now and shoved him. Elgin caught Evans with a back fist that put him down. Marshall slipped away to ringside.

Tomasso Ciampa's music played and he made his entrance. Kelly said Marshall had nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. Ciampa ran Marshall's head back and forth into the two barricades by the ramp and then performed a move on the stage. Ciapmpa looked to Evans. Elgin held Evans in the ring and then threw him to Ciampa, who performed a crosscheck powerbomb.

Elgin started to leave the ring, but Ciampa stopped him. The crowd chanted for Elgin. Ciampa spoke in Elgin's ear. Elgin said something back and then they stood nose to nose. Referees interjected...

Powell's POV: A good television return for Ciampa. The music buildup was well done and Kelly played it up big on commentary. He looked vicious while slamming the head of Marshall into the barricades, and his powerbomb on Evans was very good. I like the face-to-face with Elgin and the tease for an eventual match between the two powerhouses.

Backstage, Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards were featured in a backstage promo segment. Richards said the American Wolves and The Briscoes are among the great tag teams in history. Edwards said they have yet to beat the Bricoes, but that changes next week... [C] Steen's promo for the Ohio event was replayed... Ring introductions for the main event took place...

[Q4] 2. Mike Bennett (w/Maria Kanellis) vs. Jay Lethal vs. B.J. Whitmer in a three-way match to determine the No. 1 contender for the TV Title. Corino questioned why Whitmer was in this match. He also turned orgasmic when Maria made out with Bennett. Corino then questioned by Lethal was in the match.

Maria joined the announcers on commentary. Corino carried on about what he would do to Maria if he wasn't married. Corino also said he could almost guarantee that Whitmer would fail a wellness test if he had to take one. He also said he could guarantee that Whitmer will go to rehab again. Truth Martini walked out and watched the match just before the break. [C]

Lethal had a run of offense after the break had Bennett pinned, but Whitmer broke it up. Whitmer caught Lethal with a suplex and went for a pin, but Bennett recovered and broke that one up. Lethal came back with a Diamond Cutter on Bennett and then went to the top rope, but Whitmer tripped him up.

Whitmer performed an exploder suplex on Bennett, but Lethal came off the ropes with a top rope elbow. In the end, Lethal hit the Lethal Injection on Whitmer and scored the clean pin. Corino went nuts about the outcome of the match. Maria stood up and accused Whitmer of saying something offensive to her. Bennett attacked Whitmer. Maria laughed when Kelly noted that Whitmer didn't say anything to her... Kelly plugged the Wolves vs. Briscoes main event for next week to close the show...

Jay Lethal defeated Mike Bennett and B.J. Whitmer in a three-way to become No. 1 contender for the ROH TV Title.

Powell's POV: A good three-way main event and a good show overall. The actual matches weren't loaded with star power, yet they both felt important because of No. 1 contender status being at stake. Lethal winning was no surprise and watching him challenge for the TV Title doesn't feel important, so it didn't bother me a bit to see them immediately shift the focus to Maria causing the post match fight between Bennett and Whitmer. There should have been more hype for the American Wolves vs. The Briscoes main event for next week. That's a big television match and should have been treated like a major happening rather than just another television main event.

RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE: