By Jason Powell
Ring of Honor TV
Taped on April 8 in Baltimore, Maryland at William J. Meyers Pavilion
Aired in syndication over the weekend, Mondays on the FITE TV app, and Wednesdays on Comet TV
The show opened with still shots from the Supercard of Honor XI event to promote that the event is available on the company website… The opening montage aired… Ian Riccaboni and Colt Cabana were on commentary…
Christopher Daniels stood in the ring with the ROH Championship. He spoke about beating Dalton Castle to retain the title at the Supercard of Honor show. He said Matt Taven has a title shot in Michigan, and he will be defending the winner of a four-way match that will air next week between Jay White, Silas Young, Adam Page, and Jay Lethal.
Daniels said Cody (Rhodes) made his intentions known by leaving him lying at the end of the Supercard of Honor event. Daniels said Cody didn’t have to jump him from behind, he just had to ask for a title shot. Daniels called for ROH officials to put the two of them in the ring together as soon as possible.
Cody made his entrance and delivered a promo from the stage. Cody said that with a name like Fallen Angel, he expected Daniels “to be covered in stardust or something.” Cody asked why he’s not getting his title shot tonight. Daniels was down for it. The fans chanted, “Do it now.” Cody played to them and then pulled the rug out by saying it would not happen because it wasn’t worth it for him to compete “wherever the hell we are here in… Baltimore?”
Cody said he would like to face Daniels at the Hammerstein Ballroom. Daniels said he would be happy to add him to the match at the War of the World pay-per-view if it were up to him. Cody said Daniels is the champion and said it should be up to Daniels. Cody said ROH is whole and has integrity and is like the ROH of old as long as he is champion. Cody questioned what it would be like if a guy who doesn’t even work full-time for ROH were to take the title from him. Cody headed backstage…
Powell’s POV: There’s good chemistry between Daniels and Cody and I look forward to their match. However, I came away from this wondering whether it will be a three-way at the pay-per-view or just what is happening, so hopefully they clarify it on commentary.
Riccaboni and Cabana spoke about the Top Prospect Tournament final, and the main event of Marty Scurll vs. Frankie Kazarian for the ROH TV Title… [C] Footage aired of Marty Scurll beating Adam Cole to retain the ROH TV Title at Supercard of Honor…
Frankie Kazarian delivered a backstage promo. He said everyone loves a good villain, but Scurll would be facing one of the unsung heroes. He told him to get his umbrella ready because it would be raining blood…
1. Lio Rush vs. Shane Taylor (w/Caprice Coleman). Before the match, Coleman cut a promo saying he felt bad for Rush because they gave him a chance and this didn’t have to happen, but now he has to face the man they call notorious. Rush slapped Taylor, who was trying to intimidate him. Taylor caught Rush at ringside and ran him into the ring post and then dropped him on the apron before the break. [C]
Rush had Taylor down when Coleman stood on the apron and jawed at him. Rush knocked Coleman off the apron and then performed a suicide dive. Taylor came back with a clothesline and then performed a sit-out chokeslam for the win. Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley came out to check on Rush afterward. Taylor and Coleman attacked the Sabin and Shelley. Taylor splashed Sabin off the middle rope…
Shane Taylor pinned Lio Rush.
Cabana set up a video package on the Top Prospect Tournament finals. It featured footage of Josh Woods and John Skyler winning matches and delivering promos… [C]
Powell’s POV: A solid opener with Rush holding his own with the big man before Taylor took advantage of the distraction. The post match angle was a nice angle to set up a future tag match. The TPT video was rehashed footage and mic work rather than first run material.
Bob Evans joined the broadcast team to talk about the tournament finals. They aired new comments from both finalists as they made their entrants. Skyler said he would become the top prospect at the expense of Woods. Meanwhile, Woods said he didn’t care who Skyler was or what he’s done because anyone can be knocked out and anyone can tap out…
2. John Skyler vs. Josh Woods in the Top Prospect Tournament Final. Skyler was in control and kicked Woods to ringside before boasting that he is the top prospect. [C] Footage aired from during the break of Skyler wrenching Woods’s body around the post. Skyler set up for his finisher on the ropes, but Woods avoided it. They fought for position and ended up on the apron where Skyler speared Woods. Skyler followed up with a spear through the ropes for a two count. Woods came back with a GTS for a two count. Woods also got near fall off a roll through into a German suplex. Woods followed up with the cross arm breaker, and ended up applying a kneebar for the submission win…
Josh Woods defeated John Skyler to win the Top Prospect Tournament.
After the match, David Starr ran out and attacked Woods from behind. Starr delivered a good heel promo in which he closed by saying he is “really good at professional wrestling”…
Powell’s POV: A decent match. They didn’t win over the crowd as much as the semifinal matches won over the New York crowd, but it this was fine. Here’s hoping that Skyler is used regularly in ROH despite Woods going over as expected. Woods has upside. The guy who stood out at the end was David Starr, who gave a quick yet confident and well delivered promo.
Backstage, Adam Cole said he wasn’t going to beg or plead with the Young Bucks, but he wanted them to listen to him. Cole said both sides said things they don’t mean, and now they need to put that behind them and get back to being Bullet Club… [C]
Ring entrances for the main event took place…
3. Marty Scurll vs. Frankie Kazarian for the ROH TV Title. Bobby Cruise delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. The wrestlers came together for a handshake, but they both backed off. Cabana spoke about how well Scurll was doing and how it feels like he’s at the top of the card. Riccaboni said any match with Scurll is the main event around the globe. Kazarian leapt over the top rope and performed a DDT on Scurll off the apron. [C]
Kazarian held off on performing a move to say there were no chicken wings on the menu. Scurll countered into a brainbuster for a two count. Kazarian came back quickly and got a two count of his own. Scurll did the finger breaking spot. He went to ringside and grabbed the umbrella, but Kazarian stomped on it and took the umbrella. Scurll rolled back to ringside and grabbed a handful of powder. Kazarian ducked the powder and the referee took it. Kazarian performed a Stunner and scored a visual pinfall with the referee down. Hangman Page ran out. Kazarian rolled up Scrull, who kicked out, and Kazarian’s momentum took him into a chairshot from Page from the floor. Scurll pinned Kazarian…
Marty Scurll defeated Frankie Kazarian to retain the ROH TV Title.
Afterward, Christopher Daniels came out to help Kazarian. Scurll took the mic and said he came to ROH for competition, but he’s beaten everyone and there’s no competition. Matt Sydal (f/k/a Evan Bourne) came out and entered the ring. Scurll went to ringside and jawed at Sydal from the floor. The broadcast team hyped the four-way main event for next week with the winner getting a future ROH Title shot…
Powell’s POV: A good main event that protected Kazarian and furthered his feud with Page. This was another good show overall with a nice mix of in-ring work and some star power. Unfortunately, the ROH TV show continues to be a well kept secret, as ROH doesn’t do much to promote it even on their own website. For instance, the “This Week” TV option on the ROH website advertises something with the Briscoes vs. Lio Rush and Jay White. I continue to harp on this because the ROH television show has improved dramatically this year, yet the company isn’t showcasing or getting nearly as much out of it as they should be, which is a shame. Haydn Gleed will have more to say in his audio review on Thursday.
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