By Jason Powell
Ring of Honor TV
Taped on March 11 in Las Vegas, Nevada at Sam’s Town Live
Aired in syndication over the weekend, available Wednesdays on Comet TV
The opening video aired… Footage aired from after last week’s main event that featured Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian, and Dalton Castle vs. Adam Cole and The Young Bucks. Cole called the Bucks into the ring and said that they’ve always been honest with one another. He was upset about losing the ROH Title and disappointed that they lost the six-man tag match when they accidentally superkicked him in the face.
Cole said he had a decision to make. “As far as Bullet Club is concerned, both of you are fired,” Cole said. Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson were unhappy. Matt pointed out that it was their idea to bring Cole into Bullet Club. He asked if Cole thought he was the boss or leader. Matt said the only other person in the Bullet Club who can call himself elite, the real leader of the Bullet Club is Kenny Omega. The Bucks left the ring…
Powell’s POV: A good angle that showed the growing frustration of the Cole character to think that he could fire the Young Bucks. The tease of Kenny Omega is certainly a big one and
Backstage, Cole said he was furious and disgusted about losing the ROH Championship. He said he’s okay with losing in a one-on-one environment, but he lost it to two men in Daniels and Kazarian. Cole said whenever he’s lost the best he’s had extra obstacles and it’s because people realize he is special. Cole said he’s done it three times before and there’s no reason he can’t win it again…
Powell’s POV: This was a good promo, but it was odd that it aired after the attempted firing, yet did not include any mention of it. Still, the show opened on a high note with strong mic work from Cole and Matt Jackson.
The broadcast team of Ian Riccaboni and Kevin Kelly checked in. They hyped Marty Scurll vs. Kenny King for the ROH TV Title as the ROH TV Title…
1. Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Ray Rowe. Smith targeted the knee of Rowe throughout the first part of the match. Smith applied a figure four around the ring post heading into the commercial break. [C] Smith continued the attack on the left knee with some creative holds. Rowe came back with a release German suplex for a two count. Rowe charged at Smith, who moved, and Rowe wrenched his bad knee.
Smith performed a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall and showed frustration when he didn’t get the pin. Smith set up for a figure four, but Rowe countered into a pin for a two count. Rowe blasted Smith with a knee to the head and then stumbled to sell the bad knee. Rowe performed Death Row and scored the clean pin…
Ray Rowe defeated Davey Boy Smith Jr.
Backstage, Marty Scurll said Kenny King is a talented individual, but that will only get you so far in pro wrestling. He said King will never be champion as long as the title is in his hands… [C]
Powell’s POV: The broadcast team did a good job of putting over the new and improved DSJ. There was an audible groan from the crowd when Smith lost the match. He did a really good job of targeting the knee and showed off a mean streak that he never had during his WWE days. That said, if he’s not a regular and Rowe is then it makes sense to put Rowe over.
After the break, Kenny King delivered a backstage promo about not being overstepped and how the Rebellion would finally get its due when he won the TV Title. He said it was a good thing that Scurll has an umbrella because he’s going to send his ass the way of Mary Poppins…
The broadcast team set up a Top Prospect Tournament match that was taped in New York City at the Hammerstein Ballroom…
2. Josh Woods vs. Brian Milonas in a Top Prospect Tournament semifinal match. Riccaboni and Boba Evans were on commentary and noted that the finals would take place on April 8 in Baltimore. Woods shook hands with everyone he encountered as he walked to the ring. Milonas slammed Woods face first into the mat. Woods went for a takedown but ended up backing Milonas into the corner. Woods threw two knees and a punch, but Milonas caught him with a clothesline. Woods applied an omoplata over the ropes. Milonas showed good strength by picking up Woods with ease from the ropes and then performing a side slam. [C]
Milonas used the size advantage and slammed his backside into Woods in the corner. Woods came back with a springboard knee to the head. Woods followed with a big kick and went for a cover, but Milonas grabbed the bottom rope to break the pin. Evans pointed to the experience advantage that Milonas had. Woods went for a springboard move, but jumped into a clothesline from Milonas, who followed up with a senton for a two count. Woods performed a German suplex that popped the crowd for a two count. Woods applied an ankle lock and got the submission win. They shook hands afterward…
Josh Woods defeated Brian Milonas to advance to the finals of the Top Prospect Tournament.
Powell’s POV: A nice match by Top Prospect standards. The live crowd never really got behind it until Woods performed the German suplex on the big man.
Footage aired from Manhattan Mayhem of Bully Ray saving the Briscoes from a Bullet Club attack and putting Adam Cole through a table… Backstage, the Briscoes delivered a promo in front of the ROH screen. They spoke about Bully Ray saving them from the attack. Jay said that Bully Ray “was that dude” when they were growing up. A graphic hyped next week’s Kingdom vs. Bully and The Briscoes match for the ROH Six-Man Tag Titles…
Footage aired from the 15th Anniversary show of Frankie Kazarian winning the six-way match to earn a future ROH TV Title shot. Footage aired of Christopher Daniels beating Adam Cole to win the ROH Title at the 15th Anniversary show with help from Kazarian…
Kazarian joined the broadcast team on commentary. He said he was there to scout, as he will face the winner for the ROH TV Title. Kazarian was asked if he has a preferred opponent. He said he’s faced both men, but it’s been a long time. He said he wants to face the best wrestler and the winner of the match should be that man…
3. Marty Scurll vs. Kenny King (w/Caprice Coleman) for the ROH TV Title. Bobby Cruise delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Scurll performed a handstand flip while one of the announcers put him over as a showman heading into a break early in the match. [C]
King went for a springboard, but Scurll cut him off on the ropes and knocked him to ringside, then caught him with a kick from the apron. Kelly apologized to Kazarian for thinking he had joined Bullet Club. Kazarian said he’d given him plenty of reasons to be skeptical of him, so he accepted the apology. Scurll controlled the next few minutes of the match. King came back with a nice spinebuster for a two count. [C]
Scurll kicked the knee of King out from under him. Scurll performed a brainbuster for a two count. Scurll followed up with a piledriver for another two count. King came back with a unique pin attempt for a two count of his own. Scurll went to the ropes and King cut him off. King ended up catching Scurll with a running enzuigiri. King hoisted up Scurll, who countered into a chicken wing attempt, but King reached the ropes. King came back with a twisting dive over the top rope and onto Scurll on the floor. Back inside the ring, King performed a Blockbuster for a near fall. Scurll came back with the finger break spot and then applied the chicken wing for the submission win…
Marty Scurll defeated Kenny King to retain the ROH TV Title.
The broadcast team hyped next weeks’ Six-Man Tag Title match and questioned what the status of the Kingdom was now that TK O’Ryan was injured. Kazarian was shown applauding the match to close the show…
Powell’s POV: A good main event to a solid television show. It wasn’t the most newsworthy show if you’re up to speed, but I’m sure there were some viewers who were unaware of Bully Ray’s debut and some of the other developments. The show has been much improved in recent weeks with a nice mix of storytelling, quality wrestling, and bigger names such as Cody Rhodes, the Hardys, and now Bully Ray showing up. The consistency of the show quality in recent weeks has been very encouraging. Haydn Gleed will be by with an audio review of the show tomorrow.
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