By Jason Powell, Prowrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
Ring of Honor TV
Taped May 13 in Chicago, Illinois at the Odeum Expo Center
Aired in syndication on June 9 and Mondays on the FITE TV app
Following the opening video, the broadcast team of Ian Riccaboni and Colt Cabana checked in as shots aired of the Chicago crowd. They hyped the matches and then turned it over to ring announcer Bobby Cruise for the opening match introductions…
1. Jonathan Gresham vs. Flip Gordon. A Gordon promo aired as he headed to the ring. He noted that Gresham was a technical wizard while he is a high flyer. Gordon wore his “Book Flip” t-shirt. Gordon did a flip to avoid Gresham’s attempt to sweep his leg. Gordon did a “You can’t see me” gesture. “Wrong TV show, Flip,” Cabana said on commentary. “That’s a weird one.” Gresham and Gordon slapped hands. Gordon performed a big dive from the top rope onto Gresham at ringside heading into a break. [C]
Gordon and Gresham exchanged punches and then Gordon caught Gresham with a nice kick. Gresham came right back with a submission hold that Gordon powered out of. Gordon sold back pain from the hold. Gordon was able to hit a springboard stunner and then pinned Gresham…
Flip Gordon beat Jonathan Gresham.
Powell’s POV: Two talented wrestlers who work different styles. The thing they have in common is that they are lacking character development. Gresham hasn’t won me over in his limited mic work, but Gordon has a good personality and is clearly someone the company is excited by.
After the match, Bully Ray entered the ring as Gordon was celebrating his win. Gordon struck a fighter’s pose. Bully told him to put his hands down because he would have gotten him already if he had wanted to. Ray said he learned that Gordon was from Montana. He said his parents wanted to live in Montana and told stories about their deaths before they they could live out that dream.
Ray pulled out photos of his parents and noted that they were the same photos he brought to his (WWE) Hall of Fame induction speech. Bully said he also discovered that Gordon is a military man. Bully spoke about how he respects the armed forces. He said he may not agree with the way Gordon got started in the wrestling industry.
Bully said he wanted to shake his hand and there would be no further issue between them. “Maybe he’s not such a bad guy, Colt,” Riccaboni said as Bully shook Gordon’s hand and spoke to him. Bully and Gordon saluted one another, then Bully Ray kicked Gordon in the balls. “What a sick human being,” Cabana said. Ray laughed and then added: “Do you know who I am? I’m Bully Ray. And, Flip, you’re nothing but a stupid young boy”…
Footage aired of the recent issues involving Kelly Klein and Deonna Purrazzo… [C]
Powell’s POV: A good segment with Bully and Gordon. This is the heel Bully Ray that I’ve been anxious to see in ROH. Ray is so good that he can help elevate Gordon and even help define Gordon’s character via his mic work. This should be a really fun program and I’m looking forward to their match at the ROH Best of the World pay-per-view. Meanwhile, I like that ROH is recapping their house show matches to establish issues between wrestlers as they did with Klein and Purrazzo in this case. It might actually help to have Riccaboni narrate those packages rather than simply showing brief clips. Either way, it’s a nice touch that helps tell stories that don’t play out on television.
Riccaboni and Cabana addressed the ROH TV Title match that main evented last week’s show and the angle that resulted in Austin Aries attacking Kenny King afterward…
2. Kelly Klein vs. Deonna Purrazzo. Purrazzo came out wearing jeans and a t-shirt and went into attack mode to establish the intensity of their feud. Purrazzo rolled Klein inside the ring and the referee called for the bell. Purrazzo continued to be the aggressor until they went back to ringside and Klein performed a fallaway slam. [C]
Klein performed another fallaway slam but this time from the middle rope for a two count. Purrazzo shoved Klein into the referee. REF BUMP!!! Purrazzo hit a cutter and got a visual pinfall. Purrazzo applied an armbar, but Klein slipped away and applied her End of the Match finisher for the submission win…
Kelly Klein beat Deonna Purrazzo.
Powell’s POV: The match started strong, but they had trouble keeping up the intensity. Klein is usually good, but she looked a little off in this one. Don’t get used to seeing Purrazzo in the Women of Honor division. She reportedly signed a WWE developmental deal recently. Good for her, but it’s a loss of a quality wrestler for ROH.
Jay Lethal delivered a promo in front of the ROH backdrop and recapped his history with Kushida (they traded wins). Lethal said it’s time to break the tie and said they will find out who the better wrestler is at the Bets in the World pay-per-view. “It’s gonna be me,” Lethal said… [C]
Dalton Castle delivered a promo in front of the ROH backdrop while The Boys stood by. He questioned whether he should be worried about defending his ROH Championship against Cody and Marty Scurll due to the possibility of collusion between them and then showed confidence about doing show…
Caprice Coleman joined Riccaboni and Cabana on commentary for the main event… Ring entrances for the main event took place while Riccaboni pointed out the big year that Sho and Yoh have had since Rocky Romero became their advisor. Romero was not present for the match…
3. Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe vs. “Roppongi 3K” Sho and Yoh for the ROH Tag Titles. Cruise delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Sho and Yoh offered handshakes, but the Briscoes declined, swore at them, and then attacked them to start the match. The Briscoes worked over Yoh going into an early break. [C] The Briscoes continued to control the bulk of the offense and were working over Sho heading into another break. [C]
The Briscoes continued to dominate. Jay superplexed Sho, Mark performed a top rope elbow drop. Jay covered Sho for a two count and acted surprised while the broadcast team acted stunned by Sho kicking out. The crowd chanted for Roppongi 3K. Yoh tagged in late and he and Sho worked over Mark, who fought back with chops on both men. Mark ran the ropes and took double knees.
Sho and Yoh performed stereo flip dives onto both Briscoes at ringside. They brought Mark back to the ring and hit their 3K finisher, but Mark kicked out. Jay threw a chair into the ring. Mark kicked Yoh in the balls and tagged in his fother, Jay hit the Jay Driller on Yoh while Mark held Sho, leading to Jay scoring the pin…
The Briscoes defeated Roppongi 3K to retain the ROH Tag Titles.
The broadcast team hyped The Briscoes vs. The Young Bucks for the ROH Tag Titles for the Best in the World event to close the show…
Powell’s POV: A very good main event with Sho and Yoh doing a good job of selling as they usually do and winning over the crowd with the heart they show and their hot comeback. It was a solid show overall, but it was also missable from a storyline development standpoint if you’re short on time. Hopefully they have something strong in mind for the go-home show because I really like the Best in the World lineup. It’s odd that they didn’t deliver some hype for whatever they are doing on next week’s show since the go-home element makes it an important one. Haydn Gleed will be by tomorrow with his audio review of this show.
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