By Jason Powell, Prowrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
Ring of Honor TV
Taped June 2 in New York, New York at Hammerstein Ballroom
Aired in syndication on June 30 and Mondays on the FITE TV app
After the ROH opening video, Ian Riccaboni and Colt Cabana checked in on commentary and noted that it was Best in the World weekend…
1. Kenny King vs. Jonathan Gresham. A King promo aired as he was making his entrance. He spoke about Gresham being called the Octopus and said he’s a great white shark and would remove Gresham’s tentacles. The wrestlers shook hands. Riccaboni encouraged viewers to check out the replay of the Best in the World event. Gresham had the early advantage heading into a break. [C]
Gresham performed a running dropkick in the corner. Cabana questioned if Chris Sabin taught him that. King came back with a nice spinebuster for a two count. Riccaboni hyped Cody vs. Titan as next week’s main event. Gresham and King rolled over repeatedly while hooking one another in an inside cradle that resulted in a two count. Gresham performed a springboard moonsault. In the end, King caught Gresham with his Royal Flush finisher and scored the clean pin… [C]
Kenny King defeated Jonathan Gresham.
Powell’s POV: A good gap show match meaning this was taped prior to the pay-per-view and is airing after the pay-per-view. In other words, we’re unlikely to see meaningful storyline developments and the matches are more of the filler variety.
A video hyped a six-man tag team gauntlet match for the show two weeks from now with the winning team earning a shot at the ROH Six-Man Tag Titles held by the Kingdom…
Shane Taylor joined the broadcast team. Riccaboni mentioned the video package, but he didn’t mention the teams in the gauntlet match. Taylor said Josh Woods has been a thorn in his side so he came out to watch the match in person…
2. Facade (w/Danni) vs. Josh Woods. The wrestlers shook hands before the match. Riccaboni also hyped Bully Ray vs. Cheeseburger in a No DQ match and a tag team match for next week. Facade ran the top rope and then performed a springboard dropkick that sent Woods to ringside. Facade performed a big leap from the middle rope to the top tope and then performed a flip dive onto Woods on the floor. Facade performed a springboard bulldog for a two count.
Facade went for another springboard move, but Woods caught him from behind on the ropes and ended up performing a roll through into a German suplex. Woods hoisted him up onto his shoulders and then slammed him down before pinning him clean…
Josh Woods defeated Facade.
After the match, Woods addressed Taylor and recalled being knocked out by him. He said he’s been hit a lot of times and he never took something like that, so he knows something is up. Taylor said they call him “One Punch Shane” for a reason. Taylor said he wants a shot at the king then he should come get it. Woods challenged him to a match while they were in New York.
Taylor teased going through with it, then stopped and said he wouldn’t fight for the fans for free. Taylor said the NYC fans people like trash. “Ask Carmello Anthony,” Taylor said. He told Woods that “Big Money Shane don’t fight for free”… A graphic hyped the main event… [C]
Powell’s POV: Call me old school, but Facade wrestling with bandanas tied around his neck was a turnoff, especially when he’s facing a guy who uses an MMA style gimmick. The bandanas basically scream, “Choke me.” Sorry, I had to get that out of my system. That said, Facade is entertaining and I’d like to see more of him in ROH. Again, this was another decent gap show match in that it doesn’t really play into any storylines and yet it was entertaining. The post match angle was well done and sets the table for the next Woods vs. Taylor match.
An HonorClub ad aired, then the teaser video for the six-man tag gauntlet match…
Backstage, Rhett Titus and Will Ferrara spoke about finding a partner for the gauntlet match. Ferrara was apprehensive of Titus’s plan. They entered Shane Taylor’s locker room and offered him an IOU to be their tag partner. Taylor took offense that they didn’t knock. He told them to come back when they have money and made it clear that they better not bring him change again…
The broadcast team noted that there will be five teams in the six-man gauntlet match that will be held in two weeks. They also hyped Cody vs. Titan, and Bully Ray vs. Cheeseburger in a No DQ, No Count-Out match for next week. They set up a video package that recapped the issues between Bully Ray and Cheeseburger…
Cheeseburger delivered a promo about facing Bully in NYC. He said Ray can’t get the job done and he will kick his ass (censored)… [C]
Powell’s POV: It’s nice to see ROH advertising television matches in advance. They’re doing a better job of giving viewers a reason to watch these gap shows than they did during a lot of the matches that led up to the Best in the World event.
3. Matt Taven (w/TK O’Ryan) vs. Ultimo Guerrero. The wrestlers blew off the Cody of Honor. There was a loud lucha libre chant early on. Guerrero threw Taven over the barricade, then ran O’Ryan into the barricade a couple of times. Taven returned and Guerrero ran him into the barricade and then returned to the ring. Guerrero went up top and dove. Taven avoided the dive and O’Ryan didn’t do much to break the fall. Taven ran the ropes and dropkicked Guerrero on the floor heading into a break. [C]
Taven went for a dive over the top rope, but Guerrero pulled O’Ryan into the dive and then took a drink from a fan and threw it into the face of O’Ryan. Guerrero placed both men on a chair and clotheslined them. The fans chanted “this is awesome.” Back in the ring, Guerrero chopped Taven in the corner repeatedly. Taven came back and hit a running knee for a two count. [C]
Taven set up for a huracanrana on the top rope. Guerrero blocked it and then powerbombed Taven for a good near fall. Guerrero set up Taven for another move on the ropes. O’Ryan stood on the apron and jawed at him, but Guerrero slapped him away. The red balloons emerged from under the ring. Kingdom member Vinny Marseglia showed up and popped a balloon near the ear of Guerrero. Taven hit his Climax finisher on Guerrero and pinned him…
Matt Taven beat Ultimo Guerrero.
Riccaboni hyped the Cody vs. Titan, and Bully Ray vs. Cheeseburger matches for next week while The Kingdom celebrated in the ring. Taven took the mic and asked what more does he need to prove before fans recognize his greatness. Taven said he has nothing but respect for Guerrero, but he will never be as good as he is. Riccaboni interrupted on commentary and hyped next week’s show to close out the broadcast…
Powell’s POV: The live crowd was red hot for Ultimo Guerrero. This is by far the best reaction he or anyone from CMLL has received on an ROH show. Taven did a really good job of bumping all over for the Mexican legend. I can’t say the match did much for me on paper, but the hard work of both men and the great atmosphere provided by the live crowd made this a really fun way to close the show. Overall, a good gap show. Even if you only have so much time to watch wrestling during the holiday week, I suggest you include Taven vs. Guerrero on your viewing list because it was really fun.
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