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 show opened with The Briscoes talking about how they were outnumbered by Bullet Club during an event in New York City when Bully Ray saved them. Footage aired of Bully Ray talking about how he didn’t want to be a veteran who just stole money from a company. He said he came to ROH because he genuinely wants to. “I’m Bully Ray and as of right now, I’m in Ring of Honor,” Ray said. Footage aired of the trio beating War Machine and Davey Boy Smith Jr. at the 15th Anniversary pay-per-view… The ROH opening video aired… Ian Riccaboni and Kevin Kelly were on commentary..
1. “Punishment” Damian Martinez vs. Hanson. Riccaboni questioned who The Kingdom would select as a partner for the main event with TK O’Ryan sidelined due to injury. Hanson performed an early suicide dive onto Martinez at ringside. With Martinez seated on a chair, Hanson ran down the ramp and took him out at ringside with a split-legged dive. Back inside the ring, Maritez came back with a bodyslam and then a springboard senton heading into the break. [C]
Hanson regained control and performed a springboard clothesline for a two count. Martinez rebounded and performed a big dive over the top rope and onto Hanson on the floor. Martinez rolled him back inside the ring and hit a spinning kick off the top rope for a two count. The wrestlers traded strikes in mid-ring. Martinez got the better of it, but Hanson caught him with a spinning kick for a two count. Hanson had Martinez down in the corner when he was distracted by Davey Boy Smith Jr. walking onto the stage. Martinez avoided Hanson’s moonsault attempt and then caught him with a spinning kick and chokeslammed him for the win…
Punishment Martinez defeated Hanson.
Footage aired of TK O’Ryan breaking his leg at the 15th Anniversary pay-per-view… [C]
Powell’s POV: An intriguing big man matchup. I would prefer to see Martinez dominating squash matches on television at this point in his run. A clean win over Hanson would be a big deal for the young monster, but he needed a distraction so it felt a little flat. Meanwhile, the O’Ryan injury was just brutal and unfortunate.
An ad aired with Silas Young delivering a promo about ROH Unauthorized in Milwaukee. He said every match is unsanctioned and anyone can show up. He said he would be doing a lot of fighting and drinking…
The broadcast team set up footage of Hangman Page sitting in a car and talking about what Frankie Kazarian did to Bullet Club. Page spotted Kazarian and attacked him from behind. Page had the person holding the camera toss him his noose. A driver honked his horn, causing Page to run off before he could use the noose…
Powell’s POV: A cool angle that felt like a throwback parking lot beatdown. It’s rare that ROH leaves the building to shoot, so this stood out in a good way.
The broadcast team set up a Top Prospect Tournament match that was taped in New York City…
2. Curt Stallion vs. John Skyler in a Top Prospect Tournament semifinal match. Riccaboni and Bob Evans were on commentary. The wrestlers shook hands to start the match. Stallion performed an ugly double stomp for a two count. He went to the ropes, but Skyler rolled to ringside. Stallion went for a suicide dive, but Skyler avoided it, causing Stallion to crash into the guardrail. [C]
After the break, Skyler performed a nice tiger bomb for a two count. Skyler taunted Stallion and spat on him. Stallion grabbed him by the throat and delivered a kick and chops. Skyler performed a German suplex, but Stallion no-sold it and performed the same move on Skyler. Stallion followed up with a bridging German suplex for a two count. Stallion performed a running dropkick in the corner and covered Skyler for a two count.
Evans questioned why Stallion hesitated and looked at them before going for a cover. Skyler performed a spear through the ropes for a two count. Stallion got a good near fall and then took Skyler to the ropes and followed him up. Eventually, Skyler blocked a huracanrana and then performed a rolling senton off the middle rope for the win. Skyler shook the hand of Stallion afterward…
John Skyler defeated Curt Stallion to advance to the finals of the Top Prospect Tournament.
Powell’s POV: The match started slowly enough that the crowd was getting rough, but they built up to a nice pace and an entertaining finish. Skyler always impresses and it just astonishes me that the guy doesn’t get regular work with one of the top promotions.
A graphic promoted the main event… Adam Cole delivered a promo from an undisclosed location. He said he’d been trying to contact the Young Bucks all week, but they were ignoring his cals. He said he was desperate. He said he wants things to go back to normal. Cole said he forgave them and he wants things to get back to the way they should be… [C]
The Briscoes and Bully Ray made their entrance. Backstage, Matt Taven and Vinny Marseglia were talking in their locker room when Silas Young entered the room. He said he would fill in for O’Ryan if they gave him, Beer City Bruiser, and a partner a title shot. Taven said they would do it one time and asked if he was going to drop the ball. Young said he’s the last real man. The two Kingdom members made their entrance and then Young came out and walked past them…
3. Matt Taven, Vinny Marseglia, and Silas Young vs. Jay Briscoe, Mark Briscoe, and Bully Ray for the ROH Six-Man Tag Titles. Taven and Young bickered before the match. Bully asked over the mic if they know who he and the Briscoes are. Bully called them the former six-man tag champions. He said they were going to kick their asses, which led to the babyface trio roughing up the heels. They cut to break after the heels were cleared from the ring. [C]
The heel trio isolated Jay on their side of the ring. The fans chanted “man up” in support of Jay, who was still being worked over heading into the final break. [C] Jay made the hot tag to brother Mark coming out of the break. Mark worked over all three opponents. Taven and Marseglia came back with a nice combo move.
Young shoved Taven out off Mark and then punched Briscoe several times and covered him for a two count. Taven and Young bickered. Bully took a tag from Mark and worked over all three heels. In the end, the Briscoes and Bully hit their version of 3D on Marseglia, and Bully pinned him for the win. Young and Taven bickered at ringside after the match. Bully took the house mic and told them that they were looking at the new ROH Six-Man Tag Champions…
Jay Briscoe, Mark Briscoe, and Bully Ray beat Matt Taven, Vinny Marseglia, and Silas Young to win the ROH Six-Man Tag Titles.
A video hyped a wildcard eight-man tag match with the winners then competing in a four corner survival match for a future shot at the ROH Title…
Powell’s POV: Another quality show from ROH. They didn’t dedicate a lot of time to the Cole and Bucks situation, but they at least covered it via Cole’s promo. It feels like that should have been a bigger story with the broadcast team. That said, the opener was an intriguing big man match, the Top Prospect Tournament match was fun, and the main event featured new star power in Bully Ray. I still don’t care about the six-man tag titles, but perhaps the Briscoes and Bully can breathe some life into them if they have the right opponents to work with. The video at the end of the show was a nice touch. ROH would have been wise to play that a couple times throughout the show, but I like that they continue to advertise at least a week out. I will be by on Thursday with a member exclusive audio review.
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