Ring of Honor Wrestling TV
Date: 2/11/2012
From: Baltimore, MD
This week on ROH TV, Kyle O’Reilly looks to beat some respect into Eddie Edwards when they compete in singles action. Kevin Steen continues to do whatever he wants to do. In the main event, $5,000 is on the line when ROH World Tag Team Champions the Briscoe Brothers square off against Roderick Strong & Michael Elgin!
Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinnes welcome everyone to the show and briefly talk about Jay Lethal challenging Davey Richards for the ROH World Championship in two weeks. This week, Roderick Strong and Michael Elgin square off against the ROH World Tag Team Champions Briscoe Brothers in a match where each team has put up $5,000!
We go to previously recorded comments from Kyle O’Reilly and shortly afterward we hear from Eddie Edwards. O’Reilly doesn’t appreciate what Edwards has been saying ever since he got a big head. He is going to prove that he is just as much of a man as Edwards is. Eddie Edwards blames O’Reilly for wanting this match and doesn’t care of Richards believes O’Reilly over him. Edwards is going to take care of business tonight.
Opening Contest: Kyle O’Reilly vs. Eddie Edwards
They shake hands to open the bout and begin some basic holds in the early stages of the contest. Both men try to get the advantage, but neither man is able to get a clear cut advantage and they have a stand off after both tried for a dropkick. They begin to trade head butts as their hands were locked together. O’Reilly gets a near fall following a kick to Edwards chest. O’Reilly is kicked off the apron and lands on the guard railing! Edwards rolls O’Reilly up in the ring but counters into an ankle lock! Davey Richards walks out and is rooting on O’Reilly as we go to commercial.
Edwards delivers a few chops but O’Reilly battles back with several kicks. O’Reilly hits three rolling butterfly suplexs! O’Reilly tries for an arm bar but Edwards reaches the bottom rope. Edwards leaps off the middle rope to hit a Code Breaker. He goes for a vertical suplex but they both crash over the top rope to the floor. Edwards misses a kick on the floor and hits the ring post. How many times do they do that spot? O’Reilly begins to work on the injured leg of Edwards. O’Reilly counters a roll up by locking in an ankle lock! Adam Cole has made his way out to the ring and is rooting for Edwards. Edwards takes O’Reilly out with a suicide dive on the floor!
Back in the ring, Edwards hits a double stomp but O’Reilly kicks out at two. They begin to trade several strikes again. Both men hit super kicks but don’t go down. O’Reilly spits at Edwards. O’Reilly nearly wins with an arm trapped suplex. Edwards delivers a lariat and goes for a power bomb but O’Reilly counters with a choke hold! Edwards nearly rolls O’Reilly up for a win. Edwards is able to roll through a roll up and pins O’Reilly.
Your Winner: Eddie Edwards via pin fall
Match Rating: ***1/4
After the match, Eddie Edwards talks about not having a tag team partner. Edwards decides to form a tag team with Adam Cole since Richards and O’Reilly are a team. Cole shakes Edwards hand and now they are a tag team! Edwards tells Richards and O’Reilly they can have a match at any time against them.
Steve Corino has joined the commentary team. He will be the new color commentator for ROH DVD releases. I must say, I like that. Corino says that he is feeling a little bit better after what happened at Final Battle. We go to a video highlighting what happened last week between Kevin Steen and Jim Cornette.
Second Contest: Mike Mondo vs. Matt Taven
I figured something was up because there is no reason for these two guys to have a match. Kevin Steen makes his way out with a microphone and says he finds it a little baffling that ROH can give these two guys a match, but he has to wait a week before he wrestles. Steen knows who Mondo is but has no idea who Taven is. He puts Taven over as being a cute wrestler, which Cornette loves. Steen attacks Taven and hits the F-5 on Taven. He ends up doing the same to Mondo. Steve Corino gets up from the commentary table and looks to maybe get involved with Steen but security comes out to prevent anything from happening.
Inside ROH is up next. The segment highlights what happened last week between Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team and the ROH World Tag Team Champions the Briscoe Brothers. Benjamin was fined another $5,000 for what he did. We hear from Haas and Benjamin who are rather happy with what they did. Benjamin isn’t going to pay the fine and suggests they sue him. These two guys look like they are lost when cutting a promo, especially Haas. Haas calls the Briscoe’s losers and any fans who decide to follow them are too. Jim Cornette announces that Benjamin will be suspended until he pays the fine. We hear from the Briscoe Brothers who think they aren’t losers because they have the tag titles. They mention their match with the Young Bucks and say they are going to kick their asses.
Main Event: Roderick Strong & Michael Elgin vs. ROH World Tag Team Champions The Briscoe Brothers
Mark and Strong opened the match with Mark hitting a spinning heel kick in the early moments of the bout. Elgin enters to clothesline Mark in the corner but Jay enters to save his brother from a double suplex attempt. Strong is dropkicked and met with a running kick by the champs in the corner. Mark gets a two count on Strong after a quick suplex. Jay stomps away on Strong in the corner to keep the control of the match. Strong delivers several chops but runs into a big boot in the corner. Elgin is tagged in drives Jay back first into Strong’s knees before hitting a power slam for a two count.
Mark sneaks a tag and clotheslines Elgin quickly. Elgin knocks Jay off the apron but is dropkicked by Mark into the corner. Mark hits a straight jacket slam out of the corner and Jay hits a frog splash for a two count. Elgin plants Mark with a swinging side slam after we return from a commercial. Strong gets back in the match and trades several blows with Mark. Elgin slams Mark down to the mat with Strong getting a near fall. Strong hits a gut buster on Mark and Elgin nails him with a clothesline for a two count.
Strong is nailed by Mark with a leaping kick and tags in Jay. Jay cleans house with a clothesline and a superkick. Jay plants Strong with a Death Valley Driver for a near win. Jay connects with the Falcon Arrow on Strong and Mark hits an elbow drop for a two count as Elgin breaks the count up. Truth Martini throws salt into Jay’s face on the floor. He dumps water over his face and goes backstage. Jay comes back and hits Elgin with a baseball bat! He does the same to Strong. Well, that was a $5,000 swing.
Your Winners: Roderick Strong & Michael Elgin via disqualification
Match Rating: ***
Final Thoughts:
There were two fine matches on the program this week, and the Kevin Steen segments continue to be entertaining. I don’t like that they got rid of the Package Piledriver and have him using the F-5. I don’t know, everyone is going to think of Brock Lesnar and that makes Steen look second-rate to me. I’ll give the episode a mild thumbs up this week.
Thanks for reading.