Ring of Honor TV Recap: 6/8/2018
Roppongi3K battled the Briscoes over the ROH World Tag Team Titles.
Ring of Honor Wrestling has been on the air for just over seven years and, in the current landscape of TV wrestling, it gets quite overlooked. That is why I have decided (as proclaimed “ROH Expert” for The Wrestling Estate) to recap the weekly TV show and hopefully build up the fanbase.
To recap the shows, I am not going to follow the tried and tested star rating method or transcribe every single move dished out in every match. This is because I feel star ratings immediately bring their own preconceptions, and typing out every move is not only time-consuming, but there is no need to watch the action, as it is all there in text form.
Instead, what I am going to do is give you a recap of each match, as well as the promos, segments etc., leading into my overall opinions of the show as a whole. Lastly, I have never reviewed TV wrestling before, so any feedback, both good or bad is greatly appreciated. And with that out of the way, let’s get on with the show!
Venue – Odeum Expo Center – Chicago
Commentary Team – Ian Riccaboni and Colt Cabana (1st and 2nd matches) and Caprice Coleman (Main Event)
Match 1. Flip Gordon vs. Jonathan Gresham (Referee = Todd Sinclair)
For context, the last time these two met in ROH singles competition was last June, at the Windy City Excellence TV tapings, which Gresham won via submission. Since then, both men have improved a lot and, in Flip’s case, even appeared for NJPW. The Code of Honor was followed by both men. This was a very back and forth match, but it was essentially an exhibition for Flip. He was much more over with the Chicago crowd, and able to get in a lot of exciting offence (including a crazy standing Pelé kick). Flip got the win with his trademark “Star-Spangled Stunner” in a fun TV opener.
Winner = Flip Gordon
Immediately after the match, Bully Ray appeared, much to the disgust of Colt Cabana and Ian Riccaboni on commentary, with a microphone in hand. Over the past several months, Bully has been taking out members of the ROH roster (specifically Cheeseburger) after being fired as an enforcer by ROH COO Joe Koff. For me, Bully Ray’s involvement in ROH, has become tiresome. I was never really a fan of him joining the company to begin with, and now I am just hoping for the day when his contract expires. This is your standard heel promo swerve, with Bully pretending to put over Flip by mentioning his Army career, and shaking his hand, which then gave Bully the opening to deliver a low blow and put himself over before their match at “Best in the World 2018.” It was dull and I’m not interested in their PPV match.
Ian and Colt then recapped the main event from last week, which saw ROH TV Champion, Silas Young, put his belt on the line against Impact Wrestling Champion and “Belt Collector” Austin Aries.
Match 2. – Women of Honor Match: Kelly Klein vs. Deonna Purrazzo (Referee = Mike Posey)
Preceding this match, there was a nicely edited video package, highlighting their feud, and how Deonna was the reason Kelly’s undefeated streak was broken. On commentary, Ian and Colt mention that it is currently 2 – 1 to Kelly Klein, with Kelly still bitter about losing her streak because of Deonna. Two of their previous matches are available on Youtube here and here. Deonna comes out and instead of wearing her wrestling attire, she is wearing jeans, boots and a t-shirt, ready for a fight. There was no Code of Honor followed as Deonna attacked Kelly from the outset.
I wish I could say something good about this match, but really, there is very little. The crowd were dead, and while Kelly did get in some actual wrestling moves, it was just forearm after forearm after forearm. We even got a pointless referee knockdown, which somehow lead to Deonna trying to lock in an armbar, for it then to be countered by Kelly into a guillotine choke. This was a sloppy mess.
Winner = Kelly Klein
Before the main event, we got a couple of short taped promos plugging “Best in the World 2018”. First up was Jay Lethal, who announced he is taking on NJPW’s KUSHIDA in a rubber match at “Best in the World 2018” in a great promo. Their 1st match at “War of the Worlds 2014” (available here) was excellent, but unfortunately, I am yet to see their 2nd match from last year’s “War of the Worlds” event in Toronto. I expect this upcoming match to be a great showcase, and excited to see who will come out the victor.
The 2nd promo came courtesy of current ROH World Champion Dalton Castle, aided by his ever-present “Boys”. Dalton mentioned how he wanted the best challengers for his title and at “Best in the World”, he’s got two, in Cody and Marty Scurll. This was an excellent promo as always from Dalton and although only short, shows just how engaging he is.
Match 3. – Main Event: Roppongi3K vs. Briscoes © [ROH World Tag Team Championships] (Referee = Todd Sinclair)
Caprice Coleman joined Colt and Ian on commentary for the main event, as Roppongi3K (SHO and YOH) faced the Briscoes for their ROH World Tag Team Championships. The last time they battled in February 2017, SHO and YOH lost to the Briscoes and still had a lot to learn. Now considerably grown in both size and charisma, they have had a stellar year in NJPW, winning the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Titles twice, as well as the 2017 Super Jr. Tag Team Tournament. The Briscoes are now in their 9th reign as ROH World Tag Team Champions, and ready to take on all comers.
RPG3K followed the Code of Honor but the Briscoes were having none of it. Jay is great at mouthing off at his opponents and one of the most intense wrestler’s I’ve ever seen. The match was a fantastic tag-team main event. RPG3K were over huge with the Chicago crowd, and the match had some great hot-tags. The Briscoes worked as violent bullies, using tried and tested heel tactics to get the upper hand. I really wanted it to be RPG3K’s big win, but thanks to a distraction with a steel chair from Jay Briscoe, Todd Sinclair’s back was turned, allowing Mark to hit a low blow on Yoh, followed by a brutal Jay Driller for the win.
Winners (Successful Defense) = Briscoes
After the match, the commentators plugged the Briscoes vs. Young Bucks for the ROH World Tag Team Titles at “Best in the World 2018”, and the show came to a close.
Conclusion
Overall, this was a very fun episode of Ring of Honor Wrestling. Besides the Women of Honor match and the Bully Ray segment, the show flew by, and the Chicago crowd were hot throughout. If I had to recommend one match, the main-event is definitely worth checking out. It was an excellent showcase for RPG3K, who, I believe, are one of the most exciting teams in the business.
You can watch the latest episode for free on:
ROH’s Official Website – https://www.rohwrestling.com/current-tv-episode
Fite TV – https://www.fite.tv/watch/roh-351/2o5li/
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