Ring of Honor on Sinclair
September 1, 2012
Report by: Jason Namako of Wrestleview.com
Hello everyone and welcome to this week’s ROH on Sinclair recap. If you all are ready, then let’s get on with the show!
We see Jim Cornette’s decision to strip the ANX of the ROH Tag Team Titles, the announcement of the tournament to crown new ROH Tag Team Champions & highlights of the 1st opening round match between Coleman/Alexander against the Young Bucks before the usual intro.
Kevin Kelly & Nigel McGuinness welcome us to the show, from the Du Burns Arena in Baltimore, MD. Kelly & McGuinness hype up tonight’s main event, then take us to the opening match.
Before the match, Steve Corino has a mic as he makes his way to the ring, along with Jimmy Jacobs.
Corino: “Quite the quandary we have in Ring of Honor”. “Always drama, drama, drama”. “Charlie Haas wants Rhett Titus, Rhett Titus wants Charlie Haas, and that leaves 1 team open in the Tag Title Tournament”. “Well, we knew since were not Jim Cornette’s boys that we weren’t going to be included, it was no surprise”. “But, we made Jim Cornette an offer he couldn’t refuse”. “The deal was signed and now we’re gonna deliver”. “Jim Cornette, you don’t want us in the Tag Title Tournament, we don’t want you in Ring of Honor”. “But, here’s the deal, me & Jimmy Jacobs are Team #8”. “Sounds great, right?” “Well, that wasn’t good enough for Jim Cornette”. “It seems that Jim Cornette wanted us to put up a little something”. “So, here’s the deal, if me & Jimmy Jacobs lose any match in this tournament, we will leave Ring of Honor”. “But, don’t worry Baltimore and everybody watching on TV, because the most dangerous men are the men that have everything to lose”. “So Cornette, shine up those belts because you’re gonna be looking at the new Tag Team Champions”.
This leads to…….
ROH Tag Team Title Tournament 1st Round Match: S.C.U.M. (“The Zombie Princess” Jimmy Jacobs & “The Trouble King” Steve Corino) vs. The Bravados (Harlem & Lancelot)
Code of Honor not adhered to as the bell sounds. Jacobs & Harlem will start things off. Jacobs knocks Lancelot off the apron and then hooks Harlem in a side headlock. Harlem whips out, but then Jacobs puts on the brakes and slides out to the outside. However, Lancelot nails Jacobs with a forearm on the outside. Harlem with a chop and a forearm, then sends Jacobs into the corner before tagging in Lancelot. Bravados with a double Irish whip, then Lancelot drops down while Harlem nails Jacobs with a dropkick. Corino comes in, but is nailed by a right hand by Harlem, sending Corino to the outside. Lancelot gains a nearfall on Jacobs. Lancelot with a suplex, then tags in Harlem. We see Truth Martini has joined Kelly & McGuinness at the commentary table as the Bravados with a double elbow drop on Jacobs for a nearfall. Harlem with a back suplex for another nearfall. Tag into Lancelot, who snapmares Jacobs and then locks in a front chancery. Jacobs backs Lancelot into his corner, but then Lancelot begins to fight his way out once Corino pulled at his hair. Lancelot with a forearm, but Jacobs reverses his corner whip. Lancelot avoids a corner charge, but then Corino takes his head off with a lariat from the apron.
Corino tags in and rakes at Lancelot’s forehead, using the ropes and his forearm. Lancelot tries to fight back with a back elbow and a forearm, but Corino with a forearm of his own. Corino sends Lancelot into Jacobs’ boots, then tags in Jacobs, who heads up top and leaps off as S.C.U.M. hits a double club across Lancelot’s back. S.C.U.M. taunts the crowd as they then double up on choking Lancelot in the ropes. Jacobs sends Lancelot to the corner, climbs up to the middle rope, traps Lancelot’s head under his attire and hits 5 right hands. Jacobs chokes Lancelot with his knee, then taunts Harlem. Tag to Corino as S.C.U.M. with a double Irish whip, followed by a double right hand for a nearfall. Corino rakes at Lancelot’s back, and then when Lancelot tries to fight back, Jacobs traps him in the corner as Corino unloads with forearms. Harlem comes in and shoves Corino, but that allows Corino to send Lancelot to the outside and whip him hard into the barricade as Harlem was with the referee. Lancelot is down on the outside as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial as Corino catches Lancelot with a back elbow off an Irish whip. Tag into Jacobs, who chokes Lancelot with his boot in the corner. Jacobs then stands on Lancelot’s chest while taunting the crowd. Jacobs with a corner whip, then taunts Harlem, but that allows Lancelot to catch Jacobs coming in with a dropkick to the knee. Lancelot with a kick to the arm of Jacobs, then does a forward roll and is able to make the tag to Harlem.
Harlem with a clothesline, then a shot to Corino on the apron. Harlem with a back elbow to Jacobs, then puts on the brakes after Jacobs reversed an Irish whip. Harlem catches Jacobs with another back elbow, then knocks Corino off the apron with a pump kick. Jacobs charges, but Harlem sidesteps him, sending Jacobs through the ropes and to the outside. Harlem then gets a head of steam and takes out S.C.U.M with a somersault plancha on the outside, landing on his feet. Harlem is all fired up as he sends Jacobs back into the ring and motions to the camera that he wants the Tag Titles. Harlem heads up top and hits Jacobs with a Blockbuster for a nearfall. Harlem drops the elbow pad and charges, but runs into boots by Jacobs. Jacobs goes for the Contra Code, but Harlem pushes him off. Harlem then with a Tornado DDT for another nearfall. Harlem places Jacobs on the top turnbuckle and heads up with him, but Jacobs pushes him off. Harlem charges, but runs into another boot by Jacobs. Corino gets the tag and corner whips Harlem, followed by hitting a running knee. Harlem slumps down as Corino charges again with another running knee in the corner. S.C.U.M. then hits a neckbreaker/STO combo for a nearfall. Harlem fights back with forearms, but is nailed by a Corino knee to the gut. Corino hits the Colby Shock for a close nearfall. Harlem blocks a kick by Corino and nails him with a spinning back kick to the gut. Harlem with a swinging neckbreaker and then tags in Lancelot, who nails Corino with a back elbow. Lancelot with a slingshot DDT, then knocks Jacobs off the apron. Lancelot charges and connects with a corner clothesline, followed by a Scott Steiner style step over belly-to-belly suplex for a nearfall. Lancelot with a series of clubs to Corino’s back and chest, then hits a big lariat, but Jacobs breaks up the pin attempt. Harlem comes in and sends Jacobs to the outside, then the Bravados hits the Gentleman’s Choice for a close nearfall on Corino. Harlem heads up top as the Bravados set up for a double team, but Jacobs nails Harlem. Lancelot tries to go after Jacobs, but Jacobs nails him with the inward Ace Crusher. Harlem leaps off the ropes, but Jacobs catches him in mid-air with a spear. Corino with an atomic drop, followed by a Saito suplex to Lancelot for a close nearfall. Corino goes for the Eternal Dream, but Lancelot catches him with a roll-up for a nearfall.
Corino then with a backdrop driver to get the victory.
Winners and advancing to the semi-finals of the ROH Tag Title Tournament: S.C.U.M. by pinfall (Backdrop Driver)
After the match, the Guardians of Truth attack Jacobs & Corino and begin to beat them down until ROH Champion Kevin Steen runs in to make the save. Steen gets the better of the Guardians until Rhino runs in from behind. Rhino then turns Steen inside out with the GORE, GORE, GORE!!!!!!!! Rhino taunts the crowd as the champion is down and hurt as we go to commercial.
Commercial
“Inside Ring of Honor”
Cole: “Mike Mondo, last week on Ring of Honor television, you shocked the world, you won the 6 Man Mayhem match to earn a right for this Ring of Honor Television Championship live on PPV in Chicago”. But with me being a champion, I have a target on my back at all times and next week on Ring of Honor television, I’m facing “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin”. Now Michael, the last time me and you faced each other, it was Border Wars in Toronto and you beat me”. “You were the better man that night, but since then, I’ve learned a lot, gained a lot of experience and a little bit of weight too (looking at the TV Title)”. So, the next time we meet on Ring of Honor television, you’re gonna have to kill me to take this championship from me and when I retain this title and go on to face Mike Mondo in Chicago on PPV”. “Mike, there’s a lot about you I respect, you institute a lot of principles that I believe in”. “No rest, no mercy and no fear”. “That’s what gonna make you a great opponent, but if you think for one second the years and dedication that I put in to this sport and to Ring of Honor, to be the very best, more specifically, to hold this Ring of Honor Television Championship, you are dead wrong”. “I look forward to the challenge that you will bring me, Mike Mondo, in Chicago”. “But, I can promise you with every fiber in my being, I will walk away the champion”.
Rhino: “Truth Martini promised Jim Cornette a solution to the Kevin Steen problem, see that’s where I come in”. “Kevin Steen, I get paid a lot of money to take people out and that’s what I’m gonna do to you in Chicago”. “I’m gonna take you out, I’m gonna make you bleed, I’m gonna make you wish you were never born”. “You will curse your own mother for giving birth to you”. “And if I had any compassion, I’d feel sorry for you”. “That’s exactly what the people of Chicago and everyone around the world watching will be feeling, compassion. “And they will be feeling sorry for you, because I know what I am capable of doing and I will leave you lying in Chicago in a puddle of your own p**s, blood & s**t, standing over you the new Ring of Honor World Champion”. “WORLD CHAMPION, GORE, GORE, GORE!!!!”
J. Briscoe: “Next week on TV, you got the Briscoes in the Tag Team Title Tournament against the wild card team, BLK OUT”.
M. Briscoe: “The wild card team?”
J. Briscoe: “Well, they may be the ace of spades, maybe the 2 of clubs”.
M. Briscoe: “The 5 of diamonds”.
J. Briscoe: “I don’t think we’re playing the same game, chicken”. “But either way, next week on TV, BLK OUT, y’all b***hes might be called black & blue, or BLACKED OUT, with an ed on that b***h, cuz we gonna whoop y’all ass, then we going to Chicago to take them straps”. “6 of diamonds, what the hell, chicken?”
Commercial
Back from commercial, we see a video package on Jay Lethal before our next match.
Before the match starts, Lethal has a mic.
Lethal: “One second, you know, there is something on my mind”. “I wanna let each and every one of you and those watching on TV, know what happened backstage before the start of this program”. “Now, I ran into Jim Cornette and I said to him “Jim, in your quest to find someone to dethrone the champion, you’ve looked high, you’ve looked low, but you have yet to look in my direction”. “So, I asked him “Why? Why Jim, why has Jay Lethal not gotten a shot at Kevin Steen?” “Well, as gutsy as that bastard and as straight forward as we all know Jim Cornette is, he looked me and he said “Jay Lethal, I know for a fact that you are a better wrestler than Kevin Steen, I know that you are a better athlete than Kevin Steen, but you can’t beat Kevin Steen”. “I know, I was as shocked as you, but listen to his reasoning, he said “Jay, I don’t think you can beat Kevin Steen because you’re just not mean enough, you’re just not angry enough, you don’t have that killer instinct”. The crowd boos at that as Lethal says ” I know, I just wanted to let you guys know just exactly why Jay Lethal has not gotten a World Title shot against Kevin Steen”.
This leads to……..
Jay Lethal vs. Matt Taven
Lethal wants to adhere to the Code of Honor as the bell sounds, but then kicks Taven square in the balls, forcing the referee Brian Gory to ring the bell.
Winner: Matt Taven by disqualification
The referee has words with Lethal, who then lays out the referee with the Lethal Combination. Multiple referees come out to check on the ref as Lethal grabs the mic.
Lethal: “Hey Jim, how’s that for what’d you say, killer instinct?”
Commercial
Back from commercial, we see video highlighting what happened last week when Charlie Haas & Rhett Titus became unlikely tag team partners in the ROH Tag Team Title Tournament before the main event.
Main Event in a ROH Tag Team Title Tournament 1st Round Match: The Guardians of Truth w/Truth Martini vs. Rhett Titus & “The Outlaw” Charlie Haas
Haas & Titus have words before the bell sounds as to who will start the match. Haas then shows Titus a fan at ringside to distract Titus while Haas sends him to the outside so he can start the match. Haas with an amateur takedown on #1, then goes to a front chancery. Haas then gator rolls #1 into the ropes. Haas stomps away at #1, who then backs Haas into the corner. Haas goes into the ropes to back #1 away, then #1 with a knee to the gut, followed by a pair of clubs to the back before tagging in #2. #2 with a pair of right hands, but Haas fights back with his own right hand. #2 comes back with a kick to the gut, followed by a club to the back. #2 with a knee to the gut, then Haas comes back with his own kick to the gut. #2 reverses a whip by Haas and then nails him with another kick to the gut. Tag to #1, then the Guardians with a double Irish whip, double kick to the gut and then finally they both drive Haas’ head into the mat. Haas is furious and slaps Titus’ s chest to tag him in. Haas & Titus have a shoving match as #1 with an arm wrench into a wristlock. Titus counters out into a side headlock takedown. #1 counters with a head scissors, then Titus headstands out and goes back to the side headlock on the mat. #1 goes back to the wristlock, but Titus is able to take #1 down with a headscissors. #1 gets out and goes for the side headlock, but Titus moves out of the way. Titus with an armdrag into an armbar. #1 with a pair of forearms, then whips out of the hold. Titus leapfrogs over #1, who was looking for a back drop and hits another kick to the gut, followed by a whip. Titus hits a back drop, then Haas shoves #1, who knocks Haas off the apron. Haas tries to come in and while that is going on, #2 hits Titus with a diving reverse DDT while the referee is with Haas. #2 with an arm wrench, followed by a short-arm clothesline. Titus fights back with gut shots, but then #2 with a knee to the gut. #1 gets the tag in as he leaps off the middle rope, with a double sledge to the chest of Titus. #1 stomps away at Titus, then gains a nearfall. Tag into #2 as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial as Titus counters out from a #2 move and gives him a jawbreaker. However, #1 pulls up the top rope, causing Titus to go through the ropes and to the outside. While that is going on, Haas is on the outside as he shoves down Martini. The Guardians go to the outside as they double team Titus, sending him back first into the ropes. #1 sends Titus back into the ring and gains a nearfall, while having his feet on the bottom rope for leverage. #1 tries to draw the ire of Haas on the apron, then tags in #2. #2 with a gut shot, followed by a right hand. Titus tries to fight back once again with gut shots, but #2 rakes his eyes. Haas yells at Titus from the apron while #2 nails Titus with a boot to the head. #2 with a slam, then tags in #1. Guardians hit a double team and #1 gains a nearfall as Haas comes in to break it up. #1 locks in a chinlock as the crowd wills on Titus. Titus tries to break free, but #1 pulls him by the hair back down to the mat. #1 goes off the ropes, but Haas pulls down the top rope, sending #1 to the outside. Titus goes to make the tag, but #1 pulls Haas off the apron, preventing the tag from being made. #1 sends Haas into the barricade, but then back in the ring, Titus evades #2, who came in, followed by catching him with a back elbow.
Titus with a pair of right hands to #2, followed by hitting a back suplex. #1 comes back in, but is nailed with a dropkick. Titus with a running boot to the side of #1’s head, followed by a leapfrog bulldog. Titus goes for a cover, but #2 breaks it up. #2 with a whip, but Titus sidesteps his back drop attempt with a boot to the head. #2, though, comes back by hitting Titus with a powerslam. #2 signals to #1 for another double team as #1 heads up top. The Guardians set up for a combination powerbomb/top rope leg drop, but Haas grabs onto the leg of #1.
Haas crotches #1 on the ropes, then Titus takes down #2, who was distracted, and hooks him in a jackknife pin for the victory.
Winners and advancing to the semi-finals of the ROH Tag Title Tournament: Rhett Titus & “The Outlaw” Charlie Haas by pinfall (Jackknife Pin)
After the match, Haas comes in and celebrates like he won the match all by himself. Haas & Titus continue to argue when then all of a sudden, Corino & Jacobs run in and attack the Guardians. Haas & Titus get out of dodge as the fight continues between S.C.U.M. & The Guardians. The fight continues on the outside as the feud between the House of Truth & S.C.U.M. heats up while we go to credits.
This week on the Independent Roundtable:
Plus, there will be a DVD Review podcast this week looking at ROH’s “Live Strong” & “Brew City Beatdown” from June & July.
If you would like to send in questions on any of the topics discussed this week on the Roundtable, shoot us an e-mail at roundtable@wrestleview.com.
So with that, I will see you all next week for more Ring-Of-Honor!