Ring of Honor Wrestling on Sinclair
February 2, 2013
Baltimore, Maryland (Du Burns Arena)
Commentators: Kevin Kelly and Caleb Seltzer
Report by: Jason Namako of Wrestleview.com
Hello everyone and welcome to this week’s Ring of Honor Wrestling on Sinclair recap. If you all are ready, then let’s get to the show!
We see the usual intro, then Kevin Kelly & Caleb Seltzer welcome us to the show, from the Du Burns Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. Kelly hypes up tonight’s 4 team gauntlet match where the winners will receive a ROH Tag Team Title shot. Truth Martini then joins Kelly & Seltzer at the commentary table for the opening match.
2013 Top Prospect Tournament 1st Round Match: “The Promise” Antonio Thomas vs. “T.D.” Tadarius Thomas
Code of Honor adhered to, but then Antonio nails Tadarius from behind as the bell sounds. Antonio goes for a back suplex, but Tadarius lands on his feet. Tadarius with a series of chops, but then Antonio reverses a corner whip. Tadarius does a back headstand in the turnbuckles to stop himself, but then Antonio with a waistlock. Antonio with a back suplex for a nearfall. Antonio with right hands from the mount, then rakes at the face. Antonio sends Tadarius into the corner, followed by a European uppercut. Antonio sends Tadarius face-first off the top turnbuckle, then hits a Fisherman’s Suplex for a nearfall. Antonio pulls at Tadarius’s face, then locks him in a chinlock. Antonio switches to an abdominal stretch, but Tadarius breaks free with elbows. Tadarius goes off the ropes, but Antonio goes off the other side and hooks Tadarius back into the abdominal stretch while also applying a facelock. Tadarius gets to the ropes, but then Antonio with a shot to the ribs. Tadarius goes to the apron, but then Antonio grabs him by the neck and chokes him, using the top rope for an advantage. Antonio goes after Tadarius again, but Tadarius surprises him by locking Antonio in a Triangle Choke while in the ropes. Martini then leaves the commentary table, saying he wants a closer look at the action.
Tadarius with an O’Connor Roll for a nearfall, then right out of it, drills Antonio with a Capoeira style kick. Tadarius avoids a blow from Antonio and nails him with another Capoeira style kick. Antonio with a right hand to the forehead, but hurts his hand as Tadarius used his own head to block the right hand. Tadarius with a leaping right hand, followed by a series of open hand slaps and a kick to the leg. Tadarius with a kick to the back, then goes off the ropes and connects with a Slingblade. Tadarius is fired up as we see Martini looking on. Tadarius heads up top, but Antonio crotches him on the ropes. Antonio with another uppercut, then heads up with Tadarius. Tadarius then stops Antonio and connects with a swinging neckbreaker off the 2nd rope. They exchange strikes once they get to their feet until Antonio goes for the abdominal stretch again, but Tadarius blocks it.
Antonio goes for a backslide, but Tadarius breaks free and then drills Antonio with a spinning roundhouse kick for the victory.
Winner and advancing to the semi-finals of the 2013 Top Prospect Tournament: “T.D.” Tadarius Thomas by pinfall (Spinning Roundhouse Kick)
After the match, we see Martini clapping at Thomas gaining the victory as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Before we come back from commercial, we see a hype promo for the 11th Anniversary Internet PPV on Saturday, March 2nd in Chicago Ridge, Illinois as Veda Scott interviews Jay Lethal, saying that he got his wish.
Lethal: “Damn right I got it and it took a lot of work, a lot of convincing.” “For instance, I had to convince the fans that I deserve this match.” “I had to convince Ring of Honor that I was mean enough.” “I had to convince Kevin Steen to be a man for once, but I never had to convince myself to do anything because I know in my heart that in Chicago Ridge, I am and will forever be the next Ring of Honor World Champion!” “Forever!”
Back from commercial, “No Fear” Mike Mondo joins Kelly & Seltzer at the commentary table for our next match. Mondo says that very soon, he will be cleared to come back and compete again in Ring of Honor. Mondo says he’s out here for the next match because he hates Roderick Strong, but also because his heart goes out to the guy Strong will be facing, Grizzly Redwood.
We see a video package on Grizzly Redwood, highlighting that he was born pre-mature and that doctors didn’t expect him to live a long life, but at 27 years old, Grizzly is alive and well. We see highlights from Redwood’s TV match last year with Michael Elgin, then we see footage from before Final Battle went on the air, where Grizzly defeated QT Marshall in under a minute with a surprise roll-up. We then go to our next match.
“The Littlest Lumberjack” Grizzly Redwood vs. “The Messiah of the Backbreaker” Roderick Strong
Code of Honor adhered to as the bell sounds, but then Strong grabs a mic.
Strong: “Hold on a second.” “Now Grizzly, I know you know this that you, facing me tonight, that’s a big deal.” “But, I also know that you know me, facing you, is a small deal.” “Hey, don’t take it like that, I didn’t mean it like that.” “But Grizzly, not just in wrestling, but in life, you have to understand, you’re just always gonna come up short.”
Strong pats Grizz on the back, but Grizz then goes after Strong with left & right hands. Strong shoves him off, though, then nails him with a knee to the gut. Strong with a right hand, followed by a series of gut shots in the corner. Strong with a back suplex for a 1 count. Grizz breaks free off a slam attempt, then side steps a charging Strong, who goes to the corner. Grizz with a dropkick to the knee, then goes off the ropes. Strong misses a clothesline and Grizz spins around into an abdominal stretch. Grizz then takes Strong down into a pin attempt for a nearfall. Grizz goes after Strong, but Strong sends him out onto the apron. Strong then avoids a shoulder by Grizz, nailing him with a knee to the face.
Strong brings Grizz out from the ropes and hits a double underhook backbreaker for a nearfall. Strong with a corner whip, but Grizz moves out of the way when Strong charges in. Grizz with a chop, followed by a forearm. Strong then blocks a whip attempt and sends Grizz to the corner. Strong charges, but runs into a back elbow by Grizz. Again Strong charges, but this time Grizz gets his boot up. Grizz goes to the 2nd rope and nails Strong with a seated senton. Down come the straps as Grizz runs up the ropes, looking for a dive off the ropes, but Strong catches him in mid-air with a powerslam for a nearfall. Strong goes for a half-nelson backbreaker, but Grizz counters and tries to take Strong down in a crucifix. Strong gets Grizz on his shoulders, but Grizz slips out. Grizz off the ropes as Strong misses 2 clothesline attempts. Strong catches Grizz and goes for a back suplex, but Grizz counters into a Sunset flip for a nearfall.
Grizz then with an inside cradle for a nearfall. Grizz springs off the middle rope and nails Strong with a swinging Tornado DDT for a close nearfall. Grizz locks Strong in a choke, but Strong gets to his feet and slams Grizz back-first into the turnbuckles. Mondo is cheering Grizz on from the commentary table as Strong charges and connects with a running knee in the corner. Strong with another charge and connects with a running forearm, followed by lifting Grizz up and hitting the Death by Roderick, but somehow Grizz kicks out. Strong can’t believe it as he sets up Grizz for the End of Heartache, but Grizz counters into an O’Connor Roll for a nearfall. Strong comes back with a leaping knee, followed by a half-nelson backbreaker.
Strong then locks Grizz in the Strong Hold and Grizz has no choice but to tap-out.
Winner: Roderick Strong by submission (Strong Hold)
After the match, Strong keeps the Strong Hold applied until Michael Elgin runs in, causing Strong to leave for higher ground. Elgin stares down Strong, who backs away to the back. Elgin helps up Grizz and gives him an ovation as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial, Elgin is still in the ring as he is a part of our next match.
Killer Instinct Return Match: “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin vs. “The Prodigy” Mike Bennett w/”Brutal” Bob Evans & “The 1st Lady of ROH” Maria Kanellis
Elgin wants to adhere to the Code of Honor, but Bennett slaps his hand away. Brutal Bob goes onto the apron to have words with the ref, but then Elgin knocks him off the apron. However, that allows Bennett to attack Elgin from behind. Bennett with kicks to the leg and a pair of right hands. Bennett with another right hand, but then Elgin counters a whip attempt and goes to lock Bennett in the Crossface, but Bennett quickly slips out. Elgin kicks Bennett off, Bennett charges, but Elgin catches him with a powerslam for a 1 count. Elgin charges at Bennett in the corner, but Bennett moves out of the way and then rolls up Elgin for a nearfall. Bennett with a gut kick, then acts like he is going for a Cradle Piledriver to mock his Final Battle opponent, Jerry Lynn, but Elgin counters it by backdropping Bennett over the ropes and to the outside where Bennett lands face-first on the ringside mats. Maria looks worried as Elgin leaps off the apron, nailing Bennett with a flying shoulder tackle. Elgin starts to go by where Brutal Bob and Maria are, causing them to head for higher ground. Elgin with a big chop, then lifts up Bennett for a running slam, but Bennett slips out. Elgin charges, but Bennett catches Elgin and spinebusters him onto the ring apron. Back in the ring, Bennett gains a nearfall. Bennett locks in a head and arm chinlock as the crowd wills on Elgin. Elgin tries to break free, but Bennett comes back with a gut kick. Elgin then reverses a whip and flings him overhead with a belly-to-belly suplex. Elgin charges and connects with a clothesline, then sends Bennett to the adjacent turnbuckle and does the same thing. Elgin then brings Bennett out of the corner and connects with a spinning side slam for a nearfall. Elgin sets up Bennett for a powerbomb, but Bennett gets free and then lifts Elgin up, but Elgin slips out. Elgin with left & right forearms, followed by a jumping enziguri. Elgin goes off the ropes, but Bennett catches him, lifts Elgin up and connects with the Photo Finish, but somehow Elgin is able to kick out at the last second. Bennett again tries for a Cradle Piledriver, but Elgin gets free. Bennett misses a clothesline and Elgin nails him with a boot to the face. Elgin with an elbow to the back of the head, then lifts up Bennett and connects with a Death Valley Driver into the corner, shades of Icarus from CHIKARA, but somehow Bennett is able to kick out. Elgin heads up top while Bennett is on the apron and goes to hit his deadlift superplex, but Maria hops up on the apron to stop Elgin. Elgin then grabs Maria and goes for the deadlift superplex, but Bennett nails him from behind. Bennett heads up top with Elgin and connects with a Super Box Office Smash from the 2nd rope, but again, Elgin is able to kick out. Bennett again goes for a Cradle Piledriver, but Elgin counters out by driving Bennett back-first into the corner. Elgin charges, but Bennett nails him with a boot. Bennett goes to the 2nd rope and leaps off, but Elgin drills him out of mid-air with a clothesline.
Elgin hits the Buckle Bomb, followed by the Revolution Elgin Bomb for the victory.
Winner: “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin by pinfall (Revolution Elgin Bomb)
Brutal Bob & Maria tend to Bennett as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Inside Ring of Honor
The 1st topic is what happened at last week’s confrontation between Jay Lethal & Kevin Steen when Lethal convinced Steen to accept his challenge at Steen’s Ring of Honor World Title. We go to footage of that confrontation.
It has been announced that Kevin Steen will defend the Ring of Honor World Title against Jay Lethal at the 11th Anniversary iPPV on Saturday, March 2nd from Chicago Ridge, Illinois.
The final topic is B.J. Whitmer, who last week almost defeated Adam Cole for the Ring of Honor Television Title, but due to re-injuring his neck, he came up short. We go to comments from Whitmer.
Whitmer: “Adam Cole, you have a helluva future and you beat me tonight.” “Was I 100 percent?, no, but I’m not making excuses, I don’t think I’ve been 100 percent since about 2001 if you wanna be straight-forward and honest.” “I’ve had a laundry list of surgeries, the ankle, the wrist, I’ve had both elbows worked on and eventually, going through that table in New York is gonna cost me a neck surgery, sooner or later.” “But until then, until I cannot work, until I cannot feel my hands, I will be in that ring.” “The story of B.J. Whitmer in Ring of Honor is far from over and I promise you, everybody out there, the best is yet to come.”
Next week on Inside Ring of Honor, a look at the Top Prospect Tournament and a huge main event signed for a live event in Cincinnati, Ohio on February 16th.
Commercial
Back from commercial, its time for our main event, a 4 team gauntlet match where the winner will face the Briscoes for the Ring of Honor Tag Team Titles at the 11th Anniversary iPPV. The teams competing are SCUM, Fish & O’Reilly, the Bravados & the American Wolves. The Wolves and the Bravados drew numbers #1 & #2, respectively, for this gauntlet in a random drawing held before the show.
Main Event in a 4-Team Gauntlet Match for a Ring of Honor Tag Team Title Shot: The American Wolves, SCUM, The Bravados & Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly
Match #1 in the Gauntlet: The American Wolves (Davey Richards & “Die Hard” Eddie Edwards) vs. The Bravados (Harlem & Lancelot)
Code of Honor adhered to before the bell sounds. Harlem & Davey will start things off. We then see Charlie Haas make his way to ringside and to the commentary table. Harlem with a big slap, followed by a boot to the face. Harlem goes off the ropes, Davey with a leapfrog, followed by a drop-down and finally catches Harlem with a dropkick. Edwards comes in and hits a slam while Davey goes up top. Davey with a diving headbutt on Harlem for a nearfall. Tag to Edwards, who nails Harlem with a chop, but Harlem comes back with a forearm. Edwards with another chop, but Harlem with one of his own. Edwards with another chop, then Harlem with a knee to the gut. Harlem sends Edwards to the corner, then tags in Lancelot. Bravados with a double whip, followed by a double back elbow and finally a double elbow drop for a nearfall. Lancelot with a front chancery, but Edwards sends him to his corner. Tag to Davey, who hits a kick to the ribs of Lancelot. Davey with a whip, then follows Lancelot in and nails him with a clothesline. Davey knocks Harlem off the apron with a boot, then while the ref is with Harlem and while Davey locks Lancelot in a version of a Tequila Sunrise, Edwards comes in and puts a chinlock on Davey to put more torque and pressure on the Tequila Sunrise Davey has on Lancelot. Davey with a stomp to the back, then tags in Edwards. Edwards with a snap suplex for a nearfall. Lancelot sends Edwards to his corner and tags in Harlem, who nails Edwards with a right hand. Harlem with a chop, then sends Edwards face-first off the top turnbuckle. Harlem stomps away at Edwards in the corner, but then Edwards comes back and sends Harlem into his corner. Davey tags in and kicks Harlem in the chest. Davey charges and knocks Lancelot off the apron, then Edwards sends Harlem face-first off the top turnbuckle. The Wolves with a double whip, but Harlem avoids an Edwards charges and Edwards goes shoulder first into the ringpost. Lancelot back in and the Bravados whip Davey to the corner. Lancelot charges, but runs into a boot by Davey. Davey tries to back drop a charging Harlem over the ropes, but he lands on the apron. Harlem then blocks a clothesline and hits a slingshot Diamond Dust.
Lancelot then charges and connects with a clothesline in the corner. The Bravados go for a double suplex, but Richards breaks free by nailing both of them with knees to the head. Harlem catches a kick by Richards, then Richards with an enziguri, but Harlem ducks and the kick instead nails Lancelot. Harlem with a pair of forearms, then goes off the ropes, but Richards drops down and Harlem runs right into a superkick by Edwards, who is back in the ring. Richards with a spinning back kick to the gut, then the Wolves with a spinning roundhouse kick/chop to the head combo that sandwiches Harlem for a nearfall. Davey locks Harlem in the Anklelock, but Lancelot comes into break it up, however Davey refuses to break the hold. Davey spits in Lancelot’s face, then when Lancelot charges, Edwards traps him in the roll through into the Achilles’ Lock. The Bravados then simultaneously counter the Wolves’ submission attempts into inside cradles for a close nearfall. Lancelot is sent to the outside by Edwards, while Davey & Harlem exchange strikes. Harlem with a big forearm, then goes off the ropes and counters the assisted Alarm Clock kick attempt by the Wolves by catching Davey’s foot and using it to nail Edwards in the ribs. Harlem again grabs Davey’s foot and goes to spin him into an enziguri by Lancelot, but Edwards nails Lancelot with a superkick and Davey locks Harlem back in the Anklelock with the leg grapevined.
Edwards gets rid of Lancelot and Harlem has no choice but to tap-out.
The Bravados have been eliminated.
Match #2 in the Gauntlet: The American Wolves vs. S.C.U.M. (“The Zombie Princess” Jimmy Jacobs & “The King of Old School” Steve Corino)
All 4 men slug it out back and forth to start things off. SCUM with a double whip, but the Wolves hold onto the ropes. SCUM charges, but the Wolves pull down the ropes and SCUM goes out onto the apron, with their backs turned from the ring. The Wolves charge and hit stereo kicks to the back, sending SCUM to the outside. The Wolves then get a head of steam, soaring and scoring with stereo tope dives, sending SCUM crashing into the barricade. Davey sends Jacobs back into the ring, then charges and lands on the apron when Jacobs tries to back drop him over the ropes. The Wolves sandwich Jacobs with a charging clothesline/enziguri combination, then Edwards hits the Front-Plex. Davey heads up top and connects with a front missile dropkick for a nearfall. Jacobs reverses a corner whip by Edwards, but Edwards moves out of the way. However, in doing so, Corino nails Edwards with a left-arm lariat from the apron. Jacobs avoids a Davey clothesline, but Davey knocks Corino off the apron with a running boot. Davey with a spinning back kick to the gut of Jacobs, then goes out to the apron to nail Corino with the running apron kick, but Corino catches his foot and spins him around right into Jacobs, who nails Davey with a Spear on the apron. Corino goes after Edwards, but Edwards comes back with a chop. However, while the ref is not looking, Corino nails Edwards low with a back mule kick.
Corino removes the elbow pad and goes for the Eternal Dream, but Edwards catches his arm and rolls up Corino in a crucifix for the victory.
S.C.U.M. have been eliminated.
After the match, Jacobs attacks Edwards from behind. Davey comes in and goes after Jacobs, but Corino grabs the ring bell and drills Davey in the head with it. Jacobs then lays out Edwards with a running Ace Crusher. Corino goes to the outside and grabs something, then picks up Davey and drills him with what looks to be a roll of quarters. Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly come out for the final part of the Gauntlet as the Wolves have been laid to waste by S.C.U.M. as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial, we join the final part of the 4 team gauntlet in progress.
Match #3 of the Gauntlet: The American Wolves vs. Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly
Fish & O’Reilly stomp away on the fallen Wolves, who are the worst for wear after being laid out by S.C.U.M. Fish & Edwards are the legal men as Fish with a knee to the ribs of Edwards in the corner. Fish with a snapmare, followed by an elbow drop. Tag to O’Reilly, who hits a trifecta of running knee drops for a nearfall. Tag to Fish as O’Reilly with a kick to the chest of Edwards, while Fish gets another shot in on Davey. Double whip, but Edwards moves out of the way on Fish’s charge and nails O’Reilly with a boot to the face. Fish comes in, but Edwards with a savate kick to the gut. Edwards catches O’Reilly’s foot and takes him down with a Dragon Screw leg whip.
Tag to Davey, who ducks under an O’Reilly clothesline and drives Fish into the corner. Davey with kicks to the chest of Fish, then side steps an O’Reilly charge and begins to unload on him with a barrage of kicks to the chest. Davey is fired up as he whips O’Reilly to the corner, then follows him in and hits a running forearm. Davey then charges at Fish, who is slumped down, nailing him with a dropkick to the ribs. Davey goes off the ropes, but O’Reilly catches him with a boot to the face. O’Reilly now off the ropes, but Davey drills him with a roundhouse head kick, followed by a release German Suplex, folding up O’Reilly. O’Reilly powers up, but Davey takes his head off with a clothesline for a nearfall. Crowd chants for Davey, but O’Reilly comes back with a slap. The two exchange open hand slaps until Davey hits a spinning back kick to the gut. Davey goes off the ropes, but Fish stops him by grabbing onto him from the apron. O’Reilly charges, but Davey moves and O’Reilly nails Fish, knocking him off the apron. Davey off the ropes, but O’Reilly catches him with a leaping knee strike. Edwards had blind tagged in during that and as O’Reilly goes off the ropes, the Wolves connect with the assisted Alarm Clock kick. Edwards hits O’Reilly with the Front-Plex, then Davey goes out onto the apron and drills Fish with the running apron kick. The Wolves then head up top on adjacent turnbuckles and get set as Edwards nails O’Reilly with a double stomp as O’Reilly was getting back up. Then, Davey hits O’Reilly with a double stomp of his own to the ribs, but somehow O’Reilly kicks out.
Crowd chants “This is Awesome” as the Wolves get set for another double team, however from the outside, Fish kicks Davey’s foot out from under him, sending Davey face-first to the mat. O’Reilly then with a spinning back kick to the ribs of Edwards. On the outside, Fish sends Richards hard into the barricade, then back in the ring, O’Reilly with the standing curb stomp/rolling elbow combination to Edwards. Fish goes off the ropes and he & O’Reilly hit a flying knee/leg sweep combination, but somehow Edwards is able to kick out.
O’Reilly can’t believe it, but then he & Fish hit their brainbuster/head kick combination on Edwards to win the Gauntlet.
Winners of the 4 Team Gauntlet and earning a Ring of Honor Tag Team Title shot: Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly by pinfall (Brainbuster/Head Kick Combination)
Fish & O’Reilly celebrate their victory as we go to credits.