Ring of Honor Wrestling on Sinclair
January 10, 2015
Nashville, Tennessee (Tennessee State Fairgrounds)
Commentators: Kevin Kelly, Steve Corino
Recap by: Jason Namako of Wrestleview.com
We see the usual intro, then we go to the opening match.
Mark Briscoe vs. “Mr. Ring of Honor” Roderick Strong
“Man Up” and “Roddy” chants for both men as the bell sounds. Code of Honor before the bell. Mark takes down Strong, chain wrestling early, stalemate. Mark goes up & over Strong, then counters a lucha roll-up with a crucifix for 1. Mark blocks a clothesline, backslide gets 2. Both avoid each other’s chop attempts, Mark avoids Strong’s leaping knee, Strong avoids another chop, another stalemate. Strong with a side headlock takeover, Mark counters out with a headscissors. Strong kips out, Mark with a shoulder tackle. Mark flips out of a backdrop attempt, does the crane pose. Strong catches a kick, Mark kicks him off, Mark runs into a boot, but catches Strong with a belly-to-belly, sending Strong outside. Through-the-ropes running dropkick by Mark as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial as both men are down in the ring, but get back up by the ref’s count of 6. Redneck Kung Fu by Mark, heads up top, top rope tomahawk chop. Corner clothesline by Mark, followed by another clothesline for 2. Mark heads back up top, but Strong stops him with an enziguri. Strong heads up with Mark, Top Rope Superplex! “ROH” chants by the crowd. Strong lifts up Mark, Mark slips out. Strong blocks a Urnangi Suplex, hits another enziguri. Mark catches a clothesline, this time hits the Urnangi Suplex, sending Strong outside. Mark leaps off the apron, takes out Strong with a Blockbuster! Back in, Mark gets 2. Strong sends Mark outside. They fight on the apron, another enziguri by Strong. Strong goes to back suplex Mark on the apron, Mark slips out and back into the ring. Redneck Kung Fu knocks Strong off the apron. Mark with a head of steam, but Strong catches another through-the-ropes running dropkick and flings him down onto the apron! Back in, Strong gets 2. Strong is getting frustrated. Strike exchange, more Redneck Kung Fu by Mark, Strong comes back with the leaping knee and a rolling forearm.
End of Heartache gets Strong the win.
Winner: “Mr. Ring of Honor” Roderick Strong by pinfall (End of Heartache)
Code of Honor adhered to afterwards. Strong grabs the mic and asks Mark to stay here for this. Strong says that he wants to make this really clear right now. 2015 is the best Roderick Strong you’ll ever see and I promise you I will regain my crown as the king of Ring of Honor! Strong leaves the ring as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial, we go to a promo from Ring of Honor World Champion Jay Briscoe. Jay says that next week, I go one-on-one with a member of the Kingdom. Now, they wanna play these games and not say who its gonna be, but I know who it ain’t gonna be, it ain’t gonna be Adam Cole. Its gonna be either Mike Bennett or Matt Taven and it really don’t matter. All that matters is Nigel McGuinness said its a Non-Title Match, but I want this title on the line. And speaking of titles, y’all still got my property, man. What do you say that I put this on the line, y’all put that on the line, title vs. title, baby?
We go back to the ring where Ring of Honor matchmaker Nigel McGuinness is in the ring. Nigel says that his first order of business tonight is my announcement that tonight’s main event between Michael Elgin and “War Beard” Hanson will be a #1 Contendership for the Ring of Honor World Title. Now, my second order of business isn’t quite so easy because it involves Tommaso Ciampa. So Tommaso, come out here now, so I can say what I have to say in front of everybody.
Ciampa’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring. They shake hands as Nigel says that he has to be honest with Ciampa, when we came up with the Zero Tolerance policy, we really didn’t think of every eventuality because at Final Battle, while you did hit a referee, it was by accident and that’s where it would seem disingenuous to fire you and cost you a living within this sport for something that was completely out of your control. The problem was how do I explain that to the higher-ups in Ring of Honor? Because all they heard was a Zero Tolerance policy and you hit a referee. But, be that as it may, that is what I did, I went to the higher-ups, I showed them the footage and I put my neck on the line and I said it was an accident. So Tommaso, you are not gonna be fired and as far as your future here goes in Ring of Honor, you are here. But two things, number one, the Zero Tolerance policy is still in effect and number two, Tommaso, you owe me one.
Ciampa says if it helps Nigel to sleep at night to think that I owe you one, then I owe you one, that’s fine. You know who owes me one, Mr. McGuinness? That’s your Ring of Honor World Champion, Jay Briscoe, because these people here, they might not be aware, but a couple months ago, when Ring of Honor headed over to England, I had my first ever one-on-one match with Jay Briscoe and I pinned his shoulders to the mat, clear as day, 1-2-3. But apparently, whatever doesn’t happen inside this Ring of Honor bubble that you have created, well, I guess it doesn’t matter.
Nigel says that Ciampa talks about what doesn’t happen, talk about what did happen and what does matter. “War Beard” Hanson, an impeccable 2014 and won his match at Final Battle, so he’s deserving. You know who else won their match at Final Battle? Michael Elgin and he beat you.
Ciampa says that Michael Elgin did not beat Tommaso Ciampa at Final Battle, Tommaso Ciampa beat Tommaso Ciampa at Final Battle and its all because of this stupid Zero Tolerance policy that you placed on me. But I’ll tell you what, Mr. McGuinness, that will never happen again.
We hear someone say “Liar” from the back and out comes Michael Elgin on the rampway. Elgin says to Ciampa that real men don’t make excuses and that’s what you’re in that ring doing. At Final Battle, you didn’t beat yourself, I beat you.
Ciampa asks Elgin how does it feel to know that 7 months ago, in this very ring, in this very building, in front of all these fans in Nashville, Tennessee, what does it feel like to know that you won the Ring of Honor World Title 7 months ago, you were on top of the world, all these fans worshipped you like you were some sort of God and now, here we stand today, 7 months later and nobody, nobody, wants you here.
Elgin says to Ciampa that as I step into this ring, tell me, what doesn’t fit? That’s you, because me and him (Nigel), we are former Ring of Honor World Champions. And it doesn’t matter what they think, it matters what you can do in this ring and Tommaso, three times I’ve proved, you can’t beat me in this ring. And its funny, you say that Michael Elgin is a shell of his former self, well just a month ago, you couldn’t beat me then, either. So a shell of my former self is still better than you. Nigel, I don’t see why there’s any reason I can’t beat you and I can’t beat Hanson, or I can’t beat anyone else in the Ring of Honor roster. So, why don’t I just beat you both tonight and then you for sure know who the #1 Contender is.
Nigel says that Elgin made my job easy then. You guys want it, the people want it, tonight’s main event will be a #1 Contendership for the Ring of Honor World Title between Michael Elgin, “War Beard” Hanson and Tommaso Ciampa.
Commercial
Back from commercial, we go to a promo by Maria Kanellis. Maria says Jay Briscoe, you say you want your property back. Well, your property is now my Title of Love, it was given to me and even though I know that you have nothing between your legs, Ring of Honor would never let you put your hands on me. And just in case you get any funny ideas, I’ve got an entire Kingdom to protect its queen.
We see video from 2 months when ROH was in England for Preston City Wrestling when Tommaso Ciampa did have Jay Briscoe pinned in their match, but the ref had been knocked out prior and couldn’t count the pin when Ciampa had Jay beat.
Caprice Coleman joins commentary for our next match, the beginning of the 2015 Top Prospect Tournament. Caprice will be on commentary for all Top Prospect Tournament matches in the coming weeks.
2015 Top Prospect Tournament First Round Match: J. Diesel w/Truth Martini vs. Will Ferrara
Commentary puts over comments made by Ferrara’s trainer, Taz, before the bell. Code of Honor as the bell sounds. Diesel with knees and gut shots in the corner early. Ferrara fights back with right hands and a running uppercut. Diesel misses a clothesline, Ferrara sends him outside. Ferrara with a head of steam, wipes out Diesel with a tope suicida! Diesel drives Ferrara back-first into the apron. FALLAWAY SLAM INTO THE BARRICADE BY DIESEL! Diesel back suplexes Ferrara onto the apron! Back in, Ferrara fights back, but Diesel with more gut shots in the corner. Backbreaker gets Diesel 2. Tequila Sunrise applied, Ferrara kicks Diesel off. Ferrara fights back, lifts up Diesel, but Diesel slips out. Ferrara catches Diesel coming in, lifts him up, Wasteland, followed by a basement Codebreaker for 1. Ferrara sent onto the apron, Diesel with a big right hand. Diesel drapes Ferrara across the middle rope, running kneelift. Diesel heads up top, double stomp to the draped over Ferrara. Front slam by Diesel gets 2. Another front slam by Diesel gets another 2. Third front slam by Diesel, Ferrara kicks out at 1 and fires up! Ferrara fights back, Diesel with a slap. Ferrara slaps him back, Diesel with a knee to the ribs. Ferrara slips out of a suplex, Sonic Boom (Code-Red) gets 2. Ferrara heads up top, Diesel stops him with an uppercut.
Diesel brings Ferrara out of the corner in the Electric Chair, Ferrara counters with a Victory Roll for the win.
Winner and advancing to the Semi-Finals of the 2015 Top Prospect Tournament: Will Ferrara by pinfall (Victory Roll)
Afterwards, Diesel nails Ferrara with a clothesline. Martini is upset that Diesel lost as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Main Event in a Triple Threat #1 Contenders Match: “War Beard” Hanson vs. “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin vs. “The Sicilian Psychopath” Tommaso Ciampa
Hanson & Ciampa adhere to the Code of Honor before the bell, Elgin refuses, so they both attack him as the bell sounds. Elgin sent outside, then Hanson & Ciampa square off. Ciampa avoids the Spin Kick of Doom, but Hanson with a back suplex. Ciampa holds on with a side headlock. Hanson fights out with gut shots, runs into a boot. Elgin pulls Ciampa outside, but Ciampa throws Elgin in the ring. Hanson & Ciampa double team, Elgin avoids it, spits at Hanson, Hanson sends Elgin outside. Ciampa clotheslines Hanson outside, Hanson pulls Ciampa outside. Strike exchange between Hanson & Ciampa, Ciampa HIPTOSSES HANSON INTO THE BARRICADE! Hanson sent back in, Elgin stops Ciampa from getting back in. Elgin catches Ciampa leaping off the apron, then throws him into a charging Hanson, who was looking to dive out onto both Elgin & Ciampa! Back in, Elgin gets 2 on Hanson. Right hands from the mount by Elgin to Hanson. Hanson avoids a corner charge, but Elgin with a 2nd Rope Codebreaker for 2. Hanson blocks the Double Arm DDT, Elgin kicks him off, Hanson with a backdrop, followed by a side slam. Gut shots by Hanson to Elgin in the corner. Hanson drapes Elgin across the top rope, series of chest clubs. Ciampa comes in, but Hanson puts Ciampa on top of Elgin across the top rope, more chest clubs. Hanson avoids a discus clothesline by Ciampa, enziguri by Elgin to Ciampa. Scott Lost Stomp by Elgin to a charging Hanson. Elgin lifts up Hanson, Blu-Ray into the corner where Hanson was in! Elgin heads up top, top rope splash to Ciampa, Hanson breaks up the pin as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial as Elgin avoids the cartwheel clothesline by Hanson, Hanson blocks a leaping knee by Ciampa, throws him into the corner. Spinning front slam by Hanson to Ciampa, Elgin breaks up the pin. Forearms by Elgin to Hanson, followed by one to the back of the head. Elgin tries to lift up both Ciampa & Hanson for the Samoan/Fallaway combo, but Hanson slips out and release Germans Elgin, while Elgin fallaway slams Ciampa at the same time! Tiger Bomb by Hanson for 2. Hanson runs into a knee by Ciampa, then Ciampa catches a leaping Hanson, Air Raid Crash gets 2. Down comes the kneepad by Ciampa, but Elgin stops the Running Knockout Knee by Ciampa to Hanson and drapes him across the middle rope. Elgin heads up to the middle rope, somersault legdrop to Ciampa! Corner clotheslines by Elgin to both Hanson & Ciampa multiple times. Series of clothesline shots by Elgin to Hanson in the corner. Ciampa charges in, ST-Elgin by Elgin! Elgin & Hanson head up top, Super Rana by Elgin, while at the same time, splashing onto Ciampa for a close 2 as Ciampa grabbed the bottom rope. Elgin pins Hanson for another close 2. “ROH” chants by the crowd. Hanson blocks another Double Arm DDT attempt by Elgin, Elgin rolls through a Sunset Flip attempt, DEADLIFT POWERBOMB TO HANSON! Elgin rolls through another Sunset Flip attempt by Ciampa, deadlift Buckle Bomb, but Ciampa fires out of the corner with a Discus Clothesline for a close 2. Ciampa can’t believe it! “This is awesome” chants by the crowd. Elgin rolls outside. Ciampa with shots to Hanson, cartwheel clothesline by Hanson for a close 2. Hanson heads up top for a Moonsault, Elgin stops him. Ciampa comes in underneath, PROJECT CIAMPA TO HANSON! 1-2…ELGIN PULLS OUT THE REFEREE!! Ciampa goes after Elgin outside, but Elgin stands behind the referee as a shield due to Ciampa’s Zero Tolerance policy. All of a sudden, TOPE SUICIDA BY HANSON WIPING OUT EVERYONE, INCLUDING THE REFEREE!!
All three men continue brawling with each other on the outside as another referee runs out and calls for the bell, throwing the match out.
No Contest
Afterwards, Elgin chases the referee with a chair, then nails Ciampa in the ribs with it. Hanson grabs a chair and the three continue brawling as multiple referees and attendants try and break things up as the show closes.