Ring of Honor Wrestling on Sinclair
May 2, 2015
San Antonio, Texas (Shrine Auditorium)
Commentators: Kevin Kelly, King Corino
Recap by: Jason Namako of Wrestleview.com
We see the usual intro, then commentary welcomes us to the show. Commentary talks about tonight’s main event between Jay Lethal & Tommaso Ciampa for the ROH TV Title, then we go to the opening match.
GHC & NWA Tag Team Champions The Killer Elite Squad (“The American Psycho” Lance Archer & “Bulldog II” Davey Boy Smith Jr.) w/”Unbreakable” Michael Elgin vs. War Machine (“War Beard” Hanson & Raymond Rowe)
Code of Honor before the bell, then KES attack War Machine as the bell sounds. They go back-and-forth, then KES gains the advantage. Rowe sent outside, KES double-teams Hanson. Hanson avoids a double clothesline, War Machine regains advantage. Hanson with an avalanche to Smith, Rowe with Shotgun Knees sending Archer into Smith, Bronco Buster by Hanson to Smith. War Machine double-team Smith. Archer distracts Hanson on the ropes, allowing Smith to knock him off. KES again double-team Hanson, double shoulder tackle. Running splash/leg drop combo by KES for 2. Finally settles down into a regular tag match. KES begin to take control on Hanson. Archer mows down Hanson with a running shoulder tackle. Gutwrench by Smith for 2, then goes for a cross armbreaker, but Hanson gets to the ropes. Smith continues to work over Hanson, but Hanson fights back. Smith comes back with a series of chest kicks. Archer with a running knee to Hanson in the corner as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial as Hanson fights back again on Archer, but Archer stops him from making a tag. Running knees by KES in the corner, followed by a powerslam/top rope splash combo for another 2. KES continues to have control on Hanson, working him over. Rowe tries to will his partner on. Hanson avoids a corner charge by Archer, but Archer knocks Rowe off the apron to prevent a tag. More chest kicks by Smith, then he calls for the Bulldog Bomb, but Hanson blocks it. Smith off the ropes, but Hanson catches him with the Inward Side Slam.
Rowe & Archer get the tags. Corner clothesline by Rowe, but Archer blocks a German. Exchange of running forearms, Archer misses a clothesline, Rowe this time hits the German. Smith in, both block each other’s German attempts. Shotgun Knees by Rowe to Smith. Archer goozles both of War Machine, but they shrug him off. Double Chokeslam by War Machine to Archer. Rowe lifts up Archer as Hanson heads up top. FALLOUT!!! 1-2……ELGIN PULLS OUT THE REFEREE!!! Hanson with a head of steam, TOPE SUICIDA WIPES OUT ELGIN!! Smith with more kicks to Rowe, knocking him down. Smith knocks Hanson off the apron, Hart Attack by KES to Rowe for a close 2. KES call for the Killer Bomb on Rowe, but Hanson breaks it up. Spinning Front Slam by Hanson to Smith. Black Hole Slam by Archer to Hanson. Spinebuster Slam by Rowe to Archer. T-Bone by Smith to Rowe as the referee is losing control of this match. Smith blocks a clothesline by Hanson, Tiger Suplex, but he can’t keep the bridge. Superman Punch by Rowe to Smith. Archer blocks another Superman Punch by Rowe with a big right hand. Slap exchange between Archer & Rowe, Archer gains advantage with a Chokeslam.
Cartwheel Clothesline by Hanson as the ref calls for the bell, throwing the match out.
No Contest
Elgin comes in afterwards and gets some shots in on Hanson. KES & War Machine continue to brawl as multiple referees and attendants come into break it up, but to no avail. Attendants are wiped out by both teams as they continue to brawl with one another while we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial, we see video from last week when The Addiction defeated reDRagon to win the ROH Tag Team Titles, then the Knights of the Rising Dawn were revealed as the Addiction & Chris Sabin, laying out reDRagon.
Main Event for the Ring of Honor Television Title: “The First Generation Wrestler” Jay Lethal (c) w/Truth Martini & Donovan Dijak vs. “The Sicilian Psychopath” Tommaso Ciampa
Code of Honor before the bell as the crowd does dueling chants for both men. Lethal with a suplex early, but Ciampa pops right up. Ciampa then feigns being hurt by the suplex, then surprises Lethal with an inside cradle for 2. Ciampa sends Lethal hard into the corner, but Lethal comes back with stomps. Lethal off the ropes, but Ciampa follows him in with a running boot. Series of chops by Ciampa, then he goes off the ropes for the Running Knockout Knee, but Dijak pulls Lethal out of harm’s way. Commentary talks about the long-standing rivalry between Lethal & Ciampa. Back in, Ciampa with an eye poke, then begins to take control on Lethal. Ciampa bites at Lethal’s forehead after the 10 punches in the corner. Ciampa off the ropes, but Martini pulls down the top rope, sending Ciampa outside. Ciampa lands on his feet and blows his nose on Martini’s towel. However, the distraction allows Lethal to hit the trifecta of tope suicidas on Ciampa, wiping him out, with the final one sending Ciampa over the barricade and into the crowd!!! Lethal poses on the turnbuckles in the ring as the ref begins his 20 count on Ciampa. Lethal goes back outside and sends Ciampa off the apron face-first. Back in, Lethal only gets a 1 count. Lethal begins to take control on Ciampa as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial as Lethal gets another 1 count on Ciampa. Lethal continues to take control on Ciampa in the corner. Lethal wears down Ciampa with a chinlock, crowd wills him on. Lethal breaks, hits a leaping stomp, then taunts the crowd. Lethal gives Ciampa a receipt from earlier with Martini by blowing a snot rocket at him, then hits a knee drop for 2. Back to the chinlock as commentary talks about Lethal’s issues with World Champion Jay Briscoe over the who the most dominant champion in ROH is. Ciampa fights back, but misses a clothesline and Lethal with an elbow drop to Ciampa’s back as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial as Lethal continues to work over Ciampa. Ciampa comes back with a clothesline, followed by a Snap German and a Running Knockout Knee that sends Lethal outside. Ciampa with a head of steam, then slides under Martini’s legs, who was trying to prevent him from diving onto Lethal. Ciampa sends Lethal into the barricade, then hits him with another Running Knockout Knee. Lethal sent into another side of the barricade, Ciampa charges, ANOTHER RUNNING KNOCKOUT KNEE THAT SENDS CIAMPA FLYING ALL THE WAY INTO THE CROWD!!! Ciampa takes a selfie with a fan, then sends Lethal back in. Lethal stops Ciampa on the turnbuckles, then heads up with him. Top Rope Superplex by Lethal, but Ciampa grabs Lethal in another inside cradle for 2. Ciampa avoids a superkick, Lethal avoids a Knockout Knee, but Ciampa hits him on the second try. Lethal blocks a clothesline, but Ciampa catches another superkick. Ciampa with another Knockout Knee, but Lethal comes right back with an enziguri, both men down!
Referee begins his 10 count as Martini & Dijak will on Lethal. Strike exchange from their knees as the fans continue their dueling chants. Martini throws in the Book of Truth to Lethal, but Ciampa sees it and steps on Lethal’s hand as he grabbed it. Ciampa stomps on Lethal’s hand, then hits a Draping Flatliner for 2. Ciampa goes for Project Ciampa, but Lethal counters it by driving Ciampa into the corner. Lethal slips out of an Air Raid Crash, Back Suplex into a Neckbreaker for 2. Lethal heads up top for Hail to the King, but takes too much time. Ciampa misses a Discus Clothesline, Lethal Combination by Lethal, but Ciampa grabs Lethal on the way down, SICILAN STRETCH LOCKED IN!!! Lethal, somehow though, is able to reach the ropes to force a break as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial as Ciampa fish hooks Lethal and goes for a suplex back in, but Martini trips up Ciampa and holds down his leg for Lethal to fall on top, but only gets 2. Ciampa goes outside and goes after Martini, but Martini hides behind Dijak. Ciampa shoves Dijak and backs him up around ringside, daring him to hit him. Ciampa slaps Dijak, but Lethal with another head of steam in the ring. Lethal goes for another tope suicida, but Ciampa catches him, AIR RAID CRASH ON THE FLOOR!!! Back in, Ciampa covers Lethal, LETHAL KICKS OUT!! Ciampa heads up top with Lethal, SUPER AIR RAID CRASH!!! 1-2………MARTINI PULLS OUT THE REFEREE!!! Dijak comes in, CYCLONE KILL TO CIAMPA!!! Referee gets back in, Lethal pulls the arm over on Ciampa, 1-2……….CIAMPA KICKS OUT!!!! LETHAL & MARTINI CAN’T BELIEVE IT!!! “This is awesome” chants by the crowd. Ciampa sent onto the apron, but then he leaps off, CACTUS JACK CRACK SMASH WIPES OUT DIJAK!!! Ciampa gets back in, but Lethal greets him with a superkick! Lethal goes for the Lethal Injection, but Ciampa with a back handspring of his own off Lethal’s blindside. Lethal with a dropkick while Ciampa is upside down, but Ciampa pops right up, DISCUS CLOTHESLINE TO LETHAL!!! 1-2….LETHAL KICKS OUT AGAIN!!! Ciampa heads up top and hits Lethal’s own Hail to the King for another close 2. Ciampa goes again for Project Ciampa, but Dijak runs in. Ciampa sends Dijak outside, then the referee goes outside and ejects Martini & Dijak from ringside. However, while the referee is getting Martini & Dijak away from ringside, Lethal with a low blow to Ciampa!
LETHAL INJECTION!!! 1-2-3!
Winner and STILL Ring of Honor Television Champion: “The First Generation Wrestler” Jay Lethal by pinfall (Lethal Injection)
Lethal & The House of Truth celebrate Lethal’s title retention afterwards, then they leave as Ciampa is helped up by the referee. Crowd gives Ciampa an ovation, chanting “Thank You Ciampa.” Ciampa shakes the hand of referee Todd Sinclair, then gives him a low kick! Ciampa then with not 1, not 2, not 3, but FIVE RUNNING KNOCKOUT KNEES TO REFEREE SINCLAIR!!! Commentary notes that Ciampa just threw it all away, attacking a referee while he is still under Nigel McGuinness’ Zero Tolerance Policy where if he did so again, he would be fired. Crowd chants “Please Don’t Go” at Ciampa as he does snow angels in the streamers, then thanks the crowd and leaves as the show closes.