ROH Wrestling Results (10/15/2011) - Edwards Battles Elgin!
ROH Wrestling on Sinclair: Episode #4
Date: 10/15/2011
From: Chicago, IL
The program starts off with a video highlighting last week's ROH World Championship match between champion Davey Richards and his hated rival, Roderick Strong. Richards retained the championship by forcing Strong to submit to the ankle lock.
Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness welcome everyone to the show. Eddie Edwards will compete against Michael Elgin and the All Night Express meet the Briscoe Brothers to determine the number contenders for the ROH World Tag Team Championships.
We get a special look at the Briscoe Brothers. Jay talks about how Titus carried their bags and after their match they will continue to carry their bags. They talk about a chicken ranch and how the bad smell reminds them of Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin. Nark Briscoe says the only way to earn their respect to kick their ass, but that never happens. Jay warns everyone not to doubt them just because they are rednecks. Mark Briscoe tells us they have a plan.
The All Night Express share previously taped comments. Rhett Titus talked about the blood they spilled against the Briscoe Brothers in the ring. Titus is reminded of the Briscoe Brothers every day that he sees the scar on his forehead.
Commercials— During the break, Kevin Kelly talked to ROH World Champion Davey Richards who encouraged fans to see ROH live. Richards only wants to fight the best and ROH only has the best.
Grudge Match: Number One Contenders Match
Briscoe Brothers (Jay & Mark) vs. All Night Express (Rhett Titus & Kenny King)
Jay and King start off the match. King is backed into the Briscoe's corner and is stomped on by both brothers. King is sent to the floor where the Briscoe Brothers continue to work on him by ramming him into the apron back first. King leaps onto the apron and takes Jay out with a twisting dive while Titus came over to spear Mark! Titus dropkicks Mark back in the ring after King delivered a drop toe hold. Mark continues to be worked on with an atomic drop by Titus and King hits a running clothesline to allow Titus to get a near fall. Titus knocks Jay off the apron but Mark maintains the advantage with a running clothesline in the corner and along with Jay hit a yakuza kick/chop block combo!
Titus tries to fight back against Jay with a chop but Jay puts an end to that. Mark clotheslines Titus and Jay gets a near fall. Mark drives Titus down to the mat with a running bulldog for a two count. Mark stops Titus on the top rope with a right hand and head butt. Titus blocks a hurricanrana attempt off the top by dropping Mark face first across the top turnbuckle! King gets the hot tag and cleans house with clotheslines and a pele kick on Mark. King gets a near fall on Jay following a head and leg suplex! Mark drags Jay out of the ring but King backdrops Titus over the top onto both Mark and Jay on the floor! King hits a spine buster on Jay and Titus hits a top rope double knee drop for a two count. Mark rams Titus into the guard railing leaving King to be met with a big boot from Mark in the ring. Jay drives King down to the mat with a sit out suplex. Mark nails King with a top rope frog splash into an elbow drop but isn't able to put King away.
Jay and Titus are going at each other in front of the announcers table and that distracts the referee. Jay low blows King as he charged the corner and is able to roll King up for the win.
After the match, the referee asks the Briscoe Brothers if they hit King in the groin. They deny it and Rhett Titus tries to attack them but that didn't work out so well for him.
Your Winners: The Briscoe Brothers
Match Rating: ***1/4. I thought it was a good match, but I disliked the finish. They do all these high impact moves and a kick to the groin finishes you off? I'll never understand why they book finishes that way sometimes.
Commercials
ROH Focus On segment this week hypes up ROH World Tag Team Champions Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin. Benjamin says they will beat any team put in front of them. Haas is proud to be a ROH champion. Kevin Kelly mentions their amateur wrestling background. Both Benjamin and Haas talk about the accomplishments they achieved. Haas puts over the fans as being smart but also critical. Benjamin prides himself on his wrestling ability and ROH is the first place where that actually matters. Haas says "screw you, we aren't going anywhere" regarding the Briscoe Brothers saying that their time has passed.
Commercials
Kevin Kelly is standing with Jim Cornette. Cornette says that Jay Briscoe had no idea that he hit Kenny King with a low blow. Cornette says the decision stands that the Briscoe Brothers won. However, he says neither team will be the number one contenders until the matter is figured out.
Inside ROH segment is up next. Kevin Kelly hypes up Michael Elgin taking on Eddie Edwards later on. Jim Cornette calls Truth Martini a conman. Martini says that he changes what you know, and you change who you are. ROH World Champion Davey Richards says that Truth Martini is "full of s–t, but a smart guy." Truth Martini told Roderick Strong that it wasn't his fault, but rather everybody else was to blame. Thus, Strong was able to win the ROH World Championship six months after teaming with Martini. Michael Elgin says that no man can break him down in the ring. His will is unbreakable thanks to Truth Martini. Eddie Edwards talks about a rematch with Davey Richards. Edwards is the hunter looking to get his belt back. Edwards believes he will be the best in the world. Richards doesn't believe his issues with Edwards will be over because they are both hunters.
Commercials
Eddie Edwards vs. Michael Elgin
Elgin decides against shaking hands with Edwards. Edwards nails Elgin with a big boot but that barely hurts Elgin. They exchange slaps with Edwards getting the better of the exchange. Elgin shoulder blocks Edwards to a corner. Elgin works on Edwards with shoulder rams and connects with a delayed vertical suplex in the middle of the ring for a near fall. Elgin stomps away on Edwards in the corner after they traded some chops. Elgin counters an arm drag but Edwards is able to soon leap off the middle rope to hit a hurricanrana and locks in a half Boston Crab, but is kicked away by Elgin. Edwards connects with a springboard moonsault for a two count. Elgin blocks a double knee strike and rams Edwards back first into two corners before tossing Edwards to the canvas for a near fall. It's time for the final commercial.
Back from the break, Elgin hits two back breakers and a side slam for a near fall on Edwards. Elgin runs through a few chops but is met with two super kicks and a sit out back suplex! Edwards kicks Elgin from the apron and hits a missile dropkick but Elgin kicks out at two. Elgin falls to the floor after missing a running attack and is met with a baseball slide and a suicide dive from Edwards! Edwards kicks Elgin in the thigh and chest for a near fall. Elgin blocks a lariat and turns Edwards inside out with a lariat for a near win. Edwards super kicks Elgin on the apron and leaps off the top rope to double stomp Elgin on the apron! Edwards goes up top and double stomps Elgin on the back. Elgin connects with the Buckle Bomb after countering the Die Hard. Edwards pops up and seconds later hits the Die Hard to win the match.
Your Winner: Eddie Edwards
After the match, Roderick Strong enters the ring. Edwards shoves Strong and Nigel McGuinness enters the ring to stand by Edwards! Nothing physical happens, though.
Match Rating: ***. It was a solid match, but again the finish felt anti-climatic to me. Elgin hit his finisher and literally ten seconds later loses. That has to hurt his finisher in my mind. I like Elgin as he has the physique of Rhino and a move set similar to Arn Anderson. I don't know if anyone else agrees with that statement, but that is what comes to mind. Anyway, a good bout despite a lackluster finish.
Final Thoughts:
The previous episodes had one standout match and the other match being to a certain extent an extended squash match. This week was the first week where both matches were good. I didn't do the timing for the matches, but I would have to think they were both longer than 10+ minutes. Considering it is really only a 45 minutes program you are getting wrestling for half the show, probably more. How can you possibly hate that?
Overall, it was another fine episode by ROH. I'm just nitpicking on some things because nothing is perfect.