ROH TV Report
October 19, 2014
Taped 9/27 in Wheeling, W.Va.
Report by Mike Metzger (@mD0uble), PWTorch contributor

Adam Cole opened the show with a backstage promo. Cole swore that the ROH Title would be his once again. He hyped tonight’s main event by promising that Cedric Alexander would learn why he is the best damn pro wrestler on the planet.

The ROH TV opening aired.

1 - ROMANTIC TOUCH vs. HANSON

Caprice Coleman joined Kevin Kelly on commentary because Steve Corino was on “maternal leave” once again this week. Kelly wondered what that even meant. The Code of Honor was adhered to, but Touch kissed the hand of Hanson. The big man didn’t appreciate this “show of respect,” and went right after Touch. Hanson cornered Touch and just pounded on his chest, followed up with a big Bronco Buster in the corner!

Hanson got his cartwheel in early, but this actually opened him up for a dropkick from Touch. “The Romantic One” followed up with a knee to the face for a two count. Hanson tried to fight back, but Touch applied a chin lock in the center. Hanson elbowed his way out, but Touch immediately applied a front chancery. Hanson was finally able to reverse with a side slam, and then delivered a big splash to Touch on the mat! Touch attempted to reverse the momentum with a monkey flip out of the corner, but Hanson cartwheeled out of it and then hit a huge clothesline. Hanson immediately followed up with the Spin Kick of Doom for the victory!

WINNER: Hanson via pinfall in 3:05

ANALYSIS: Basic squash match for Hanson. Fine for what it was. (n/a)

The Decade cut a backstage promo, where they hyped their match against reDRagon for the ROH World Tag Team Titles next week on ROH TV. Strong talked about how he and Jacobs were tag champs in the past with different partners, but now it was a different era. Jacobs talked about how he and Strong didn’t have to rest on their laurels because they had “made this company turn for the last ten years.”

[Commercial Break]

Backstage, ROH World Champion Jay Briscoe hyped next week’s match against Honor Rumble winner Michael Bennett. Briscoe hasn’t forgot that Bennett still has a piece of his property, his “real” ROH title belt, which Bennett and Maria have renamed the “Title of Love.”

Michael Bennett and Maria Kanellis came out to ringside. The couple flaunted the “Title of Love,” while they taunted fans at ringside. The show cut to clips from last week’s episode, where Bennett eliminated Mark Briscoe and Kingdom partner Adam Cole to win the Honor Rumble. Back in the arena, Cole was already in the ring when Bennett and Kanellis entered through the ropes.

Bennett and Maria were ecstatic, while Cole looked dejected in the opposite corner. Bennett touted his Honor Rumble victory, which drew loud boos and a brief “Bennett sucks” chant from the crowd. Bennett then touted that he also held the “Title of Love.” He said that every kingdom needed a crown, so after he beats Briscoe next week, he will have two crowns! Before he could finish his thought, Cole grabbed the microphone.

Cole said that what happened last week was not part of the plan. Bennett didn’t quite understand. Cole said that every kingdom needed a king, and he was that king! Maria tried to calm Cole by whispering something in his ear. All of a sudden, Cole was on board with Bennett and Maria, as he said he was confident that Bennett would give Briscoe the beating of his life next week! Kevin Kelly and Caprice Coleman wondered what Maria had said to Cole to change his mind.

[Commercial Break]

The Decade were out next. Adam Page and TaDarius Thomas appeared ready for a match, while Jimmy Jacobs grabbed the microphone. Jacobs said that the Decade was trying to give something back by helping the next generation of pro wrestlers. Jacobs then announced that Page would fight Thomas in a no-disqualification match at that very moment!

2 - ADAM PAGE vs. TADARIUS THOMAS - No Disqualification match

Thomas extended his hand, but Page refused to shake it. Both men furiously locked up in the center and quickly got caught up in the ropes. The Decade members yelled “boring” on the outside, and proceeded to throw several weapons into the ring. The two “young boys” ignored this for the moment and ran the ropes. Page ducked a capoeira kick and rolled to the outside, but Thomas followed him out with a big dive!

On the outside, Thomas threw Page into the hockey boards! The fans pounded the boards, as Thomas charged at Page. Thomas went to whip Page into another section of the barrier, but this time Page reversed Thomas into the boards! Back in the ring, Page went after Thomas, but T.D. hit Page with a garbage can lid. Page threw a broom at Thomas in the corner. After a brief exchange, Thomas ended up tied to the Tree of Woe in the corner. Page hit Thomas in the knee with a chair, which sent Thomas to the outside.

Page rolled to the outside, picked up Thomas, and then threw him knee-first into the ringpost. Page set up a couple of chairs in the middle of the ring. He went to suplex Thomas onto the chairs, but T.D. reversed into a roll-up, and then German suplexed Page into the two chairs! Thomas picked up a chair and just slammed it into Page’s back. The Decade demanded Thomas hit him again, which prompted Kevin Kelly to get upset on commentary. Unfortunately for Kelly and ROH’s storytelling, the fans went right along with the Decade by chanting “one more time.” Thomas obliged and again nailed Page in the back with the chair. The Decade (and the crowd) asked for another. Thomas momentarily held up the chair, but couldn’t go through with it. The Decade members climbed up on the apron to egg Thomas on, while Coleman pleaded with Thomas from the commentary desk.

After some thought, Thomas seemed ready to nail Page with the chair again. He lifted the chair into position, but ran past Page, and then clobbered Jacobs with the chair to send him to the floor! Page was shocked, as Thomas stormed away. The bell rang, despite the fact that referee Todd Sinclair never began to count-out Thomas. The Decade was outraged, but Whitmer seemed to console Page by tapping him on the chest and telling him he did the right thing.

WINNER: Adam Page via count-out (walk-out?) in 7:15.

ANALYSIS: It looks like the Decade is finally ready to explode, although tonight’s progression seemed a bit anti-climactic. Sure, it was awesome to see Thomas hit Jacobs with the chair, but who knows if Thomas has actually broken away from the group. One has to wonder if ROH will even remember that it happened. Last week, Adam Page was nowhere to be found when the Decade cut a backstage promo and was “accidentally” eliminated from the Honor Rumble by Strong, yet Thomas was the one to turn here? I just think ROH should wait until they are ready to actually pull the trigger on this turn, rather than booking these teases that end up getting lost in the shuffle. (*3/4)

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, ROH matchmaker Nigel McGuinness joined Kevin Kelly at ringside for the main event. They cut to clips of last week’s Honor Rumble, where ROH Dojo graduate Will Ferrara surprisingly eliminated ROH TV champion Jay Lethal. Next week, Lethal will defend the TV title against Will Ferrara.

3 - CEDRIC ALEXANDER vs. ADAM COLE

Kelly and McGuinness offered some great analysis on Adam Cole during his entrance. They talked about how he was forced to make a deal with Bennett and Maria because there were so many challengers after his title earlier this year. Kelly again wondered what Maria said to Cole to calm him down earlier in the show.

Both men shook hands, as a brief dueling chant rang out from the crowd. They started the match with a chain wrestling sequence, which ended in a stalemate. Cole applied for a side headlock. Cedric battled out, but Cole shoulder-tackled him to the mat. They jockeyed for position, until Cedric hit a big dropkick that sent Cole to the outside. The show went to a commercial break at 2:25 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 4:55, Cedric gained control of the match with a big chop to the chest of Cole. He scored a nearfall, and then chopped Cole in another corner. He climbed up on the ropes and hit Cole ten times, as the crowd counted along. Cole tried to battle back by charging at Cedric in the corner a couple times, but Cedric got his boot up on both occasions. The third time was a charm for Cole, however, as he just shoved Cedric off the top rope and onto the floor. Cole threw Cedric into the hockey boards, and then rolled him back in for a one-count.

Cedric fought back with some fists and a chop. He hit a standing huracanrana. He went for a dive, but Cole cut him off with a sleeper hold, but was unable to apply it completely. Cole whipped Cedric hard into the opposite corner, and then posed for the crowd. No “Adam Cole bay bay,” however. Cole whipped Cedric and posed again. Cole went for the Florida Key, but Cedric reversed and hit a 540 spin kick from the top rope!

Both men exchanged blows in the center. Cedric got the upper hand and then hit an Eddie Guerrero-like series of suplexes. He immediately followed up with a tornado DDT, but couldn’t put away the former champ. Cedric went for a move, but Cole elbowed his way out. Cole went for the superkick, but Cedric reversed into a modified Kryptonite Crunch for another nearfall! The show went to a break at the 11:30 mark.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 13:30, Cedric was still in control of Cole. He chopped Cole several times in the corner. Cedric went for an Irish whip, but Cole held on and then kicked Cedric in the knee. Cedric went for another 540 spin kick from the top rope, but Cole was able to kick him in the knee again! Cole went for the figure-four leglock, but Cedric kicked out of it. Cole came right back with a Shining Wizard for a nearfall. Another dueling chant started, as Cole allowed Alexander to get to his feet. Cedric fought back with several headbutts. He charged at Cole, but ate a bicycle kick for troubles. Cedric came right back, however, with a spin kick that sent Cole to the floor! Cedric immediately followed up with a flip dive to the outside!

Cedric rolled Cole back into the ring and climbed to the top rope. He went for a frogsplash, but Cole got his knees up! Cole hit his brainbuster over the knee move, but somehow Cedric kicked out! Cole went for another Shining Wizard, but Cedric reversed with a roll-up. Cedric tried to follow up, but Cole reversed into the figure-four! Cedric was writhing in pain, even screaming at one point. This lasted for about 30 seconds, until Cedric was able to roll over and reach the ropes!

Cole went for Cedric’s legs again, but Alexander kicked out of it and nailed a MIchinoku Driver! He went for the cover, but Cole was able to kick out at two. Cedric went up top again, but jumped right into a superkick from Cole! It looked to be over, but somehow he kicked out! Cole immediately hit another superkick, but still couldn’t put Cedric away! The fans chanted “this is wrestling” at the false finishes. Cole went for yet another superkick, but Cedric caught it and then hit two consecutive running dropkicks to Cole in the corner! Cedric sold the knee and limped to the corner to go for one more, but ended up eating a superkick from Cole! The former ROH champ then hit the Twist of Fate to finally put away Alexander.

WINNER: Adam Cole via pinfall in 21:00.

ANALYSIS: The beginning of the match was more of a showcase of moves, rather than a good story being told. However, it really picked up in the second-half and concluded with one of the best finishing sequences I’ve seen all year. Cole is really great in the ring. Cedric is good, too, but he can be hit-or-miss. He was going trending toward “miss,” until he brought the goods during the finish. (***1/2)

FINAL REAX: Rare storyline-heavy show for ROH. Definitely not a bad thing, but I really don’t feel like any of tonight’s developments were very intriguing or buzz-worthy. Less than two months away from Final Battle, it doesn’t seem like ROH is anywhere near hitting a crescendo in time for its biggest event (and now traditional PPV) of the year. Hopefully, ROH will be able to book A.J. Styles, Matt Sydal, and/or some NJPW talent for that show. I think signing Styles for Final Battle should be Ring of Honor’s top priority, as he is the hottest act on the independent wrestling scene right now.

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