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ROH TV REPORT
FEBRUARY 17, 2019
ATLANTA, GA AT CENTER STAGE
AIRED ON SINCLAIR AFFILIATES & ROHWRESTLING.COM
REPORT BY HARLEY R. PAGEOT, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Commentary: Ian Riccaboni, Colt Cabana
Opening theme.
-Luchasaurus and Chris Sabin were in the ring and the bell rang immediately. The other four men in the opening six-way match were on the apron stationed in their four corners awaiting tags.
(1) KENNY KING vs. FLIP GORDON vs. SHANE TAYLOR vs. CHRIS SABIN vs. RHETT TITUS vs. LUCHASAURUS
Luchasaurus overpowered Sabin. Sabin ended up in Gordon’s corner but Gordon chose to jump off the apron rather than tag in against the dinosaur. Luchasaurus tumbled to the floor and, as this was contested under lucha rules, that allowed King to become the legal man in his place. Sabin tagged out to King’s long-time tag partner in The All-Night Express, Rhett Titus. ANX wrestled to a stand-still. Taylor, who was a member of The Rebellion with most men, entered and applauded. They teamed up to take him out, and then Luchasaurus too. It looked like ANX were set to implode when Gordon dropkicked them both. Springboard spear from Gordon to King. Taylor sent Gordon flying with a shoulder block. Luchasaurus took out Taylor and King with kicks. All six men took each other out and were down heading into the break. [C]
Taylor and King were the legal men. King connected with a springboard blockbuster from the apron. Taylor hit a cannonball off the apron that took out both of ANX. Luchasaurus hit a step-up cannonball onto all three men. Gordon did a cannonball of his own, off the balcony onto four men. He rolled Taylor into the ring and hit a 450 but King pulled him out to prevent the three-count. Gordon hit a springboard into a steel chair shot from King. Rather than disqualify King and name it a five-way tie the referee elected to have King ejected from the match instead and have the others continue. Titus hit a flurry of offense on Luchasaurus and a Samoan drop on Taylor. Taylor hit a high knee and Greetings From 216 on Titus.
WINNER: Shane Taylor in 10:52. [C]
(Pageot’s Perspective: Lots of fun and I actually quite enjoy how they handled King’s actions. It puts heat on a King-Gordon feud whenever Gordon returns from injury but it’s also a somewhat logical decision on Paul Turner’s part. In WWE any match with more than two people automatically becomes No DQ but why? That just gives the heels a license to cheat. Titus has become the #1 enhancement talent this year so him taking the pin isn’t surprising.)
-Caprice Coleman joined the commentary team. They said the advertised tag title match will not occur as announced due to Beretta having a family emergency. Instead Chuckie T has been authorized to find a replacement partner.
(2) THE BOUNCERS (Beer City Bruiser & Brian Milonas) vs. MARCUS KROSS & GRIFF GARRISON
The enhancement team looked very young and particularly tiny next to The Bouncers. They tried to double-team Milonas but he shoved them off. Garrison avoided two elbow drops from Bruiser. Milonas flattened Kross with a back senton. The Bouncers hit Last Call on Garrison.
WINNERS: The Bouncers in 3:55. [C]
(Pageot’s Perspective: ROH rarely does straightforward enhancement matches. This was fine in giving The Bouncers a televised win and establishing their finishing move.)
-The Briscoes entered first for the main event. Chuck Taylor was out next alone. He said he didn’t have his best friend but he did have a really, really good friend. Colt Cabana’s music hit. He stood up at the announce table and stripped off his clothes to reveal his singlet underneath.
(3) THE BRISCOES (Jay Briscoe & Mark Briscoe) vs. REALLY GOOD FRIENDS (Chuckie T & Colt Cabana) – ROH WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
The teams brawled around ringside. [C]
Cabana tagged in and took out both brothers with a run of offense. Taylor hit Sole Food and sliced bread on Jay but he kicked out. They sat Cabana in a chair at ringside and Mark hit a running blockbuster off the apron. [C]
Jay Driller to Taylor ended things.
WINNERS: The Briscoes in 10:59 to retain the tag titles.
-Mark set up a table at ringside. Jay laid Taylor across the table and Mark hit a froggy-bow off the top rope through Taylor and the table. [C]
(Pageot’s Perspective: Another week, another “old news” main event. ROH posted this entire match on Honor Club weeks ago. At the time they made it sound like it was exclusive to Honor Club and wouldn’t air on TV, which was why I watched it then. If I had known it would eventually be a part of weekly TV I would have waited and enjoyed the genuine surprise here of Cabana teaming with Taylor. ROH just doesn’t seem to care in the least about making their weekly TV captivating or exciting. Even for those people without Honor Club this was a missed opportunity. Why not announce last week that Beretta was away and tease the mystery of Taylor’s replacement? Wrestling fans love mysteries and surprises. Instead they advertised Best Friends for a week only to wait until partway through this episode to reveal they weren’t actually competing.)
-A video package recapped Bully Ray’s plague-like group ruining The Elite’s farewell party and contrasted that with Juice Robinson forming his faction Lifeblood.
-Ian Riccaboni was in the ring and introduced the ROH World Champion Jay Lethal. Lethal said there’s so much pressure on him besides being the champion. Pressures like watching the company he loves deteriorate before his eyes. He acknowledged Bully Ray’s faction and turned his attention to Matt Taven and his fake world title. Juice Robinson interrupted.
All six Lifeblood members walked out. Robinson said they’re on the same page and he feels Lethal. Lethal said there are others in the locker room like them who feel the same. Lethal said he doesn’t want to join a group like theirs because– Robinson said they weren’t asking him. Lethal put over David Finlay, then Tracy Williams, then Tenille Dashwood. He said the only reason she’s not Women Of Honor champion is because she had to take time off for her shoulder injury. (No mention of the mystery assailant that kayfabe took her out of action.) Lethal spoke about facing Mark Haskins in the finals of the first International Cup last year. He put over Bandido and Robinson to close and wished them good luck in restoring honor to ROH. Robinson challenged Lethal to find four tag partners and face the Lifeblood men in a ten-man tag. Lethal of course agreed. They shook hands.
(Pageot’s Perspective: Nice to see some real build for a main event a week out and I genuinely don’t know who joins Lethal’s team besides Jonathan Gresham. Aside from that this went on a bit too long and Lethal telling each Lifeblood member how great they are was hokey. If this is the type of ROH show-closing segment they envision in their dreams count your blessings that we’ve got The Plague and The Kingdom around to keep things interesting.)
-Next week: it’s Lifeblood vs. Team Lethal in a ten-man tag.
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