A mix between informed observations from a well-rounded fan and bitchy ramblings from a shameless smark.
Monday, January 28, 2019
ROH Wrestling Episode #384: 1/28/19
It's a battle stable supremacy in the main event as Villain Enterprises goes up against The Kingdom for the World 6-Man Tag Team Championship. But we got the rest of the show to get through first. So let's not waste any more time and dive right into it.
PJ Black vs. Juice Robinson
The match starts off pretty back-and-forth, both battling to gain the advantage. Following a slingshot plancha, Robinson tries to keep the momentum going with a corner cannonball; however, Black stops it before it gets started and nails Robinson with a headbutt/spin kick combo. For a good portion of the match, Black is in control displaying some impressive technical acumen with suplex/submission combos, a surprising turn from his usual high-flying repertoire.
Black's momentum stops when Robinson counters his diving double axe handle into an impressive belly-to-belly suplex. Robinson begins to pick up steam with some offense (including a smooth-as-hell Gut Check), but Black halts it once again with a super hurricanrana then a moonsault press. The two throw strikes until Robinson hits his trademark haymaker left, followed by a corner cannonball. Robinson goes up to the top rope, only for Black to shove the referee into him, earning Robinson a disqualification victory. After the match, Robinson cuts a promo where he laments the dirty tactics in wrestling and yearns for the glory days of ROH, where wrestlers shook hands before and after the match, keeping it clean and classy.
I really dug this match. These guys have good chemistry with one another and put on a decent opener. The screwy finish, while off-putting in appearances, is necessary in the long run as it furthers Robinson's babyface persona (honestly, he one of the best out there) as well as getting Black over as a heel. Plus, that post-match promo signals this isn't the last we've seen of Robinson in ROH, and I for one am beyond hyped for more Juice in the very near future.
Shane Taylor vs. Mike Law
The match is over as quickly as it started as Taylor jaw-jacks Law with a knockout punch then his Greetings From 216 finisher to pick up a fast victory. After the match, Taylor cuts a promo where he declares he wasn't paid off to take out Christopher Daniels a couple weeks back (unlike his hitman-for-hire gimmick), doing it on his own accord and declaring that he's "just getting started."
A quick match that furthers Taylor's reputation as ROH's resident monster heel, seemingly moving away from his mercenary persona. Not sure what to think of it at this juncture; could be a nice change of pace, but we'll see how it plays out. Regardless, I like Taylor and am eager to see what 2019 has in store for him (hopefully him vs. Cobb again, please?)
Flip Gordon/Kenny King segment
Gordon comes to the ring and addresses his victory over Bully Ray at Final Battle, then declares he has his sights set on Jay Lethal's ROH World Championship, earning a title opportunity after winning the Sea Of Honor Tournament. King interrupts Gordon, claiming he deserves it more because he is apparently the only man to have pinned Lethal in recent time (using doctored footage as evidence, no less). He further insults Gordon by undermining his military experience before dropping the mic and walking away.
An okay segment with King throwing some decent barbs at Gordon. There's probably not going to be much to this probable feud, but we should at least get a decent match out of it, providing Gordon recovers from his recent knee injury in time.
Villain Enterprises (Marty Scurll, PCO and Brody King) vs. Shinobi Shadow Squad (Cheeseburger, Ryan Nova and Eli Isom)
In a surprising twist, The Kingdom comes and cancels their title defense against Villain Enterprises and instead brings in Triple S to take their place in this now non-title match. VE attacks Triple S outside the ring before the bell, gaining the advantage and pretty much dominating the whole way through, despite valiant attempts at a comeback from the Squad, with Isom getting in most of the offense for his team.
The prelude to the end sees Triple S attempt a triple dive, only to be met with apron chokeslams from King and PCO, as well as a tombstone piledriver from Scurll to Cheeseburger on the floor. VE proceeds to completely obliterate Nova in the ring before King and PCO spike him with their ganso bomb/moonsault combo to pick up the W.
A predictable, yet fun squash, and in the main event, no less. VE look strong and are becoming a more cohesive unit with each moment of screen time they get. On the flip side, Triple S get their time in the spotlight (especially the god-tier boy Cheeseburger) and solidify their presence as lovable losers constantly vying for a meaningful victory. While not what we were originally promised, it was an entertaining ride nonetheless.
Bully Ray Segment
Following the main event, we cut to Bully Ray sitting at a fire pit constantly pouring gas on the fire while images of his Final Battle defeat at the hands of Flip Gordon. He then utters the words, "I never said, 'I quit'," before it fades to black and the episode ends.
Yeah, I don't give a shit about Bully Ray anymore. Thank you, next.
Aside from the weird and unnecessary Bully Ray segment, this was a pretty solid episode. Black/Robinson delivered in the opener, Shane Taylor furthers his monster status and Villain Enterprises got to show off more of what they're going to bring to ROH (which I can already assume is a lot). Not anything mind-blowing, but enough to keep you entertained throughout the 50-minute run time.
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