Apologies for not getting this out sooner. I was getting caught up on other shit and completely forgot. Anyways, it's a title-themed episode as NWA World's Heavyweight Champion Nick Aldis defends his belt in the main event against PJ Black. Will we see Aldis' reign come to an end? Let's tune in and find out.
Villain Enterprises (Marty Scurll, PCO and Brody King) vs. John Skyler, Corey Hollis and Josey Quinn
To no one's surprise, VE gets the advantage right from the start, with PCO almost single-handedly taking out the Sons Of Anarchy cosplayers. They start fighting back, trying to isolate Scurll and break him down. A futile effort as King is tagged in and he starts laying waste to VE's opponents much like PCO did at the start. VE continue to make quick tags in and out, taking apart the opposing side. Following a Gonzo Bomb from King, Scurll locks in the Crossface Chickenwing on Hollis and secures the victory for his team.
A very entertaining squash match and a fun way to start the show. VE are an absolute unit, with PCO and King utterly destroying everyone and Scurll calling the shots as a player-coach of sorts, seemingly orchestrating everything from the get-go. The tag sequences were so fluid, it really seemed as if these guys had been tagging together for way longer for well they perform as a unit; and top it all off, the finish was more than satisfying. I love everything about VE and I'm 100% on board this train until the end.
PJ Black vs. Nick Aldis, NWA World Heavyweight Championship match
It's the very definition of a chess match as each wrestler jockey for positions, attempting to gain leverage over the other; each move is quickly countered as the match has become a stalemate of sorts. Black attempts to shift the momentum to his side through a series of mind games, including a finger-poke to the eyes. It really is surprising just how far he's shifted into heel mode, practically eschewing the high-flying essence of his "Darewolf" persona.
After a quick distraction from his valet Camille, Aldis takes control for the time being and tries to work Black over. He's successful, but only for a brief respite as Black fights back, hitting a constant succession of offense (including an inverted DDT and various top-rope strikes). Despite this, Aldis continue to fight back and even manages to plant Black with a second-rope german superplex. Aldis goes to the top rope, but is met with a super hurricanrana, then a moonsault press.
Following an impressive tombstone piledriver/diving elbow drop sequence from Aldis, Black pulls out anything that might work to his favor. He tries to pull an Eddie Guerrero and fake a weapon shot; in a roundabout way, Black is successful, distracting the referee long in order to gain the advantage. This is all for naught as Aldis fights backs and cinches in the cloverleaf to pick up the W and retain his title.
An okay match, but a bit long for my tastes, especially when nothing truly interesting of note happened. It was fairly boring, and didn't really do much for me save for the notion that Scurll will be challenging for the belt next. In all honesty, I don't really have much more to say about this match. It went on too long and not enough happened for me to keep a full vested interest in it.
Juice Robinson promo/Lifeblood formation
After the match, Robinson comes to the ring and cuts a promo on the state of ROH, lamenting its current position while speaking fondly of its glory days; a time when wrestlers shook hands before and after the match, regardless of what happened between the ropes. As he cuts this promo, Robinson is joined by Tracy Williams, Bandido, Mark Haskins, David Finlay and Tenille Dashwood. Flanked by his consituents, Robinson announces the coronation of Lifeblood, a group dedicated to restoring the respectful, honor-based traditions of old into a new and fresh climate.
If it wasn't for Villain Enterprises, this might be my new favorite stable in wrestling. I love everyone involved with it, and I dig the group's ethos of restoring ROH to the principles and fundamentals on which is founded on: honor, respect and pure in-ring work. I, for one, am hooked and look forward to seeing more of them in the future.
So this was a pretty decent episode. The Aldis/Black match sort of dragged it down for me, but there was still good stuff to be had with Villain Enterprises match and the Juice Robinson promo. Watch those two in particular if you are interested in checking this episode out.
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