It's another jam-packed episode of ROH as we see a Matt Taven Open Challenge as well as Jeff Cobb defending his World TV Title against Silas Young. Needless to say, I'm beyond pumped, so let's get right into it.
Silas Young vs. Jeff Cobb (c), World Television Championship match
Much to my surprise, we open the show with the title match. Cobb starts the match off slow and methodical, employing his extensive amateur wrestling background and attempting to wear Young down. Young then baits Cobb in and takes him to the outside, then back in the ring, getting the advantage for the time being. Cobb attempts fighting back, but Young finds a quick counter here and there and continues working over Cobb's back and ribs.
Young continues to command the match, keeping up with Cobb's desperate strikes and wearing down the big man with some impressive offense (including a rolling death valley driver/double stomp I haven't seen him do until now). Following a little trash talk from Young, Cobb kicks it into full gear and fights back in full force and tossing Young around like a rag doll. Cobb obliterates Young with a seemingly endless chain of german suplexes then puts the nail in the coffin as he hits the Tour Of The Islands and picks up the W, retaining his title.
A great match from bell to bell and a fantastic way to the kick the show off. What really grabbed me the most was the in-ring story being told; Young breaking Cobb down and really wearing, not letting him break out the explosive offense he's known for until later in the match. It really speaks to just how underrated Young is as a worker. He's got fantastic ring IQ, really knowing the ins and outs of the psychology of wrestling.
But that's nothing to take away from Cobb, who put on another great performance tonight. I really like how they've crafted him into a vulnerable juggernaut, which Cobb carries superbly. A superb opener to the show and an altogether excellent bout.
Vinny Marseglia vs. Rush
A complete 180 from the first match, it's full-throttle from the get-go as both men trade strikes in rapid succession; the action spills to the outside as Marsegila begins to take control, tossing Rush into the barricades a couple of times. Rush fights back and gives Marseglia a taste of his own medicine on the outside, tossing him while simultaneously teasing constant chair shots, apropos of his character. Back in the ring, the two scuffle a bit more before Rush suplexes Marseglia in the corner, hitting constant stomps then putting him away with a running front dropkick to secure a victory.
Not too much to say about this. A fun, fast-paced affair with both competitors looking strong throughout. I've been loving Rush since he arrived and I hope this feud with The Kingdom pushes him on to bigger and better things in ROH; the dude's a megastar everywhere else, so he's more than deserving of an increased push. Here's hoping it comes sooner than later.
Matt Taven's Open Challenge
Taven comes to the ring with his Kingdom constituents, cutting a promo where he furthers his claim as being ROH's real World Champion while deriding Jay Lethal (the actual title holder). He puts out his challenge, to which Jonathan Gresham responds. Taven starts off the match with quick strikes and stomps in the corner as Gresham uses his technical acumen to fight back. Marseglia and TK O'Ryan come out to help Taven as Gresham picks up a win via disqualification.
Post-match, The Kingdom beat down on Gresham, then on Lethal. Lifeblood comes out to break up the commotion, taking Taven's faux World Title belt away from him. Tenille Dashwood cuts a brief promo proclaiming her disgust at Taven's "World Title" and suggests its destruction. Lethal takes the offer up and uses O'Ryan's bat and Marseglia's axe to tear up Taven's belt as the show ends.
A decent closing segment, and that's pretty much all I gotta say about it. Taven's really been working this "Real World Champion" gimmick brilliantly, and it showed here just as well as anywhere else. His promo was crisp, his interaction with Lifeblood was great and I loved how well he sold the destruction of his belt. It doesn't have any real merit, but the way he's been carrying himself as well as his horror at the destruction of the belt, it might as well should. A nice buildup to what should be a great match at 17th Anniversary.
Overall, a pretty damn good show from beginning to end. We had a fantastic match from Cobb/Young, a solid middle from Marseglia/Rush and more great character work from Matt Taven. I'm definitely hype for 17th, and this episode boosted it just that much more. Come for Cobb/Young and stay for the continuously great character work of Matt Taven. Or just stay for Cobb/Young. Either way, you're going to have a blast.
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