As noted, former ROH Champion Roderick Strong made his NXT debut last night.
In the video above, Strong talks to Charly Caruso and says the real question is how excited is everyone else for him to be here. Strong says Roddy vs. The World starts now and that every NXT Superstar can expect to fall one by one. Strong is wished good luck but he says luck is for losers.
WWE also issued this announcement on Strong’s arrival:
Roderick Strong debuts in NXT
ORLANDO, Fla. — Roderick Strong has arrived in NXT, and he’s ready to break some backs.
The independent wrestling scene standout and former world champion, known as “The Messiah of the Backbreaker,” made his debut between the yellow ropes Thursday at a taping of the WWE Network show at Full Sail University.
Strong’s surprise arrival continues to show that NXT is the premier destination for the hottest free agents in sports-entertainment.
For more on Strong’s debut in NXT, stick with WWE.com and tune into WWE NXT every Wednesday at 8/7 C on WWE Network.
Former ROH Champion Roderick Strong made his NXT debut at Thursday night’s tapings from Full Sail University.
Strong made his debut as the mystery partner of Austin Aries in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. They defeated the team of Tucker Knight and Otis Bogojevic to advance.
Strong has teamed with Aries in both Ring of Honor and TNA. He’s been seen at the WWE Performance Center in recent weeks.
WWE has commissioned a new Cruiserweight championship belt, according to a report at PWInsider.com. The current plan is for the Cruiserweight division to premiere on the RAW brand in September, around the time of the Cruiserweight classic finale. At this time, it’s unknown if the championship will be awarded to the Cruiserweight Classic winner. The CWC finale airs live on the WWE Network on September 14th.
WWE is in the process of reacehing out to cruiserweight talent for the new division. Two names rumored to be joining the RAW brand’s new division are former ROH Champion Roderick Strong and CWC competitor Cedrick Alexander. Those who watched this week’s CWC saw the crowd chant “Please Sign Cedrick” (Video) after his incredible match with Kota Ibushi.
Speaking of Ibushi, he is scheduled to compete at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn.
It sounds like Roderick Strong is on his way to WWE in the near future.
The former Ring of Honor World Champion is most likely WWE bound, according to Dave Meltzer on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio. Strong has been doing a ‘farewell tour’ of sorts, wrapping up with ROH and PWG.
Thank you @OfficialPWG. The past 11yrs have been amazing. You will never know how much I love you. ❤️
Ring of Honor BITW – Briscoe vs. Lethal 2 – June 24, 2016, from the Carbarrus Arena in Concord, NC
Kyle O’Reilly defeated Kamaitachi via submission.
ACH defeated Silas Young with the Morning Star.
Mark Briscoe defeated Roderick Strong in Strong’s farewell match after 2 brainbusters.
Adam Cole & The Young Bucks defeated Moose & War Machine in a Tornado Rules 6-man tag. YB hit the 5-Star Meltzer Driver on Moose and kissed Cole as he covered for the victory.
The Addiction (c) retained the ROH World Tag Team Championships against the Motor City Machine Guns after Kamaitachi came out and attacked Jay White, who was sitting at ringside, causing the distraction.
BJ Whitmer defeated Steve Corino in an Unsanctioned Fight Without Honor. With both men bloody, the lights went out, Kevin Sullivan appeared and delivered the golden spike to Corino’s head. Whitmer hit the exploder and scored the victory.
Bobby Fish (c) retained the ROH World TV Championship over Dalton Castle with a small package.
ANX came out with Caprice Coleman, continuing their campaign to Make Wrestling Great Again. The three of them declared that moving forward, they will now be known as The Cabinet.
Jay Lethal (c) retained the ROH World Championship against Jay Briscoe. The rematch one year in the making saw Briscoe hit a Lethal Injection and Jay Driller, but Lethal followed up with a top-rope cutter and the Lethal Injection for the clean victory.
Ring of Honor announced on Wednesday that former ROH Champion Roderick Strong is gone from the company. Strong is a tremendous talent that has plied his craft across the world over the past decade-plus. A free agent of his caliber won’t have a hard time finding work, comment on this article and tell us where you’d like to see him turn up next.
Goodbye… For Now.
Roderick Strong Departs Ring of Honor
Roderick Strong told ROH officials that he plans to leave the company after Saturday’s TV Taping in Concord, NC to pursue other opportunities. This brings to conclusion an amazing run of success lasting nearly 13 years in Ring of Honor. Immediately after his announcement, Roddy sat down with ROHWrestling.com to provide exclusive quotes for a look back at his tenure with the company.
It was September 20, 2003 at the Murphy Rec Center in Philadelphia, PA, where it all began in Ring of Honor for Roderick Strong. A young, muscular upstart with movie star looks made his way into the ring and proved immediately that he had the tools to be something very special.
“After seeing ROH for the first time I immediately went and put “Wrestle for ROH” at the top of my goals. It was everything I wanted as a fan. As a wrestler, I knew getting there and staying there would be a difference maker for my career” said Strong. “As I prepared to walk through the curtain, all I could think was, ‘don’t screw this up!’ Honestly, I felt I was still very young but I couldn’t be more prepared for whatever opportunity I would be given”. Little did anyone know that Roderick Strong would become a stalwart for Ring of Honor over the next decade.
They say you can measure a true athlete’s greatness by the amount of championships he has held and Strong’s championship resume is befitting a wrestler of his caliber. In 2005, he teamed with Austin Aries to win the ROH World Tag Team Championship. In September of 2010, Roddy ended the 7 month reign of Tyler Black to become the ROH World Champion. In March, 2012 he would defeat Jay Lethal for the ROH World Television Championship to become the 2nd ROH Triple Crown Champion. He would capture the ROH World Television Championship once more in October of 2015.
When asked what winning championships meant to him, Strong said, “The championships I won all carried a different feeling and were amazing for very different reasons. Winning the ROH World Tag Team Titles was something special because I was always a huge fan of tag team wrestling and holding it made me the best. To be considered part of the best tag teams in the world was an honor. The ROH World Championship was something that meant a lot because it was validation from Ring of Honor that all the miles, working through injuries, time lost with my family was not lost. I was in a position where the pressure is at its highest and they knew I could get the job done. Both of my TV title wins came at important points of my career. They helped show not only me, but my peers and the ROH fans my growth as a performer”.
He added “Believe it or not, when I lost the World title to Eddie Edwards, it was a very special moment for both of us. Looking back, I realized I was happy that I could be a part of a landmark moment for his career. Losing the TV title to Adam Cole also holds a special place in my heart. To see the crowd react the way they did and making him really earn it was awesome. To be a part of their moments is something ROH gave me and I will never forget.”
In the early days of Ring of Honor, fans enjoyed his great matches with likes of Bryan Danielson, CM Punk, Samoa Joe and AJ Styles. “Guys like them were the reason I wanted to come to ROH and why I fell in love with wrestling here. I wanted to go out and be tested by the best and prove I either had what it takes or not. Every match up was such a great learning experience and made me who I am today.”
ROH fans witnessed amazing battles with international stars Shinsuke Nakamura, Hiroshi Tanahashi and “the Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada. “I was fired up at the opportunity to show the world, no matter who they are and where they are from that I can go toe to toe with them. I pride myself on being able to work with anyone and any style so it was nice to be able to do that.”
More recent wars with ROH World Television Champion Bobby Fish and ROH World Champion Jay Lethal really showed that Strong continued to operate on an elite level. “Fish is a warrior and someone I respect immensely, not just as a personality, but also a performer and beating Jay Lethal for my second Television title was the beginning of the next chapter of my career. It showed the world that I wasn’t going anywhere for a very long time and it showed the growth in me as a performer. Those matches with Jay are very special to me.”
When asked about why he stayed with ROH as long as he did, Strong said “ROH was everything great about wrestling to me, getting the most talented people together to push each other and come up with super-unique and interesting things to make the product stand out. They gave me my first real chance to grow and had the confidence in letting me fail or succeed. ROH will always mean the world to me.”
ROH fans have had a love/hate relationship and at times, they truly loved to hate him. What can never be lost is Roddy’s appreciation the fans. He doesn’t have an “off button” or know how to take it easy. Roderick Strong is truly a once-in-a-lifetime athlete that Ring of Honor and its fans have been blessed to have witnessed for nearly the past 13 years.
Strong concluded, “I want to be able to personally thank everyone, from the new fans that just found ROH, to the fans that have followed me from the beginning. Ring of Honor is more than just a company to me. It’s my family, I started as 20-year-old kid just looking for an opportunity to learn and grow as a performer. Now I stand here after 12 and a half years loving it just as much, if not more than when I came in. I want to thank you for your patience as you watched me grow over time. I want to thank you for the cheers, the boos and the passion you showed me. Most importantly I want to thank you personally for always supporting the greatest company in the world, Ring of Honor. I hope to see everyone this Saturday in Concord”
Join us Saturday in Concord, North Carolina at the Cabarrus Arena as Ring of Honor bids farewell to the one and only, “Mr. ROH” Roderick Strong.
ROH stars Moose and Roderick Strong will have their current contracts expire in the next few weeks. With WWE filling their rosters up with new talents for the brand extension and NXT, there is once again talk that some ROH stars may be picked up.
WWE has had interest in Strong and Moose in the past, with interest Moose as recent as 2015. There have been some recent rumors going around about WWE and Moose, a former NFL player, but nothing “official” could happen until his ROH deal expires.
Kevin Kelly provides voiceover for a Jay Lethal video package. “Becoming a champion is achieved by rising above all obstacles. With perseverance, passion, and drive. Being a champion does not require perfection, it requires the insatiable desire to achieve perfection, day in and day out. Not everyone can be a champion, but for those who are, they hold onto it with their whole life. Tonight we take a close look at the ROH World Champion and his rise to greatness.”
KK introduces the show from a backstage locker room. “Welcome to a very special edition of Ring of Honor wrestling where we focus on ROH World Champion Jay Lethal. For over the past 2 years, there has not been a day where Jay Lethal has not had gold around his waist. The dominance began at SuperCard of Honor 8, where Lethal accepted help from Truth Martini and defeated Tommaso Ciampa to become the first 2 time holder of the ROH World TV Title,” and we pickup footage from that match.
Jay Lethal vs Tommaso Ciampa (c) (ROH World TV Championship match from SuperCard of Honor 8 on 4/4/14)
Truth throws in a knee brace to Lethal, Lethal nails Ciampa in the head, Ciampa kicks out. Lethal climbs to the top rope and delivers Hail to the King forearm to the chest, but Ciampa kicks out again. Ciampa to his feet, 2 superkicks by Lethal, Ciampa flips him off, Lethal kicks him in the knee, hits the Lethal Injection, and gets the pin.
Winner and NEW ROH World TV Champion: Jay Lethal
KK continues, “Jay Lethal, now in the House of Truth, began his reign as the greatest World TV Champion in history. Facing fierce competition from the likes of Matt Sydal, the legendary Jushin Thunder Liger, ACH, and many others, including one of his most memorable defenses at ROH 14th Anniversary.”
Alberto El Patron vs Jay Lethal (c) (ROH World TV Championship match from ROH 14th Anniversary on 3/1/2015)
When we return from break, we pick up footage from the ROH 14th Anniversary event and his title defense against Alberto El Patron (Alberto Del Rio). Patron kicks J. Diesel from the apron to the floor, dropkicks Lethal to the outside, then suicide dives through the middle rope to the floor onto Lethal. Patron whips Lethal into the barricade, Lethal gets back up and counters with a kick, knee, chop to the chest, whip reversal, but Lethal gets sent into the barricade again. Patron rolls Lethal back into the ring, nails him with a double clubbing blow to the chest off the ropes, cover, kick out.
Side headlock, Lethal gets to his feet and delivers 2 knees, before Patron returns with a knee of his own, and whips Lethal into the corner. Patron runs in, but Lethal throws him up in the air, Paton lands on his groin straddling the ropes. KK notes, “Accidental, says referee Paul Turner. Of course, a blatant foul would lead to disqualification.” Lethal with a running dropkick up the turnbuckle, knocks Patron to the mat, Lethal in a mount position raining closed right fists, stands up and chokes Patron with his foot on the bottom rope, then Martini chokes him on the rope while the Paul Turner is distracted. 2 knife-edge chops by Lethal, sets Patron on the turnbuckle, right hand, chop, right hand, chop, and then Alberto grabs a rope-assisted leg scissors wrist lock on Lethal’s arm, the referee calls for the break at 3, and we go to commercial.
When we return, Lethal has a leg scissors on Patron’s arm, Lethal clotheslines him to the outside, then Lethal nails 3 suicide dives, the third of which knocks Patron over the barricade into the first row. MW3 comments on a fan nearby says, “I think I played craps with that guy earlier today. I like that dude.” Lethal has a bloody mouth, climbs back in the ring, as the ref begins the count on Patron. Patron gets back in at 15, Lethal with stomps to the chest, Patron gets to his feet, Lethal sets him on the top turnbuckle, knife-edge chop, Lethal climbs up, punches to the gut, hooks him for a superplex, but Patron fights out with shots in the ribs, Lethal falls down sitting on the ropes, 2 right hands by Patron, Lethal catches himself hanging upside on the ropes, and then a double stomp to the chest by Patron as Lethal’s head bounces off the mat, cover, but Lethal kicks out at 2.
Patron lines up for the kick as the fans chant “Si!”, Lethal catches him, they exchange right hands, Patron gets the better of it, hits the ropes, but Lethal nails the Lethal Combination, cover, but Patron kicks out. Martini can be heard yelling from the outside, “Stay on him!” Lethal points to the turnbuckle, takes off his elbow pad, climbs up to the top rope, but Patron is up to his feet and hits a running enziguri up the ropes. Martini runs in with the Book of Truth, but Patron kicks him and syncs in a wrist lock, Martini taps but as KK recognizes, “It doesn’t affect the outcome.” Lethal jumps off the top rope for the Hail to the King elbow, but Patron catches him in a wrist lock with a leg scissors around the head, Lethal picks up the Book of Truth and slams Patron in the skull, cover, 1-2, kickout by Patron. MW3 asks, “What is in that book?” KK says, “Far from light reading.” J. Deisel and Martini are walking around the outside. Patron gets to his feet and hits a dropping armbar, goes for kick, then gets bicycle kicked by Lethal. Lethal goes for the Lethal Injection, but his arm is too weak and he collapses. Patron with a rollup, Lethal pushes him off, Martini hits him with the Book of Truth, and this time Lethal hits the Lethal Injection for the win.
Winner and still ROH World TV Champion: Jay Lethal
KK says, “We live in a result-driven industry, and while the result will say Lethal is still the champ, I have a problem with the way I got done.” Mr. Wrestling 3 responds, “Of course you have a problem, you’re a nice guy.” and KK replies, “Yeah, I’m a square.” MW3 explains, “But in the world of professional wrestling, a win is a win is a win.” KK says Patron had to fight 3-on-1 odds, plus KRD on the outside of the ring, and somehow he still almost became the champion. But Lethal gets another win and another title defense.”
KK from the locker room, “Shortly after that victory, Jay Lethal began to proclaim himself as the ROH Champion, going so far as to have a new belt minted that simply said ‘ROH Champion.’ You knew that was going to get the attention of then World Champion Jay Briscoe. Eventually these 2 champions would meet but it was anyone’s guess as to how it would turn out,” and we go to commercial.
KK welcomes us back, “By now, Lethal had held the TV title for over a year, but at the same time, Jay Briscoe had not been pinned in over 2 years. And you knew that these 2 men would collide and they would indeed, at Best in the World 2015, in a winner take all showdown, it was the battle of the belts, and it was one of the greatest matches in Ring of Honor history.”
Jay Lethal (c) vs Jay Briscoe (c) (Champion vs. Champion match, winner take all, from Best in the World on 6/9/2015)
When we pick it up, Lethal is on the mat, Briscoe picks him up, Briscoe with a forearm, goes for a whip, Lethal reverses, kick, back forearm, goes for the Lethal Injection, but Briscoe hits a double underhook slam, cover, and Lethal kicks out. Briscoe with the headlock choke, but Lethal crawls to the ropes. Briscoe with a knee to the gut, goes for the Jay Driller, but Lethal gets out, kick to the gut, goes for the Jay Driller again, but Lethal fights out and hits the Lethal Combination on Briscoe, cover, but Briscoe kicks out.
KK comments on the unique setting of Terminal 7, “Fans are basically hanging over the ring from the balconies above, and they are dead-even split, dueling chants for each great champion,” as the fans yell, “Let’s go Lethal! Let’s go Briscoe!” Lethal with a power slam, slowly climbs up to the top turnbuckle, Nigel McGuinness says, “It would look like Lethal has it, but he’s taking his sweet time getting up there, in my mind, way too long. Is Briscoe playing possum? Looks like it.” Briscoe to his feet, catches him, Lethal perched on the turnbuckle, Briscoe hooks him for the superplex, but Lethal is dead weight and blocks twice, 3 punches to the gut by Lethal knocks Briscoe to the mat, but Briscoe lands on his feet, comes back and nails a running dropkick to Lethal. Briscoe climbs back up again, MW3 comments, “You can see the sweat pouring off both of these warriors.” Briscoe hooks for another superplex, but Lethal counters again with shots to the ribs. Briscoe climbs back down as Lethal lands clubbing punches underneath the pec muscle, and then a big right hand to the head knocks Briscoe to the mat. Lethal nails the Hail to the King top rope elbow, cover, kickout, and then right away Lethal locks in the Koji Clutch, until Briscoe finds the ropes.
Now both men are on the apron, KK comments that, “Both the timekeeper & Bobby Cruz have moved.” Lethal hooks, Briscoe fights out, Briscoe pushes Lethal away, hooks him for the Jay driller, but Truth Martini distracts Todd Sinclair on the other side of the apron, and Lethal lands a low blow. Nigel McGuinness crawls up onto the apron next to Truth and says, “What are you doing?” and throws Martini out of the building, Martini stomps around and throws a chair on his way out. Both men to their feet, kick by Briscoe, then Briscoe nails the Jay Driller on Lethal through the table, and we go to commercial.
When we return, Lethal goes for the Lethal Injection, but Briscoe nails a running forearm to the head, cover, kick out. Lethal gets to his feet, and Briscoe nails a huge clothesline, cover, kick out again. Both men are down, Lethal is flipping around on the mat like a fish out of water. The cameraman shows both Lethal’s parents and Briscoe’s parents. They get up, but Briscoe meets a boot from Lethal, back forearm by Lethal, springboard cutter off the second rope, nails the Lethal Injection, but somehow Briscoe kicks out.
Lethal can’t believe it, laying in the corner asking what happened, shaking his head in his hands. The fans chant, “This is awesome!” Briscoe is laid out flat, Lethal gets to his feet, picks up Briscoe, hooks for Briscoe’s own move the Jay Driller, but Briscoe blocks twice dropping to a knee and running his shoulder into the gut, sunset flip by Briscoe, goes for the Jay Driller, reversal by Lethal into a Jay Driller on Briscoe, then Lethal hits a second Lethal Injection, cover, 1-2-3, and Lethal becomes double champion.
Winner and still ROH World TV Champion and NEW ROH World Champion: Jay Lethal
MW3 calls the victory, “He has done it! A dream that started 14 years ago, tonight Jay Lethal is the World Champion.” Lethal pounds the mat in celebration as Truth Martini comes in the ring and congratulates him. Lethal is in shock, they hand Lethal both belts, he lifts them high in the air and lets out a victory yell in the middle of the ring. Commercial.
Back in the lockerroom, KK says, “Amazing to think Lethal has held the ROH World Championship for close to one full year. However, not only did the competition gets stronger when Lethal became a double champion, but so did the workload. At All Star Extravaganza VII, Jay Lethal made history by successfully defending both belts in different matches on the same night. One of the greatest wrestlers ever in ROH, Roderick Strong pushed Lethal to the limit at Death Before Dishonor in an epic 60-minute draw that had the whole wrestling world talking. And in the much anticipated rematch, Lethal was able to defeat Strong with a huge assist from Truth Martini. Strong wanted for one more chance, and was named #1 contender for ROH TV Championship.” We pick up footage of that match.
Roderick Strong vs Jay Lethal (c) (ROH World TV Championship match at Glory By Honor XIV on 10/23/15 and as seen ROH TV on Episode 218)
Lethal with 3 covers, but Strong kicks out each time, they exchanged blows, 2 superkicks by Lethal and then a jumping knee by Strong that hooks Lethal around the back of the head, fireman’s carry into a double knee gutbuster, and then a running sick kick that turns Lethal inside-out. Strong picks up Lethal and delivers a double knee spine buster, and then locks in the Strong Hold and Lethal taps out. (In the video, you can see KK pointing and marking out at ringside as Lethal taps, very cool.)
Winner and NEW ROH World TV Champion: Roderick Strong
KK tells us, “Strong picked up the victory, ending Lethal’s 18 month reign. With close to 30 defenses over that span of time, Lethal holds all records associated with the ROH TV Championship, and it will be a long time before anyone comes close to breaking it.” Commercial.
After the break, KK continues, “After losing the ROH TV Championship, Jay Lethal was still the number one wrestler in the world because after all, he was still the ROH World Champion. And he has still has not been beaten. But Lethal was stung over losing to Strong, and set out to prove that he was indeed the number one wrestler in all the world of professional wrestling, and he challenged anyone and everyone to try to take that title away from, including a match against The Phenomenal AJ Styles at Final Battle 2015.”
AJ Styles vs Jay Lethal (c) (ROH World Championship match at Final Battle 2015 on 12/18/15)
When we pick up the action, Lethal with a suicide dive knocks Styles into the front row. As the fans gather around Styles, Lethal yells, “You might want to move back,” and then taps a fan on the shoulder who is not paying attention and says “Get off of him.” After the fans clear way, Lethal climbs back into the ring, watches and waits until AJ gets to his feet, goes for another suicide dive, but Styles counters with leaping Phenomenal Forearm off the barricade. Taeler Hendrix and Truth Martini, dressed all in white, kneel nearby in shock. Styles and Lethal get up and roll back into the ring at the same time.
They get to their feet, exchange forearms, AJ gets the better of it, before Lethal drops him to the mat and locks in the Koji clutch, roll through, Styles reverses into the calf cutter submission, but Lethal crawls to the ropes and breaks the hold. AJ to his feet, Lethal connects with a boot to the face, gets to his feet and then a bicycle kick to the back of the head by Styles. Styles climbs to the top rope, but Lethal with a right hand to the face, climbs up with AJ, goes for the superplex, but AJ slides under, back elbows by Lethal, and then a second rope springboard cutter takes out AJ. Lethal goes for the Lethal Injection, but AJ gets to his feet, and Lethal rolls over his back, Pele kick by AJ, Bloody Sunday, Styles points at Lethal and yells to the fans, goes for the Styles Clash, but Lethal picks him up and throws AJ over the top to the outside through the table. The fans chant, “This is awesome!” KK says, “The table turned to literal sawdust, just to our left.”
Styles climbs back in at 19, Lethal waits until he gets to his feet, goes for the Lethal Injection and nails it, cover, 1-2, but Styles kicks out. NM says, “I do not believe it and nor does anyone else in Philadelphia tonight. Mandy Leon was ready to ring the bell. Somehow AJ Styles dug deep inside, found that faith in himself.” Lethal grabs him by the hair and yells, “Let me tell you something AJ, this is my time! You hear me? Screw you!” before AJ fights out with forearms, chops, kicks, goes for the Pele kick and misses it, goes for the Styles clash, but Lethal reverses into a cradle piledriver (Jerry Lynn’s move, who is on commentary) and then hits the Lethal Injection for the second time and AJ is out cold, cover, 1-2-3.
Winner and still ROH World Champion: Jay Lethal
After the commercial, KK welcomes us back, “A very special look at Jay Lethal. Think about the greatness of Lethal, all the records he set as the longest ROH TV Champion in history, now holding the ROH World Title for almost 1 year. Lethal has taken the title all around the world, to England, as well Japan, where he wrestled Michael Elgin in front of 40,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome at Wrestle Kingdom 10. He then returned to Japan earlier this year to face off against Tomoaki Honma at the famous Korakuen Hall at Honor Rising.
Tomoaki Honma vs Jay Lethal (c) (ROH World Championship match at Honor Rising 2/20/2016)
Lethal goes for a kick, Honma catches him, throws him up in the air, but Lethal lands on his feet, pushes him off the ropes and then nails the Lethal Combination, cover, kickout. KK tells us, “Todd Sinclair was brought over exclusively to referee championship matches here at Honor Rising. That’s the importance of these events, MW3.” Lethal climbs to the top turnbuckle and nails the Hail to the King elbow drop from the top rope, cover, but Honma kicks out. Lethal tells Honma to get up, slaps him in the head, goes for the Lethal Injection, but Kokeshi by Honma to the back of Lethal and he tumbles out to the apron. They exchange forearms at the apron, and then a headbutt knocks Lethal into the railing, Honma delivers a powerslam on the floor, climbs the ropes as the fans begin to cheer, and then Honma lands the Kokeshi from the top turnbuckle on Lethal on the floor (KK and MW3 say he lands it, but he totally missed) and both men are down.
Honma is up and he looks dazed, Honma hears the referee count, stands up and rolls Lethal back into the ring, cover, but Lethal kicks out at 2-and-a-half. Honma picks Lethal up by his hair, but Lethal is slow to rise, so Honma pulls on his hair really hard, hits the ropes, but Lethal nails a superkick, and then Honma hits a lariat that turns Lethal inside out, cover, kick out by Lethal. Honma hits a brainbuster, cover, Lethal kicks out again. MW3, “Can Honma do it? Can he become the 2nd Japanese wrestler to win the ROH World Title.” KK says, “Takeshi Morishima was first. Honma looks to add his name.” Honma goes for the tombstone piledriver, but Lethal gets out, and hits an enziguri to the back of Honma’s head.
Truth Martini yells, “You’re the ROH World Champion! Show everybody here what you’re made of!” as the crowd at Korakuen Hall chants, “Honma!” Lethal runs into the corner, but meets a boot, and Honma hits a second rope diving headbutt, running fall away headbutt, power slam, goes to the top rope for the Kokeshi and leaps off, but Lethal moves out of the way. Honma is out flat, with spit coming from his mouth. Both men get to their feet, Honma runs in, but nails Todd Sinclair by accident as Lethal gets out of the way. Suddenly, Los Ingobernables run in with clubbing blows to the back and stomps to Honma, they hold him as Truth Martini nails The Book of Truth on Honma’s head, but you can’t hurt Honma in the head, he’s like a Samoan. Honma stands up and takes out all three men, Naito comes in tosses him up in the air, nails a low blow kick, and then Lethal hits the Lethal Injection as Todd Sinclair wakes up and counts the 1-2-3.
Winner and still ROH World Champion: Jay Lethal
KK closes out the show, “Thank you for joining us for this special look at Jay Lethal. Next week here on ROH Wrestling, we took a very special look at Bullet Club. Don’t you dare miss it.” End of show.
Kevin Kelly and Mandy Leon introduce the show. KK says, “Over the next 60 minutes, we will count you down and get you set for Global Wars, Sunday May 8th. Tonight’s ROH TV is a special Global Wars preview edition.”
Bobby Fish vs Tomohiro Ishii (c) (ROH World Television Championship)
We cut to footage of a match between Bobby Fish against Roderick Strong. Strong taps out, Fish thinks he won and celebrates. Fish climbs back down off the turnbuckle, asks Todd Sinclair what happened, and then Strong hits the running knee, cover, and scores the victory.
Next, footage from Ishii vs. Strong, Ishii hits the ropes and nails are running lariat, and Strong kicks out. Choshu-style lariat, goes for the sliding lariat misses, Roderick lands 2 jumping knees, forearm, headbutt, back elbow, and then a headbutt by Ishii knocks Strong to the mat. Ishii hits the sliding lariat, stacks up Strong for the pin, but Strong kicks out. Ishii nails a stalling vertical brainbuster on Strong, cover, and becomes the new ROH World Television Champion.
Next KK says, “All three competitors would head to Vegas for the ROH 14 Anniversary show, to compete in a 3-way match for the ROH World Television Title,” and we see footage from the match. Ishii hits a sliding Lariat, but Strong kicks out and then Ishii hits a vertical drop brainbuster, gets the pinfall, and records his second win in the row. After the match, Fish gets in the ring, which has led us up to Texas, where Fish and Ishii faced off in a 2-out-of-3 falls match.
Fish throws Strong back into the ring, Strong pushes ref out of the way, and run hits a jumping knee, and then nails flipping backbreaker The End Of Heartache and scores the 1st fall. Later in the match, Fish gets the 2nd fall on a quick roll up in the corner. We pick up action, moments later, with the match tied at 2, Strong with a knife edge chop, Fish with a kick, then they exchange forearms, Fish gets 2 kicks, then Strong fights with forearms, back elbow, Fish goes for a kick, Strong catches him, and then Fish gets a heel hook and strong taps out.
This feud continues at Global Wars, Fish vs. Ishii, and we go to commercial.
Kyle O’Reilly vs IWGP Heavyweight Champion Tetsuya Naito (Non-Title)
When we return, Mandy Leon tells us, “O’Reilly has kind of had a tough the last couple of months.” KK explains, “When Adam Cole derailed O’Reilly’s title shot, it all came to a head at SuperCard of Honor in Dallas, Texas,” and we cut to footage from that match.
Both men are on the top turnbuckle, O’Reilly with punches to Cole’s head, and then O’Reilly suplexes Cole through the table in the middle of the ring. The referee counts to 6 as both men are incapacitated, O’Reilly crawls over, puts his arm across Cole, but Cole kicks out. Later in the match, 2 chairs are set up in the ring, O’Reilly with a kick to the chest, Cole gives him the double bird, O’Reilly with kicks to the head and then Cole sits down on the chair. Cole stands up and fights out with elbows and O’Reilly sits on the other chair. They exchange forearms, until both men sit down in the chairs. They grab each other by the head and both land close-handed shots, Cole with a kick the leg, goes for a kick to the gut, but O’Reilly catches him and lands a vertical brainbuster. O’Reilly gets mad and throws the chair out of the ring, grabs the steel chain that is hooked to the rope, ties Cole up with the chain, and then locks in a cross armbreaker. The harder O’Reilly pulls on the arm, the more he strangling Adam Cole with the chain, Cole starts to make it back to his feet, tries to pick up O’Reilly, but Cole passes out, O’Reilly wins.
KK informs us, “Since the loss in Dallas, no one has seen or heard from Adam Cole. O’Reilly is really in a dangerous state of mind right now,” and we go to commercial.
Michael Elgin & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Kazuchika Okada & Moose W/ Gedo & Stokely Hathaway
KK tells us, “Stokely Hathaway was the one who announced this matchup in Dallas.” and we cut to Stokely’s in-ring promo from Supercard of Honor X. KK reminds us, “While Moose and Okada might seem like a very unlikely pairing, Vegas is where Moose earned the respect of The Rainmaker, and we cut to footage for the ROH 14th Anniversary Show.
Okada with 3 forearms, Moose with a big right hand, Okada with 2 forearms and then an uppercut, Moose with an open-handed shot, Moose punch, and then an uppercut. Moose hits the ropes, Okada ducks, picks him up, reverse piledriver on the knee, cover, kickout. Okada climbs to the top rope and connect with an elbow, calls for The Rainmaker as the camera pans out. Okada goes for The Rainmaker, but Moose ducks, runs up to the turnbuckle ropes, and hits a flying crossbody. Okada is slow to get up, Moose sets up for the spear, Okada jumps over, ducks a clothesline, misses The Rainmaker again, Moose spins around, and then a jumping dropkick sends Moose off the ropes, Okada nails a second drop, kick, picks Moose up and finally nails The Rainmaker for the win.
KK says, “Okada and Moose will face Elgin and Tanahashi who have been solidifying their tag team partnership in New Japan”, and we go to commercial.
Alex Shelley/Chris Sabin/Matt Sydal/Kushida vs Young Bucks (Nick & Matt Jackson)/Guerrilas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Roa)
KK says, “To get an idea of the insanity you’ll see in the 8-man tag team match at Global Wars, we go back to the ROH 14th Anniversary, where the 6-man tag-team match stole the show.”
Omega runs into the corner, Matt runs into the corner, Matt drapes Sydal across the second rope, and Nick hits a swanton. Omega hits a double underhook suplex, Sydal stands up slowly and gets SUPERKICKED by all 3 members of The Elite. Omega stacks him up for the pin, but ACH comes in to break it up. Elite throw a ACH out of the ring, Omega points, Mr. Wrestling 3 says, “They name this move after Tiger Hattori, and he’s not very happy about it.” Fireman’s carry roll over, but Sydal gets out, Nick misses and then a top rope suplex by Sydal on Matt. Then Kushida and ACH with double moonsault, 1 off the top rope, 1 standing. Nick comes into break up the pin attempt, Omega gets thrown to the outside, Kushida leaps over but Omega catches him, sets him up for the piledriver. Sydal is conflicted about what to do, but can only watch as Kushida gets nailed with a piledriver on the floor. Nick kicks Sydal off the ropes, spikes him on his head, and Nick runs over and kicks ACH. All 3 members of The Elite have Sydal alone in the ring, 5-star Meltzer Driver turns Sydal inside out, and then Omega hits the One Winged Angel, and covers for the victory.
Mandy Leon says, “Wild, Kevin. That was only 6 men, imagine adding in 2 more guys at Global Wars,” and we go to commercial.
Mark & Jay Briscoe vs War Machine (Raymond Rowe & Hanson) (c) ROH World Tag Team Championship
KK tells us, “War Machine is coming off recent successful tag team defenses against Roppongi Vice and the All Night Express, but attitudes have been boiling over with the Briscoes.” Footage is shown from Episode 236 of the Briscoes picking up War Machine’s belts. Mandy Leon tells us, “This feud dates back many years, but was on temporary hiatus when Raymond Rowe suffered a life-threatening motorcycle accident.” KK reminds us, “War Machine have never been able to beat the Briscoes, and Hanson and Rowe have said themselves, they will never consider themselves to be the number one team until they beat the Briscoes.”
Footage from Conquest Tour is shown, Jay with punch, uppercut, kick but Rowe takes control and goes for the Fallout. MW3 reminds us, “Jay Briscoe hasn’t been pinned in over two-and-a-half years.” Jay gets out, back elbows, picks Rowe up into a fireman’s carry, Rowe fights out with back elbows, Jay turns around with a forearm, picks him up in the execution chair for the Doomsday Device, but Hanson knocks Mark off the apron. WM throw Jay up with a double chokeslam, cover, but Jay kicks out. Rowe with forearms on the outside to Mark, Mark picks up Rowe, and sends him into the steel barricade. Hanson nails a sit down splash in the corner, Mark comes off the top rope, but gets power slammed, and then Hanson picks up his partner Rowe and drops him on Mark. WM goes for Fallout, but Jay gets out, and runs Rowe into Hanson, clubbing blow to the back, picks him up on his shoulders, and then Mark comes off the top rope for Doomsday Device. Mark with a running neck breaker off the apron on Rowe, Jay is left alone in the ring with Hanson. Hanson with the Mongolian shop, goes for the deadlift brainbuster, but Jay wiggles out and nails the Jay Driller on Hanson, cover, but Hanson kicks out. Jay gets back up and hits to 3 running boots to Hanson, nails him with a second Jay Driller, cover, and the Briscoes win.
KK tells us, “Cabana has a luxurious career in ROH, he was ROH Tag Team Champion with CM Punk, held victories over Kevin Steen, and now has the opportunity to make a name for himself with newer ROH fans. Let’s take you back to 2005, Cabana faced his best friend CM Punk at Final Chapter.
They hit the ropes, Punk with an arm drag, headscissors by Cabana, Punk flips to his feet from his backside, Cabana drops into the mat, jump over, Punk goes for a monkey flip, but Cabana stomps him in the face. Punk gets back up, slaps him in the chest, and yells at him. We are reminded that Cabana is always funny, CM Punk is always serious. Cabana with a headlock, both of them run the ropes, Cabanas stops and says, “Look up. There there’s a bear up there.” Punk says no. Cabana says, “If you won’t look up, then look down,” and stomps on his foot. Later in the match, Cabana is on the turnbuckle, knife edge chop by Punk, hurricanrana, roll thru, Boston crab by Cabana. Referee is checking on Punk’s condition, Punk finds the ropes. The match is a 2-out-of-3 falls, tied at 1 fall a piece. Cabana with 2 uppercuts, Punk with 2 forearms, whip reversal off the ropes, and then CM Punk with a reverse hurricanrana spiking Cabana on his head, and we go to commercial.
When we return, Cabana is on the map, Punk first to his feet, slaps him in the face, back elbow kick, goes off the ropes, shining wizard from a standing position, cover, kick out. Punk climbs to the top turnbuckle, Cabana catches him, and then an inverted DDT off the top rope. But Cabana is worn down not, able to follow up. (Todd Sinclair was still calling the action way back then!) Whip reversal, Punk grabs the arm for the Anaconda Device on Cabana, but Cabana gets his foot on the ropes. Punk calls for the Pepsi Plunge, slams Cabanas head into the turnbuckle, climbs the ropes, hooks the arms butterfly-style but Cabana fights out, fireman’s carry by Cabana and then a Samoan drop off the top rope. CM Punk with a quick roll-up, crucifix pin attempt, but only gets 2 on Cabana. Both men get back to a standing position, exchange close handed strikes. Punk yells, “Come on Cabana!” and they keep exchanging close handed strikes, Punk hits 3 kicks to the back of the knee, a kick to the chest, runs the ropes, and connect with a kick to the head, cover, but Cabana grabs the ropes. Punk goes for a vertical suplex, Cabana reverses pin attempt, roll through pin attempt, another reversal, 1-2-3 and Cabana beats CM Punk.
KK tells us, “That was Chicago 11 years ago. 11 years later, Colt Cabana will challenge Jay Lethal for the ROH World Championship May 8th on Global Wars,” and the show ends.
Welcome to another edition of Ring of Honor, Kevin Kelly and Mr. Wrestling 3 introduce us to the Honor Rising events taped back in February from Korakuen Hall. KK tells us that Korakuen Hall was built in 1962 and has housed every great pro wrestler throughout the years.
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Michael Elgin, Moose and Tomoaki Honma vs. Bad Luck Fale, Cody Hall, Tama Tonga and Yujiro Takahashi (Bullet Club) (8 man tag team match)
Moose comes down to the ring, making his New Japan debut. Next out is Big Mike, KK says, “Moose wants to be where unbreakable Michael Elgin is, a former ROH World Champion, a great pro wrestler all around the globe.” MW3 says, “Seems like Elgin has found a new home here in NJPW.” Honma is third out, KK describes him as “the true underdog, what an overachiever he has been.” Finally, Tanahashi, MW3 describes him as, “the number 1 star of the last 10 years in NJPW,” KK asks, “Is he still the ace?” MW3 replies, “Absolutely.” KK informs us Tanahashi is nursing a shoulder injury caused by The Elite. MW3 says, “His shoulder is all taped up, but he can still play an air guitar. Now, all 4 members of Bullet Club, the more Japan-based members, walk down the aisle making their ROH TV debuts. MW3 reminds us, “2 second generation superstars in Tonga and Hall, Takahashi has basically renounced his Japanese citizenship, and Fale is a former rugby star. He is really the equivalent of Moose.”
Moose and Fale start it off. Both men hit the ropes, double shoulder block, and they stare at each other. Moose hits the ropes, another double shoulder block, and they stare at each other again. Fale hits the ropes, a third double shoulder block, and third stare down. Punch to the gut by Fale, forearm to the face, clubbing elbow to the back, hits the ropes, and then a standing dropkick by Moose. MW3 says Moose, “gave a little shimmy. That’s how babies are made.” Fale lands a knee to the midsection and tags in Tonga, Moose tags in Honma, Tonga hits a dropkick on Honma, and we go to commercial.
When we return, Tonga has Honma on the mat, Tonga goes for a jumping back elbow but misses, and Honma tags in Tanahashi. Double whip by Honma and Tanahashi off the ropes, double shoulder block on Tonga. Now everyone comes in, the faces clear the ring, and all 4 flex like Hulk Hogan. Tonga crawls back in, Tanahashi hits back elbow, 2 forearms, whip reversal, Takahashi kicks Tanahashi in the back. Now everybody brawls, the fight spills to the outside, Takahashi runs Tanahashi into the steel rail and then nails him with a chair, Hall knocks Honma down, Takahashi chokes Tanahashi with the chair, then crawls back in the ring, the ref starts the count, and Tanahashi gets back in at 16.
Fale tags in, stands on Tanahashi, picks him up by his neck, throws him into the corner, and tags in Hall. Hall enters by jump stomping over from the second rope as he does, back elbow, short arm shoulder tackle, short arm elbow, puts Tanahashi’s arm on the ropes, and then kicks him in the elbow, clubbing blows to the chest, pin attempt, but Tanahashi gets his foot on the ropes. MW3 tells us, “One of Hall’s best moves is the iron claw, very Kerry Von Erich-like.”
Hall tags in Tonga, 2 forearms to the jaw, whip reversal off the ropes, Tonga slides and skirts around on the mat, and then delivers a standing dropkick, steps on his face, tags in Takahashi. Tanahashi fights out with 3 elbows, Takahashi rakes the eyes, tries for a running boot, but Takahashi catches him and then a dragon screw leg sweep takes him to the mat.
Tanahashi gets the hot tag to Elgin, his tag team partner here in New Japan, and Elgin gets a lot of cheers from the crowd. He climbs to the top turnbuckle, flying shoulder on Takahashi, runs into the corner with an elbow, Irish whip reversal into the corner, German suplex, rolls through for a second one, but Tonga comes in and pulls Taka to safety. Elgin picks Tonga up in the air with a one handed overhead press, and we go to commercial.
After the break, Elgin picks up Takahashi into a stalling vertical brainbuster, Hall comes in and kicks Elgin in the gut, but Elgin does not break the hold, Hall pulls down Taka, clubs Elgin in the back, Bullet Club go for a double suplex, but Elgin reverses into a double suplex of his own. Elgin hits a deadlift German suplex on Takahashi, bridge cover, kick out. Takahashi with a kick to the gut, Elgin screams, standing switch, goes for suplex, Takahashi grabs the referee Tiger Hattori, and looks like Elgin’s going to suplex both of them, but the ref wiggles out, while Takahashi hits a low blow.
Moose and Hall in, Moose ducks a clothesline, hits his Moose punches, and then Hall with a fall away slam, stands up turns around and meets a lariat, cover, but Hall kicks out. Moose lines up for the spear, but Hall connects with a knee to the head, picks up Moose, tries for the Razor’s Edge, but Moose slides out, and then Hall hits a spinning lariat. Bullet Club comes in and takes out the faces, gut punches by Tonga, running boot by Takahashi, splash by Fale, a splash by Tonga, Hall nails a chokeslam, cover, kick out. Hall goes for the Razors Edge again, but Honma comes in and nails Hall with the Kokeshi, Takahashi with a fisherman’s buster, Elgin with a double suplex on Tonga and Takahashi, Tanahashi comes in with a running dropkick knocking Fale off the apron, and then Elgin throws his partner Tanahashi onto all three members of the Bullet Club. Moose is left alone in the ring with with Hall, Moose runs in with a splash, whip reversal, Moose runs to the top turnbuckle and lands a cross body slam. Moose nails Hall with the spear, and this one is over, 1-2-3.
Winners: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Michael Elgin, Moose and Tomoaki Honma
KK asks, “Can we say a star is born here at Korakuen?” MW3 responds, “I think he was a star already in Ring of Honor, but now he’s a star in the Land of the Rising Sun.” and it’s time for our sponsors.
After the break, we are shown a video package of Jay Lethal and Truth Martini walking around outside, Lethal says, “Tokyo, Japan. I can’t wait, I can’t wait to get one of those massages we talked about, right?” Martini replies, “Yeah yeah, and especially if we’re going to get one of those endings that are kind of happy.” Lethal pulls out some change, “I brought some money, I got some yen here, do you think this is enough to get a nice massage?” Martini says, “Champ, that’s not enough for the kind of ending I’m talking about.” And they laugh, Truth says, “Let’s go. I got it.”
KK talks about Leo Rush winning the Top Prospect Tournament by defeating Brian Fury and getting a shot at the ROH contract and a guaranteed shot at the ROH TV Championship. He tells us that match was scheduled to take place at SuperCard of Honor X in Dallas, Texas, but because ROH TV Champion Tomohiro Ishii had other commitments in Japan, Nigel McGuinness instead gave Rush the rare opportunity for a world title match in his first official ROH match, and we see the closing moments of that match.
Lethal is out cold, draped across the top turnbuckle, slap to the chest by Rush, Rush climbs up for a one-man Spanish fly that he calls Rush Hour, forearm, Lethal has his eyes closed, but out of nowhere, Lethal reverses and delivers a top rope cutter, then Lethal Injection, cover, and pin.
After the match, KK says ROH fans saw “the long-awaited, some say long-overdue return of a ROH pioneer.” Lethal is on the mic, “Someone go tell Nigel McGuinness, KK go tell him NM, JL said there’s nobody left. Do you hear me? There’s nobody left. This is ridiculous.” And Colt Cabana’s music hits. Cabana walks down the aisle, climbs in the ring, “You say that there’s nobody left JL, you say it now, you say it on TV, and it makes me think about myself, about my legacy, what I want to be remembered as. Sometimes you have to look yourself in the mirror, and know exactly what you want to be. I don’t, I don’t want to be known as somebody’s friend. I love what I’m doing, I love that I’m an independent wrestler, I love that I’m DIY, nobody owns me, nobody’s tells me what to do, JL. Everybody still wants to see me, Jay. I’m still booked, I’m still doing what I do, and you know who can’t fire, and you know who can’t reject me? These people. And I should have done it a long time, I should have been kicked out, I should have been gone, but the reality is I’m not, because they’re still chanting my name.” And the fans chant “Colt Cabana!”
Jay gets on the mic, “Woah woah woah woah, let me stop you right there, because the fact of the matter is, these people here can’t make you the greatest wrestler in the world. This does.” He holds up the title, “This does Colt, and I have it. In fact, you haven’t been here in 5 years. For 5 years, you’ve been avoiding this place, because you know I’m the greatest. For 5 years, you’ve traveled the world on small local indie shows in India, in Germany, all over the world, but you avoided this place for 5 years, because you know why, because I’m the greatest. But there’s another reason, and it’s because me and that entire locker room, and whether they believe it or not, they don’t want you here and neither do I.”
Cabana responds, “I like what I’m doing, I like going to India, I like going to Japan, I like going to Germany. I travel all over, and these people are from all over the world, and I don’t make them come to me. I have literally been to every single place, where everybody single person has been, so I can wrestle as an independent wrestler, Jay. It’s not cuz of the money and it’s not cuz of the TV, because when I look back on my career a long long time, and I won’t be able to live with myself unless I’m able to wear that around my waist.” He points at the ROH World Title.
KK tells us, “The world champion was furious. The following day, Lethal claimed that because of Cabana’s 5 year absence, he didn’t deserve a title shot. He went on to claim Cheeseburger as a more worthy challenger, and gave him a world title match on the spot. After the match, Cabana comes down to the ring, “You’re dressed and ready to go, I’m dressed and ready to go, the idea is, we do it right now. Truth might have said no, but the reality is you’re seg now, because you can’t call your own shots. Do you think you can beat me, because I don’t think you can beat me.” Lethal replies, “You want, you want a match right now damn it, you got it,” and Lethal punches him, they exchanged blows, fast forward to later in the match, kick by Lethal, small package roll up, and Cabana wins. KK informs us, “As a result of that impromptu match, live on Global Wars in his hometown of Chicago, IL, Colt Cabana returns to challenge for the one title that has eluded him his entire career. Cabana vs. Lethal for the ROH World Championship.” Commercial.
Martini and Lethal are outside the massage parlor door, “Champ, it’s time to get what you deserve.” Lethal replies, “I’m a little nervous there’s no pictures around. Seems a little shady,” “No, it’s alright, this is a special kind of place.” Lethal says, “I got the end you were talking about, I’m tired of talking,” and then Delirious comes out of the massage parlor. Martini says, “He looked pretty happy to me,” and they laugh. Back outside, Lethal says, “This is it, we came all this way? This is a great NJPW door? Look at that stupid picture by the awning. Where’s my picture? They have Okada up there? If you want a picture of the greatest wrestler in the world, where’s the picture of the ROH World Champion?” Martini says, “Think of it this way, we are overseas and if everybody doesn’t recognize you as the best, they are overseeing that you are the #1 wrestler in the world. That means we’re over, see?” Lethal says, “You know what, I’m just going to go break all of Okada’s stuff right now.” Martini replies, “Champ, hold on, give me one second, I gotta grab this real quick,” and then he bumps a vending machine and an item falls out. “It works every time,” Video of Jay Briscoe and Dalton Castle exploring Tokyo Dome City. Martini and Lethal are in a mask shop, Lethal says, “This is a pretty cool store, look it’s dedicated to everybody I beat. Look at this, I beat him twice, i definitely beat him, oh I remember beating him pretty badly.” And then we see Delirious’s head among the masks on the rack. Moose taking pictures. Lethal recaps, “Champ and Truth Martini, we got one of those happy massages, we destroyed some stuff in the New Japan store, and that’s what they get for not having my pictures in there. Look at this sign you can’t smoke here,” Martini replies, “Champ, I can’t read Japanese.” Roderick Strong and Mark eating. Martini looks at the no smoking sign with a line through it, says “They ruined a perfect picture of a cigarette.” Dalton Castle playing with cats.
Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson (Bullet Club) vs The Briscoes
MW3 says, “You have the Multi time IWGP Tag Team Champions, Machine Guns, against the greatest tag team in ROH history, The Briscoes. They got their work cut out for them here tonight. But Gallows and Anderson know Japan, they’ve been here a long time.” Anderson says, “Look, this is my hot Asian wife, here in the front row.” MW3, “Of course, that is Karl Anderson’s hot Asian wife, as he says.” Gallows has on a mask and face paint and a singlet that says #bizcliz. The camera shakes as Anderson shoot his gun. Out next are Dem Boys, KK tells us, “At the time of these events, The Briscoes were two-thirds of the NEVER Openweight 6-man Champions.” MW3 says, “With Yano. Ya know, they’re looking to regain those titles.”
Before the bell, as Briscoes pose on the apron, Machine Guns attack, Anderson and Jay to the outside, Gallows with 2 punches to Mark, running knee by Mark, Jay comes back into the ring and clotheslines Gallows over the top rope to the outside, Mark hits the ropes and baseball slides through the middle rope on Anderson, and then hits a swinging neckbreaker blockbuster off of the apron onto the floor, and commercial.
Gallows with a punch to the jaw, runs Jay into the barricade, Mark throws Anderson back into the ring, Jay kicks Gallows, Mark with a stomp to Anderson, forearm, knife-edge chop, kick to the face, Irish whip reversal, Mark jumps over, rolls back to his feet, redneck kung fu, Anderson goes for cutter but flips him, and then standing kick by Mark, cover, but Anderson kicks out. Mark hits a Mongolian chop, kicks Anderson, another kick to the gut, tags in Jay. Jay with a headbutt, suplex, cover, kick out.
Tags in Mark, Mark with a punch to the ribs, Russian leg sweep, cover, kick out. 3 forearms, runs the ropes, Gallows trips him, kick to the head by Gallows, and then a leg drop on the apron by Anderson. MW3 says, “Size 24 boot by Gallows.” KK protests, “24?” MW3 replies, “I’m guessing, is that wrong?” KK says, “I’m not going to argue with either you or him, certainly do not want to take a measurement.” Jay comes over, Anderson takes him out, Gallows throws Mark through the barricade, opening up the gates, throws a chair to his back as they fight in the crowd. Jay comes over, kick and a punch by Gallows, MW3 says “Oooh, scary face Gallows,” the referee begins to count, but Mark gets back in.
Anderson sets him up on the ropes, rakes the eyes and neck, tags in Gallows. Kick by Mark, and then close handed strikes by Gallows, the referee tells him to stop it, he runs over knocks Jay off the apron. MW3 notes, “It’s an interesting tradition that the announcer always says the numbers English. It’s not just because it’s a ROH event, it’s a tradition in Japan to count in English. As you said earlier, Korakuen Hall opened in 1962, started to house boxing in 1964 for the Summer Olympics, every major wrestling from Hulk Hogan and beyond has been in Korakuen Hall.” Kick by Gallows, shoulder block by Mark, headbutt by Gallows, runs the ropes, drops an elbow, cover, Mark kicks out. Headlock by Gallows, and we go to commercial.
Gallows throws Mark in to corner, Mark fights out, knocks Anderson off the ropes, enziguri to Gallows, knocks Anderson off the ropes again, flips over Gallows and rolls through tags and Jay. Jay nails Anderson off the ropes, forearms to Gallows, runs the ropes, forearm to Gallows, but can’t knock him down, ducks a clothesline and then a boot finally knocks the big man off his feet. Fireman’s carry by Jay, Death Valley driver, red shoes in position, kick out. Headbutt by Jay, whip reversal off the ropes, kick by Gallows to the face, tags in Anderson. Anderson with a running back elbow knocks Mark off the apron, jumping kick by Anderson on Jay, splash by Gallows, and then a back drop neck suplex by both men, Mark comes in to break up the pin. Gallows throws Mark out, fireman’s carry by Gallows on Jay into a front face plant, cover, kick out.
Machine Guns go for the Magic Killer, Mark breaks it up, right hand by Gallows, runs in but Mark holds the ropes sending the big man to the outside. Gallows goes for a Gun Stun, Jay pushes him away, Gallows goes for a second Gun Stun, Jay blocks, Jay goes for Jay Driller, but Gallows breaks it off, and then Mark with a one-legged dropkick off the top rope. Anderson misses a clothesline, Jay goes for the double-arm hook, but Anderson gets out and then gets lariat by Jay. Neckbreaker by Jay, Froggy Bow by Mark, Mark makes sure that Gallows doesn’t come in the ring, and Jay gets the pin on Anderson.
Winners: The Briscoes
Young boy attendees come in with the ice packs for Gallows and Anderson. KK says, “It is clear that the fans here in Japan love the stars of Ring of Honor, but the stars of Ring of Honor also love the fans in Japan.” Another video package is shown of fans getting their picture taken, buying merchandise, and getting autographs from the ROH stars. Lethal says, “Every time I step into the ring, I prove that I’m the greatest wrestler in the world.” More shots of fans cheering and meeting ROH stars, and that’s the show folks.
April 2, 2016 from the Hyatt Regency Dallas in Dallas, Texas
Jay Lethal defeated Cheeseburger
Colt Cabana defeated Jay Lethal
Matt Sydal and ACH defeated The All Night Express
Donovan Dijak defeated Will Ferrara
Bobby Fish defeated Roderick Strong (Two out of three falls)
War Machine defeated Silas Young and Beer City Bruiser
Dalton Castle defeated BJ Whitmer
The Briscoes defeated The Addiction, The Motor City Machine Guns, and The Young Bucks to become #1 contenders for the ROH World Tag Team Championship (Four Corner Survival tag team match)
Kyle O’Reilly defeated Adam Cole (No Holds Barred)
Recap of Ring of Honor TV for the week of March 27, 2016
Kevin Kelly and Mr. Wrestling 3 introduce the show from Sam’s Town Live, Las Vegas Nevada. Tonight we kick things off with a four corner survival match.
Roderick Strong vs. Adam Page vs. Moose vs. Matt Sydal
Out first is former ROH World Television Champion, Roderick Strong, who lost his belt to Tomohiro Ishii at Honor Rising. The lights go out, the Clockwork Purple video entrance plays, and Adam Page poses on the ramp. Next the ‘Moose Nation’ music hits and Moose walks to the ring, led by Stokely Hathaway. Competitor number four is “Reborn” Matt Sydal, wearing the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship he won with his partner Ricochet from The Young Bucks at The New Beginning in Osaka. Adam Page refuses the code of honor, and we’re underway.
Sydal and Strong start off, arm rake, reversal, headscissors takeover, headlock, Sydal throws Strong off the rope, Strong knocks Sydal down, ducks under, leapfrog, ducks under, spinning side kick. Sydal gets in a kick, another kick, Irish whip to the corner, but meets an elbow, and then Strong catches Sydal with a backbreaker, cover 1-2, Sydal kicks out. Strong flips Sydal over his shoulder and Page tags himself in, slam to the corner, leapfrog, Page gets in a boot, and then a dropkick. Page pushes Strong to the other corner, and then rakes a forearm across the face and nose. Page looks for a suplex, but Strong reverses, flops Page across the ropes, dumping him to the outside. By the rules of a four corner survival match, Moose is able to declare himself legal with Page now on the outside. Moose is in the ring and wants some action punching and chopping with his orange and white football gloves, and then Moose with a sit-down powerbomb on Strong, pin attempt, but Page in to break it up. Moose dropkicks Page with his orange and white, size 16, boots. Sydal back in the ring hits the ropes, headscissors, spins around Moose, and then an ugly drop thigh hold and Moose. Sydal goes flying to the outside, Moose catches him and delivers a powerbomb on the apron, Strong comes through with a baseball slide taking Moose out, and then Page hits a running shooting star press on Strong. Page throws Strong back into the ring and we go to commercial.
After the break, Page and Strong in the ring, Page delivering chops and then a running dropkick in the corner. Pin attempt 1-2, but Strong kicks out. Page picks up Strong on his shoulders, Strong grabs the rope and makes it to the apron, Moose climbs the apron trying to get back in the ring, but receives a kick and then a side slam across the apron. Back in the ring, Sydal and Page do a roll up, bridge, and kickout. Moose comes in with the “Moose punches” until he gets caught by Strong. Moose comes back with a forearm to Strong, now to Page, then running forearms in each corner that turns Page inside out. Moose sits Page up on the top rope, then sits Sydal on the top rope, and delivers a standing dropkick to both of them, knocking them to the outside. Strong comes back and delivers a kick to Moose, and now sets Moose up on the top rope. Sydal runs in does a springboard off the rope into a hurricanrana, flipping Moose to the mat. Strong picks Moose up on his shoulders, delivers to go-to-sleep, then Page flips over the rope and delivers a running clothesline and DDT on Strong. Sydal in, catches Page by the boot, then gets a boot of his own.
But all of the sudden, running down the ramp is BJ Whitmer, who grabs the leg of Page. Page gets back in the ring and gets a kick from Sydal. Sydal hits an enziguri on Strong, jumping knee to Page, Sydal climbs to the top rope, and hits a shooting star press on Page, Strong breaks up the pin attempt. Strong hits a vertical back breaker that flips Sydal inside out, and then Strong connects with a running knee that knocks Page out, 1-2-3. Strong wins.
Winner: Roderick Strong
After the break, Adam Cole’s “Something for you” music hits, he walks to the ring, stands on the apron, and points at the high hair bun on his head. Cole takes the mic, “Are you ready for story time with Adam Cole, bay bay? I’m assuming that a lot of you expect me to come out here and talk about this downward spiral I was on, losing to Matt Sydal on world television, losing in the main event at ROH’s 14th Anniversary, dropping the ball and not getting the job done. I confidently stand here before you, the best pro wrestler on the planet. The reason being, there’s not a man in that locker room or anybody watching Ring of Honor around the world that can deny I am the undefeated Ring of Honor Champion. A guy like Kyle O’Reilly should not even have been in my rematch. I beat Kyle O’Riley at Final Battle and I will continue to beat Kyle O’Reilly. Sad news everybody, Kyle O’Reilly will never be Ring of Honor Champion. That’s a promise I will keep, another promise I will keep is that I will be the man who dethroned Jay Lethal for the ROH World Championship. His days are numbered, it’s done it’s finished, in a one-on-one situation with Adam Cole, bay bay, he don’t stand a chance. Jay Lethal always has the House of Truth watching his back, O’Reilly has Bobby Fish over his shoulder. Me? I have my Kingdom. With or without my Kingdom, I can promise you, one day, very, very soon, this face is your next ROH World Champion.”
The Kingdom’s music hits and it’s the surprising return of Matt Taven. Taven hobbles to the ring on a crutch, microphone in pocket. Cole helps him through the ropes and they hug. Taven speaks, “For the first time in 2016, The Kingdom is back on Ring of Honor television. We are going to pick up right where we left off in 2015, dominating professional wrestling. Not just here in ROH, not just in Japan, but all around the world, exceeding more than we ever have in our careers. Everyone except for you.” Taven turns and looks at Cole.
Kelly and MW3 are in shock, “What? What in the world!” Cole ask, “Matt, what are you talking about?” Taven interrupts, “No no no, you had two chances to win the ROH World Title and what did you do? You blew them both. And to think, I joined the Kingdom because I thought Adam Cole… he’s a big star, Adam Cole…I should attach my name to you, it’ll boost my stock. But what are you doing? You got hurt and I had to keep you relevant. Adam, you’re not better than me. And the only real star of The Kingdom was me.”
Cole on the mic, “You have a lot of nerve to be saying…” Taven interrupts, “I have a lot of nerve? I have a lot of nerve? The last time we were in this room together, you said that I dropped the ball. I blew my knee out a minute into Final Battle and continued wrestling for another 10-12 minutes. It probably cost me another 6 months of my career. But the thing is Adam, the thing is, this is the end. I don’t want to hear it. Adam, what I hear from you, you think things are finished, but they have only just begun. The Kingdom will be rebuilt in my image, and the only thing finished with The Kingdom is you.” Taven drops the mic and walks out of the ring. Kelly wonders “What will Adam Cole do now?” and we go to commercial break.
Backstage promo by Dalton Castle on Silas Young, “Rules. I’ve never been a big fan of the rules. Signs that tell me how fast I can go, restaurants that tell me what to wear. I’m a clothing-optional man! So I can relax, because Silas agreed to a fight without honor, for you will no longer be protected by rules.”
After the break, the announcers continue to talk about the Cole/Taven split.
Cheeseburger vs. Foxx Vinyer
Cheeseburger music hits and he comes out posing with the Shotei palm strike. In the ring already is Foxx Vinyer. Foxx has blue and white face paint, is wearing a black singlet with blue splotches and a blue wolf, he has on leg tassels, his head is half shaven, and a patch of hair is hanging off the side of his head. He offers to shake CHZB hand and then he smashes him over the head. Cheeseburger fights back with chops, then palm strikes to the chest, then a Mongolian chop. MW3 says, “He’s learning!” Then a boot to the midsection, Cheeseburger hits the ropes, but Foxx slams him to the mat, and hooks the leg 1-2, but CHZB kicks out. MW3 says, “Foxx looks like the love child of The Missing Link!” Foxx runs to the corner, Cheeseburger gets out of the way, climbs to the top rope, knee to the head. CHZB sets up for the Shotei palm strike, a move taught to him by Jushin Thunder Liger, and the fan start clapping. However, running down the ramp is the All Night Express. They beat up Foxx, throw him to the outside, pick him up together, and backdrop him into the apron.
Winner: No contest
ANX goes over to the announce table, grabs some microphones, point at Cheeseburger and climb into the ring. Titus is first on the mic, “Whoa whoa whoa, be easy cheesy. Put away the Shotei. We’re not here to do that to you, because we like you Burger. You’re like one of us, you are not like one of them.” King cuts in, “Juicy Burger, even though they cheer for you and chant ‘Cheeseburger!’ for you, they don’t like you. You’re out here risking your life, breaking your back, while they’re sitting in their seats and thinking ‘I could beat up Cheeseburger. That boy better eat a cheeseburger.’ They don’t put their bodies at risk like you do, like we do. They don’t know what it’s like going through a table. At the ROH 14th Anniversary show, my daughter sat in the first row and watched as my spine got bent over a ladder. I could see her tears in her eyes, but I can’t walk over to her, because my damn legs are numb. They don’t care about you Burger. Simple fact is, Cheeseburger, you got more heart in this little, teeny, tiny, minuscule, spaghetti string bicep than the most of you got your whole damn body. When we were the World Tag Team Champions, you loved us, you threw streamers for us, you popped champagne with us. And now we’re back, and damn well know we’re better than everybody. We’re Rhett Titus and Kenny King, the best damn tag team in the world.”
Titus says, “Now we’re going to do a segment called, ‘Wrestlers read mean tweets.” ‘All Night Express came out, and it was a mass exodus to the bathroom.’” Kenny points someone in the crowd, “You were probably the one who said that.” Titus continues, “We also got this one, ‘The All Night Express always remind me of a terrible overrated tag team.’” Titus points at someone in the crowd, “Was that you boy?” King address CHZB, “Cheeseburger, we’re the same dudes, we haven’t changed. I’m still carrying on as the Emperor of the City.” Fans boo. King responds, “How dare you treat me like that?” Titus says “You should have been throwing rose petals at his feet, when he walked into the building, that’s right!”
King continues, “Titus has got, and you might not be able to see this because he’s wearing the All Night Express t-shirt, available only at ROHWrestling.com, but Titus has got abs! Which now you ARE going to see, cuz he’s taking his damn shirt off. He’s got shoulders, he’s got eyes that hypnotize. Titus woah, don’t take your pants off in here! We’re still the same. But no, you’d rather cheer for spot monkeys with tassels on their legs like the Young Bucks. You’d rather cheer for those damn farmer rednecks the Briscoe Boys. You all look like you smell just like those bearded stinky chumps War Machine. Y’all even like Cheeseburger more than us.” Fans chant “Cheeseburger!” King says, “And that kind of means that you’re like us, but you’re also kinda like them. You’re smart dude, you know our catch phrase, read it on the back of the shirt, ‘If you ain’t runnin with us, you better run from us.’ And your ass ain’t running with us.” King turns around and decks CHZB, Titus joins in with stomps.
Kelly says, ‘You ran away from this company when you were the champ! And it’s not the fans fault, you can’t beat War Machine!” They go to leave, but come back in, pick CHZB up again, throws him in the air, and King nails a sidewalk spinning backbreaker. Titus connects off the top rope and Cheeseburger is not moving. War Machine runs to the ring, the Briscoes run to the ring, ANX to the outside. King says “There’s your damn heroes, look at this.” All 4 men stand in the ring yelling at ANX as ANX walks up the ramp. The Briscoes pick up War Machine’s ROH Tag Team belts and stand there looking at them. War Machine slowly turn, grab their belts back, and both teams exchange shots as we cut to commercial.
A rerun of the same promo from last week is shown, in which Jay Lethal and Truth talk about Hirooki Goto.
Hirooki Goto vs Jay Lethal for the ROH World Championship
After the commercial, it is main event time! Goto’s image appears on the screen. Kelly tell us, “Opportunities at the IWGP Championship have slipped through his fingers, leaving Goto to wonder which way he should go, what path he should take with his career.” MW3 says, “I don’t always agree, I don’t like the things he says or does, but when truth Martini does Jay Lethal is the greatest, there is no denying it. He’s the champion for a reason.” Jay Lethal hits the apron, poses with the belt, and streamers litter the ring. We go to Bobby Cruise for the introductions. “This is your main event, scheduled for one fall, for the ROH World Championship. Introducing first, the challenger out of Kuwana, Mei, Japan, Hirooki Goto. Accompanied by Truth Martini & Taeler Hendrix, wrestling out of Elizabeth, New Jersey, weighing 230 pounds, he’s the greatest first generation wrestler, Jay Lethal.” And we go to commercial.
When we return from break, the bell rings, and we’re off. Lethal grabs Goto and sends him to the corner, delivers stomps to the midsection, throws Goto off the ropes, Goto ducks a clothesline and then hits a shoulder block. Goto throws Lethal, reversal, armdrag, reversal, Lethal goes down. Goto kick, chop to the back, and then flips Lethal over, hooks the leg, cover 1, kickout. Kelly tells us, “Goto is attempting to become the second Japanese-born ROH champion (Takeshi Morishima). In the coming weeks, we will see Kenny Omega vs. ACH, plus the YB and reDRagon will be in action.” Goto is in full control, drops a forearm, Irish whip, but then runs into a boot by Lethal, and clothesline. Taeler Hendrix is on the outside, cheering on Lethal in her low-cut dress. Goto sets Lethal up on the turnbuckle, delivers three forearms, climbs to the top rope, but Hendrix climbs up on the apron. As Goto is distracted, Lethal slides underneath, drops Goto’s head to the turnbuckle, and then throws him to the outside. Lethal with a suicide dive through the middle rope, knocks Goto onto the ramp. Truth enters the ring, Hendrix poses on the apron, and Truth does a Truth-a-rooni. Lethal slides back into the ring to break the count, then goes back to the outside to get Goto, and throws him in the ring. Lethal covers Goto with a lax pin attempt without hooking the leg, and Goto kicks out. Lethal sends Goto to the corner and delivers about 10 stomps. Lethal goes back to the middle of the ring and poses for the crowd. Lethal picks up Goto, snapmare takeover, Lethal hooks in a headlock, and we cut to commercial.
We are back, Jay Lethal in control. Lethal delivering forearms to Goto’s head, until Goto stands up and gestures “Hit me again!” Chop chop, Lethal runs the ropes, Goto runs the ropes, and turns Lethal inside out with a clothesline. Goto delivers forearm, forearm, forearm, Irish whip to the corner, and then a spinning heel kick in the corner. Goto goes for the Saito suplex, Lethal fights out, goes for Lethal Injection, Goto fights out and hits a suplex, cover, 1-2, Lethal kicks out. Goto picks Lethal up on the shoulders, Lethal fights out, nails a big forearm, but Goto returns with a headbutt that knocks Lethal out cold. Lethal is dead on his feet. Goto picks him up on his shoulders, delivers an AA-style backbreaker on the knee, but Lethal somehow kicks out again. Hendrix reaches into the ring and grabs for Goto’s leg, but Goto turns around and steps on her hand. Lethal throws Goto into the ropes, Truth goes to smash him with the Book of Truth, but Goto stops him, stands up and turns around, but it met by a dropkick by Lethal, handstand DDT Lethal Injection, 1-2-3.
Winner and still ROH World Champion: Jay Lethal.
As the HoT poses in the ring, a returning Donovan Dijak runs down the ramp. He gets into the ring and exchanges forearms with Lethal, as the bell rings calling for the extracurricular action to stop. Lethal runs the ropes, but Dijack clotheslines him to the outside. Truth climbs in the ring and slams the Book of Truth across Dijack’s back. Dijack smiles, laughs and does the slow turn, as Truth apologizes and begs for his life. As Truth is backing up, he runs into Prince Nana, Truth turns back around around, and catches a big boot to the jaw from Dijack. The fans chant “You just killed him.” Dijack stands tall as the announcers say, “We have to get some help for Truth.”
ROH World Television champion Roderick Strong called into Busted Open Radio last week and spoke with Doug Mortman and Dave LaGreca about Final Battle, ROH TV’s move to Comet and more. Here are some highlights:
ROH moving from Destination America to Comet:
“It is obviously something that’s a little upsetting, the fact that we lost Destination America, just based off that exposure. But it’s a thing with their channel that they’re trying to get away from wrestling and I feel, honestly, it’s their loss. With this Comet TV opportunity, it gives us the chance to be a focal point and also try to help the network itself which is kind of something we did with HDNet before, where it was not very well known and we were kind of trying to help each other out like a buddy system. I think that’s the same situation we’re in now with Comet TV and I think obviously with the more exposure that we’ve had, this is just a bigger opportunity for Comet TV and us. I hope it just continues to add to the exposure and we just make the best of it.”
Paranormal programming on Destination America:
“The fact that people watch shows like that is ridiculous. I’ve sat on that channel and I’ve watched some of it and I’m like, ‘There is no way people are thoroughly entertained by this kind of thing.’ But I guess they had some special and it did really well in ratings and it’s something they want to go more towards, which is fine with me because I know what Ring of Honor brings to the table and I really think they’re missing out.”
Tune into Busted Open Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 2-4pm ET on SiriusXM Rush 93 and on the SiriusXM App on your smartphone.
Ring Of Honor star Roderick Strong recently appeared as a guest on The Two Man Power Trip Of Wrestling podcast to talk about a number of current topics. Below are some of the highlights from the interview.
On his feud with Jay Lethal and their recent ROH title match: “It was two guys going out there with something to prove and nothing got settled. I know Jay Lethal is probably not happy about this but August 21st I have my rematch and we can finally settle this.”
On the chemistry between the two: “I think it’s the ability to be aggressive. I’ve said in promos that I like to push the pace and I really do. In the ring there are certain matches where I like to just challenge my opponent and not in a bad way to try and embarrass them but I like to challenge somebody enough to up their aggression. Jay is a classic wrestler like me in a sense that you feed off of that and respond to it well. He is a fantastic professional wrestler that really loves the sport and understands it and I feel I’m the same. A lot of it is reaction based and I think that is what makes our chemistry so unique.”
On what is the key factor to building a true rematch: “It’s going to be a lot more intense than our first match up. Obliviously we didn’t settle what we needed to be settled and when you have a first match up like that in this kind of situation and you set the bar so high, it’s a challenge for you to go in there and see if you can top it and the thing that is great is being able to go in there with someone like Jay Lethal. We are very competitive and we want to be considered the best in the world (both of us) doing what we do. I think we are going to try and make that even better but different.”
On how to prepare for his upcoming IWGP Title match vs. Kazuchika Okada: “It’s another situation of facing somebody that many people consider the best or one of the best in the world. I am a competitive person so for me to see the match ups he has had with other people and the type of wrestler he is it’s a challenge for me to top the type of stuff he has done with other people around the world. It has people talking about us, having one of the best match ups in Ring of Honor history if not in the world and to prove that I am one of the best wrestlers currently participating in professional wrestling today.”
On if he sees himself as the MVP of Ring of Honor: “Honestly, the way I look at stuff is I go out there and do my job. My goal when I started wrestling is go at the highest level possible and I feel like I’m just starting to hit the prime of my career. For people to consider what I’ve been doing to be the MVP or (this) being the best year of my career, it makes me happy but it also motivates me to make the rest of this year and the rest of my career even better. I am always hard on myself and I’m trying to just improve as much as I possibly can. If it’s up to me, you guys have seen nothing yet.”
Ring of Honor announced on Tuesday that Roderick Strong has signed a new contract with the promotion.
Roderick Strong Re-signs With Ring of Honor
(BALTIMORE, MD) – Ring of Honor announced Tuesday that Roderick Strong, aka Mr. ROH, has re-signed with the company. The “Triple Crown Champion” was most recently featured as a challenger for the Ring of Honor World Championship against Jay Lethal at Death Before Dishonor XIII in Baltimore. The spectacular match ended in a draw as the wrestlers battled through the 60-minutes of regulation time allotted for World Championship matches.
“I’ve set the bar really high for myself and anyone who comes after me,” Strong said. “I’ve got unfinished business in Ring of Honor and winning that ROH World Championship for a second time is of the utmost importance!”
Strong will once again find himself battling with champions as he takes on IWGP Champion “Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada at Field of Honor in Brooklyn, NY on August 22nd.
September 30, 2015 will begin Strong’s 13th year with Ring of Honor, as he continues to exemplify Ring of Honor’s pride for having the best wrestling on the planet. More information about Roderick Strong, including upcoming appearances and featured products, can be found on ROHWrestling.com.
The following matches are being advertised for this Friday’s Ring Of Honor: “Death Before Dishonor XIII” iPPV event that will be taking place at the William J. Myers Pavilion in Baltimore, Maryland.
– Jay Lethal vs. Roderick Strong for the ROH Title
– Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian vs. War Machine vs. Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly vs. The Kingdom in a four corner survival match for the ROH Tag Titles
Ring of Honor TV Taped June 20 in New York, New York at Terminal 5 Aired July 15 on Destination America and previously in ROH syndication Report by Jason Powell of ProWrestling.net
[Q1] The opening video aired and then Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino checked in on commentary. Corino noted that this is ROH’s 199th episode…
1. Adam Page (w/BJ Whitmer, Colby Corino) vs. Matt Sydal. Footage aired of the tag match both wrestlers worked at Best in the World. Colby cleaned the ropes, pulled up the knee pads of Page, and then removed his jacket. Page declined to shake hands before the match. At ringside, Page pulled Colby in front of a sliding dropkick from Sydal. Whitmer ran Sydal into the barricade. [C] An ad for the Philadelphia and Brooklyn shows aired.
Page spent the next few minutes working over Sydal. However, Sydal came back and hit a Shooting Star Press (Air Bourne) and got the in. After the match, the heels attacked Sydal. ACH ran out for the save, but he was outnumbered. Whitmer held ACH and had him watch while Page performed a reverse piledriver that drove Sydal onto a chair. Corino put it over by talking about how Sydal needed medical attention…
[Q2] [C] The broadcast team recapped the post match attack, then shifted their focus to promoting the Death Before Dishonor iPPV…
Veda Scott came out and interrupted the broadcast team and took a microphone. She said Moose three times and then said he tried to be a successful football player and he failed. She said he tried to be a successful wrestler and then Cedric Alexander put a wrench in that plan. Get it? Veda said her guidance would help Cedric beat Moose when they meet at the iPPV…
2. Silas Young vs. Will Ferrara. Silas jawed at the fans before the match. He shook Ferrara’s hand and then shoved it aside. Silas dominated the match, but Dalton Castle’s boys came out and distracted him. Ferrara rolled up Young for the win. Afterward, Silas attacked both of Castle’s boys and left them lying…
The broadcast team hyped the TV Title match main event…
[Q3] The Briscoes cut a promo about the 200th episode, which the broadcast team previously noted would contain some of the company’s finest television moments… [C]
Mandy Leon hosted the Inside ROH segment and focussed on the Moose vs. Cedric Alexander feud… Ring entrances for the main event took place…
3. Jay Lethal vs. Mark Briscoe for the ROH TV Title. Roderick Strong sat in on commentary and said he wasn’t surprised by Lethal winning both titles at Best in the World. At ringside, Truth wound up to hit Mark with the Book of Truth, but ODB showed up and caused a distraction and chased Truth away. Mark took control and ran Lethal into the barricade a couple times before rolling him back inside the ring.
[Q4] [C] ODB and Truth were both at ringside. Strong said he felt that Mark winning this match would benefit him because Lethal would be weakened mentally. Donovan Dijak ran in and tried to attack Briscoe, but Mark roughed him up and cleared him from the ring. However, Lethal used the distraction to hit a kick on Briscoe to take control.
Lethal came back with a kick and then went for Lethal Injection, but Mark countered with a German suplex and sent Lethal to the floor. Mark followed with an awkward looking Cactus Jack elbow. [C] ODB pulled Truth off the apron as Briscoe went up top. J Diesel ran out. Dijak tried to interfere, but Jay Briscoe ran out and roughed them up. Mark hit froggy bow for a two count.
Lethal ended up performing a suicide dive onto ODB on the floor. Mark tried to pull him back in the ring, but he was low blowed by Diesel while the referee was checking on ODB. Lethal hit the Lethal Injection for the win.
After the match, Jay Briscoe entered the ring and traded punches with Jay Lethal. Briscoe got the better of it until he was jumped by Dijak and Diesel. Strong entered the ring and roughed up the minions before throwing a series of chops at Lethal, who fled the ring.
Strong took the mic and asked Lethal where he was going. Strong said there were three of them (he and the Briscoes) and three members of the House of Truth. He challenged them to a six-man tag for next week on the 200th episode of ROH TV. ODB took the mic and said no. She called for an eight-person tag match that added her and Truth Martini to the mix. The crowd popped…
A narrator hyped the iPPV and various matches as graphics were shown to close the show.
Ring Of Honor wrestler Roderick Strong recently spoke with Marc Madison of News Hub about a number of different ROH and TNA related topics. Below are some highlights from the interview.
On his training under Jim ‘The Anvil’ Niedhart: “It came about because my dad and dad’s buddy’s wife worked at a doctor’s office and she was actually the front desk receptionist. Jim Niedhart would come in there because it was his local physician and one day my dad’s buddy called him and said hey, do you want to be a pro wrestler and my dad was sure. My dad had an athletic background so even though he was a little bit of an older man about 38-39 years old, he was why not it would be a good hobby and was always about trying to stay in the best shape as he possibly can. I didn’t know who the trainer was at the time. Being a big wrestling fan and being so young 12 at the time, my parents were separated so my dad said I’m going to bring you to this practice but you have to be well behaved. I started freaking out when I realized exactly who it was and that I would be going there 3 times a week. Eventually from going and watching Jim just saw how excited I got about going. He eventually let me get in the ring and play around. It was just something from watching it visually and studying it so much that it I was able to do at the moment and something I saw that it was something I could do. He saw a little something in me.”
On working with Austin Aries and Alex Shelley: “It’s been noted that in Ring of Honor that it was Gabe Sapolsky’s idea of putting us together as a group and none of us really knowing each other, other than saying hello at different shows. We did that and it was as fantastic opportunity for me and the others. He thought we were ready for that but it says a lot about him (Gabe). We made history together as a team. The four of us together including Jack Evans helped to save Ring of Honor and it always holds such a special place in my heart.
In TNA, it was something where they saw how hot Generation Next was and they wanted to do something similar but I felt they wanted it as proactive and putting in themselves in people’s faces because we had some fantastic chemistry. I had fun doing it and the fact that every single one of them are great wrestlers. I can’t really complain being in the ring with those guys.”
Ring Of Honor performer Roderick Strong recently sat down for an interview to discuss a wide variety of topics. Below are some highlights from the interview.
On the differences between TNA & ROH: “Well obviously the way I was used in both companies was vastly different. To me that would be the biggest thing that stood out. I thought my time in TNA went about as well as it possibly could for what it was. With me being as young as I was and them trying to highlight the x division like they did. I had an opportunity to have some really good matches there. I was blessed and lucky to be put in divisions where I could showcase my talent at both places.”
On his future aspirations: “I don’t see myself going into the tag team division. I see myself winning the number one contender’s match that I have June 19th live on pay per view and then I see myself going on to beat whoever is world champion either Jay Lethal or Jay Briscoe. So I see being the Ring of Honor world champion again in my future.”
On ROH’s move to Destination America: “My thoughts are its great. What it means for Ring of Honor is 40-50 million homes get a chance to tune in and watch us do what we do best. That is be the best pure wrestling company on the planet. I think it can open a lot of eyes and help with this continual growth that Ring of Honor has been on the last couple of years. The timing of it couldn’t be better I feel. Sinclair is a company that has a better understanding of what who and what Ring of Honor is. I think Ring of Honor is just starting to hit its stride and I think the next six months is going to be really interesting for us.”
Check out the complete interview by clicking here.
– Roderick Strong and Chris Hero were backstage at TNA’s recent Impact Wrestling tapings.
– “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero’s is back with TNA and will be doing some commentary with Josh Matthews. There’s some speculation that he’ll be returning to the ring soon, as he’s been wrestling in Puerto Rico in recent months.
– Bully Ray talks about his return to TNA on last week’s Impact Wrestling where he served as the surprise guest referee for the main event between TNA Champion Kurt Angle and Eric Young:
Jeff Jarrett has been contacting a number of talents to be part of his upstart Global Force Wrestling promotion in recent weeks.
Jarrett is apparently going after signed talents that have their deals with Ring Of Honor or TNA expiring soon, as well as unsigned talents.
The biggest name that GFW has reportedly reached out to is Roderick Strong, however there are rumors of talks with Team 3D, Chris Masters and Shelton Benjamin as well.
Jarrett has Sonjay Dutt and Scott D’Amore working on the office side of things for the promotion, and Dutt has been the one calling most of the aforementioned talents.
Regarding the offers to talents, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that Jarrett has been offering the possibility of working 39 dates with the promotion.
As far as the rumors of Eric Bischoff being part of the promotion, Jarrett is denying these claims. Regarding Bischoff, Jarrett stated, “If GFW and BHE (Bischoff-Hervey Enterprises) are going to work together, we will not announce it at a Q&A in the U.K. They obviously heard what they wanted to hear.”
– One-half of the former TNA World Tag-Team Champions, Eddie Edwards, got married this past weekend in Texas. Other wrestlers such as Roderick Strong, Matt Tavern, Adam Cole, Davey Richards and his girlfriend Angelina Love were among those in attendance for the ceremony.
– Talents within TNA have been told that they are free to work for other pro wrestling promotions as long as they don’t have television deals, meaning they are able to work for internet pay-per-view shows and other companies without television deals. While the talents in TNA were told they can’t work for Ring Of Honor, as TNA considers them competition, many TNA talents are currently looking to secure bookings with such independent promotions as EVOLVE and Pro Wrestling Guerilla.
Former TNA star Christopher Daniels recently spoke with the folks at Kayfabe Kickout about his decision to leave TNA, return to ROH and more. Below are some highlights from the interview.
On whether he saw the move coming that he would have to eventually leave TNA: “I was definitely surprised and disappointed. I knew that we (Frankie and myself) weren’t being used as a top tag-team despite being told repeatedly that we were one of the most entertaining acts on the roster, but I figured that there was an ebb and flow to it all, and once TNA signed Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards, I assumed there’d be an opportunity for us to come back into the spotlight in a feud against them. But that wasn’t the case.”
On whether sees himself in the ROH Title picture after his match with Roderick Strong at Supercard of Honor IX: “Well, I believe that as one of the first talents to work at the main event level in RoH, I can always be looked upon as a viable contender to the heavyweight title. But a lot of that depends on the future for Frankie and me as a tag team, which I feel is very positive at this point.”
On working with Alberto El Patron (Alberto Del Rio): “I was very proud that the company viewed me as a potential opponent for Alberto. I felt that it was a sign of their confidence in me as a wrestler to put me in such a high-profile match.”
– Ring Of Honor announced that Alberto Del Rio (aka Alberto El Patron) will face Roderick Strong at the January 31st event at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Dayton, Ohio. For more details, visit ROHWrestling.com.
– WWE Hall Of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin celebrates his 50th birthday today. Austin was born on December 18, 1964. Other wrestling birthdays today include fellow Hall of Famer Trish Stratus (39) and Rob Van Dam (44).