Mitchell’s Ring of Honor Report! (7/15/17)

ROH Wrestling TV, Episode 304

Steven Mitchell
Jul 21, 2017 · 16 min read

All images courtesy of the Fite.TV app and streaming service

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Jonathan Gresham VS “Punishment” Damien Martinez; Martinez wins.
  • The Tempura Boyz VS Cheeseburger & Joey “Diesel” Daddiego; Cheeseburger & Daddiego win.
  • Six Man Tag: The Bullet Club’s Hangman Adam Page & The Young Bucks VS Bully Ray & The Briscoes; The Bullet Club wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

As promised, The American Nightmare is redoing his championship coronation.

ROH World Heavyweight Champion, Cody (Rhodes), was interrupted last week by the former champion, Christopher Daniels. Between starting that brawl and then saying things “too offensive” to repeat on air, The Fallen Angel is NOT allowed his retort. The fans here say “you deserve it,” as well as chanting his name, Cody agrees he deserves it. He thanks them for that “generous ovation.” The Prince is now the King, and “we march on everybody!” Christopher Daniels-”Boo…!” — he’s got “boo-boo face.” Like, he’s “lost his smile.” Look at Cody’s stitched up smile. There’s a reason for those stitches, it’s because Cody wrestles every night he can and “it isn’t exclusively for Ring of Honor.” Therefore, full disclosure, Cody is not actually signed with ROH. Sinclair Broadcasting doesn’t own the title, the Rhodes Family does! “Too Sweet! Too Sweet!” Cody is a self-aware competitor, so he knows others don’t see him fitting of the ROH style. Cody wants to make this not just a rematch with Daniels, do it 2 outta 3 falls. The fans like that! And Cody loves them. Cody is amazed at the “discord and distate” ROH management has with him. It’s because Cody’s “steroid free, full-time” and THE World Champion! Cody has stated his piece, can he beat Daniels not only once, but twice in the same match?

Jonathan Gresham VS “Punishment” Damien Martinez!

Team Search & Destroy has disbanded The Rebellion and is now moving forward, can The Octopus overcome the Reincarnation of the Purple Mist? Martinez towers over Gresham but that doesn’t intimidate him. Martinez shoves Gresham away, Gresham comes back, and again, even giving Martinez a pie-face. Martinez lunches, Gresham goes for the wheelbarrow but Martinez powers out of it. Gresham ducks the clothesline and leaps onto a sleeper hold. Martinez just pries the hold off, Gresham tries the guillotine. Martinez powers out of that, Gresham scrambles around to try his Octopus Stretch but Martinez powers out again to tilt-o-whirl Gresham back into that sleeper. Martinez backs up, Gresham slips down and lets Martinez run into the buckles on his own. The fans cheer Gresham’s daring as he ducks a back hand, then side steps in the corner, kicking Martinez’s leg from underneath. Martinez walks it off, annoyed by Gresham. Gresham gives him finger guns, Martinez rushes at Gresham and traps him in a corner. Gresham slips under but takes a back elbow, Martinez whips him corner to corner but is reversed. Gresham uses the foot brake but Martinez still pulls Gresham up and tosses him high, arm drag from Gresham throws Martinez. The fans applaud, but Martinez is just annoyed. Gresham rushes in, Martinez moves so Gresham goes up and onto Martinez’s shoulders. Gresham spins and throws Martinez again. Gresham is still taunting and Martinez is still annoyed. Martinez rushes Gresham, Gresham tries a drop toehold but Martinez is too tall and strong. Martinez grabs Gresham around the throat, the ref warns him to stop that, Gresham slips out and around to pop the knee joint back! Martinez hobbles to a corner, Gresham goes after the leg. Martinez shoves him away, Gresham comes back, Martinez shoves him down but Gresham dodges the stomp so Martinez only further tweaks his own knee. Gresham keeps on that bad leg, Martinez reverses Gresham’s whip to put him in a corner. Martinez runs into a boot, Gresham hops up and jumps but is caught. Martinez pops him up into Alabama Slam position but instead swings Gresham around into a backbreaker!

Martinez in control of the Octopus, we go to commercials.

We return to see Gresham fighting back as he kicks the bad leg but Martinez gives him a knee with the good leg. Martinez runs and goes to springboard, Gresham sweeps Martinez’s legs out from under him! Martinez tumbles to the mat, Gresham gets running, springboard moonsault caught, tilt-o-whirl delayed by Martinez’s strength, but Gresham gets that last bit to hit the DDT. Martinez gets outside the ring, Gresham speeds up, only to fake Martinez out with a slide. Gresham goes up to a corner post to moonsault off!

The fans are fired up but Martinez gets back to his feet and staggers into the ring. Gresham goes up again, flying crossbody hits, Martinez out at one. Gresham’s surprised but he goes right at Martinez, only to get driven into the mat by a boot! Martinez backs off, corner to corner splash and the clothesline, then the roar and the stiff right hand! Martinez suplexes Gresham up for a Falcon Arrow, TWO. Martinez isn’t frustrated, he’s just seething. Martinez stands up and raises a hand to call for that choke slam. He grabs Gresham but Gresham kicks that bad knee and gets free, only to come back into a double choke grip. Martinez pops Gresham up, Gresham uses a huricanrana counter, Gresham rolls through to then drop knees on Martinez’s knee. Figure Four wanted but Martinez powers out again. Martinez walks it off, builds up speed and launches off the second rope but Gresham counters into a rolling Boston Crab, but Gresham knots the legs together into an Indian Deathlock!

Martinez endures, it becomes a pin as his shoulders come down, TWO. Martinez grabs Gresham by the throat again! Gresham punches, Martinez punches back, Gresham puts on the pressure to the bad knee. Martinez gets the ropebreak, Gresham releases him. Gresham wants the fans to fire up, they do, he gets running but runs into Martinez’s lariat. Martinez wants the spinning roundhouse but his bad leg gives out! With Martinez on his knees, Gresham hits an enziguri! Gresham calls to end it, he gets the wheelbarrow and uses it for a victory roll facebuster. Gresham points to the top rope and goes up. Gresham takes aim, Shooting Star!

TWO! But Gresham was smart enough to hold that bad leg, Ankle Lock! Martinez endures as he powers out, the two are on opposite ends of the ring. Martinez rushes Gresham but gets dumped out, Gresham builds speed and DIVES!

Only to be caught! And then popped up, held up high — Gresham quickly prays — Last Ride to the apron!!

Martinez gets Gresham in the ring, the fans are losing their minds, Gresham is brought up for a roundhouse and then the Torture Rack, which becomes the Psycho Driver!

Martinez wins! However, he’s not satisfied, he wants to make Gresham pay. So it’s a good thing Jay White rushes out to the rescue!

White throws forearm after forearm, Martinez grabs him by the throat, Gresham revives to dropkick that bad knee. White gives a European Uppercut, Gresham gives an enziguri, White hits an urinagi slam!

Martinez gets out of the ring, when will he and White settle this once and for all?

Exclusive footage of Bully Ray and the Briscoes shortly after losing the ROH World 6 Man Titles.

Bully and #DemBoyz were NOT in a good mood, mostly because the brothers, Jay and Mark, were arguing over why they lost. Jay got too heated, chasing after Dalton Castle’s Boys, but Mark was the one to eat the pin from The Peacock himself. Bully shouted over their arguing, he agrees with Mark that Jay was distracted, but also agrees with Jay that Mark let himself get pinned. Both brothers are forgetting it’s a trio. He’ll play along with the finger pointing, it’s #DemBoyz’s fault they lost. They either win together or lose together. Can these three keep it together to win again?

The Exotic Goddess has a huge announcement for the #HonorNation.

Mandy Leon wants to let everyone know that in two weeks, episode 306, ROH will give us another special edition of “Women of Honor” wrestling! Women? The Last Real Man, Silas Young, doesn’t think Women’s Wrestling matters. So make yourself useful, Mandy, and hold his sign.

Silas needs to update it and the ROH fans, Jay Lethal has now missed the last 22 days with injury. That’s 22 whole days ROH has not had to listen to the “Golden Boy” boast and brag about his opportunities. Mandy lets Silas know that a lot of fans care about Women’s Wrestling, if you’re paying attention. Again, Episode 306, the Women of Honor get an exclusive episode of ROH TV, don’t miss it!

The Tempura Boyz VS Cheeseburger & Joey “Diesel” Daddiego!

NJPW’s Sho & Yo are back again, but after Will Ferrara turned on him, Cheeseburger is without his Fries. Thankfully he still has his personal trainer and other good friend there for him. Code of Honor handshake upheld, but soon things turn to a food argument: Tempura or beef? Tempura Boyz get upset so they kick and club away on Burger and Diesel. They throw Burger out then focus on Diesel, whipping but he breaks through their double clothesline to give double clotheslines of his own. Seems beef has advantage as Diesel gives corner clotheslines to Sho & Yo then throws Sho with a Fall Away Slam. Burger returns, he lifts Yo but can’t follow through. Burger hands Yo off to Diesel, Diesel gives Yo the same beefy Fall Away Slam. Cover, TWO, so Diesel tags in Burger. They double whip Yo but he reverses to send Burger and “Beef” into each other, then he dropkicks Diesel down. Yo gives Burger a Code Breaker, Sho returns to give Burger a backstabber. Sho insists tempura is better, they double whip Burger and double armdrag him down. Sho kicks, Yo flips, cover after standing moonsault, TWO. Yo brings Burger up and tags Sho, Burger works to fight out of the Tempura corner. Burger is whipped and given the kitchen sink knee, then a stiff kick to the back. The fans rally for Burger, Sho gives a sucker punch to Diesel. Sho bumps Burger off Yo’s boots, tags Yo in, the fans rally as Yo goes up. Burger fights back, headscissors Sho away and stuns Yo with a punch. Burger mule kicks Sho as he rushes back in, then throws Yo off the top onto Sho!

The Tempura Boyz are reeling, Burger takes in Diesel! Diesel rallies on the Tempura Boyz, he beefs up to tag Burger. Burger double knee battering ram, then Diesel gives Sho a spear with some sauce on it!

Burger fires up, powers up that palm, Diesel puts Sho into barriers. Burger swings, misses, SUPERKICK from Yo! Yo pumphandle lifts but Burger slips out, misses once, twice, third time’s the charm for the SHOTEI! Burger and Diesel win! And best of all, Burger’s superfan girls come over the barriers to celebrate with him.

Security ushers them out, Burger is all smiles. Until Ferrara blindsides him! He was in disguise as security to get close to Burger! Ferrara chokes Burger with his shirt, and then throws Burger into barriers!

Ferrara mocks Burger’s fans for being concerned about him, throwing him into barriers on the other side. Daddiego returns and chases Ferrara off, when will Ferrara get what he deserves?

Six Man Tag Match

The Bullet Club’s Hangman Adam Page & The Young Bucks VS Bully Ray & The Briscoes!

While Bully and #DemBoyz are upset over why they lost and who’s to blame, the ROH World Tag Team Champions and Hangman are likewise disappointed in them, as this could’ve/should’ve/would’ve been a World Six Man Tag Team Title match. Even so, The Bullet Club looks to win this match so that they can then move on to the ROH 6 Man champs and further dominate tag team wrestling. No need for the Code of Honor, these trios don’t like each other, but the Bullet Club does Too Sweet themselves. Hangman and Jay Briscoe start, familiar with each other from past battles. They trash talk, Hangman shoves Jay but Jay gives a forearm back, so they brawl with forearms! Hangman kicks and runs, but runs into Jay’s headscissors throw. Hangman staggers, Jay boots him down. Hangman is taken to the Bully-Briscoe corner, tag to Mark who unleashes body shots. Mark keeps on Hangman with forearms and a whip but Hangman reverses to forearm back, then tag to Matt. Matt goes top rope, jumps and shrieks only to be caught into Mark’s exploder suplex! Mark tags Jay, whip and back elbow floors Matt to the mat. Jay gives a EuroUpper, Mark gets a shot in, tag back to Mark. Double suplex but Nick bails his brother out. The Bucks coordinate, assisted springboard crossbody onto both Briscoes!

The fans are fired up as the Bucks double whip Mark, double hip toss and double dropkick. We go to break with the Bullet Club in charge.

When we return, it’s to see that Mark has tagged out to Bully Ray. Bully stares them down as Nick exits the ring. Matt gets forehead to forehead with Bully, trash talking “you want some of this?!” the whole way. Bully doesn’t back down, Matt chops but to no effect. Matt dares Bully to chop back. Bully puts some stank on his hand (aka spits on it) but Matt pokes him in the eyes. Too Sweet, Matt gets running, but then stops to check on Bully. Only to poke him in the eyes again! Matt goes running again, but gets tossed with a body drop, and then finally takes that chop! Nick runs in, takes a hip toss and then a chop from Bully, just like his brother. The Bucks regroup, Bully jabs on both, winds it up, “Suck it!” Two Too Sweet eye pokes for the Bucks! Bully gets running, double SUPERKICKS!

The Briscoes run in, The Bucks are ready, they stop them with kicks then hit the alley-oop double missile dropkick. The Briscoes clear out, Hangman joins the Bucks, Terminator poses and drums.

They rise up, build speed but get dragged out. Bully and Mark hold the Bullet Club in place, Jay builds up speed and… DIVES!

Mark goes up as Jay and Bully set them up, and… Moonsault!

Direct hit from the Sussex County Chicken, but the fans want Bully to give it a go! The Briscoes grab the Bucks, Bully does the Terminator pose. Hangman intercepts has he slingshots in but the Buck Shot is countered with the Bubba Bomb!

Low SUPERKICKS from the Bucks! Nick dives out on Jay, Matt dives out on Mark, and the fans are fired up. The Bucks return to the ring, Nick tags in to stomp away on Bully. Nick tags in Matt, Matt goes up, falling ax handle. Matt wrenches the arm three times, tag to Hangman. Hangman unleashes right hands on Bully at the ropes, grinding a forearm into Bully’s face, and when the referee tells Hangman to back off, Hangman tells the ref to “STFU!” Tag to Matt, Bully’s stuck in the corner, Matt brings him to another. He and Hangman whip Bully corner to corner, Matt rushes in but is put to the apron. Nick has somehow found his way over there, triple kick combo on Bully’s head! Bully staggers, Matt and Hangman double suplex Bully as we go to one more break.

Upon the return, Hangman and Matt set up Bully much like Team 3D would do, Nick going up top to ask “Wassaaap!?” However, Bully powers out to throw Matt and Hangman by his legs, Nick jumps into a cutter!

Nick and Bully are down, Nick rolls to a corner. The fans tell Bully to #ManUp! Bully stands up, tags in Mark. Mark rallies on Matt and Hangman with Redneck Kung Fu. Pele to Matt, Hangman whips but Mark dodges to give a flying chop. Fisherman Buster to Nick, TWO, and Mark is a bit surprised. Tag to Jay, Nick slips away and Hangman returns, only for the Briscoes to give him jabs, chops, and a boot! Matt is back, his kick is blocked and spun into a stiff neckbreaker. Mark grabs Nick, Razor’s Edge neckbreaker!

Mark stacks the Bullet Club in their corner, Bully comes in to tell all three to “Suck it suck it suck it!” Bully runs in, a Buck grabs the ref and brings him in to be squashed along with them! Ref down, the Bucks thrown out, Hangman takes the Briscoe 3D!

No ref to make the count, the Briscoes would’ve won by now. A new ref comes in, counts, but the Bucks drag him out! Bully and Mark come out, go after the Bucks but dodge so that double SUPERKICK hits the new ref!!

Nick is thrown into barriers, Matt is brought around to one side. Jay has Hangman, but the Bullet Club’s Villain, Marty Scurll, appears and attacks with his umbrella!

Jay collapses, Marty hurries out, The Bullet Club wins!

Hangman and the Bucks are all smiles, but clearly frustration is mounting in Bully and #DemBoyz. Jay throws a chair in frustration, Mark throws one of the time keepers and then they both go after security staff. Bully himself is seething, when will all this anger boil over into a full blown rampage?

My Thoughts:

Another spectacular night of wrestling from ROH. Punishment Martinez is building his way to being a top Heel in this company just on his monstrous height and combination of strength and speed. Gresham did great in this match to make a case for how you can weaken Martinez, going after those legs. Martinez shows he has monstrous fortitude as well by turning the tide with one move. Martinez and White aren’t through with each other just yet, though, as White saves his friend from Martinez’s wrath, there’s a good chance Martinez will return the favor by costing White the ROH World Television Championship next week. A shame in a way, since White VS Kushida is a great match up. The Tempura Boyz going against Burger and Joey “Beef” Daddiego was good, these teams are featured in the “Future of Honor” events ROH has been holding lately and for good reason as they both have quality wrestling and character skills. I think those superfans of Burger’s were plants for the sake of Ferrara getting an opening to attack Burger. Oddly, I feel like Ferrara shouldn’t have bothered attacking Burger, he beat him down after losing to the Young Bucks and that should’ve been that. Though as the commentators implied, this might be a bit of jealousy sprouting from how the fans still love Burger more than “Fries” and that Burger so easily moved on to teaming exclusively with Daddiego now.

Silas Young did very little yet so much to build himself as a Heel during Mandy Leon’s special announcement. Denouncing women’s wrestling at a time when women’s wrestling is going through its “evolution”, classic misogynistic male Heel work right there and it’s still effective.

If tonight was any indication, The Bullet Club are the Heels everyone loves like Faces. Cody, who was once getting good Heel heat for being the condescending and rebellious “Free agent”, was getting and acknowledging the cheers the fans were giving him. And whether he’s Heel or Face, Cody VS Daniels 2 in a Best 2 outta 3 is highly anticipated by this crowd and the rest of the ROH fanbase to be sure. Then the main event, all the Heelish antics are cheered rather than jeered, and with all the great things the Young Bucks can do in that ring, no one is disappointed when they and the Bullet Club wins, even thought it was all dirty and sneaky with the Villain helping out. Whether or not the Bullet Club gets a clear shot at the World 6 Man Tag Titles, the more interesting development is the impending implosion for the Briscoes and Bully Ray. If dissension continues to build, I would love to see it turn into Briscoes turning on Bully, and then D-Von emerges in ROH to make for a Briscoes VS Dudleys match that naturally involves tables.

My Score: 8/10

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