Csonka’s ROH TV Review 10.06.16

Csonka’s ROH TV Review 10.06.16

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– ROH TV Title Match: Champion Bobby Fish defeated EVIL @ 10:35 via submission [**]
– IWGP IC Title Match: Champion Michael Elgin defeated Donovan Dijak @ 11:10 via pin [**¾]
– Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, Yujiro Takahashi, and Adam Page defeated ACH, Alex Shelley, Lio Rush, and Chris Sabin @ 17:05 via pin [***½]

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– Matches for this week and next week were taped at the August Field of Honor event.

– Unfortunately for ROH the place looks embarrassingly empty as attendance was way down this year for the event.

ROH TV Title Match: Champion Bobby Fish vs. EVIL: EVIL attacked at the bell, but Fish quickly fought back and even got the knee bar early but EVIL go the ropes. They fought to the infield, with EVIL posting Fish and then using the chair right in front of the ref. So much for rules as EVIL wraps the chair around Fish’s head and posts him. The ref was RIGHT THERE and we get no DQ. They worked through the break and when we came back, Fish was already fighting back after the devastating chair attack that led to no DQ. Fish hit the XPLODER in the corner for the near fall. EVIL delivered forearms, and then Fish countered the fisherman’s buster and they traded strikes. Samoan drop by Fish followed, but EVIL hit the backdrop suplex. Fish then hit the dragon screw leg whip, and then EVIL got the fisherman’s buster. EVIL then followed with a lariat for a near fall. EVIL ht the sit out powerbomb for another near fall. EVIL called for the STO, Fish escaped and then hit a leg lariat. The falcon arrow (HE DID THE DEAL) followed and then the knee bar, and EVIL taps. Champion Bobby Fish defeated EVIL @ 10:35 via submission [**] This was disappointing. The match had n real flow and was the definition of just doing shit back and forth, never really setting a heat or making EVIL look like a threat. Also, the chair stuff with the ref right there came off poorly without the DQ, something that has been an issue with ROH, the refs and Nigel almost always look dumb.

IWGP IC Title Match: Champion Michael Elgin vs. Donovan Dijak w/Prince Nana: Unfortunate timing here as Elgin is no longer the champion. They did back and forth power spots to begin, leading to Elgin hitting the stalling vertical suplex. A slingshot splash followed and Elgin covered for 2. Dijak fought back with elbow strikes, Elgin cut him off with kicks but Dijak slammed him to the mat. Dijak tried for a suplex, they battle for position and Elgin hit the dead lift suplex. Post break, Elgin hit a lariat and then another which turned Dijak inside out for a near fall. Elgin then hit the powerbomb for 2. Elgin looked for the buckle bomb and got it, but Dijak then hit a sit out powerbomb for 2. They traded strikes center ring, Elgin took control but then ran into the big boot. Dijak hit two more and leveled Elgin. Chokebreaker by Dijak and then the moonsault scored a near fall. They then brawled to the apron, where Elgin scored with a DVD. Elgin up top, Nana gets involved and that allows Dijak to press slam Elgin to the mat. Dijak up top and Elgin follows and hits a German suplex. Backfist by Elgin, and the buckle bomb and Elgin bomb finish it. Champion Michael Elgin defeated Donovan Dijak @ 11:10 via pin [**¾] This was a better match than the opener, and they did some really fun things, but it lacked energy. It felt like a safe house show match with a few cool things thrown in to keep the crowd interested.

Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, Yujiro Takahashi, and Adam Page vs. ACH, Alex Shelley, Lio Rush, and Chris Sabin: They did some back and forth with Rush and the Bucks to begin, with Rush getting the advantage and then taking the commercial break. Post break, Page and Sabin in. Sabin took control, Shelley tagged in and we worked through the various pairings. The faces isolated Nick and worked some double and triple team moves in the corner. They ran wild and did some of the corner combo moves the Bucks like to do. Rush went for a dive and got cut off with the first superkicks of the match. More superkicks followed on the floor, and then Nick hit a dive onto the pile. Bullet Club then took the heat on Rush, and then started to clear out the ring. We took another break, and when we came back, Commentary was lecturing about the difference in acoustics in an outside venue. Bullet Club still had the heat on Rush, we got crotch chops and Rush finally fired back and avoided a superkick and finally got the tag to ACH. He ran wild, hitting a dive and then working over Page and Matt Jackson. ACH brought some much-needed energy to the match and then it broke down as ACH had a near fall. on Page. Rush hit a pair of dives as the Guns scored with double team moves. Takahashi cut off ACH, but the Guns score with double teams on him. Superkicks by the Bucks and then Page hit the shooting star press off the apron. More superkicks followed, sending ACH to the floor. Nick scored with a dive onto the pile, and then ACH wiped out Bullet Club with a sweet dive. Back in Page hit a superkick and then the rite of passage on Sabin (who also ate two superkicks as Page held him) for the win. Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, Yujiro Takahashi, and Adam Page defeated ACH, Alex Shelley, Lio Rush, and Chris Sabin @ 17:05 via pin [***½] That ended up as a fun and chaotic match, exactly what it needed to be and what I wanted from it.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia.”

6.5

The final score: review Average

The 411

This was an overall solid, and an easy hour to watch, but at the end of the day it was a completely skippable show from ROH. I understand the limits of their TV taping schedule, but the lack of PPV follow up always hurts and by airing these matches, they continue to cannibalize their VOD content.