Csonka’s ROH TV Review 9.14.16

Csonka’s ROH TV Review 9.07.16

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Jay Lethal, Elgin and O’Reilly defeated Bullet Club @ 19:45 via pin [**¾]
– ROH TV Title Match: Champion Bobby Fish defeated Katsuyori Shibata @ 16:25 via pin [**¾]

---

Jay Lethal, EVIL & Naito/Michael Elgin & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Bullet Club (Adam Cole, Hangman Page & Yujiro Takahashi): EVIL and Takahashi started things off, they did some eel shenanigans and when Cole tagged in, Lethal tagged himself in to chase, but Cole bailed. EVIL was not amused by Lethal tagging himself in, but Naito was all, “tranquillo king of darkness.” Post break, Lethal tagged himself in again when Cole was in, that led to Naito and Lethal arguing. Naito worked with Cole a bit and then teased tagging in Lethal. Lethal would tag in and pummel Cole in the corner. Bullet Club would take control and then Naito short armed Lethal on the tag and Los Ingobernables took a powder. We went through anther commercial break; Bullet Club had control of Lethal, who had been left alone. Cole mocked Lethal as he worked him over. And then Michael Elgin arrived to tag with Lethal and Nigel approved it. Elgin got the tag and ran wild on Bullet Club, which works because Elgin will be challenging for the title. Elgin slammed Page and Takahashi at the same time, and then power slammed Cole for a near fall. The numbers eventually got to Elgin, and then Kyle O’Reilly arrived and Nigel approved him to join the match. This also works because of the Cole and O’Reilly feud, and they beat the hell out of each other. O’Reilly took control of the match, hitting a brainbuster for the near fall. After the third commercial break, O’Reilly was still running wild, getting the am bar on Cole. Cole fought and stomped on O’Reilly’s face for the break. O’Reilly blocked the superkick and laid in a series of strikes to Cole, but Cole managed a superkick and that led to Lethal and Takahashi tagging in. After some back and forth, Lethal hit the lethal injection for the win. The match was pretty good, but was more about showing the top three men looking to take out Cole and to set up Lethal vs. Naito, which worked.

– Bobby Fish cut a promo about being better than anyone else in ROH. Calling out the locker room used to be the thing to do, but now he is after Shibata.

– We see last week’s announcement for Ladder War VI, featuring the Addiction, The Machine Guns and the Bucks.

– We get an Addiction promo, where they promise to retain the titled and prove that they are the best.

– Lethal is still at ringside. He says when your friends stab you in the back it will not go un answered and he will settle his issues with Naito sooner rather than later. Nigel says that at All Star Extravaganza, Lethal will get Naito in a one on one match. Nigel then reminded Lethal about the last time he begged for a match, which was the title loss to Cole.

ROH TV Title Match: Champion Bobby Fish vs. Katsuyori Shibata: They did some back and forth striking and counters to begin, Shibata tried to kick his head off but Fish avoided that. Shibata then took Fish to the mat and worked a figure four. Fish tried to reverse, eventually did for a bit, but Shibata rolled to the ropes for the break. Post break and Fish was in control and working the leg of Shibata, looking to set up the heel hook. Shibata powdered to the floor, and when he rolled back in Fish attacked and hit a sling shot senton to the knee. He continued to assault the knee of Shibata. As Fish worked the knee Prince Nana arrived and joined commentary. He wanted to scout the match because Dijak will face the winner of this match for the title. Fish’s heat segment was long and sort of bland. Shibata eventually fired up and dared Fish to keep kicking him. Shibata then fired up and hit the running dropkick in the corner, and said fuck off to selling the knee as he ran around and hit a suplex for a near fall. Fish avoided the PK, hit a spinebuster and then locked in the heel hook. Shibata then also grabbed a heel hook, and both men tried to make the other submit. They rolled to the ropes and we went to another commercial break. After the break, they traded strikes and then traded suplexes and that led to the double down. As they worked to their feet they traded forearm strikes and Shibata hit the butterfly suplex for a near fall. He ten locked in an arm bar, but Fish countered and then Shibata brought him right back for the arm bar. He transitioned into a triangle, but Fish stacked him up and scored the pin. The work was strong, but this never got going and really lacked intensity. This is the blandest Shibata match I have seen in some time

– Fish and Shibata agree to face off again, which is happening tomorrow at the NJPW DESTRUCTION in Tokyo event. Shibata’s NEVER Openweight Title will be on the line in that match.

– Steve Corino returns next week after his one-year suspension.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia.”

6.5

The final score: review Average

The 411

This was an overall solid show, with pretty good wrestling and build to All Star Extravaganza