wrestling / TV Reports

Csonka’s ROH TV Review 9.12.18

September 12, 2018 | Posted by Larry Csonka
Jay Lethal vs. Jonathan Gresham ROH Image Credit: ROH
8.8
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Csonka’s ROH TV Review 9.12.18  

Csonka’s ROH TV Review 9.12.18

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Kazarian defeated Mark Briscoe @ 7:55 via pin [**¾]
ROH Title Iron Man Match: Champion Jay Lethal defeated Jonathan Gresham @ 33:50 via pin [2-1] [****½]


Kazarian vs. Mark Briscoe: As the show opens these two are already brawling in the ring, which is a refreshing change to open the show. Mark takes early control until Kazarian rolls him up for 2. The hip toss into a neck breaker follows for 2. Kazarian now lays in chops, and dumps mark to the floor, and the slingshot RANA follows. Mark cuts him off and then hits the blockbuster to the floor. Mark lays in chops and they brawl at ringside until Mark slams Kazarian to the apron. Back in and Mark lays the boots to Kazarian, but Kazarian fires back with rights and hits the backstabber. The code breaker follows and then the corner dropkick connects. Kazarian hits the cyclone suplex and that gets 2. Post break and Jay is out and distracts Kazarian allowing Mark to get a roll up for 2. Mark heads up top, the froggy bow misses and Kazarian cradles him for the win. Kazarian defeated Mark Briscoe @ 7:55 via pin [**¾] This was a pretty good match to open the show, but an overall good angle to continue the Briscoes vs. SCU angle and to also continue the Briscoes/Martinez relationship.

– Post match, the champions beat down Kaz until Daniels & Sky arrived to make the save. Punishment Martinez arrived and the three champions laid out SCU. Punishment Martinez was getting revenge for Sky making the save for Shelly a few weeks back.

– We get a video package of Cody & The Young Bucks winning the six-man titles, Chris Sabin earning a TV title shot, and Jeff Cobb debuting.

The Bouncers (Beer City Bruiser & Brian Milonas) vs. Cheeseburger & Ryan Nova vs. The Dawgs (Titus & Ferrara): We only get some highlights as commentary explains that they want to ensure that we see the complete main event match. The match will be an Honor Club exclusive later on.

ROH Champion Jay Lethal vs. Jonathan Gresham: These two have already had two GREAT matches in 2018; Lethal offered this match to Gresham out of respect for his performances in those matches. They lock up, Jay looks to work the arm, but Gresham quickly escapes. They now work to the corner, and break. They push and shove a bit, lock back up and work into some counters with Jay grounding the action. Gresham counters out and takes control, looking to work the leg as he focuses on the ankle and they work to the feet as Gresham counters into north south position. Jay backdrops out, but Gresham now starts to target the arm of Jay but they work to the ropes. Post break, and Jay hits a shoulder tackle, and follows with the cartwheel dropkick for 2. They trade chops now and Jay lays into Gresham in the corner. The Saito suplex follows and Jay covers for 2. Jay lays the boots to him, but Gresham fires back with chops and they trade again. Jay hits the snap suplex and covers for 2. Jay is completely focused, keeping Gresham grounded and constantly going for pins. The suplex follows and Jay covers for 2. Jay again grounds the action, playing the long game and focusing on control. But he’s on the ground and Gresham escapes and they dare each other to throw chops, Jay absorbs chops and lays in knee strikes as we’re 15-minutes in as Gresham cuts off the charge and attacks the arm and takes control. They work to the floor, trading strikes and Gresham continuing to attack the arm. Gresham hits a hammerlock slam to the apron and then stomps away at the arm and starts working submission on the floor and then stomps away at the arm once again. Back in they go and Gresham immediately grounds the action and is back on the attack of the arm; the cradle gets 2. Gresham’s work is so smooth and flawless here, working from transition to transition as he tortures the arm of Jay. We’re 20-minutes in as Gresham ties up Jay like a pretzel and works into a cradle for 2. Back to he feet, they trade chops, but Jay won’t let Gresham go and he’s getting pissed as they light each other up. Gresham counters the lethal combination into a cradle for 2. Gresham hits the moonsault press, dumps jay to the floor and looks to follow but Jay back in and dropkicks him to the floor and Jay hits the suicide dive. Back in and Jay up top, the elbow drop is blocked, but Jay then hits the lethal combination for 2. Gresham attacks the arm, hits the stunner and German for a great near fall. Gresham hits a snap German and rolling elbow for 2. Gresham quickly transitions to the arm bar but Jay transitions out and Gresham counters lethal injection and gets the octopus hold and strikes and Jay TAPS! 1-0 Gresham. We have about 3-minutes left, and Cabana begs Gresham to get to the floor, but Jay attacks and counters a cradle into the figure four but Gresham is countering it. Jay finally locks it in and cranks back on it. Gresham fights, but is trapped center ring. He keeps fighting, great fighting spirit here as Gresham is fighting to survive, 90-seconds left and Gresham finally taps 1-1. Both men are spent as commentary talks about Gresham’s past knee issues causing him the loss. Gresham keeps going for cradles as time runs down and the crowd rallies behind him as Jay keeps kicking out and time expires with a draw. BUT WAIT, Gresham grabs the mic and says there is no way they can come this far and have this end in a tie. Gresham says if Jay is the champion he thinks he is, he’ll give him 5 more minutes. The crowd wants it and Jay agrees; we’re in sudden death now. They trade strikes right away, going for broke here. Gresham keeps popping up, hits an enziguri and they work into standing switches and Gresham attacks the arm and gets the cradle for 2 The crowd bit HARD on that one. Jay cuts off the octopus and gets the rack into the Finlay roll. Jay heads up top and the elbow drop scores for 2. Gresham hits a RANA and trade exchange cradles and pin attempts but both kick out. Gresham gets the sleeper, but Jay counters out into a cutter and finally hits the lethal injection and puts Gresham away to retain. Champion Jay Lethal defeated Jonathan Gresham @ 33:50 via pin [2-1] [****½] This was an excellent piece of professional wrestling, playing off of their previous matches, and not only paying off the things they did there, but they also improved on them here as this was simply at another level than the previous matches. The best part about the match was no just how great it was, but you didn’t NEED to see the previous matches to get this, it stood alone on its own merits as simply a great match. In terms of a technical wrestling match, it was the best US based one I have seen this year. Those who follow Gresham already know that he’s a great wrestler and overall worker who is extremely consistent and when given the chance, never disappoints. But this was a star-making performance, his best ROH match to date, and he had the crowd behind him, willing him to win down the stretch. If they continue to do nothing with him after this, fuck the Lizard Man. This was the best ROH TV match of 2018 and an easy top 5 ROH match for the year.

– End Scene.

– Thanks for reading.

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“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

8.8
The final score: review Very Good
The 411
This week’s episode of ROH TV was a must-see show, it’s free on Fite TV, so you have no excuses. GO WATCH NOW!
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