-Missed last week's show because the baseball game went long, and I only got the first 25 minutes or so on my DVR. I couldn't be bothered to sign up on RoH's website to be able to watch the show there.
-LAST WEEK: Jay Lethal went to a time limit draw against Mike Bennett in a TV title match. Despite being the challenger, Bennett did not want the five extra minutes, even though Lethal did.
-Pre-match video for Kyle O'Reilly VS Roderick Strong. Strong only took the match because O'Reilly is on Team Richards. Strong has a life outside wrestling, while Team Richards doesn't, which Strong apparently finds amusing.
-Match 1: Kyle O'Reilly VS Roderick Strong (w/Truth Martini)
-Martini is on color commentary. Martini issues an open challenge on behalf of Strong for Final Battle. Strong counters a leg lock with the Labelle Lock. O'Reilly takes control of the match with kicks and strikes. O'Reilly gets a Northern Lights suplex for two. Strong comes back with a back breaker for two. Strong pounds on O'Reilly as we go to commercial.
Back from break, O'Reilly charges into a boot, followed by an enziguiri. Martini goes back to ringside, as O'Reilly hits an overhead throw. O'Reilly hits a hurricarana, and follows up with a missile dropkick for two. O'Reilly hits a series of three butterfly suplexes for two. Strong almost KO's O'Reilly with a run of forearm shots, and follows up with a Blue Thunder bomb for two. Strong hits Death From Above for two. Strong locks on the Stronghold, but O'Reilly makes it to the ropes. O'Reilly counters a half-nelson back breaker with a crucifix for two.
O'Reilly counters a tilt-a-whirl with a DDT, and locks on a guillotine choke. Strong gets out by almost pinning O'Reilly, and quickly scores with the Sick Kick for the win. Good opener.
-Truth tells O'Reilly that Team Richards produces losers. Michael Elgin runs in for a 2-on-1, and he & Strong hit a powerbomb/lungblower combo on O'Reilly. Another member of Team Richards rushes in, but he gets taken out. Davey Richards runs out, but he gets swarmed. Eddie Edwards finally comes out to even the odds. Richards hits the Alarm Clock on Martini. A member of the crew gets hurt in the process.
-After a commercial break, Jim Cornette fines Martini, Strong, & Elgin $2,500 for starting the fight. A couple plants chant for Kevin Steen, but Jim Cornette shuts them down.
-INSIDE RING OF HONOR: Kevin Kelly states that either TV Champion Jay Lethal and former RoH World champion Eddie Edwards are the two men in the running for the World title match at Final Battle. They both share their thoughts.
Next week, Cedric Alexander & Caprice Coleman are challenging RoH Tag Team Champions Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team to a "Proving Ground" match, and if Alexander & Coleman win, they get an automatic title shot within 90 days.
-Match 2: Alex Silva VS Tomasso Ciampa (w/Prince Nana & Ernesto Osiris)
-Steve Corino is on commentary. Silva is not an RoH regular, and Ciampa is still undefeated, so it doesn't look good for Silva. Ciampa starts off hot and tries to finish right away with an exposed knee to the face, but Silva pulls Ciampa outside. Ciampa hits a suplex on the floor. Back in the ring, Ciampa pound on Silva. Silva tries, but Ciampa hits a low dropkick to Silva's knee, and punts him in the face. Silva fights back, but Ciampa hits a neckbreaker, the running knee to the face four times, and finishes with the Project Ciampa. OK squash, and I still love me some Ciampa.
-Match 3 with the winners getting a tag team title shot at Final Battle: The Briscoe Brothers VS The All Night Express
-They don't even wait for the ring introductions to start the fight. ANX control the first few minutes. Titus whips Mark into a King spinning kick for two. King hits Mark with a running clothesline for two. Mark holds King for a running clothesline from Jay. Jay pounds on King in the corner as we go to break.
Back from break, Briscoes hit King with a double team shoulder block. Jay knocks Titus off the ring apron, so he can't tag King. King is the face-in-peril. Briscoes hit King with a powerbomb/neckbreaker combo, but Titus makes the save. King fights off the Jay Driller, and makes the hot tag. Titus hits Jay with a corner dropkick, King hits shotgun knees, and Titus finishes with the sequence with a standard dropkick. Jay hits King with a spine buster. Jay gets Titus up top, but stops to talk smack, and takes Snake Eyes.
Mark lays Titus out with a Diamond Cutter from the top. King drops Mark, but then takes a spike DDT from Jay. ANX go for their powerbomb/blockbuster combo on Mark, but Jay shoves King off the top, then helps Mark hurricarana Titus for the pin. Decent main event, but it lost a lot by becoming more about the Briscoes' pursuit of the tag titles, and less about their long-running feud with the ANX.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: I like this format a lot more. A lot less time wasting and more wrestling equals a better show. They just need to work on having more matches without obvious outcomes, as that hurt all three matches on this show.
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