David L. Lawrence Convention Center – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – February 8, 2014
Kevin Kelly and Steve Corinoare on commentary. They waste no time in getting right to the first match.
MATCH #1: Adrenaline RUSH (ACH & TaDarius Thomas) vs. The Decade (Jimmy Jacobs & BJ Whitmer w/ Roderick Strong)
It’s nice to see Jacobs and Whitmer as a team again. Jacobs and Thomas start the match. They go back and forth a bit and then tags are made. Whitmer overpowers ACH and tags Jacobs back in. ACH knocks Jacobs to the floor and wipes him out with a dive. Back in the ring Whitmer hurls Jacobs into ACH with a perfect Spear and it’s time for a commercial break.
Upcoming ROH Live Events include February 8 in San Antonio, February 21 and 22 in Philadelphia, March 7 in Milwaukee, March 8 in Chicago Ridge, March 22 in Dayton, and April 4 and 5 in New Orleans. Visit ROH Wrestling Dot Com for more details.
“Ring of Honor Wrestling Vol. 1: The Best of Episodes 1-100″ is available now on DVD. You can order it at ROH Wrestling Dot Com.
We’re back and The Decade is dominating. It doesn’t take long for ACH to get over to his corner and make the hot tag. Thomas is a house afire, unloading on both Jacobs and Whitmer. He sends both of them to the floor and takes them out with a suicide dive. Back in the ring the Decade reclaims the advantage. Thomas is able to hit Jacobs with a nasty half-nelson suplex. The match breaks down and the referee has no control. Jacobs is able to hit a Spear on Thomas that knocks him off the apron an both men crash to the floor. Meanwhile ACH hits a hurricanrana with a cradle for two. ACH tries a victory roll but only gets two again. Whitmer kicks him right in the face. The Decade then hit the All-Seeing Eye to get the win.
WINNERS – The Decade (Jimmy Jacobs & BJ Whitmer)
Final Battle 2013 is now available on iPPV and DVD.
Upcoming ROH Live Events include February 8 in San Antonio, February 21 and 22 in Philadelphia, March 7 in Milwaukee, March 8 in Chicago Ridge, March 22 in Dayton, and April 4 and 5 in New Orleans. Visit ROH Wrestling Dot Com for more details.
MATCH #2: Top Prospect Tournament 2014 Final Match – Raymond Rowe vs. Hanson
Rowe beat Kongo in the first round and got by Corey Hollis (who had beaten Mike Posey) in the semifinals. Hanson got by CHEESEBURGER and Andrew Everett (who had defeated The Romantic Touch) to earn his spot in the finals. Things get heated pretty quickly between these two powerhouses and they take the fight to the floor. Rowe tries to air it up with a suicide dive but Hanson cuts him out of the air. Back in the ring Hanson goes to work, wearing Rowe down. For some reason Michael Elgin is watching the match from the aisle. Rowe fights back and takes the bigger Hanson off his feet with a release German Suplex for two. Hanson catches Rowe charging in with a powerslam for a two-count. Rowe comes back with a modified spinebuster for two. He avoids a charge in the corner and hits a Back Drop Driver. Hanson responds with his own Back Drop Driver, so Rowe gets right up and hits one of his own. Rowe goes for the Death Rowe but Hanson slips out and cartwheels out of harm’s way. Hanson drills Rowe with a clothesline. He goes for the spin kick but Rowe catches it and slams Hanson down for two. Rowe tries Death Rowe again but Hanson avoids it and hits a devastating spin kick to get the pin and win the Top Prospect Tournament and a shot at the ROH World TV Title.
WINNER – Hanson
The Briscoes are excited about teaming up for the first time in a long time next week, as they face Adam Cole & Matt Hardy and Michael Elgin & Chris Hero in a three-way elimination match.
MATCH #3: ROH World Television Title Three Way Match – Tommaso Ciampa vs. Jay Lethal vs. Matt Taven
Ciampa has been the Champion since 12.14.13, and this is his second defense. Scarlett Bordeaux and Seleziya Sparx make their way to ringside and want to dance with Taven. Truth Martini makes his way out as well. Martini tells the Hotties to leave, and he announces that Hoopla is dead. Taven thanks Martini for all he has done for him, but says he has outgrown him. Martini is fired, and the crowd appreciates that. Time for a break before the match can begin.
Veda Scott promotes R.D. Evans and “The New Streak.” The Romantic Touch shows up and apparently has eyes for Veda. Michael Elgin takes over the interview space and talks about next week’s main event.
We’re back and these three waste no time getting the match underway. All three men wind up on the mat as referee Todd Sinclair tries to clear the streams out of the ring. Taven sends Ciampa to the floor, and Lethal sends Taven to the outside. Lethal takes out Ciampa with a dive, and then has one for Taven as well. He then decides to hit each of his opponents with two more dives apiece. The crowd is losing their mind and it’s time for another commercial.
Back from the break and the match is continuing as a fight on the floor. Ciampa powerslams Lethal into the barricade. He follows with a suplex on Taven. Back in the ring Ciampa covers Lethal for two. Martini makes his way back out and joins Kelly and Corino on commentary, lamenting his recent firing. Meanwhile, Ciampa hits Lethal with the exposed knees to the face. Taven gets back in the ring and hits Ciampa with a vertical suplex. He tries a quebrada but Ciampa gets the knees up. Ciampa goes for Project Ciampa but Taven avoids it and hits the Angel’s Wings for two when Lethal breaks it up. Offense continues coming from all over the place and all three men find themselves on the mat. Back on their feet the action is still fast and furious from everyone. Lethal hits the Lethal Combination on Ciampa and locks on the Koji Clutch. Ciampa reaches the ropes. Lethal then hits the Lethal Injection and Taven hits Lethal with a Frog Splash at just the right moment for a two-count. Martini gets too close to the action and Lethal knocks both Taven and Martini to the floor. Lethal traps Ciampa in an inside cradle but the referee is distracted and unable to count. Taven low bridges the top rope and sends Lethal to the floor. Martini grabs Taven’s leg to distract him long enough for Ciampa to hit Project Ciampa and get the pin.
WINNER, and STILL ROH WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION – Tommaso Ciampa
Everyone shakes hands after the match, but there is obvious tension between Lethal and Ciampa over the title belt.
Next week, it’s The Briscoes versus Chris Hero & Michael Elgin versus Adam Cole & Hatt Hardy in a three-team elimination match!
