Ring of Honor Wrestling #124 (AJ Styles, Roderick Strong)

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Tennessee State Fairgrounds – Nashville, Tennessee – February 1, 2013

Kevin Kelly, Steve Corino, and Prince Nana are on commentary. They hype the main event of AJ Styles versus Roderick Strong, and then get right to the action.

MATCH #1: Top Prospect Tournament 2014 Semi Final – Andrew Everett vs. Hanson

Everett defeated Romantic Touch in the firs tround, while Hanson steamrolled over CHEESEBURGER. The winner of this one will face Raymond Rowe in the finals. Everett is a smaller, high-flying type wrestler. Hanson resembles Mike Knox in stature and beard. They both start by plaing to the strengths, as Evertt dropkicks Hanson to the floor and goes for a dive, but Hanson catches him and lawndarts him into the ring post. That gives Hanson a huge advantage and he uses his size and strength to keep Everett grounded. Everett is tough though, and uses his agility to forge a comeback. Hanson cuts him off and clotheslines him to the floor. Shockingly, Hanson tries a suicide dive but Everett moves out of the way and Hanson crashes hard to the floor. Everett follows him out with a springboard shooting star press. The crowd has been into this match. Everett throws Hanson back in the ring and tries to follow him with another springboard maneuver but Hanson slices him out of the air with a spin kick and that’s enough to get the pin and move on to the finals.

WINNER – Hanson

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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.

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MATCH #2: Cedric Alexander vs. Michael Bennett (w/ Maria Kanellis)

Maria gets on the microphone to talk about what happened at Final Battle ’13. She is upset that Kevin Steen put his hands on her, but she is more upset that he won a match he did not deserve to win. Maria says that Bennett has developed a new finisher, since he is no longer allowed to use the Piledriver.

Alexander starts off hot with a flurry of offense. Bennett cuts him off with a back elbow. Alexander comes back and knocks Bennett to the floor. He tries for a dive but Maria gets up on the apron to stop him. Alexander doesn’t mind, and just goes ahead and leaps over her to wipe Bennett out!

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.

We’re back and Bennett and Alexander are fighting outside the ring. Bennett knocks Alexander into the barricade and is in control. Benntt hits a spinebuster on the apron and Alexander is in rough shape. Back in the ring Bennett misses a charge in the corner and Alexander is able to come back with a flurry of offense, but not enough to put Bennett away. Alexander goes for a springboard maneuver but Bennett cuts him out of the air with a Spear. Bennett hits the Box Office Smash but only gets two. Alexander hits an IED and the fireman’s carry into a high kick, but Bennett wisely rolls to the floor. Back in the ring Alexander goes up top for a Frog Splash but Bennett gets his knees up. Bennett then hits the Pepsi Twist and locks on the Anaconda Vise for the win.

WINNER – Michael Bennett

AJ Styles returns next!

Ring of Honor: This Is Wrestling.

MATCH #3: AJ Styles vs. Roderick Strong

Nigel McGuinness joins the commentators. They start with some aggressive chain wrestling. The crowd is loving every minute of it. Things get heated and Styles hits The Dropkick, sending Strong to the floor. Styles follows with a baseball slide right to the face, and it’s time for a commercial.

Next week on Ring of Honor Television, Tommaso Ciampa will defend the ROH World TV Championship against former Champions Jay Lethal and Matt Taven. Lethal gets a quick promo and promises to regain the title.

Back from the break and they’re still going back and forth. Styles tries a springboard but Strong cuts him off with a dropkick and Styles lands hard on the top rope. That gives Strong control, and he abuses Styles in a variety of ways, focusing on the back. Both men go for a cross body block at the same time and knock the wind out of each other. Back to their feet Styles gets another wind. Styles hits the springboard flying forearm and a Death Valley Neckbreaker for two. Time for another commercial.

We’re back and Strong is fighting back with a series of strikes and a half-nelson backbreaker for two. Styles hits the flipover Scorpion Death Drop for a near-fall. Momentum shifts again and they battle on the top rope. Strong brings Styles down with a superplex! That only gets two. Strong tries a Gibson Driver but Styles avoids it and hits the Pele and a Brainbuster for a two-count. Styles goes for the Springboard 450 but slips on the top rope and ends up sort of hitting a splash. He goes up top but Strong pulls him down with a backbreaker. Strong hits the gutbuster for a near-fall. He tries to follow it up but Styles is able to put on the Calf Killer. Strong turns that into a cradle for two. He hits the Sick Kick but again only gets two! Styles gets a last burst of energy and flattens Strong with the Styles Clash to get the pin.

WINNER – AJ Styles

Strong’s teammates in Decade, Jimmy Jacobs and BJ Whitmer, make their way out to attack Styles. Mark Briscoe, Chris Hero, Michael Elgin, Jay Lethal, and TaDarius Thomas come out to run them off.

Next week – Tommaso Ciampa defends the ROH World TV Title against Jay Lethal and Matt Taven in a triple threat match!

I grew up and now I write for Inside Pulse. Oh, and one time I saw a blimp!