The first episode of Ring of Honor was a decent one, with four matches and only one that moved the promotion’s main storyline anywhere. NXT and even ECW back in the ‘90s and early ‘00s have proven that an hour weekly wrestling show can be important and with a deal between New Japan Pro Wrestling, Ring of Honor has a chance to put everything to together and have something great on Destination America.
With a rabid fanbase that understands the sport, you’d expect more from their first show. And with no title defenses and little promo, this show quickly proved it’s only for fans of the existing product. Not a bad thing, but not what you want if you’re a WWE or TNA fan who’s never seen it before.
While the wrestling action was solid, it wasn’t spectacular and casual wrestling fans will obviously want more storyline. To see Colby Corino destroyed and his father, former ECW Champion Steve Corino, just sit idly by, was a letdown. While the end of the show was a solid one and the work of Jay Briscoe and Jay Lethal is comparable to anyone in the sport, there wasn’t enough of that polish needed to make this show stand out.
Overall, it was a decent low-production show that has the potential to be a lot better.
Matches:
Will Ferrara vs. Kushida: Although Ferrara hit some strikes and a Suicide Dive as well as several Rollups for near-falls, Kushida hit the Moonsault and finished Ferrara off with the Standing Kimura Lock for the win.
“The Last Real Man†Silas Young vs. Watanabe: Young sold a ton early as Watanabe hit a variety of strikes, Neckbreakers and Suplexes including a German Release Suplex on the outside. But after a kick to the head on Watanabe, Young hit the TKO for the win.
Colby Corino w/BJ Whitner and Adam Page vs. The Moose w/Veda Scott and Stokely Hathaway: After Whitmer dodged a challenge from Moose, Corino got an opportunity and got absolutely destroyed. After a Powerbomb on the outside, Corino was thrown back in the ring by Page and promptly pinned, all while his father, former ECW Champion Steve Corino and ROH color commentator watched on the outside.
J. Diesel and Dijak w/Ring of Honor TV Champion Jay Lethal and Truth Martini vs. Ring of Honor World Heavyweight Champion Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe: Diesel used trademark punches to get an early advantage, but Mark fought back with some redneck Kung Fu before Dijak used the Big Boot behind the ref’s back to keep his team in it. After Jay got tagged in, the World Heavyweight Champion hit signature strikes and with help from Mark, finished off Diesel with the Doomsday Device. After Dijak took out Mark on the outside with the Inverted GTS, Mark hit the Crash and Burn on him and then hit the Double-Arm Piledriver on Lethal to end the show.
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