Honorable Mention: ROH 13th Anniversary Show

Honorable Mention
ROH 13th Anniversary Show
By Mark Adam Haggerty

What's more astonishing than Ring of Honor's longevity is the fact that 2002 was thirteen years ago! How old does everybody feel all of the sudden? Ladies and gentlemen welcome back to my regular review of Ring of Honor TV, this week is a special installment featuring the exciting events of ROH's Thirteenth Anniversary Show in Las Vegas. I was lucky enough to attend the show at the Orleans Hotel and Casino and was taken aback by the Wrestlemania-level atmosphere; fans descended on Sin City from all around the world, and for a few short days, the �Strip was a sea of Bullet Club shirts. Now that I'm back home in Southern California, I think it's about time to discuss the first Ring of Honor pay-per-view of the year—how did the show stack up to Final Battle and what can we expect as 2015 continues to unfold?

Opening Contest
Cedric Alexander vs. Matt Sydal
Cedric Alexander is the first Ring of Honor wrestler introduced to the rowdy Vegas crowd, preparing to take on his former tag team partner and WWE superstar Matt Sydal. Sydal has been an interesting case study since returning to ROH—from his music to the stylized way he circles the ring, everything is done with precision and purpose. The audience doesn't react much to either individual, and I should know, because I was sitting directly behind Steve Corino and Kevin Kelly for most of the evening. Cedric reminds me of Sean "X-Pac" Waltman; he's a tremendously gifted athlete with unpredictable potential, but doesn't seem to elicit a reaction from the crowd whatsoever. I thought this contest could have moved a step or two faster than it did, as both men were entrusted to set the pace for the rest of the night. Of course we get the same spots as usual; both men fly to the outside on occasion and soar through the air across a cushion of flashbulbs. However what this match produced between the ropes paled in comparison to the lack of motivation, from Sydal and Alexander, as well as the live audience who didn't care about their rivalry. The momentum picked up about halfway through, but I dare say this match never reached any sort of provocative climax. Matt Sydal wins the match, setting up a potential Cedric Alexander heel turn in the future. I think there's a ton of potential for Cedric, and I hope tinkering with his character unlocks the nuances required to finally to connect with the crowd.
Winner – Matt Sydal
Stars – 2.5

Moose vs. Mark Briscoe
It's not every day that a former NFL offensive linemen goes anywhere except the WWE. But Quinn Ojinnaka is a Baltimore-native who decided to take a chance with his hometown promotion and is fast becoming one of the biggest stars on the roster. Moose has assumed the undefeated mantle of RD Evans and is well on the way to an unlimited number of title opportunities. This match was much more entertaining than the previous bout, as Mark Briscoe is highly underrated as an in-ring talent. All too often, the Briscoe's ability between the ropes is overshadowed by their crass characters and "Redneck Kung Fu," but Mark was on fire throughout this entire exchange. I'm highly impressed with Moose's ability to work a variety of styles, not necessarily altering his own methods, but melding his offense with the strengths of his opponents. I wonder if there is any talk of pushing Mark toward the title belt currently held by his brother. Sibling storylines have a shoddy history of success, but if the Briscoes two can be more Hart Brothers than Harlem Heat, I predict a winning rivalry based on pure respect. Back to this match however—Mark is playing the part of the "Gate Keeper," an upper mid card performer that only loses when it's absolutely necessary. Mark is great at putting over his opponents without dulling his own presence in the process. Moose has one of the most impressive Spears in the business, rivaled only by Bobby Lashley. In the end, Moose keeps his winning streak alive. After the bell, Briscoe sought to exchange pleasantries and shake hands; Stokley Hathaway endorsed Moose engaging in the "Code of Honor," but Veda Scott immediately swatted their hands from ever meeting. On the way toward the back, she reminded Moose that he is a winner, and Mark Briscoe is a loser .
Winner – Moose
Stars – 2.5

Triple Threat Tag Team Match
The Kingdom vs. The Addiction vs. Karl Anderson*
During my drive across the desert, I received an alert that Doc Gallows' flight was grounded, and therefore wouldn't be able to compete in Las Vegas. I assumed one of two things might happen; either Karl Anderson would pick an alternate partner, or the Kingdom would instead wrestle the Addiction in a standard tag match. I never thought for a moment that Karl Anderson would represent the Bullet Club on his own, but as he said, "I am the Bullet Club, son!" The booking of this match was interesting; nobody could figure out why it was decided to send the "Machine Gun" out by himself, and therefore many fans considered the storyline lazy and lost interest right off the bat. I would have liked to see a six-man encounter with Anderson teaming with the Addiction against the Kingdom. I assumed Adam Cole wasn't ready to return, as he would be the perfect sixth man for the job. The crowd in Las Vegas was pulling for the team of Frankie Kazarian and Christopher Daniels, a team of party animals who embody the lifestyle of Vegas-itself. It was important that the match ended how it did, so that everybody was protected despite any number of outcomes. The Kingdom is the "Authority," so to speak, of Ring of Honor; they are the most dominant heel faction in the company with several title claims to back it up. Mike Bennett and Matt Taven are also the "future" of Ring of Honor, compared to the middle-aged Addiction and Karl Anderson. Anderson isn't even signed to ROH, so having the bad guys defeat the dude without a partner from New Japan made the most sense, and keeps everyone in pristine condition going forward.
Winner – The Kingdom
Stars – 3

Grudge Match
Roderick Strong vs. BJ Whitmer
I get the feeling that most of my contemporaries are going to disagree with me, but I thoroughly enjoyed this match. The knock against the Decade-feud is the lack of momentum going into an encounter featuring two wrestlers that the audience doesn't relate to. I agree BJ Whitmer doesn't connect with the crowd the same as Alberto El Patron or Jay Briscoe, but that's part of his character, and therefore his appeal. BJ is a no-nonsense ass-kicker that couldn't care less about shaking hands or making friends, so to suggest he should care about the audience is sort of impractical. I would have liked to see more violence in this match, and that's coming from someone who doesn't exactly value "hardcore wrestling." But if these two men truly hate one another, I would have preferred a no disqualification match, perhaps highlighted by a little bit of color. BJ Whitmer has proved time and again that he's capable of bleeding better than anyone else in the business—I wonder why this match remained as cordial as it did without escalating. I would suggest that things are far from settled between Roderick Strong and the Decade, despite what the incredibly diplomatic Jimmy Jacobs might have to say. Not a bad match whatsoever, with plenty of action to hook even the most casual ROH fan. But not quite up to the level I would expect from a pair of Ring of Honor veterans, especially two men as committed to their craft as BJ and Roddy. By the time the bell sounds, Roderick gets the win over the Decade's defacto leader, BJ Whitmer.
Winner – Roderick Strong
Stars – 3

Maria Kanellis vs. O.D.B.
I thought this match had the potential to be a lot of fun, so I went out of my way not to avoid it. Unfortunately the same couldn't be said for the rest of the audience, who automatically deemed this their "t-shirt match." It's not really fair to give this bout a star rating as it was merely an entertainment segment, designed to dish out the comeuppance that Maria so rightfully deserves. I was impressed with Mark Briscoe and Mike Bennett's performances on the outside and might go as far as to call Bennett the MVP of the bout. I thought he offered an unprecedented level of athleticism to a throwaway feud, and presented moments of comedy that didn't border on the absurd. In the end, nobody was shocked when O.D.B. walked away with the win, however we were surprised to see the pink "title of love" stripped down in the way that it was. Workrate-wise, this was the worst match of the night, but I still enjoyed it for what it was and have to give Maria credit for the vicious bumps she took, especially the fall away slam into the steel barricade. Kudos to everybody involved for making this train wreck darn-near enjoyable.
Winner – O.D.B.
Stars – 2

AJ Styles vs. A.C.H.
This was without question the most exciting match of the night, and who would have guessed otherwise? A.C.H. is one of the most charismatic performers in Ring of Honor—a future world champion and potential face of the company, A.C.H. had his work cut out for him as he was scheduled to wrestle the IWGP world heavyweight champion, AJ Styles. The "Phenomenal One" is the kind of competitor that comes into territories and picks his own opponents, so it speaks highly to the credentials of A.C.H. when AJ chooses to work with him so often. I've spoken at length as to how certain athletes change their approach to a match based on the strengths and weaknesses of their opponent. But AJ Styles and A.C.H. are so aptly aware of one another inside the squared circle that their movements appear less like opposing maneuvers and more like predetermined concepts. They both adhere to a stronger-style of physicality and follow through with each and every chop, to the point where appearances are no longer everything, and it truly seems that either man is trying to defeat the other. When A.C.H. attempts a 450-splash, the IWGP champion doesn't simply raise his knees the same as any other wrestler, but instead slides completely out of his trajectory so that he may capitalize from the best possible position. After an innovative submission, AJ was in control; A.C.H. allowed AJ's momentum to overwhelm him until the champ hit the dreaded "Styles Clash." AJ wins in what I considered a bona fied 4-star match that all subsequent bouts of the evening will unfortunately fall short of outperforming.
Winner – AJ Styles
Stars – 4

ROH Tag Team Title Match
The Young Bucks vs. reDragon (c)
The tag team championship match seemed to divide the live audience like nothing else, especially once the show was over and thousands of wrestling fans pour out onto the Vegas Strip. The Young Bucks were decisively over, especially when reDragon came to the ring with women's MMA star and member of Rhonda Rousey's "Four Horsewomen," Shayna Baszler. The wrestling crowd didn't seem to recognize Baszler, and I'm not sure I would have either if Rhonda Rousey wasn't such a prominent figure in the action-sports genre. I thought this match was the only contest of the entire card that lived up to the hype, and even surpassed expectations. While I still think AJ Styles and A.C.H. had the match of the night, there wasn't much hype going into their encounter, at least not on the same level as this return grudge match between the �Bucks and reDragon. I tend to groan at the gratuity commonly associated with a Nick and Matt Jackson "Super Kick Party," but thought they utilized their hybrid of high spots and ingenuity to their advantage by only employing their signature moves in meaningful ways. Kyle O'Reilly is always singled out as the star of reDragon, but I thought Bobby Fish proved without a shadow of a doubt, why he is one half of the tag team champions. I enjoyed the creative action from start to finish, especially the "Indie-Driver" spot on the outside. What I didn't enjoy however, was the unnecessary interruption by Shayna Baszler on behalf of the tag team champions. I could feel the passion of the audience flowing freely throughout the bout, but once she disrupted the count and angered the �Bucks, the "purists" in attendance began to turn. This was the beginning of the end of the Young Bucks and their dream of becoming ROH champions, as the distraction led to a series of surprising offense from reDragon, ending with their patented "Chasing the Dragon." Your winners and STILL Ring of Honor World Tag Team Champions—Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly, reDragon!
Winner – reDragon
Stars – 4

ROH World Television Title Match
Alberto El Patron vs. Jay Lethal (c)
Am I really the only person who doesn't care about Alberto El Patron? I venture to say that if Patron left the WWE on amicable circumstances, he wouldn't be nearly the hot commodity that he is now. But companies like AAA and Ring of Honor and Lucha Underground are happy to capitalize on pre-established talent, especially if that individual has an axe to grind with the industry leader. His debut in Ring of Honor went down the same as it did everywhere else—with a worked shoot on how racist the WWE is, and how they aren't wrestlers . I'm not a WWE-mark by any stretch, but I sure wish disgruntled ex-employees would begin writing their own music, because I'm sick of hearing the same old song. Jay Lethal is so entertaining, and while I think his in-ring prime has come and gone, he's just now working into a comfortable groove on the mic. I love how he interacts with Truth Martini and hoped against hope that Jay would walk away with his TV title in hand. The build to this feud has been just as lazy as several other storylines going into the show, but the inclusion of a championship title and the recently debuted-Patron made for an electric atmosphere. The audience was firmly behind Patron, chanting "Si, Si,Si," so loudly that I couldn't hear his music begin to play during his entrance. The back and forth between these two is astounding considering their diverse profiles and in-ring capabilities. I might not be fond of Patron as a worker, but I admire his humble attitude when wanting to work with some of the up-and-coming stars of ROH. I guess anybody who pays attention to the political side of professional wrestling might have predicted Patron would have gotten screwed, especially as he is already the AAA "Mega" heavyweight champion. Alberto El Patron wasn't able to capture the television championship due to outside interference by Truth Martini, but walked away with his head held high and the support of the Vegas fans.
Winner – Jay Lethal
Stars – 3.5

Once the TV championship contest concluded, Nigel McGuinness joined the announce desk for the main event. However before the world title match could get underway, we in the live audience were privy to a series of audio cues that culminated in the return of Samoa Joe! Joe walked the aisle to a slew of overlapping chants, all of which welcoming the Samoan Submission Machine back to Ring of Honor. He wished the four participants in the upcoming match well, but warned whomever walks away with the title—they're ass belongs to Samoa Joe. For the record, I was not among those chanting, "Fuck TNA," although that didn't seem to bother the former champ. Joe left by proclaiming that he will be the next ROH world heavyweight champion, further establishing that "he is pro wrestling."

ROH World Title Match
Hanson vs. Tommaso Ciampa vs. Michael Elgin vs. Jay Briscoe (c)
I enjoyed the better-part of this match, but what could have been an incredible showcase of four top performers, wound up being somewhat of a disappointment from bell-to-bell. I can't fault the participants alone, as their cumbersome antics were the result of improper booking and once again– LAZY storytelling! My favorite part of the match was the silver Cobra Commander mask worn by Tommaso Ciampa as he made his way to the ring. Once I saw it on TV I could make out features in greater detail and decided, with the hood around his neck, he was somewhere between the "Sicilian Psychopath" and "Doctor Doom." I thought the combatants resorted to leaving the ring a little too soon for such a high profile match. It was clear Jay Briscoe was calling the shots from the onset as he dictated the pace of the match from the bell until digging deep beneath the ring for weaponry. It's always funny to see so many streamers tucked away under the apron—but I digress. The strength spots from Elgin were impressive but highly unbelievable as Jay Briscoe struggled to hang on to Elgin and Ciampa. I almost forgot Hanson was even in this match until he came running back in, only to receive a stiff kick courtesy of Elgin. I enjoy "Warbeard" whenever I see him, but suggest that this match was far beyond what he was capable of. A triple threat between Elgin, Ciampa, and Briscoe would be far more fluid and feature less of the awkward lumbering aspects for which Hanson was responsible. Soon enough, it became clear that Michael Elgin was the only man who posed any sort of threat to Jay Briscoe's world title. The two engaged each other often, in some of the most thrilling points of the contest. As the action began to escalate, referee Todd Sinclair was caught between a rock and a hard place—stranded on the outside after falling victim to collateral damage. I don't understand why the ROH officials leave the ring as often as they do, but with no one in charge, this match spirals even farther out of control. As Hanson hits the champion with a "Rikishi-Driver," the red-masked "Knights of the Rising Dawn" spring into action and take to the ring. They hit Jay and Hanson with three of the signature moves associated with the Kingdom, and even begin to taunt as such until they're run out of the arena by the returning partner of Hanson, War Machine's Raymond Rowe. The audience is split between people that are excited by these turn-of-events, and those of us who would have preferred a straight contest without all of the added shenanigans. Michael Elgin capitalized on Jay Briscoe's shaky state by performing the champions finishing move against him—he led Briscoe onto the apron and proceeded to give him the "Jay Driller" through a solid table to floor below. Unable to pin Briscoe due to Todd Sinclair's incapacitated state, Elgin sought out a steel chair which he then used to ground his opponents until Nigel McGuinness deemed it necessary to get involved. As if there weren't enough outsiders influencing the outcome of this title match, now the "Matchmaker" has something to say about what's going on inside the ring. I don't buy that—and neither did Elgin who attacked McGuinness and attempted to powerbomb him in the middle of the match. Nigel was saved however, by the least likely person, his oftentimes-nemesis Tommaso Ciampa. Ciampa then struck Elgin with the chair, an action that McGuinness didn't seem to mind, and covered the former champion—but there was still no referee. This continued with everyone gaining the upper hand including "Warbeard," whose "Spin Kick of Doom" propelled Jay Briscoe onto the unconscious body of Tommaso Ciampa. With Hanson and Elgin outside of the ring, the new referee counted the pinfall for the RETAINING Ring of Honor world heavyweight champion. A strange course of events that I am confident will evolve into a greater storyline somewhere down the line—I refuse to believe that Michael Elgin and Tommaso Ciampa will be satisfied walking away empty-handed.
Winner – Jay Briscoe
Stars – 3.5

After nine action-packed bouts, the crowd in Las Vegas was exhausted from the in-ring excitement only Ring of Honor can present, but confused after the shocking events of the final match. I don't think this show came close to the level of its predecessor, December's "Final Battle" , but it certainly takes the prize for "Best PPV of February 2015." After averaging the match ratings and taking into consideration the additional elements such as Samoa Joe's surprise appearance, I'm happy to award "ROH's Thirteenth Anniversary" a 3-star rating. Until next time, this has been Mark Adam Haggerty reminding you to keep checking out Cheap-Heat and to follow me on Facebook by LIKING "Mark Haggerty's Pro Wrestling."