BRM Reviews the 3/15/2014 ROH

[Big Red Machine]

TEAM BENCHMARK (Will Ferrara & Bill Daly) vs. RAYMOND ROWE & HANSON- a squash that went on way too long.

POST-MATCH SEGMENT- Michael Elgin came out, put both guys over, and says that he wants them to have his back the next time he faces Adam Cole.

STEEN & OUTLAWS INC. SEGMENT- During a commercial, Steen apparently came out and said he wanted to talk to Cliff Compton. Instead of Compton, Outlaws Inc. came out, with Kingston wearing Cliff's hat. Kingston told Steen that he didn't have to worry about Compton anymore because Outlaws Inc. had taken care of him. He also says that Steen was screwed over by Sinclair Broadcasting, just like they were, so Steen should join Outlaws Inc. Steen says that the last time he joined a stable it didn't quite work out for him (he did things that he isn't proud of) and that his previous group (never mentioned by name, though Kingston did refer to Corino as a "SCUMbag") was made up of better men than Kingston and Homicide. Kingston and Homicide cannot let this insult go unanswered, so after a short brawl, Nigel comes out with some referees to pull them apart and makes a match. When we got back from commercial, we got...

KEVIN STEEN vs. HOMICIDE- 4.5/10
Kingston was on commentary for this match. He complained a lot, got angry, then left the commentary booth. Steen was about to hit the Package Piledriver but Kingston interfered, giving Steen a backfist for a blatant DQ. Outlaws Inc. then beat Steen down and were about to seriously injure Steen's throat with the ringbell but Cliff Compton came out with a chair and made the save.

ADRENALINE RUSH PROMO HYPING THEIR TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH AT THE 12th ANNIVERSARY SHOW- I wasn't feeling this.

NIGEL MCGUINNESS MAKES AN ANNOUNCEMENT- Nigel is about to announce who the challenger for the ROH World Title will be at Supercard of Honor VIII, but he is interrupted by Jay Briscoe. Nigel calls Jay a credible contender. Jay points out that at Sate of the Art, Jay put his "Real ROH World Title" on the line against recognized ROH World Champion Adam Cole and won. In other words, Adam Cole was defeated by the man who was never defeated for the ROH World Title. His "Real ROH World Title" holds the true lineage for the ROH World Title. Jay says that there can only be one ROH World Champion.
Nigel agrees, and says that the only way to solve this conundrum is a Ladder War. Why is a ladder match the only way to solve this? Wouldn't a no DQ's match or something work just as well? This really just feels like they are rushing into a Ladder War for no reason. Ladder War used to be special, but the last three really feel rushed into. ANX vs. Briscoes didn't feel like it deserved it quite yet (I think they could have build to it for Final Battle 2011, but the feud wasn't there yet when they decided to do it), and we all just accepted the Steen vs. Generico Ladder War even though the build didn't quite call for it because that is one of the best feuds in ROH history. This really feels like they are just doing a Ladder War for the sake of doing a Ladder War at Wrestlemania weekend.
Don't get me wrong: I like the call-back to Shawn vs. Razor and ROH has done a great job with the "two belts" angle, but both Steenerico vs. the Wolves and ANX vs. Briscoes had this moment where one team pulled out a ladder to use in the middle of some brawl or another and everyone went "OH SH*T!" There building to a f*cking LADDER WAR!" This feud hasn't had that, and really doesn't need it. In fact, with the possible interferences of Mike Bennett, Maria Kanellis, Mark Briscoe, and any other challengers that are currently unhappy at Cole (Steen, Hero, Elgin), a cage match just seems to make a lot more sense here.

Adam Cole comes out and says that he is the only champion. He says that Jay's win in Texas was tainted... but decides to accept the match in order to show that he is the rightful champion. Bennett sneaks in through the crowd and gives Bennett a low blow, then Cole and Bennett go to beat Jay down but Mark runs in and makes the save.

DECADE PROMO- good hype for next week's show, which will feature Adrenaline Rush and Andrew Everett vs. the Deacde.


ROH TV TITLE MATCH: Tommaso Ciampa(c) vs. Jay Lethal- 7.75/10
A great match that really brought the crowd alive. Matt Taven did commentary for this match. Towards the end of the match, Truth Martini came out from ringside and got into a fight with Taven that resulted in Taven pretty much strangling Truth on the ring apron. Tod Sinclair went to break this up, which resulted in him missing a flash pin that Jay got on Ciampa. Ciampa won the match soon afterwards.
At this point I have to wonder why Truth is allowed in the locker room. He isn't managing anyone right now, and all he does is cause problems.

Anyway, an okay show from ROH with a GREAT main event.