ROH WRESTLING TELEVISION, Episode 342

All images courtesy of the Fite.TV app and streaming service

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Punishment Martinez VS Shane Taylor; Martinez wins.
• Jay Lethal VS Caprice Coleman; Lethal wins.
• Triple Threat: Cody VS Christopher Daniels VS Matt Taven; Taven wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Punishment Martinez VS Shane Taylor!

Two of the literally biggest men in ROH do battle on Supercard of Honor Weekend to prove who is the superior monster. The Notorious Hitman has #Knockouts4Everybody, but will that keep him from being sent #SouthofHeaven?

The bell rings but no Code of Honor between these two. Taylor talks trash at Punishment, but the Reincarnation of the Purple Mist is ice cold as Taylor calls for a test of strength. Fans chant “Punishment! Punishment!” which Taylor notices. He shrugs it off and eggs Punishment on, and they tie up. Taylor knees low but he can’t push Punishment back. Punishment bridges back then powers up, but Taylor trips him to a cover. ONE, ONE, then Punishment kip-up and turns Taylor around. Punishment steps over, gets a headlock then shifts to the back and tries jumping onto Taylor’s shoulders, but Taylor slips out and shoves him away. They collide, Taylor staggers back but rebounds on the ropes to hit back, Punishment also rebounds to rock Taylor with a right hand!

Taylor checks his teeth, and they both smirk. Taylor hits back, but Punishment stands up. Punishment throws hands but Taylor evades, then Taylor throws hands but Punishment evades. Both men go evasion for evasion and we have a stand-off. Fans applaud while the two circle. Taylor gets a body shot but Punishment gets a back elbow. Punishment goes to whip but Taylor blocks and reverses. Punishment evades Taylor’s attacks, but his crossbody is caught! Taylor pops Punishment up on his shoulder but Punishment slips out, to then shove Taylor at the ropes. Punishment wants the hip toss but Taylor blocks that, too, so Punishment ducks the clothesline to give one of his own. Taylor stays standing, so Punishment boots him. Taylor is still standing as he retaliates with a swift left! Punishment stays standing, but Taylor whips him and follows, evades another boot, then clotheslines Punishment out of the ring.

Taylor sees Punishment still on his feet so he builds speed! Punishment hops up onto the apron, only to get blasted off it by Taylor! Taylor keeps moving, but he runs into Punishment’s roundhouse! Taylor staggers while we go to break.

ROH returns just as Taylor throws Punishment with a Fall Away Slam!

Then he adds a cannonball in the corner! And a cannonball from the apron! The Hitman topples Punishment over! He drags Punishment up into the ring, then climbs up to the top. Punishment gets up and rocks Taylor with a right, then throws him down in a Falcon Arrow! Cover, TWO! Punishment is not bothered, he takes aim at Taylor from across the ring. He runs corner to corner and leaps, but his splash is caught by Taylor! Taylor carries Punishment to the center of the ring, but Punishment slips out and boots him back into the corner. Punishment runs in, big corner splash hits this time, and so does the roaring forearm.

Punishment hits Taylor again, then whips him corner to corner. Taylor reverses and scoops Punishment up, but Punishment again slips out. Punishment ear-claps Taylor but Taylor hits back with a back elbow. Both men stagger, but Punishment grabs Taylor around the throat. Taylor takes advantage of Punishment’s bad eye to break free and rock him with a knee. Punishment goes down, Taylor shoves him back and gives him another knee! Taylor drags Punishment up, whips him, and choke slams Punishment!

Taylor essentially steals Punishment’s move, then runs for the big splash! TWO, and Taylor can’t believe it. Taylor stands up while Punishment is slowly stirring. He loads up, but Punishment boots away the punch to then SUPERKICK and spinning roundhouse Taylor out of the ring! Punishment sees Taylor is still on his feet, but dazed, so Punishment builds speed and FLIES!

The fans fire up for Punishment and he drags Taylor up and into the ring. Punishment enters and sees the attack coming, he spins Taylor around for HIS South of Heaven Choke Slam!

Cover, Punishment Martinez wins!

Winner: Martinez, by pinfall

But Punishment is not one for having his hand raised by a referee, Todd Sinclair barely gets away from Punishment’s wrath. Who else will suffer the wrath of Punishment on his path towards the ROH World Heavyweight Championship?

Coleman’s Pulpit returns!

The Most Versatile Man in this Sport Today has the most exciting episode ever! He finally gets a guest he’s been after for so long, it’s Jay Lethal!

As originally seen on February 5th via ROH’s YouTube channel, Coleman sits down with Lethal, but Lethal lets Coleman know that he’s not a big fan of the Pulpit. Coleman gets people on here just to ask ridiculous questions and say ridiculous things, all to poke and dig at them. Lethal won’t let that happen, he’s only agreed to do this show because the ROH administration asked him to, and because Coleman agreed to only ask two questions. Better make those questions count. Coleman is too busy being excited about having Lethal on the show. Who cares about all his other guests? All Coleman sees is a ratings boom! Coleman checked Lethal’s Wikipedia page, and has all this material. Lethal reminds him, only two questions, so make them good.

Coleman starts with how Lethal lost the ROH World Heavyweight Championship in August, 2016. Lethal’s goal in 2017 was to get it back, and the same for 2018. Is that Lethal’s goal in 2019, too, seeing as how Lethal still doesn’t have the ROH WHC back? First off, Lethal’s goals are none of Coleman’s concern. But yes, Lethal wants that title back, which is something Coleman will never know anything about, acting like this. Lethal has beat wrestlers Coleman can only dream of beating. Coleman has read the Wikipedia page, so he knows Lethal’s resume.

Lethal brings up that Jay Briscoe was undefeated for two years before Lethal beat him. Lethal won a double-header on PPV, never before seen in ROH. He even came back from a brutal beating that hospitalized him, and was humiliated when he was shaved bald on TV, all for the ROH world title. And Lethal won’t change a thing, because that title means you are the greatest in the world, no matter what. Coleman respects Lethal, and he remembers seeing those moments, especially the one with the hair. That was rough, since Lethal was losing anyway. Lethal doesn’t like Coleman’s tone, so Coleman moves on to his next question.

Lethal wrestled Ric Flair, who cares. He wrestled Sting, who cares. Kurt Angle, not bad. Coleman finds what he was looking for! Lethal’s relationships: he dated AJ L– Don’t go there. Coleman laughs it up even as Lethal slaps the papers away. This is why Lethal didn’t want to be on this “garbage” talk show. It will never get the ratings Coleman wants with how he tries to humiliate his guests. Lethal is furious with Coleman’s laughing fit, but Coleman “apologizes”. Lethal takes off his mic and storms out. Coleman is still highly amused with himself as he closes the Pulpit, “the place where I find out the truth, and the truth will help you, see you later. Ratings!” He may be all laughs now, but will Coleman be feeling good about this after he and Lethal have their match tonight?

SoCal Uncensored’s Frankie Kazarian speaks.

The Heavy Metal Rebel speaks to Hiromu Takahashi of Los Ingobernables de Japon. Once upon a time, the Ticking Timebomb was an ally of The Addiction, “fighting the good fight”, and learned many things from them. In this business, it’s called “getting a rub.” But now he’s in Japan, blowing up, successful and doing it all right, but he brings a stuffed animal to the ring? Daryl the Cat has the “marks” entertained, but not Kaz! Kaz thinks Daryl is stupid and “sucks”! After Kaz beats Hiromu 1v1, he’s going to take Daryl and shove him down Hiromu’s throat! Hiromu may be the ticking timebomb, but Kaz is the “gun you can’t unload”. Who will be left standing when these two explosive elements collide?

Jay Lethal VS Caprice Coleman!

The Franchise Player of ROH gets a chance at payback over the humiliation The Ambassador of the Grind attempted on his talk show! Who will have the last laugh before Supercard of Honor?

But Coleman doesn’t wait for the bell, he attacks Lethal from behind!

Lethal goes down while the bell rings, and Coleman goes out to attack Lethal again. Lethal hits back! They brawl on the outside among the streamers, and Lethal gets the edge with a chop and haymakers. Lethal snap suplexes Coleman to the floor! Coleman fights back with chops of his own, then stalks Lethal around the corner. Coleman gives another sharp chop. The referee tries to get this back in the ring but the two keep brawling. Lethal chops Coleman again and again, and again! He hits Coleman with a European Uppercut, then brings him around to sit him in a chair. Lethal gives another chop and Coleman spasms. Coleman hits back then chops back, but Lethal comes back with more chops, this brawl gets wild! Lethal kicks and gives Coleman a jackhammer suplex to the floor!

Fans fire up while Lethal looms over Coleman. They finally go inside the ring, but Coleman rolls quickly back out. Lethal follows but Coleman is on him with a kick and haymakers. Coleman brings Lethal around and whips, Lethal reverses, but Coleman uses the post to swing back around to dropkick Lethal down! Coleman composes himself before grinding his boot into Lethal’s neck. He drags Lethal up but Lethal pushes him into the apron before giving him another sharp chop. Lethal brings Coleman around for more chops, but Coleman hits back again. Coleman chokes Lethal at the apron but Lethal powers out and kicks Coleman low before putting him back in the ring. Coleman tries to swing out and dropkick Lethal again, but Lethal evades to enziguri Coleman down!

Lethal gets back in the ring while Coleman staggers, he builds speed, but Coleman gets out of the way. Lethal slides out and pursues, they both go back into the ring, and Lethal throws Coleman out onto the apron, for the triangle dropkick! Coleman tumbles down and Lethal builds up speed, to DIVE!

The Franchise is in control while we go to break.

ROH returns to Lethal still in control of Coleman. He brings Coleman up into a corner and chops again. Lethal whips but Coleman reverses, but Lethal boots Coleman back and knocks him down with the calf kick. Cover, TWO, but Lethal keeps his cool. He whips Coleman but Coleman holds the ropes. Lethal tries again but Coleman breaks free and throat chops Lethal. Coleman hits the STO, covers, TWO! Coleman catches his breath, a little frustrated, and puts Lethal in a chinlock on the mat. He grinds and squeezes Lethal but fans build to a rally.

Lethal works his way to his feet and fights out of the hold, but Coleman clubs him down with a double ax handle. Coleman grinds his foot into Lethal and holds on until the count of 4. He brings Lethal back up and whips him to ropes, but Lethal kicks Coleman away and then unloads more of those chops! Lethal calls for it, runs and handsprings, but into the cobra clutch and Russian leg sweep! Coleman holds on as he rolls it over to a cobra crossface!

Lethal endures as Coleman wrenches back. Lethal drags himself towards ropes, but Coleman wrenches back, so Lethal rolls the hold, only for Coleman to roll it back! Coleman wrenches as deep as he can, but Lethal powers up to his feet. Coleman swings Lethal out and avoids Lethal’s retaliation to hit a cravat cutter! Cover, TWO! Lethal rolls but Coleman brings him up.

Coleman whips but Lethal holds onto ropes, so Coleman unloads an overhand chop. Coleman tries again, but Lethal still holds on, so Coleman chops him again. The whip is denied a third time, and now Lethal dares Coleman to give him the chop. Coleman chops and chops, then Lethal turns it around to chop away on Coleman! Coleman pokes Lethal in the eyes. He whips Lethal corner to corner, then runs in, but Lethal avoids it. Coleman tumbles but lands on his feet, only to stagger backwards into Lethal’s torture rack lift. Lethal bends and stretches Coleman in the “Lethal Rack”, but Coleman rakes his eyes again. Coleman wrenches and heel kicks Lethal, but Lethal avoids the jump kick and the clothesline to handspring, LETHAL INJECTION!

Cover, Lethal wins!

Winner: Lethal, by pinfall

The Franchise shuts Coleman up with this victory right here. Between Supercard of Honor’s ROH World Tag Team Championship match with The Ace, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and the coming ROH Masters of the Craft special, can Lethal gain momentum that will take him back to the ROH World Heavyweight Championship?

The WOH Championship participants speak.

Kelly Klein knows “Mayu Iwatani is a tremendous addition to the Women of Honor Championship Tournament. Her list of accolades and accomplishments speak for itself.” Mayu Iwatani responds with that as a member of Stardom, she is excited to be part of this tournament to crown the very first ROH Women of Honor Champion. But Kelly wants to know if anyone thinks that Mayu or anyone else is going to step into her ring, the ring Kelly has dominated for over two years, and stop her? Mayu vows to win and “build the value of the belt” by defending it both in America, in Japan, and around the world. Kelly tells Mayu that she is definitely a star, but she is the next star Kelly will “knock out of the sky.” Mayu recaps her defeating HZK and Deonna Purrazzo, so in this third round, Kelly Klein, “I kick your ass.”

Meanwhile, the newest recruit to the WOH Division, Tenille Dashwood, puts the spotlight on herself as she admits the competition has been tough. That’s exactly why she came to ROH: “to work my way to becoming a champion and to show the world exactly how good I am.” Her opponent, Sumie Sakai, is so happy to fight for a chance at the WOH Championship in this tournament. She swept Oeda Tai, Hana Kimura and Kagetsu, while Emma defeated Stacy Shadows and Brandi Rhodes. They meet in the semifinals, and while they respect each other, Tenille lets everyone know she’s going to do everything she can to advance. Sumie “always loved wrestling in Japan”, but coming to ROH changed her life. She gets a bit emotional as she vows to win this tournament.

Which one of these four will make it to the finals and win it all at Supercard of Honor?

Triple Threat: Cody VS Christopher Daniels VS Matt Taven!

Before The American Nightmare settles things with The Cleaner, before SoCal Uncensored takes on Flip Gordon & The Young Bucks, and before The Kingdom tries to kill the conspiracy, the three big factions in ROH pit their leaders against each other! Or at least a self-proclaimed leader in Cody. Which captain will capture a win for their team going into New Orleans?

Wait a minute, who is this Cody is bringing out with him? Is that a new Bury the Bear? Cody snatches a mic and has the music stop so the formal announcement can be made: Apparently, this is Burnard the Business Bear. Hopefully Cody knows who is in the costume this time. Fans chant “Bear Up!” while things settle down with a commercial break.

ROH returns with the ring of the bell, and the three men watch each other closely as they circle. Taven and Daniels corner Cody, but Taven kicks Daniels! He tries to swing on Cody right after, but Cody sees that coming, and counters with the headlock and punch. Cody whips Taven, Taven ducks the punch but runs into Daniels’, and then Cody gets his. Taven bounces between Daniels and Cody as they punch him back and forth. The cycle ends with Cody kicking low and dropping down for the uppercut, then Daniels hits Taven with a back suplex. Daniels clotheslines Taven out of the ring, and now we revisit the feud of two former ROH world champions.

Cody and Daniels circle, tie up, and Cody gets the headlock. Daniels powers out and things speed up, they collide shoulder to shoulder but neither man falls. They run and collide with clotheslines, but again neither man falls. They trade forearms back and forth while Taven climbs up to the top rope, Taven flies in to missile dropkick them both down! Daniels and Cody roll out of the ring while Taven embraces the cheers and jeers. Taven sees Cody coming and bumps him away, then sees Daniels and does the same. Cody and Daniels are together, Taven builds speed, but Cody and Daniels get clear of his wrecking ball dropkick. Taven avoids Daniels’ clothesline and Daniels runs into Cody’s punch. Cody sees Taven running in and throws him with a back drop!

Daniels tries to get back in the ring but Cody yanks him back out for an overhand chop. Cody puts Daniels back in the ring then shakes hands with Burnard before reentering himself. Cody kicks Daniels, suplex, and he holds Daniels up before dropping him with a gord buster. The American Nightmare flexes, then keeps on Daniels with punches. He whips Daniels but Daniels reverses, Cody dodges to then DIVE on Taven!

Taven goes down but Daniels goes to the apron. Daniels kicks Cody away before hitting the Arabian Moonsault!

Daniels wipes Cody out but Taven pounces by pushing Daniels into a post! Taven picks up his walking stick, gives it a kiss, and swings at Cody but Cody ducks and retaliates with a kick. Cody puts Taven in the ring and picks up that walking stick for himself. Referee Todd Sinclair stops Cody from using it, which Cody protests. Cody turns around into Taven’s spinning bicycle kick! Taven drags Cody up and whips him to the ropes, but Cody sunset flips, only for Taven to roll through and hit a Shining Wizard! Why? “Because I’m Matt Taven!” Taven sees Daniels returning, so he hits Daniels with the triangle jump enziguri, the Kick of the King! Cody goes after Taven but Taven dodges and unleashes a strike fest, then Moonlight Drive!

Cover, TWO, but Taven keeps his cool. Daniels returns and shoulders in, then slingshot schoolboy roll. Taven rolls through but Daniels kicks out a leg, to then club him from behind with a clothesline! Cody is up but Daniels hits him with the atomic drop and STO! Daniels fires up and takes aim at Cody, but he hits Taven with a forearm smash first. Daniels whips Taven corner to corner, but Taven puts Daniels on the apron. Taven roundhouses Daniels down, then builds speed to FLY!

Direct hit to Daniels, and fans fire up, but then Cody runs over and FLIES, too!

Cody takes both Daniels and Taven out with one crossbody! The American Nightmare is all smiles while Burnard cheers him on, we go to break.

ROH returns once more as Cody jumps up and over Taven in the corner. Taven runs back out but into Cody’s powerslam! Cover, TWO, and Cody’s frustration grows. He rallies the fans before getting Taven with the takedown. Cody gets the Figure Four, and puts on the American Deathlock!

Taven’s bad knee is the target, but he endures as he crawls for ropes. Daniels returns, and uses the Best Moonsault Ever to break it!

All three men are down, but Daniels crawls to a cover on Cody, only for Taven to break it. Taven goes after Daniels and the two brawl with haymakers. Taven gets the edge, then whips but Daniels reverses. Daniels swings but misses, then runs to match pace, double crossbodies collide! Burnard coaches Cody back up while fans rally. Cody clears his head while Daniels and Taven get to a corner. Taven whips but Daniels reverses, Daniels runs in but Taven evades and rolls him up. Taven gets his feet on the ropes! TWO, and Taven argues with the ref. Daniels rolls Taven, TWO, and now he argues.

Taven knees low, loops around for Climax, but Daniels denies it. Daniels kicks Taven and goes for the double underhook, but Cody slips in the ring to hit the Beautiful Disaster kick! Taven revives and springboards, but Cody ducks to send the Kick of the King into Daniels! Cody throws Taven out then kneels in the Terminator pose. Some fans boo because that’s Kenny Omega’s thing, but other fans start up the drums. Cody rises, then builds speed, but Daniels tries to roll Cody up. Cody bucks Daniels off, then grabs him in the dragon sleeper while Taven slowly climbs up. Cross Rhodes hits!

But so does Taven’s frog splash!

Taven covers them both, Taven wins!!

Winner: Taven, by pinfall

No conspiracy here, Taven simply outsmarted two former world champions. The ROH world title is the only title Taven hasn’t held, can this big win help him leap over this Kingdom Conspiracy to complete the Grand Slam? And when Taven and Cody have a rematch at Masters of the Craft, who will draw First Blood?!

My Thoughts:

A pretty good extra go-home for Supercard of Honor, but it also builds itself as a go-home to the Honor Club special, Masters of the Craft. Punishment Martinez and Shane Taylor of a good match to lead into Martinez VS Ishii, which is of course a stiff match-up itself. Lethal does a solid side story match with Coleman that could be the beginnings of something. Lethal VS Jonathan Gresham is going to be a great match just on technique, and I hope it really adds to Gresham’s story. I really want to see him revive the ROH Pure Wrestling Championship.

The WOH Championship Tournament recap and promos were solid, and helps frame the semifinals and finals for Supercard. Then the Triple Threat main event was great, so much story on top of great action, and this new “Burnard” character could add an odd new dimension to “Bullet Club is (Not) Fine”. Burnard could be anyone, and when that reveal happens, it could be Bullet Club’s brand new member who bolsters Team Cody in this civil war. Taven winning was a real surprise, I thought it was going to be Cody. However, Taven is growing as a star Heel, like the ROH equivalent of The Miz or something. After this Kingdom Conspiracy story wraps up, I could see him challenging Dalton Castle, but maybe only winning through cheating to finally get the Grand Slam.

My Score: 8/10