ROH Wrestling Television, Episode 400

And to celebrate, both the ROH World Championship and World Six Man Tag Team Championships will be on the line!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championships: Villain Enterprises VS Jay Lethal, Jeff Cobb & Rush; Villain Enterprises wins and retains the ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championships.
• ROH World Championship: Matt Taven w/ TK O’Ryan VS Flip Gordon; Taven wins and retains the ROH World Championship.

PLAY BY PLAY

ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championships: Villain Enterprises VS Jay Lethal, Jeff Cobb & Rush!

No need to waste any time, we open this historic 400th episode with action! The Franchise Player is a former world champion, will he become an ROH Grand Slam Champion with the help of El Toro Blanco and the current World Television Champion? Or will Marty Scurll, Brody King and PCO clutch on tight to the last bit of gold they still have?

ROH returns from break as teams sort out. Fans chant for PCO as he starts against Lethal. The bell rings and we begin this golden opener!

Lethal circles with PCO for the first time in history, and PCO is fired up! Fans fire up with PCO but Scurll tells PCO to calm down and focus. Lethal turns PCO around but PCO headlocks. Lethal powers out and things speed up. He CHOPS PCO, but PCO doesn’t feel it! PCO is still fired up with the fans as they chant for him. Lethalt urns PCO around again but gets uppercuts. Lethal headlocks now but PCO powers out. PCO drops but Lethal fakes him out to basement dropkick him. But PCO pops right back up! Lethal hip tosses, cartwheels and dropkicks PCO again, but PCO is again right back up! So Lethal just does it all again. PCO still gets up and baits Lethal to a corner. Lethal triangle dropkicks PCO down, but PCO is still on his feet.

PCO dares Lethal to dive at him. Lethal is confused by this, but he’ll happily do it. He turns to run but Scurll clobbers him! Scurll scurries back to his corner and PCO clubs away on Lethal. PCO brings Lethal over to tag Scurll. Scurll throws European Uppercuts and back suplexes but Lethal lands on his feet. Lethal staggers back to his corner to tag, but wait, where’s Amy Rose going? She’s helping the “blind” Kenny King out from backstage! Amy helps Kenny over to commentary. Rush tags in and Scurll backs off. The Villain and El Toro Blanco meet for the first time, but Rush wants Brody King. Scurll doesn’t oblige so Rush trips him and speeds things up. Scurll hurdles but so does Rush. Rush hurdles and Scurll grabs ropes.

Rush whips Scurll to a corner and splashes, then rolls Scurll. Scurll ducks the kick to roll Rush but Rush dodges the stomps! Fans cheer that exchange and Scurll tags out to Brody. Brody wants Cobb so Rush obliges! The two men collide shoulder to shoulder again and again and again! Cobb gets an edge but Brody dodges as things speed up. Cobb can leap! And he can dropkick! Fans fire up for Cobb and Kenny gets the wrong move, he thought Cobb just did a huricanrana. Cobb tags Lethal and they double whip Brody. Brody breaks through the line to crossbody them both! Brody keeps moving and he huricanranas Cobb!

Lethal stands and Brody runs but is dumped out. Lethal triangle dropkicks him down, then builds up speed. Scurll kicks Lethal from behind, but gets a dropkick for it! Lethal runs again, to DIVE onto Scurll! Then Lethal gets back in, runs, and DIVES on Brody, but is caught! Scurll hits Rush, then hurries to the apron, SUPERKICK to suplex! Kenny couldn’t tell that’s what happened, but he does like that Lethal took the damage. Villain Enterprises are fired up while we go to break.

ROH returns as Lethal throws body shots to deny a suplex. Lethal tries to suplex, but Brody is just too big. Fans rally behind Lethal but he can’t get Brody up. Brody suplexes Lethal up but Lethal slips out, cutter! Brody flounders and crawls as fans rally up. Lethal also crawls, hot tags to Scurll and Rush! Rush rallies on Villain Enterprises! He whips Brody but Brody reverses and corner clotheslines! Brody runs corner to corner but Rush follows for a splash! And then furious stomps! Rush goes corner to corner, but fakes Brody out to kick him! And then Tranquilo! But Scurll goes after Rush and his fingers!

Rush forearms free and then keeps hitting. He runs but falls for 52 Fake Out! Scurll also enzugiris Rush then hits Cobb away. Scurll wants it and fans fire up behind him. Spin and “CHICKEN-” HEADBUTT! Rush tags to Cobb! Cobb rallies on Scurll and then German Suplexes Brody! PCO runs in but Cobb sends him into buckles, for a German Suplex of his own! Scurll hops up, shows dirty birds and flies, but into Cobb’s arms! Cobb tosses Scurll overhead! Scurll ends up in a corner, and Cobb runs in to hit a big back elbow! Cobb fireman’s carries to a Samoan Drop, and kip up, to moonsault! Cover, but Brody breaks it! Brody brings Cobb up to CHOP him against ropes! Scurll gets up and whips Cobb with Brody. But Cobb reverses by crisscrossing and ramming them into each other.

Cobb pump handles each of them, for DOUBLE single leg suplexes! Fans are thunderous, but Cobb encounters PCO! PCO choke grips but Cobb breaks free to grip PCO! PCO breaks free and powers Cobb out of the ring! Villain Enterprises regroups and Brody FLIES onto Team Lethal!! Brody sets them back up as PCO FLIES out! PCO bowls Team Lethal over, and then stands! Because he’s not human! Brody feeds Cobb to the ring and Scurll runs corner to corner, only to be put on the apron. But Brody adds on for the clothesline kick combo! Brody brings Cobb up but Cobb holds ropes. Scurll slingshots for a Sunset Flip German Suplex! Brody keeps moving, and cannonballs on Lethal and Rush! Scurll covers Cobb, TWO! “This is Awesome!” but far from over.

Cobb throws body shots and shoves Scurll. Scurll drop toeholds Cobb onto the ropes, then holds him for Brody. Brody and Scurll both run, 619 Cannonball sandwich! Cover, TWO!! The Hawaiian Hulk survives and Scurll is shocked. Fans rally as Scurll tags PCO. PCO stalks Cobb and drags him up, but Cobb SUPERKICKS! Rush blasts the corner and Lethal tags in. Lethal climbs up, Hail to the King! But PCO sits up!? Rush shotgun dropkicks but PCO stands up! PCO runs into an overhead suplex into buckles! Lethal climbs again, another Hail to the King! Cover, but Scurll breaks it in time! Scurll mule kicks and powerbombs Rush, catapult into Brody’s forearm! Then Brody drops the senton over the knees! Brody hits Cobb, but Lethal Injection for Scurll! Lethal Injection caught by Brody, Tower Hacker Bomb! PCO climbs, MOONSAULT! Cover, Villain Enterprises wins!!

Winners: Villain Enterprises, PCO pinning; still ROH World Six Man Tag Team Champions

Kenny King says “I told you so” about Lethal not being some kind of Superman of Honor. Lethal is the one that takes the loss, will Kenny King be further vindicated when he faces off with Lethal? As for Villain Enterprises, is there any trio that can take those titles from them?

Flip Gordon speaks on his leg injury.

It was at ROH Honor Reigns Supreme, in a match with Hot Sauce Tracy Williams. All seemed same as always, but as Flip dropkick’d Tracy in the corner, his knee gave out. Flip feared the worst, and wanted to finish the match, but his springboard spear only made it worse. He could only take another step, so he had to call it there. Flip feared the worst, but the MRI gave him a time frame. What did he have to do to beat this? Physical therapy. Flip stuck to the schedule, and trusted his doctors. Now his knee is ready, and he is ready! The other ROH World Championship contenders fell to Lethal, but then Taven rose up to win. But tonight is the night! The Captain challenges the throne, will Flip’s return be one of the greatest in ROH history?

ROH shares what happened during break.

Jay Lethal was making his way up the steps to the stage at the same time Amy Rose was helping Kenny King to the back. Lethal didn’t make anything of it, but then Kenny attacked! Kenny used his walking stick, because obviously he wasn’t blind! ROH security pried Kenny off Lethal, and Lethal was gasping for air. Will Lethal get payback for the K I N G’s cowardly attack?

ROH World Championship: Matt Taven w/ TK O’Ryan VS Flip Gordon!

Finally, after weeks of waiting, we will see this match! The Kingdom’s ring leader finally got to be #GrandSlamTaven after a G1 Supercard Triple Threat ladder match, but it is also finally the Captain of Flip Army’s turn to challenge for this title. Will Flip show Taven just how he earned this match when he earns the win?

Though, once again conspicuous by his absence, Vinnie Marseglia isn’t following Taven to the ring. That’s mostly because only TK has his corner man license, as is required now in Pennsylvania. Even so, will the Horror King again appear to help Taven retain?

The introductions are made, and we begin this golden main event, after the break!

ROH returns as the referee raises the belt. Taven offers the Code of Honor, surprisingly, and Flip takes it. The fans duel as the two back off and the bell rings. Flip and Taven circle and Flip avoids Taven getting his bad leg. Taven smirks but gets a shotgun dropkick! Flip throws forearms on Taven then whips corner to corner. Flip runs in but is put on the apron. He still kicks Taven back, then slingshots for a monkey flip! Taven crawls to a corner and Flip runs, but Taven puts him on the top rope, to shove him off! TK lurks but Flip stares him down. Flip shoulders into Taven then slingshot sunset flips. Taven rolls through but Flip ducks Just the Tip to schoolboy Taven out of the ring!

Fans rally up both ways while TK coaches Taven up. Flip builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit sends Taven into railing! But Flip is checking his leg. He may not be 100% like he thought. TK runs at him with the bat! Flip jumps over the swing, then mule kicks the Sassy Wild Horse down! But Taven blasts Flip off the apron and into barriers! Flip hits so hard, the cover comes off! Taven doesn’t care that fans boo, he fetches Flip from the wreckage. Taven scoops and slams Flip on the cover! The Kingdom fans cheer but Flip’s fans boo as Taven throws Flip into a post! Taven mockingly says, “He can fly!” and mockingly applauds while refreshing the count. He puts Flip back in the ring and Flip flounders to a corner.

Taven takes a moment to trash talk the Flip fans, then runs corner to corner to hit Flip with a forearm smash. Taven whips Flip but Flip reverses. Flip runs in but Taven goes up and over. Things speed up, Flip leaps then ducks to mule kick and snapmare. Flip runs to Penalty Kick and standing moonsault! Cover, TWO! Taven gets out but Flip keeps focus. Flip slingshots but Taven gets back in the ring. The bad knee stops Flip and Taven kicks him off the apron! Flip crashes down and fans rally as Taven builds speed. Taven misses the dropkick to get a SUPERKICK! Flip fires up and runs in, but gets hip tossed into barriers and a chair! Flip writhes and clutches his back while we go to break.

ROH returns again as Taven stalks Flip in the ring. Taven slams the knee into the mat while fans rally both ways. Taven brings Flip around to elbow the knee. He puts Flip’s leg in a toehold and punches the knee, then stands to drop another elbow. Taven returns to the hold but Flip elbows him away. Flip stands and CHOPS Taven at the ropes. Flip forearms Taven, too, then enziguris! Taven flounders to the corner and Flip fires himself up. Flip stands but walks into a kick from Taven. Taven looms over Flip before he drags him up by the bad leg. He gives the bad leg a dragon screw! Then a leg yank! Flip slumps out of the ring and Taven distracts the ref so that TK can stomp Flip out!

TK puts Flip back in and Taven drags Flip up by his hair. Taven bumps Flip off buckles then puts the bad leg around the ropes. He pulls but stops at 4, and fans duel again. Taven puts the leg back on the rope to kick it. Flip chops back, so Taven kicks the leg again. Taven punches Flip then whips corner to corner. Flip reverses but Taven rolls under to enziguri and back suplex to bomb! Cover, TWO! Right to a Half Crab! Flip endures and fans duel. Flip crawls and gets the ropebreak! But Taven doesn’t let go, he just drags Flip away! The referee reprimands him so Taven lets up on the Crab. Flip kicks Taven with his good leg! Taven comes back but gets another kick. Flip stands but gets a BOOT from Taven!

Taven drags Flip up but Flip slips out of Moonlight Drive! Flip runs, springboards to SPEAR! But Flip can’t make a cover, he’s too tired. Fans rally up both ways as the standing count begins. The count hits 5 before either man sits up. Taven is up first at 7 but Flip follows as he feeds off fan energy. Flip forearms but Taven responds, and they go back and forth. Flip gets an edge but Taven kicks the bad leg. Taven adds forearms and another kick, but Flip responds with a knee! Flip brings Taven in but Taven pushes him off. Taven runs in but Flip goes up and over and blocks the boot! Flip pries Taven off the ropes, to inverted Alabama Slam him into buckles! Taven flounders up into Flip’s modified neckbreaker! Cover, TWO!! Flip’s shocked while we go to one last break.

ROH returns once more as fans declare “This is Awesome!” Flip climbs up top but Taven stops him with a haymaker! Taven climbs up to join Flip but Flip hits back. They brawl and Taven falls. Taven’s back up with another big right. Taven climbs again but Flip still fights back. Flip headbutts and Taven staggers, only to kick Flip back! Taven climbs a third time and fans duel as he gets a SUPERPLEX! Cradle but from who!? TWO, Flip goes Matrix then mule kicks to PELE! Flip fires up but Taven mule kicks the bad leg! Taven runs, springboards, but Flip catches him for a Russian Leg Sweep! SUPERKICK to spinning Falcon Arrow! Cover, TWO!! Flip can’t believe Taven escaped that!

Fans duel again as Flip catches his breath. Taven crawls and Flip is on him with a fireman’s carry. Spin but Taven lands and SPITS at Flip! Flip runs into a Pop-Up Powerbomb! Just the Tip of the knee! Cover, TWO!! Now Taven can’t believe Flip survives! Taven tells Flip’s fans to shut up, then drags Flip up again. He headlocks but Flip slips out to fireman’s carry again, swinging cutter! Flip hurries up top, but the BALLOONS! Taven springs up to kick out the legs! SUPER CLIMAX!! Cover, Taven wins!!

Winner: Matt Taven, by pinfall; still ROH World Champion

Vinnie didn’t even need to appear, his balloons of doom were distraction enough! But Vinnie still appears to celebrate with his king. Will #GrandSlamTaven ever be stopped with his Kingdom always around?

My Thoughts:

A pretty great 400th episode for ROH. We only had two matches and that’s all we really needed given how great the matches were. Lethal-Cobb-Rush was definitely an odd team going into this, though star-studded as it is, but it was pretty clear they weren’t going to win. Villain Enterprises is a great trio because each member is great. It really will take a big name trio to take those titles from them. I’m still thinking The Kingdom comes back around to challenge for those belts, and can tie into another world title shot for Scurll. Kenny King did his blind act great on commentary, because for one, he obviously was never blind so it’s just him being a naturally funny guy. And it was a good move for him to “reveal” he wasn’t blind and then attack Lethal. This gets some great heat for their second time around.

Clearly Flip Gordon is a star in ROH now, but sadly not big enough of a star to overcome the odds. Commentary did a good job selling how Taven didn’t need to do this given how his win at G1 Supercard was all him. But this does heap Heel heat back on him, even with Philly weirdly having fans who like The Kingdom. This could be another way for Scurll and Villain Enterprises to be the team that takes that belt off Taven, as PCO and Brody King will be there to counter TK and Vinnie. Flip himself will surely be a champion one day, he just has to wait a little bit longer.

My Score: 8.3/10