January 16, 2016
Episode 226
(taped December 19, 2015)
City: Philadelphia, PA
Venue: 2300 Arena
Commentary: Kevin Kelly, Mr. Wrestling 3
Ring Announcer: Bobby Cruise
Intro Video
“War Zone” by 615 Music
Match 1
The Addiction (Christopher Daniels and Kazarian) w/ Chris Sabin vs ACH & Alex Shelley
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Daniels pins ACH after Celebrity Rehab
Time: 7:37 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Nice match to open the show. Kaz and Daniels were clearly and naturally the better two-man unit. Their tandem attacks seem effortless. Shelley and ACH are a pretty fun team to watch, but it really felt like two singles competitors thrown into a team together. It’s not that they didn’t mesh well, it’s just that they never really even tried to work as a team. One guy did his thing and then the other guy did his thing. I think that dynamic actually helped the match work really well.
Ring Area
After the match, Daniels and Kaz attack Shelley. Sabin stands back and watches. Daniels gets the ring bell hammer and knocks out the ref. Nigel McGuinness comes out and suspends Daniels.
Match 2
Adam Page w/ BJ Whitmer, Colby Corino vs Mark Briscoe
(referee: Dan Tanaka)
Result: Mark Briscoe wins via pinfall after a Froggy Bow
Time: 6:33
Match Thoughts
Really nice match. There were some impressive moves by both guys. Page seemed to have a little bit of an advantage in that regard with a nice front-flip clothesline and scoop powerslam into the corner, but Mark had some nice moves as well including a blockbuster on the floor.
Ring Area
After the match, Whitmer has something to say. He tells Mr. Wrestling 3 that everyone knows he’s Corino and he should be a man and tell the truth. Mr. Wrestling 3 says he’s not Corino, but he knows him. He suggests that Whitmer leave the ring.
Ring Area
Silas Young goes out to ringside and grabs a mic. He is disappointed about Final Battle and The Boys. He gives The Boys one chance to do the right things. Otherwise they’ll be sorry.
Match 3
Three Team Philly Street Fight
The Kingdom (Adam Cole & Michael Bennett w/ Matt Taven, Maria Kanellis) vs reDRagon (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish) vs Young Bucks
(referee: Todd Sinclair)
Result: Nick and Matt Jackson pin Michael Bennett after a Meltzer Driver, tandem superkicks, and a Styles Clash
Time: 13:54 (2 breaks)
Match Thoughts
This was a pretty crazy and chaotic match. It really had an ECW-type feel which is exactly what they were going for. Chairs, tables and ladders were all used. Adam Cole paid tribute to Terry Funk with a ladder helicopter. Maria got involved in the match and paid for it in a brutal way. No one was safe as even one of the commentators got caught in the crossfire.
It’s one of those matches where everything is happening all at the same time and it never really lets up. There’s no build, it’s just violence and action. That works for this type of match. I did think it was strange that O’Reilly chased Cole up the ramp and away from the ring, neither of them returning to the match. It didn’t make much sense from a perspective of trying to win the match, but it did allow for the match to get a bit of focus.
Michael Bennett got absolutely destroyed. He took the most damage out of anyone. Also, the appearance of help for the Young Bucks in the form of AJ Styles helped with the crazy, anything-goes ECW feel of the match.
Show Impressions
The street fight was easily the highlight of the show, but the other matches were good too. I liked the showing that ACH had and am interested in seeing where the Sabin/Shelley thing goes.
Match of the Night
Philly Street Fight
Crazy and chaotic. Good stuff.