May 14, 2017
Episode 294
(taped April 8, 2017)
City: Baltimore, MD
Venue: William J Myers Pavilion
Tour: Charm City Excellence
Commentary: Ian Riccaboni, Colt Cabana
Ring Announcer: Bobby Cruise
Intro Video
“War Zone” by 615 Music
Ring Area
Everyone heads to the ring for the opening match. Alex Shelley gets on the mic and says everyone can thank The Rebellion for giving him a concussion and preventing him from competing tonight. Shelley knows how to spot talent though, and he sees talent in “The Octopus” Jonathon Gresham.
Match 1
Will Ferrara & Cheeseburger w/ Joey Daddiego vs Chris Sabin & Jonathon Gresham w/ Alex Shelley
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Jonathon Gresham makes Cheeseburger submit to an octopus hold
Time: 9:05 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Gresham and Sabin looked great as a team, and Gresham really had a chance to shine in this one. Gresham looked very smooth and technically adept in a lot of the holds and transitions he performed, especially late in the match. There was a little comedy here with Cheeseburger, but overall this match was fairly serious and had a great deal of back and forth.
Ring Area
After the match, Ferrara is angry and pushes past everyone as they shake hands in the center of the ring.
Backstage
Jay Lethal gets ready to record a commercial, but Silas Young is jealous. Young attacks Lethal and repeatedly slams his leg into the nearby lockers.
Match 2
Bobby Fish vs Silas Young w/ The Beer City Bruiser
(referee: Todd Sinclair)
Result: Silas Young wins via pinfall after hitting Bobby Fish in the head with his knee brace
Time: 10:37 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Very good match. There was some brawling in this, but there were also some great exchanges and sequences. Silas surprised me with some of his agility, and Fish looked good going head-to-head with Silas’ rough style. This match probably could have been on a PPV.
Backstage
Dalton Castle failed to become World Champ, but he’s been through worse.
Match 3
ROH World 6-Man Tag Title Match
The Rebellion (Caprice Coleman, Rhett Titus, Shane Taylor) vs The Briscoes & Bully Ray (ROH 6-Man Tag Champs)
(referee: Paul Turner; guest commentary: Alex Shelley)
Result: Jay Briscoe pins Rhett Titus after 3D
Time: 10:30 (2 breaks)
Match Thoughts
Good match. It broke down a few times, but it never really devolved into an all out brawl. I think that’s a good thing. The match was fairly even throughout, thought the champs seems to have a slight advantage most of the time.
Ring Area
The Briscoes set up a table after the match while Caprice Coleman has words with Bully Ray. Coleman then takes a second rope powerbomb through the table from Bully Ray.
Show Impressions
This was a very good show. All the matches were very entertaining and were important for their own separate reasons. I liked the variety of matches as well. I’m kind of surprised this was such a good show considering it was taped more than a month prior to the last PPV and they couldn’t really do any story line stuff that would conflict with that.
Match of the Night
Bobby Fish vs Silas Young
I think tonight is kind of a toss up. All three matches were equally entertaining for me. I think I’m picking this one because it felt like the most solidly put together match as far as continuity of action. The tag matches were a little all over the place at times, which is fine, but Fish versus Young was very focused on the grudge between the two men.