Ring of Honor TV – March 28, 2018: Are You Flipping Kidding?
IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling
Ring of Honor
Date: March 28, 2018
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Colt Cabana
As usual, Ring of Honor is in a weird place as they have to build to a pay per view with two episodes of TV and then a few episodes of unrelated TV after the show. At least we’re getting something and it’s not like the pay per view needs a lot of build up in the first place. Things should be fun though and that’s what matters, as Ring of Honor has been good as of late. Let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
Opening sequence.
Here’s the Kingdom with Matt Taven reiterating the conspiracy theory. They can get the Six Man Tag Team Titles back at Supercard of Honor but here’s Bully Ray to interrupt. He’s sick of hearing about the conspiracy and thinks maybe the Kingdom just sucks. The trio doesn’t have a match at Supercard of Honor but Taven protests. That earns him a no, with Taven asking why they won’t just show up anyway. Bully says go ahead, because he’d fire them right now if he could. That’s it, leaving the segment feeling like part of it was missing.
Quick video on the Women of Honor Tournament.
Women of Honor Title Tournament Quarterfinals: Kelly Klein vs. Mandy Leon
They slap it out to start until Klein easily takes over with a backbreaker. A hard knee to the back gives Klein two and Mandy is already fighting from underneath. Mandy’s first comeback bid is cut off with a kick to the chest and it’s off to a chinlock. Kelly heads outside but gets shoved to the floor for a cannonball off the apron.
Back from a break with Mandy pounding away in the corner and hitting an over the shoulder backbreaker onto the knee for two. Kelly is done with this getting beaten up thing though and grabs a super fall away slam for a double knockdown. It’s off to a dragon sleeper with a bodyscissors but Mandy rolls out in a bit of a surprising counter. Astral Projection gives Mandy two and she grabs a neckbreaker choke. Kelly taps so Mandy lets go but the referee didn’t see it. With Mandy yelling, Kelly grabs the End of the Match and Mandy passes out at 11:55.
Rating: D+. Mandy is getting better but it’s clear that most of the people she’s been facing are just that much better than she is. That becomes a problem when it’s pretty clear Ring of Honor wants her to be their Trish Stratus. Kelly may not be great but she’s more than capable of having a passable match. Mandy isn’t quite there yet (or at least not every time) and it’s showing against the more experienced opponents.
Jay Lethal is ready to team with Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the Tag Team Titles. There’s a story to be told with Lethal chasing one of the few things he hasn’t done around here.
So Cal Uncensored will do whatever it takes to retain the Six Man Tag Team Titles.
Hangman Page/Marty Scurll vs. The Boys
Rating: D-. Well that happened. This was just a quick match with nothing going on other than a way to have Castle and Scurll in the same arena. The match should be a good one when it happens but this didn’t do anything for Marty and Page doesn’t have anything going for him at the moment. Waste of time here for the most part.
Silas Young and Kenny King are brawling in the back.
The Briscoes are ready to beat the best because no one can touch them.
Young and King come into the arena with referees breaking up the match. Bully comes out and tells King to do something. Kenny throws out a challenge for a Last Man Standing match at Supercard of Honor. Things seem to be ready.
Scorpio Sky vs. Flip Gordon
Gordon misses an early superkick attempt and it’s already time for a nip up. A handstand (with one hand at times) has Sky in trouble and Flip takes him outside as we go to another early break. Back with Sky driving him into the corner and hammering away but stopping to pose as a heel is known to do. A running shoulder to the ribs gets two on Flip but he’s right back with a 619 to the gut. Gordon is fine enough for a springboard Sling Blade but here are Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian. Not that it matters as Gordon rolls Sky up for the pin at 5:25.
Rating: C-. Gordon is fun for what he is and yet somehow they’re making him grow further than I would have bet on him being able to do. I’m not sure how far he’s going to be able to go as he’s really just a flippy guy, but at having them embrace that is a very different way to go. The match was mainly there for the post match angle advancement and that’s fine enough.
Post match the beatdown is on but here are the Young Bucks for the save. The fans chant for ALL IN but Gordon shakes the Bucks’ hand. Bully comes back down and says it’s about time. This is interesting, but let’s make it more interesting: how about the Bucks and Gordon challenge So Cal Uncensored for the Six Man Tag Team Titles at Supercard of Honor? And let’s make it a ladder match.
Overall Rating: D. They advanced a few things but for a show based around wrestling, I don’t think this was clicking at all. The schedule continues to hurt them as it’s time to burn through the Supercard of Honor build and it’s even harder when a lot of the talent is from New Japan and therefore not here. This was a major misfire after what they’ve been doing of late and that’s very disappointing.
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