Ring Of Honor TV – April 29, 2020 (Best Of Flip Gordon): What’s In A Name?
IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling
Ring of Honor
Date: April 29, 2020
It’s Flip Gordon week and that could be an interesting choice. Gordon has been around for a good while now and has had some big moments in the company. He has yet to break through to the other side, but there are enough moments to make for a good hour, at least in theory. Let’s get to it.
Opening sequence.
We look at Flip Gordon walking his dog and then talking about a rough childhood. He kept getting in trouble but then he saw wrestling and knew that’s what he wanted to do. Eventually he became a college mascot and learned how to control his body, followed by going into the military to join in his mind. After that was over, he drove to Boston and learned how to wrestle.
From ROH TV, May 3, 2017 (labeled as April 8, 2017 for some reason).
Matt Sydal vs. Flip Gordon
I saw Gordon down in Orlando and thought something of him so hopefully he does well here. They trade flips (you would think Gordon would have the advantage there) to start with Gordon nipping up about ten times in a row for a standoff. Sydal grabs a rollup for two and there’s a spinwheel kick to put Gordon down. Back up and Gordon gets in a kick of his own and a standing moonsault gets two. Another kick to the head doesn’t do much good as Sydal scores with his own kick, followed by the Shooting Star for the pin at 5:34.
Rating: C. I haven’t liked Sydal this much since his Evan Bourne singles run, which is quite the surprise after all the time I spent being bored with his ROH stuff. Gordon looked good here and I’d have much rather seen him in the Top Prospect Tournament instead of half the schmucks they had in there.
From Final Battle 2018.
Flip Gordon vs. Bully Ray
Gordon is in military gear and comes through the crowd carrying the American flag. He comes over the barricade and springboards in with a Phenomenal forearm as commentary is completely behind Gordon here. They fight to the floor with Ray being sent into the barricade for a running forearm. A trashcan to the head gets Ray out of trouble and it’s time for a table. Ray can’t powerbomb him through it though and Gordon grabs another table as commentary admits that they’re a bit biased here. Just in case you’re kind of dumb you see.
Ray gets in what looked like a chain shot and stops to yell at various executives before shoving ring announcer Bobby Cruise. The referee yells at him too and gets tossed aside, leaving Ray to threaten ROH ambassador Cary Silkin. Daniels runs back in and dives over Silkin to protect him but gets dropped as well. Gordon gets thrown down but won’t quite. Instead Ray grabs Gordon’s girlfriend and threatens to powerbomb her through the table.
The bloody Gordon wants to quit (without actually doing it) to save her but Silkin hits Ray with the kendo stick instead. Gordon gets up and makes the save before giving his girlfriend a very bloody kiss. A top rope flag shot to the head sets up a Crossface with the flag but Silas Young runs in for the save and Misery. It’s time for lighter fluid both on Gordon and a table so here’s Cheeseburger to go after Young.
That earns him Misery (shame they didn’t burn him instead) so Colt Cabana comes in to fight them both until a low blow from Young stops him as well. Silas gets the lighter….and there go the lights because Sandman is here. On the biggest ROH show of the year because THIS NEEDS TO BE ABOUT ECW TOO!!! Beer is consumed and Ray misses a charge, allowing Gordon to hit a good superkick (Sandman didn’t hit Ray). A less good Star Spangled Stunner lets Gordon grab a pair of kendo sticks and unload on Ray for the win at 14:23.
Rating: C+. I’m not sure on this one. They had a bunch of stuff that fit with the story, but at the same time there was too much crammed into less than fifteen minutes. Gordon winning on his own in the end was the right call so they got the finish right, but at the same time there wasn’t enough of a focus on him having to fight back and overcome the adversity. I did like it and it was good, but they needed either more time or less stuff. Like less Sandman for example.
Gordon talks about coming to Ring of Honor young but he got hurt twice. That’s why he became the Mercenary, and it fit the military theme as well.
From War of the Worlds: Buffalo 2019.
Flip Gordon vs. Bandido
The fans are VERY behind Bandido here and there’s no contact for a good while to start. Gordon takes him into the corner but lets him go for some floss dancing. My goodness there is nothing Best Of about that stupid dance. Bandido flips out of a wristlock and it’s a standoff to keep things in slow motion early on. Gordon runs him over with a shoulder and walks on his hands for a headscissors. That earns Flip a hurricanrana but he flips out of a second attempt and ducks a penalty kick. They both bounce up to their feet and it’s a standoff.
Back from a break with Gordon hitting a quick Blockbuster into an inverted Cannonball in the corner. The Kinder Surprise sends Bandido outside and it’s a springboard hilo for two back inside. We hit the double arm crank to keep Bandido down but he’s right back up with a spinning high crossbody. A Shining Wizard sends Flip outside and there’s the big dive to send us to a second break.
Back with Bandido showing off with the one armed gorilla press (geez) into a standing shooting star. Bandido reverse hurricanranas him out to the floor, only to get sent into the barricade. They both beat the count back in and the slugout is on again. Bandido kicks him in the face but gets pulled into a sleeper. They go into the corner for the break and Bandido crotches him on top, setting up the moonsault World’s Strongest Slam for two on Gordon. The 21 Plex is blocked and the Star Spangled Stunner gives Gordon his own near fall. Bandido hits the X Knee but it’s the Flip Five to finish Bandido at 25:35.
Rating: B. Take two talented high fliers, let them go out and do their thing for a long time. They didn’t build a ton of drama until the finish but the point here was to have two guys fly around a lot. Gordon getting a win here is the right move and I’m sure Bandido is going to be fine given the reputation that he has built up in a hurry.
Gordon talks to his dog and we get a music video on him to end the show.
Overall Rating: B-. This might have been the weakest of the Best Of shows but Gordon doesn’t exactly have the longest tenure so far. Gordon is someone who is going to be fine, but I’m not sure how far you can get with the first name Flip. Then again, Dalton Castle is a peacock and former World Champion. Perfectly fine enough show, but nothing worth going out of your way to see.
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