411’s ROH TV Report 2.22.14

Ring of Honor TV
Date: 2/22/2014
From: Pittsburgh, PA

A video highlighting the main event from last week kicks off the program. Chris Hero pinned ROH World Champion Adam Cole, and thus got an ROH World Championship match at the 12th Anniversary Show.

Opening Contest: Andrew Everett vs. Cedric Alexander:
Roderick Strong is on commentary for the bout. Both men are able to avoid impact moves early on, and the fans show their appreciation. Everett hits a head scissors and a spinning kick. Everett arm drags Alexander to the floor but is dropkicked off the apron when Alexander rolled back into the ring. We go to commercial as Alexander got a near fall.

Everett delivers a jaw breaker to get out of a sleeper hold but is sent to the canvas via a back drop, which saw Everett get elevated rather high into the air. Cedric drops Everett with a kick to the head for a near fall. Everett dropkicks Cedric to the floor and eventually takes Alexander out with a springboard shooting star press to the floor! Everett hits a springboard dropkick back in the ring. Everett also hits a standing hurricanrana for a near win.

Alexander hits a spinning reverse death valley driver of some kind and can’t get a three. Everett nearly rolled Alexander up for a near win. Alexander places Everett on the top rope and attempts a superplex but is shoved off. Alexander runs back up and delivers ten head butts. Everett avoids a top rope superplex by tossing Cedric to the canvas. Cedric gets his knees up on an attempted 630! Cedric gets the win following a double knee back breaker to Everett’s back!

Your Winner: Cedric Alexander @10:45
It started off a little slow and I found myself not overly interested for the first few minutes, but as soon as Everett hit the springboard shooting star press to the floor, the action picked up and the fans really got into it as well. Everett should have a regular spot in the company. A good match that got a perfect amount of time to showcase both men. ***

After the match, Roderick Strong tossed a water bottle into the ring. He was mad that Alexander used a back breaker, at least that’s how the announcers are playing it up as.

A video promoting the night the hoopla died. Matt Taven left Truth Martini and is now on his own.

Next week, ROH Television Champion Tommaso Ciampa defends against Hanson.

Main Event: ROH World Tag Team Champion Kyle O’Reilly vs. Kevin Steen:
Steen goes to the ropes every time O’Reilly gets an advantage. The fans actually chant for the rope. Steen dropkicks O’Reilly and Kyle goes to the corner only to be arm dragged. Steen gets a couple of near falls with roll ups. Kyle knee lifts Steen and simply slaps Steen on the canvas. Steen gets up and knocks Kyle to the floor with a slap of his own. Steen low blows O’Reilly and continues to work over the champ on the floor. O’Reilly gets on the apron and back into the ring only to be met with a clothesline and a standing senton splash. We go to commercial.

O’Reilly reaches the ropes to break the sharpshooter. O’Reilly leg sweeps Steen for a one count. Kyle starts to work on Steen’s left arm. O’Reilly drops Steen arm first to the canvas and has a key lock on Mr. Wrestling for a brief time. Steen stops Kyle with a hard clothesline. Kyle pulls Steen to the floor after being back dropped over the top. Steen is sent into the ring post and kicks O’Reilly as he jumped off the apron. Steen power bombs O’Reilly onto the apron! Steen hits a swanton bomb off the top for a near fall. O’Reilly avoids the sharpshooter after a missed dropkick attempt. Steen hits a cannonball splash in the corner for a near fall.

Steen attempts the F5 but O’Reilly counters and has the Armageddon locked in, but Steen reaches the bottom rope. Kyle knee lifts Steen and goes for a tornado DDT, but settles for a kick to the head for a near fall. Steen fights off O’Reilly on the middle rope by biting O’Reilly and hits a middle rope fisherman suplex but only gets a two count. We go to another commercial.

Steen goes for the package piledriver but O’Reilly counters with the Armageddon a second time! Steen is able to reach the bottom rope again. O’Reilly begins to kick Steen, who throws Kyle’s mouthpiece at him. Steen with a power bomb and the package piledriver but O’Reilly reaches the bottom rope. Cliff Compton is in the front row and is taunting Steen. Steen leaves the ring and O’Reilly dropkicks Steen from the apron. O’Reilly with Armageddon again but Steen refuses to give up. Steen counters with the sharpshooter and wins the match.

Your Winner: Kevin Steen @17:11
It was a decent match, but I wasn’t overwhelmed with entertainment. I kind of feel like O’Reilly should have won the match. His inability to win with the Armageddon finisher makes the move look weak in my eyes. I understand that Steen is a top babyface, but at some point he can’t overcome the odds (kind of like Cena). An average match to close the show. **1/2

After the match, Steen wants Compton in the ring but officials prevent Compton from entering. Steen hits the F5 on the referee. Compton enters and they brawl briefly as security tries to hold them apart. They are all tossed to the floor. Steen F5’s Compton to the floor! Steen sends Cliff into the guard railing. Corino says Colt Cabana instead of Compton, but catches himself a little late. Steen has a table set up on the floor. Steen attempts a piledriver from the apron, but Compton low blows Steen. Compton puts Steen on the table and heads to the top rope. Compton leaps off the top to splash Mr. Wrestling through the table. That’s the end of the program.

Final Thoughts:
A fine episode overall with the Everett/Alexander match being the best of the two matches aired this week. No talk, all wrestling. Thank you, ROH.

Next week:
ROH TV Champion Tommaso Ciampa defends against Hanson
AJ Styles vs. Jay Lethal

As a reminder, you can check out thousands of reviews and hundreds of columns at my blog, WRESTLING RECAPS

See you next week!