ROH 11/03/18 TV Review: Kenny King vs Cody
10/13/18
2300 Arena
Philadelphia, PA
The show opened with a recap of the issues between Bully Ray and Flip Gordon after the Shane Taylor/Eli Isom match. The two settled on having proxies wrestle each other, with the winner earning either Gordon or Bully any punishment the victor chose. This week was the first episode from the set of tapings from Philadelphia, PA. Ian Riccaboni, Colt Cabana and Caprice Coleman were on commentary and welcomed everyone to show.
First Match: Pick your Punishment Match
Silas Young w/ Bully Ray vs. Flip’s Choice w/ Flip Gordon
Bully Ray came down and berated Bobby Cruise and did not allow him to follow through with the introduction. Ray went on to explain the rules before offering a warm welcome to his proxy, Silas Young. Gordon came out and waited for Colt Cabana to join him before hitting the ring. Cabana revealed that he wasn’t Flip’s choice, making way for SANDMAN. Sandman was in control to start, but an Irish whip reversal into a ladder gave Young control. Sandman was able to run to the top and hit a cannonball onto a ladder that covered Young’s body. Young kicked out of the pinfall and quickly hit Misery before winning via pinfall. Ray then revealed that the punishment would be fitting: ten lashes with a kendo stick. At the halfway point, Ray offered Gordon a chance to quit as wrestlers flooded the ringside area in support of Flip. Gordon refused to acquiesce, braving nine shots before Ray low blowed him and left the ringside area. This was a fine match and a really entertaining angle to follow. The punishment was cut on the FiteTV broadcast, with the full sequence of events on Honor Club.
Winner: Silas Young (Bully Ray)
Second Match: WOH Six- Woman Tag
Karen Q, Kelly Klein & Dr. Britt Baker & Jenny Rose, Madison Rayne & Sumie Sakai
Mandy Leon joined commentary for the match, as Cabana seemed to be off the rest of the show. This was mainly about the issues between Klein and Rose, but other issues grew out of the match, most notably, Baker/Klein. Baker refused to tag Klein in, content to watch as Rose hit a Northern Light suplex. Rose didn’t hold the bridge and instead used a jackknife pin to pick up the pinfall victory for her team. This match did a good job of establishing some rivalries in the division, building off of the Survival of the Fittest results.
Winners: Rose & Sakai
Main Event: Kenny King vs Cody
Lethal joined commentary for the match. King tried early and often to frame Brandi for transgressions that never occurred in an effort to get Cody disqualified. At one point while referee Paul Turner was distracted, King grabbed the IWGP United States title and toss it at Cody, feigning injury. As Turner was about to disqualify Cody, Todd Sinclair came down and explained to Turner what King had been doing. King, seeing his ruse uncovered, shoved Todd Sinclair and kicked Cody in the nether region, earning himself a disqualification. Throughout the match Lethal and Coleman had heated discussions about whether or not King deserved a title shot. Lethal argued that King went about things the wrong way, while Coleman felt King had to do anything he needed to to get what he deserves. King went to attack Cody, but Brandi acted as a human shield. He grabbed her by the hair and seemed ready to strike until Lethal hit the ring, trying to talk sense into him. After Lethal turned to check on Cody and Brandi King blasted Lethal with the title belt before delivering the clear message that he’ll do anything he can to win the title. This was a strong main event with many implications going forward.
Winner: Cody
Final Reaction: B-
With a huge week of shows, ROH did well to set the stage for some of the upcoming match ups. The angle with Bully Ray and Gordon really went to an extreme here, almost disturbingly so, but it made for compelling television. One would assume Gordon needs to get some payback down the line and the inclusion of Sandman here was a fun treat. The King/Cody match was well done and plays into what King has been doing for the last few months, building off of his losses to Austin Aries earlier in the year. This match makes sense of the Global War tour although doing this a week earlier with possibly some more interaction between Cody, King and Lethal would have served to make King’s upcoming title match a bit more meaningful, as he is getting a shot before Cody is, despite losing the match.