ROH 02/02/19 TV Review: Silas Young vs. Eli Isom
01/12/18
2300 Arena
Atlanta, GA
This week was the first episode from the set of tapings from Atlanta, GA. Ian Riccaboni, Colt Cabana and Juice Robinson were on commentary and welcomed us to the show.
First Match: “Hot Sauce” Tracy Williams vs. David Finlay
The two adhered to the code of honor to start the match. This would be the first of two matches that pit LifeBlood members against each other and it seems that the group will be adopting the idea of iron sharpening iron, occasionally squaring off against each other. This was a hard-hitting contest between the two. Williams has really taken the ball and run with it since he has been with ROH and Finlay’s charisma is infectious. The crowd was hot for this one and the match set the tone for a solid hour of WRESTLING. Williams won with a spike piledriver after an absolute clinic of a match. It came off as a bit of a shock here-the crowd certainly seemed to react that way, but to a credit to Cabana is that he set this up the whole way, making it clear that despite being a relative unknown for some, both of these grapplers are accomplished in their own right. Code of Honor adhered to post-match.
Winner: Tracy Williams
Second Match: Mark Haskins vs. Bandido
Continuing the theme of the evening, these two members of Life Blood battled each other here in that was essentially the first match of the evening with more high flying involved here. The crowd was with this one every step of the way and despite the fact that there were a few awkward hiccups, this was another strong match that has some really fun spots. It is heartening to know that even though some of the new signees are part of the same group, they will still face each other head to head so that we won’t be denied of those possible match ups. In the end, Bandido won after hitting a 21-plex into an immediate pinfall.
Winner: Bandido
Main Event: ROH World Television Championship Number One Contender Match
Silas Young vs. Eli Isom
Video recap of Silas Young’s part in The Elite’s “send-off”. Young then refused the code of honor handshake before the match got underway. This was a good back and forth match-Young was excellent here in going for less of a brawling style, allowing Isom to appear strong here. Isom looked to put it away with a backslide but he was unable to keep Young down for the three. He fell victim to a knee to the face and Misery, giving Young the pinfall victory and the title shot. Post-match Young got on the mic and ran down Jeff Cobb, calling him a disappoint on various levels. Cobb could take his name sullied no longer and made a beeline for the ring, confronting the challenger. Shane Taylor slid into the ring and Cobb face off with both of them, falling victim to the numbers game as he went to slam Taylor. Taylor connected with Greetings from 216 and Young and Taylor lorded over him as the show went off the air.
Winner: Silas Young
Final Reaction: A-
This was top to bottom the one of the strongest hours of wrestling that ROH has had on their weekly television. The dedication to the renewed focused on everything being honorable allows for their to be a very clear distinction between those that adhere to the code of honor and those that don’t The first two matches being battles between members of the same groups shows that the members truly ascribe to being different and respectful. The intensity in both matches was excellent and the main event continued the trend of solid wrestling for the full episode. This is certainty an episode to watch.