Last week: Dalton Castle defeated Dragon Lee to become the new ROH World Television champion following Mandy Leon overcoming Trish Adora & Allysin Kay to earn a top contenders eliminator spot for the week after next.
ROH TV Episode 532
November 27, 2021
Baltimore, MD
The Briscoes vs. PCO & Danhausen
Mark Briscoe started things off with Danhausen, looking to use the evil man’s teeth in the jar to replace his missing ones. When Danhausen refused, Mark beat his opposition into a PCO tag. Mark came at the former World champion chopping like mad. PCO responded in kind, resulting in a hug of honor before PCO body blocked Mark off his feet. Danhausen tagged in, looking for the Jay Driller on Mark. Mark blocked the maneuver, getting a blind tag so Dem Boys could set up one of their patented double teams when Danhausen fell to his knees to stop the assault. The show entered a commercial break with Jay head-butting Danhausen as he tried to get away.
During the break, Danhausen got battered beyond recognition. Avoiding a running attack in the corner was Danhausen that allowed him to German suplex Jay Briscoe before tagging out to a fired up PCO. PCO’s offense saw him big boot Jay out of the ring before Mark caught him with several shots to the cranium to cause an electrical malfunction in PCO’s head. PCO now thought Danhausen was his enemy; chasing is ally up the aisle. PCO recovered quickly when Mark turned on him, double clotheslining both Briscoes. PCO joined Danhausen to choke slam Mark after the very evil Danhausen poured his jar of teeth into Mark’s mouth before kicking said teeth out of the younger Briscoe brother’s mouth. Sledge suddenly appeared, starting a fight with PCO as Dem Boys grabbed Danhausen to double hip toss him across the ring. Danhausen could stopped the subsequent Jay Driller or the three count.
Mark celebrated by collecting the loose teeth to which his brother attempted to help fit those teeth in Mark’s mouth.
– There was a “Final Battle” promo featuring The OGK with Matt Taven talking about how his sharing a locker room with so many great talents made him want to be a part of ROH. Mike Bennett declared that through death comes rebirth, “…and this won’t be the last time you hear ‘Ring of Honor’.”
– Another “Final Battle” video aired with Maria Kanellis-Bennett talking about how her first time in ROH reinvigorated her love for wrestling. Coming back last year, Maria felt that love again and doesn’t want it to go heading into “Final Battle”.
ROH World Women’s Championship: Rok-C (c) vs. Gia Scott
Gia Scott’s pre-match promo saw her state it should have been her to be in the tournament to become the ROH World’s Women champion. Scott refused to be overlooked from here on out even if it means beating someone like Rok-C.
Rok-C also had some pre-match thoughts, saying that becoming a champion means that she’s not only the best, but also the person with the biggest target on her. Not underestimating her opposition, Rok promised to retain the title with honor against someone believing they’re owed something they aren’t.
The larger challenger muscled her opposition around off the collar & elbow tie-up. Mocking the champion’s height by feigning a test of strength didn’t help Scott as Rok swept Gia into a roll up. Scott kicked out, grapevining Rok’s body with her legs. “The Prodigy” had to pry Scott’s long legs away from her, starting a crisscross situation where Rok refused to fall when they collided following shoulder blocks. Scott kept her base when Rok attempted an arm drag, only to be pulled down with the sunset flip for two seconds. Rok was ready for Scott to attack off the Code of Honor she offered after taking a breather at ringside. The champ grabbed Scott’s arm, using it to run up the ropes with the intent of arm dragging her opposition. Scott shook the ropes, causing Rok to fall to the mat and take a shoulder block that put her down heading into the commercial.
Rok was hurting bad as Scott bashed the champion against the top turnbuckle. Big Irish whips into the corners as well as a side Russian leg sweep gave Scott a two count. Rok reversed another Irish whip, jumping & locking in a front guillotine choke. The challenger kept her balance, freeing herself by rushing & shoulder ramming against the turnbuckles. But Scott couldn’t keep the momentum as she was pulled into a series of submissions & roll ups. Kicking out of a cradle, Scott exploded with the spear … for a near fall!
Scott composed herself, preparing for another spear. When Rok got up, Scott came running; only to fly into a knee strike. The challenger collapsed, prone to the crossface and the submission.
– Shane Taylor reflected on his dream to become a pro wrestler came through ROH when he first saw The Briscoes; making it his journey to reach the promotion he felt was where he needed to be.
– Josh Woods credited ROH for giving him an avenue to find himself as a wrestler; becoming a star in the process.
Jay Lethal vs. EC3
EC3 cut a promo where he stated people & leaders like Jay Lethal have lied & failed this business. According to EC3, the business will never advance with people helping maintain the status quo. EC3 is ready to test Lethal’s beliefs as what it means to benefit wrestling.
Brian Zane was backstage to interview Jay Lethal, but the former two-time ROH World champion was more concerned over the fact he hasn’t heard from the rest of The Foundation for a few days. Unable to be trusted, Lethal is determined to find the footage involving him and The Righteous where Lethal was shown saying he doesn’t like his own faction. Zane tried to pull Lethal back into the conversation when Lethal just simply admitted he didn’t know how he felt about facing EC3 tonight.
Code of Honor followed at the bell, with Jay Lethal looking to use some leverage to arm bar the bigger opponent. Instead, Lethal got ran over with the shoulder block prior to the commercial break.
EC3 was being honorable by opening the ropes to allow Lethal to reenter when Jay knocked EC3 to the floor for a tope topped by a series of punches. Whipping EC3 against the barricades almost saw Lethal win via count-out. Pushing EC3 back in didn’t help him as he ran into a clothesline. Psycho Boy connected for EC3 after Lethal tried to fight back. Lethal got up swinging for the fences, but ended up being knocked to the floor. EC3 got a running start when Lethal reentered, resulting in both colliding because they were thinking cross body blocks. The show went to another commercial with both men down.
EC3 decided to talk with Lethal in the corner after chopping Jay down. Lethal fired off a big right hand, only to be knocked down and eventually put in position for a superplex. Lethal fought through the attack with both men slipping off the ropes. Lethal shoved EC3 off the ropes, to the floor before Lethal hit the floor behind him. EC3, though, still had the momentum in his favor until Lethal turned an Irish whip into a series of flying forearms in the ring. Climbing up the ropes, Lethal came off with Hail to the King, but refused to go for the pin. Avoiding a super kick, EC3 almost pinned his opponent off a cradle. Lethal fought through whatever attack EC3 had in mind when they got up, hitting an ace crusher. Before Jay could execute the Lethal Injection, that video from The Righteous with Lethal stating he doesn’t like The Foundation aired on the Cary Tron. Lethal, bewildered, forgot about EC3 and got caught with Angel’s Wings. EC3 immediately cinched in the Promise cobra clutch for the submission victory.
Overall: After last week’s historic episode comes a more unremarkable show in terms of moments, but not action. The main event was a hard-hitting affair that, arguably, provided EC3’s best ROH match since his bout with Jay Briscoe at the “Anniversary” show nearly nine months ago. The ending, though, left something to be desired even if it means something bigger in the very near featuring Lethal and The Foundation that, most likely considering his current contractual status, will mean the end of “The Franchise” in ROH. Another very good match was the Women’s Championship. Gia Scott really maximized her time against the champ and, even though she came up short, really impressed against her more well-known competitor.
The opener provided a fun little brawl that capitalized on The Briscoes’ whacky nature mixing with the absurdity of PCO & Danhausen. Like the main event, interference and/or a distraction played into the finish. Even though it made sense considering the issues between PCO and Sledge, it would’ve been better to have something of a clean ending instead of a screwy one. The uncertainty surrounding ROH’s future was brought to the forefront with several faces hoping for the best in the future via vignettes & promos – giving “Final Battle” more of a must-see feel than some of the match build toward the show. Definitely a solid episode with all three bouts being entertaining, though two of the three had less than stellar conclusions.
