Background: This was another inter-promotional match between ROH and CHIKARA. It was at “Homecoming 2012” where the CHIKARA stars Jigsaws and Hallowicked earned a ROH World Tag Team Championship opportunity by defeating The Briscoes in a Proving Ground match.
Unity
Chicago Ridge, IL
April 28, 2012
The Briscoes vs. Hallowicked & Jigsaw
Mark Briscoe immediately took the fight to Hallowicked, only to get caught with a clothesline and several clubbing forearms. Hallowicked messed up by letting Mark pick up speed, taking a flying knee strike. The patented running double kicks in the corner by The Briscoes stunned Hallowicked. Hallowicked used the same strategy as Mark, head scissoring Jay to the floor for a dive. Mark suddenly ran off the apron, downing Hallowicked. Just as it seemed Jay had stopped Jigsaw from diving on Mark at ringside, Jigsaw knocked Jay outside to finally execute a reverse somersault plancha that downed everyone. Sadly for the challengers, being on the floor turned the tides in the champions’ favor as they whipped, slammed and side Russian leg swept their opponents against the barricades.
When the action returned inside, Jay went for an uncharacteristic cross body off the top, only to miss everything. Jay recovered shortly after, slipping to the floor before yanking Jigsaw by his legs into the barricades like a baseball bat. The Briscoes were in complete control, wearing out Jigsaw. Crab walk senton by Mark got the fans going crazy and cheering in favor of the champs. Just when everything seemed to be going well for the champs, the former Vulture Squad member flipped his way out of a suplex, tagging in Hallowicked. A Jay Briscoe clothesline put out the fire of Hallowicked quickly. The Briscoes were tired of playing around, calling for the Doomsday Device. At the last second, Jigsaw pushed Mark off the top rope, through the timekeeper’s table!
Super Hart Attack by the challengers on Jay almost gave us new ROH World Tag Team champions. Jigsaw was actually taunting Jay and the crowd during the isolation process of Jay Briscoe. When Mark made it onto the apron, Jay realized it was time to fight back like never before. Elbowing and forearming his way out of the challengers’ corner, Jay leapt to a tag for Mark. Redneck Kung Fu Theater was a full showing. Jigsaw survived the uncle mule kick as well as an iconoclasm. Jay yanked Hallowicked to the floor, only to be whipped into the barricades as Jigsaw drilled Mark on his head in the ring. Rydeen Bomb from Hallowicked on Mark was just the set up for Jigsaw’s German suplex … for a two count thanks to Jay breaking up the sure pin!
Jay got up throwing punches until a pair of big boots put an end to Jay’s possible flip, flop, and fly. Putting Mark on his shoulders, Hallowicked knocked out the ROH official before he used Go To Sleepy Hallow to set up Jigsaw’s super kick. The same ref that officiated the trios’ match entered the ring to count down Jigsaw’s pin, giving Jigsaw a two count. Jay tagged in, accidentally knocking that referee out as well. Rather than be upset, Jay and Mark executed the Doomsday Device on Jigsaw. Sadly for Mark, there was no referee. ROH official Todd Sinclair finally made it out, but Jigsaw had recovered and had enough to kick out by then.
Suddenly, The Colony hit the ringside area, cheering on their fellow CHIKARA wrestlers like they did at “Homecoming 2012”. To even the sides were The Colony’s opponents from earlier in the evening. The men in the ring were battling it out, with Jay hitting the Death Valley driver on Jigsaw to gain a hot two count. Jigsaw tried to steal a pin off a small package, but ended up taking a spine buster instead. Froggy Bow out of nowhere by Mark allowed Jay to pick up the victory for his team.
Winner: The Briscoes (16:40)
Is It A Classic: What needs to be commended is the work between the ROH and CHIKARA wrestlers to create an incredible match. From bell to bell, they were high octane and thoroughly enjoyable that was actually better than their prior encounter. While maybe not a bona fide classic, but it was an excellent showing of what could happen when two companies come together with the hope of producing quality wrestling.
