January 12, 2013
Philadelphia, PA
National Guard Armory
"A New Era Begins"Year 1 - Card #1
*M.W. Jergs and Nigel McGuinness welcome the fans to a "new era" of Ring of Honor wrestling. They mention that they've worked tirelessly to put together a fantastic card and hope that the fans enjoy it.
Just as they leave Jergs pauses as he watches Kevin Kelly take his position at ringside. He doesn't appear pleased. "Hey, um Kevin. Why are you out here?" Kelly looks dumbfounded. "Did you get any of my e-mails or texts that mentioned that we needed to talk?" Kelly again plays dumb. He then picks up his own mic.
"I'm out here doing what I always do and that's call the matches, why?" Jergs frowns. "Look I hate to do it this way but you really have given me no choice. Kevin. Go to the back. Your services are not required for tonight." Most fans let out a cheer. Kelly is stunned. "What are you talking about? I'm the voice of Ring of Honor." Jergs continues, "Not anymore. I think you're a decent guy but when I look at you Kevin I see a guy that got called a hermaphrodite by The Rock, not a serious wrestling announcer. So to the back." Kelly appears frozen and doesn't want to leave. "Oh, ok this is a rib. I get it. I mean who would get to call the matches that could even come close to the job I do?" Jergs smiles, " I'm glad you asked. It took me pulling some strings and writing a fat check but I was able to get this man out of retirement. The new voice of R.O.H. is ...OH MY GOD!!!
Joey Styles!Jergs motions to ringside and his two massive bodyguards forcibly remove Kelly who hasn't yet dropped his mic, to the back. Styles emerges with his headset already on. He shakes hands with Jergs and the show is ready to begin.
1) "Die Hard"
Eddie Edwards pinned
Roderick Strong with the DIE HARD @ 8:55.
A solid match to start the show. Strong ducked his head and was caught with a piledriver. Edwards then hit consecutive fisherman's busters for the win. Edwards turned to celebrate but Strong recovered and hit him below the belt. Strong then attacked with a flurry of moves after the bell that culminated into a Strong Hold crab that Strong refused to relinquish. ROH security was out to drive Strong away who flipped off the crowd. Edwards had to be helped to the locker room with a back injury.
*Eddie Edwards is out 2 fight cards.2) "Unbreakable"
Michael Elgin defeated
Homicide @ 5:01 with the SPINNING SIT-OUT POWERBOMB.
Elgin surprisingly dominated this match with his sheer power. After the fall he took the mic and demanded Roderick Strong as his next opponent
3) "King of Old School"
Steve Corino & "Zombie Princess"
Jimmy Jacobs defeated
El Generico & Delirious when Jacobs pinned Generico after a shot with the RAILROAD SPIKE @ 10:25.
All four men were in the ring and Corino had the ref distracted in the corner as Jacobs landed a brutal jab with his spike to the face of the generic luchador. Generico was out for several minutes as Delirious cleared the ring with a steel chair.
*<Backstage> Veda Scott interviews
Kyle O'Reilly. O'Reilly says that tonight he finally exposes Davey Richards for the fraud he actually is. He'll be happy to either choke him or break his ankle.
4) "American Wolf"
Davey Richards beat
Kyle O'Reilly by DISQUALIFICATION @ 14:10 as O'Reilly refused to heed the ref's instructions.
O'Reilly wrestled a superb match and kept much of the action on the floor. The two had a heated exchange that boiled over with O'Reilly sending Richards into the turnpost and opening a gash above his eye. As ROH security attempted to break things up O'Reilly spat on the prone Richards as he was held back.
-R.O.H. Television Title Match-5) "The Prodigy"
Mike Bennett (w/Maria Kannelis & "Brutal" Bob Evans) beat
Adam Cole (c) with the PHOTO FINISH @ 12:02 to win the title.
As you'd expect this match was marred by controversy. Cole had Bennett in the Florida Key and Maria jumped on the apron. Cole made the mistake of going face to face with Maria who slapped him. He was then nailed with a Spear by Bennett. Bennett continued his offense and nailed the fireman's carry cutter to capture the belt. Bennett was ecstatic and shared a long kiss with his lady and Bob Evans held Bennett's hand high.
*<Backstage>
Veda Scott is with
Rhett Titus. Titus says that 2012 was a bittersweet year for him. He has learned one thing. The only person he can truly rely on is himself. He's ready to start the new year off right."
-Dog Collar Match-6) "Outlaw"
Charlie Haas defeated
Rhett Titus with the HAAS OF PAIN @ 8:45.
A brutal encounter that saw both men bloodied. Haas wrapped the chain around Titus' neck and layed back while in his innovated move. The ref stopped the match as Titus had no choice but to tap.
-R.O.H. World Tag Team Title Match-7)
Jay & Mark Briscoe (c) beat
Cedric Alexander & Caprice Coleman when Jay pinned Alexander with a SLINGSHOT LARIAT @ 11:55.
C & C put up a good fight and had a few near falls. But the Briscoes experience paid off in the end as they used a few double team combos to finish off the challengers.
-Fight Without Honor-8)
Jay Lethal pinned "Wrestling's Worst Nightmare"
Kevin Steen with the LETHAL INJECTION @ 15:25.
An amazing match with several near finishes on both sides. Both Steve Corino and Jimmy Jacobs attempted to get involved but ROH officials were ready for them and they were unable to get to the ring. Lethal then hit his finisher and got the fall. He didn't stop there as he brought a table into the ring and set Steen up on it. At that point chaos broke loose and the show ended with confusion all around the ring.
