I do recall watching the episode of ROH TV where Alberto Del Rio made his debut via in ring promo, but I guess I didn't write about it. This episode opened without pre-show promos and we just go straight from a commercial to the opening and then revisit the Briscoes vs. Kingdom feud.
Match One: Briscoes vs. The Kingdom
I read somewhere that Mike Bennett and Maria were on their way to TNA but I hope that isn't true, as I feel they can still be of value to ROH and TNA has their own talent to try and book. Yeah, if TNA debuts a new wrestler here and there they'll be okay, but right now TNA needs to establish their current roster more than bring in any new talent. This match started as complete mayhem. Unfortunately, it ended not too long after a commercial break and "order was restored". One of the Briscoes took a shot to the head with that pink title belt Jay Briscoe wants back for whatever reason. (It's not like he doesn't have a new one) As the Kingdom beat down the Briscoes, Maria was about to use a chair when ODB made her ROH debut. She got a huge pop and I'm just happy to see her back in wrestling. I'm not sure what happened with her after TNA with her Eric Young pairing, but with Gail Kim, Awesome Kong and the newer Havok in TNA I always thought it'd be a great time to bring ODB back as well, so the TNA knockouts division could shine like it should. This will also be acceptable because anything is better than wasting away in WWE.
Tour dates for ROH live were shown and Connecticut was once again rightfully skipped.
Jimmy Jacobs is cutting a promo backstage somewhere about his stable which is not The Kingdom but rather The Dedication or something... And isn't The Addiction just one too many The _____ names now, ROH?
Match Two: Beer City Bruiser vs. Mikey Webb
This is part of the Top Prospect Tournament and Beer City Bruiser, who shall now be BCB, looks like he swallowed an entire keg. He's some kind of strange mix of Bastion Booger, Yokozuna, Brodus Clay and Bray Wyatt. Though, Mikey Webb is a mix of Tyson Kidd and Alex Riley, based on looks, so I'm not sure which one is better. Kevin Kelly compared BCB to Vader and somewhere out there Jake Carter is preparing for revenge. After BCB side-stepped a suicide dive attempt by Mikey Webb, he went to the ring apron for a somersault of his own. Wow he can move well for a big man. He's looking somewhere between Dusty Rhodes and Trevor Murdoch now but with that Henry Godwinn odor. BCB wanted a count out victory but couldn't find one and this caused him to have some trouble putting Webb away. Webb tried a series of moves himself but couldn't get BCB down until he hit him with a sort of suplex. BCB still kicked out though. Webb then kicked out of a rough looking lariat. Webb hit Spike Dudley's finisher for a near fall. Size eventually won out and BCB got the pin after some sort of inverted piledriver looking move. (Cradled tombstone?)
A promo aired for that guy from the commercial that tells you not to smoke. They say they're coming to take over. There is this whole speech about how they're the alternative or something, but I always thought that ROH was the alternative to everything else. So how can you be the alternative to what is already the alternative? I think someone in ROH is overthinking what might end up being a flat gimmick anyway.
Match Three: Alberto El Patron vs. Christopher Daniels
I need to start this by saying that Christopher Daniels is the perfect opponent for Alberto Del Rio's first match in ROH. Daniels has been wrestling since 1993 (as per the graphic they showed) and while Alberto Del Rio is one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the world today, The Fallen Angel is more of the veteran in this match. If ADR came in and won or lost to someone like ACH or a younger talent right off the bat the momentum might be off, but this is seemingly the perfect fit as win or lose this is just going to be one of those matches you have to see. Daniels should have rightfully had a TNA World Title run back when they were handing them out to the likes of Chris Sabin and Eric Young, but I digress and will tell you that this was one of the best matches of 2015.
There were a number of believable nearfalls and even though I don't read spoilers for ROH I kind of figured Alberto Del Rio would be going over in his debut and Christopher Daniels would be the guy to put him over. But there were definitely times when I thought that might not be the case as I expected a Daniels win. And this was just some great back and forth wrestling. How WWE let Alberto Del Rio get away and TNA lost Christopher Daniels in the shuffle is just beyond me as this trumps most everything else done by those two companies right now.
In the end, ADR came out strong as he actually had Daniels tap out to the cross armbar. Hey, if he's going over then have him go over strong, right? I've said 2015 can be the year of Alberto Del RIo and this is just proof of that. He's champion in AAA but can he be champion in ROH at the same time? How cool would that be?
I don't go out of my way to see a lot of matches, I'll admit it, and I do try to keep up with ROH on the weekly, but this is a show that if you missed it you must be kicking yourself right now. One of the best episodes of ROH TV I've seen since I started watching ROH again and just so good from start to finish. Go out of your way to find this one and see it. Pay ROH if you have to it's that good.
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