ROH TV results: Frankie Kazarian vs. Cody

Elevating current stars and establishing new ones was the theme of Ring of Honor television from this past week with the first episode in a series taped during the War of the Worlds tour. The fallout began to shape the next pay-per-view card.

Synopsis —

Bullet Club welcomed their newest pledge, “The Villain” Marty Scurll. Former Bullet Club member Adam Cole sealed his fate with a challenge directed at Hangman Page.

Elsewhere, the 2017 Top Prospect Tournament winner, Josh Woods, settled a score with David Starr. Jay Lethal and Silas Young continued their feud, with others also now becoming involved in the grudge. In the main event. Cody (Rhodes) faced Frankie Kazarian after Cody proclaimed himself the rightful World Champion.

Where to Watch —

The episode is currently available for free on the official ROH website until Thursday when a new show is uploaded. That new episode first airs this weekend in syndication. Check local listings for availability in your area.

The newest show becomes available on Monday evening via the FITE app before airing Wednesday at midnight ET on Comet TV (including on Comet’s free online live stream).

Show Recap —

Opening the show was a video package showing the Bullet Club angle at War of the Worlds in NYC where Marty Scurll joined the group as Adam Cole departed. This was the first episode to air from the series of shows taped in Philadelphia after the PPV, so this show was fresh and more recent than the episodes airing the past few weeks.

Notable advertising elements on the show included an ad airing twice plugging the AXS TV live coverage of the NJPW shows in Long Beach.

Also, ROH inked an international TV deal for their show to begin airing in India. In their weekly plugs for the house shows and live events, “national TV tapings” are also now called “international TV tapings” in the rundown of the live shows.

The first full segment of the show was an in-ring promo. The Bullet Club has a new member and The Young Bucks came out to introduce him to the live crowd. Hangman Page flanked them as well, lurking in the background. The new member really did not need an introduction for the fans in attendance. The crowd began doing the “whoop whoop” routine for his theme song as soon as the music started. They knew him well.

Marty Scurll got a great reaction when he appeared on stage as the newest member of the Bullet Club. He displayed his Bullet Club branded umbrella. He also cut a promo using slang from the United Kingdom. On commentary​, Colt Cabana asked Ian Riccaboni if he spoke British.

Scurll then proclaimed he wanted to have a tea party in the ring. He called for tea and crumpets to be brought out. Instead, Adam Cole interrupted the proceedings for “story time…BAY-BAY!”

He claimed being kicked out of the Bullet Club is the worst mistake the group has ever made. Hangman Page threatened Cole, vowing to run him out of ROH. This set up a match for the next episode, with the likely idea of Cole putting over Page to elevate him on the way out. That’s not a spoiler, just solid booking. Plus, it fit the show’s theme of moving people up the card.

Josh “The Goods” Woods defeated David Starr

An angle that aired many weeks ago during the final match of the Top Prospect Tournament set up this encounter. Woods won the tournament and Starr attacked him afterwards. The provocation was apparently due to Starr being upset that he was not part of the tourney.

Starr was the crowd favorite as he is part of the indie scene in the area. Woods would go on to gain the respect of the crowd. A slugfest developed. They both looked strong until the match quickly ended with Woods rolling through in a transition from a heel hook to a kneebar. Starr tapped out to give Woods the win.

Arguably, the grudge match was too short. However, the outcome helped to establish Woods and elevated his standing, which fit with the theme of the show.

A music video hyped Damian “Punishment” Martinez in another attempt to elevate a star. That trend kept continuing.

Silas Young and Beer City Bruiser sauntered to the ring. Young cut a promo and Bruiser drank beer. Young insulted Jay Lethal, bringing him rushing into the ring. Young and Bruiser scattered as they powdered out. Lethal grabbed a microphone for a response.

The segment was turning into something typical from WWE when Lethal asked a rhetorical question: “What the hell am I even doing with this microphone?” Lethal added, “This is not the company where we talk about our problems.”

This is ROH and they settle things in the ring, so Lethal challenged Young. Ever the heel, Young told Lethal he first had to go through Bruiser.

Jay Lethal vs. Beer City Bruiser ended in a no contest

Young was providing guest commentary, which played into the finish. Bruiser tried to gain an underhanded advantage by rushing into the ring and jumping Lethal before the bell. Lethal fought him off and they brawled around ringside.

Bruiser got heat on Lethal until a comeback. As Lethal climbed the turnbuckles and signaled for Hail to the King, Bruiser rolled out of the ring. Lethal jumped off the top with a plancha to wipe out Bruiser.

Suddenly, Lethal turned his attention to Young just before they began slugging it out. The referee called for the bell. Bruiser and Young were starting a beatdown when Bobby Fish ran in to make the save. Lethal feuding with Young should in theory elevate Young up the cards, continuing the theme of the show.

Before the main event began, Cody (Rhodes) cut a promo in the ring. He was upset about the finish in the main event at War of the Worlds. Cody blamed everybody but himself for not winning the ROH World title. He laid blame on corporate powers, even calling out Sinclair Broadcasting by name, in saying they are afraid of having their champion be basically an unsigned free agent. He did give credit to Christopher Daniels for being smart.

Cody seemed to focus on one particular moment from the triple threat match at War of the Worlds. Cody insisted he had Lethal laying prone flat on the mat in the figure four leglock. He persuaded Colt Cabana to repeat a line on commentary he supposedly said that night about having Lethal down for a pin. Cabana was reluctant at first, but he eventually did as Cody asked.

Cody was concluding his point about being the rightful champion when Frankie Kazarian’s theme music cut him off.

Cody defeated Frankie Kazarian

The match developed into a melee early on. Kazarian gained an advantage until Cody went back to the outside. He grabbed a cup of beer from a fan, then hit Kazarian with it. This seemingly helped turn the tide.

Cody began taunting Kazarian at one point. When the action spilled outside again, Cody inadvertently kicked one of the ring crew. Kazarian dove with a plancha and wiped out both Cody and the crew member.

They eventually returned to the ring where they had several false finishes and near falls. It built masterfully with Kazarian locking in a submission hold. Cody escaped and the match was nip-and-tuck down the final stretch. Cody finally delivered Cross Rhodes to pin Kazarian.

Afterwards, Hangman Page joined Cody in setting up a beatdown. Before they could pummel Kazarian, Christopher Daniels stormed into the ring to make the save as the show closed.

Though the episode left an open-ended question about Cody demanding a title match with Daniels, ROH this past week officially announced Cody vs. Daniels for the title as the main event of the next PPV.

On the newest episode of ROH TV airing this weekend in syndication, it’s Adam Cole’s swan song in ROH with a match against Hangman Page. Plus, Los Ingobernables de Japon appear in an eight-man tag match.

From ROH on YouTube —