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ROH Episode 81 Review: The Never-Ending Texas Tapings
Another week and another ROH Taping. By this time next week, Athena will be the longest reigning ROH champion passing Samoa Joe’s record which is a testament to her hard work and dedication to ROH. However, before we get there we have to go through another week where we have no champions and storylines are no longer present. Let’s review, shall we?
ROH World Television Proving Grounds Match: Atlantis Jr. vs Peter Avalon:
I'm delighted our Television Champion showed up for work this week if only we could get him weekly on the TV show… There was nothing special about this one; it was essentially wrestling 101. Someone like Avalon who has not been featured on ROH TV did not deserve this Proving Grounds Match, but who am I?
Winner: “And Still” Atlantis Jr.
Emergency M.E.M.
Billie Starkz wants to talk about all the cool things that are going on in ROH and everything that has been going on at MIT. Athena praises Lexy Nair and talks about changing her minion number and even making her a teacher. Starkz has enough and says Nair is getting all the credit for things that Starkz has done. Athena calls Starkz a snitch and says she is jealous of Nair’s success and she shouldn’t be. She yells at Starkz for touching her title and tells her snitches get stitches.
Harley Cameron vs Queen Aminata:
I will give Cameron this. Every time she has stepped in the ring over the last two months she has proven herself in every opportunity as she is showing why she belongs in the AEW/ROH Women’s Division. This match was fine, Aminata got the win to continue her almost undefeated streak in ROH as she still has her sights set on Athena.
Winner: Queen Aminata
Top Flight (Darius and Dante Martin) and Action Andretti vs Vin Parker, Dante Leon, and CD Bennett:
Can we just put the six-man titles on Top Flight and Action Andretti already?
Winners: Top Flight (Darius and Dante Martin) and Action Andretti
Harley Cameron Interview:
Before Cameron can get a word in Rachael Ellering interrupts and mimics Cameron from the interview two weeks ago. Cameron gets mad and walks away as Ellering says Cameron is a good kiddo.
The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd and Truth Magnum) vs Fly Def:
The Outrunners are over, give them an ROH Tag Team Title shot! Sadly after this match was over The Iron Savages came out and attacked The Outrunners from behind. The Infantry came to the aid of The Outrunners seemingly ending their feud from a couple of months ago as the two teams exchanged a handshake.
Winners: The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd and Truth Magnum)
Robyn Renegade vs Angelica Risk:
Three squashes in a row… Sigh.
Winner: Robyn Renegade
Jacobby Watts Promo:
Watts calls out EJ Nduka for a match and says it does not matter if it is Watts or Nick Comaroto he is not going to be ready for what is coming to him.
The Righteous (Vincent and Dutch) vs James Blackheart and JC Valentine:
Another squash…
Winners: The Righteous (Vincent and Dutch)
Aariya Davari vs Sammy Guvera:
Mark Sterling interrupts Bobby Cruise and says that Davari wants this to be a one-on-one match and he sends the rest of the Premier Athletes to the back. Davari says that Guvera has nothing on him and he cannot wait to defeat a local Texas native in Guvera. It was not before long that Sterling as well as the rest of the Premier Athletes got involved in this one, even though Sterling promised they would not get involved. Guvera was able to fight them all off and get the win in front of his hometown.
Winner: Sammy Guvera
Red Velvet Promo:
Nair says Velvet has Starkz’s title and she got mad. Velvet says Nair sounds bitter and things are different because she is champion now. Diamante comes and says that the locker room does not need saving and she is mad that Velvet is sticking her nose in her business. Velvet tells Diamante to step up and she says in due time.
Lady Frost vs Promise Braxton:
Glad to see Frost back in ROH, even though this was another squash match.
Winner: Lady Frost
Willie Mack vs Exodus Prime:
In my opinion, this match was too long. Especially since Mack is not featured on ROH week after week and Prime is a local enhancement talent. Mack got the win as he won the crowd over throughout the match, but this one could have been a lot shorter.
Winner: Willie Mack
Anthony Henry Promo:
Henry says JD will be back soon and Beef comes and interrupts him. Beef says he always has to be ready and that they are undefeated as a tag team. Henry says Beef needs to chill out more when JD calls him. Henry says in a couple weeks The Workhorsemen will be back and if Beef does not chill out JD is not going to like him. Beef does breathing exercises to try to calm down but it does not work.
Preston Vance vs KM:
There was a pre-tape promo before the match where Vance says that he does not need anyone anymore and he is done letting Mr. Brodie Lee down. He wants to do something for himself and he is ready to prove himself in ROH. Vance quickly won this one.
Winner: Preston Vance
Spanish Announce Project (Angelico and Serpentico) and Fuego Del Sol vs Ace of Space Academy and Joe Alonzo:
And another squash…
Winners: Spanish Announce Project (Angelico and Serpentico) and Fuego Del Sol
Komander and AR Fox vs Ariel Dominguez and Brillante RB:
I am starting to question why this episode was two hours at this point.
Winner: Komander and AR Fox
Lio Rush vs Rocky Romero:
This match was good, I would have rather seen a champion be in a main event spot but that is an argument for another day. Both Rush and Romero are very good and I prefer Rush being outside of Top Flight so he can do more stuff like he did tonight and last night on Dynamite. Rush wins and he and Romero celebrate their great match to close out the show.
Winner: Lio Rush
Overall:
This episode did not need to be two hours. At some points, it felt like the episode was dragging and the crowd was not into a lot of the matches at all. A lot of the matches that took place on tonight’s episode were pointless and gave no direction in any stories. We only had one champion wrestle on this episode. Oh well, until next week.
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