ROH TV report
ROH on HDNet TV Report
February 8, 2009
by Paul Collins
- The show begins with a recap from LAST WEEK, showing Tyler Black
beating Roderick Strong. Austin Aries was at ringside getting
involved, when Black gave him a superkick while he was sitting in a
chair about to take a sip of wine. Aries then stormed the ring later,
but was held back by referees. This provided enough distraction for
Black to score the win on Strong.
- Jim Cornette is in the ring and calls out Black for an interview.
He asks him about the involvement of Aries last week, as well as their
rematch coming up this weekend. Black, who once again looked lost and
unconfident on the mic, says he didn't see Aries come out to the ring,
but he also said he may or may not have done something different if he
had. Then he said Aries' time is running out, his back is up against
the wall, and he will be the champ. An impressive string of tired
cliches.
- This brings out Roderick, who also is bland on the mic, saying that
Black didn't beat him last week, it was Aries, and he wants Tyler to
admit it. After thinking about it, Black said that if it means so
much to him, he admits that it was Aries that beat him. They shake
hands, but as Strong walks away, Tyler said he WON'T be able to beat
him once he's the champion. This segment, regardless of Cornette's
help, was really forced and came across poorly. There was no heat
from the crowd at all, and they both seemed weak when it was over.
MATCH ONE: "Sugarfoot" Alex Payne & Bobby Dempsey v. Kevin Steen & Steve Corino
- They showed the segment from last week where Steen and Corino
attacked Payne, so "Sugarfoot" asked for this match-up.
- Payne struggled with some of the spots with Corino early on, which
held back any rhythm to start with. Dempsey hit a splash on Corino,
then Payne got a flying dropkick. Steen, however, turned the
advantage toward his team when he dragged Payne to the outside and
worked over the little guy.
- Corino and Steen kept the heat on Payne, building to the hot tag to
Bobby. Dempsey got in some power offense, but tagged Payne back in
quickly, who lanched himself onto Corino with a diving headbutt for a
close 2 count. That was all she wrote, as Dempsey was neutralized,
and Steen hit the Package Piledriver. Corino told him not to make the
cover and inflict more pain, so he slapped on the Sharpshooter for the
win. After the match, Corino told Dempsey he would go one-on-one any
time. *1/2
- Kyle Durden was with the American Wolves backstage. Davey Richards
said they aren't interested in shiny little belts. If they wanted
some, they would go to the back of a magazine and buy some. He said
the Wolves are about superiority and domination. Wouldn't that
involve having the shiny belts? Eddie Edwards, who was struggling
with his promo, said the fans picked the Wolves to face the Young
Bucks. They thought the fans loved the Bucks, but they must not if
they chose THEM to face them. Edwards went for "The Hunt is On!"
line, but Richards cut him off and said, "no, they'll see."
MATCH TWO: Dark City Fight Club v. The Bravado Brothers
- SQUASH! A few power moves and a couple of double team moves later,
and the Dark City Fight Club picks up the win. No stars.
- Kyle Durden comes to the ring and asks the DCFC how they feel about
not being picked to take on the Young Bucks tonight. Jon Davis got on
the mic and said they are no longer going to wait around, they will
take the fight to everyone. Kory Chavis said they are going after the
belts, and if you don't like it, do something about it. Davis then
finishes their catchphrase by saying, "we dare ya!"
- Flashback to last week where Joey Ryan and Erick Stevens were
revealed as the men who attacked Eddie Kingston to start off the year.
This was followed by the announcement of Necro Butcher & Eddie
Kingston v. Ryan & Stevens next week.
- Prince Nana promo from backstage where he talks about how he is from
Ghana, West Africa, and he is one of the head leaders of the Ashanti
tribe. He said he is in the United States to teach people how to take
care of themselves like men. The mission statement of The Embassy is
money, power and respect. He lists Alex Shelley, Abyss and "The Crown
Jewel" Jimmy Rave as prized alumni. He said his issue with the Necro
Butcher is NO issue. They will continue to beat him down and they
will send him home to his family with free cheese and WIC from the US
Government. Very good promo from Nana. He continues to be a
standout.
- Kyle Durden is in the ring with Austin Aries and Kenny King. Aries
said that his first problem is that Jim Cornette was out here
interviewing his best buddy Tyler Black, while he is out here and all
he gets is Kyle Durden. That's a great point. Aries then points out
his busted lip and his wine-stained shirt, which he had in his hand,
both of which were courtesy of Black. King got on the mic and said
that the lip made him look more rugged, and that he could pull off
wearing a stained shirt, so he shouldn't even worry about it. True.
- Aries then said that both Black and Strong reek of desperation. He
then said that Roderick will always be #2, but that Black will
redefine #2. So while people didn't like his strategy at Final Battle
2009, he doesn't wrestle for the people. An "Austin Asshole" chant
started up, so Aries said that this asshole is going to keep his ROH
Title, and Tyler Black will finish second. He then brings up the
chick in Chicago that kept Black waiting, but not to worry, because
she saw God's Last Gift (Black's finisher), and she likes Aries'
package a little bit better. This caused Black's insecurities to rage
as he came running out from the locker room, but was followed by other
wrestlers who held him back. Aries did a great job tearing off his
coat feining that he wanted the fight. Another solid promo from the
champ.
MAIN EVENT: American Wolves (Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards) w/ Shane
Hagadorn v. The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)
- Before the match began, The Briscoe Brothers came out to the
entrance ramp. Jay, who had a mic, said that the winner of this match
would get a shot at their tag belts.
- During some early chain wrestling, color commentator Dave Prazak
said that some people call the Young Bucks this generation's Rock 'n'
Roll Express, but not matter what generation they come from, they made
their name in Ring of Honor. Oh boy, take THAT TNA!
- Both teams were trying to get the heat on each other early on, with
both sides taking a brief advantage, but neither could hold it for
long. The Wolves were finally able to do so, with both Richards and
Edwards taking hard shots at Matt, which included some close falls.
They were able to keep the pressure on Matt for a while until Nick
came in and hit an X-Factor in the ring and then a quick moonsault
from the apron to the outside to stuff the Wolves' offense. That
allowed Matt to recover and tag him in.
- There were a lot of punch/kick showdowns and double team moves from
there. Edwards got a Dragon Screw Leg Whip on Matt, which caused him
to sell his knee. The Wolves got a lungblower/powerbomb combo for a
close fall, which Edwards turned into a half-crab on Matt's bad knee.
Nick tried a springboard dropkick to break it up, which Richards cut
off. This was how the last match ended. Richards put Matt in a
Cloverleaf. However, the Bucks looked at each other and knew they
would NEVER SAY DIE. They turned the submissions into stereo small
packages for a close fall.
- They exchanged some close falls and were building tremendously.
More Bang For Your Buck (450 splash then moonsault), but it was broken
up by Edwards. Nick threw Edwards outside and hit a big plancha to
take them both out. Inside the ring, Richards went for a powerbomb,
but Matt rolled him up for the pin. If I gave their first match four
stars, I have to give this ***3/4. It was missing the title match
importance of the first one, and the crowd seemed a little less into
it.
- Edwards and Richards have a small argument, while Mike Hogewood
speculates that after losses to the Briscoes and the Young Bucks, what
does the future hold for the Wolves?
- While the show lacks the big show production values, it also lacks
the intangible that makes up for that lack of production. The promos
from their "top" babyfaces continue to be terrible, and the good
wrestling isn't enough to make up for it. They have to keep the mic
away from Black and Strong. It is possible to get them over as faces
without having them talk. They have to bring back Larry Sweeney
immediately, and make sure the mic is in the hands of their best
talkers such as Aries, Nana, Kingston and Cornette, and let the
wrestlers wrestle. The main event was very good, but they need to do
something about the mic work.
