ROH on HDNet TV report capsules
January 4, 11, and 18, 2010
Taped in Philadelphia, Pa.
Report by Mike DeRosenroll, Torch specialist

Overall Thoughts on the Three Weeks of Television

- This was the most entertaining three week run of ROH television that I have seen yet. To carve a niche for itself, ROH needs to reliably deliver better in-ring wrestling than WWE or TNA week in and week out. They did this in the past three weeks with excellent main events and, especially on January 18, strong undercard matches.

- In addition to great in-ring wrestling, ROH finally (finally!) seems to have the storylines in the HDNet show well integrated with the DVD/live shows. The recent "Final Battle 2009" pay-per-view was made to seem important with repeated references throughout the three weeks of television, and the shows were effectively used to build up the upcoming live event in Los Angeles on January 29.

- Why does ROH continue to feature unprotected chair shots to the head in light of everything that has come to light about head trauma in pro wrestling and other pro sports? Erick Stevens's unprotected chair shot on the Necro Butcher on January 11 was inexcusable, as was airing the video again on the 18. Shame on Cary Silkin, Jim Cornette, and ROH.

***

ROH TV Capsule Review
January 4, 2010

- The show opened with a video of referees attending to Eddie Kingston, whose knee had been injured in an attack by an unknown assailant. One of the referees picked up a King of Diamonds playing card from the ground.

1 - CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI (w/Prince Nana and Ernesto Osiris) vs. EDDIE KINGSTON

WINNER: Castagnoli in 5:00 with a horse collar submission. Kingston hobbled to the ring for his match despite the backstage attack, so the story of the match was Castagnoli working over Kingston's knee until forcing him to tap out with the horse collar submission that puts pressure on the knee. A logical and well-executed short match.

- Mike Hogewood and Dave Prazak recapped some of the happenings from the "Final Battle 2009" pay-per-view. They covered Kevin Steen's heel turn on El Generico, the Briscoes captured the World Tag Team Titles from the American Wolves and the Kings of Wrestling reuniting and attacking the Briscoes after they won the belts.

- A Briscoes promo taped the night of Final Battle aired. They celebrated winning the ROH World Tag Team Titles and vowed revenge on the Kings of Wrestling for their post-match attack. A straightforward and solid promo.

2 - STEVE CORINO vs. ANDY "RIGHT LEG" RIDGE

WINNER: Corino in 3:00 by pinfall. I expected this to be a squash match, but Corino gave Ridge a surprising amount of offence. A decent match, and Corino projected his heel personality well.

- Backstage, Kyle Durden interviewed Davey Richards about the upcoming main event against Roderick Strong for a spot in the Pick 6. As usual, Richards cut a great promo building up the match and his rivalry with Strong.

[Commercial Break]

- Mike Hogewood narrated a highlight package from the sixty minute draw between ROH World Champion Austin Aries and Tyler Black in the main event of Final Battle 2009. Hogewood highlighted the fact that Aries avoided Black for much of the match to run out the clock, and that Black attack Aries with the title belt in frustration after the match.

3 - EL GENERICO vs. RHETT TITUS

WINNER: Generico in 9:30 by pinfall following a Yakuza kick-brain buster combination. A solid competitive match that portrayed Titus as almost but not quite at Generico's level. The announcers discussed Steen's heel turn on Generico at Final Battle, noting that Generico has not seemed like himself since then.

- Backstage, Durden interviewed Jim Cornette about the Pick 6 tournament. Chris Hero interrupted and said that Cornette should be talking about him. Cornette warned Hero that he would not tolerate backstage shenanigans like the attack on Kingston earlier in the show and said that Hero would be fired if Cornette could prove that Hero had anything to do with the attack. Hero insisted that his issue with Kingston was over.

4 - Pick 6 Contenders Series Match: DAVEY RICHARDS (w/Shane Hagadorn and Sara Del Rey) vs. RODERICK STRONG

WINNER: Strong in 16:00 by pinfall after a Gibson Driver. Outstanding main event match highlighted by a great series of near falls at the end.

***

ROH TV Capsule Review
January 11, 2010

1 - NECRO BUTCHER vs. JOEY RYAN (w/Prince Nana and Ernesto Osiris) - Anything Goes Match

WINNER: Ryan in 9:30 after Erick Stevens ran to ringside and repeatedly hit Necro with a chair, including an unprotected shot to the head. Shame on Jim Cornette, Cary Silken and Ring of Honor for continuing to recklessly put the lives of their performers at risk by featuring unprotected chair shots to the head in their shows.

- A video package aired on Kenny Omega featuring high-flying highlights from his matches.

- Backstage, Kyle Durden interviewed Colt Cabana. Cabana talked about his friendship with El Generico and Kevin Steen and expressed shock at Steen's heel turn on Generico at Final Battle 2009.

2 - COLT CABANA vs. TONY KOZINA

WINNER: Cabana in 4:30 with the Billy Goat's Curse submission hold. A very entertaining squash match in which both wrestlers held up their end very well.

- Backstage, Kyle Durden interviewed Eddie Kingston about being attacked last week by an unknown assailant. Kingston took the mic, ran off Durden and cut a great emotional promo. Although he did not see who attacked him from behind, Kingston blamed Chris Hero, saying that Hero could not deal with the fact that Kingston was better than him.

[Commercial Break]

- A video package recapped the Delirious-Sonjay Dutt feud. Dave Prazak said "Next week it ends. Submission match here on HD Net. It's very personal between those two men."

3 - "SUGARFOOT" ALEX PAYNE vs. KEVIN STEEN

WINNER: Steen in 2:30 with the sharpshooter submission hold. Good squash match.

- A sit-down interview with the Briscoes aired. They talked about wrestling each other next week for a spot in the Pick 6. Each good-naturedly promised to whoop the other one.

4 - Pick 6 Contenders Series Match: CHRIS HERO (w/Shane Hagadorn & Sara Del Rey) vs. KENNY OMEGA

WINNER: Omega in 15:30 with a roll-up. A few spots in this match were not as smooth as they could have been, but overall this was a great compelling match.


ROH TV Capsule Review
January 18, 2010

1 - DELIRIOUS (w/Daizee Haze) vs. SONJAY DUTT - Submission Match

WINNER: Delirious in 10:00 with a cobra clutch. This was a good match and, if this was the blow-off of their feud, a satisfying end to this mid-card feud. Dutt knocked Daizee Haze off the ring apron into the ringside barricade during the match but Haze got her revenge for this, and for Dutt's attack at the "Final Countdown Tour: Boston" event by hitting Dutt with a missile dropkick from the top rope later in the match to set up the finish.

- A good Austin Aries promo, taped after his sixty-minute match at "Final Battle 2009", aired. Aries said that the result at Final Battle proves he is no fluke champion and that he will line up and defeat all of the contenders who emerge from the Pick 6.

- A clip aired of the Briscoes talking about their upcoming Pick 6 Contenders Series match. They agreed not to go after each other's eyes or nuts, and Jay promised not to go after Mark's bad knee. Funny segment.

2 - Pick 6 Contenders Series Match: JAY BRISCOE vs. MARK BRISCOE

RESULT: Double count out at 10:30. This was on its way to being a fantastic match until the count out finish brought it to a premature ending.

- Jim Cornette came to ringside and said that not even he can overrule the referee's decision, but he asked the Briscoes if they wanted to start again and fight until there was a winner. The Briscoes agreed.

3 - Pick 6 Contenders Series Match Redo: JAY BRISCOE vs. MARK BRISCOE

WINNER: Jay Briscoe with a leverage pin in 2:30. This was basically the aborted finishing sequence of the previous match. A good hard-hitting exchange with some good near falls until Jay ended it by executing a nice roll-up into a leverage pin.

[Commercial Break]

4 - HARLEM BRAVADO vs. ERICK STEVENS (w/Prince Nana, Joey Ryan, and Ernesto Osiris)

WINNER: Stevens in 1:00. Good squash match. Bravado sold very well for Stevens.

- Tyler Black's post-match promo from "Final Battle 2009" aired. He vowed to eventually end Aries' title reign. Black has steadily improved on promos and is starting to be pretty good at them.

5 - ROH champion AUSTIN ARIES & KENNY KING vs. TYLER BLACK & COLT "BOOM BOOM" CABANA

WINNERS: Cabana and Black in 12:00 when Cabana pinned King after a Colt 45. A good, well-executed, formula tag match built around Black not being able to get his hands on Aries until a hot tag late in the match. Both babyfaces got their chances to look good.

[Torch photos credit Wade Keller (c) PWTorch.com]

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