Ring of Honor TV Report
December 6, 2010
Taped in Philadelphia, Pa.
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

The show opened with a crowd shot as Mike Bennett and his cartoon manager, Bob Evans, sat down in the front row. They flashed their tickets to the camera as announcer Mike Hogewood noted they're scouting opposition for Bennett's first ROH match.

After the standard ROH TV intro video, the announcers promoted the main event: Davey Richards vs. Erick Stevens. It will be Richards's "final tune-up" before challenging Roderick Strong for the ROH World Title at Final Battle.

In-ring: Already in the ring for the opening bout were TV champion Eddie Edwards and Colt Cabana for the opening match. It's a 15-minute time limit bout.

1 -- ROH TV champion EDDIE EDWARDS vs. COLT CABANA -- TV Title match

Basic feeling-out process to start things off as they cut to a shot of Bennett watching intently from the front row. After a stalemate, they came to their feet and started trading chops as the time limit box flashed in the upper right corner of the screen. They traded nearfalls, then started rolling across the ring interlocked in a series of one count pin attempts. Cabana then hit a butt bump for a two count before applying a neck wrench submission center ring. Edwards was able to roll into a pin attempt, then both men came to their feet and traded blows again.

Cabana gained the upperhand and connected with a top rope moonsault, but Edwards kicked out of a pin attempt. Cabana continued to attempt pin attempts, but Edwards escaped each time. Cabana sold frustration as the crowd tried to rally behind him. The men traded rapid-fire pin attempts, which drew applause from the crowd. Edwards then hit a chinbreaker from the second rope for a nearfall of his own. As they approached one minute remaining the match, Edwards was able to roll Cabana out of the corner into a bridging leverage pin for the three count.

WINNER: Edwards at 14:00. Very nice, evenly-matched contest. Cabana didn't lose anything from the loss, as Edwards was presented as a strong champion who is on a roll as TV champion. (***)

Post-match: Bennett hopped over the guardrail and stared into the ring. Hogewood noted the ticket-buying conundrum as Bennett hopped onto the ring apron and extended a hand for Edwards or Cabana to shake. Edwards went for a shake, but Bennett pulled his hand away. Edwards looked into the camera and said this is his ring at Ring of Honor.

In-studio: Hogewood and Dave Prazak were shown on-camera to announce that Christopher Daniels is now a full-time roster member.

Sit-down Interview: Daniels said he wouldn't have thought at the beginning of the year he would be in ROH again. He said he came to ROH to make headlines and face the best competition. Daniels rhetorically asked if he's closer to the end or the beginning of his career. He said he's in the best shape of his career and he can perform at the top level. Daniels referenced Randy Couture and Cal Ripken, Jr. He said what he's lost physically he makes up for mentally. This moment - this run in ROH - is his opportunity to show how good Christopher Daniels really is.

Final Battle plug: El Generico vs. Kevin Steen. Interviews and action to come.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Kyle Durden brought Kevin Steen and Steve Corino into the ring for an interview. Steen took the mic, then cut a promo into El Generico's mask. Steen asked Corino to hold Generico's mask as he continued to cut a promo on him. Steen told Generico's mask that the world will know how truly disgusting he is at Final Battle when Generico is forced to unmask. Steen looked into the camera and said he will leave ROH if he cannot beat Generico at Final Battle. Back to Generico's mask, telling "him" they will enter the ring together for the last time. Hogewood noted this will end the feud at Final Battle.

Sit-down interviews: Daizee Haze talked on-camera about wanting to change the perception of women in wrestling. She didn't want to be seen as a sideline attraction, but taken seriously. Haze said she wanted her matches to be seen as a serious fight in the ring. She noted her long-standing feud against Sara Del Rey. They cut to Del Rey, who said she wouldn't consider it a rivalry because Haze has only beat her on her worst days. Del Rey said it's a huge opportunity at Final Battle because the world isn't used to seeing a true women's wrestling match. Del Rey said she'll prove once again she's the best. Back to Haze, who said Final Battle is the opportunity she's been looking forward to in order to prove she can beat Del Rey under any circumstance. JC: That was an excellently-produced interview with the women talking in a productive setting that connected their stories to the audience. Just excellent.

2 -- EL GENERICO vs. BOBBY SHIELDS

Generico came to the ring sporting his black mask to sell his change in demeanor. Shields tried to jump Generico before the bell, but Generico thwarted his attack and eventually hit the Brainbuster for a quick victory on Steen. After the match, Generico grabbed a chair from ringside and the t-shirt Steen left behind during his promo. In the ring, Generico put the shirt on the chair, then gave Shields a brainbuster onto the chair. Hogewood said this has to be the end of the feud.

WINNER: Generico in 1:00. Effective squash to continue setting up Steen vs. Generico at Final Battle. (n/a)

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Durden was with the Kings of Wrestling for a "public workout." Claudio was still holding his coffee while Shane Hagadorn pumped himself up in the corner. Chris Hero said they need to whip Shane into wrestling shape. So, he has arranged and official Kings of Wrestling public workout via exhibition match with this guy. In the ring was Blain Rage. Hero said it's actually irrelevant who this man is. Claudio put on a referee t-shirt...while still holding his coffee. So great. Hero peered down at the much shorter Rage and told him to abide by the rules.

3 -- SHANE HAGADORN vs. BLAIN RAGE -- Exhibition match

Hero was still on the mic narrating the exhibition. Rage attempted a waistlock on Shane, but Hero cut him off. "That was not an exhibition waistlock," he told him. Hagadorn tried to take down Rage, but he wasn't strong enough, so Rage threw himself down. Rage went for another wrestling hold, which upset Hero again. Hero screamed at Hagadorn to take him down already. Rage had enough and shoved Shane, so Shane slapped him. Rage, enraged, tackled Hagadorn, but received a boot to the head from Hero for good measure. The KOW then hit their KRS One finisher to drop Rage on the mat. Claudio resumed his coffee consumption without breaking a sweat as Shane dropped an elbow on Rage to score the "pin" that Claudio counted.

WINNER: Shane. Another simple, effective piece of hype for Final Battle promoting Kings of Wrestling vs. Briscoes. Claudio was simply great in this segment playing off Hero's stronger heel persona. (n/a)

[Commercial Break]

Backstage: Durden brought in ROH champion Roderick Strong and Truth Martini. Durden noted Strong defends the ROH Title against Richards at Final Battle, but Strong has to face Austin Aries next week. Martini said Roderick and Austin Aries have a past and Aries is nothing but a parasite. Strong said he used to trust Aries, but now Aries won't give him credit for becoming ROH champion. Strong, playing Cam Newton, said he's never seen Truth Martini interfere in his matches. Never! Strong said he'll roll through Aries, then show Richards at Final Battle that only the strong survive.

In-ring: The Embassy's music hit to bring out Erick Stevens along with Prince Nana and Mr. Ernesto Osiris for the TV main event. Davey Richards then received a full ring introduction for the main event.

4 -- DAVEY RICHARDS vs. ERICK STEVENS (w/Prince Nana and Osiris)

The crowd tried to get under Stevens's skin early on as Prazak noted there is talk in the locker room that Nana is becoming frustrated with Embassy's inability to get the job done recently. Richards took the early advantage, but lost control on the outside when Stevens side-stepped a baseball slide and sent Richards flying into the guardrail. In the ring, Stevens worked on Richards for a few minutes. Richards made a furious comeback with a series of headbutts leading to a superplex that floored both men. Richards hit a handspring elbow smash that resulted in a nearfall, then Richards knocked Nana to the floor and connected with a missile dropkick. The crowd was hot for Richards hitting a combination of moves that culminated with a diving headbutt for a nearfall.

At 10:00, Stevens elbowed out of a suplex and both men traded blows before Stevens landed a lariat for a nearfall. Stevens wanted to follow with the Doctor Bomb, but Richards escaped and slapped on the Anklelock center ring. Stevens escaped again, then countered Davey's finisher and scored a close nearfall that drew Nana's ire. Stevens wanted the Dr. Bomb again, but Richards countered into the Anklelock again. Stevens tried to escape again, but Richards blocked the escape and transitioned into a Cloverleaf for the submission win.

WINNER: Richards via submission in 13:00. Richards sure gave Stevens a lot of offense and key moments countering his signature offense as the #1 contender leading to an ROH Title match at Final Battle. It helped elevate Stevens in defeat and, at the end of the day, showed off Davey's toughness and resiliency heading into the ROH Title match at Final Battle. (***)

Next time on ROH: Final Countdown to Final Battle with ROH champ Strong vs. Austin Aries in non-title action.

-- ALSO SEE: ROH TV Hits & Misses on this episode.

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