ROH on HDNet
Philadelphia, PA
May 16, 2009

Your hosts are Dave Prazak and Mike Hogewood.

No hype of the main event? That’s odd.

• Claudio Castagnoli vs. Brent Albright
  

I love how Hogewood bases how all Europeans act by Claudio’s example. At one point in the match he says, “If that’s how Europeans act…well I don’t want to go to Europe!” Hilarious. This is a rematch from last month when Claudio cheated to win. We see some schoolyard brawling to start. They head to the floor with Albright in control of some guardrail action. Back inside, Claudio does some heel stuff like raking the face across the ropes. Albright fights back with an overhead throw and a release German suplex. Claudio swats away the missile dropkick and hits a Bicycle Kick for 1-2-NO! Back to the heel tactics. Gutwrench suplex gets two. Back on the floor, Claudio grabs a cravat and drives Albright’s head into the guardrail. In the ring, Castagnoli stops a slugfest with a thumb to the eye. Albright counters an O’Connor roll and launches Claudio to the floor with a monkey flip. He follows Castagnoli out with a pescado. Back in, a flying bodypress gets two. CROWBAR is applied, but Claudio makes the ropes and hotshots Albright for a quick break. Albright counters the RICOLA BOMB and delivers an Air Raid Crash for 1-2-NO! Castagnoli avoids the HALF NELSON SUPLEX into the victory roll. He grabs the ropes to play off the cheap finish from their first match , but the ref sees Claudio cheating and stops the count. Albright does an awesome satellite takedown into the CROWBAR. Cue Prince Nana and Ernie Osiris. Ernie throws a HOBO TENNIS SHOE in Albright’s face to break up the hold. While the ref gets the shoe out of the ring, Castagnoli kicks Albright in the balls and covers for the 1-2-3! (9:30) My friend and yours Colt Cabana saves Albright from any further damage and chases away the Embassy boys. This sets up an obvious tag match for the future. Although you’d have to wonder why a stylish European like Claudio would align himself with a dirty American hobo. **¾

In the back, Kevin Steen and El Generico are on the mic and Generico gets a little too excited. Don’t think they have forgotten about what the American Wolves did to Generico!

• Dark City Fight Club vs. Alex Payne & Grizzly Redwood
  

Since I don’t really watch the ROH DVDs all that much, I can’t wait to see the DCFC have some real competition on this show. Double-team Ace Crusher to Redwood. DARK CITY STREET CUTTER to Payne. What more do you need to beat those two? (2:04) Another week, another squash ½*

BUZZ WORDS: Necro Butcher and Delirious. Jimmy Jacobs and Brodie Lee. That match is happening next week!

The ROH Ambassador Ric Flair heads to the ring. He makes a stagehand open the ropes for him as he enters the ring. Pretty ballin’. He’s out here to announce who will be getting the first ROH world title shot on HDNet since both Danielson/Black matches ended with no clear winner. Somebody in the crowd yells out that he should get the title shot. Flair responds with, “Don’t think the thought hasn’t crossed my mind.” WOO! He brings out ROH World Champ Jerry Lynn. Nobody hold the ropes open for him, so Flair chastises the stagehands. Flair introduces Lynn’s opponents as they come to the ring: Tyler Black, Bryan Danielson AND Austin Aries! Somebody holds the ropes open for Aries because he demands it be so. Aries gets on the stick and thinks that he’s the one getting the title shot, when it’s all THREE of them getting a title shot.

In the back with Kyle Durden, Rhett Titus and Kenny King are hanging out. BROTHER! BROTHER! BROTHER! These two are so good together.

• Jay Briscoe (w/Mark Briscoe) vs. Sami Callahan
  

MAN UP! MAN UP! MAN UP! MAN UP! MAN UP! MAN UP! MAN UP! MAN UP! MAN UP! MAN UP! MAN UP! Jay Driller gets the win. MAN UP! MAN UP! MAN UP! MAN UP! MAN UP! MAN UP! MAN UP! MAN UP! (2:43) Kyle Durden storms the ring to get a word with the Briscoes. He’s a little nervous. ¾*

• ROH World Tag Team Champions Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. Rhett Titus & Kenny King
  

This is indeed non-title. Kenny King wears a blue luchadore mask to the ring to mock Generico. Is that a Blue Panther mask? Nope. It’s not. He throws the mask down to the mat and stomps it just for the fun of it. Hogewood wonders if it’s a good idea to shaking hands with Rhett Titus. For once, I agree with the Hog. Also, Hogewood wonders about Prazak’s sexuality when he seems okay with Titus and his thrusting being a must. A lot of wondering going on for Hogewood in this match. Basic stuff to start from the champs, as they squash Titus with a backpack senton. That gets two. Steen runs into a boot in the corner, allowing King to tag. He runs into a powerslam as Steen tags Generico. Drop toehold/somersault legdrop combo gets two on King. Generico gets a knee from Titus on the apron as King comes up behind with a Randy Savage running hotshot. Atomic drop-running clothesline combo gets two for King. Generico gets stuck on the wrong side of the ring. Generico fires back and hits a high flying bodypress to set up a HOT TAG TO STEEN! Powerbomb leads into a SHARPSHOOTER on Titus, but King breaks it up. Off a corner whip, King backdrops Steen out to the apron as Generico runs at King from out of nowhere with an Ole Kick! While Generico is still fired up, he flies out on top of Titus. In the ring, Steen hits a Senton Bomb for 1-2-NO! Steenerico go for the finish, but King backdrops out of the PACKAGE PILEDRIVER while Titus trips up Generico. Titus flies into an atomic drop from Generico, but then King cuts off the Ole Kick with a spinning leg lariat. King wants to give Generico the BRAINBUSTAHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Generico shoves him off, but he lands on his feet and nails Generico up top with a jumping enziguri. Modified Gunn Slinger to Generico sets up Titus with the Frog Splash for 1-2-NO! Steen makes the save. King avoids the PACKAGE PILEDRIVER again, but takes a DDT. Titus stops Steen up top and gives him a taste of the thrust that is an absolute must. Hogewood ~ “That’s just nasty!” Steen slips out of the face raping and crotches Titus. He positions Titus in the tree of woe and charges across the ring onto King with the CANNONBALLLL. Meanwhile, Generico flies across the ring with a SOMERSAULT VANDAMINATOR to Titus! No more thrusting tonight. Steenerico put Kenny King away with the PACKAGE PILEDRIVER into the BRAINBUSTER for the 1-2-3. (9:15) Great action from all four men. You thought it was over with after the Senton Bomb, but they went another few minutes with it and I’m really glad they did because it turned a decent match into a real good TV match with the ultra hot finish. ***1/4

After the match, the American Wolves attack the tag champs with chairs! While Davey Richards sets up a table in the ring, Edwards weakens Steen with a Sharpshooter. Now that the table is ready, the American Wolves put Generico through the table with a DOOMSDAY ACE CRUSHER! The Wolves take the belts and pose with them to show us all what their ultimate goal is here in ROH. They leave with the champs laying in some serious pain. Generico has to be helped out of the ring while Steen flips out in the ring. Good way to end the show.

In three weeks (June 6), ROH World Champion Jerry Lynn battles Austin Aries, Tyler Black and Bryan Danielson in a four-corner survival match!

Next week though, Jimmy Jacobs & Brodie Lee take on Delirious and the Necro Butcher!

And that’s all from me for now.