ROH on HDNet
Philadelphia, PA
August 17, 2009

Your hosts are Dave Prazak and Mike Hogewood.

They start the show off with a video package explaining the recent collapse of Jerry Lynn’s career – from being booed by the ROH crowds when he was world champion to having Aries and Nigel’s words crawl into his head about facing reality and ending his 20+ year career.

• Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. Sami Callahan & Tony Kozina
  

As the clumsy idiot who just wants to be taken seriously, Tony Kozina dumps Sal Rinauro for a partner that’s much crazier yet unsuccessful at winning matches. Generico avoids the Sliding Clothesline from Callahan to start and unloads on him with armdrags. Callahan comes out of the ten-count corner punch with an atomic drop, but Generico hits him with a dropkick. Tag to Steen, he accidentally knocks Generico off the apron. Oops. Senton to Callahan gets two. Kozina tags and charges right into a backdrop. He gets the drop toehold/somersault legdrop combo from Steenerico. Callahan stops all that with a Sliding Clothesline on Steen. He drops a cutter on Generico to take control. Generico fights out, but Kozina cushions a corner blow for his partner. Callahan grabs a front headlock, but Generico punches out. He reverses a corner whip and Kozina cushions the blow for his partner again. Generico ducks a clothesline and kicks Kozina off the turnbuckle. From there, Generico slides underneath Callahan and makes the HOT TAG TO STEEN! He nails Callahan in the gut, leaving him doubled over for Steen to powerbomb Kozina on Callahan’s back! Senton Bomb hits knees. Kozina gets a tag and hits a Springboard Bulldog on Steen for two. Steen fights off a double-team in the corner, leaving Callahan and Kozina sandwiched in the corner for a Yakuza Kick from Generico! With both men dazed, Steen lifts them both up on his shoulders for a DOUBLE SAMOAN DROP! Out goes Callahan, Kozina takes the PACKAGE PILEDRIVER + BRAINBUSTER for the 1-2-3. (5:49) SLAP THE PORPOISE. **¼

Kyle Durden is standing by Roderick Strong. Roderick has to prove himself to Austin Aries that he’s worthy of a title shot? PLEASE.

• D’Lo Brown vs. John Kermin
  

Here’s your cocky squash of the week. D’Lo roughs this kid up and puts him away with a SUPER SKY HIGH. (3:00) Afterwards, Kyle Durden jumps in the ring and asks D’Lo about the future of Jerry Lynn. WTF does he care about that? D’Lo gets rid of Kyle and talks about Jerry Lynn anyway. He just wants Lynn to shrivel up and DIE because it means one less obstacle in his way of winning the ROH world title. ½*

The following message has been paid for by The Embassy and does not reflect the views of Ring of Honor: The eight man tag match will prove to be one of the greatest days in the history of The Embassy.

In the back, Kyle Durden speaks with Nigel McGuinness. After last week’s loss to Tyler Black, he admits that he took his eye off the ball. It will never happen again. You can’t fool Nigel twice! Can’t be done! Absolutely not. Tyler Black’s entrance theme interrupts Nigel’s promo as we go to the ring.

Tyler Black is SAD that Jerry Lynn might be leaving. That brings out Jerry Lynn. He says he’s tired of coming home and not being able to play with his kids because he’s too sore, but he knows that NOBODY ever truly retires from wrestling. Lynn hasn’t forgotten that it was Tyler Black who eliminated him in the triple-threat match that led to his loss of the ROH world title. Since Lynn still has a settle to score with Black, he’s not going to retire just yet.

• ROH World Champion Austin Aries vs. Roderick Strong – non-title match
  

GENERATION NEXT EXPLODES! How could this be. They do some signature chain wrestling to start down on the mat. I’m loving it. LAST CHANCERY gets locked in, but Roderick finds the ropes. Aries avoids the STRONGHOLD as well. Aries gets fancy with a cartwheel away from a backdrop and takes a whole BUNCH of chops. Down on the floor, Aries ducks a chop and backdrops Strong onto the barricade. He peels back the ringside mats and goes for a BRAINBUSTER, but Strong counters with a front suplex onto the mats. Well that’s got to be much safer. Strong finally gets the chop he wanted earlier and puts Aries into the front row. Aries shoves off a fireman’s carry and sends Strong into the ringpost. Off the top, Aries drops the flying double sledge. Back inside, a cover gets two. Pendulum elbow connects for another two. Strong counters the BRAINBUSTER with an atomic drop and HERE COMES RODERICK! Inverted Canadian backbreaker gets two! Strong goes for the HALF NELSON BACKBREAKER, but Aries counters into a Crucifix Bomb for two! Whoa, a Stinger Splash back rake from Aries! He tries the Running Dropkick in the corner, but Strong catches him in mid air and tries for DEATH BY RODERICK again. Nothing doing. Aries slips out and neck snaps Strong backwards on the top rope. He gives him one more on the middle rope! That gets two. Strong faceplants Aries off the shoulders for a double KO. With both men up, Strong unloads with a series of chops and connects with the dropkick. Billy Robinson backbreaker gets 1-2-NO! Aries prevents the O’Connor roll and tosses Strong to the floor for the Heat Seeking Missile! Aries comes off the top, but flies down into a Uranage backbreaker! Cover, 1-2-NO! Aries kicks away the STRONGHOLD, but takes an enziguri up top. He manages to slip out of DEATH BY RODERICK once again with a roll up for two. After that, he straight up kicks Strong on the top of the head. Aries hits the Running Corner Dropkick this time and scoops up Strong for 1-2-NO! He rolls out of that into the LAST CHANCERY! Oh, but Strong makes the ropes. They fight over a Brainbuster on the apron, but Strong manages to bring Aries back inside for a Slingshot Falcon Arrow for 1-2-NO! Strong tries the HALF NELSON BACKBREAKER again, and again Aries spins up onto Roderick’s shoulders, but this time Strong gives him the DEATH BY RODERICK! Awesome. SICK KICK! Cover, 1-2-NO! Aries grabs the bottom ropes in desperation. AWESOME. In a “putting the other guy over” psychology-filled moment, Aries still holds onto the ropes in fear of what might happen next. Strong pulls him off the ropes into a backbreaker and goes for the STRONGHOLD again, but Aries maneuvers around into a rollup and gets his feet on the ropes to get the cheap 1-2-3. (16:56) What a great old school heel match. This kind of heat-filled formula has worked for over 40 years – all that needs updating every now and then are the moves. One of my personal favorites of the year. ****¼

Next week, The Embassy takes on Colt Cabana, Brent Albright, Grizzly Redwood, and Necro Butcher in an eight-man elimination match! Plus, Sonjay Dutt debuts on HDNet to take on Delirious!