Column of Honor: 10.17.09: HDNet Taxi Cab Confessions Part One
Posted by Ari Berenstein on 10.17.2009
A week long journey through the last three months of Ring of Honor on HDNet shows. Hogewood's "Porpoise", Rhett Titus' "Thrust", Aries' Fashionable Haberdashery, excitement, apathy, squashes, and excellence inside.Oh yeah, KENTA vs. CHRIS HERO awesomeness as well.
Welcome to the Column.
HDNet Taxi Cab Confessions
Confession time, boys and girls—and it's one that will shock the very foundation of this sports-entertainment industry. Well, okay, not really, but it may take some of you by surprise. You see, amid all the watching of wrestling I have done the past four months or so, from catching up on PWG and CHIKARA, tuning in to WWE on Mondays, Tuesdays and even some Fridays., there is one show that I haven't been watching. I've let one slip through the cracks, let it fall out of habit so that the toast isn't even warm anymore.
You see, I stopped watching Ring of Honor.
Go ahead, you can read that again. I'll repeat it for you—I, the Ring of Honor columnist here at 411, stopped watching Ring of Honor.
Well, okay, there's a catch. You see, I'm still buying and watching the regular run of ROH's DVD series—in fact I'm up to date as far as that goes. However, until this past week, I hadn't watched an episode of ROH on HDNet for three months.
From the very start it had been a process to actually see the show in the first place. I have Cablevision here in Brooklyn, which does not have HDNet on its package. I also was not ready or willing to switch my cable package at that juncture, especially just because I didn't receive HDNet. So it fell on to my shoulders, just like it did anyone else in a similar situation, to go online and seek out the ROH on HDNet program.
At first, finding the show online was almost as difficult as discovering a new planet in the solar system. There were a few websites that began to "carry" the show through streaming video or downloads, such as Chris Gee Soon Tong's Ring of Honor Live Journal community. Eventually, a YouTube poster named ROHBrazil became the "official" host for the ROH on HDNet shows, but they would only become available on his channel three days after their first run on HDNet.
However, after a few months of keeping up with the pace, I slowed down—eventually watching three shows at a time, then none. Late July, I just ceased to click on the links to the shows, and that was that.
So why is it that I stopped watching? ROH on HDNet at least had a stable location on the web. Chris was even emailing me the show during some weeks (and I feel like I owe him an apology for not clicking onto them, so Chris here is my mea culpa). Was it not enough time? Too much work? Personal life catching up to me? It's hard to say for sure.
Was it the burn out I had from writing about wrestling that caused me to stay away from ROH on HDNet? As far as that goes, I'd have to say no, because I was still watching tons of wrestling shows from all sorts of companies, even ROH, during my time away from writing the column. Regardless, that was what happened. No ROH on HDNet shows for three months.
Until now.
This past week I began a not-so herculean endeavor—to catch up with the HDNet shows through the YouTube channel. In one week's time I sat through and watching ELEVEN episodes of ROH. Here are my collected thoughts from watching those shows, segment-by-segment and match-by-match. It's a long journey to the end, one filled with many shouts of "SLAP THE PORPOISE" and a few too many Rhett Titus hip thrusts. Of course, there were plenty of glorious moments as well—Nigel's condescending promos about the fans, The Embassy vs. Team Cabana elimination match, the six man super tag with Bryan Danielson, Roderick Strong and KENTA vs. The American Wolves and Chris Hero , concluding with last week's AWESOME Chris Hero vs. KENTA showdown. No highlights involving Alex Payne, sorry to say. And there was a definite absence of Kenny Omega.
It has been said (by no one) that the journey of eleven hours begins with one singles match. So here we go (it's your hero, Chris Hero…)
ROH on HDNet Thoughts and Opinions
Episode 19—08.01.09
Austin Aries is so comfortable as champion, his mannerisms, his cocky attitude and comments, like when he says to the camera "you see this [his face] and this [the ROH World title], you better get used to them together." Or when making Kyle Durden hold his sunglasses.
ROH has amped up the entrance ramp with more shiny lights turning colors every few seconds. Its' like they raided a Walmart for those small plastic disco lights you use for parties and stacked them up one on top of the other. SHINY!
I like the video packages for the guys in the main event—this is the right way to go towards developing their personalities and their personal history in ROH. Now that the HDNet series is a ways in, there is plenty of B-roll footage for everyone to make these sorts of video features look totally natural and professional.
Hogewood is at the commentation station bringing the SUPER ENTHUSIASM!
Our first match is Stevens and Omega vs. King and Titus. Good high spot as Stevens had King cradled up for a powerbomb, but leaving an opening for Titus to nail the dropkick.
Omega still looks silly when he does the single leg hurricanrana on two men—I wished he stopped doing that. Other that he looked great here, including nailing a perfect flying missile dropkick to the back of Titus. Another small thing he does that I really think is great is when he sidesteps an opponent and runs circles around them…just a nice babyface touch to get back in the game.
Eddie Kingston in a squash match with a fifteen minute time limit? Please. This won't last fifteen seconds.
The three-way of Strong vs. D-Lo vs. Briscoe was built up well with those video packages and makes sense from the storyline standpoint and what had been built up on HDNet with the Strong-Briscoe and D-Lo-Briscoe rivalries, but on paper, doesn't seem to be that much of a "draw" for a match, much less a main event. Cool double running shoulder block team up from Strong and Briscoe on D-Lo with a bit of a lower angle than the one Jay and Mark do together.
It's a very match solid though, with a coherent ring story—Jay and Roddy team up, but don't fight with each other even when both want the fall. D-Lo has to fight both men, takes out Jay and allows more of a one-on-one between him and Roddy, which he has most of the advantage. Strong and Jay meet back on the floor and finally go at it, but D-Lo takes his shot on both here and it becomes D-Lo vs. Jay. Finally all three are back in the ring together and that leads to the finish, which is well-timed. D-Lo goes for the Sky High spinebuster, but Strong pops up into a sunset flip and add the roll through for extra leverage for the three count. Very cool finish.
Episode 20: 08.08.09
The Albright vs. Castagnoli feud is STILL going in television continuity at this point. Geez, I think that feud may be older than Father Time. However, if they're going to do it, at least they're making some progression with the feud as in the tag match between Colt & Albright vs. Rave & Claudio. Claudio gets the pin on Albright and then bloodies him up after jamming the chair on his face (still one of my favorite Claudio moments was when he did that to Danielson). Necro and Grizzley are out for the save, setting up the elimination eight-man that's coming up in a few weeks (well, a few hours for me).
Lot of talk about how Tyler takes his eyes off the ball—I know that's a good wrestling story, but does phrasing it like that best serve keeping Black popular?
Silas Young is not a very handsome individual when you look at him close up.
Delirious vs. Silas Young is a really good match—they have some great chain combinations in the beginning and just in general it's the kind of wrestling style that I most want to see when I watch ROH.
Bryan Danielson talks about his uncertain future, but how he wants to stay in ROH and wrestle because it's something different. WHOOOOOOOPS!
Mark Briscoe looks on the money in his return from injury, headed up against Alex Payne. Dave Prazak gets Mark's debut in ROH partly wrong—its true he couldn't wrestle on the first shows because of his age, but his actual wrestling in-ring debut for ROH was in Boston against his brother Jay during Honor Invades Boston.
Briscoe wins with an Ace Crusher off the top followed by a powerbomb. I guess no Cutthroat Driver allowed on HDNet television.
Just a final side note on that match, Alex Payne definitely drew some heat when he clipped Mark's knee, which got me to thinking, what if the students and lower job guys like him turned heel? The crowds usually don't like to cheer for the students much anyway (with the exception of Bobby Dempsey and Grizzley Redwood), so use the students as a heel "J.O.B. Squad" like stable and have them annoy the babyfaces (and the crowd) with their antics. They could be the spoiled kids (ala Special K) who feel they haven't gotten their just deserts so they're taking them by force (ala Generation Next).
I like how the intensity of the Steenerico-Wolves program works into the singles match between Steen and Richards. Eddie Edwards blocks Generico's path around the ring, Steen pushes Edwards from behind, they shove a bit, then Steen comes to the ring to start some with Richards, which the ref tries to separate and then Edwards follows in to back his partner up. Simple, logical, emotional, effective.
In an excellent adlibbed heel moment, Richards uses the fans throwing paper balls at him (for doing nothing much—that's heel heat) to throw them back at Kevin Steen, distracting the ref and allowing Hagadorn, Del Rey and Edwards to choke out and attack Generico on the other side of the ring.
We get Generico's awesome thread-the-needle DDT through the turnbuckle outside in this one. Instant Win. This is a great singles match that ends in a DQ, which always sucks in an ROH match, but we get a pull apart which looks cool. Del Rey beats up some dudes, that's always fun. Then Generico gives her a receipt and Hogewood seems both surprised and delighted to see that happen…hmmm! Almost under looked is Hagadorn laying in a few on referee Paul Turner. What a bastard.
Steen & Generico are triumphant in the ring to end the show.
Episode 21: 08.17.09
This is the first episode of the series that is shown on Monday night before WWE Raw runs on another (far more popular) channel.
We continue where the last episode ended with the other two members of Steenerico and The American Wolves in singles action—Steen vs. Edwards. Not the first time I've seen this, or the second, but it's the best feud ROH has all year so let's go for another…partners banned from ringside in this match, but not Shane Hagadorn I guess. Bastard.
Steen impersonates Steve Austin early, stomping a mud hole and walking it dry.
A little kid tells Steen to "Man Up". Wrong tag team kid. Freaking kids in the crowd.
I like Hagadorn thumpin' for ROH by talking to the camera about Edwards being the ROH World Tag Team Champion and how you can only get this kind of action in ROH. Pretty smart of Shane, this being the first Monday night show, so any new viewers (well…hmmm…maybe not) get some hype thrown at them. He's still a bastard though…
Dark City Fight Club are back and they don't need no stinkin' medical clearance! They are out for a fight. If I were any tag team in ROH right about now I'd run away and fast.
Cheech & Cloudy theme song sounds like some damned wacky 1970's game show theme mixed with 1990's ska tunes from Reel Big Fish.
Kozina & Sal play the imbecilic card…sheesh that's a rough image to take on. In comes DCFC to take everyone out. GOODNIGHT TONY KOZINA.
Sonjay Dutt is back…woo…I am excited. Yay.
Necro in a match…woo…I am excited. Yay. At least it's Sami Callahan and Necro goes to work, with some pretty good punches and a nice throw over the ring. Sami has a great bug-eyed look running away from Necro. You could say Sami is HORRORFIED. You see, his nickname is, ah, never mind…
Something else you learn in this match is that Sami Callahan is an ANKLE BITER! He must have been teased in elementary school.
Aries is gut-bustingly awesome in his backstage promo with "Don't Call Me Tyler" Kyle Durden. They definitely have something going with the interaction between these two. I mean it's not something we haven't seen before (Rock with Michael Cole or Kevin Kelly, for instance), but they definitely get it right here. Aries calls himself "Mr. It". That's a new one.
There's some really good back and forth between Nigel and Tyler in the main event. Tyler definitely is more aggressive and effective in this one, but some of that could definitely be because those two have worked so often against each other they know how to bring the best out of each other during a match. Nigel is just coming back and you definitely can tell through his body language he is concerned about his health, however in a way he looks even more legitimate and "real" through his behavior on the HDNet shows and on the June house show DVDs.
A little kid screams "Come On Tyler!" Damned kids…
I love Nigel's chain control with his arms and legs…again, that's the sort of thing I loved to see in ROH in years past that doesn't get as much play as it used to in matches. I'm hoping someone on ROH roster steps up in Nigel's absence and embraces that level of technical wrestling.
The match overall is good…a bit slow though when it should have started picking up and I think that sort of went hand in hand with the lack of crowd reaction and also is owed to both the toning down for the television format and because of Nigel's injury. There is no way this one can compare to some of their previous matches. However, I liked what I saw, and there was enough on the back end to make it feel different from past Nigel vs. Tyler matches (in that it wasn't a move-for-move repeat). Tyler pulled out some great height on the moonsault from the barricade to the ground. He also put in some extra oomph on the Small Package Driver that finishes the match.
Episode 22: 08.24.09
One of the best and smartest things I've seen ROH and HDNet do so far comes right at the beginning of this show. There is a minute plus long series of clips shown that trace Jerry Lynn's title story—the booing of the fans, Lynn's resolve, Nigel's stirring the pot, Austin Aries attacking him with the title belt and finally his loss at Manhattan Mayhem III. It's a wonderfully built tie-in and in this week's episode Jerry Lynn will make a statement about his future. That's pretty damned good work there.
The ballad of Tony Kozina continues this week, stumbling and bumbling with another new partner—this time Sami Callahan as they take on Steenerico. That's not a bad gimmick for a smaller and less exposed wrestler like Kozina—you take what you can get and not everyone is going to be the main event guy for a company, so if this is his role to play, well then he's doing a good job of it in his few appearances on the show. He does get a nice springboard to bulldog later in the match. This is the third week in a row for Steen and Generico to make appearances on HDNet—good continuity—helping to establish their presence and keeps them over with the HDNet audience. The crowd volume is much better so far as you can really hear them popping for Steen and Generico's tandem moves. The Ole kick and the double Samoan in particular get really loud "Oh!" pops, so you can tell the crowd is very impressed by their efforts.
I will say this about Roderick Strong—he does look very presentable in a dress shirt. He talks a decent game in his promo on Austin Aries, but even after all of these years, you can tell he's not fully comfortable with promos. He should have killed on this one given the history with Austin, but it's just okay in his verbiage, albeit with commendable babyface fire.
D-Lo kills John Kermin with the super Sky High and then cuts a promo on Jerry Lynn. That would have been an interesting angle to do in the mid-card after Lynn's title run had Lynn not been injured and D-Lo not signed on to be a booker for TNA.
Nigel is smacking his lips during his promo, maybe he just finished eating. Good promo from Nigel otherwise. Tyler Black out to interrupt and cuts his own promo. Hogewood says the crowd really gets energized when Black comes out…then we get a shared "Tyler Black" / "sucks" chant intermingling. Nice call there Porpoise-Guy. Jerry Lynn out to say he's not done yet and respond to D-Lo's comments. The crowd goes respectfully mild. Lynn challenges Black to a match and says it's going to be the biggest one of his career. Eh.
Those little kids are back again, and chanting "Austin Starr" in the Aries vs. Strong main event. Those damned kids. Why don't they get on an escalator or something?
Unique moment of Strong vs. Aries—Strong, known for a chop and Aries has been using a spot where he hangs upside down with the tips of his toes on the third rope. Connect the dots…Strong unleashes a sharp chop to Aries while he is upside down. Good work. Strong with a Gordbuster on the floor to the mat. Looks brutal, probably was pretty safe.
The match goes slow-fast-slow-very fast. While there are some obvious loose moments, when it picks up into the final stretch, it really picks up and there is some good stuff. This is the time when Hogewood's excited calls really help sell the match (although his claim this is the one of the best ROH matches ever…well, I can forgive him because he's still relatively new, but well, hardened ROH veterans know better). Aries wiggling his tongue when he's got the Last Chancery on…well, geez, I don't know what to make of that one.
The crowd is really getting into the final moments. Aries gets the three with a roll up out of the Strong Hold attempt and using the top rope for leverage. Really great last ten minutes brings this up to about a ***3/4 level for those into snowflakes. Strong is really elevating himself through these matches and the crowd reactions to his efforts.
Episode 23: 08.31.09
Dave Prazak calls Delirious "gifted, but unorthodox." In what respect Dave? The short bus? Or Julliard?
Delirious vs. Dutt starts off promising, then drags and drags and drags, despite them pulling out some good moves at the end the crowd is just dead or doesn't care.
Wolves vs. Cheech & Cloudy… I'm going to feel really bad for Cheech & Cloudy in a few moments, aren't I?
SPLAT. That was the sound of C&C wiping out after missing simultaneous plancha attempts. I was right.
Yeah, it only gets worse from there. Nice and fierce squash though.
The hits just keep on coming as Dark City Fight Club come out and nail Cheech with Project Mayhem. Major height on that one—they can get those skinny guys up in the air, that's for sure. Cloudy wisely "pretends" he is still loopy from the ass kicking he took from the Wolves and rolls out the ring before DCFC can touch him.
You know, I wouldn't mind DCFC as the next ROH World Tag Team Champions in the least.
Colt Cabana gives a goofy military general promo and Brent Albright channels Soldier Ant. You know… those eyes…that body frame… nah, they're nothing alike.
Silas "Mr. Grumpy" Young is back and about to be torn to shreds by Erick Stevens. I do like that Stevens' theme song now begins with a train whistle, which means there is now one thing which is unique and distinguishable about Erick Stevens' theme song. Thank God Stevens has the Mohawk back.
The crowd is just deathly quiet, owing probably to the predictability of a match like this. There's nothing wrong with it per se except that fans already know what's going to happen before it happens. Silas will get some token offense in; Stevens will come back and roll through Young with his power offense. I think ROH needs to tone down some of these matches (Dutt and Delirious had this kind of feeling as well) and replace them with matches that fans can't predict. I think if it was Stevens & Delirious vs. Dutt & Young that actually might have helped create more interest in all involved.
Eddie Kingston is referred to as "God's Middle Child". God had three children? Who was the third? I was actually waiting for a "Problem Child" reference of some sort, but maybe that's too 80's for some, although Prazak was invoking Randy Savage-Ricky Steamboat at one point during these shows, so maybe there's hope yet.
I'm a huge sucker for Survivor Series style elimination matches, so I'm already pumped way up for the main event of The Embassy vs. Team Cabana. I like the early babyface clear out—puts a lot of "oomph" into the match already.
Claudio and Jimmy Rave play a bit of "Cruel Intentions" on Ernie Osiris by double hip tossing him into the ring to get beaned on by Necro Butcher. And then it's the face-off only Paul Bunyan was waiting for as Grizzley and Ernie face off. I do like that Grizzley has a move named the "log roll" that is essentially him rolling from one side of the ring to the other in order to trip up his opponent. That is what I used to do as a child in order to get from one side of my living room to another. Then I would drop an elbow on my sister. True story.
Then we get some abdominal stretch wackiness, with Team Colt using the entire front row for leverage. We're talking Guinness Book of World Records length on the abdominal stretch. That would not be out of place at all on a CHIKARA show. Then, a cartwheel exhibition between Colt and Claudio. Yeah, this is pretty awesome.
Ernie Osiris rolls up Grizzley for the first elimination and The Embassy has the advantage, which given it was Grizzley Redwood that was ousted, is tantamount to having a half a second head start running The Eliminator course on American Gladiators. Still, it's enough to put the heat on Cabana. Hot tag to Albright as we enter part six of the You Tube split, which means there needs to be a whole slew of eliminations in the final ten minutes or this one ain't ending until the Mayans declare Armageddon. Speaking of cinematic references, Albright goes Terminator on everyone, then he and Claudio battle outside. Brent with the SOFT DRINK OF SUGARY CAFFINATED DOOM to Claudio as they are both counted out. I don't mind that finish during Survivor Series matches as it makes sense members of a team get lost in the heat of battle. However, that doesn't excuse when this happened during the atrocity-to-some, semi-attrocity-to-others that was the Revolution Rules six-man from Seventh Anniversary Show.
Ernie Osiris actually does something interesting and worthwhile for The Embassy by doing a rolling flip senton over the ropes, to the floor and onto Necro's foot which was in between a chair. Man, I know of foot pain and that's not going to be pleasant for Necro. Heel hook and Necro is NOT hardcore, tapping out. It's a three-on-one advantage to the Embassy. Well, since its Nana, Ernie and Jimmy against Colt, maybe the sides are just about even.
Cabana stops, drops and rolls and starts his comeback. A Colt 45 and Osiris is gone. It takes significantly longer to eliminate Jimmy Rave, but Nana almost gets caught first. Great moment as Colt gets the sunset flip roll through for three and Nana has his back turned and thinks that Rave has eliminated Colt. He does a double take when he realizes the opposite is true. Colt wipes the mat with him easily, gets the flying a hole and the Billy Goat's Curse and that's all she wrote for The Embassy. Colt Cabana is YOUR SOLE SURVIVOR.
Episode 24: 09.07.09
Two ladies (of the night?) come out with Kenny King & Rhett Titus. One immediately starts slapping hands with the fans at ringside…um, dearie, you're with the HEEL TEAM, you see? You don't need to make nice-nice with the fans, unless you're drumming up business for later.
Prazak says these girls are much nicer than the ones he sees in the crowd. There are females at an ROH show?
The Briscoes return at full-power on this show. They get the star treatment for their entrance—lights down, full rotation of the HD camera to the stage. That means King & Titus are about their get their asses handed to them.
Hogewood screams like a little girl when Titus wails on Jay from behind. Wait (rereads the sentence, considers changing the sentence, decides to move as far away from this sentence as possible).
Someone is laughing really loudly at Titus being double teamed … er… bieled out of the corner. I don't blame them actually.
Mark looks damned solid again on the way to a Briscoes victory. Actually it's quite a lengthy match where King and Titus get a lot more than you'd think…and there is an honest to goodness long heat segment on the Brscoes! Solid enough match but worth it more for the opportunity to see Jay and Mark working together (and very well at that) for the "first time" (if you didn't see them in any of their appearances during the house shows in June).The money angle comes afterward with the confrontation between The Wolves, Steenerico and The Briscoes.
Poor Sal Rinauro.
Poor Aaron Scott. Wait, what the hell is Aaron Scott doing getting ANY offense in on Nigel freaking McGuinness?
Well, that match happened.
Tyler Black vs. Jerry Lynn plays mostly before an empty arena, or at least the deafening silence of the crowd makes it seem that way. They get into it more at the end of the match, but it's not nearly as hot as it could have been. Tyler does get a cool guillotine leg drop on the apron (SHADES OF UNDERTAKER, sort of). Solid in-ring action, but at the time both Tyler and Jerry were suffering from a waning popularity base and the match takes place in the middle of the three show taping so that couldn't have helped. Although to be honest I don't blame the fans for the apathy—despite the constant hyping and building up by Prazak and Hogewood, this particular bout between Black and Lynn just doesn't have a lot of heart to it. They've done so much better on shows from earlier in the year, including their twenty-minute draw from Motor City Madness.
After Nigel puts Lynn's foot on the ropes to stop a fall, Lynn gets the small package reversal for three, which given what happened to Lynn seems to be a bit of an ill-fated decision.
All things considered, this was a REALLY lackluster edition of the show. Two squash matches hurt the middle (ROH needs to think about reducing the number of these at this point) and aside from the return of The Briscoes, nothing else really "popped".
Episode 25: 09.14.09
We start with the announcement of Bryan Danielson agreeing to sign with WWE and the "Final Countdown" Tour in the month of September. Hogewood looks very glum about this news—I would place him on suicide watch.
Looking back at the last six episodes of the show, Danielson was never featured at all in any significant way other than one or two video packages. Mostly he was shown losing to Tyler Black, so the announcement doesn't come across like the major loss that it really was for ROH, at least as it regards to the HDNet program. However, Nigel McGuinness has been heavily featured as an antagonist to the top faces over the same timeframe, so his departure just a few weeks later would definitely be seen as a big hit, but that doesn't get mentioned at all in this or any of the shows after it. Nigel really did add spice to the top programs, because you never knew what side he was on other than his own. His deft manipulation of Tyler Black and Jerry Lynn in particular created intrigue where there was depth lacking to the storyline.
Both the Young Bucks and Dark City Fight Club have been beating on the jobbers but now they both step their games up by fighting each other in the opener. This comes across as a really fresh and interesting match-up. At one point early on Matt does this insane moonsault onto Kory Chavis' arm. I mean, how do you even come up with that sort of move?
The Bucks take it with a roll up bridge—not a conclusive win, but good enough to convince anyone watching The Bucks are the real deal. Just a really good, fun tag team match—lots of tag team moves, both teams get over with their personalities, their tag combinations and what not. It's not the tightest I've seen the Bucks work their match, but that doesn't detract from it so much. There is definitely something there between both teams and I'd like to see it followed up on in future shows.
It's a bit of an Embassy reunion with Nana and Sal Rinauro, but Nana is just sending him to the wolves. Not The American Wolves, mind you, but Bison Smith, coming from parts unknown and resurfacing to beat up the ROH Jobbers. Sal Rinauro, Bison Smith, connect the dots. Smith doesn't have much of a role in ROH these days, so I'm not sure why he's being booked for the HDNet series.
I have to stop for a second and say that the people who are throwing paper into the ring are pretty classless. I mean this isn't school and you aren't chucking paper balls behind the teacher's back. It's distracting and takes away from the professional look ROH is trying to get at with these shows.
Nana introduces Joey Ryan. Colt Cabana proceeds to make him look foolish. I guess that's one way to reload The Embassy in the wake of losing the elimination match last week.
Nigel is in the crowd and calls this place a "zoo" and well, judging by who he is sitting next to, he's right. This begins (or rather continues, for those of us who have been around since his heel turn in '08) his ranting about the fans and why the wrestlers continue to sacrifice themselves despite their fickle nature. He blames all the fans and calls them sinners. And again, well, judging by who he's referring to, he's more than likely correct.
Aries introduces the A-Double L-Double for next week's episode. He tries on some hats for the L-Double, including a big bird hat, which is pretty funny looking. As soon as he takes it off he gets a major case of hat hair.
Briscoes vs. Steenerico sounds like a hell of a main event for the show—to be honest it's been long enough once again since they've fought, so it's a good choice.
I think Hogewood just threatened to make a man out of Prazak. I don't even know where to begin with that.
This has just been a great back and forth Steenerico / Brsicoes type of match. Awesome high spot as Generico switches out of attacking Mark Briscoe to do a flip dive on Jay on the outside. Mark immediately runs and does a flip dive over the turnbuckle onto Steen who is on the outside. Later, Steen and Jay have an awesome exchange of flurries—these guys still have the chemistry. I also have to praise the great camera work, using the right angles, coming up with different perspectives to make moves like that look that much more impressive—really right on.
Okay, Jay just hit a perfect DVD on Steen on the ring apron and I am in full on mark out mode right now. The Briscoes pull out from the closet their double team crucifix powerbomb / neckbreaker (and it looks damned awesome) for a close two. Steen pulls Mark off the apron to prevent the springboard doomsday and a moment later Generico hits the Van Terminator, a move he rarely does these days.
Steen preps the Package Piledriver and DAMMIT there goes the Wolves for the interference and the disqualification call. I know their involvement was foreshadowed last week, but this is exactly what I DON'T want to happen on these shows. I don't want to be drawn into the great action and then deflated with a DQ or BS finish, which is exactly what happened here. Would it have been that bad for The Briscoes to put over Steenerico here, considering that team had the next title shot at this point? The Briscoes could have won a follow-up match on the next set of tapings, or barring that gone over another high profile team to get them easily back into contention.
The Wolves get chased off by The Briscoes who come in for the save for Steenerico.
Steen basically points out the obvious, that we were jobbed out of a finish. His pointing it out still doesn't excuse it. Then he announces the Ladder War 2 for Glory By Honor VIII (also foreshadowed by Prazak's earlier commentary).
A real downer of a finish to what was until then an awesome match and a very good edition of the HDNet program. That finish just pissed me off big time.
Episode 26: 09.21.09
I have to remark how awesome is Aries' Rage Against the Machine sound-alike theme song? Damn has Aries got the mutton chop sideburns going. More wackiness with the hats. Kenny King and Rhett Titus are modeling them, they're too sexy for their hat, too sexy for their hat, so sexy it hurts…
First name pulled is Kenny Omega, but he isn't here, so he misses his opportunity! Second choice is Grizzley Redwood. Even Hogewood has his doubts about this choice. HMMMM, SHENANIGANS is the call! Prazak's over the top enthusiasm for Redwood getting the shot is excellent. Redwood actually gets far more offense here than you'd expect, most of it looks realistic and that it could throw Aries off his game. It's the IED dropkick and a standing delayed brainbuster for the three. Hogewood gives one of the most Charlie Brown-like "Slap the Porpoise" calls ever. Poor Hogewood.
Bonus points for these two for having to wrestle while Aries' broken necklace beads are all over the ring…that's a pretty damned hard thing to do, especially for Redwood since he's barefoot.
American Wolves promo repping the Ladder War 2 match. Richards:"I'm bringing D-Day." That's a MONEY line right there.
Hero and Kingston video package promoting their match at Glory By Honor VIII, although it's never mentioned by name, at least ROH is paying attention to promoting their live events through the HDNet program.
Erick Stevens squashes a jobber…yawn for the squash, next.
I'm getting just a bit sick of these pedantic rah rah Tyler Black babyface promos…where is his edge? His intensity? His fire? He needs to go back to fueling his promos with his passion and his "change the world" mantras. Maybe the storylines and the scripts are doing him no good, but something needs to change about the angle he's coming from with these promos and quickly.
Hello lonesome stranger. Bryan Danielson is back, with a dream team of sorts, Strong and KENTA by his side, cutting a promo for tonight's main event.
Oh boy, Necro Butcher vs. Jimmy Rave, my favorite combination of wrestlers as of late. I am really, really, really considering hitting the FF on YT.
Ok, I take it back. This wasn't much of a match, but the pre-bell brawl, the big highspot during the match and the post –match antics were so much better than anything that I saw during Manhattan Mayhem III
The six-man tag match between the Wolves & Hero vs. Strong, Danielson and KENTA goes without saying you should check this one out. Six top notch guys in there (even including Edwards as he has certainly proved himself in 2009) going at it full tilt. Again, this is the sort of action that ROH should be bringing all the time on their show but instead only truly feature it in the main events. Seeing Danielson and Richards have an excellent short exchange in the beginning of the bout certainly whets my appetite for their singles bouts in both Dragon Gate USA and during the ROH Final Countdown Tour. KENTA's kicks are sick, Strong's chops are sick, Danielson's everything is sick.
The crowd is way hot for this match and especially for Dragon and KENTA. I'm very happy that the fans in attendance for the HDNet tapings, which include more "casual" fans and families than the DVD shows have been so accepting of KENTA. He's ROH's only foreign import right now, but he is viewed in the top echelon on the ROH roster and the crowd can't help but be awestruck at some of stiff shots he lays in on his opponents, his speed and his rally style comebacks.
I can't neglect to mention Hero's efforts in this match—the reports are right-on when they say he has reached the next level with the "That Young Knockout Kid" persona. His KO elbows and strikes are ungodly in their look, sound and impact. There's just an insane triple team by the heels late in the match with the simultaneous superkick from Edwards, spinning elbow from Hero onto Strong leading to a German Suplex with a bridge into the pin with bridge from Edwards which is just barely, barely broken up by Danielson. Then the faces come back with their highlight sequence, superplex by Strong, back superplex by Danielson and the super falcon arrow by KENTA on the heels! Wow.
Edwards is isolated with Strong in the final stretch and after shaking off some boots to the head, Strong fires back with VICIOUS chops, an enziguri in the corner, the running sick kick and the Gibson Driver for three.
This match was just so much fun and definitely one of my favorites of the year. Four stars, easy.
The journey to the center of the ROH on HDNet universe continues with PART TWO of my column...NEXT!
