411's ROH on HDNet Report 6.24.09: Episode XIV (06.20.09)

Posted by Aaron Hubbard on 06.24.2009

KENTA and Roderick Strong beat the tar out of each other for our entertainment.

Tonight's episode is dedicated to the memory of Mitsuharu Misawa.

Hogewood and Prazak welcome us to the show. Breaking news: Austin Aries is the NEW Ring of Honor World Champion, the first 2-Time Champ.

Claudio Castagnoli vs. Necro Butcher
Ring of Honor: Where the big boys play.

This was set up last week when Butcher saved Grizzly Redwood from a post-match attack on Jimmy Rave. Code of Honor is followed. CC starts out with amateur wrestling, but Butcher surprisingly sits out of a second one. CC offers a handshake, cheap shot and European Uppercut by CC. Butcher then hits a monkey flip, which causes CC to beg off, but Butcher is having none of it and hits a back body drop before clotheslining Claudio to the floor. CC avoids what looks to be a dive, but Butcher starts throwing him into the guardrails. He throws him back in, but CC stops him and tries to suplex him back in. CC blocks the O'Connor Roll, rakes the eyes and hits the bicycle kick. That gets 2, so CC pummels him. An elbow drop gets 2, and a scoop slam followed by a running elbow drop get 2 more. Butcher punches the ribs and gets the O'Connor Roll for 2. He blocks a boot with a fist and hits a big…foot of his own. The Violence Party and a bulldog get another nearfall. They brawl a bit before Necro busts out a Frankensteiner. Rave comes out and spits on Necro, who chases Rave until CC hits a low blow and gets the pin. Brent Albright comes out to save Butcher from a post match beatdown.

Analysis
I wouldn't have minded that finish if it was a low blow into a Riccola Bomb. This was more character-based than anything, but Butcher continues to impress me with his actual wrestling. I miss when Claudio had a moveset though… *

They show us a clip from last week's show where Aries attacked former champ Jerry Lynn. Then, Nevaeh cuts a promo that J.D. Dunn called the most generic promo ever. I'm hard pressed to disagree. Dino Bravo was more original.

MsChif w/Jimmy Jacobs vs. Nevaeh
Hey, did you know that Nevaeh is Heaven spelled backwards? It actually is now. Converesly, the SHIMMER Champion hails from the Inferno! RELIGIOUS SYMBOLISM! But this is no Shawn Michaels-Undertaker.

Nevaeh controls with a headlock early, even applying one after landing on her feet off of a hip block takeover from MsChif. A snapmare, Perfect Neck Snap and sliding clothesline get 2 for Nevaeh. MsChif ducks a clothesline and hits a backfist. She pummels Nevaeh and hits the repeated stomps to the back for 2. Nevaeh botches a small package and then has a…let's call it "interesting" way of selling a submission hold from MsChif. That sets up a gutbuster for 2. MsChif hits a stiff slap but misses a quebrada, and Nevaeh comes back with a flurry of offense, ending with a crossbody for a nearfall. Jacobs inserts himself into the match, spitting at Nevaeh. MsChif finishes with the green mist and the Desecrator.

Analysis
MsChif was her usual good self. Nevaeh was…interesting. She showed the ability to tell a decent story with the headlocks early (trust me, that's important), and her flurry of offense at the end was crisp and believable. However, you don't sell being bent like a pretzel with an expression that says "Did I remember to DVR the last episode of America's Next Top Model?" *

We get hype for our main event and Ric Flair's Goodbye from HDNET.

Colt Cabana and Brent Albright shill merchandise in the single greatest segment in the show's history. I don't know what the general consensus is among ROHbots, but I think these two make the perfect straight man/funny man combo.

Flair puts over ROH in a clipped interview.

Kenny King w/Rhett Titus and CHICKS vs. Kenny Omega
These guys are going to be main eventing ROH in a few years, mark my words. Hogewood uses the CHICKS as an excuse to plug ROH on Twitter, where he tweets. Get it? No? Eh, whatever. SLAP THE PORPOISE!

They trade some rather athletic counters until Omega hits a mule kick that sends King outside. King dodges a baseball slide and hits a few kicks, but Omega avoids a crossbody from the apron that hits Titus, and takes both men out with a tope con hilo. He hits a flying elbow in the corner and a dropkick to the back for 2. King rakes the eyes, but Omega blocks the Capoiera Kick and hits a spinning kick. Titus trips him up though, and King hits a legdrop for 2. King pounds away, letting Rhett hit a cheap shot. He drops Omega on the tope rope and hits a huge roundhouse kick. Omega blocks a superplex and hits a flying clothesline. The babyface comeback follows and Omega hits a leapfrog Rocker Dropper for 2, and a Rude Awakening for another 2. He convinces King to stop mid-match, but King hits the Capoiera Kick and the double knee attack. Omega dodges and weaves, but Titus prevents a springboard move. King hits an enzugiri and a sick Uranage for a nearfall. Omega counters the Coronation to a sunset flip, and King gets another nearfall. Omega hits an enzugiri, but Titus holds him in the ropes. King hits Titus accidently, and Omega hits an inverted rana (!) and an electric chair into a German Suplex for a HUGE win. Erick Stevens makes the save for Omega after a post match beatdown. Hey wait a minute….

Analysis:
I could have done without all the interference, but otherwise this was a great athletic exhibition with some nice storytelling. They did a good job of putting in spots that "should" have been the finish but weren't, and the upset was well done. I'm pretty high on both of these guys. **1/4

Next week, The American Wolves defend their titles against Bryan Danielson and Tyler Black. Now THAT'S a main event!

Eddie Kingston vs. Andy "Right Leg" Ridge
They grapple around for a bit, but Ridge his a right kick, so Kingston just starts roughing him up with chops and suplexes. Ridge makes a comeback with some more kicks from the right leg, but eats a backfist and its over.

Analysis:
Forget squashes, this was little more than a hazing. Ridge's dedication to his "gimmick" is entertaining, actually. 1/2*

Next week, we also get a Fight Without Honor between Jimmy Jacobs and Delirious. Jacobs cuts a promo saying he has nothing left to lose and that the Age of the Fall will begin. Actually, pretty bland, which is sad considering who was talking.

KENTA vs. Roderick Strong
Kenta gets the early advantage with a headscissors, but Strong gets out. Strong goes for a chop but Kenta ducks, and then retaliates with a kick which Strong also ducks. Kenta hits a big boot, and that ends the politeness as they just trade stiff kicks and chops. Kenta hits another boot, but Strong hits a leaping heel kick. Frankly, I have to give the stiffness advantage to Strong's chops. Kenta takes over with strikes, and slaps Strong when he tries a sunset flip, and Kenta KICKS STRONG'S HEAD OFF! Okay, Kenta wins the stiffness war. Kenta applies a chinlock, but Strong goes to the corner. Kenta hits a few kicks, but Roderick slaps him. Bad idea. Kenta hits a spinning kick to the face. Ouch. Roderick tosses Kenta like a pizza though, and then lights him up with chops. Kenta returns the slap, and Roderick responds by stomping on his head in brutal fashion.

Strong hits a backbreaker and a fall away slam for 2. Kenta escapes a waistlock but eats a dropkick. He runs into a pair of hard boots but finally hits a powerslam to get back into it. Kenta hits a pair of clotheslines, a vertical suplex and a flying lariat for 2. Strong gets to the ropes to escape the STF and uses the tights to send Kenta to the apron. Strong hits a slingshot Falcon Arrow for 2. Strong hits a corner clothesline, discus clothesline, and a backdrop backbreaker for 2. Kenta avoids the press gutbuster and hits a flurry of kicks, a springboard missile dropkick, corner yakuza kick and a dropkick in the corner.

Kenta hits a sit-out powerbomb for 2. The slap-backfist-spinning kick combo sets up the Busaikou Knee Strike, but Roderick survives that. Roderick avoids the Go to Sleep and hits a corner enzugiri and a superplex for 2. Strong tries the Stronghold, but Kenta quickly gets the ropes. Kenta avoids the apron backdrop and hits a kick to the leg and a dropkick to send Roderick to the floor. Kenta charges Roderick, and Roderick DROPS HIM ON THE APRON! SICK! It only gets 2, so Roderick follows it up with the press gutbuster and the sick kick for 2. Roderick tries the Gibson Driver, but Kenta lifts him up, GO TO SLEEP! The pinfall is academic.

Analysis:
I had high expectations, but lowered them when I found out how short the match was. This ended up meeting my original expectations. The kid gloves were off quickly and they just beat the crap out of each other. Definitely a fun contest, but I think these guys could have an all-time classic if giving twenty-thirty minutes. ***1/4

For the first time, this show felt more like a "TV Show". That's not a compliment. I felt like I was watching Impact at times. There was just way too much going on. Kingston and Ridge could have saved for another week and the time given elsewhere. There was good and there was bad, and it ended being average.