5/16 Twilling's ROH on HDNet Live Coverage: Ric Flair to announce first ROH Championship match on HDNet, Claudio Castagnoli vs. Brent Albright, Kevin Steen and El Generico in action

ROH on HDNet
Taped in Philadelphia, PA

[Q1] The opening video aired. Mike Hogewood and Dave Prazak welcomed us to the show. Prazak said Ric Flair was meeting with Cary Silkin and he would announce who would face Jerry Lynn for the ROH Championship later in the broadcast...

1. Claudio Castagnoli defeated Brent Albright in 9:27. Albright said in his prematch promo that his very American foot would be put up Castagnoli's very European ass. He then said he was going to have a beer at a local bar afterwards...

Twill's Two Cents: That's funny, Twilling is going to do the same after tonight's show.

The match began immediately when Albright hit the ring. They exchanged European uppercuts and forearm shots. They fought to the floor and Albright took advantage of the 20 count by administering some offense. Albright scored a nearfall back in the ring. After brief offense by Castagnoli, Albright hit an overhead belly to belly and released German suplex.

Claudio was able to change the momentum by hitting a bicycle kick for his first nearfall. He followed up with a nice gutwrench suplex for another two count. Claudio kicked Albright to the floor and threw him into the guard railing. Back in the ring, Albright tried to fight back...

Twill's Two Cents: They ran a scroller at the bottom of the screen that asked, "Watching ROH at a friend's house? Call your local cable or satellite company and tell them you want HDNet." There you go. If you don't have it, ask for it!

Albright monkey-flipped Claudio out of the ring. He followed up with a high cross body for a two count. Castagnoli went for the Riccola Bomb but Albright countered. Claudio almost scored the win using the ropes for an advantage. Prince Nana and Ernie Osiris came to ringside and threw a shoe at Albright. Claudio then scored the win after a kick to the balls...

After the match, Claudio tried to stomp Albright into a chair, but Colt Cabana made the save...

Twill's Two Cents: Ouch! That really hurts. Who throws a shoe? Really? (Austin Powers). The match was perfectly acceptable. Could have been the main event, but hopefully the tag champs are in the main event. By the way, if Cabana made the surprise save, why was his name graphic up on the screen?

Kevin Steen and El Generico cut a promo backstage. This is their first appearance on HDNet together. They told the American Wolves to watch their match tonight...

[Q2] 2. The Dark City Fight Club defeated Alex Payne and Grizzly Redwood in 2:02. Basic squash match. The Fight Club won the match with their powerbomb/reverse neck breaker double team finisher...

Twill's Two Cents: This didn't do much for me. I am not clamoring to see the Fight Club vs. Steen and Generico.

Necro Butcher, Delirious, Jimmy Jacobs, and Brodie Lee shared their buzz words. Hog then announced a tag match between the four next week...

Ric Flair came out to his music and it was revealed he would be a part of the next set of television tapings. Flair made some scrub hold the ropes for him as he entered the ring. A fan threw a towel at Flair and Flair responded to him by saying, "Some things never change, when I enter the ring, someone holds the ropes for me."

Flair said he loved ROH for controversy. He said he deserved the first title shot at the ROH Championship on HDNet. The fans chanted for him and Flair said, "Don't think that thought has not crossed my mind." Flair called out Jerry Lynn. Hogewood verbally jacked off Tyler Black by saying it should be him. Prazak said it should be Bryan Danielson.

Flair told the scrub he needed to open the ropes for Lynn too since he was the champion. Tyler Black's music hit and he came to the ring. Bryan Danielson was out next. Austin Aries came out with a mic. Hogewood was legitimately confused. Aries said he was the only guy in the ring to have the style of the Nature Boy. He called Flair the greatest champion ever, but called himself the greatest man ever.

Flair put over all four guys and shook their hands. He then announced the match and for some reason, he pulled out a notecard, and announced a four way match between the four. Flair wished them luck and shook their hands again...

Twill's Two Cents: Did Flair forget their names? Is that why he pulled out notes? Any combination of the four would have been a great match, so I'm looking forward to it. I hope ROH builds to it properly and makes it a cannot miss match.

Kyle "Please Woooo with me" Durden" interviewed Rhett Titus and Kenny King backstage. They said something about being the future of ROH and that Steen was fat...

Hogewood plugged the Jay Briscoe match coming up... [C]

[Q3] They announced the four way for the ROH Title would take place in three weeks...

3. Jay Briscoe (with Mark Briscoe) defeated Sami Callahan in 2:41.Prazak said Jay could not be a successful singles wrestler. Sami scored the first nearfall after a closeline to a sitting Briscoe. Briscoe came back and hit the Jay Driller (double underhook piledriver) for the win...

Twill's Two Cents: The Jay Driller is a sick finisher. Cannot wait to see Mark back and the Briscoes back in tag team action.

Kyle Durden interviewed the Briscoes after the match. Mark said he would be back soon and Jay said he had two words for everyone, "Man up." ...

4. Kevin Steen and El Generico defeated Rhett Titus and Kenny King in a non-title match in 9:14. Generico got the crowd behind him right away, as well as Hogewood. He admitted this was his first time seeing Steen and Generico and wanted Prazak to give him an "Ole!" Generico enjoyed an early advantage on Titus.

Steen tagged in and they used a double team senton to score a nearfall. With King in the ring, the champs utilized frequent tags. Steen hit an impressive flipping leg drop on King that allowed Generico to score a nearfall. With the referee distracted, the heel team took advantage of the bout.

[Q4] With King distracting the referee, TItus choked Generico in their corner with his own mask. Generico hit a high cross body for a two count. With Steen and Titus in the ring, Titus went for a head scissors takeover, but Steen used his strength to powerbomb him instead. Steen nearly scored the victory.

King and Titus hit a series of impressive moves, beginning with a F-5 type move by King, followed by a top rope splash by Titus for a two count. Steen came back and all of a sudden, all four guys were in the ring. Steen set up Titus in the tree of woe. Generico hit a flipping Van Terminator. They followed with the package pile driver/brainbuster combination for the win...

After the match, the American Wolves hit the ring and attacked the champions. They put Generico through a table. They grabbed the belts and kicked Steen in the head. The Wolves celebrated as the champions were left lying...

Twill's Two Cents: I stand corrected; this was a very good main event. This was not the usual tag team formula match of the babyface getting beat down, only to tag in his partner. I enjoyed the match very much and the post match attack was very well done. Steen and Generico are amazingly over and a feud over the belts with the Wolves should be a lot of fun.

What ddi you think of the show? Let me know by shooting me an email. I can be reached at dotnetrich@gmail.com.