Ring of Honor Wrestling on HDnet
Taped in Philadelphia, PA

Highlights from last week's Tyler Black vs. Roderick Strong match, which I missed because I was at a concert. Luckily for me, the highlights included the greatness of Austin Aries throwing popcorn on Black, then getting superkicked just as he took a sip of wine.

Jim Cornette was in the ring to introduce the show. He introduced the man who will challenge for the world title this Saturday in New York, Tyler Black. Black, no joke, came out wearing a Harry Potter shirt. Black said he didn't know about Aries' involvement in his match with Strong. He hyped the main event for Saturday's show.

Strong came out with no music, saying that Black didn't beat him last week, Aries did. He said that he would be fair in New York, and he wanted Black to be straight up with him and admit that he didn't beat him last week. Black admitted it, and they shook hands. As Roddy turned to go, Black called him back and told him that when he's champ, Roddy would never beat him. Strong turned around and jawed with Black to close the segment.

Joe's Judgment: I'm more interested in this match than I was the last time I covered this show. Not sure why that is, as this was a pretty mediocre confrontation, but I like the tension between Strong and Black, casting doubt on the potential outcome Saturday night.

The opening video played, and we went to our first match.

1. Steve Corino and Kevin Steen defeated Alex Payne and Bobby Dempsey in 6:30. After some early elbows by Payne, it was pretty much all Steen and Corino. Payne made a hot tag to Dempsey, who got a nearfall via rocket launcher, but after Payne tagged in again, Corino hit the Sliding C Special, Steen hit a Package Piledriver, and then locked in the Sharpshooter for the tapout win.

Joe's Judgment: Corino looked particularly old today. Payne and Dempsey aren't particularly great. Steen finally shaved off his beard. Not much else to say.

Kyle Durden was backstage with the American Wolves. Davey Richards started off by looking like Thom Yorke and saying that the Wolves were a dominant team. Edwards grabbed the mic and wondered why the fans picked them to face the Bucks, because the Wolves destroy all the teams they face.

2. The Dark City Fight Club defeated the Bravado Brothers in 1:10. DCFC wasted no time. They hit a leg lariat, then Project Mayhem for the win.

Highlights of the Embassy beating down Eddie Kingston last week. Prince Nana was interviewed and talked about how he grew up in Ghana, and how he came to ROH and started a stable that included Alex Shelley and Jimmy Rave, and now included Erick Stevens, Joey Ryan, Bison Smith, and more...

Kyle Durden was in the ring with Austin Aries. Aries talked about how desperate Strong and Black were to prove that they weren't the second best, then said that the girl Black had waited for in Chicago didn't show, because she "saw God's Last Gift, and she liked the size of A Double's package better." Black came running down, still in his Harry Potter shirt, and had to be held back. [C]

Joe's Judgment: Decent segment that hyped the match a bit I guess. Nothing new or noteworthy, but hey, it made Aries look like a douchebag even more.

Highlights of what just happened were shown, before entrances for the main event.

The Young Bucks defeated the American Wolves in 21:00. Before the match, the Briscoes came out and offered a title shot to the winner of the match. Richards and Matt Jackson exchanged holds for the first minute or so, and the Bucks got an early edge with an assisted dropkick.

Edwards ducked to ringside and grabbed the ring bell hammer and rang (rung? I think it's rang) the bell. The Bucks continued to thwart the Wolves at every turn, until Richards started kicking Nick in the face. At 10:00, Richards got a nearfall with a Tombstone, then tried a DR Driver, but Nick broke it up.

Richards started to work over the ribs of Matt Jackson, first with knees, then kicks, then by stepping on him. Matt tried to make a hot tag to Nick, but Richards pulled him off the apron, and hit Matt with several Kawada step kicks. Matt backdropped Edwards to the floor, then made the hot tag to Nick, who got a nearfall on Richards with a wheelbarrow Ace Crusher.

Richards tried a German suplex, but Nick got out of it and hit an enzuigiri. The Bucks did their standing moonsault/springboard splash combo for two. Matt tagged in and both Bucks got kicked in the face. Edwards hit a Dragon Screw through the ropes on Matt. Matt hit a few forearms and then a moonsault Ace Crusher.

The Wolves hit several double teams, but when Edwards tried a piledriver, Matt reversed into a backbreaker, then hit a reverse huracanrana. The Bucks tried More Bang for Your Buck, but Nick missed the 450, and Davey jumped up and German suplexed Matt off the top rope. The Wolves hit a powerbomb/lungblower combo for two, and when Matt kicked out, Edwards held him in his single leg crab, and Richards grabbed a Cloverleaf on Nick.

The Wolves reversed the holds into small packages for two, then hit a whole bunch of superkicks for a really good nearfall. They then hit MBFYB on Davey, but Edwards made the save. Davey kicked Matt in the face a couple times and went for the DR Driver, but Matt reversed into a rollup for the pin.

Joe's Judgment: Crazy fun spotfest main event. They managed to make everything fast paced and exciting without going into overkill at all. TNA did a good job by signing the Bucks, and ROH did the same by locking up Richards. Great, great, great main event.

Anything you would like to say about this review or ROH or wrestling in general can be directed to jtmathieson88@gmail.com.

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