Ring of Honor Wrestling on HDnet
Taped in Philadelphia, PA

Kyle Durden was backstage with Tyler Black. Tyler said that Roddy was finally getting his shot at Tyler and his title. He said that after May 8th, Roderick wouldn't have any excuses. "No more failing, and no more whining."

The opening video played. Jim Cornette was backstage with the TV title belt. He said that we'd see the winner of the tournament tonight. Rhett Titus made his entrance, followed by Tyler Black wearing the old title belt.

1. Tyler Black defeated Rhett Titus in 8:38. Titus actually controlled most of the early action. At 2:20, Black went for the quebrada, but Titus got the knees up and the action spilled to the floor. Titus controlled the action there, and again when they went back in the ring.

At 5:00, Titus hit a knee lift and then a leg lariat type of move. He locked in s weird-looking chickenwing variation. Black broke out and hit a few clotheslines, then a backdrop, and did the stomping thing in the corner. Titus backdropped him to the apron, but Black hit a leaping kick to the head and then a a springboard lariat.

Tyler missed the quebrada, but landed on his feet and delivered a kick and a standing shooting star press. Kenny King ran down and distracted the ref as Austin Aries beat on Black. Roderick Strong ran out and pulled Aries off the apron, then chopped Aries and clotheslined King.

Post match, Strong grabbed a mic. He said that from now on, he and Tyler were best friends. He said he'd be Tyler's guardian angel and keep him safer than President Obama. He said that "nobody's gonna get their hands on you until I do." Tyler asked why Roderick "couldn't stop acting like a little bitch." Roddy slapped him, Tyler took him down, and they had to be pulled apart.

Joe's Judgment: The match was pretty dull. Nice job covering up for the fact that this was taped before the Big Bang, and before Black vs. Strong was announced for May 8th.

Mike Hogewood and Dave Prazak were in front of the green screen. They introduced a Black/Strong video packaged.

2. Rasche Brown squashed James Stone. Stone had a cigarette before the match. Brown shoulder blocked Stone and threw the cigarette in Stone's face. Stone missed a moonsault. Brown speared him and then for some unknown reason decided that the ultimate big-match finisher that nobody has ever kicked out of was necessary to win the match. Needless to say, Stone didn't kick out.

Joe's Judgment: Seriously Rasche, using the Burning Hammer is not something you should do. Pretty meaningless squash here. Rasche's had like one match that has required him to sell since he debuted in ROH almost a year ago. It's high time for another one.

A video recapped the history of the American Wolves on HDnet, including their tag team title win (and Mike Hogewood saying "Now Eddie Edwards has wood!"). The video moved on to their losing the belts to the Briscoes, then to the Young Bucks, and then to the Dark City Fight Club in December/January. The video asked what the future was for the Wolves.

Shawn Daivari came out to music that sounded like a looping ten second clip. The crowd chanted "USA" at him. Ugh. Daivari said that we'd met Shawn Daivari the wrestler, and now it was time to meet Shawn Daivari the man. He cut a Muhammad Hassan style promo saying that he hated corporate white America, and how they brainwash everybody with the "USA" chants. The crowd chanted along. Daivari said that both Shawn Daivari the wrestler and Shawn Daivari the man were in ROH, and we'd soon see why he was here.

Joe's Judgment: Daivari came across as the resurrection of the Muhammad Hassan character here. Whatever your views on Hassan, those are probably going to be similar to your views on this segment.

Rayna Von Tash came out with the TV title belt, followed by Shane Hagadorn. Shane Hagadorn followed behind as the announcers mentioned that he manages both wrestlers in the match. Eddie Edwards and Davey Richards entered separately to the same music. Davey wore the (original) blue American Wolves tights, Edwards wore the (new) red ones.

3. Eddie Edwards defeated Davey Richards to win the ROH Television Championship in 22:30. Shane Hagadorn was at ringside representing both men. Davey bridged out of an early Greco-Roman knuckle lock. Both men reversed each other's wristlocks in some pretty cool action. Edwards controlled the next segment of action after blocking a Richards handspring enzuigiri, but Davey made a quick comeback leading to more back and forth. Hogewood and Prazak questioned whether Davey would go after Edwards' elbow.

Davey hit an alarm clock kick off the apron, and then did his super awesome flip dive into the crowd. I believe that's a first for HDnet. It's truly awesome. Davey got a nearfall with a handspring enzuigiri, locked on the Kimura, but Edwards made ropes. Davey then went for a German suplex. Eddie got out, hit some knee lifts and a tip rope dropkick. Davey dropped to ringside, and Edwards hit a (less impressive) dive of his own.

Edwards got a nearfall with an F5. Davey tried a running boot, but Edwards countered. He then got two with a Codebreaker from the top rope. Eddie set Davey up on the top rope and jumped up himself. They exchanged headbutts and Davey got a flurry of open hand slaps. Davey went for a top rope sunset bomb, but Edwards held on and punched Davey in the head. They traded moves with Edwards still standing on the top rope. Shortly after, Davey jumped up and superplexed him.

Davey hit a running boot and a German for a nearfall, then held on with a cross-armbreaker. Eddie rolled Davey up, but Davey got up with a Triangle choke. They went back up to the top turnbuckle and exchanged headbutts again. Eddie hit a huracanrana off the top rope and a powerbomb for a nearfall. Davey kicked out, but Edwards hung on with his single leg crab.

Davey got out and went back to the armbar. Eddie got out again with a nearfall. Davey hit the Alarm Clock again, but Edwards kicked him back, tried a German, but Davey landed on his feet, then ate a superkick from Edwards. Davey hit a lariat and both men were down as the crowd chanted "ROH" and "This is awesome".

They exchanged kicks on the apron. Davey missed one and hit the ringpost. Eddie dropped him on his knee on the apron and hit a dragon screw through the ropes, followed by a doublestomp to a kneeling Davey. Edwards locked in the crab again. Davey kicked him and got out. He avoided a charging Edwards in the corner, then hit a top rope dropkick into Edwards' arm and a shooting star press into the Kimura. Edwards rolled him up, forcing Davey to kick out. Davey went back to the armbreaker but Eddie turned it into the crab and Davey tapped out.

Post match, Richards went and got the belt. He teased walking off with it, but then strapped it around Edwards' waist. They shook hands. and Davey applauded in the corner as Edwards posed with the belt to close the show.

Joe's Judgment: Amazing. I guarantee you there will not be a better match than that in the six hours of wrestling on TV tonight. The submission exchanges were absolutely sick. Davey is the man, and Edwards was with him every step of the way tonight. Great to see him finally get a moment in the sun all to himself. He's improved so much and he deserves it. These two have great chemistry, as teammates or as opponents, and they really are the future of ROH. By the way, Hogewood has improved amazingly. He's really good at pointing out all the little things in a match, and really adds a lot to matches like this one.

Email me at jtmathieson88@gmail.com if you want to comment. No King of Trios spoilers, please!

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