By Chris Shore

ROH on HDNet
Taped in Philadelphia, Pa.

Shore's Slant: As a disclaimer, this is the first complete ROH show I have even watched. Time and TV issues prevented me from seeing the shows. I have since found a way to watch the shows and after watching 30 mins of replay last week, I'm hooked. If I say something that doesn't make sense with regards to ROH history, please remember that I have no ROH history knowledge. So please enjoy while I learn what I have been missing.

[Q1] The show started with Jim Cornette in the ring. He introduced Davey Richards who made his ring entrance as Mike Hogewood and Dave Prazac checked in on commentary. Cornette hyped this weekend's events with the American Wolves facing the Kings of Wrestling on Friday, and then the ROH Championship match on Saturday.

Richards said it was true that he and Eddie Edwards wouldn't be tagging after Friday, but that it wasn't the end of the American Wolves. He said the Wolves were ROH and they would last forever. He said Eddie had to concentrate on the TV title, and he needed to concentrate on the world title.

He said he was coming for Roderick Strong at Final Battle and he would leave world champion. He said people wanted to know his feelings on Truth Martini. He said what he would have to say would probably make Cornette mad and get him heat in the back. He said Martini is full of shit (which was bleeped).

He spoke to Strong and said he used to respect him when they ran together. He said Martini had put too much garbage in his head and now he didn't respect him. Strong ran out and slid in the ring. He and Richards squared up as Cornette called for them to stop. Martini climbed in the ring as well and the two men stood down.

Strong said Richards sounded like everybody in the back, jealous. Strong said everybody wanted to blame Martini, but nobody wanted to give him credit for winning the title. He said if Martini interfered in one of his matches and he knew, he wouldn’t take the win. He said if it happened at Final Battle, he would hand the title to Richards himself.

Martini jumped in and said the Book of Truth said a man shouldn’t make too many statements so he doesn’t look like a fool later. Cornette admonished Strong and Martini and said they were wasting his time. Strong said Richards only had to worry about him at Final Battle. He said he would beat and break Richards. He said the day after, Davey would have to deal with his failure. He asked how it would feel to let down the ROH fans and his dead grandfather.

Richards went after him and Strong exited the ring faster than anybody I have ever seen. Davey yelled at him from the ring as Cornette tried to settle him. Cornette left the ring and Richards looked pissed… The opening video aired and the announce team hyped the main event of Strong vs. Austin Aries…A video package hyped the Holiday Gauntlet match for next week…[C]

Shore's Slant: Good opening segment. Richards is better than Strong on the mic, but neither is very good. Or at least they weren't here. Still, this was nice hype for their match at Final Battle, and I'm willing to bet we see something play out with the "I'll hand you the belt myself" line.

Daizee Haze and Sara Del Rey cut prerecorded interviews on their match at Final Battle…

1. Daizee Haze defeated Taeler Hendrix at 3:27. The women traded little bumps to start. Hendrix oversold a kick to the face and Haze went to work. She choked Hendrix on the rope that showed of Hendrix's assets. Is this a GLOW match? Haze hit a German suplex with a bridge for the win…

The announce team hyped the Briscos vs. The Kings of Wrestling at Final Battle. The Briscos cut a rambling, incoherent promo on their match…The announce team hyped the main event and Kevin Steen for next…[C]

Shore's Slant: Well that was disappointing. The match seemed more like a demonstration of moves than a real match. I don't know if that is indicative of ROH women or not, but I certainly hope not. I can get these types of matches every Thursday on WGN. The only part that was any good was the beginning when I got to see Hendrix. She's hot! Yes, I know I'm a pig.

Kevin Steen was in the ring with Steve Corino. Corino held up El Generico's mask and Steen spit on it three times.

2. Kevin Steen (w/Steve Corino) defeated Korey Chavis at 4:10. Steen attacked at the bell and they traded blows. They traded shoulder blocks and Steen hit a pump handle neckbreaker. Steen spent much of the match talking to the cameras to send Generico a message. He hit a knee lift and took the mask from Corino. He spit on it again and tried to put it on Chavis. Chavis pushed him away and hit several blows. Steen hit a super kick and followed with the Package Piledriver for the win…A great video recapped the Steen/Generico feud…[C]

Shore's Slant: Well the pacing is certainly different than WWE, that much is true. This felt a lot like those old WCW Saturday night matches where the loser was a guy you know but don't really care about. Maybe I'm wrong about Chavis, but that was the feeling I got. I have it on good authority that Steen vs. Generico is going to be off the hook. I can’t wait. And yes, I will be covering Final Battle barring any problems.

Austin Aries made his ring entrance with his old music from Generation X, followed by Strong and Martini…

3. Roderick Strong (w/Truth Martini) defeated Austin Aries at 15:17. They started with some excellent mat wrestling and String checked with Martini. Aries took control after another chain and hit a jumping elbow for two. Strong rolled to the floor and Aries hit an axe handle from the top rope on the floor. They battled on the floor and Roderick rolled back in the ring. Aries hooked him from the apron and they traded suplex lifts. Aries shoved Strong to the floor and hit the far rope for some sort of plancha.

Martini grabbed Aries's foot and Aries stopped. He grabbed the Book of Truth and Martini climbed to the apron. Aries shoved the book in his chest and punched Martini. Aries turned into a spinning heel kick. Both men traded moves with Strong getting the better as a rule. Aries hit a missile dropkick followed by one in the corner for a near fall. Strong came back and hit a backbreaker on the top turnbuckle for two. Aries hit a crucifix bomb and brianbuster for two.

Aries hit a 450 splash and covered, but Strong grabbed the rope. Strong hit a kick to the back of the head and then a Gibson Driver for two. Strong hit his backbreaker and then followed with a knee to the face for the win…A video package hyped the entire card for Final Battle…

Shore's Slant: This was a pretty good match. It's going to take getting used to the pacing of matches, and I've never been a fan of the quick back and forth style where everybody basically no sells. That said, much like the Raw and Smackdown before Wrestlemania are terrible shows, this probably wasn't the best show for me to cut my teeth over. I am looking forward to Final Battle, and I hope you will join me live this Saturday at 7:00 CT for live coverage. I'll have more tomorrow in the hitlist. Thanks for reading and I'll see you then.

Questions? Comments? Anyone, anyone? Let me hear from you. Email me at css3238@gmail.com with whatever is on your mind.

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