ROH on HDNet
Taped in Philadelphia, PA

[Q1] The opening video aired and it was different from the first one. The show started immediately in the ring and the "new ambassador of ROH," Ric Flair was introduced. Flair's classic music played and he styled and profiled down that aisle and into the ring. He was dressed to the nines as always. Mike Hogewood and Dave Prazak chimed in and gave Flair his deserved props.

Flair took the microphone. He asked if he had it right. "Ring of Honor, HD Net, and Ric Flair in the same building at the same time? Woooooo!." Flair said he was just never going to retire and did not have to think twice about coming to ROH. Flair put over the talent in the back. He said there could be a Nature Boy, a Shawn Michaels, or a Triple H. The Triple H mention received boos.

Flair put over Jerry Lynn as a great friend of his and someone he has worked with "at least five times over the years," He introduced Lynn and the ROH Champion came to the ring. Flair said he was honored to be ring with Lynn. He said to be the man, you have to be the man, and Lynn was the man.

Lynn took the microphone and thanked Cary Silkin for rejuvenating his career. He thanked Ric Flair for a match between the two in 1995. Flair was in a car accident days before, but he still showed up to work with Lynn. Lynn thanked Flair again and Flair shook his hand. Austin Aries' music hit and he came to the ring with a microphone in hand.

Aries was met with "Austin Asshole" chants. Aries said he respected both Lynn and Flair, but long before either of them came to ROH, Aries was the ROH Champion. Aries made it clear he was gunning for Lynn's title and that he was the man. Flair said he like Aries' attitude and he was looking forward to seeing him in the main event. Flair said he hoped he could back up what he was saying and Aries said he absolutely could. Lynn held the ropes for Flair and both men left the ring...

Twill's Two Cents: Great segment. If anyone doubted the logic behind signing Flair for this appearance, they would be crazy to do so now. That looked very major league and that segment helped set up a lot of things. It set up Flair to make future appearances, it set up Lynn vs. Aries, and it set up tonight's main event.

1. Chris Hero (with Sara Del Rey and Shane Hagador) defeated Kenny Omega in 4:46. Larry Sweeney's absence was not explained. The action started quickly with both men trading offensive maneuvers. Omega took over with a series of moves concluding with an awkward looking dropkick. Hero took the advantage after countering a backflip by Omega.

[Q2] Omega attempted to come back, but Hero was one step ahead of him. Omega scored a near fall with a Dragon suplex. Not too long afterward, Del Rey distracted the referee and Hero put on the loaded elbow pad. He then hit the loaded elbow strike for the win...

After the match, Hogewood looked silly because he did not notice the loaded elbow until he saw it during the replay...

Twill's Two Cents: Sloppy match with an abrupt ending. Not a bad way to start the in ring portion of the show, but definitely not the best they could have led with.

Kyle Durden interviewed Roderick Strong backstage. Strong has been away wrestling for Pro Wrestling NOAH. He said he used to look up to and respect Aries and tonight was not about beating him, it was about earning his respect...

Brodie Lee and Necro Butcher cut their pre-match promos. Lee promised there would not be "one wrestling hold" in the entire match...

Twill's Two Cents: Good to know.

2. Necro Butcher defeated Brodie Lee (with Jimmy Jacobs) in 2:01. Hogewood said he would love to have Butcher with him in a bar fight. Could you imagine Hogewood and Butcher out drinking together? Butcher attacked Lee on the floor before the match actually started. Butcher had to deal with Jacobs too. For some reason, the referee rang the bell before both men were in the ring.

Lee overpowered Butcher and Jacobs got his shots in when he could. Butcher won the match with a surprise rollup after pushing Lee into Jacobs on the apron. It was weird because Butcher's music played and the bell rang before the three count. That was bad editing. After the match, Jacobs threw a chair at Butcher. He caught it and took a seat.

Twill's Two Cents:The prematch activity was much better than the in ring action. Another quick, forgettable match. I loved the Flair promo but they could have cut out a match to give the others more time.

Erick Stevens gave us his buzz words... [C]

An advertisement for next week's show featured Austin Aries and footage from earlier in this show. A plug for ROHWrestling.com was shown. Hogewood and Prazak recapped the opening segment with Flair, Lynn, and Aries. They plugged Aries vs. Strong for tonight...

[Q3] 3. Erick Stevens defeated Sal Rinauro in :41. Does anyone else think the opening match handshake is ridiculous? They do not shake hands more often than they do. Stevens dominated and hit the Dr. Bomb for the win. Hogewood screamed "Slap the porpoise!" ...

Twill's Two Cents: I've asked around and I still don't know what "Slap the porpoise" means. Nobody can give me a straight answer. Three forgettable matches; I'm sure the main event will make up for it, but this show is not doing anyone any favors.

Next week's show was plugged with a rematch between Bryan Danielson vs. Tyler Black for the number one contender spot for the ROH Championship. Also, Nigel McGuinness will appear on the show, presumably in a promo segment...

Twill's Two Cents: Nice work promoting next week's seemingly loaded show.

Aries and Strong made their entrances and footage again was shown of the opening segment with Aries saying he is going after the ROH Title...

4. Austin Aries defeated Roderick Strong in 15:13. Prazak deserves a lot of credit here for pointing out Aries and Strong, as Generation Next, were former tag team champions. He also reminded the fans that Aries defeated Samoa Joe in 2004 for the ROH Championship. Hogewood was the ultra babyface saying Aries "had some talent."

Aries shook hands with Strong but had a cocky smile on his face. Early on, both men countered each other and the announcers put over how well they know each other. Strong hit a series of chops. Aries used his quickness to avoid a chop and mock celebrated by running around the ring. Strong ran the apron and hit him with a closeline.

On the floor, Aries avoided many knife edge chops from Strong. He then hit a double axe handle and followed with a running knee with Strong's head hanging over the apron. He scored a near fall. Strong immediately came back but Aries countered again and both men were on the floor again.

Twill's Two Cents: The pattern of too many offensive advantage changes continues. They could tell a much better story if they slowed down a bit. By the way, does anyone else think TNA completely dropped the ball with Aries?

Strong came back and hit his signature chops. He followed with an impressive dropkick and scored a near fall. The fans chanted "one more chop." Fitting that Ric Flair is in the building tonight with Strong's reputation for having a great knife edge chop. Strong hit a back breaker for another two count.

Aries was able to send Strong to the floor. He immediately hit a suicide dive. Both men struggled into the ring. Aries propelled himself back into the ring and onto Strong with a corkscrew plancha for another two count. Strong hit a half nelson back breaker out of nowhere for yet another near fall. Prazak did a fantastic job putting over Strong working over the back.

[Q4] Strong hit an enziguiri for a near fall that the fans chanted along with. Aries came back with a series of heavy left hands. Strong hit a gutbuster and an impressive leg lariat that Aries sold like a pro. He locked in the Boston Crab but Austin was able to get to the bottom rope. Strong held onto the legs and tried to reapply the hold, but Aries used his leg strength to send him to the floor.

As Strong climbed the apron, Aries hit a running dropkick. He tried the brainbuster but could not apply it. Strong countered and locked in the Boston Crab again. Aries quickly grabbed the ropes again. Strong tried a Gibson Driver but Aries countered it with a head scissors. He applied his own Boston Crab but Strong victory rolled him for a two count.

Aries went for the brainbuster again and Strong fought out of it. However, Aries held onto the the front facelock and hit the brainbuster for the pinfall. Prazak said Aries impressed Flair with that win...

Twill's Two Cents: Hogewood asked if Flair would really be impressed with Aries' victory given the "questionable tactics" it took for him to win the match. Uh, Mike, do you know anything about Ric Flair? Anyway, the in ring action was disappointing this week, but this match more than made up for it. Aries and Strong both looked fantastic and this is a title feud waiting to happen down the road.

Bryan Danielson cut a pretaped promo saying Tyler Black may be better than him someday, but today is not that day. He cannot wait to prove he is the number one contender for Jerry Lynn's title next week. Black countered with a promo saying there was a new pecking order in ROH and he would prove he has what it takes to be the next ROH Champion...

What did you think of the show? I loved the Flair appearance and opening segment. The main event was awesome and promoting next week's show was well done. The first three matches were not very good at all, but nothing is perfect. The entire makeup of the show was a definite improvement over the first set of tapings. Nice job ROH.

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