Ring of Honor Wrestling
Taped in Philadelphia, PA

The show opened with highlights from Final Battle, then we were taken down to the ring with Jim Cornette. Cornette said that the main event was among the most polarizing matches in history, and that each man wanted to address the fans about it. He introduced first Tyler Black, then Austin Aries.

Black got the mic first. He said that Aries couldn't beat him. Cornette pointed out that some people had lost faith in him, and Black said that they did, but he just needed one shot to prove that Aries was a little punk bitch.

Aries took exception to Black's language. He said that he already proved Black couldn't beat him, and that he didn't need a rematch. He said his new year's resolution was to not step in the ring with Black.

Cornette was next on the mic. He said that he was told he had a potential franchise player in Black, and he knew he had one of the best wrestlers anywhere in Aries. He was disappointed that the fans didn't like the Final Battle match, and they deserved a great match, which is what they would get on February 13th, with Aries vs. Black as the main event. He made the decision that there will be three judges in the case of any "screwy finish", and that Aries and Black could each pick a judge by the end of the show, and he would pick the third one.

Hogewood praised Cornette and the opening video played...

Joe's Judgment: Zero interest in seeing Aries vs. Black again. Cornette was good on the mic, though, and while Aries wasn't at his best, he was Aries and that's plenty good enough. Tyler Black is getting better, but his voice will never let him be an elite promo guy.

1. The Briscoes defeated Cheech & Cloudy in 6:15. C&C got a bit of offense, but it was mostly Briscoes for the first few minutes. The lights went out briefly, but nothing seemed to happen. The Briscoes double-teamed Cloudy for a while.

Cheech tagged in and hit some quick offense. C&C got some double teams, including a really close nearfall. Wow. The Briscoes quickly regained control, and went for the Doomsday Device on Cloudy, but Cloudy ducked the lariat, and got an even closer nearfall with a victory roll. Right after, Jay military pressed Cloudy, then dropped him into a sick Death Valley Driver.

Joe's Judgment: Way more competitive than I expected it to be. Hogewood did a good job of putting over how much better C&C looked than the last time we saw them (getting squashed).

After the match, the Briscoes were in the ring with Tyler Durden. They called out the Kings of Wrestling, and the American Wolves came down. They asked for their rematch, then went to the ring to jaw with the Briscoes. Then the Dark City Fight Club came out because... well, just because. The three teams got into a shoving match and had to be pulled apart. [C]

Kyle Durden was backstage with El Generico. He asked him about what happened at Final Battle with Kevin Steen, and his match tonight with Kenny King. Generico didn't say anything.

2. Rasche Brown defeated Bobby Shields in :35. Shields chopped Rasche, who no-sold it and hit a stiff palm strike, then a spear. Prince Nana and Ernesto Osiris were on the ramp scouting the match. Rasche dumped Shields with a Burning Hammer and got the squash pin.

Joe's Judgment: Rasche looks great. Now when does he actually do stuff so I can see if he's actually any good? The Embassy thing is a good start I guess.

Hogewood and Prazak stood in front of a new green screen and plugged the ROH iPhone app and the fan's choice main event for two weeks from now: the American Wolves vs. the Young Bucks.

3. Kenny King defeated El Generico in 12:33. King dominated the early going as the fans chanted for Generico. Generico made a quick comeback, but King quickly went right back on the offensive. He played to the cameras a bit, with his trademark Kenny King grin.

Generico made another comeback. He hit several lucha armdrags and even a Yakuza kick. King suddenly spilled him to ringside, where he hit his running double knees. He tried to follow up, but Generico dodged and King hit the ringpost. Generico tried the jump through the turnbuckles DDT, but couldn't get the air necessary, so it didn't look all that great.

Generico brought the action back in the ring and hit a Michinoku Driver. He tried a Yakuza, but King dodged and kicked him in the face and then hit the Royal Flush. Generico kicked out and then hit the Yakuza, but King kicked out. After some more reversals, King hit the Coronation and got the pin.

Joe's Judgment: Pretty good match. Not really up to the best Generico has had, but solid enough for what it was. I guess Generico is starting a losing streak storyline, though you wouldn't really know it from the match.

Cornette, Black, and Aries were in the ring to announce the judges for their Anniversary Show match. Aries was up first, and said that because Judge Judy and Judge Joe Brown didn't return his calls in time, he had to go with royalty, and brought out Kenny King. King said he would call the match right down the middle, it would just happen to end up on Aries' side.

Black said he picked somebody he respected, who he had wrestled against and who he trusted: Roderick Strong. Hogewood tried to make a pun that didn't really work. Cornette asked Strong why he agreed to be a judge, and Strong said that after Black wins on the 13th, he promised him the first title shot.

Cornette announced that the third judge was himself, because he wanted to be at ringside to prevent any Aries antics and to make sure the fans get a great match. The four men jawed with each other to close the show...

Joe's Judgment: Yeah, still not doing it for me. There's still time, though. I guess a lot of stuff could go down with the judges that makes it interesting, but the match itself really doesn't scream "must see" at me.

Anything regarding this review can be sent to Joe Mathieson at jtmathieson88@gmail.com.

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