By James Caldwell, PWTorch.com assistant editor

Ring of Honor TV Report
April 4, 2009 - Week 3 on HDNet
Taped 2/28 in Philadelphia , Pa.

After the opening video package, they went back to "previously" from last week's show for Nigel over Jay Briscoe in the main event. Tonight, though, it's Bryan Danielson vs. Austin Aries.

In-studio: Mike Hogewood was in studio with Dave Prazak. Hogewood said there is breaking news from Houston that Jerry Lynn is the new ROH champion. Well, that was good to have a quick news update inserted on the show one night after it went official. Apparently they taped several potential inserts for this spot a few weeks ago depending on whether they pulled the trigger on Lynn as the new ROH champion during WrestleMania weekend.

Pre-match promo: Sterling James Keenan, international badass, at your service. SJK came out for the opening match, then they showed a promo for Erick Stevens. He said there's only one chance to make a first impression. He shouted he won't DROP the ball and he will make a GREAT first IMPRESSION. Choo-CHOO. Rough.

1 -- STERLING JAMES KEENAN vs. ERICK STEVENS

Stevens landed a series of chops early on, then Keenan cheated to gain the advantage and draw Hogewood's ire on commentary. Stevens tried to regain control as the crowd was virtually taken out of the match. Stevens broke free of a stranglehold submission and nailed an overhead suplex. He followed with the choo-choo splash in the corner before nailing a shoulderblock from the second rope. Everything built to the Doctor Bomb and Stevens nailed it for the win.

WINNER: Stevens at 7:00. Match was designed to showcase Stevens's power offense and introduce him as the powerhouse wrestler in ROH. Just fine, but Stevens needs to find a way to stand out more. (**)

Backstage: Kyle Durden brought in Bryan Danielson to discuss his match against Austin Aries in the main event. Danielson said he's main-evented all over the world and ROH's first show seven years ago. He's not nervous about main-eventing, but Aries should be. Danielson said he has explosive elbows and killer kicks. Tonight, on ROH TV, he's going to show everyone why people call him the Best in the World. Danielson said he's going to prove it tonight. Nice promo. Good tone and delivery.

Pre-match promos: Cheech & Cloudy cut a promo with loose references to riding some crazy wave. Hogewood doesn't like their chances tonight against Dark City Fight Club. They cut a promo about knocking off their opposition.

2 -- CHEECH & CLOUDY vs. DARK CITY FIGHT CLUB (JOHN DAVIS & CORY CHAVOUS)

Dark City dominated early until Cloudy snapped off a huracanrana. DC had a mis-communication to set up the opposition for a 619, but it was over quickly thereafter. Cheech took a combo sit-out powerbomb and neckbreaker from DCFC for the win.

WINNERS: DCFC in 3:00. Squash to introduce the Dark City. They have potential, although not much personality that jumps off the screen. Give them time. (3/4*)

Backstage: Kyle Durdin brought in Austin Aries for a promo on tonight's main event against Bryan Danielson. Aries, why are you shunning the fans lately? Aries said he cares about the fans as much as Durdin cares about fashion sense. Aries said he's main-evented in ROH more times than he can remember. He said he respects Danielson and he even put on his lucky sweatband today (Aries with a litle smirk), but Danielson isn't the greatest man alive like he is. Great promo. Aries has the little mannerisms down that make him a TV star.

[Commercial Break]

Pre-match insert promo: Chris Hero cut a promo while Larry Sweeney stood by his side a little too into Hero's words. Hero said he knocks out opponents and concusses with his kicks. Solid character-development promo. Hero came out, then Necro Butcher was shown in the insert talking in his West Virginia drawl about stacking bodies to the sky. Good babyface promo. This week has been the best thus far in the promo department.

3 -- CHRIS HERO (w/Larry Sweeney and Sara Del Rey) vs. NECRO BUTCHER

Sweeney tried to run interference to help out Hero, but Necro kicked out of a pin attempt. Hero threw Necro to the floor and the outside participants put the boots to Necro. Hero played the cocky heel in the ring, much to Hogewood's chagrin. Suddenly, some encouragement from Sweeney to Hero was inserted in between spots as Hero continued to work on Necro. Hero booted Necro in the head and Necro spilled to the floor again. This time, he used a chair for a chairpowerslam on the floor. No word from the announcers on why this was allowed. Sweeney then ran interference to give Hero the loaded elbow pad. Prazak played the devil's advocate on Hero being allowed to use the loaded elbow pad on Necro for the pin and the win. Post-match: They focused on Necro in "The Wrestler."

WINNER: Hero in 8:00. Match continued this week's theme of putting over specific moves, such as the loaded elbow pad in this match. Rules of the match were seemingly tossed out without an explanation, which is befitting of a Necro match. (*1/2)

In-ring: Austin Aries came out first, then Bryan Danielson. First time the crowd was really focused on in three weeks, as the crowd did the "You're going to get your f'n head kicked in" chant toward Aries. Hopefully ROH and HDNet will address the crowd involvement in the TV tapings Thursday and Friday. Crowd definitely needs to be more involved in the TV broadcasts.

4 -- AUSTIN ARIES vs. BRYAN DANIELSON

Basic exchange early on between the two ROH all-stars. Prazak referenced Danielson's training background at Shawn Michaels's school back in the day, then both men paused for a staredown after a mat-based exchange. Aries went to work on Danielson as Hogewood cut off Prazak to scream about Aries going after the eyes. That dastardly man! Aries knocked Danielson to the outside, then he nailed a suicide dive on the floor. Back in the ring, Aries continued to work on Danielson. Aries got cocky and Danielson knocked him off the apron to the floor. Danielson then nailed a running knee strike off the apron.

Back in the ring at 10:00, Danielson hit a missile dropkick and another knee strike. He wanted the Cattle Mutilation, but Aries countered with a bridge pin for a two count. Aries wanted to follow with the brainbuster suplex, but Danielson blocked. Aries then slapped on the Last Chancery submission, but Danielson escaped into Undertaker's triangle choke. Aries tried to escape, but he eventually tapped out to give Danielson the victory in the TV main event.

WINNER: Danielson in 14:00. Very good TV main event. Good showcase of Danielson's offense and Aries's personality. Good chemistry between two of ROH's best. Would be nice if ROH tried something new on pro wrestling TV by sticking around after each week's main event for post-match commentary to give each week's main event a little more color. They have done a nice job each week of building up the main event throughout the show, so the only thing missing is post-match follow-up. (***)

Next week: Brodie Lee faces Jerry Lynn.

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