By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Ring of Honor TV Report
April 25, 2009 - Week 6 on HDNet
Taped 3/1 in Philadelphia , Pa.

After the opening video package, they went back to "previously" from last week's show for a look at the Dark City Fight Club and Claudio over Albright. Tonight: Bryan Danielson against "youngster" Tyler Black.

In-studio: Mike Hogewood and Dave Prazak welcomed us to one of the strongest TV episodes they've put together to-date. Prazak said Danielson and Black want to be ROH champions. Hog can't wait to see it later on. First, though, a "big" tag match.

Inset promo: Little ol' Grizzly Redwood talked up himself while Andy "Right Leg" Ridge just kind of stood there trying to look tough. GrizzRidge came to the ring, then Dark City Fight Club cut a promo in the inset.

1 -- GRIZZLY REDWOOD & Andy Ridge vs. DARK CITY FIGHT CLUB (JON DAVIS & KORY CHAVIS)

I'm confused. One of the DCFC members had dreadlocks in the inset promo, but both men were shaved clean with bald heads in the ring. Dark City worked over Mr. Ridge extensively to start things off. Grizz finally took a tag and he charged Davis, who quickly rag-dolled him around the ring. Grizz then decided to Redwood Up, but Davis gave him the Monty Brown Pounce that sent Grizzly half-way across the ring. Nice use of the replay to show Grizz flying in pain. DCFC then picked up the Right Foot and nailed a double-team sit-out powerbomb for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: Dark City in 4:00. Just toying with GrizzRidge. Good, entertaining squash to establish the newest ROH tag team. (*)

Backstage: Kyle Durden brought in Bryan Danielson for a word on the TV main event. Who are the fans going to be behind? I don't care, Danielson said. He's tapped out the quickest and the slickest. Tonight, he sees if Black is for real or a flash in a pan.

In-ring: Sugarfoot Alex Payne was already in the ring ready to face Nigel McGuinness, who cut a promo about not having the respect of the wankers in the audience. Nigel said he doesn't care about their respect anyways because he doesn't want the respect of dirty, smelly, disease-riddled fans. Nigel said he'll take apart the unfortunate soul standing across from him tonight.

2 -- NIGEL MCGUINNESS vs. ALEX "SUGARFOOT" PAYNE

Sugarfoot tried to take it to Nigel early, but Nigel quickly absorbed his mild attack and knocked down Sugarfoot to the mat. Hog summed up the crowd pretty well: half in favor of Sugar and half who just hate Nigel. Sugarfoot made a comeback when Nigel got cocky, but Nigel cut him right off with a smashing lariat before taking Foot up top for the Tower of London neckbreaker. Nigel with the cover for the win.

WINNER: Nigel McGuinness in 3:00. Nice squash match for Nigel to "get him back on the winning track," as Prazak said. (*)

Backstage: Kyle Durden brought in Tyler Black, who was dressed in his casual-wear hoodie and black t-shirt. Black said a lot people think Danielson is the Best Wrestler in the World and he agrees. Black said it's his chance to shine bright along with Danielson and prove he's on the level of the BITW.

[Commercial Break]

Inset promo: Chris Hero and Eddie Edwards cut a promo while Larry Sweeney danced in the background while sporting yellow sunglasses. Get a good look at Sweeney for his last ROH appearance. Sweeney said they're closing the deal on Briscoe and Steen tonight. Sweet 'n Sour, Inc. came out to the ring, then an inset promo aired from the Briscoes and Kevin Steen. Steen said they don't like each other, but let's put differences aside and take them out tonight.

3 -- KEVIN STEEN & JAY BRISCOE vs. CHRIS HERO & EDDIE EDWARDS (w/Larry Sweeney and Sarah Del Rey)

Hog flipped out as Hero and Edwards tried to jump-start the action with a sneak-attack that took the action to the floor. Order was restored back in the ring. Hero's beard seemed to grow with each move in the ring. Sweeney ran interference on Jay, who then took a step-up boot to the face from Hero in the corner. Sweet 'n Sour then worked over Jay on the floor while the ref was occupied. Mark Briscoe then hobbled over to ringside to chase Sweet 'n Sour. Meanwhile, Hero rolled Jay back into the ring to begin his heel attack.

Steen took a hot tag at 6:00 and the action broke down. Steen wanted a moonsault on Hero and he connected for a two count. Hero then reversed a whip to the ropes and nailed a roaring elbow for a two count. Steen and Edwards tried to double-team Steen into a pin, but Steen kicked out. Hero was then yanked to the floor by Mark on the outside, Steen slapped on a Sharpshooter on Edwards, and Sweeney ran interference. All heck broke loose, then Steen restored order with a Package Piledriver on Edwards for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: Steen & Briscoe in 10:00. Hectic tag match that delivered some good action to keep the viewers anticipating the finish. Story of "the good guys conquering the evil intentions of the heel team," as Hog said. (**1/4)

In-ring: Tyler Black came out first for the TV main event with a 20-minute time limit. Danielson then came out and streamers filled the ring. Before the bell sounded, they had a pre-match handshake.

4 -- TYLER BLACK vs. BRYAN DANIELSON

"You're going to get your f'n head kicked in," the fans chanted toward Black before the two men locked up. Very intense opening exchange as both men traded control before Danielson applied a surfboard stretch into a Dragon Sleeper that Black escaped before being forced to tap out. Danielson then reared back and blasted Black with a slap to the face, but that fired up Black for a series of clotheslines. Danielson cut him off with a knock-down forearm, however.

At 11:00, Danielson flew through the ropes with a suicide dive onto Black on the floor. Back in the ring, Black came back with a top rope huracanrana before knocking Danielson to the floor for a flip-dive over the top rope. Back on the floor again...and right back into the ring where Danielson countered a kick strike into an anklelock. Black fought before reaching the bottom rope for a break. Danielson then went right back to the anklelock, but Black escaped. They battled up top and Danielson wanted a fallaway rear suplex, but Black countered in mid-air to fall on top of Danielson on the way down.

At 18:00, they had a standing exchange with a forearm blow exchange. Black wanted the Phoenix Splash, but Danielson moved, nailed Black with a kick strike, and slapped on a triangle choke. Black fought the hold, then he lifted Danielson up in the air for a choke-bomb into the top turnbuckle. Both men collapsed to the mat and time expired.

Post-match: Crowd chanted for five more minutes, but that was it for tonight. Danielson then extended his hand and Black shook.

WINNER: Draw at 20:00. Excellent TV match. They didn't quite push it to third gear, but the match was good enough on its own merit. Both men worked hard and told a good story of being evenly matched with neither man able to get a consistent advantage. (***3/4)

Next time: Ric Flair makes his ROH debut and Austin Aries vs. Roderick Strong in the TV main event.

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