By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Ring of Honor TV Report
May 9, 2009 - Week 8 on HDNet
Taped 4/9 in Philadelphia, Pa.

After the opening video package, the show started with Mike Hogewood and Dave Prazak sporting suits from the HDNet studio introducing the show. Tyler Black vs. Bryan Danielson tonight.

In-ring: Nigel McGuinness was in the ring to address the ROH crowd. Suddenly, crowd in his favor with "Still our champ" chant. Nigel said that chant is fine, but it doesn't put the ROH Title belt back around his waist. Nigel took us back to the beginning of his ROH Title reign when the fans turned on him after he had 25 stitches in his eye. "25 big ones, 25 beauts, 25 bad boys right in the eye," Mick Foley would have interjected. Nigel continued that he made a promise to battle injuries and every top contender to help make the ROH Title what it is today.

Nigel took us to Houston, Texas where Jerry Lynn had a title shot against him while his elbow was practically dangling from his arm. Nigel said he looked into the crowd during the ROH Title match and saw there wasn't a single doubter of how great he was. In that moment, Nigel says he let his guard down and Jerry Lynn hooked the cradle piledriver for the pin to win the belt. He said Lynn is now The Man in ROH because he carries the title he made huge.

Nigel said what made Ric Flair "The Man" was not how many times he held the World Title, but how many times he brushed off losses, got himself together, and won the belt back. Nigel said he's going to heal up, get himself together, and come back ready for another ROH Title reign. "I am Nigel McGuinness and I am in it to win it," Nigel said in conclusion.

Promo analysis: Typically great Nigel McGuinness promo. Points were effective, words were sharp, and Nigel had control of the situation. Good way to start the show.

Backstage: Kyle Durden brought in Tyler Black and Bryan Danielson to talk about tonight's #1 contender match. Black spoke first that he's honored to be in the ring against BD tonight. He said Danielson can't beat him, though. Danielson answered that he sees a ton of potential in Black, but he's taking things too far by saying he can beat him. BD said one thing has never changed: he's on top in ROH. Black said they agree to disagree and they'll settle the score in the ring.

In-ring: Jimmy Jacobs and MsChif came to the ring for a mixed tag match. Cut to an inset promo from Derlirious and Daizee Haze. Delirious sang us a nursery rhyme: "Age of the Fall is falling down." Haze then tried to sum up Delirious's indecipherable ramblings that they're getting revenge on Jacobs for the scars he caused them.

1 -- JIMMY JACOBS & SHIMMER champion MsChif vs. DELIRIOUS & DAIZEE HAZE

Jacobs did not belong in the match since he was not wearing green. Match built to Haze taking a hot tag and going after MsChif. Delirious then took out Jacobs on the floor with a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Haze scored a combo heart punch and front-face neckbreaker - the Mind Trip - for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: Delirious & MsChif in 4:00. Seems like this storyline climaxed about five months ago. Match was okay and a decent showcase of women's wrestling. (*)

Video recap: Announcers took us back to Claudio Castagnoli vs. Brent Albright from three weeks ago when Claudio cheated to beat Albright. They have a re-match next week. ... Inset promos: Claudio explained why he's superior because he's very European. Albright then said in his inset promo that Claudio better bring his European scarf and such because it's all going down. Hog then tried to talk in a European accent to promote next week's match.

In-ring: American Wolves Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards came to the ring to go after some random men in the ring. Wolves didn't have the tag belts since they won the belts after this was taped.

2 -- AMERICAN WOLVES (EDDIE EDWARDS & DAVEY RICHARDS w/Shane Hagadorn) vs. ORANGE CASSIDY & SOME GUY NAMED BUTTERSCOTCH

Richards and Edwards jumped these two men before the bell sounded to take the hurting to them. Maybe it's just me, but I prefer jobbers to be about 250 pounds with a profound gut, not dudes who look to be about 150 pounds and not even close to looking like wrestlers. Hog ran out of cliches to establish how dominant the Wolves were, then Butterscotch tried to break up a pin. Butter then took a tag since he seemed to want a piece of action, but he quickly took a superkick/German suplex combo for the easy pin and the win.

WINNERS: Richards & Edwards in 3:00. Just a squash to establish the dominance of the Wolves. Fine showcase for Davey's power offense and striking ability. (*)

Post-match: Durden wanted an interview with the Wolves, but Richards took the mic and vowed to take the ROH tag titles from Steen and Generico. Edwards said the hunt is on. Cue up a re-mi of the NWO Wolfpack theme music. On the way out of the ring, the Wolves inflicted more punishment on Orange and Butterscotch.

[Commercial Break]

Backstage: Durden was about to lose his mind before bringing in Ric Flair for a promo. Flair said ROH called him up to be the ambassador to ROH and he's thrilled in his second week being here. Flair said he's proud to be part of what the promotion is doing. Durden asked Flair to talk Black vs. Danielson tonight. Flair said he doesn't have a preference on who wins, but the competition is so tough that he knows there can only be one top contender. (Flair managed to say absolutely nothing about the match while trying to convince the audience he knew what he was talking about.) Durden wanted one more thing - a Whoo. Flair and Durden shared a Whoo. Hog was not impressed with Durden's Whoo.

Earlier tonight video: Hog and Prazak narrated a video clip of Colt Cabana showing up for his ROH return, but Prince Nana interrupted with Dirty Ernie Osiris. Nana then protected himself by throwing Ernie to Cabana to avoid a beat down.

In-ring: Tyler Black came to the ring first for the TV main event. Bryan Danielson then came out and stood off against Black while the fans did the "You're going to get your f'n head kicked in" chant. They cut to a shot of ROH champion Jerry Lynn watching the match from the TV production truck before going back to the ring for the start of the match.

3 -- TYLER BLACK vs. BRYAN DANIELSON -- #1 contender match to ROH Title

Nice feeling out process to start the match. Danielson played the role of a crafty, veteran tweener being one step ahead of Black in the early going. Story for Black was trying to prove himself without the track record Danielson has. Black made a quick comeback and they cut back to a shot of Lynn watching on the monitor, then Danielson came right back with a headbutt. Danielson very methodical in his attack on Black's face. Danielson then very methodical working on the left leg and knee.

Black then made his comeback at 10:00 and nailed a dive to the floor on Danielson. Back in the ring, Black fired up for his charging knee charge in the corner, but Danielson blocked, and Black adjusted with a springboard clothesline for a two count. Danielson made another strong comeback, but Black wouldn't stay down for a three count. They went into a sweet pin attempt exchange with neither man able to score more than a one count. They rolled around the ring together for several revolutions, then Black came to his feet and nailed an enziguiri kick. Both men collapsed to the mat selling exhaustion.

When they came to their feet, Danielson dropped Black to the mat and applied a triangle choke. Black wouldn't tap out, though. Crowd should have been hot for this segment, but they were either dead quiet or not mic'ed well as usual. After Black escaped, Danielson took Black up top, but Black elbowed out of Danielson's grip and powerbombed Danielson clear across the ring to the middle turnbuckle. Danielson put his foot on the bottom rope for a break, though.

At 20:00, Black dragged himself to the top turnbuckle as the crowd came to life. Black took too long, though, and Danielson launched Black off the top rope clear into the front row of the stands. Danielson then nailed a top rope springboard dive over the guardrail onto Black in the front row. Ref applied his 20 count as both men battled to get back into the ring. Black tried to get in, but Danielson grabbed Black by the foot to prevent him from re-entering the ring. Double count-out is the finish. Fans booed initially, then chanted "That was awesome." Hog: "Now, who gets the title shot at Lynn?" They cut to a shot of Jerry Lynn watching carefully on the TV monitor with questions in the air to close the show.

WINNER: Double count-out in 22:00. Very good TV match with an easy-to-follow story after the pre-match promo work from Danielson and Black. Good action and a nice cliffhanger to lead to next week's show when Ric Flair determines what to make of this title contender situation. (***1/2)

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