By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Ring of Honor TV Report
May 16, 2009 - Week 9 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 went to a double count-out last week, but we have bigger news this week. Ric Flair's in the building to determine the unresolved #1 contender deal to Jerry Lynn's ROH Title.

In-ring: Claudio Castagnoli came to the ring to start the show. Claudio was sporting a Very European new ring robe. They replayed the finish of Claudio vs. Brent Albright from a month ago with Claudio cheating to win. They cut to an inset promo of Brent Albright vowing to win the match, then have a very non-European beer at the bar. Albright came to the ring and went right after Claudio.

1 -- CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI vs. BRENT ALBRIGHT

Claudio waited out Albright's initial flurry and landed some European uppercuts. Albright then came back with a Eurocutt, leading to a mid-ring exchange of blows. Match moved to the floor and they cut to an overhead camera shot from the roof of the building. Unique look at the ringside action. Back in the ring, Albright landed a German suplex before going up top and missing with a missile dropkick. At 9:00, Prince Nana's Embassy ran interference and Dirty Ernie threw a shoe into the ring that distracted the ref. Claudio then finished off Albright with a kick to the groin for another cheat-to-win victory.

Post-match: Claudio wanted to smash Albright with a chair, but Colt Cabana made the save for Albright. Claudio then celebrated with a sheepish grin toward Albright, whose beer isn't going to taste so great now.

WINNER: Claudio in 10:00. Just a basic singles match. I like Wade Keller's analogy from his J-Day PPV report of fans showing up to watch two teams, but getting two completely different teams and not having an emotional connection to what's in front of them. (*1/2)

Backstage: ROH tag champs (from like more than a month ago) Kevin Steen and El Generico held the mic as Generico jumped up and down waiting for their tag team debut on HDNet. Steen calmed Generico down then cut a promo about facing Kenny King and Rhett Titus later in the show.

Inset promo: Dark City Fight Club cut a promo about destroying folks. ... They came to the ring ready to squash some pre-show talent.

2 -- DARK CITY FIGHT CLUB (JON DAVIS & KORY CHAVIS) vs. SUGARFOOT ALEX PAYNE & GRIZZLY REDWOOD

Sugarfoot tried some blows on Chavis, but Chavis no-sold him. Grizzly then tried to tag in and chop Chavis down, but Chavis shook him off. Davis and Chavis then finished off Sugarfoot with a throw-'em-up-in-the-air sit-out powerbomb and neckbreaker combo for the easy pin and the win.

WINNERS: DCFC in a 2:00 squash. Just an easy night at the office to establish the tag team. (n/a)

Buzz Words: Necro Butcher and Delirious gave us a word. Thei rbuzz words: chair-swinging (Necro), djdfhsighsgi (Delirious), staple-gun-shooting (Necro), ddhfsoudhoid-sicle (Delirious). Cut to Jimmy Jacobs and Brodie Lee, who gave us some buzz words: mind games, hardcore, control, massive, violent, strong. Oh snap, he said strong! Clear out! Clear out! Laughable segment.

In-ring: Ric Flair's music hit. Hey, there's Ric Flair. Flair came into the ring and said there's some controversy about the ROH Title situation. He said they don't know who should get the next title shot. Fan shouted: "You should get it." Flair paused and smiled before saying he'd love to. Flair then brought out ROH champion Jerry Lynn to find out what's going on.

Lynn came out and rubbed his hands excitedly wanting to know who Flair picked as the next contender. Tyler Black came out first and Hog jumped to conclusions that Black is #1 contender. Bryan Danielson then came out after Black. Hog freakin' out. Austin Aries then came out holding a mic and presumptuously thanked Flair for picking him over them two. Aries said he best matches Flair's style and is honored to have the title shot.

Flair shook hands all around before saying TV wants something cutting-edge. Yeah, they want buzz words! Who! No, Flair said the first ROH Title match in the HDNet era will be Jerry Lynn vs. Austin Aries. "What is that?! Are you kidding me?!" Hog said. Flair continued: Lynn vs. Austin Aries...vs. Tyler Black...vs. Bryan Danielson. Flair said as promised, ROH is giving the fans the best. Aries was not pleased, but he shook Flair's hand. Prazak and Hog talked in circles around the issue of when this is actually going down.

Backstage: Kyle Durden brought in Rhett Titus and Kenny King for a promo. Titus is addicted to success. Heavy emphasis on the "sports entertainment extreme" in success.

[Commercial Break]

Earlier tonight: Flair booked a four-way for the ROH Title. Three weeks away, the match will take place.

In-ring: Sami Callahan showed up for a match. Jay Briscoe out as the opposition.

3 -- JAY BRISCOE (w/Mark Briscoe) vs. SAMI CALLAHAN

Crowd instructed Jay Briscoe to Man Up, so he pounded Sami down to the mat. They had a standing exchange that ended with Jay knocked Sami down to the mat. Jay then snapped off the Jay Driller in center ring and score the pin for the win.

WINNER: Jay Briscoe in 3:00. Squash. Sami can exit back to the last house on the left from my TV screen immediately. (n/a)

Post-match: Durden wanted an update from Mark on his knee injury recovery. He said he's getting better every day. Jay, anything, to share with the fans? Jay with two words... Crowd filled in the blanks with a "Man Up" chant.

In-ring: Rhett Titus and Kenny King came to the ring for the main event tag match. King was sporting a Lucha mask to mock El Generico. Tag champs then came out.
Hog reached a new level of annoyance doing a loud "Oleeeee" prior to the match starting. The WrestleMania weekend chant of "Hep-a-titus" was included in the pre-match ring intros from the crowd.

4 -- ROH tag team champions from a month ago EL GENERICO & KEVIN STEEN vs. KENNY KING & RHETT TITUS -- non-title match

Generico was isolated early on, heels cheated to maintain advantage, Generico teased a hot tag, heels cut him off to re-gain control momentarily, Generico made the hot tag to Steen at 6:00. Steen powerbombed Titus, then Generico smashed King in the corner with a Yakuza kick. Action broke down everywhere, then Steen covered King for a two count. Generico re-entered the ring, but Titus cut him off. King came in legal and DDT'ed Generico before Titus came off the top with a big splash for a two count when Steen broke up the pin.

At 10:00, Steen tagged in and DDT'ed King. He then went up top for a splash, but Titus cut him off and put Steen into the Thrust. Steen had enough and hung Titus upside down for Generico to nail a coast-to-coast flip-dive dropkick onto Titus. So awesome. He's out. King then took the Package Piledriver into Brainbustah suplex combo for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: Steen & Generico in 11:00. Match started off as a basic tag match, then turned into an awesome tag match with a great finish. Steen & Generico stood out on this show big time. (***)

Post-match: Eddie Edwards and Davey Richards stormed the ring and blasted the champs with chairs. Meanwhile, Shane Hagadorn pulled out a table and slid it into the ring. Edwards and Richards then set up a Doomsday Device on Generico and they drove him right through the table. American Wolves then stole the tag title belts and beat down the champs with some stomps for good measure. Show closed with a close-up of Generico doing the Shawn Michaels facial expressions selling pain before Steen snapped on the remaining table wood left in the ring after the Wolves left.

We suggest these recent related articles...

PARKS'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 10/8: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Thursday show, including Roman Reigns & Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt & Braun Strowman

METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 10/4 & 10/7: IWGP World champ Okada vs. Roderick Strong main event, plus Briscoes vs. Time Splitters, more from "Field of Honor," Overall Reax

MCMAHON'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 10/7: TNA Title Series kicks off, Bound for Glory fall-out, more; Overall Reax