By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Ring of Honor TV Report
June 13, 2009
Week 13 on HDNet (first episode of Set Three)
Taped in Philadelphia, Pa.

Where We Left Off: I'm about five or six episodes behind on the HDNet TV series, so let's get caught up. The May 30 and June 6 episodes concluded a "PPV build-up" style series of TV shows featuring an ROH tag title match on May 30 and ROH Title four-way match on June 6. American Wolves were shown winning the tag belts on May 30. Jerry Lynn retained the ROH Title on June 6. One real-time week after the June 6 episode, Austin Aries captured the ROH Title from Jerry Lynn in New York City. That won't be reflected until later in the HDNet TV series. Let's pick up with the first episode of the next set of ROH TV shows...

June 13 Show report

The show opened with a recap of the previous week's show when Jerry Lynn retained the ROH Title in the four-way match against Austin Aries, Tyler Black, and Bryan Danielson. They showed Lynn hitting the Cradle Piledriver on Danielson for the win.

In-ring: Austin Aries came to the ring in street clothes not happy with the events the previous week. Before he could talk, crowd chanted "Austin A--hole" at him. Aries said it's been brought to his attention that with his good looks and youthful exuberance, he fooled people into thinking he's some "young upstart" or a "hot prospect." He said that's not reality. Reality is that A Double is a well-seasoned, well-traveled, professional wrestler. He said he's given for years, but the people want more. He gives more and they want more. He's given and given and given, but now it ends. Now, A Double stops giving and starts taking.

Aries looked around the ring and said the first thing he's taken is the spotlight. Second, he took everything from Lynn, Danielson, and "Brat," but no one could beat him. Aries said Lynn's never beaten him. He said Lynn has always worked for the people. He told Lynn to do what's right for the people and hand over the ROH Title. Aries said the people deserve a charismatic, entertaining champion. No sign of Lynn. Aries said if he doesn't want to accept reality, then maybe he needs to bring reality to him. Great promo from Aries. Awesome on the mic and carries himself like a main eventer. Well done.

Backstage: Kyle Durden brought in Chris Hero and Shane Hagadorn to talk up Lynn vs. Hero in a non-title match tonight. Hero said when he hears HD, he thinks Hero Destroys, Hero Demolishes, Hero Decapitates in high-definition. Hero said Lynn isn't as hungry as him. "When the bell rings, get your bell rung, Jerry Lynn," Hero said. Hero rhymed and rapped some more before vowing to take out Lynn.

In-studio: Mike Hogewood and Dave Prazak were shown on camera. Prazak said Ric Flair has stepped down as ROH ambassador, but he will still appear on live events.

In-ring: Jay Brisco came to the ring wth Mark Brisco for the opening match. D-Lo Brown followed out as the opponent.

1 -- JAY BRISCOE vs. D-LO BROWN

With both men in the ring, Jay blasted Brown with a kick to the face before the bell sounded. Action quickly moved to the floor, then back into the ring where Jay landed a chop on Brown, but Brown caught him with a backstabber out of the corner. Fans encouraged Jay to Man Up, but Brown cut him off with a brainbuster suplex for a two count. Jay came back with a superkick and DVD combo, but Brown kicked out. Brown then bailed to the floor and took a seat as the ref started a 20 count. Brown kept telling Briscoe to back up so he could get in the ring, but Brown just kept walking down the entrance ramp. Ref reached a 20 count, giving Briscoe the win. Briscoe took the mic post-match and told Brown to admit he's scared if he's scared. He told him to get back in the ring and not be a little bitch. Brown pumped himself up and re-approached the ring, but then bailed to the floor again. Classic cowardly heel situation.

WINNER: Briscoe via count-out in 5:00. Nice singles match to begin a program. Neither man was positioned to take a clean loss, so this was fine to build up a feud between Briscoe and Brown. (*1/2)

Two Weeks Ago: American Wolves won the ROH Tag Titles over El Generico & Kevin Steen. Graphic said "1 Week Ago." Someone slipped in the graphics department.

In-ring: On cue, Steen and Generico hit the ring for a tag match. They were on a mission to regain form after losing the tag titles. Bobby Fish and Silas Young were the opponents tonight.

2 -- KEVIN STEEN & EL GENERICO vs. BOBBY FISH & SILAS YOUNG

Steen and Generico started off hot, but Fish and Young cut off Generico to begin working him over in their corner. Fans tried to rally with an "Ole, Ole" chant. Generico blocked a piledriver attempt by Fish, but Fish crotched him and smashed the injured right knee. Generico escaped, though, and tagged in Steen, who gave Fish a lift-up powerbomb. Silas took a jawbreaker, then Generico took out Silas on the floor. In the ring, Steen hit a top rope Swanton bomb on Fish and had the pin, but Silas broke it up. Generico then blasted Silas with a Yazuka kick in the corner. Fish took a similar fate. Steen then set up Fish for a Package Piledriver into a brainbuster by Generico for the pin and the win.

Post-match: Durden wanted a word with Steen and Generico. Steen shot back what's with Durden's hair for a laugh. Steen addressed the Wolves. He said they only made them angrier and hungrier. He said they're coming to get their titles back. Steen added that when they get their hands on them, they're going to skin 'em alive.

WINNERS: Steen & Generico in 5:00. Standard tag match allowing Steen and Generico to show off their offense after losing the tag titles. Good recovery tag match and post-match promo. (*1/2)

[Commercial Break]

In-studio: Hogewood pointed out Prazak with a new haircut. Prazak said he had to make a change after Hog compared him to Bobby Dempsey.

Backstage: Durden brought in ROH champ Jerry Lynn to talk about one of the toughest matches of his career in the four-way last week. He said he feels great, though. Nigel McGuinness, with his shaved head, interrupted to ask Lynn if he let the fans get in his head when they turned on him as champ. Nigel told Lynn to remember he's getting healthy and things are going to change. Lynn slapped Nigel across the chest after talking about their future re-match.

In-ring: Grizzly Redwood was in the ring. Princa Nana then interrupted to cut a promo on the fans and against Grizzly. Nana told "fat boy" in the front row to sit down and shut up. He then built up Jimmy Rave as a sell-out...of arenas all across the country. Rave out to face Grizz. Fans tossed toilet paper into the ring for Rave's entrance and Osiris handled waste pick-up duties.

3 -- JIMMY RAVE (w/Prince Nana and Dirty Ernie Osiris) vs. GRIZZLY REDWOOD

Rave teased a pre-match handshake, but turned it into a clothesline. Rave began a methodical beat down on Grizz, who made a two-second comeback before Rave finished him with the ghanarria finisher for the win. Post-match, Rave slapped on a heel hook submission. The old-school ECW TV remix hit and Necro Butcher stormed the ring to make the save.

WINNER: Rave in 2:00. I'm surprised WWE hasn't signed Grizz to a contract by now. He would be perfect as Hornswoggle's running buddy. He has the facial expressions and mannerisms down perfect for playing to a large WWE audience. Very Bushwacker-esque. (n/a)

Next week: KENTA vs. Roderick Strong. ... In-studio: Hog and Prazak talked about Lynn being booed last week before retaining the ROH Title.

4 -- ROH champion JERRY LYNN vs. CHRIS HERO (w/Shane Hagadorn and Sarah Del Rey) -- non-title match

Before the match, they had a handshake to adhere to the Code of Honor. Hero played nice to lure Lynn into a false sense of security before they went through a nice feeling out process. Of note, it's nice to see that Hagadorn has upgraded his attire to a shiny "manager's jacket" from a white t-shirt and second-hand clothes. Hog wasn't as impressed, saying that taking one look at Hag makes him want to take a shower. Interesting line. Lynn took control early on, but Hero cut him off at 5:00 to begin a methodical attack. Hero began mocking Lynn, who made a comeback with most of the crowd behind him.

Lynn followed with a top rope bulldog for a two count. He teased the cradle piledriver, but Hero's people ran interference. Lynn thwarted the plot and hit a cannonball dive on Hero on the floor. Hero recovered, though, and suddenly nailed a roaring elbow strike after running off the guardrail. Sweet move. Hero then removed the floor padding, but missed badly with a running sentaun splash attempt. Lynn rolled Hero back into the ring and wanted the CP, but Hero blocked. They had a nice counter/reversal exchange before Hero nailed an elbow to the back of the head for a close two count. Hero tried another roaring elbow, but Lynn countered with a reverse DDT for another close two.

Action moved up top where Lynn wanted a super huracanrana, but Lynn fell off the top to the floor after an eye-rake from Hero. Lynn recovered on the outside and Shane "helped" him back into the ring where Hero scored another nearfall. Hero then teased Lynn's own CPiledriver, but Lynn slipped out and teased the CP. (Fans booed Lynn's attempt.) Hero then smashed Lynn with another roaring elbow for another close two count that upset Shane. In the interim, Hero slapped on Misawa's loaded elbow pad. He went for the blow, but Lynn ducked and rolled up Hero with a small package for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Lynn in 16:00. Excellent, excellent singles match. Great pacing, nearfalls, counters, and exchanges throughout the match. Hero played a great heel "leading the dance" and Lynn played a great resilient champion, even if the fans continued to boo him during the match. (***1/2)

Post-match: Shane and Del Rey dragged Hero out of the ring to the back, complaining about the officiating. Lynn recovered in the ring, but Austin Aries snuck in the back door with possession of the ROH Title belt to smash Lynn in the face. Aries then held the title belt over Lynn's fallen body to close the show. Great conclusion to continue the Aries vs. Lynn program.

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