Ring of Honor TV Report
July 11, 2009
Week 16 on HDNet (first episode of Set Six)
Taped in Philadelphia, Pa.
Report by James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Background: This set of ROH TV includes the strongly reviewed Tyler Black vs. Bryan Danielson match that we'll get to later in the series. After skipping one week for July 4 programming, ROH returned on July 11 Austin Aries still ROH champ and the American Wolves still ROH tag champs. This week's show will feature the Claudio vs. Albright flag match that was scheduled for July 4 prior to the pre-emption.

Opening: The show opened with a look from two weeks ago when Black and Danielson were unsuccessful going after the ROH tag titles. Danielson and Black were ready to explode, which set the table for the July 25 episode. Announcers: Mike Hogewood and Dave Prazak talked in-studio about the blow-up. First tonight, the flag match.

In-ring: Claudio Castagnoli came out to the ring entrance where the U.S. and Swiss flags were positioned. Winner is the one who retrieves the flag and returns to the ring with possession. A reminder to follow Claudio on Twitter. He was sipping orange juice this morning.

1 -- BRENT ALBRIGHT vs. CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI -- Flag match

The match started in the ring and led to both men fighting each other back into the ring like there was an invisible cage door. Albright then took both of them over the top rope to the floor to begin the quest for the flag on the stage. Claudio reached the flag spot and kicked the giant U.S. flag before retrieving the smaller Swiss flag. Claudio slammed Brent on the stage and could have walked into the ring with the flag, but he opted to take his sweet time, allowing Albright to come back. Great camera work here. Some new angles on the action. Albright made a comeback, then launched Albright onto the floor padding with a suplex. Albright then grabbed the American flag and rammed Claudio into the barricade. Claudio made a comeback, then wiped his armpit with the U.S. flag and blew his nose. Albright made a comeback as Hog cut a promo and then another promo and a third promo on Claudio for disgracing the U.S. flag. Action continued as the crowd delivered an old-school "U-S-A" chant. Lots of kids in the old ECW Arena. Claudio then jumped into the ring, but he didn't have possession of the Swiss flag. Claudio thought he won, but Albright came off the top with a splash on Claudio and landed in the ring with the American flag in hand. Claudio was stunned post-match. Albright then celebrated finally getting the upper-hand on Claudio in their TV feud.

WINNER: Albright in 7:00. Fine gimmick match with good action. Patriotism doesn't draw heat as much as 1984 WWF, but this was a fine match to settle the feud. (*1/2)

Backstage: Kyle Durden brought in Jay Briscoe and Roderick Strong to talk about their match-up tonight. Briscoe said he's beaten Strong every time they've matched up and it won't be any different tonight. Briscoe put his hands on Strong, who smirked and told him to Man Up. Durden interjected it's the rubber match tonight.

In-ring: Alex Payne came to the ring to take an inevitable loss. ... They aired a video on D-Lo Brown, who refused to look into the camera to hype himself.

2 -- ALEX PAYNE vs. D-LO BROWN

Brown toyed with Payne early on, including nailing a Shining Wizard strike. He played to the crowd, then Payne landed about two moves in the classic 1994 WWF Raw squash formula match. Brown eventually finished him off with a powerbomb for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Brown in 2:00. Just a squash match for Brown. Fine to establish more of his personality for future matches. (n/a)

Backstage: Durden to Eddie Kingston - Why do you hate Chris Hero so much? Kingston laughed and said everyone in the business wants to be here in ROH where the art form is real. He said Hero is a great politician and he did business for himself, which prevented him from getting work. Eddie has an attitude problem. Eddie doesn't do business right. Kingston said he's not going to sit here and say he's going to kill him because that's dumb and he's not a dumb person. He said he's going to cripple Hero emotionally and physically. Possibly the best one-minute promo of the entire year. Seriously. Tone. Delivery. Point to be made. Not over-stating things. Just great. Kingston is money because he stands out so well.

Art of wrestling segment: Colt Cabana brought in Albright for his ROH TV segment. Albright still had the mic taped to his bare chest. Cabana called him a meathead. He said this week is about style. Cue up a plug for ROH t-shirts. Albright then put on a red ROH t-shirt, but couldn't get it on over his hat and the mic on his chest.

[Commercial Break]

3 -- ROH champion AUSTIN ARIES & KENNY KING & RHETT TITUS vs. KENNY OMEGA & JERRY LYNN & ERICK STEVENS

Omega wanted to start things off against A-Double, who slowly walked around the ring before locking up briefly. Titus then tagged in and the crowd greeted him with the WM 25 weekend chant of "Hepa-titus." Titus shook it off, then knocked down Omega, who kneed him in the face and followed with a roundhouse kick. Titus retreated to the corner and threw his hotel room key at Omega in disgust. Hog and Prazak had an interesting follow-up discussion on that. Lynn then tagged in and wanted a piece of Aries, who kept avoiding Lynn. Aries played up the classic heel tactic of avoiding the angry babyface. Heels began working over Omega. Titus shook his hips to inform Omega the thrust is a must, then Omega escaped Aries and hot-tagged Lynn. Crowd not hot for the hot tag as Lynn chased after Aries, who kept running away. Action broke down, then Stevens tagged in and went after the heel trio. Suddenly, Aries absolutely blasted Stevens with a left-arm lariat. Lynn finally got his hands on Aries (to boos), but the action broke down again. Omega then nailed a running moonsault off the top rope to the floor. Behind the ref's back, Aries blasted Lynn with the ROH Title belt. Stevens then tried to splash Aries, but Titus took the corner blow. Stevens followed with a throw-down heart punch for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: Omega & Stevens & Lynn in 12:00. Match was executed according to the formula of the heel champ avoiding the hot babyface challenger leading to the babyface finally getting his hands on the champ. Only problem is the crowd continued to be apathetic to Lynn, which meant there was no heat for the climax of the match. Omega was the most popular man in the match while Aries continued to perform at a very high level. Seeds were planted for a future Aries vs. Omega match. (**1/4)

Video recap: Back to May 30 when Richards & Edwards captured the ROH tag titles in a tables match. ... Next week: Generico & Steen & KENTA vs. Wolves & CHris Hero. ... Video preview: Roderick Strong vs. Jay Briscoe. Each man with a singles match victory from recent ROH house shows.

4 -- RODERICK STRONG vs. JAY BRISCOE (w/Mark Briscoe)

Nice feeling out process early on. After they had a forearm fight, Strong ripped off a series of trademark chops to the chest. Briscoe right back with offense. Strong with offense. Great back-and-forth early on. Action then moved to the floor at Briscoe blasted Strong with a running boot to the face. Cut to a shot of concerned boy in the crowd. Back in the ring, Briscoe came off the top with a flying body press for a two count. Briscoe then followed right up with a Dragon Sleeper, but Strong escaped the hold and was right back on the offensive. Man, they needed to let Briscoe's offense sink in. Strong then nailed a gutbuster across his knees, but Briscoe came right back with a flying kick to the head.

At 10:00, they had an even steven chop exchange before Briscoe nailed a Death Valley Driver for a two count. Briscoe wanted the Jay Driller, but Strong countered, only to take a running lariat from Briscoe for a two count. Briscoe with another Dragon Sleeper, but Strong escaped again and hit a fallaway gutbuster. He followed right up with a butterfly suplex for a two count. Strong with the Boston Crab and Briscoe tried to fight the hold, but Strong added more pressure with a knee to the back and Briscoe eventually tapped out.

WINNER: Strong via submission in 12:00. Very physical match. Definitely felt like a main event-caliber bout. Match also fit the pre-match advertising of being even steven with a victory apiece. That helped tell the story of neither man having consistent offensive control. It also hurt the match because there wasn't much selling of the other's high-impact offense. The moves didn't seem to amount to much until they emphasized Strong with the Strong Hold to force the tap out at the end. (**3/4)

Post-match: Strong smiled and want to shake Briscoe's hand, but Jay shoved him in the chest. Jay didn't appreciate the sportsmanship gesture after tapping out. Mark got in the middle before they came to blows.

Backstage: Durden brought in Nigel McGuinness for a word or two. Nigel said things have changed in ROH. He slowly removed his sunglasses and said things are going to change again when he comes on the show next week.

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