Ring of Honor TV Report
July 25, 2009
Week 17 on HDNet (third episode of Set Six)
Taped in Philadelphia, Pa.
Report by James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Background: We conclude this set of three TV episodes with Tyler Black vs. Bryan Danielson. In the studio, Dave Prazak picked Danielson. Mike Hogewood said his money is on Black. He said if he wins, Prazak puts some more product in his hair.

In-ring: The Embassy came out represented by Jimmy Rave and Dirty Ernie Osiris. Necro Butcher and Grizzly Redwood then came out as the opposition. Necro nearly gave Grizz the Pounce when they entered the ring with Necro running wildly. Paul Turner is your ref again. Lets see if his super-mic is back.

1 -- NECRO BUTCHER & GRIZZLY REDWOOD vs. JIMMY RAVE & DIRTY ERNIE OSIRIS (w/Prince Nana)

Match started with a lock-up between Grizz and Rave. That didn't last long, as the match moved to the floor. Back in the ring, Rave and Ernie worked over Grizz as the fans chanted for Rave to die. Hog reasoned they're having fun. "It's America and you can do what you want." Great, a baseless and inherently contradictory relativism argument. Necro took a tag at 6:00 and cleaned house before blasting Rave with a sucker punch. Rave out cold. Turner's mic way down on this show. Nana then scooped up Rave and dragged him out of the arena. Finally, someone long-term selling a blow. Ernie was left to fend for himself and Grizz hit a DDT center ring for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: Necro & Grizzly in 8:00. I'm ecstatic about this match after Rave sold a move like it should have been sold. Fine undercard match to give Necro and Grizz a feel-good win.

Backstage: Austin Aries was sporting a great heel look of big white sunglasses and a white club-approved shirt. Aries removed the glasses and took offense to being asked about something other than himself again. Aries cut him off, then took the mic from Durden and told him to step off. Aries said this is much better. Aries predicted he will hold this ROH Title until he dies...along with everyone else on December 12, 2012. Haha, the old Mayan calendar argument for the end of the world. Y2K scare v.2. I just wonder happens on November 11, 2011.

2 -- DAIZEE HAZE & NEVAEH vs. SHIMMER champion MSCHIF & SARA DEL REY

Before the bell sounded, one guy in the audience kept shouting "This...is...Awesome." Perhaps "This match-up with a potential high rate of success is awesome" would have been more accurate. Del Rey and MsChif don't like each other in storylines, but they worked together early on. MsChif tried to spew her green mist at the Nevaeh, but she missed. Just a minor setback as Del Rey then finished off Nevaeh with the Royal Butterfly drop for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: Del Rey & MsChif in 4:00. Chance for the SHIMMER wrestlers to get some ROH TV time. Match wasn't a true showcase of their abilities, though. (*)

Backstage: Durden brought in Nigel McGuinness for his thoughts on Danielson vs. Black tonight. Nigel said there's an old saying about too many cooks spoiling the broth. In other words, too many contenders to his ROH Title. Nigel said Black is one of the best up-and-comers in the business and he took him to the limit a few times. He told the audience to watch and see who the next ROH champ could be.

Art of Wrestling with Colt Cabana: Albright had a shirt on this week. Cabana brought in the merchandise girl for this week's segment. Albright just kept flexing, then Cabana vowed to take her to the Olive Garden. Embassy then interrupted. Joey Ryan rubbed his chest hair and stared at Cabana while Prince Nana started a promo. Albright made the save, but Ernie left with a handful of ROH DVDs from the merch table.

[Commercial Break]

Backstage: Durden brought in Eddie Kingston, who said he's taking the fight to Chris Hero. Eddie told the cameraman to follow him backstage. Eddie popped Bobby Dempsey, then found Hero in the locker room and beat him into the wall. Hero fought back as Eddie told him to fight. Hero threw Sal Rinauro in the way and Sal took Eddie's right hand. Brawl spilled into the arena where other wrestlers joined in trying to pull them apart. Where are the cops? Or B.G. James? Some dude was wearing an Affliction t-shirt. Fight eventually hit the ring as students and ref tried to separate them. Hero eventually bailed from the ring as Eddie shoved people aside. Sal was left in the ring alone with Eddie and Sal tried to calm him down. Eddie wasn't in the mood to be calm, though. Poor Sal then took a right hand straight to the jaw.

Video recap: Black vs. Danielson #1 went to a 20-minute time limit draw. B-D #2 went to a double count-out. Now, B-D #3 up next.

In-ring: Tyler Black out first for the TV main event. No official time limit. Just "remaining TV time." Bryan Danielson then came to the ring to a newer version of his new HDNet-approved theme music. Much closer to his classic "Final Countdown" entrance.

3 -- BRYAN DANIELSON vs. TYLER BLACK

Crowd hot before the match chanting for Danielson. Bell sounded and the wrestlers squared off against each other before locking up. Danielson landed an early slap to the face and Black simply checked his jaw without reacting too much. Danielson slapped Black twice in the corner, so Black took him down to the mat. Danielson escaped, though, and proclaimed himself the best in the world trying to get in Black's head. Great psychology early on. Both men paused and had a verbal debate mid-ring leading to a shoving match. Black then shoved Danielson to the mat and hit a springboard moonsault for a two count. In the corner, Danielson suddenly fired off textbook kick strikes that knocked down Black. Danielson then settled into offensive controlling working over Black.

At 10:00, Black came back with a sleeperhold. Fans booed. Crowd obviously behind Danielson in this match. Black then lifted Danielson over the top rope to the floor and Danielson ate the ringside padding. Black then teased a suicide dive, but Danielson landed an elbow strike through the ropes to block. Danielson tried to follow with a top rope splash back into the ring, but Black hit a mid-air missile dropkick. Black fired off a clothesline from the second rope that the women cheered. Black with the John Cena treatment in ROH? Black then followed up with a sweet springboard clothesline. Looks very impressive when a tall man executes that spot.

At 15:00, Danielson blocked a running kick, but Black flung him to the outside. Black didn't waste any time following with a dive to the outside that Danielson didn't counter this time. Both men recovered on the floor, then re-entered the ring with Danielson blasting Black with a forearm smash. Danielson hit a German suplex and had a pin, but Black kicked out at a two-and-quarter. Crowd wanted a three count and expressed their displeasure. Danielson regrouped and went on the attack again with a running enziguiri kick. Danielson followed with a triangle choke center-ring. Black escaped and hit a running powerbomb in the corner and a superkick for a close two count. Black teased the Phoenix Splash, but Danielson launched him into the second row of the stands. Danielson then flew out of the ring with a dive onto Black into the second row.

At 20:00, they returned to the ring where Black no-sold kick strikes and told Danielson to bring it harder. Black with a kick to the head, but Danielson came back with a sleeper into a crossface. Crowd wanted Black to tap, but Black reached the bottom rope for a break. Black then fired off a German Suplex, but Danielson came up fired up and no-selling. Awesome Japanese-style display of passion. Black then blasted him with a superkick, followed by another superkick. Black with the small package driver - God's Last Gift - and scored the pinfall on Danielson to finally beat him.

Post-match: Black recovered to his feet and looked to the crowd, which was applauding him. 23 minutes ago, they were booing him. Black stood center ring and soaked up his moment as Danielson slowly pulled himself up using the ropes. Black stood his ground as the crowd anticipated what would be next. Black readied to fight, but Danielson extended his hand. Black shook his hand, then Danielson left the ring favoring his neck. Hogewood said it's the beginning of the road to the World Title for Black.

WINNER: Black in 22:00. Excellent singles match. The two prior match-ups on HDNet built anticipation for Black finally getting that big victory over Danielson, who played the veteran role perfectly. The psychology early in the match was perfect with Danielson trying to get under Black's skin before Black finally "overcame Danielson and the tactics that were holding him back." A coming-of-age story for Black winning the match in very impressive fashion. Wrestling stories are very simple to tell if done right and this was one was done right. At the end of the day, the effectively set up Black's next challenge for the ROH Title. (****1/2)

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