Ring of Honor TV Report
June 14, 2010
Taped in Philadelphia, Pa.
Episode #61 - Sixth episode of Series 10
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

OVERALL REVIEW

ROH's lead-in show for their "Death Before Dishonor VIII" Internet PPV delivered a very strong one-hour infomercial promoting the big matches on the PPV.

The Big Three PPV matches of ROH champ Tyler Black vs. Davey Richards, ROH tag champs Kings of Wrestling vs. Briscoes, and Kevin Steen vs. El Generico were effectively promoted with (a) the "main event" contract signing and ROH wrestlers making predictions for the ROH Title match, (b) a "personal angle" involving the Briscoes's father to sell the feud between two of ROH's top tag teams, and (c) a nice TV main event match between Colt Cabana and Steve Corino, plus a great video package hyping six months of feuding between Steen and Generico.

ROH's weekly TV show doesn't generate as much buzz as WWE or TNA being on a smaller stage on HDNet, but their PPV lead-in show did almost everything right trying to generate interest in a potentially very good PPV line-up. Adding in former TNA wrestler Christopher Daniels to the ROH Title picture was a nice touch to build intrigue for the PPV as well.

ROH TV SHOW REVIEW

The show opened with a plug for Colt Cabana vs. Steve Corino in the main event to come. From the studio, Mike Hogewood and Dave Prazak plugged they are five days away from the Death Before Dishonor Internet PPV.

In-ring: Christopher Daniels came out to start the in-ring portion of the show. From Washington, D.C., Bobby Shields was already in the ring looking to "make an impression."

1 -- CHRISTOPHER DANIELS vs. BOBBY SHIELDS

The announcers talked up Daniels's quest for his first-ever major World Title being back in ROH. Daniels executed his signature moves before attempting an arm drag that Shields didn't take properly. As Daniels continued to work him over, the announcers took the opportunity to sell Saturday's PPV by drawing attention to Daniels making his sudden ROH return at the last PPV in April. After brief offense by Shields, Daniels hit the Best Moonsault Ever for the pin and the win. An emphatic return for Daniels, with the announcers continuing to plug his World Title aspirations.

WINNER: Daniels in 2:00. Effective squash. It was what it needed to be reintroducing Daniels after his TNA run. (n/a)

Post-match: Daniels knelt down and pounded the ROH logo in center ring. Daniels said when he returned to ROH, he walked into the ring and stood face-to-face with Davey Richards because he doesn't agree with Richards calling himself the Best in the World. The crowd picked up a chant, then Daniels said it wasn't meant to be a singular challenge to Davey, but a wake-up call to the entire roster. He said if you're a pro wrestler and you want to prove that you have what it takes to be the best, you walk into the ring that says Ring...of...Honor on the canvas.

Daniels said he's come back with nothing to prove, but something to teach. He said he's going to teach everyone in the locker room - whether it's Delirious, Austin Aries, The Briscoes, The Kings of Wrestling, Eddie Edwards, Davey Richards, or Tyler Black. He said the name you mention is Christopher Daniels when talking about the BITW. He said that's the gospel according to the Fallen Angel. Nice mission statement from Daniels that should earn some heel heat if they continue to play it up as Daniels being cocky about his return.

Backstage: Steve Corino, in a suit, was with Kyle Durden for a promo. He pulled out a list written on yellow legal paper - his "People I hate" list. Corino listed Phil Brooks at the top of the list. (An inside reference to C.M. Punk's real name.) He said at the bottom of the list is Colt Cabana. After a promo on Cabana, Corino said there's someone else on the list. "El Generico," a voice whispered off camera. The camera then focused on Kevin Steen sitting off stage in a chair. Steen cut a promo on Generico promoting their grudge match six months in the making following his turn on Generico at the first ROH Internet PPV on December 19. Steen plugged free health care in Canada that Generico will need after their match in Toronto at the PPV.

Video package: ROH aired a lengthy piece of footage on the Kevin Steen and El Generico tag team, including previous sit-down interviews. They showed footage of Steen turning on Generico in December, then the six months of storylines that have followed since then. Nice sell for the PPV.

Studio: After the lengthy video package aired, they cut to the studio where Hogewood and Prazak recapped the Generico vs. Steen feud and hyped the ROH World Title match and ROH Tag Title match. Hogewood then sent it back to ringside.

Ringside: Kyle Durden brought in Mike Briscoe, the father of Jay and Mark Briscoe. Mike, who is exactly as you would expect the father of the Briscoes to look like, said it's part of his Father's Day present being ringside for ROH. He promised the Briscoes will beat the Kings of Wrestling at the PPV on Saturday.

In-ring: The Briscoes came to the ring to face Sid Reeves and Bob Evans, who were already assembled in the ring to take their beating.

2 -- JAY & MARK BRISCOE vs. SID REEVES & BOB EVANS

Bob Evans is quite a big man with the typical underdeveloped body of an enhancement talent. The Briscoes tried to chop down the big tree taking him off his feet with double-team moves resulting in nearfalls. Big Bob then came back with a clothesline on Mark to bring in Sid, who flopped around the ring. The Briscoes then finished off Sid with Jay hitting a Jaydriller for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: Briscoes in 2:00. Enhancement talent are supposed to enhance the established stars, not take away from the match looking lost in the ring. The announcers did a fine job setting the stages for Briscoes vs. Kings of Wrestling at the PPV. (n/a)

Video package: They showed clips of Durden walking around ringside polling fans on who's winning Tyler Black vs. Davey Richards at the PPV. Good idea. Rough selection of fans. A hipster covered in ear and nose piercings said he thinks Richards will win. One of Matt Hardy's fans said Tyler Black. Another group of fans said Tyler Black. A guy in a Chicago Blackhawks jersey said Richards. More mixed predictions from an assortment of individuals.

Ringside: Back to ringside, Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli were in street clothes addressing Mr. Briscoe ringside. Hero did the talking here, which drew plenty of laughter from Papa Briscoe. Hero said he made a lot of mistakes in life - one being Mark and one being Jay. Mark then hopped the guardrail and slapped Hero hard, but Hero responded with a big forearm smash that floored Mike. The Briscoes then ran out chasing away Hero and Claudio. After chasing them off, Jay and Mark shouted profanities about the tag champs going after pops. Good, intense angle setting up the tag title match at the PPV.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break: They recapped Mr. Briscoe popping Hero with a slap, then Hero blasting Briscoe with a forearm.

Studio: Mike Hogewood said the Kings of Wrestling should be fined after their actions. Dave Prazak defended the tag champs to play devil's advocate.

Locker room: Grizzly Redwood picked Tyler Black over Richards. Erick Stevens went with Richards. Durden then polled Jim Cornette as he was fixing his tie. Cornette, selling agitation over this interruption, said he's trying to get ready to handle business. He said he's trying to stay impartial. Kevin Steen's prediction: "El Generico is going to die in Toronto." Eddie Edwards backed up Davey. Skullcrusher and Jay picked Davey. Rhett Titus said it doesn't matter because Aries is getting the title back. They cut to a great Austin Aries promo in a sit-down interview setting. He said there will be a winner, but no one can fill his shoes. Leave it to Aries to have the stand-out commentary.

In-ring: Colt Cabana came out first for the TV main event. Steve Corino then slowly walked out, but Cabana cut him off on the stage to begin the brawl on the floor.

3 -- COLT CABANA vs. STEVE CORINO

The action eventually made it back into the ring with Cabana in control after the early attack. Cabana landed a corner butt bomb, then the action moved back to the floor where Corino pulled out a table from under the ring. Cabana then grabbed a table of his own, but the brawl moved back into the ring. Cabana retained control until Corino yanked him by the tights through the ropes to the floor. And the brawl resumed on the outside with both men standing on a table exchanging right hands before Cabana threw Corino into the crowd.

Back in the ring, Cabana tried a double axehandle, but Corino blocked and hit an STO for a nearfall. Corino took his time working over Cabana and landed a chop, but Cabana no-sold and gave him The Look. They traded blows from a standing position with neither man going down until Cabana landed a Dusty Rhodes elbow. Corino then came back with a hard clothesline before landing a knock-down lariat for a two count. The match appropriately moved back to the floor where Cabana took control and retrieved a table. Cabana put Corino's head inside a chair, but ref Paul Turner admonished Cabana. Cabana then chucked him to the ground, resulting in a DQ.

Post-match: Cabana finished his work sliding a second chair across the table into Corino's head, which was trapped in a chair like a game of shuffleboard. Back in the ring, the ref tried to prevent more of a beating. Suddenly, Corino's son came to the ring and begged for mercy. Apparently it's friends & family night on ROH TV. From behind, Kevin Steen blindsided Cabana with a superkick.

Corino and Steen double-teamed Cabana until El Generico's music hit to make the save. Generico teased a brainbuster on Steen, but Corino cut him off. Steen then sent Cabana through a table in the corner. With chaos everywhere, Generico and Steen then picked up their fight and traded blows before Generico threw Steen to the outside and hit a flip-dive on the floor. Generico put Steen on a table to land a big dive, but Corino helped Steen escape to save some for Saturday at the PPV.

WINNER: Corino via DQ in 7:00. Good hype job for the Generico vs. Steen match at the PPV. Cabana and Corino had a nice brawl in the ring and ringside to set the tone for the match being different than other matches on the PPV card. (*3/4)

Backstage: Durden brought in Roderick Strong for his thoughts on Black vs. Richards at the PPV. Strong said one of them is going to screw the over, or maybe the refs screwing them over, or maybe ROH management screwing them over. Strong said management lies to people and treats wrestlers like trash. Strong said it doesn't matter what happens on Saturday.

In-ring: Jim Cornette was in the ring setting up the ROH World Title match with Black vs. Richards at the PPV. After going through the official proceedings setting up the official contract signing, Cornette brought out Davey Richards, the challenger. Eddie Edwards and Shane Hagadorn accompanied him to the ring. Cornette then introduced Tyler Black, the champ.

With everyone assembled, Cornette asked Richards to sign the contract. Richards affixed his contract before cutting a promo that every time he comes out to the ring, the people say, "Best in the World." Richards said he'll prove it Saturday. Richards stared down Black, who affixed as well. Black started yelling at Richards with a loud promo telling him all the proof he needs that he's The Best is holding the ROH Title. Black said Richards won't get the job done. Richards shot back there won't be any doubt or controversy after Saturday that he's the best. He told Hagadorn and Edwards to stay in the locker room for this one.

With the expected interruption to a pro wrestling contract signing, Christopher Daniels's music hit to bring out Daniels. Daniels apologized for the intrusion, but he has something to say. He said since this is Ring of Honor, he has a plan in mind to challenge both the winner and the loser one-on-one. Daniels wants something from each of them. He said Davey has the popular vote on being BITW. Meanwhile, Black has a tangible argument possessing the title belt. Daniels wished them good luck, but said he'll teach everyone a lesson that Christopher Daniels is BITW. Cue up Daniels's music with everyone slowly pacing around the ring. Daniels left the ring locking eyes with champ and challenger before the show closed with a stare down between Black and Richards. Richards extended his hand and Black shook to conclude the face-to-face to conclude the show.

Video package: The show closed with some video package promos from the top wrestlers involved in the big matches at the ROH PPV on Saturday.

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