Ring of Honor TV Report
August 30, 2010
Taped in Philadelphia, Pa.
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

The show opened with Jim Cornette in-ring with ROH World champion Tyler Black talking about the "sports journalists" saying Tyler Black has been subject of a "bidding war" with top promotions wanting Black's services. Very sports-like feel set-up. Black waited out a mild "Please don't go" chant before going back to February when he finally became ROH champion. Black recapped his journey as champion involved in some "instant classic" matches. He said his contract has come up and he has received offers from "major promotions in North America." Black said it shows what six years of hard work just trying to get recognition has led to. He said he loves the spirit of ROH, but you can't outbid "a billionaire from Connecticut."

Cornette asked Black to address him being put in a nice position by ROH and his upcoming ROH Title defenses. Black said he has been loyal to this company and the people who say he needs to show more loyalty just show up to boo him. Black waited out some jeers, then addressed his upcoming title defenses. Black said his contract stipulates two things: he has to show up for his matches and he has to wrestle his matches. He asked how much more valuable he would be if, say, some Monday night, he showed up on some other network with the ROH Title belt around his waist. Cornette said, "Probably quite a bit with the individual involved." Black said the audience is going to get part of what they want: he won't be in ROH anymore. "But, when I leave, I'm taking this (the title belt) with me."

ROH intro: The standard ROH TV intro kicked off the regular proceedings. ROH announcers Mike Hogewood and Dave Prazak plugged Black vs. Steve Corino later on in the main event.

In-ring: House of Truth were assembled in the ring with #1 contender Roderick Strong for a random six-man tag match. Not exactly the feature spotlight on Strong heading into an ROH Title shot against Black at the next Internet PPV.

1 -- RODERICK STRONG & HOUSE OF TRUTH (w/Truth Martini) vs. ANDY "RIGHT LEG" RIDGE & MIKE BENNETT & JAY FREDDIE

The announcers used the time to discuss Black vs. Strong for the ROH Title at the PPV. They briefly talked about Strong trying to achieve his dream of becoming ROH champion. They need to do more with that, as the emphasis leading to the PPV has been on Black vs. ROH, with the idea that Black could "take the belt hostage and take it to WWE." There's been little emphasis on Strong's quest for the ROH Title. The match predictably broke down four minutes in. Strong was left alone with Jay Freddie to deliver a running boot to the face for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: Strong & House in 5:00.

Post-match: Strong took the mic and said it's not a coincidence he hasn't lost a match since hooking up with Truth Martini. Strong said his final goal is to beat Tyler Black and finally get his belt. Strong as a heel sets up a potentially unique crowd reaction for the heel challenger vs. pseudo heel champion match-up at the PPV.

Backstage: Steve Corino held the mic for Kevin Steen to hype the PPV chain match with Corino & Steen vs. El Generico & Colt Cabana. Steen got over the "visual" of his career being "linked" to Generico throughout his career, so he plans to "break the chain" at the PPV when he tries to break Generico and rip his head off. The camera zoomed in on Generico beheaded on Steen's t-shirt.

Backstage: They cut to Cabana and Generico for a counter promo. Cabana said they don't play mind games and they've evened the odds of two-on-two. Cabana said Steen thinks the dual chain is the answer to his questions, but they are loving the opportunity to make sure Steen and Corino can't ride and can't hide. He said he knows how badly Steen wants to break those chains with Generico, but he will be forever connected to all of them because of the pain and suffering they will inflict on them.

2 -- EL GENERICO & COLT CABANA vs. ROH tag champions KINGS OF WRESTLING (CHRIS HERO & CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI w/Shane Hagadorn and Sara Del Rey) -- non-title match

The tag champs came out last for the preview of Kings vs. Haas & Benjamin at the PPV. Also worth noting is this match-up will be for the ROH Tag Titles on September 10 in Boston before the Internet PPV on September 11. The match started with frequent in and out tags from both teams, then the Kings executed a nice double-team combo to isolate Generico. Another combo of the Big Swing with double boot to Generico's head lead to a nearfall when Cabana broke up the pin. Generico tried to fight back at 8:00 and managed to run the ropes for a huracanrana following five minutes of wear-down work.

Anyways, Cabana finally tagged in and cleaned house on the tag champs. Cabana and Hero were left in the ring, then Generico came flying in with a Yakuza Kick on Hero that set up Cabana for a nearfall. Generico then flew over the top rope onto Claudio on the outside. Suddenly, Steen and Corino showed up on the entrance stage pounding chains onto the stage to make noise distracting Cabana. Hero then blasted Cabana from behind with an elbow smash for the pin and the win. The announcers said the Kings will need more help than that to defeat Haas & Benjamin at the PPV on September 11.

WINNERS: Kings in 10:00. Fine TV tag match that set up the Internet PPV tag matches and Kings vs. Cabana & Generico on Sept. 10 for the tag titles. (**)

[Commercial Break]

Austin Aries profile: Austin Aries won't be able to escape Delirious in a lumberjack match in two weeks, when ROH returns to HDNet after taking Labor Day Monday off.

In-ring: TV champ Eddie Edwards was in the ring back from break. Edwards welcomed us to the Ten-Minute Hunt. Cue up a graphic with an alarm bell for "ten minutes." Edwards said this is the part of the show where he proves why, not only is he the first and only ROH TV champion in history, but the most dominant champion in all of pro wrestling today. Out as the opposition was Mike Sydal, the brother of Evan Bourne. Sydal tried to introduce himself as cheesily as possible, which led to Edwards blasting him with the mic.

3 -- ROH TV champion EDDIE EDWARDS (w/Shane Hagadorn) vs. MIKE SYDAL -- non-title Ten-Minute Hunt

Edwards ended this with an anklelock in 36 seconds. Excellent presentation of Edwards, who has seriously upgraded his look with the long black pants and towel around his neck.

WINNER: Edwards via submission at 0:36. (n/a)

Backstage: Jim Cornette said he has problems with the ROH Title match on the Internet PPV. He said the last time Black vs. Strong battled, there was too much controversy and too many referees involved. He said with the No DQ stipulation in place, he wants to find a way to make sure the best man wins. He needs someone ringside; someone to step in in the event that the referee goes down; someone to make sure the best man wins. He said on Saturday, September 11 in New York City, the man stationed ringside to ensure a winner is declared is...none other than this man, Terry Funk. ... Video: They showed clips of Cornette talking to Funk at the Legends Fanfest in North Carolina earlier in the month vowing to Cornette that he will ensure justice is done. ... They cut back to Cornette saying there must be, and there will be, a winner when Funk is ringside enforcing the ROH Title match.

PPV plug: Hogewood and Prazak broke down the Glory by Honor IX Internet PPV card, plugging the top three matches with the ROH Title match, Kings vs. Haas & Benjamin, and the double chain tag match.

In-ring: Steve Corino came out with Kevin Steen for the TV main event completing the hype for the PPV. ROH champion Tyler Black came out with his full ring intro for the non-title PPV tune-up match.

4 -- ROH World champion TYLER BLACK vs. STEVE CORINO (w/Kevin Steen) -- non-title match

Corino jumped Black before the opening bell, giving him the early advantage in the match. The match moved to the floor where Corino rammed Black into the guardrail several times. He tried a running dive from the ring to the outside, but Black kicked him in the head. Black then returned the favor ramming Black into the guardrail. Back in the ring, Black played to the crowd (drawing a mixed reaction since he's been playing a heel, kind of) and hit a flip dive on the outside. Back in the ring, Corino heeled on Black to take control of the match again. At 8:00, Black came back with a flying splash off the ropes and played to the crowd again. Corino came back with a hard knock-down clothesline for a nearfall, then he tried to introduce the chain into the match. The ref took it away, but Corino attempted to introduce a fork, only to take a boot to the face. Black then gave Corino a Buckle Bomb and superkick. He made the cover for the win. And the babyface threatening to take the ROH Title to WWE received a strong ovation. The audience just isn't buying into this "taking the belt hostage" angle cheering for the same guy who talked down to the audience at the top of the show.

WINNER: Black in 10:00. Fine TV match getting over Corino's brawling style, but the mixed signals on how they presented Black on this show didn't sell the audience on the "ROH vs. Black" theme heading into the PPV. (*1/2)

Post-match: Steen entered the ring with the chain and blasted Black. Steen and Corino beat down Black until Cabana & Generico entered with their own chains to tease the double chain match for GBH on September 11. Referees eventually hit the ring frantically trying to unchain the wrestlers as the brawl continued in the ring. When things were settled down, Roderick Strong hit the ring to attack Black. They had a standing brawl, trading right hand blows. Black eventually cleared Strong to the outside and grabbed his ROH Title belt to close the show before they ran down the PPV line-up for September 10.

FINAL THOUGHTS: The hype for Black vs. Richards for ROH's previous PPV was so much more refined and enticing compared to the hype for the upcoming Black vs. Strong match on September 10. It's just a messy situation with Black threatening to take the ROH Title belt - the most coveted prize in the company - to that evil WWE corporate environment, yet working babyface in the TV main event with the audience not buying into the story in place. As far as Strong goes, there isn't that sense of a "quest for the title" like there was for Davey Richards two months ago. People wanted to see Richards win the title and they were willing to spend money to see it. This time around, Black is a pseudo heel working babyface threatening to take hostage the most prized possession in ROH against a heel challenger without a focused "quest for the title" storyline in place trying to "defend the honor" of ROH against Black.

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