Ring of Honor TV Report
November 29, 2010
Taped in Philadelphia, Pa.
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

Tonight: Homicide vs. Necro Butcher in a Butcher Rules match. The show went right to the backstage area where Homicide was standing by with Kyle Durden. Homicide said he's going through every wrestler in ROH to get that ROH Title shot and he'll draw blood from Necro if he needs to. He said this isn't Abdullah the Butcher vs. Carlos Colon. Homicide told Necro he's a dead man. He didn't quite make the impossible vow to kill Necro, but he walked a close line.

In-ring: After the ROH intro video, they went straight to the ring where Steve Corino was speaking. A video aired over Corino's words highlighting the Kevin Steen vs. El Generico feud leading to their Final Battle at the PPV on December 18. Corino said Kevin Steen should be the ROH World champion right now, but he's been stuck dealing with Generico for way too long. He said not even he can handle Steen anymore. So, he's calling out Generico like a man, like a co-worker, like a human being.

Generico came to the ring with a towel over his head to hide his shame without his original mask. Generico removed the towel to reveal his black mask. Corino said he knows they're scheduled to wrestle later in the show, but he wants to talk. He told Generico this has gone on way too long. He could blame Generico for all that has gone on, but he doesn't want to take that path. Corino recapped the stips for Final Battle before telling Generico he doesn't have to risk the rest of his career for the "silly mask" he wears. He tried to tell Generico the fans don't matter and no one cares about him.

Corino claimed to Generico he's to blame for what happened to Steen. He had a solution. Give him the mask. And it's over. Corino continued to talk while Generico stood by selling with his eyes through the mask. Generico teased taking off the mask before taking off his t-shirt. Corino said no one really wants to see them fight right now. He said there's no way Generico can beat a true wrestling legend like him. Corino gave Generico one last chance to accept the offer or not. The kids in the crowd screamed, "No!" Generico then slapped Corino and Corino responded with a mic shot to the head. Corino dumped Generico to the outside and beat him around a bit. Back in the ring, Corino took off his t-shirt and called for the bell.

1 -- EL GENERICO vs. STEVE CORINO

The bell sounded, Corino approached Generico, and Generico grabbed him for a small package to score a quick three count. Post-match: Corino jumped Generico from behind to inflict damage before backing off to the corner. Generico then blindsided Corino with a Yakuza Kick, followed by a second one. Generico followed with a brainbuster that KO'ed Corino center ring. Generico stood over Corino as Hogewood and Prazak set the stage for Generico vs. Steen at Final Battle.

WINNER: Generico in 0:05. A classic, old-school wrestling angle continuing to set the stage for Final Battle. It still works in 2010.

ROH TV tapings plug: They're focusing on Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin as the main attraction for ROH's next TV taping on Dec. 9 and 10 in Louisville.

[Commercial Break]

Video package: They returned with a video on the Briscoes vs. Kings of Wrestling feud to plug the six-man tag match at Final Battle.

In-ring: Jim Cornette introduced "The Prodigy" Mike Bennett making his ROH TV debut. Bennett, dressed in a fashionable suit, came to the ring along with a cartoon-like old-school manager/promoter rubbing his shoulders to warm him up for a fight. In the ring, the "trainer," Bob Evans continued to warm up Bennett as Cornette asked him why he signed with ROH. Bennett said if it weren't for Bob, he would not have signed with ROH. He said ROH is full of tomato cans that he can knock over to pad his record. Bennett said in 12 months - 12 months - he will be ROH World champion. After all, he has to live up to his nickname of "The Prodigy."

A few fans started a "You suck" chant that caught a little steam. Bennett said Bob taught him physical punishment and enduring pain. He said he has more natural talent as a rookie than The Rock ever did. Bennett said it's a high standard to live up to and he will live up to it. He said ROH will be "The Prodigy's Place" in 2011. Bob said Bennett will break 'em and leave 'em screaming for their mommies. Bennett removed his shades, stared at Cornette, and said he will make ROH history next year. "2011 is the year of The Prodigy," he said to conclude the promo.

Reax: Bennett was fine introducing himself an overconfident heel, but the "Bob Evans" trainer character could hold back the overall act. Bob came across like a random man pulled off the street trying to play the role of a 1940s boxing/wrestling trainer. It was too cartoony Week 1.

Backstage last week: Durden was with Daizee Haze after her 10-minute draw with Sara Del Rey. Del Rey then barged in and an argument broke out over who's the better women's wrestler. They plugged a tag match for Final Battle without mentioning Awesome Kong being Daizee's partner, which ROH announced last week.

[Commercial Break]

2 -- JON DAVIS vs. RHETT TITUS

They returned to the ring where Jon Davis of the Dark City Fight Club was already in the ring along with Rhett Titus of the All Night Express team. Davis and Titus went back and forth before Titus scored a close nearfall following a leg lariat. Titus started thrusting and dancing before losing control and taking a running knee to the face. Davis then fired off a series of forearms followed by a shoulder tackle from the ring apron. A spinebuster resulted in a nearfall only. Davis then scored with the Pounce to knock Titus to the floor. Davis tried to follow on the floor, but Titus caught him in the face. In the ring, Titus hit a fallaway neckbreaker across his leg for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Titus in 6:00. ROH hasn't done anything with Davis for him to standout as a singles wrestler. Titus has at least improved as a more serious act. Overall, this was your basic TV singles match.

Final Battle plugs: Briscoes & Papa Briscoe vs. Kings of Wrestling & Shane Hagadorn and ROH champion Roderick Strong vs. Davey Richards.

Video package: Davey Richards opened a video hyping the ROH Title match: "Truth Martini is full of s---." Davey said Roderick became weak and turned to Truth to help him become champion. He said Roderick used to be about fighting, but now he's just about holding onto the title. Davey said Roderick will lose at Final Battle.

Studio: Hogewood and Prazak were shown on-camera to plug Final Battle and the Dec. 17 show featuring the ROH tag champs Kings of Wrestling vs. "American Wolves" Eddie Edwards and Davey Richards.

Backstage: Kyle Durden brought in TV champ Eddie Edwards to talk about their tag title challenge. Edwards said everything that has happened with Hagadorn was his fault. He said he didn't listen to Davey's advice, but on December 17 in his hometown area, they will be brothers. He said it's not about titles, but it's personal. Edwards said it's one last hunt for the Wolves.

Next week: Edwards defends the ROH TV Title against Colt Cabana.

3 -- ADAM COLE & KYLE O'REILLY vs. GRIZZLY REDWOOD & MIKE SYDAL

The rapid-fire series of plugs, videos, and interviews led to a tag match already ready to go in the ring. O'Reilly blasted Sydal, the brother of WWE wrestler Evan Bourne, with a series of kick strikes before tagging in Cole for a double-team move. Grizz then entered the match and used his quickness to run circles around the opposition. Sydal was then caught alone in the ring to bump around for Cole and O'Reilly, who hit a backstabber combination on Sydal for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: Cole & O'Reilly in 6:00. A fine dose of athleticism while trying to get over some new personalities. Cole and O'Reilly seem a bit unsure of themselves at times in the ring, but they'll find their groove with more TV exposure.

Coming up next: Homicide vs. Butcher main event.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: The Embassy led Necro Butcher to the ring for the main event. Ernie Osiris immediately began retrieving weapons to throw into the ring for Butcher to play with. Homicide then came to the ring and walked around on the outside to make Necro wait. Homicide eventually retrieved a chair and entered the ring to start the brawl.

4 -- HOMICIDE vs. NECRO BUTCHER (w/Prince Nana and Ernie Osiris) -- Butcher's Rules match

Necro and Cide had a chair duel to start before Necro cracked a chair across the back. The action moved to the floor where Homicide flung Butcher off the apron onto a chair. Homicide then wound up for a chair shot to the head, but hit the guardrail above Necro's head (thankfully). They strategically cut to another camera angle to leave it to the imagination of the viewer. Necro came up bleeding and Homicide tried opening up his cut with right hands to the forehead. Homicide began tearing apart the ringside area and using various ROH signage to inflict punishment.

The match eventually returned to the ring where Homicide landed a mule kick, did an Eddie shake, and suplexed Butcher through a table propped up in the corner. Homicide immediately looked into the ringside camera to sell the intensity of his character. Necro continued to bleed on the ring. Homicide wanted the Cop Killer, but Osiris stormed the ring. Osiris took the Cop Killer for good measure and Nana could only sell concern with his failed plan.

Necro crotched Homicide to momentarily take control before landing multiple bodyslams onto a stack of chairs. Homicide then stole a chair from Necro and bounced it off the side of Necro's head. It wasn't a direct chair shot to the head, but still too close for comfort. Nana got involved to give Necro control again. The crowd rallied behind Homicide, who blocked another slam onto a chair before landing an Ace Crusher across the chair followed by n Ace Crusher center ring. Homicide with the pin for the win.

WINNER: Homicide in 10:00. Strong match getting over Homicide's intensity, which TNA completely failed to capitalize on when he was in the company. Necro and Homicide worked a relatively safe match for this style of hardcore brawl while still getting over the important story of Homicide on a quest for the ROH Title.

Next week: Is Davey Richards ready for Roderick Strong? Davey gets Erick Stevens in a singles match. Plus, Cabana challenges Edwards for the TV Title.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Strong conclusion after a weak middle portion of the show. The focus on Final Battle remains strong with two more weeks of TV before ROH's next Internet PPV on December 18.

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