Ring of Honor TV Report
January 3, 2011
Taped in Louisville, Ky.
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

The first ROH TV show of 2011 started with an exterior shot of Louisville as Mike Hogewood set the stage for a new season of ROH with the next few weeks of TV coming from Louisville.

In-ring: Mark Briscoe was the first man out to start 2011 with an ROH TV Title match. Hogewood and Dave Prazak talked up the TV Title prior to Eddie Edwards coming out to defend the title. After an "Eddie Edwards" chant from the crowd, the two babyfaces shook hands to start the first title match of the year.

1 -- TV champion EDDIE EDWARDS vs. MARK BRISCOE -- ROH TV Title match -- 15-minute time limit

The announcers noted neither Briscoe has held a singles title in ROH. (Jay will get his ROH World Title shot on January 15.) Edwards, sporting tape over his injured right shoulder, tried to slow down the pace early on to wrestle his style. The action moved to the floor and Mark landed a somersault splash that sent Edwards crashing into the guardrail in front of individuals sporting lucha masks. Back in the ring, Mark and Eddie traded thunderous chops, with Mark targeting the giant bulls-eye on Edwards's shoulder. Mark followed with a standing superkick, but paused to play to the crowd before making a cover for a nearfall.

At 10:00, Edwards rocked Briscoe with an enziguri, then went up top for a double foot stomp for a nearfall. Edwards followed with a submission focusing on the left knee, but Briscoe reached the ropes for a break. They battled up top, with Briscoe knocking Edwards to the mat before delivering a frog splash into an elbow smash for another nearfall. Briscoe tried to follow with his finisher, but Edwards countered into the Achilles Lock center ring. Briscoe tried to reach the ropes, but Edwards pulled him back to center ring to score a submission victory.

WINNER: Edwards via submission at 12:18. Nice, competitive title match showcasing ROH's quality in-ring product. Also, good to see Mark stand out on his own as a singles wrestler. (**1/2)

Backstage: Kyle Durden brought in the Kings of Wrestling for a promo. Claudio Castagnoli, grumpy without his coffee, took the mic from Durdin and cut a promo on Homicide. "What kind of a name is that?" he asked. Chris Hero looked on approvingly as Claudio sarcastically wished Homicide good luck in their match tonight.

[Commercial Break]

Final Battle recap: A video package aired recapping the hype for ROH champ Roderick Strong vs. Davey Richards at Final Battle, Strong retaining the ROH Title when Richards "suffered a concussion," and Strong asking Richards what it feels like to "fail at his destiny."

Backstage: Mike Mondo, the former "Mikey" of Sprit Squad, cut a promo backstage calling him the "giant killer." Let's just say Mike has beefed up compared to his Spirit Squad days.

2 -- MIKE MONDO vs. GRIZZLY REDWOOD

Grizzly, checking in around 5'5" doesn't exactly fit the billing of a "giant" to be "killed" by Mondo, but apparently that's part of Mondo's heel gimmick talking a big game. Prazak suggested Grizzly should insert some lifts in his boots. Mondo showed off his power offense early on with a running buckle bomb that sent Grizzly crashing to the mat for a nearfall. Mondo stayed on Grizzly trying to wear him down, then Grizzly made a comeback with a Tornado DDT out of the corner. Grizzly then dropped the suspenders and went up top, but Mondo crotched him. Prazak deftly noted, "Mondo has spirit," as Mondo climbed up top and delivered a superplex for the pin.

WINNER: Mondo at 5:48. Fine match. Grizzly was a good opponent for Mondo, who could give ROH some mid-card heel depth for ROH shows this year. (*1/4)

Video package: Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin introduced themselves to the audience talking about their backgrounds in amateur wrestling, sports, and the "entertainment business" a/k/a WWE.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Back from break, two random men, Lance and Harlem Bravado, were in the ring. Haas and Benjamin then came out with a full ring intro for their ROH TV debuts. Big reaction from the TV audience as Prazak noted Haas & Benjamin launched their wrestling careers in Louisville. The Bravado Brothers sold being awestruck as the crowd chanted, "Welcome back."

3 -- CHARLIE HAAS & SHELTON BENJAMIN vs. BRAVADO BROTHERS (LANCE & HARLEM)

Benjamin started things off with a suplex on Harlem, who immediately backed off to the corner selling his back. Haas tagged in and blasted Harlem with power offense. The Bravado Brothers tried to double-team Haas, who fought them off before landing a lift-up powerslam on Harlem for a two count. Shelton re-entered and proceeded to deliver a double Samoan drop with both brothers hoisted on his shoulders. Haas and Benjamin then hit a combination superkick and running splash before Haas slapped on the Haas of Pain submission for the tapout victory.

WINNERS: Haas & Benjamin at 2:58. Perfect TV debut. Get over the signature moves, look dominating, and establish Haas & Benjamin with the audience. (n/a)

[Commercial Break]

Backstage: Durden brought in "The Prodigy" Mike Bennet, joined by his cartoon manager Bob Evans. Bob rubbed Bennett's shoulders before Bennett talked about being "all over the Internet, all over the press." Bennett said he will show everyone next week he's better than advertised. Bob resumed rubbing Bennett's shoulders. Awkward moment.

In-ring: The Kings of Wrestling theme music hit to bring out Claudio Castagnoli, seconded by Chris Hero and Sara Del Rey. Nice camera work on Claudio entering the ring making Claudio look like a gigantic man. Prazak noted Claudio still has not had his coffee. Homicide was out next to face one-half of the tag champs.

4 -- ROH tag champion CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI (w/ROH tag champ Chris Hero and Sara Del Rey) vs. HOMICIDE

The commentators focused on Homicide trying to prove his World Title credentials since returning to ROH in September 2010. Homicide tried to pick a fight with the larger Claudio by slapping him across the face, so Claudio fired back with a ridiculous number of uppercuts and forearm strikes in succession. Homicide then fired back with forearms before Claudio decked Homicide with a decisive European uppercut. Claudio followed with an overhead toss before wiping his hands to suggest it's over. After a nearfall, Claudio tried to wear down Homicide with a rear chinlock.

Claudio continued to dominate as the crowd seemed to be getting behind him. Homicide shouted at Claudio, "Screw you," before Claudio delivered another boot to the head. The crowd then got behind Homicide with a "187" chant and Homicide delivered a knock-down lariat. Both men came to their feet and started trading bombs. Homicide then executed consecutive suplexes on the larger Claudio before climbing up top. Claudio crotched him, though, and attempted a superplex, but Homicide headbutted Claudio over the top rope to the floor. Claudio tried to outsmart Homicide, but Homicide waited for Claudio to turn around before delivering a cannonball splash.

Back in the ring, Homicide executed a top rope splash resulting in a nearfall. Homicide teased the Cop Killer, but Claudio blocked and nailed the pop-up European uppercut for a nearfall. Claudio called for the end, looking to end Homicide's winning streak, but Homicide blocked a chokeslam and executed a spinning neckbreaker. Homicide went up top and landed a Tornado DDT for another two count.

Homicide called for a finishing lariat, but Claudio surprised him with a smashing lariat for a two count. Claudio then dropped Homicide with a chokeslam, but Homicide kicked out. They went to the finish where Claudio ate an exposed turnbuckle after Homicide countered, then Homicide followed with an Ace Crusher for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Homicide at 11:58. Strong TV main event, although the nearfalls at the end became repetitive. In any promotion, Claudio could be booked as a top heel holding a title for months and months with no challengers able to knock off him. His size and physical offense gives him instant credibility and he's developed more of a personality over the last year to make him a more marketable singles star. As for Homicide, good booking as ROH advanced his ROH Title quest. (**3/4)

Next week: Mike Bennett makes his in-ring TV debut. Also, Roderick Strong faces Colt Cabana after retaining the ROH Title at Final Battle.

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