To me this looks like the first step in them trying to convince Awesome/Amazing Kong to return to the company.

Bubba The Love Sponge posted the following on his Twitter account (http://twitter.com/btlsradio): “I was going to take the high road but looks like TNA has fired the first shot.”

Awesome Kong posted the following on her Twitter account (http://twitter.com/awesomekong): “Kongfucious says: Karma is a b**ch… named Kong!!!!”

Not that long ago Kong actually called into Bubba’s radio show, and was having a discussion with someone other than Bubba, but the radio host couldn’t leave things alone and took the opportunity to rip into Kong on the show, as seen in the video below.

The Bubba/Kong issues were the final nail in the coffin for her last stint in TNGay. For those of you unaware of the situation, Bubba made some offensive remarks after the big earthquake in Haiti, Kong who’d spearheaded a fundraiser with the help of the Red Cross and some friends of hers in the pro wrestling community for the Red Cross’s big Haiti relief fund effort overheard the remarks Bubba made and got very upset with Bubba for making them. Their has been speculation of some fighting between the two backstage, then when Kong decided to take some time away to attend the funeral of a friend who was one of the midwests  big names in indy wrestling promotion and who really helped Kong get her big start in wrestling, TNGay decided to release her.

I get the feeling it was from pressure from the ‘Hogan camp’ and their backstage pull that got Kong released in the first place. Considering the role Bubba had in the big ‘Wolfpac’ angle at that time, and Hogan’s history of looking out for his good friends at the cost of anyone else without equal political clout in a wrestling company this seems highly likely. Now with Tara announcing her big departure from the company, and hinting at the fact that ‘someone’ leaked the info with their own spin on it to attempt to slander her on her way out of the company, there will be a huge void left in the Knockouts Division, a void that Kong could easily fill. Considering what drove her out of TNGay in the first place, I hope she plays some serious hardball during the negotiations, make them give ground to get her back, give her the raise and decent treatment that a star of her caliber in the company deserves.

All it takes is to watch some of her matches from her time in Japan or on the American indy circuit against current NWA Midwest and World Womans Champion and SHIMMER Champion MsChif to see just how talented Kong truly is. I highly recommend watching the Amazing Kong vs MsChif match from SHIMMER Volume 9 of their DVD series. If you can’t find a copy of the DVD, as it’s already sold out from RoH and Highspots and very hard to find a copy on ebay, the match is available for direct download to your computer from clickwrestle.

Do yourself a huge favor and find a way to see this match at least once. MsChif has placed it on one of her recent compilation DVD’s available for purchase from her official website MsChif.net. For those of you who live overseas, she is happy to ship to the UK and other countries, ships orders quickly, usually will autograph the DVD covers, and is happy to replace any defective merchandise. I know from experience, as I have ordered many DVD’s and shirts from her in the past. Now that I’m done with the endorsements, on to the other subject of this blog.

According to Torrie Wilson herself, Hogan stating that she’s been trying to get in contact with TNGay is BS. Which isn’t surprising, as Hogan will say just about anything right now to draw attention to TNGay, no matter if it’s a positive or negative light. Torrie has stated that she has no current plans to return to wrestling, but if she were to make a comeback in some way it would be with the WWE as she feels that is her ‘home’.

http://www.facebook.com/torrie11
^Torrie Wilson’s official FB fanpage, as run by Torrie herself.^

The exact quote from Torrie about it is as follows; “Well I was told that Hulk Hogan was on Howard Stern today saying I have been calling TNA offices up and I am sorry to those of you wishing but that is not true. Heard it straight from me! If I ever went back to wrestling I feel like WWE would be my home…but I have no plans for that! Working on lots of fun opportunities though and will keep yall informed on my next new venture! Love you guys!”

When Torrie decided that she could no longer take the physical toll of wrestling and decided to retire, I was sad to see her go. She was a great entertainer, could pull the fans right into whatever she got involved in on the show, was always very gracious and sweet when making public appearances, and was one of the performers who you knew truly loved stepping in the spotlight to entertain the fans. I had hoped that the WWE would have kept her in in some sort of public relations capacity for the company, similar to some of the things HBK has done when being away from in-ring preforming. After Trish Stratus, Victoria, and Lita; Torrie was the go-to woman in the Divas division, and one of the most well known women in the company during that time.

It doesn’t shock me, but it does make feel bad for Torrie that Hogan is trying to use her to pull attention to TNGay in such a way as this when all it would take is improving the product their putting out to pull fans in. As a wrestling fan I want to see TNGay succeed, and provide real competition for the WWE. I recall the first ‘Monday Night Wars’ which pitted (at that time) WWF’s Raw vs WCW Nitro every Monday night. I remember how both companies had to elevate their game and keep improving the product they were producing to draw fans to their show over that of their competition. It produced some of the best wrestling TV ever, and pulled wrestling out of being the little local groups and really gave the sport national exposure as well as changing the way nationally syndicated wrestling shows are presented.

With the slump that pro wrestling has fallen into, it needs a serious ‘kick in the pants’ to remain viable to the next generation of young fans. Another ‘Monday Night War’ could do just that, but only if TNGay improves their product to become a serious threat in the war instead of just a footnote run down by the WWE supertank.

NWA Optimum
127 N. Pleasant St.
Princeton, IL 61356
(815) 875-7361

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NWA Optimum’s Children’s Miracle Network Benefit Nov. 21st

The card for this show is as follows:

NWA World TagTeam Championship Match
SkullKrushers (c) vs. The McCoys

NWA Midwest Championship Match
The Sheik (c) vs. Marc Houston

NWA Women’s Title Match
MsChif (c) vs. Nevaeh

The Chief with JC Kmetz vs. Pure Dynamite Justin Andrews

Supafli and CW Dodge vs. Beautiful Bodies

Bobby Valentino vs. DT Vega

Sexy Sean Cook vs. Billy la Cabra (Billy the Goat)

Join us for Miracle at the Met; November 21st, 2009.

Bureau County Metro Center
837 Park Avenue West
Princeton, IL 61356

For further information, please contact: Jon Kmetz 815-830-8264

So, what does all this have to do with wrestling? It strikes me that there may be a good deal of male wrestling fans out there who enjoy watching women’s wrestling but are afraid to say so because they are worried about what people will think. To me, this is one of the problems holding women’s wrestling back in Britain and America. We need to accept that, not only do men and women have the right to the same opportunities as each other, it is also possible for men to watch women (and vice versa) simply to be entertained by their athletic talents.

Also on the subject of women’s wrestling, those of you who’d like to see something with a little more depth than the WWE’s “divas” might want to check out SHIMMER. This all-woman promotion has been attracting rave reviews all over in the last couple of years. Even the great Lance Storm recently blogged about how impressive the quality of their wrestling was and, believe me, he knows a thing or two about quality wrestling! SHIMMER have a great roster, including Cheerleader Melissa, Amazing Kong (that’s Awesome Kong to TNA fans), Sara Del Rey and Coventry’s own Jetta. However, my absolute favourite has to be current champion MsChif (anyone who knows my taste in music will quickly understand why). If you’re curious, click the link to the right and check out their trailer video. It should whet your appetite for more!

NWA Dynamo Pro returns to the Game Arena in Glen Carbon, Il. on Friday, October, 16th.

Double Main Event
NWA Missouri Championship Title Match
Dingo(c) vs Davey Vega

Executive Director Bob Trobich has granted permission for the NWA Missouri Title to be defended in Glen Carbon, Illinois on October 16th.

NWA World Women’s Championship Title Match
Mschif(c) vs Nicole Matthews

These two women will face each other again one week after meeting in a ROH ring or the Shimmer Title. After October 16th, will Mschif still remain a triple crown champion or will Nicole Matthews become a double champion.

Other Scheduled Matches

Trent Stone vs OuTtKaSt

Shorty Biggs vs Johnny Montez

Alexander Roudolph vs Rick Stone

Billy McNeil vs Matt Fitchett

and several more exciting matches.

Tickets are $8.00 in advance and $10.00 at the door and are available at the Game box office or online here

Your hosts are Dave Prazak and Mike Hogewood.

• Necro Butcher & Grizzly Redwood vs. Jimmy Rave & Ernie Osiris (w/Prince Nana)
  

As if there was any doubt, Osiris is Jimmy Rave’s footstool to get into the ring. BRING BACK JADE CHUNG! Ahem. Looks like a twelve pack of Charmin was passed around before the show because the Embassy gets covered with the two-ply. This is a tag match set up a couple weeks back after Necro saved Redwood from an Embassy beating. We head to the floor with Necro chasing Rave around in between giving Osiris a chair slam. Back in, Ernie eats some bare feet. He ducks a charge from Redwood, who becomes the temporary face in peril. Spinning neckbreaker from Rave gets two. Redwood slips out of a GHANARHEA attempt and makes the hot tag to Necro. Chokeslam and a TIGER DRIVER to Ernie gets two. After Necro blasts Rave with a right hand, Ernie tries to roll him up and can’t get the pinfall. Rave and Nana have left the building, leaving Osiris to take the fall with a flying tornado DDT from Redwood. (7:38) As usual, a decent opener even though it rarely rises above average. **¼

Kyle Durden is standing by with Austin Aries. He asks AA about Danielson/Black III. How dare he not ask about the champ? Aries grabs the mic away and demands Durden leave. Much better. He says he’ll hold onto the belt until everybody dies on 12/12/2012. What a prediction!

Dark City Fight Club returns soon! Hopefully to face the Young Bucks! Please?

• Nevaeh & Daizee Haze vs. Sara Del Ray & MsChif
  

If Sara Del Ray agrees to back up MsChif in this match, she’ll get another shot at the SHIMMER title. Nevaeh still has the green mist in her hair from the last time she faced MsChif. Of course it’s from the same TV taping, but it’s still a pretty cool “little thing”. Haze and Nevaeh work over MsChif and her arm for a while. Hennig necksnap from Nevaeh gets two. Del Ray helps out with a yank of the hair as Nevaeh tries to come off the ropes. Standing moonsault from MsChif gets two. In comes Del Ray to channel the spirit of Jushin Liger with the fallaway slam and a bridge for two. MsChif tags in to scream at Nevaeh. Back to Del Ray, Nevaeh slips out of a fireman’s carry and *pops* Del Ray’s strap! OH SNAP! HOT TAG TO DAIZEE! Missile dropkick and a tilt-a-whirl headscissors to Del Ray. Haze fails on a monkey flip, but fights off both opponents on the apron. She flips back in over Del Ray and makes a blind tag to Nevaeh. Del Ray tries to powerbomb Haze into a shot of GREEN MIST~! from MsChif. Haze sees it coming and headscissors out. Nevaeh tries to sneak an inside cradle win on Del Ray, but gets put away with the ROYAL BUTTERFLY instead. (4:32) Quite an enjoyable bout. Guess that means Del Ray will be getting a title shot soon. **½

In the back, Kyle Durden meets with Nigel McGuinness. He puts over both Bryan Danielson and Tyler Black, but puts Black over a little bit more. Hmm.

It’s time for another edition of “The Art of Wrestling with Colt Cabana”. Today, Colt is going to show his assistant Brent Albright how to score with the nice merchandise girl. Apparently an attractive girl in the audience was nowhere to be found. Cabana sends Albright away and suggests a trip to the Olive Garden where she can eat all the free breadsticks she wants. Right in the middle of his sentence, The Embassy (including JOEY RYAN~!) comes over to ruin the show and possibly ruin Colt’s face. That is until Brent Albright makes the save. Apparently a 5-on-2 advantage is too much for the Embassy to handle? Anyways, Ernie Osiris grabs as many DVDs as he can from the merchandise table as the Embassy heads out.

Back over to Kyle Durden who is standing by with Eddie Kingston. So much for an interview, Kingston is here to fight Chris Hero. He tells the cameraman to follow him to a fight, and a fight is exactly what he finds. Hero gets beaten from the locker room all the way to the ring. Various ROH wrestlers separate the two once they make it there. ROH jobber Sal Rinauro tries to calm Eddie down and takes a straight right hand to the face!

• Bryan Danielson vs. Tyler Black
  

Their first match on HDNet ended in a 20-minute time limit, the rematch ended in a double-countout, now Bryan Danielson and Tyler Black continue their rivalry in a THIRD match. I think if there had been time limit issues in the past, they should have started the show with this match. Kind of like in the ’80s when the NWA would air a Ric Flair title defense. If the match ends in thirty minutes, you’ve got standby matches to fill up the rest of the time. If the match goes the full sixty minute time limit, then that’s fine too. That makes the match seem more REALISTIC and the feud seem more important to find a winner. Danielson tries to rile Tyler up to start by outwrestling him and then slapping him hard across the face. Danielson does that SICK arm bend on Black, but then eats a dropkick for two. Another slap from Danielson causes Black to lunge on him, which gets Black maneuvered around into a Crippler Crossface. Black reaches the ropes and Danielson has until the count of five to break, ref. Black teases the stomp on Danielson’s face and tries to slap him, but Danielson BLOCKS into a freakin’ cross armbreaker. Black reaches the ropes and now they do some talking. Danielson charges into a slam and takes a quebrada for two. He turns things around into the corner and unloads on Black with a barrage of slaps and kicks. Danielson starts cranking on the neck with a cravat. Tyler absorbs a headbutt and fires back with forearms, but runs into a sleeper. Danielson changes over into a Dragon Sleeper and goes HORIZONTAL WITH IT! Ouch. Black’s lanky body helps him reach the ropes. Now they trade sleeper holds. Black tries to suplex out, but Danielson holds on tight. Jawbreaker creates some separation only for a moment, so Black has to back suplex Danielson over the top rope to the floor to get the break he needs. Black wants to dive on Danielson, but he blocks it with a forearm. Back inside, Tyler blocks a missile dropkick with a dropkick of his own. BRIAN PILLMAN IN DA HOUSE~! Black comes back with an enziguri and the Springboard Clothesline for 1-2-NO! Now Tyler delivers a bunch of slaps to Danielson like he’s wanted to do all match. Running forearm in the corner sets up an F-5! With Danielson on his knees, Tyler goes for the Superkick. Oh, but Danielson catches the foot for an anklelock! Black rolls him off the hold out to the floor and delivers a somersault plancha! Back inside, Danielson avoids the Springboard Clothesline. Black flips out of a release German suplex, but gets nailed with a jumping lariat from Danielson! German suplex into a O’Connor roll gets 1-2-NO! People are freaking out like that was a three-count. Black elbows out of a back superplex and eats a kick up top. Danielson tries a top rope rana, but Black rolls through…INTO A TRIANGLE CHOKE! Black fights up and delivers the Buckle Bomb! Danielson is on his knees again and gets blasted with the Superkick! Cover, 1-2-NO!! Black heads up for a possible PHOENIX SPLASH and gets shoved into the crowd again. And just like in the double-countout, Danielson springboard somersault planchas onto Black! Danielson kicks Black back onto the barricade and makes it back in at the count of thirteen. Aaaaaaand Black makes it in at the count of nineteen. Remember, ROH has a twenty-count. Danielson looks PISSED. If he had straps to pull down, this is where they would come down. He unloads on Black with kicks. Tyler avoids the Rolling Forearm and rolls up Danielson, who rolls out of it into an enziguri kick on the mat! Danielson catches another sleeper and SNAPMARES Black over his own back into another Crippler Crossface! Oh geez, they’re in the center of the ring! Tyler still makes the ropes. Danielson unleashes some nasty back elbows and goes for a Dragon Suplex, but Black slips away and hits a Pele kick. Danielson hits a jumping enziguri and after a bunch of waistlock exchanges, Black gives him a release German suplex, which he ABSORBS. He runs into a superkick, eats another superkick when he’s on his knees, and takes GOD’S LAST GIFT for the 1-2-3! (21:27) Much better than the other two matches. It looks like they’re going to come to blows again after the bell, but Danielson just wants a handshake. Hopefully this will mean big things ahead for Tyler Black because ROH needs some fresh blood to hold onto the strap. The only problem I would have with the match is that they did the same double-countout spot around the same time as before and it not having the same effect. It makes it seem like they weren’t trying as hard to win last time. There was no real hesitation on Danielson’s part as to say, “If I do this, we might have to wrestle a FOURTH time and I have to WIN because I’m Bryan Danielson.” Nit-picky, maybe a little. Isn’t that what wrestling review people do though? Otherwise, an incredible match and the *new* best of the HDNet series. I highly doubt you’ll find a better match this year on free TV. ****¾

Your hosts are Dave Prazak and Mike Hogewood.

• Jimmy Jacobs vs. Delirious – Fight Without Honor
  

Looks like this AOTF thing is dying a slow death. Jacobs sends Brodie Lee and MsChif to the back. He’s got to beat Delirious on his own. Jimmy is wearing jeans and knee pads like this a good old fashioned Dusty Rhodes fight. Of course, Jacobs probably wears 30 inch jeans instead of the usual 50 inchers Dusty would be sporting. Also, Dusty never wore a studded belt. Big brawl to start. They wind up on the floor where Delirious shoots through the ropes with a suicide dive and bangs his knee SUPER hard into the guardrail. As Gorilla Monsoon might say, the irresistible force meets the immovable object. Delirious delivers a Panic Attack on Jacobs up against the guardrail, but hits Jacobs with the same hurt knee. That slows him down for momentarily. Delirious leans a table up against the guardrail while Jacobs blades for effect. Delirious bites the cut and wants to Cobra Clutch Suplex Jimmy through the table. Jacobs low blows out and sends Delirious into the ringpost. Jimmy tosses a couple chairs into the ring and then brings Delirious inside with him. Delirious gets his head slammed on the chair a few times and then has a seat as Jacobs flies down on top of him. That gets two. Jacobs tries the same thing again on the floor with a pescado, but Delirious gets out of the way just in time. Delirious gets in a few shots with the chair and tries for another Panic Attack, but Jimmy jumps up and spears Delirious to block. The END TIME is locked in! The right arm of Delirious drops once, twice, BUT NOT THREE TIMES! He rolls over into the ropes. Jacobs reaches in his boot for his signature railroad spike. He charges Delirious in the corner, but misses and jabs the turnbuckle. Cobra Clutch Suplex! Cover, 1-2-NO! Delirious goes for SHADOWS OVER HELL, but Jimmy hops to his feet and throws a chair at him. They tease Delirious giving Jacobs a suplex from the ring through the table, but Jimmy avoids that. He goes to spear Delirious off the apron, but Delirious moves causing Jacobs to fly through the ropes and crash on the table. Notice how he crashes on the table, not through it. Here comes Delirious with the exclamation point as he delivers SHADOWS OVER HELL on Jacobs through the table! He rolls Jacobs into the ring and covers for 1-2-3. (8:55) After the match, Jimmy grabs the spike and cuts his arm up. Eww. TOWRITELOVEONHERARMS, brah. Give them a call. Seriously though, where does a guy who heads up a stable like ‘Age of the Fall’ go from here? His AOTF group can’t win a match, causing the group to lose almost all of its credibility. I’m guessing there’s just no room for their shenanigans in a post-Sapolsky ROH world. Pretty decent match once it got going. **¾

Kyle Durden meets up with Bryan Danielson and Tyler Black for a quick word. They know they don’t have to be buddies to be a winning tag team, they just have to get along.

Short little video package of the Dark City Fight Club beating people up.

• The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) vs. Sal Rinauro & Brandon Day
  

Prazak puts the Young Bucks over for being a huge success on the west coast, which appears to be code for ‘they are the current PWG world tag team champions’. This is my first viewing of the Young Bucks, which shows you how often I keep up with the current PWG product. I don’t dislike it or anything, just don’t have the time. They look like the Hardy Boyz from the mid-’90s when they were WWE jobbers. They do a lot of cool tandem moves much like next generation Rockers. Their finisher is called MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK. Matt delivers a Finlay Roll to set up a 450 Splash from Nick. That seems like enough, but then Matt comes off the top rope with a beautiful moonsault to finish off Brandon Day. That whole sequence is their finisher. (3:31) The Jackson brothers look like a good looking young tag team that should be excellent sympathetic Ricky Morton-like prey for a tag team like the Dark City Fight Club. **

Kyle Durden is standing by with Claudio Castagnoli. He challenges Brent Albright to a Sweden vs. USA flag match in two weeks. Yeah, no ROHDNET show on July 4^th.

Before we get to the next match, they show us how Austin Aries won the ROH world title on 6/13 in NYC. They air his post-match interview with Kyle Durden. His grandma told him not to toot his own horn, but he says his grandma is DEAD, so toot toot. Hmm, that sounds almost exactly like something Double-A might say, A-Double.

More interviews with Kyle Durden. He’s talking with the American Wolves now. They stir up the Black Dragon pot just a little bit.

• “Dirty” Ernie Osiris (w/Prince Nana) vs. Brent Albright
  

Osiris is super reluctant to wrestle, but Nana throws him inside the ring to MAKE him fight. Albright locks up with Osiris, but he’s a smelly hobo and Albright can’t stand the stench. Instead of locking up, Albright destroys with a much quicker offense so he doesn’t have to touch Osiris for very long. Osiris comes back by raking the eyes and gives Albright a Pitstop. That might be his finisher. Albright doesn’t let that stop him as he gives Osiris an Air Raid Crash. He picks Ernie up on his shoulders and repeatedly bashes the back of Ernie’s head and shoulders on the top turnbuckle. He transitions Osiris around and executes the HALF NELSON SUPLEX for the win. (2:24) SLAP THE PORPOISE. If nothing else, they were able to get the Ernie Osiris character across to the audience. Plus, I just love watching Albright kill a guy. Afterwards, Kyle Durden grabs an interview with Brent Albright. He accepts Claudio’s challenge and gets super patriotic about it. FLAG MATCH, ON! Proper grammar, off! *

• ROH World Tag Team Champions The American Wolves (w/Shane Hagadorn & Sara Del Ray) vs. Bryan Danielson & Tyler Black
  

After the challengers make their entrance, Nigel McGuinness looking like Jason Statham interrupts to question whether or not Danielson and Black trust one another to the point they can be successful. Everybody is playing mind games with these two! Lots of feeling out stuff early on between these four with no one team gaining any sort of advantage for the first several minutes. Finally, Danielson and Black manage to keep Richards on their side of the ring for a while. Black does his big stomp and tags Danielson who snapmares Richards over for a big kick to the shoulders. He wants the Surfboard, but Richards grabs the bottom rope, so Danielson pulls back on Davey’s upper jaw! Tag to Black, Richards has enough and backs Tyler into the Wolves corner. We see a chop battle between Black and Edwards. Black gets the better of that as Edwards staggers back into an elbow smash from Danielson. Now Danielson wants to try the Surfboard this time on Edwards. He applies the hold as Black comes in to dropkick Edwards while he’s got nowhere to go. Tag to Richards, he gets caught in an Indian deathlock until Edwards comes in and dropkicks Danielson away. Now is where the match picks up and gets good. Edwards trips up Danielson when he tries a suicide dive on Richards. Black trips up Edwards for the receipt when he tries to fly out on Danielson. Black grabs hold of both the American Wolves to allow Danielson to take flight and wipe them both out with a suicide dive. Back in, Davey Richards goes all Brian Pillman on Danielson by nailing him with a dropkick when he tries a dive off the top. Danielson gets tossed out for a beatdown from Edwards. Back inside, the Wolves punish Danielson on their side of the ring for a while. That is until Danielson flips out of a double back suplex and dropkicks them both down. HOT TAG TO BLACK! He cleans house on the Wolves and delivers a somersault plancha! Black tosses Richards back into the ring for a Springboard Clothesline for 1-2-NO! Black misses a quebrada, but not the standing SSP. Cover, 1-2-NO! GOD’S LAST GIFT gets pushed off into the corner. STEREO FOREARM SMASHES in the corner on Black! Edwards hits a backs suplex into a faceplant to set up a Dynamite Kid missile dropkick from Richards to Black. Cover, 1-2-NO! Danielson is still out on the floor. The Wolves go for the ORIENT EXPRESS finisher. Black moves, but Richards catches Eddie’s superkick. Danielson flies in and catches Richards with a flying knee strike. Meanwhile, Edwards gets dumped. Richards eats a pair of Running Elbow Strikes in succession in the corner from the challengers. Jumping Knee Strike from Danielson gets two. While Danielson goes after Edwards and takes a ride into the guardrail, Richards avoids the PHOENIX SPLASH in the ring and rolls up Black for 1-2-NO! Here comes Edwards to help set up Black for the Alarm Clock! Edwards powerbombs Black into a LUNGBLOWER! Cover, 1-2-NO! Hey pop, he got the Black Lung. GET IT? Oh yeah, Danielson runs in to make the save! Danielson fights off the Wolves with elbow strikes, but then Black saves Danielson with a Pele Kick on Edwards. Danielson grabs the TRIANGLE CHOKE on Edwards while Black delivers the Buckle Bomb to Richards. Cover by Black on Richards, 1-2-NO! Richards grabs the bottom rope. While Tyler heads up top for the possible Phoenix Splash, Danielson stomps Richards in the face to knock him out. With Black still perched up top, Danielson runs up against the ropes to elbow Edwards off the apron. Thanks to Danielson, Black loses his balance on the top rope. Now the challengers gets into a tiff. Richard capitalizes by rolling up Black while Edwards grabs hold of Danielson for the cheap 1-2-3! (18:28) Lots of good stuff to like here, but it’s a tad disappointing as there wasn’t ever enough real drama to make you believe Black Dragon had a chance of winning. Looks like Danielson/Black III is coming soon too. ***½

After the match, Danielson and Black get at each other’s throats. They decide the best thing to do is to just chill out. Black wants a handshake, so Danielson SLAPS THE PORPOISE. I mean, slaps Tyler in the face. Well, that’s the end of the tag team known as only by me as Black Dragon.

ROH on HDNet returns in two weeks with Claudio Castagnoli taking on Brent Albright in a flag match! Plus, Jerry Lynn, Kenny Omega & Erick Stevens will do battle with the newly crowned ROH world champ Austin Aries, Rhett Titus & Kenny King in some sweet six-man tag action!

Your hosts are Dave Prazak and Mike Hogewood.

Hogewood announces Austin Aries as the NEW ROH world champion to become the one and only former ROH champ ever to regain the title.

• Claudio Castagnoli vs. Necro Butcher
  

Where is Prince Nana? Wasn’t Nana just managing him? They’re getting really inconsistent with who is managing who lately. I know Claudio isn’t a part of the Embassy, but isn’t Necro Butcher supposed to be battling Claudio because of what happened last week with Grizzly Redwood? Anyways, they brawl to the floor where Necro tosses Castagnoli around by his scarf. Back in, Claudio avoids an O’Connor roll and resorts to eye-gouging to set up a Bicycle Kick. Claudio keeps Necro grounded with elbow drops. Necro mounts a comeback and gets that O’Connor roll he wanted earlier. Violence Party sets up a running bulldog for two. Claudio counters a Chokeslam, but gets caught up top for a surprise rana from Necro. Enter Jimmy Rave. He hawks a loogie at Necro. Rave’s presence in the ring distracts the ref long enough for Claudio to field goal kick Necro in the balls for the 1-2-3. (5:53) The Castagnoli/Rave beatdown brings out Brent Albright for the save. Looks like a tag team match is in our future. They really need to get more creative with their feuds on this TV show. ¾*

• SHIMMER Champion MsChif (w/Jimmy Jacobs) vs. Nevaeh
  

Nevaeh’s cute, but she’s got no spunk. Just so you know, this is non-title. She does the Shawn Michaels flip escape out of a hiptoss, followed by the Curt Hennig running neck snap. MsChif comes back with a back fist and jumps down on Nevaeh’s shoulders in the corner. Nevaeh gets her foot pulled stretched back on her shoulder blades! ROH crowd ~ “This is awesome!” MsChif drops her down across her knee, but then misses a quebrada. Nevaeh hits a series of clotheslines and a neckbreaker gets two. German suplex gets another two. Jimmy Jacobs hops in the ring to distract Nevaeh and the ref while MsChif makes herself ready for the GREEN MIST~! Nevaeh is so blinded that the DESECRATOR is fairly academic. (4:01) Decent women’s match, but they need more women on here if they’re going to use the term ‘women of honor’. So far there’s only MsChif, Haze, Del Ray, and now Nevaeh on the show. *½

Colt Cabana and Brent Albright shill ROH merchandise. Brent doesn’t wear a shirt and just has his mic duct-taped to his chest. Fun stuff. BUY RING OF HONOR DVD’S! Why? Because they exist.

Stills are shown from the Manhattan Mayhem III show where Austin Aries made history by recapturing the ROH world title in a three-way match including the former champ Jerry Lynn and Tyler Black.

Ric Flair comes out and puts the company over one last time before stepping down as the ROH Ambassador.

• Kenny King (w/Rhett Titus & a couple skanks) vs. Kenny Omega
  

Not too many things about wrestling is creepier than hearing Hogewood talk about three-ways that don’t pertain to wrestling. Anyways, four weeks ago, Omega pinned King in a triple-threat match and now King is here to prove he can beat Omega any day of the week. Particularly on Saturdays though. Basic armdraggery to start. King ducks the Kotaro Krusher and gets kicked out to ringside with a mule kick. Omega misses a baseball slide on King Titus, gets grabbed by Titus for a King somersault off the apron, and breaks free as King wipes out Titus. Omega steps up his game with a somersault plancha out on the twosome down on the floor. Inside the ring, Omega avoids the handspring kick, but gets tripped up by Titus. Now King starts looking all confident as he roughs Omega up on the mat. Omega gets caught up top to set up a Roundhouse Kick from King! Meanwhile, Rhett Titus MARKS OUT and takes a victory lap around the ring. Just when all seems to be going great for King, Omega shoves off a superplex and levels King with a huge flying bodypress! Kotaro Krusher gets 1-2-NO! King sees the Flash Man’s Time Stopper coming and nails Omega with the handspring kick. Elijah Express from King! Holy crap that was awesome. Cover, 1-2-NO! Titus helps out King by grabbing hold of Omega long enough for King to blast him with a Jumping Enziguri. CORONATION! Cover, 1-2-NO! Looks like King is going for the Burning Hammer when Omega slips out into a sunset flip for 1-2-NO! That’s how he beat King last time, but not today. Flash Man’s Time Stopper connects! King escapes a Dragon Suplex attempt, allowing Titus to grab hold of Omega again from the apron. Heel miscommunication ensues. King walks backwards into a Reverse Hurracanrana by Omega to set up CROYT’S WRATH for the porpoise slapping three-count. (8:17) King Titus continues to double-team Omega after the bell until Erick Stevens runs in and chases them away. ***¼

• Eddie Kingston vs. Andy “Right Leg” Ridge
  

Apparently Eddie Kingston was suspended for punching down a ref four weeks ago during a match with Chris Hero and now he’s back. Ridge gets in one kick with his right leg and then gets popped in the face. Kingston’s signature chops are followed by some overhead suplexes. Crowd wants Hero. Ridge catches Kingston charging in the corner with his right foot and delivers a knee strike with his right knee before getting wiped out with the SPINNING BACKFIST. (1:42) I don’t really care for Kingston. Guess I just don’t see his appeal. ½*

Kyle Durden is standing by with Jimmy Jacobs to talk about the first ‘Fight Without Honor’ match on HDNet. I would have never figured Jacobs to be a Janis Joplin fan. Seriously though, great promo on Delirious.

• KENTA vs. Roderick Strong
  

Despite being a huge wrestling star in Japan for the past five years, KENTA has finally made it to American television. He’s easily one of my favorite active wrestlers. Both guys use their speed early: KENTA avoids the chops of Strong, Strong avoids the kicks of KENTA. They give up on that strategy and just start trading chops and kicks on each other. Jumping shin kick from Strong stops the craziness as both guys retreat to opposite sides of the ring. Geez, KENTA’s chest is already purple in the first two minutes. KENTA corners Strong and brings him out. Strong tries a sunset flip, but KENTA stands strong and nearly kicks Strong’s head off. KENTA corners Strong again and delivers forearms and kicks. He whips Strong across and charges, but gets caught and launched half-way across the ring. KENTA dares the chops and Strong happily obliges. Strong hits his first backbreaker of the match and begins to work the back. KENTA fires back with a series of clotheslines and a Flying Lariat gets 1-2-NO! Strong dumps KENTA out to the apron and brings him back inside with a slingshot falcon arrow for two. That was cool. Billy Robinson-style backbreaker gets two for Strong. KENTA elbows out of the Fireman’s Carry Gutbuster and explodes with a bunch of kicks and a springboard dropkick adds the exclamation point. From there, KENTA follows up with a Yakuza Kick and the Hesitation Dropkick. Sitout powerbomb from KENTA gets 1-2-NO! KENTA RUUUUUSH! Cover, 1-2-NO! Strong avoids the GO2SLEEP like the plague and hits a superplex for two. He goes for the STRONGHOLD, but KENTA grabs the ropes. They fight to the floor where KENTA charges Strong, who gets caught and dropped back-first on the corner of the apron! Back in, Strong covers for 1-2-NO! Fireman’s Carry Gutbuster! Yakuza Kick gets 1-2-NO! GIBSON DRIVER is countered into the GO2SLEEP and yeah, Roderick goes to sleep. (12:16) Great TV debut for KENTA. He didn’t do too much here, yet looked good enough for you to care about him. There’ll be time for him to pull out some of his other tricks in the future. ***¼

Next week: The ROH World Tag Team Champions the American Wolves
defend against Bryan Danielson and Tyler Black! Plus, Delirious battles Jimmy Jacobs in another ‘Fight Without Honor’.

Your hosts are “Misogynistic” Dave Prazak and “Homophobic” Mike Hogewood.

Tonight in the main event, the ROH world tag team champs Kevin Steen and El Generico take on the American Wolves in a tables match!

• Roderick Strong vs. Rhett Titus
  

Titus hails from the “Temple of Lust”. Prazak asks Hogewood if he’s ever been there. “Uhh, no?” After some decent mat stuff, Strong catches Titus with Air Pillman and takes control of the match. Backbreakers and chops follow, but then Titus hits an Edge-O-Matic out of the corner. Jumping knee drop gets two. He continues with the offense by nailing Strong with a Stinger Splash and High Knee for a nearfall. Roddy chops out of a front facelock and springs off the ropes with a flying bodypress. Titus fights off a Uranage backbreaker and delivers a swinging neckbreaker for two. Titus misses a corner charge and HERE COMES RODERICK! He gets the Uranage backbreaker after all, but can’t get the three-count. Titus escapes Death By Roderick and O’Connor rolls him up for two. Modified Rocker Dropper gets two. Strong slips out of the Muff Driver and stuns Titus with an enziguri to hit Death By Roderick. Sick Kick gets Roderick the win. (6:54) Actually not a bad back and forth match. Whatever you do, don’t swivel your hips while you’ve got Roderick’s head in between your legs! That’s what SHE said. **

Video package to hype Austin Aries. Yeah, he’s an opportunist and brings style to the substance.

• Sara Del Ray vs. Daizee Haze vs. MsChif (w/Jimmy Jacobs)
  

MsChif is shown with her SHIMMER world title, but the belt isn’t on the line here. Del Ray gets rid of Daizee Haze right off the bat, but then she runs into a drop toehold from MsChif and takes a standing moonsault. MsChif applies an Octopus Stretch on both sides of Del Ray’s body. That’s pretty cool. Daizee breaks that up with a missile dropkick. Daizee takes MsChif down with a face slam out of the corner and then turns around into a choke lift from Del Ray only to be dropped on top of MsChif. They fight to the floor where Daizee dives on top of Del Ray and fails. While Daizee’s stomping Del Ray, MsChif sprays her with the GREEN MIST! Back inside, MsChif puts Daizee away with the DESECRATOR. (2:40) Now this is how they should be booking MsChif on TV. They haven’t really done much with her otherwise. *½

After the match, Kyle Durden interviews Jimmy Jacobs and MsChif. Jimmy says he’ll use MsChif in the AOTF as a missile to take out “That Harlot” Daizee Haze. Down on the floor, the ref is trying to help Daizee wash the mist out of her face with some bottled water. It’s the small things.

Video package to hype Tyler Black airs for the title match next week. He’s so much younger and hungrier than the others is the general theme he’s trying to get across.

“The following has been paid for by the Embassy.” Prince Nana and Ernie Osiris talks up Bison Smith and Jimmy Rave, but introduces Claudio Castagnoli as his new associate. Now shut that camera off, you stinkin’ fool. WHO’S TV-PG NOW?

• Erick Stevens vs. Sami Callahan
  

Erick Stevens looks JUST like Ben Stiller to me. Then again, I watched Dodgeball for the 2399^th time last night, so maybe he really doesn’t look like at him at all. Callahan has yet to win a match on HDNet and I doubt he can do it here either. Callahan cools down Stevens to start and licks his head? Off an O’Connor roll block, Callahan connects with the sliding clothesline. KOJI CLUTCH! Oh, but Stevens makes the ropes. Callahan hits a corner clothesline and rolls backwards to charge again, but Stevens EXPLODES on him and spears him into the opposite corner to set up the CHOO CHOO SPLASH. Lariat leads to the DOCTORBOMB for the win. (2:49) I really do dig Erick Stevens. This was like the Strong/Titus match only shorter. *

Hogewood and Prazak have an interview with Nigel McGuinness via “satellite”. How’s your rehab going? None of your business. Who do you think is going to win the four-corner survival match on next week’s show? Nigel puts everybody over while insulting them at the same time. What do you want to tell your fans watching at home? He can’t say how he really feels about ROH fans on TV. C’mon Hogewood, you should know that by now.

• ROH World Tag Team Champions Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. The American Wolves – Tables Match
  

Tables are legal, but a pinfall or submission is still what wins you the match. They meet in the aisleway and a split-screen brawl ensues because this is SERIOUS BUSINESS. Once the champs are in the ring, they target Richards while Edwards is on the floor. Steen hits a pair of somersault legdrops on Richards. Edwards makes a save for his partner, but winds up taking a Backpack Senton. KEVIN – GET THE TABLES! They bang the American Wolves heads onto a table and then lean it up in the corner. Edwards avoids a whip on the table, but then charges back at Generico into a T-bone suplex into the corner. Richards pulls out Generico and whips him into the guardrail. In the ring, Steen ducks a clothesline and goes to powerbomb Richards through the table. Richards slips out and dropkicks Steen’s injured knee. And it begins. Generico comes in and takes the Alarm Clock to set up the superkick into the German suplex onto the table. It doesn’t break though, but certainly does some damage. Edwards is the one to finally snap the table in half with a shinbreaker to Steen. Richards teases a Figure-Four, but the crowd likes that too much so he decides not to do that and gives the crowd the universal “up yours” sign. Meanwhile, Edwards props another table up in the corner. Steen fights off a double-team attack in the corner as Generico flies in from out of nowhere onto the American Wolves. Michinoku Driver to Edwards! Cover, 1-2-NO! Generico escapes the D.R. DRIVER and walks the ropes into a tornado DDT. He sees Edwards on the floor, so he takes him out with a somersault dive. In the ring, Richards charges at Steen and gets hit with a powerbomb on the table. Senton Bomb by Steen! Flying Splash by Generico! Cover on Richards, 1-2-NO! Edwards saves his partner. On the floor, the tag champs set up a double-stack of tables. They grab Edwards to powerbomb him off the apron THROUGH the table, but Richards saves him by scoring a running dropkick on Steen’s bad knee. See, that’s the difference in setting up a contrived table spot and not. In the ring, the American Wolves brutalize Steen in the corner. Richards misses a Shooting Star Press (!!). Down on the floor, Generico FLIES THROUGH the bottom and middle ropes into Edwards for a swinging DDT! Holy crap that was awesome. He puts Edwards on a table and flying splashes him through the table! Meanwhile, Steen has Richards in a SHARPSHOOTER! Here comes Shane Hagadorn still selling the back from last week (of course this is a TV taping, so it makes more sense for the live crowd). He breaks up the hold, but takes a PACKAGE PILEDRIVER for his troubles. Steen places Richards on a table for the Moonsault, but Richards hops up and shoves Steen down through the double-stack of tables! I think Steen will call it a night now. Generico charges Richards with a Yakuza Kick and calls for a BRAINBUSTER through the table. The problem is he forgot about Edwards, who runs in for the low-blow to set up the DOOMSDAY ACE CRUSHER THROUGH THE TABLE! That does it for Generico as Edwards gets the pin. (15:15) We’ve got NEW ROH world tag team champions. Well that was a battle. Lots of great stuff with the American Wolves working over Steen’s knee while Steenerico were crazy enough to take a lot of risks to hold onto the belts. Unfortunately, they were unsuccessful. This is your *new* best-match-to-date for ROH on HDNet as it felt more like a match you would see on ROH PPV. At least on the torrent I downloaded, they failed to advertise the Take No Prisoners PPV premiering June 12. ****

Next week features the main event match ROH on HDNet has been hyping for weeks now. ROH world champ Jerry Lynn defends against Tyler Black, Austin Aries, and Bryan Danielson in a four-corner survival match. This certainly has the ability to supersede the tables match as a ****+ possibility.

Your hosts are Dave Prazak and Mike Hogewood.

Tonight in the main event, Bryan Danielson vs. Tyler Black II!

Nigel McGuinness makes an appearance and gets a considerable amount of respect shown from the crowd. He says being world champion is a lot like shagging a porn star: everybody is jealous, you’re really proud, but you don’t quite know how long you can last. Brilliant. He’s taking some time off to heal, but he will return and will make history to become the first-ever two-time ROH world champion.

In the back, Kyle Durden stands in the midst of a friendly debate between Tyler Black and Bryan Danielson as they put each other over.

• Jimmy Jacobs & MsChif vs. Delirious & Daizee Haze
  

This is our first look on HDNet at the SHIMMER champion MsChif. Delirious goes nuts on Jacobs at the bell because that’s his thing. MsChif and Haze do some basic headlock/armlock exchanges. With MsChif in the headlock, she backs Haze into her corner for a tag to Jacobs. Jacobs stands in between Haze and Delirious so he can get him some, but Haze slides underneath his legs off a charge and tags Delirious. He tosses Jacobs in the corner for a Panic Attack, but misses and settles for the Cobra Stretch. Now we have Jacobs backing Delirious into the AOTF corner. MsChif helps out with an escape from the cobra clutch and hotshots Delirious. MsChif briefly tags in and delivers some double stomps in the corner on Delirious. Back to Jacobs, he runs into a headbutt in the corner and gets nailed with a flying lariat. Hot tag to Daizee, she wipes out Jimmy with a missile dropkick and delivers a swinging neckbreaker to MsChif. Senton gets two. Jacobs breaks up the pin and grabs Daizee, but Delirious saves and hits Jacobs with a suicide dive on the floor! In the ring, Daizee hits the Heart Punch and the MIND TRIP for the upset 1-2-3. (5:21) Unless Daizee is going to win the SHIMMER belt soon, I’m not sure why they made MsChif look so weak since she’s the champ. Odd booking there. *½

• The American Wolves (w/Shane Hagadorn) vs. Orange Cassidy and Leslie Butterscotch
  

American Wolves = British Bulldogs. Davey Richards is obviously Dynamite Kid all the way down to his haircut while Eddie Edwards is Davey Boy Smith circa 1982 when he was a much smaller man. By the way, Hogewood prefers caramel. Butterscotch gets tossed as the American Wolves demolish Cassidy with kicks and chops. Edwards hits a Running Powerslam to set up a Flying Headbutt for Richards. Butterscotch runs in and breaks the tag. Big mistake. He gets a legit tag, so the American Wolves destroy him as Edwards hoists Butterscotch up in the air into a kick from Richards. I believe that move is called the Alarm Clock. Superkick into a German suplex gets the 1-2-3. (3:49) Not sure I like the team name since it is such an obvious ripoff, but otherwise this tag team rules. The American Wolves are coming for Steenerico and the tag belts. Once again, a US vs. CA-NA-DA feud! On their way out, Richards STEPS ON a downed Cassidy like he wasn’t even there. Now this is how you pull off a squash. **

Kyle Durden gets a word with the honorary ROH ambassador Ric Flair. He says nothing of note besides putting over the talent. Ric and Kyle share a woo.

COLT CABANA makes his ROH on HDNet debut. Prince Nana interrupts his moment ending with the newest member of the Embassy in “Dirty” Ernie Osiris getting punched in the face while Nana scurries away.

• Bryan Danielson vs. Tyler Black - #1 Contender’s Match to the ROH world title
  

Two weeks ago, these two went to a 20-minute time limit draw and now they look to pick up where they left off to decide a winner AND #1 contender to the ROH world title. Also it should be noted that Tyler Black has never beaten Bryan Danielson in a one-on-one match. Danielson is in COMPLETE control of the match for the first ten minutes with leg submissions. He can’t pull back on the Surfboard, so he jumps down on Black’s knees. The tide turns momentarily when Danielson misses a pescado and gets nailed with a somersault plancha. Uhh, what happened to all the leg work? Back inside, Danielson avoids the Springboard Clothesline. Black hits a reverse neckbreaker. He misses the running boot in the corner and enziguri kicks Danielson in the back of the head to nail that Springboard Clothesline after all for two. Quebrada misses, but the standing SSP does not for another nearfall. Danielson stops the Buckle Bomb and catches Black in a rolling Boston crab! Black makes the ropes and gets hit with the Missile Dropkick which leads into a nip-up! Running knee strike gets two for Danielson. Danielson wins a uppercut battle and hits a basement dropkick in the corner. Rollup sequence follows into them rolling around the ring. Rolling elbow connects, but so does an enziguri from Black. Both men are down! Black catches a kick from Danielson and lifts him up into an F5. Buckle Bomb is countered into the TRIANGLE CHOKE! Black refuses to quit! He picks Danielson up to try and break the hold with a Buckle Bomb which worked the last time they faced, but this time Danielson flips him back over into the middle of the ring! Oh, but Black manages to reach the ropes. Danielson wants the Back Superplex, but Black slips out and finally hits that Buckle Bomb. Cover, 1-2-NO! Black heads up top for the PHOENIX SPLASH at the 20-minute mark, but Danielson shoves him off into the crowd and follows him out there with a SPRINGBOARD PLANCHA! They do a rather dramatic crawl to the ring. All the same, it’s not enough as both guys keep on pulling each other down so neither man can win to lead into a double-countout. (21:24) Either this sets up a THIRD match or Jerry Lynn takes on both guys in a triple-threat. Honestly, I’m hoping for the triple-threat. The leg psychology was WAY off here thanks to almost no-selling from Black after TEN minutes of having his leg bent in ways it shouldn’t go. That bothered me a bit. ***¼

Next week, Brent Albright gets a rematch with Claudio Castagnoli!

Final Thoughts: They seem to be building some stories now without a lot of talking and instead making the stories with more wrestling with the Danielson/Black rivalry and the American Wolves calling out the tag champs after destroying Orange Butterscotch. What was talking on the show was important like Nigel’s promo for example. Well, except for maybe Ric Flair. Other than having his face on their show and giving ROH his so-called support, I wonder what he’s actually going to be doing with them or if that is all he will be doing with them. Anyways, another great hour of the best wrestling on TV.

Eastwood Expo Center, Niles Ohio.
http://www.eastwoodexpo.com/calendar/index.ch2?temp_year=2008&temp_month=12&event=2562

Star Tickets http://www.starticketsplus.com

Al Snow VS Pepper Parks

Falls Count Anywhere Return Match for NWA Women’s Championship
MsChif (c) VS Ashley Lane

The Sheik VS Preston Steele

Marvelous Mitch Ryder & Sexy Shawn Cook VS Flyin’ Ryan Burke and World Class Kevin Bradway

NWA National Title Championship
Crusher Hansen (c)VS. “The Universal Soldier” Shatter

Bull Pain v. Chance Prophet

“Celtic Fury” The McCoy Brothers VS Jason Dukes & Dysfunction

plus other great matches
Bell time 7 pm
Tickets $15