Oh my goodness, two weeks in a row, what is this blog coming to?  I want to make a quick note, I was only able to watch ROH on HDNet once this week (I usually catch it at least twice before I write my review), and as such, my review will probably be a little sparse; the main event, and the Young Bucks tag team match will both only contain opinion of the match, simply because to be honest, I really just wanted to watch, and focus on the match, and I figured I would have time to watch it again and do play-by-play later.  I promise that next week, I will have us back on schedule.

OK guys, I don’t have too much to talk about in my pre-show notes this week, although I have been thinking about something recently.  With the announcement that WWE is thinking about doing an all-Hell in the Cell PPV, the Cage match that took place last night between Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black in Detroit, and even the recent TNA Lockdown PPV, there have been a ton of cage matches recently, across all promotions.  It got me to thinking about a match that I really miss seeing, and wouldn’t mind seeing revived.  The War Games match was semi-popular in WCW, and though there was always a ton of hype surrounding the match, and they did manage to pull out a couple of surprises (remember the year that Sting fought for the NWO… AND WCW!), to be honest the matches weren’t ever that great.  I think if this match were brought back, it could be interesting to see how it plays out.  Imagine a Survivor Series War Games match between the team of C.M. Punk, Shelton Benjamin, Edge and Chris Jericho taking on Rey Mysterio, John Morrison, Evan Bourne and the Undertaker.  This could work in ROH too (playing fantasy booker, and working off of recent storylines and matches) How about if the American Wolves teamed up with Austin Aries and Katsuhiko Nakajima to take on Kevin Steen, El Generico, Bryan Danielson and Tyler Black.  The match could even be updated, maybe make the cage a little bit larger, so it allows wrestlers a bit of space to maneuver on the floor (like the Hell in a Cell), or maybe take the top off of it, and allow people to escape out of the top, with the first team with all members escaping getting the win.  I just think that this match has a ton of potential, and I’m so sad that it hasn’t been seen in a major company in years.  I know it must be a pain to set up two rings, and getting camera angles right is difficult, but I think it would be a lot of fun to see this match, even if only once or twice more.  I know I can’t be the only one who enjoyed this match, and really, with some of the scenarios that can be set up with some of today’s wrestlers, this could be an incredible match.  Who knows, maybe someday I’ll get lucky and this will become a reality, but I don’t think I’ll be holding my breath. 

In other, more ROH focused news, last night’s show in Detroit sounded pretty damn good, especially the cage match between Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black.  The ROH forums have been talking about the fall out from last night’s main event (I don’t want to spoil anything, but if you go to ROH’s website, and check out the forums I’m sure you’ll be able to find a detailed report), and to be honest, it’s something I can’t wait to check out on DVD.  Alright guys, that’s enough of that, it’s time to get on to the wrestling.

Hog and Prazak welcome us to this week’s edition of ROH on HDNet, hyping the main event Tag Team Title match tonight.  These two teams have already had a match before that went to a 45 minute draw.  Hog and Prazak quickly get to the action in the ring.

Match #1, Fight Without Honor: Jimmy Jacobs vs. Delirious

Jacobs comes out with Brody Lee and MsChif, but immediately sends them to the back.  Delirious is in his “Red poison” costume, and the fight is on as soon as Delirious hits the ring.  Delirious hits a leaping lariat from the top rope, and follows it up with a dive through the ropes to the floor on top of Jacobs.  Jacobs is able to throw Delirious into the barricade head first, but Delirious counters another attack by hitting a drop toe hold, sending Jacobs head first into the barricade.  Delirious hits a panic attack on the outside and looks under the ring, grabbing a table.  Jacobs is already busted open as Delirious props the table up on the barricade.  Delirious attempts the cobra clutch suplex, but Jacobs fights his way out and sends Delirious into the ring post.  Jacobs grabs a couple of chairs from the ringside area and throws them into the ring before climbing the barricade and hitting a lariat.  Back in the ring, Jacobs slams Delirious head first into the chair, before picking up a chair and slamming it across his back.  Jacobs sits Delirious in one of the chairs, climbs the ropes and jumps off the top rope on top of Delirious, completely flattening the chair.  Back on the outside, Jimmy again sits Delirious in a chair, but this time when he dives over the top rope, Delirious moves a Jacobs hits the chair with his knee.  Delirious grabs the chair, climbs to the top rope, and slams the chair on the top of Jacobs’ head.  Delirious throws a chair at Jacobs, and goes for another panic attack, but Jacobs hits a spear and locks in the end time.  Delirious is able to get to the ropes to force a break, and while he’s recovering, Jacobs grabs the spike out of his boot.  Jacobs goes to spike Delirious but he misses and lodges the spike in the top turnbuckle.  Delirious hits the cobra clutch suplex and pins Jacobs but he can only get two.  Delirious goes up top, but Jacobs launches a chair straight at Delirious’ head.  Jacobs tries to spear Delirious off the apron through the table but he misses Delirious, and the table doesn’t break, so Delirious hits shadows over hell from the top turnbuckle to the floor through the table.  Delirious rolls Jacobs into the ring and pins him for the three count and the win.  After the match, Jacobs pulls the spike out of the top turnbuckle, the crowd chants “disappointment”.  Jacobs starts spiking his own forehead and arm, while the crowd chants “you sick f***”.

Winner: Delirious by pinfall

I have to admit that this match was head over heels better than I thought it would be.  I know I’ve said several times here in the blog that I’m sick of the Age of the Fall angle, and I wish it would be over.  To be honest though, if Jacobs can continue to have matches like that with his former adversaries, and he continues to evolve this “one man wrecking crew” type gimmick that he’s working now, I think this angle could be brand new all over again.  As far as this match goes, one thing I want to note was that it was good to see the “Red Poison” Delirious, as this is a costume he doesn’t break out very often, and it’s just interesting to see another “side” of Delirious (especially since he doesn’t talk).  There were a couple of awesome spots in this match that ended with crushed chairs, and even though I know those chairs aren’t necessarily the most sturdy thing in the world, it’s still a hell of a sight to see.  I’m sad to see Jacobs lose yet another match on HDNet (seriously, has this guy won a TV match yet?  I don’t feel like checking all my past reviews, if someone knows the answer, post it in the comment section), and I’m also sad to see Jacobs win another match against one of his former allies (another trend that’s a little bit stale).  On the positive side, these guys delivered something that they haven’t delivered together in a while, an enjoyable match.  I had a lot of fun watching what turned out to be a pretty good brawl.  The only thing that really kind of confused me was the end, with Jacobs spiking himself.  I mean, I know all this “disappointment” stuff is supposed to be getting to him, but it just doesn’t feel right to me.  Jacobs already did his whole “emo” gimmick, and while some could argue that that’s what he’s still portraying, I don’t think I’m the only one that doesn’t want to see Jimmy go back to his full-blown “emo-warrior” days.  As far as the match goes, solid B.

Kyle Durden is backstage with Tyler Black and Bryan Danielson.  He asks if their rivalry will affect their match with the American Wolves tonight.  Danielson said they don’t have to be friends tonight, they have to be a team. 

The Young Bucks cut a promo, saying that tonight they’ll give the fans “more bang for their bucks”.

Match #2: The Young Bucks vs. Sal Rinauro and Brandon Day

The Young Bucks win this match with an insane combination consisting of a superkick, Finlay roll, 450 splash, and moonsault.  Nick makes the pin and gets three.

Winners: The Young Bucks by pinfall

Holy cow!  Do you remember what it was like (if you’re a long time wrestling fan) about a decade ago when you saw the Hardy Boyz wrestle for the first time?  The Young Bucks make the Hardy’s look about as talented as The Great Khali.  Seriously, I didn’t do commentary on this match while I was watching the show on the first run through (figuring that I would have a chance to get a second run through… how wrong I was), but to be honest, I don’t think I would have known how to call a lot of the Bucks’ more innovative double team maneuvers.  Neither Rinauro or Day came off as anything particularly special, but honestly, it would be a bit unfair to put them in a match against these two and expect them to shine.  I can say that they were solid as body bags for the Bucks to land on after impressing with all of their fancy moves.  Bottom line, the Young Bucks are one of the best, and most talented tag teams to break on the pro-wrestling scene in the last decade.  SEE THIS MATCH A- (for some crazy innovation)

Durden is backstage with Castagnoli.  Castagnoli says he wants to embarrass Brent Albright, so on July 4^th, he’s challenging Albright to a flag match.

We get some video of the title match two weeks ago when Austin Aries won the title to become the first two-time ROH World Champion.  Durden interview Aries after the match, and Aries cuts a promo that’s pretty freaking awesome.  I’m really glad that Aries won the belt, as his new character is so amazing, and deserves to be holding the belt.

Durden is backstage with Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards.  Richards and Edwards run down Danielson and Black.  Edwards says neither man is 100% focused on the tag team titles, he says the Wolves are the hunters, and tonight, the hunt is on.

Match #2: Brent Albright vs. “Dirty” Ernie Osiris

Osiris looks pretty unhappy about having to be in this match as Prince Nana basically has to pull Ernie to the ring.  Albright tries to grab a hold of Osiris a couple of times, but apparently the smell is too much, so he hits a lariat instead.  Albright hits Osiris with chops and forearms in the corner.  Albright hits an air raid crash, picks Osiris up and slams his head repeatedly into the turnbuckle, before hitting the half nelson suplex.  Albright pins Osiris for the win.  After the match, Durden comes into the ring and asks Albright if he accepts the flag match with Castagnoli.  Albright talks about how much he loves America for a while before he finally gets around to accepting the match.

Winner: Brent Albright by pinfall

Alright, I don’t think I need to restate my policy about squash matches.  I mean, c’mon, when one of the guys in the match, is playing like he doesn’t even want to get in the ring, how could it be anything but a squash.  Story of the match, Albright showed off his power moves, Osiris was a crash-test dummy SQUASH.

Huh, apparently ROH will be pre-empted next week (I wasn’t aware).  Well, in lieu of a review I’ll try and get in a couple of DVD reviews.  It’s kind of odd that they just went through this whole big “flag match” thing, and then ROH is getting pre-empted on the 4^th of July.

Main Event, ROH World Tag Team Title Match: Tyler Black and Bryan Danielson vs. The American Wolves (c)

Nigel McGuinness comes out after Black and Danielson and grabs the mic.  McGuinness wishes Dragon and Black luck.  McGuinness says that to be at least mediocre tag team partners, you have to trust each other, and these Black and Danielson don’t trust each other, so they’ll need luck.  Richards and Edwards come out to the ring with Hagadorn and Sara Del Ray in tow.  Eddie Edwards rolls up Tyler Black for the three count, and the Wolves retain.

Winners and STILL ROH World Tag Team Champions: The American Wolves by pinfall

OK, you know what?  I’m not too upset that I missed the opportunity to do play-by-play for this one, because you just can’t read the results on this one.  You need to seek this match out, I can’t stress that enough.  I just don’t understand how tag team wrestling can be so dead in the WWE when it is one, if not the hottest thing going for ROH right now.  The American Wolves are an absolute joy to watch in the ring, and Davey and Eddie work so well, it’s almost like they have their own mind link or something.  Words just don’t do this match justice, the only thing I can say, is that this match is how tag team wrestling SHOULD be.  Everything about this match, from the psychology, to the ring work, was just absolutely top notch.  FIND THIS MATCH A.

Report Card

In Ring Action: Well, besides the squash, this was one of the best top to bottom shows in terms of wrestling.  The fight without honor was a lot of fun, and I’m really glad that it exceeded all of my expectations, just because I feel like Jacobs has been floundering lately, and good matches can’t do anything but help him.  The real star of tonight’s episode though, was truly tag team wrestling.  The Young Bucks absolutely burst onto the scene in ROH (when I saw them in Manassas, the crowd started out with a bunch of “Hardy Boyz” jokes, but by the end of the match, the crowd didn’t know who to cheer for, and the Bucks were up against Steenerico!), and man is it going to be fun to watch them integrate into ROH’s already robust tag team division.  I for one can’t wait for Young Bucks/DCFC.  The main event proved that no other wrestling company in the U.S. can touch ROH in terms of wrestling ability.  When those guys go out there and work at their full potential (and that’s the thing, these guys still aren’t even working to their full potential in matches like these, you have to go to the DVD’s for the really great stuff), they can’t be touched in terms of wrestling ability.  I’m so glad that ROH has finally been able to come to television, if only to show us all how great pro-wrestling truly can be A.

Out of Ring Action: The out of ring action was also highly enjoyable this week.  I think the top of the list, best out of ring segment of the night has to go to A Double’s promo post-becoming the first ever two-time ROH champ (toot, toot indeed).  I also was a big fan of both the promos from Black and Dragon, and the American Wolves (man, has Edwards improved on the mic recently, or what).  One thing that does hurt this grade, is the severe lack of a Prince Nana promo.  Seriously, this guy is nothing but pure gold on the mic, so I can’t understand why you don’t just immediately get one in his hands whenever he goes ringside.  Imagine how awesome it would have been to be able to more clearly hear Nana berate/encourage Osiris on the way to the ring.  Otherwise, fairly strong show promo-wise.  B+

Overall: Well, I think it’d be pretty fair to say that this was one of the best shows, in all aspects, since this whole little ROH on HDNet project began (you thought you wouldn’t get it this week, but guess what, this show still needs a name).  ROH continued this week to prove several things. 

1. Tag Team Wrestling is alive and well
2. The American Wolves ARE the tag team of 2009
3. ROH is where to go for the best wrestling matches
4. ROH is where to go for the best young up-and-coming superstars of tomorrow

I do want to note though, that I still think this show needs to get out of Philly.  The crowd reactions lately are not what they should be, and I think it hurts the product.  Too many TV tapings (coupled with no “real” shows in Philly, as well as hard economic times) have led to crowd burnout.  Get these matches in front of a crowd who’s actually excited to be there, and their reactions might start to accurately reflect the amazing work going on in the ring.  This week’s show was fantastic, and is a great reminder to me why I’m still a huge pro-wrestling fan.  A.

Well guys, we’ve made it through yet another week, and we’re still here.  I guess that’s a good thing in and of itself.  Next week we won’t have any ROH on HDNet to look forward to, but I’ll try and balance that out by posting a couple of DVD reviews (schedule permitting).  Maybe I’ll take that as my first opportunity to go out and catch a movie on a Saturday night for the first time since I started this blog.  That’s something that people do on Saturday night’s right?  Well guys, you know the drill.  Same bat-time, same bat-channel.  Until next week…

I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING FUNNY TO PUT HERE THIS WEEK!

Non Wrestling Related Media O’ the Week:

So outside of wrestling, I do enjoy other sports.  I enjoy watching football and baseball, but what I really love watching is soccer.  This week, in the Confederation’s Cup final, the United States faced off against Brazil in a match that we could very well see again next year in the World Cup.  The US had already upset Spain (this was a HUGE upset, if you don’t follow soccer) going into this match, but the Brazilian team is composed of some of the best players in the world (who had also coincidentally, also beaten the U.S. earlier in the week).  Now I have to admit I don’t usually pull for the U.S. in international competitions (just because it’s nice to back a team that actually has a shot at winning), but I have to admit I watched this game pulling for the underdog.  I’ll tell you that this game was a hell of a match, and the whole thing played out a lot differently than I thought it would.  If you haven’t seen the game, I won’t spoil anything for you, but I will say that even if you’re not a fan of soccer, you should definitely watch this game.  It’s just so great to see the U.S. be able to hang with some of the greatest international soccer teams on the planet.  South Africa 2010, here we come!  

Tags: "Dirty" Ernie Osiris, Brandon Day, Brent Albright, Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, Dave Prazak, Davey Richards, Delirious, Eddie Edwards, Jimmy Jacobs, Kyle Durden, Mike Hogewood, Sal Rinauro, The Young Bucks, Tyler Black