ROH on HD Net for 5/16/09

Written by Todd Hoster   |   Monday, May 18 2009

The latest installment of ROH on HD Net was highlighted by a tag team main event pitting champs Kevin Steen and El Generico (pictured) against Rhett Titus and Kenny King.

ROH ON HD NET 5/16/09

Dave Prazak and Mike Hogewood call the action as always, and they’re still in their suits.  They’re previewing the announcement of the forthcoming ROH Title shot against Jerry Lynn, which will be made by ‘The Nature Boy’ Ric Flair later tonight.

CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI VS. BRENT ALBRIGHT

Claudio’s ‘arrogant European’ heel routine is hilarious.  Albright rushes Claudio immediately and starts a ‘ground n pound’ attack.  Castagnoli regains control with a reversed arm whip and an elbow smash.  The two men trade uppercuts and forearms before Albright hits a power slam for a two count.  The two men now trade European and regular uppercuts before the action spills outside of the ring.  Albright takes over with some Flair clops and then throws Claudio into the ringside barricade.  Back in the ring Albright hits a couple of uppercuts for a near fall before Castagnoli recovers with the ol’ ‘eye rake across the top rope’ move and some forearms.  Albright recovers and hits a couple of overhead suplexes before climbing to the top rope.   Albright misses the missile dropkick, Castagnoli hits the bicycle kick to the head for a near fall.  Castagnoli with an elbow drop and a knee lift.  Castagnoli hits a gut wrench suplex for a near fall.  Claudio starts working the knees to the back, which the announcers put over as a set up for his finisher.  Now Claudio returns the favor, taking the action outside the ring and throwing Albright into the steel barricade at ringside.  Back in the ring, and another exchange of forearms and uppercuts.  Castagnoli takes over with a heelish poke in the eye.  He then misses the O’Connor roll before he gets tossed outside of the ring.  Albright hits a splash over the top rope onto the floor and throws his opponent back into the ring.  Albright goes up to the top rope and hits a cross bodyblock for a near fall.  Albright locks in his ‘crowbar’ armbar submission hold but Castagnoli makes the ropes and then takes back the advantage by hitting a hot shot across the top rope.  Castagnoli sets up the ricola bomb but Albright counters for a near fall.  Albright sets the half nelson suplex but Castagnoli blocks.  Castagnoli gets a roll up for a near fall.  While Castagnoli argues with the ref Albright gets the arm bar—before he can get the submission Prince Nana and ‘Dirty’ Ernie O’Cyrus come to ringside and throw a nasty shoe at Albright.  While the ref is questioning the presence of the heels at ringside Castagnoli hits a hard kick to the ‘family jewels’ and gets the three count.  He goes to administer some more damage after the bell, dragging a chair into the ring but Colt Cabana makes the save before he can use it.

WINNER:  CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI

El Generico and Kevin Steen cut a promo. 

DARK CITY FIGHT CLUB VS. ALEX PAYNE AND GRIZZLY REDWOOD

Another presumptive squash match between the DCFC and a couple of physically overmatched opponents.  Case in point—Payne and Redwood *combined* weigh 338 pounds.  Redwood makes ECW punching bag Spike Dudley look like Brock Lesnar.  Cory Chavis and Payne start the action, Chavis quickly shoves him to the canvas.  Payne ducks a punch and then hits a few punches which Chavis ‘no sells’.  Chavis whips Payne who makes the tag, after which Redwood hits a top rope strike which has little effect.  DCFC hit a double team move for a near fall, with Payne making the save.  Redwood tags in Payne, the DCFC almost immediately hit their sitout power bomb/neckbreaker doubleteam finisher for the pinfall.

WINNER:  DARK CITY FIGHT CLUB

‘Buzzwords’ features Necro Butcher and Delerious.  Jimmy Jacobs and Brody Lee now give *their* buzzwords. 

Ric Flair enters the arena to a nice reception from the crowd.  This is likely “Slick Ric’s” last ROH appearance at least for awhile as he made a surprise appearance at the WWE PPV on Sunday night.  Flair does his classic bit where he makes someone hold the ropes open for him.  He’s here to announce the first ROH title defense on HD Net, so Jerry Lynn heads to the ring to get the news firsthand.  Flair admonishes the ringsiders for not holding the ropes open for Lynn.  Before Flair makes an announcement, Tyler Black enters the ring.  And here comes Bryan Danielson to his new ring entrance music which sounds something like his old ‘Final Countdown’ intro.  Now here comes Austin Aries, and he has a flunky hold open the ropes for him a la Flair.  Aries cuts a promo giving his ‘I may be the greatest man who’s ever lived’ catch phrase. 

Now Flair shake hands with all three challengers—and then announces a ‘Four Corners Survival’ title match with Lynn defending against Aries, Black and Danielson.

Kenny King and Rhett Titus interviewed backstage.  Titus may need to switch to decaf. 

JAY BRISCOE VS. SAMI CALLIHAN

Still can’t figure out Callihan’s Raven meets Jeff Hardy meets Misfits era Glenn Danizg gimmick.  Fortunately, Briscoe not allowed to cut a promo before this match.  He starts the action by hitting a shoulder block, a Flair chop and a body slam.  Callihan takes over by slamming Briscoe headfirst into the turnbuckle. Callihan hits a sliding clothesline for a near fall.  Briscoe recovers, and the two mean trade forearm smashes with Briscoe eventually getting the best of it.  Big Brody boot from Briscoe followed by a clothesline.  Briscoe hits his ‘Jay Driller’ double underhook pile driver for the pinfall. Spoke too soon as Kyle Durden enters the ring for both Briscoes to cut a promo.

WINNER:  JAY BRISCOE

EL GENERICO & KEVIN STEEN VS. RHETT TITUS & KENNY KING

King and Titus enter first, with King pulling a Mike Cook and mocking El Generico by wearing Lucha mask.  Ask Cook how that worked for him when he tried that against Bobby Lashley.  Announcers reiterate that this is a non-title match, which is usually a sign that the champs are going to ‘do the job’.  Titus does the pelvic thrust, much to El Generico’s dismay.  Titus hits a couple of shoulderblocks, but goes to the well too many times and Generico hits a couple of arm drag takedowns.  Generico  hits some punches in the corner and a big Brody boot to the face.  Generico tags in Steen who hits a bodyslam and a doubleteam move for a near fall.  Titus hits a boot to the face and makes the tag.

Steen goes to work on Steen, hitting a bodyslam before tagging in Generico.  Nice ankledrop takedown by Generico with Steen hitting a front flip legdrop right behind.  Shades of The Midnight Express!  Heels take over now and doubleteam Generico.  King stomps Generico on the chest and tags in Titus who lands a series of punches and stomps.  Titus tags in King and they hit an inverted atomic drop/clothesline doubleteam combo for a near fall.  King doing the old heel move of distracting the ref while Titus chokes Generico with the tag rope.   Titus hits a big dropkick for a two count.  Titus doing a pelvic thrust to the face before he whips Generico into the ropes who reverses with a cross body block.  He struggles briefly before making the hot tag with Kevin Steen.   

Steen hits the inverted atomic drop on Titus and a back body drop on King.  Big powerbomb by Steen on Titus.  Steen goes for the sharpshooter but King makes the save. Tope by Generico out of the ring on Titus, Steen hits a top rope move for a near fall.  King recovers, throws Steen out of the ring.  Generico goes for the Yakuza kick, King blocks it.  King tries for a superplex but gets pushed off, instead hitting a sweet enziguri to the top.  Slam body press combo for a near fall but Steen makes the save.  He sets the package piledriver, but King blocks it.  Steen hits a DDT and goes for the top rope.  Titus puts Steen on the top ropes but gets caught in the ‘tree of woe’.  Steen cannonballs King before Generico hits a “sick” top rope leg drop off of the opposite turnbuckle.  This produces a “Holy Sh*t!!” chant from the crowd before Steen hit their traditional package piledriver/brainbuster combo for the pin.

WINNERS:  EL GENERICO & KEVIN STEEN

American Wolves make the run in, working on Kevin Steen’s knee and trying to put El Generico through a table.  They hit a top rope cutter through the table on Generico and grab the ROH Championship belts to considerable hat as the show ends.

Overall, an entertaining show—while the wrestling wasn’t as good as last week’s edition they did a good job of advancing several storylines.  Next week we've got Brody Lee against Necro Butcher in the main event. 

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