Ring of Honor on HDNet 1/18/10
SO it’s been a while since I reviewed an episode of Ring of Honor, but with the new year and my new job in full swing I have a new schedule that I am going to try to stick to. Also I do feel that for a little bit my wrestling bug had taken a back burner but now I’m pumped for ProWrestlingPonderings.com new features and really I want to be as active as I can be. So let’s get this started.
It’s going to open up with Delirious against Sonjay Dutt in what can only be called a rinse and repeat of the character Sonjay Dutt played in TNA. I’m not huge over it but it is what it is. Delirious has been named as one of those potential ROH TV title contender and no doubt that Sonjay Dutt is going to be looking to be in that tournament as well. I guess we’ll find out Feb 5th and 6th. These two tend to have decent opening matches that the crowd can get into and even though I do feel Delirious truly is a better fit in CHIKARA, he brings a charisma to the ROH roster that the students would be wise to try to emulate in their training. Sonjay Dutt is still a good worker though I’m really wishing they would add some more layers to this ‘Guru’ character. Delirious working over the arm mainly and though it goes to show his ring work, I’d say that perhaps focusing on a high flyers legs would be a better strategy, but who am I to tell Delirious how to do his job. Dutt though seemingly taking the strategy of working the lower extremities. Prazak talks of Delirious’ recent tour with Pro Wrestling NOAH and how he got a huge win over KENTA and worked with legend Jushin Thunder Liger who fans will get to see in L.A. during ROH/PWG WrestleReunion 4 shows. I truly wish I was able to go and even planned on it but it would seem my new job is really limiting travel for the next few weeks though rest assured nothing is going to stop me from going to WM26 or CHIKARA’s King of Trios. Back and forth action but it would seem that Delirious is going to get the better in this match as he’s getting in a lot of offense but just as I say that Dutt throws Delirious from the top rope onto the floor. Daizee Haze who is going to be taking on Rayna Von Tash today (1/24/20) for Pro Wrestling RESPECT which we’ve been giving constant updates on. Slap the porpoise Sonjay pushes Daizee Haze to the guardrail and it would seem that Dutt knew what he seems prepared to take Delirious out. Sonjay seems to be more focused on taking out Delirious instead of going for the win. Ridiculous as Sonjay really could have had the match won but it’s a splash from the top from a recovered Haze and a Cobra-clutch suplex/Cobra/camel clutch variation for the win. I have to say that it’s not a great night to be Sonjay Dutt.
The main event is going to be the Cabana/Black against Aries/King. The promos that were out on Youtube from ROH earlier this week are playing though the episode and as I stated before, Aries truly is one of the best talkers on the indy scene. PWP twitter mentioned how Teddy Hart blasted ROH for their actions at Final Battle and while I am hard pressed to disagree on certain terms, Aries is still a strong champion and whoever beats him is going to set their name in ROH history.
Briscoe vs Briscoe is up. I’ve been a huge fan of Jay since watching him on the very first ROH show back in 2002 and while I understood that The Briscoes are an excellent tag team, I really felt that Jay has a certain demeanor that could lead to a singles push. Hell I wouldn’t mind seeing the Briscoes go for all the belts at some point. Tag Champs, Mark as the TV Champ, and Jay holding the ROH WOrld title…not exactly out of the question as we’ve seen them at their best esecially as the heels. Having Jim Cornette back in ROH doesn’t hurt them either and with the history that most of the fans know of it’s not beyond the realm of possibilities. I’m sure not many ROH fans agree but I think that Jay could carry the company if given a take no prisoners run of matches, especially with his brother on his side. Mark showing hes the faster of the two, but not by much and these two are really giving the crowd a decent match. These two have met in many matches in previous years but this is the first time in present day ROH that these two have met and I’m sure the new fans are excited at seeing these two try to one up each other. Jay showing that he’s not afraid to go to the sky as he sentons over the top rope to the floor to take out his younger brother. Jay has an overall style that brings more to the table, but just as I say that Mark drop kicks Jay as he attempts a top rope splash. Doing what he should as Mark is quickening the pace and also performing holding positions to wear down Jay and possbily cut his wind. A huge side winder senton from Mark onto Jay on the floor creates that pop from the crowd as the fans definitely want to see a clear cut winner shows how equal these two brothers are. A count out is continuing as the brothers slug it out on the floor and the apron. Dear god we have a double count out as both men were battling on the apron and Jim Cornette is out to see why this match is having such an unsatisfactory ending. It seems the match is going to continue at the behest of the fans and opponents. Man up rings throughout the fans as these two ROH vets are giving us a great match. Second rope ace crusher from Jay onto Mark looked like the beginning of the end for the younger Briscoe but it’s still anybody’s game as obviously no one knows these two better than eacother. As Hog said, it’s a dead even match that really exemplifies what Ring of Honor brings to the table. Hard hitting, some high flying, and definitely kick ass action from two of the best in the business today. God damn, we have two of the best brawlers in the business but in the end the name of the game is wrestling and that is shown here as the match ends with a roll up from Jay onto Mark but the two brothers pump it and show sportsmanship at the end of this thrilling match.
We see what has lead up to Erick Stevens joining the Embassy and turning on the Necro Butcher. It’s going to be a sqaush match no doubt when the show return as Erick Stevens is going to take on one half of the Bravado Brothers, Harlem Bravado. I’ve seen this kid in the ROH preshow but he’s not going to be any match for the obviously larger Stevens. Honestly a heel turn was good for Stevens as his character was growing stale and after a somewhat lack luster run after his FIP title win a few years back. God he turned the Bravado brother inside out with a huge lariat and this is going to end with the Doctor Bomb in honor of another tough man, the late great Dr. Death Steve Williams.
Tyler Black has another promo to put us through though I won’t say he hasn’t gotten better over the years. Just something still comes off as bland when he’s talking for me. At this point though in his young career he’s only going to get better, but it is way too late in my book for this kid to win the title. I don’t even think I’ll care when it happens as I don’t think he deserves another shot. But here is the main event as we have Black and Cabana coming out together. Aries and King come out next and the champ doesn’t seem all that worried and why would he? He’s defeated both of these men in back to back events. Kenny King definitely is a diamond in the rough as I can see this man hold the title and bring a dfferent charisma to the belt. This is going to be a decent main event as ROH always presents and it’s no surprise that I’m pulling for Colt Cabana though I can’t deny that Aries and King are favorites of mine as well. Tyler Black is by no means a horrible talent and no doubt he deserves to be in the top 5 list of the current ROH roster, but he just doesn’t capture my attention anymore as this babyface whose basically flattering the crowd and just seems to have title matches handed to him. I have yet to see Survival of the FIttest and while I realize that gave him his last title shot at Final Battle, I’ll wait off til I watch that event to speculate more. Obviously the parallels of the two careers is there, but Aries just had that charisma even back in 2005 that just made me take notice of him. Without Jimmy Jacobs as the speaker, Tyler Black has just not impressed me enough with all of his losses in the title picture. Match continuing as Tyler and Colt are working over King more though Aries has also taken his fair share of offense. Aries and King make a great team though and it would seem that the two former tag champs aren’t gelling as well though Aries is a top ring general and King can only learn more from being in his circle. Cabana has his second wind back and he needs the tag but Aries races in and knocks Black off the apron but a roll through the legs and Black vs Aries is happening for the first time after Final Battle. Cabana with his great Asai moonsault onto his prone opponents followed by a senton over the top by Black onto all of them. But the heels gain control again and after a Rocket Launcher it would seem that they have the W but Colt is showing some great fortitude. An inverted Colt 45 later, Cabana gets the win over Kenny King but as always Black didn’t get the pin on Aries and that is all that matters. Great main event, in the 3.5 star range and a good ending to this weeks episode.
Thanks for the read and I hope to bring you more Ring of Honor reviews.
By chris gst
Long time indie wrestling fan. Started with ROH and just kept going.