Ring of Honor has a big tag match to start, a couple of matches squashed in between and a main event revisiting one of the hottest feuds in recent memory. What are these matches? Read on to find out…
Hog and Prazak start the show off and announce that “American Dragon†Bryan Danielson has moved on to the WWE. I don’t know how I feel about them acknowledging it at this stage in their development, but I guess their shows are so far behind live that they couldn’t really write him out. Now we go to our opening match.
Dark City Fight Club vs. the Young Bucks
The Bucks ask for a handshake but are meant with blank stares. Thus, we are underway. The match is your basic speed vs. power tag team fare. The Young bucks are great at fast paced wrestling. I am not a DCFC fan, but they are power wrestlers and can be impressive ones. Power wins in the early going and a leg lariat Hart Attack only gets two…I call BS on Davis and Chavis. This is kind of a weird face vs. face match. I mean I guess DCFC are ostensibly heels, but they aren’t really doing anything “heelish.†The Young Bucks steal a win with a surprise roll up. This match could get a lot better with more time, but as it stands it was ok.
Winners: The Young Bucks via pinfall
We get some highlights from the Briscoes vs. Steen and Generico with commentary from the Briscoes to hype the main event. (which features both teams…duh)
Prince Nana is in the ring as Shane Hagadorn warms up Sal Rinauro. Nana runs down the crowd and introduces Sal’s opponent…Bison Smith.
Bison Smith vs. Sal Rinauro
Of all the guys to be used as cannon fodder, Sal Rinauro is probably the least deserving of that role. Smith hits a turnbuckle power bomb and a claw slam. That’s not enough for Smith so he beats him up a whole lot more. He finally pins him to end the slaughter.
Winner: Bison Smith via pinfall
Nana stays in the ring and introduces his newest acquisition Joey “Magnum†Ryan while Sal Rinauro goes under the ring. Nana sets an open challenge to anyone in the back to beat his hired Magnum. Colt “Boom Boom†Cabana answers the call and we’re on…
Colt Cabana vs. Joey Ryan with Prince Nana and Ernie Osiris
Cabana does his European catch style antics, and that is always over with me. Ryan tries to sleaze his way out of it but is continually frustrated. They don’t cut a blistering pace, but despite that these two are putting on one hell of a match. They go back and forth for a while, but Cabana is able to lock in the Billy Goat’s Curse for the submission victory. It was nothing special, but damn if I didn’t love this match. Afterwards Sal Rinauro comes out to either attack or praise Colt, but he is met with an elbow for his troubles.
Winner: Colt Cabana via submission
Steen and Generico get to weigh in with their comments over some highlights from the epic feud. I really hope the main event lives up.
We get some highlights from Black vs. Lynn from last week. It didn’t improve with age. We do get a Tyler Black interview next week…not a reason to turn in.
Nana is in the back and is mad at Colt Cabana saying that any friend of Colt’s is an enemy of the Embassy.
Speaking of which, we do get Jimmy Rave vs. the Necro Butcher. That could be a reason to tune in.
Nigel McGuinness is sitting in the crowd with a microphone. He runs down the crowd for their bloodthirsty nature. He decides he cannot spend time with the great unwashed. Nigel is a great talker, and I hope that he gets a chance to use that skill when he moves up to the big leagues with Dragon.
Austin Aries is in the back to announce the first HDNet A double L double: the Austin Aries Lucky Lottery. Man, Aries is awesome. He is so smarmy and completely convinced in his awesomeness and correctness a true mark of a great heel.
Oh, and next week we get Roderick Strong, Kenta and Bryan Danielson on the same team against Chris Hero and RoH tag team champions the American Wolves…awesome sauce!
â€Mr. Wrestling†Kevin Steen and the Generic Luchador El Generico vs. Jay and Mark Briscoe
It doesn’t take long for a respectful battle to turn into an angry brawl. The match settles into tag team formula as the Briscoes isolate Generico. Like all of their other matches this is a ton of fun mixed with a lot of physicality and impressive moves. I have a hard time not enjoying the hell out of these four in the ring together. This is far from their best match, but it is still excellent. That all goes to crap though when the American Wolves come in and beat down all four competitors. Steenerico and the Briscoes team up to run off the champs, though. A great match ruined.
Result: No Contest through interference
After the melee Steen gets on the mic and says that as a result of a recent non title victory they get a title shot under any conditions they want. They choose Ladder War II. I’m sold…
Big Andy Mac’s Big Andy Final Thoughts: This show was a lot of fun. I get a little tired of the squashes, but this show moved along nicely and every match was entertaining at worst. This was a huge improvement over last week’s bore fest. Next week we have an awesome six man tag team main event. I’ll be watching, and you’ll be reading.
I’ll see you next time…
