10 Thoughts on ROH on HDNet – 08.17.2009

Greetings, everyone!  Before I jump into the subject matter of this column, I hope you’ll indulge me in a brief introduction.  My name is Ricardo Rochetti, and I’ve been a wrestling fan for a solid decade now.  Ironically, my fandom began in the spring of 1999, when I would go into my friend’s dorm on Monday nights.  Eventually, I began to glance over his shoulder more and more, and ask questions about what was going on.  I then started watching the shows on my own over the summer, and by the time we came back to school for our sophomore year in the fall, I was fully hooked.  Despite my late start, I’ve done quite a good job of catching up, becoming a voracious reader of wrestling sites and amassing a nicely-sized DVD collection.  

My favorite current wrestlers (i.e., those who entertain me the most) are Edge and AJ Styles, but my favorite of all-time is The Rock.  My favorite tag teams are the Hardy Boyz and America’s Most Wanted.  I believe Shawn Michaels is the greatest ever (that oughta get more than a few people to shit a brick).  My favorite PPV ever is Wrestlemania X-7, which I was lucky enough to attend!  I have a 3-way tie for my favorite match between Benoit-Angle from the 2003 Royal Rumble, Styles-Daniels-Joe from Unbreakable 2005, and HBK-Undertaker from this year’s Wrestlemania (which I was ALSO lucky enough to attend!). 

Anyway, enough about me.  This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time – not long after I got plugged into wrestling sites - and I’m VERY excited to get started.  So, without further ado, my 10 thoughts on tonight’s prime-time debut of ROH on HDNet!

1. I love the fact that Kevin Steen started brawling with Eddie Edwards the second that he hit the ring.  It is obvious from the opening video package that the feud between the American Wolves (Edwards & Davey Richards) and Steen & Generico has become a personal, “blood” feud.  I hate it when matches in blood feuds begin with lock-ups and chain wrestling, or worse yet, boxing-style intros where the two wrestlers stand in the corner while the other plays to the crowd.  If you hate a guy, wouldn’t you want to pound his face from the get-go?  Great job by these two of conveying the hatred between the two teams from the get-go.
2. Solid opening match from Steen and Edwards.  They traded some nice moves (check out Steen’s Swanton Bomb if you get a chance), told a good story about the personal nature of their rivalry, and actually got me interested about seeing the Ladder War match between the two teams – which is kind of the point, isn’t it?
3. Tyler Black really has A LONG way to go with his promo skills, as he sounds unassertive and tentative.  One of the great things about ROH (and most Indy promotions) is that they are definitely giving him the opportunity to work on it, which will only serve him well in the long run.
4. OK, let me get this straight:  the first half of the show included two matches related to the tag team division (Steen v. Richards and Rinauro & Kozina v. Cheech & Cloudy), two video packages related to the tag team division (American Wolves v. Steen & Generico, Young Bucks), and an interview segment with a tag team (Dark City Fight Club, which also did a run-in in the Cheech & Cloudy match)?  That is more time in a one-hour show than the WWE usually gives its tag division in SIX hours of weekly programming!  Kudos to ROH for making its tag division . . . what’s the word I’m looking for . . . matter?
5. For someone who isn’t know for much outside his brawling prowess, Necro Butcher doesn’t embarrass himself in straight-up, one-on-one or tag matches.  His selling of the injured foot was particularly refreshing - especially how he was too hobbled to run the ropes on an Irish Whip, and how favored the foot after hopping from the apron to the outside.  It was actually better than what we see from most supposedly more proficient technical wrestlers. 
6. I’ve always dug Colt Cabana’s mic work, and tonight’s promo inviting Necro to join his 4-person team to take on the Embassy was no exception.  I know the WWE couldn’t find anything for him to do as a wrestler, but couldn’t they even think of a managing gig?
7. I remember watching Austin Aries during his TNA stint, as well as some of his 2006 ROH work.    He has really done a great job of developing his character since then.  The look, the mannerisms . . . it all comes together very well.  Always a treat to watch someone so committed to making his character work.  My favorite part of that promo?  That he made the World Title out to be the most important thing in his life and in the company – as it should be.
8. Black’s psychology in the opening part of the match is somewhat scattered, as he shifts his focus from McGuinness’ arm to the leg for no real reason.  This is particularly puzzling considering that the announcers spent a good amount of time discussing McGuinness’ recent biceps injuries, thus virtually painting bulls-eyes on his arms.
9. Black certainly seems to have that “it” that connects him to the crowd, which seems to dig him.  The God’s Last Gift (Small Package Piledriver) is a sweet-looking finisher, too.  And with two consecutive wins over former ROH Champions (McGuinness and Danielson), they’re obviously going all in on his push.  We’ll see if it works.
10. All in all, a strong prime time debut for ROH.  They showcased the company’s building blocks (wrestling over skits, strong tag team division, solid wrestling-based main events) and furthered a couple of feuds in the process.  I’m excited about next week’s show, and with the promise of an Aries-Roderick Strong main event, you should be, too!