Welcome back loyal readers to this week’s episode of ROH on HDNet. There is lots of tag team action scheduled as well as a great main event match up. Let’s get right to the action.

The Kings of Wrestling vs. Josh Emanuel & “Ice” Jackson

The ROH World Tag Team Champions are taking on not one, not two, but three teams tonight. And first up are…these two nobodies. I’ve got a bad feeling about this. This is a four minute squash that shows nothing of the champ’s real talent.

The Kings of Wrestling vs. Adam Cole & Nick Westgate

The Kings no sell all the pathetic moves of these two jobbers. At least I’ve heard of one of these guys. I’ve seen Westgate before, and he wasn’t very impressive then either. This one lasts about two and a half minutes. I can’t wait to see what two lambs will be led to the slaughter next.

The Kings of Wrestling vs. The Ninjas

I didn’t know they had ninjas in Delaware, because these guys aren’t from the Orient. These guys are the Briscoes. Jay and Mark catch the Kings totally by surprise and hit the Doomsday Device for the quick win. Even with a good team, this was another quick match. I sure hope things get better as the show goes on, because we are not off to a good start.

Christopher Daniels Interview

Kyle Durden interviews Christopher Daniels. The “Fallen Angel” is in the main event tonight against Roderick Strong. If there isn’t any interference in the match, this one could turn out to be great. Unfortunately that seems to be the case more often than not these days.

Dark City Fight Club vs. The American Wolves

Now this is going to be some real tag team action. As you know, I am a huge fan of the Wolves. They just never have a bad match. Here they can match the power of the DCFC and their athleticism isn’t even close. The Wolves dominate early with lots of high impact moves. They execute a double running dive through the ropes onto a prone DCFC at ringside. Richards gets Kory Chavis in the Texas cloverleaf and just for good measure Edwards hits a double stomp to Chavis’s back…from the top rope! Eventually the size advantage of the DCFC allows them to take control of the match, but only briefly. They try to double team Richards but he takes both men on and makes it back to his corner, dishing out some punishment along the way. Don’t they know it takes more than two men to stop “The Best in the World Today”? The match begins to break down as all four men get involved. And then it completely breaks down as The Embassy interfere as pay back for the DCFC coming to the aid of SkullKrusher” Rasche Brown last week. Oh well, another week, another unsatisfying DQ finish.

Christopher Daniels vs. Roderick Strong

Here is the main event of the evening. These two were partners just a few weeks ago. Now Strong is in the middle of a full blown heel turn. Daniels is on a mission to claim his first ever ROH World Title and tonight is a great opportunity for him to take a step towards that goal. These are two highly skilled wrestlers and it shows early with lots of counter holds by both men. Daniels keeps going for submission maneuvers but Strong isn’t going to give up that easily. He gains the advantage and relentlessly stomps away on Daniels. He makes full use of the referee’s five count as he continues to inflict as much punishment as possible. This new aggressive heel persona suits Strong well. He continues to work the back of Daniels with a merciless array of back breakers, but he cannot put him away. Not even a back breaker on the ring apron is enough to get the win. I guess they don’t call Strong “the messiah of the back breaker” for nothing. Since Roderick can’t seem to finish the job, his “life intervention expert”, Truth Martini takes matters into his own hands by nailing Daniels with the Book of Truth when the referee isn’t looking. Strong then hits a vicious running boot for the win.

This turned out to be a good episode this week after all. It started a little slowly but the American Wolves were very entertaining, as usual, even though the ending to their match wasn’t. And the main event showcased two of the best workers the independents have to offer doing what they do best.

Vince DeHoratus lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two kids. He has been a life long wrestling fan and he has passed that love onto his son. Though not quite yet “middle aged and crazy”, he is fast approaching it.

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Welcome back loyal readers to this week’s episode of ROH on HDNet. We have a special treat this week, as a no holds barred street fight is scheduled for the main event tonight. Let’s get right to the action.

The Set vs. Up in Smoke

I’m sorry but I just can’t get behind Cheech and Cloudy as a viable tag team contender. Sure, pitting them against The Set makes them the favorite in this match, but that’s like being the tallest midget as far as I’m concerned. The crowd doesn’t care about this match and really neither do I. Up in Smoke get the win in a less than inspiring opener.

“SkullKrusher” Rasche Brown Promo

Next we see a video recap of the feud between Rasche Brown and The Embassy.

Sara Del Rey vs. Jamilia Craft

I am always pleased to see Sara Del Rey in action. She is one of the most polished and athletic women wrestlers in the business today. Craft looked good in her last match against Daizee Haze. But this time it’s a different story as Del Rey controls this match from start to finish and the “Queen of Wrestling” gets the win with a jumping piledriver.

Roderick Strong Interview

Kyle Durden interviews Roderick Strong and his new “life intervention expert”, Truth Martini. Strong has a match next week against “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels. I’m glad ROH has turned Strong heel now. Before he was just a whiny face but now he has the potential to be a despised heel and generate some real heat with the fans.

Kings of Wrestling Interview

Kyle Durden interviews the ROH World Tag Team Champions the Kings of Wrestling. The Kings announce that they refuse to be anywhere near the Briscoes from now on. The Briscoes have been terrorizing the champs of late as they try to regain their ROH Tag Team titles.

Erick Stevens vs. “SkullKrusher” Rasche Brown

This will not be a technical match to say the least. This one is all power all the way. These two start off trading hay makers and clubbing forearms. They go outside the ring and take turns ramming each other into the steel barricades. Brown turns Stevens inside out with a clothesline. I didn’t much care for Brown when he debuted in ROH because he only had squash matches. But the more he actually wrestles, the more I like what I see. Unfortunately, The Embassy can’t help interfering in the match causing the DQ finish. The Dark City Fight Club come out to even things up and make the save for the “SkullKrusher”.

Kevin Steen & Steve Corino vs. Colt Cabana & El Generico

Here is the main event of the evening. This is an anything goes match. I am looking forward to some good old fashioned ECW style mayhem here, especially with Corino in the match. As you would expect, the match starts off outside the ring. Steen is rammed into the steel barricade so hard that he actually dents it and knocks it off its frame. All four men take the fight into the crowd. As the walk through the rows of fans, being handed items to use as weapons on each other, I can’t help but flashback 15 years or so to the same scene in the same building. Back then it was The Gangstas and The Eliminators, but the effect was the same. Actually that was way crazier back then, but you get the point. They eventually work their way back to the ring and the heels take over. The crowd literally erupts into a chant of “We Want Tables”. It is so loud that when Corino actually gets one, the crowd goes completely unhinged. However it’s Generico who gives Corino a half nelson suplex into the table. Steen follows up with a cradle piledriver on Generico…ONTO A CHAIR! That was one of the most unsafe, insane, and totally awesome moves I have ever seen. Somehow Generico kicks out at two and the crowd can’t believe it. Corino then brings the barricade into the ring and lays it across several chairs so it looks like a table. Corino then superplexes himself and Generico through this makeshift table from hell. Cabana makes the save on the pin attempt and then gives Steen a spine buster onto another chair. This match is totally insane. I agree with the crowd, this is awesome. Finally Corino gives Cabana a superplex off the top rope through a table for the win. Afterwards, Steen and Generico take the fight outside where Steen power bombs Generico onto the hood of a car. Tyler Black returns the favor from last week and jumps Steen from behind and rams his head into the side of the car repeatedly.

This turned out to be a very good episode this week. It started a little slowly but the main event was totally sick. With all the talk lately about TNA bringing back ECW, the main event tonight proved that the spirit of ECW is still alive and well at The Arena in South Philly.

Vince DeHoratus lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two kids. He has been a life long wrestling fan and he has passed that love onto his son. Though not quite yet “middle aged and crazy”, he is fast approaching it.

Order Ring of Honor: Greatest Rivalries on DVD by clicking here.

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When you are Jim Cornette, the lines are definitely blurred between pro wrestling and reality. The blurred line may cost Jim Cornette dearly as a recent email of his reveals his desires to murder TNA Wrestling writer Vince Russo. TNA responded with legal warnings and the wrestling world is a buzz.

In case you haven’t heard, Jim Cornette doesn’t like Vince Russo. Cornette has cut venomous promos on Vince Russo for well over a decade. Corny’s last rant has caused quite a stir in the TNA Wrestling offices. The ROH Executive Producer in an email to Terry Taylor said the following.

“I will say it because I am trying to quell the burning in my heart–I hate Vince Russo. I despise Vince Russo. I want Vince Russo to die. If I could figure out a way to murder him without going to prison, I would consider it the greatest accomplishment of my life.”

Additionally Cornette wrote, “I don’t want any of you to be harmed or affected because of their stupid decisions, but as I said, it’s now my life’s work to f*ck with anything Russo has anything to do with.”

Cornette said several other things that weren’t very flattering towards the TNA Wrestling writer, but it was the paragraph about murder that got the attention of TNA management and their legal counsel. TNA responded with a letter back to Cornette.

“It is our view that the foregoing statements constitute “terroristic threats” under virtually every jurisdiction in the country, including under the US Code (18 USC 875) and Kentucky State Law (KRS 508.080). Generally, under both Federal and State Law, a person will be guilty of having made terroristic threats if such person willfully threatens to commit a crime which would result in death or great bodily injury to the victim and demonstrates specific intent to communicate such threat to the victim or to a third party who the perpetrator believes will convey such threat to the intended victim.” Somebody call Jimmy’s mother!

Jim Cornette’s rants on Vince Russo have become weekly fodder whether it being on his website or podcast. While these rants are over a decade old, Cornette did take a break from his anti-Russo crusade. Cornette took a break when he worked with Vince Russo from 2006-2009. You see as much as Cornette ranted for years about how much he hated Vince Russo, he worked alongside Russo for three years while cashing in a paycheck. It’s amazing how you can rant against one individual for ten years and be cordial when you are receiving a paycheck isn’t it?

I know Jim Cornette has been around wrestling for almost as many years as I have been born and I have a great deal of respect for that. However, I must say that I find Jim Cornette to be one of the biggest hypocrites I have ever seen in pro wrestling. Whether it was Vince Russo, Vince McMahon, Paul Heyman, or Kevin Nash, Cornette has suddenly buried his hatred for his enemies when presented with an opportunity to make a little cash. Hey, I can’t blame him. He has to put food on his table. Yet the day Jim Cornette signed with TNA Wrestling three years ago and worked in some of the goofiest wrestling angles that I have ever seen alongside Russo is the day  I lost just about any respect I had for him and his rants.

I have heard some people defend Jim Cornette and say that Corny was just cutting a wrestling promo and TNA overreacted. I disagree. Tell me what match or angle Cornette was trying to sell and I will acquiesce that Cornette was cutting a promo. How can you cut a promo about something that isn’t selling a ticket? There is no excuse for Cornette’s email and TNA and Vince Russo have every right to pursue legal action. How would you feel if you found out that someone was sitting at home plotting a way to get away with your murder? The irony here is that most of the time after watching Vince Russo’s TNA shows that I want to kill myself and not Vince Russo.

If Cornette’s intent was to create Internet buzz, then he is a bigger idiot than the Internet fans he criticizes from time to time. See Cornette doesn’t like it when Internet wrestling websites post inside stories that break kayfabe or dish gossip on Jimmy. But it is okay for Jimmy to post these personal emails on his website and dish gossip on others. Once again, welcome to the deranged world of pro wrestling’s biggest hypocrite.

The interesting part about all of this is that Jim Cornette works for Ring of Honor as an executive producer. When I visit the Jim Cornette website I see very little information on Ring of Honor. I am sure if I explored his commentaries that I would find something related to ROH. Yet, Cornette spends more time promoting TNA Wrestling on his website and podcasts than he does the actual companies that he works with.

It also brings up an interesting dilemma for ROH. ROH and TNA just recently started doing business with one another. It would shock me if TNA doesn’t pull their talent from ROH, at least temporarily in support of Vince Russo. The face of your company is writing about wishing murder on someone on his website. I don’t know if there is any right or wrong answer here and unfortunately that puts ROH into a bit of a bind either way.

I loved his promos when I was a kid, I loved the Midnight Express, and I even liked some SMW, but I am real tired of Jim Cornette. At this point you either have the case of a guy desperately trying to create something viral or the ramblings of a guy in serious need of anger management.

Something tells me this could all be smoothed over with a nice little TNA contract and angle. Let’s just cut to the chase Jimmy and name your price so we can all move on in our lives from this nonsense.

Visit JimCornette.com to read both emails and to follow new developments in the story.

Order the book Worker: Last of a Dying Breed featuring a forward by Jim Cornette by clicking here.

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Today I am going to lay the body of TNA Wrestling to rest, because I have pronounced them DOA. Wait a minute, you might say, aren’t they still airing new episodes each week. This of course is true, so maybe my diagnosis might seem a bit premature to you. But like Eric Draven once said, “They’re all dead. They just don’t know it yet”. The real shame of it all is that it didn’t have to be this way.

Back in late 2009, the pro wrestling community was totally abuzz with the news that TNA Wrestling had entered into an agreement with Hulk Hogan and that they would be moving to Monday nights to reignite the Monday Night Wars. TNA Wrestling had been heating up over the last several months with A.J. Styles as World champion and was providing some high quality matches, so the move to Monday night was sure to provoke the WWE into some excellent counter programming to stay competitive. We, as wrestling fans, would all be the winners. The only fear was that Hulk Hogan and his cronies would turn TNA into WCW 2.0. Well consider those fears warranted.

Since coming to TNA, Hogan and Eric Bischoff have engineered some of the most inane and pointless storylines not seen since the heyday of WCW’s decline. The similarities to bad WCW Nitro episodes and feelings of dread I get from watching TNA IMPACT are eerily reminiscent of 1999 for me. In just four short months, Hogan has managed to do the same amount of damage that took him 4 years to accomplish in WCW. I guess he learned from his mistakes the first time around and has gotten better with age.

To be fair, TNA wasn’t exactly a model company before Hogan arrived. They certainly had their share of issues and poorly booked angles. I for one was not a big fan of all the ex WWE talent being brought in. Kevin Nash, Booker T, Scott Steiner, and Mick Foley don’t really do it for me anymore. But one thing TNA did do well was promote from within. Using talent like A.J. Styles, Samoa Joe, and Abyss and matching them up with established stars like Kurt Angle, Sting, and Christian worked for both old fans and new. Plus the X Division was red hot and producing some stellar matches.

Since Hogan took over, all that has changed. A.J. Styles has become a pathetic Ric Flair clone and all of his momentum has stalled as he is now just a prop to be used by Flair and Hogan. And speaking of those two, now we are treated to long drawn out monologues between Hogan and Flair. As bad as those are, it’s even worse once the two of them step into the ring to compete. Now we have storylines of Team Hogan against Team Flair. Who cares? I’d rather see Team Wolfe against Team Dinero. Once again we have young talent being overshadowed by Hogan’s ego because he doesn’t feel that the “young guys” can carry the show the way he can. Even though there is new blood on both teams, the names at the top of the marquee remain the same. So we end up with the same tired old headliners week after week.

Speaking of tired and old , let’s hear it for The Band. If this isn’t proof of the inmates running the asylum again then I don’t know what is. Where we once saw tag team main events of LAX against the Motor City Machine Guns, we now get The Band vs. Team 3D. Exciting well paced matches have been traded in for slow, plodding, sloppy snoozers. What are the chances that an undersized but super athletic team like Generation Me can get a real push in this type of environment? How long before they are dropped so low on the roster that when they are eventually released no one will even notice?

What the hell is Bubba the Love Sponge doing on television? When everyone knows that you are Hogan’s boy, how in the world could anyone take you seriously that you belong. I recently heard Eric Gargiulo (ding ding) refer to Bubba as Mark Madden, and I could not agree more. The problem with this is not that he generates heat, that’s why he’s there. The problem is with the type of heat he generates. When a heel has “good” heat, people tune in to watch him get his butt kicked week after week (think Mr. McMahon against Stone Cold). But when a heel has “bad” heat, people just tune out because they can’t stand him. It actually has the opposite effect of what you want. In fact they even have a name for it when a heel is so despised that people begin to be turned off by them and lose interest, they call it “X-Pac Heat”. Cue the Band.

And finally I come to the events of this past weekend. At the Ring of Honor pay-per-view Big Bang, Pro Wrestling Radio alumni (ding ding) Christopher Daniels made a surprise appearance after having been released from TNA. Throughout 2009, Daniels had sensational matches in the X Division. In the latter half of 2009, Daniels was elevated to the main event and had several tremendous matches with A.J. Styles for the TNA World title. People noted how well the X Division style of both men worked on the big stage. I heard several people remark that maybe this was a changing of the guard, a chance to allow the less exposed and more athletic guys to finally have their chance to shine. Here we are less than six months later and Daniels is right back where he started, in Ring of Honor.

So dear friends, as we consecrate this promotion back to earth from wince it came let us look ahead to the future. Say one year from now, when TNA has either been purchased by Vince McMahon or simply has ceased to exist altogether. Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Eric Bischoff and company will be counting their money and laughing. Ric Flair will be fleecing another promotion for a payday to help pay his bills. And all that good young talent will be back where it belongs, where it has a home. In Ring of Honor. Don’t worry Young Bucks, we’ll leave the light on for you.

Vince DeHoratus lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two kids. He has been a life long wrestling fan and he has passed that love onto his son. Though not quite yet “middle aged and crazy”, he is fast approaching it.

Order TNA: Kurt Angle: Champion on DVD by clicking here.

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Welcome loyal readers to this week’s episode of ROH on HDNet. This week it’s the completion of round one of the Ring of Honor World Television Title tournament with both members of the American Wolves in action. Let’s go down to ringside.

World Television Title – First Round – Colt Cabana (3) vs. Eddie Edwards (6)

I had originally picked Colt Cabana in this matchup. But after El Generico lost last week to Kenny King I am now going with Edwards here and eventually an all American Wolves final. Edwards starts working the leg and lower back of Cabana, softening him up for his half Boston Crab finisher, the Achilles lock. Surprisingly to me, this is a rather slow match that the crowd doesn’t seem to into. Cabana manages some offense but is distracted twice by the appearance of Steve Corino at ringside. The second time, Edwards applies the Achilles lock and Colt taps out in short order. Eddie Edwards moves on to the semi-finals against Kevin Steen. I think you will definitely see some sort of retaliation interference against Steen that will cost him.

Backstage with The Briscoe Brothers

Kyle Durden interviews the ROH World Tag Team Champions, the Briscoes. They have a match coming up at the next pay-per-view, Big Bang, against the Kings of Wrestling. Get your tickets now!

Roderick Strong Promo

Next we see an interview with Roderick Strong, who will be in a triple threat match for the ROH World title at Big Bang. Roddy is not happy with the match being a 3-way and he blames Tyler Black for going back on his promise of offering Strong first crack at the belt.

The newest member of ROH is…

Jim Cornette is in the ring to introduce the newest addition to the ROH roster. This must be somebody important. It turns out to be Shawn Daivari. You might know him better as, well…Daivari. Not really the big news I was hoping for. He comes out in his traditional Arabian outfit, which he promptly rips off. He then shoots on all the promoters who have made him play the stereotypical Middle Eastern role. Maybe things will work out differently here for him after all. And then he insults the fans, which prompts chants of “U-S-A”. Nope, things will be exactly the same for him.

Austin Aries Promo

Next it’s Austin Aries’ turn to speak. “A Double” is also in the triple threat match at Big Bang. He comments on his superior mental abilities and with Strong and Black in the match, that isn’t saying much.

Kyle O’Riley vs. Tony Kazina

I have no idea who the heck either of these two guys are. I’m not even sure how to spell their names since neither ones merits any graphics. This is a snoozer of a match and I won’t bore you with any details except to say the O’Riley wins it with a rollup. I want those six minutes of my life back Jim Cornette.

Tyler Black Promo

Of course the champ needs a turn to shoot. He talks about the challenge of having to defend his title against not one but two men. Tyler’s promo skills are improving, but he still has a ways to go.

World Television Title – First Round – Davey Richards (4) vs. Delirious (5)

Here is your main event. Very interesting development early, Davey Richards does not come out in his American Wolves tights. Does that mean anything? We’ll see. By the way, Davey was my sleeper pick to win this tournament before it began. With Eddie Edwards winning earlier tonight I would be shocked if Richards doesn’t go over here. Delirious sets the early pace with his unorthodox offense. Richards starts to land some truly hellacious kicks. Richards is so intense, I love his attitude in the ring. Delirious sends Richards out to the floor and does a somersault off the top rope… onto Richards’ head!! Not his shoulder, not his chest, not in the general area of Richards so he has to catch him, but right on top of his freaking head. Richards counters a little later with a perfect fisherman’s suplex (get it, Perfect) that he then converts into a kimura. This is some really good back and forth action. Richards catches Delirious in a juji-gatame (cross arm lock) and there’s nothing left to do but tap out. Great match that really showcased the skills of Davey Richards. Now it’s on to the semis and a date with Kenny King.

This was a good episode of ROH. Surprisingly though, there were only three matches the whole show. And one of them involved two guys I had never heard of. Luckily, the other two matches involved members of the American Wolves, that’s what made it a good episode in my opinion. Everything is in place now for an Edwards vs. Richards finals. That would make an awesome conclusion to the TV Title Tournament. But I’m getting ahead of myself. They still have to make it through their semi-final matchups. Will they be victorious? Be sure to tune in next week for more exciting Ring of Honor action.

Vince DeHoratus lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two kids. He has been a life long wrestling fan and he has passed that love onto his son. Though not quite yet “middle aged and crazy”, he is fast approaching it.

Order Ring of Honor: Greatest Rivalries on DVD by clicking here.

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Welcome loyal readers to this week’s episode of ROH on HDNet. It’s finally time for the Ring of Honor World Television Title tournament to begin. Let’s get right to the action.

World Television Title – First Round – Kevin Steen (1) vs. Rhett Titus (8)

In this first round match we have heel vs. heel. Since Steen is so despised right now you might think that Titus would be the sympathetic choice of the crowd. Here’s an early indicator, when Rhett comes out the crowd chants “Hepa-Titus”. Steen injures Rhett Titus’s shoulder early on and proceeds to work the arm for most of the match. Titus mounts a little offense but there isn’t much he can do with a bum shoulder. Sure enough, Steen eventually catches Titus in the Cross face for the quick tap out. And just like that, Mr. Wrestling is on to the semis where he will face either Colt Cabana or Eddie Edwards. Recently I wrote an article for the camelclutchblog.com breaking down the tournament brackets and I had Steen as the favorite. I saw nothing in this match to make me regret my choice.

The “Big Bang” Theory

Jim Cornette is seated with Austin Aries, Roderick Strong, and ROH World Champion Tyler Black. Cornette announces that the main event at the next pay-per-view, Big Bang, will be a triple threat match for the World title. Roderick Strong is not happy, since he thought he was getting a one on one title match. Strong says some disparaging things about Cornette and ROH in general before storming out. This seems to me like Strong is doing his impersonation of Bret Hart whining about the WWF circa 1997.

The Kings of Wresting vs. The Bravado Brothers

The Kings are back after a successful tour of Japan with Pro Wrestling NOAH. I have to admit that I was surprised to see Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli reform The Kings of Wrestling. I saw Chris Hero as a rising singles star and felt he had more potential going for the World title. However, with the departure of The Young Bucks and the possible breakup of the American Wolves, the tag team division could be wide open for them. The Bravado Brothers put up only token resistance before The Kings finish them off. This is basically just a tune up match for The Kings, who will be meeting The Briscoes for the tag team belts at the Big Bang pay-per-view.

Backstage with Prince Nana

Kyle Durden interviews Prince Nana. He discusses the reformation of The Kings of Wrestling and the suspension of the Necro Butcher for punching out the time keeper a couple of weeks ago. He also comments on the hottest free agent in ROH, “SkullKrusher” Rasche Brown. Which brings me to the next match…

“SkullKrusher” Rasche Brown vs. Caleb Connelly

How’s that for a segue? I am starting to get tired of Rasche Browns matches. Every week it’s another squash against another nameless opponent. This week is no different. Power move followed by the Burning Hammer finisher for the win. HO-HUM

Backstage with Colt Cabana

Kyle Durden interviews Colt Cabana about his match next week with Eddie Edwards in the first round of the TV Title tournament. Steve Corino comes out to again warn Cabana about getting involved with El Generico. In my tournament preview I picked Cabana to win in the first round but with a qualifier. I said Edwards might win if Corino or Steen interfered in the match. It looks like I might be onto something here.

The American Wolves…Is The Hunt Over?

Next is a video package covering the recent struggles of The American Wolves. Both members are in the TV Title tournament and will be in action next week. In my tournament preview I said that if Eddie Edwards gets past Colt Cabana, look for an all Wolves finals which might signal the end of The American Wolves. By the way, that’s three mentions of my tournament preview article and that’s my quota for self promotion for one week.

World Television Title – First Round – Kenny King (2) vs. El Generico (7)

This match will be the most telling match of the night in my opinion. As I alluded to in my tournament preview article (all right, one more plug) I felt this match would reveal the booking of the entire tournament. If El Generico wins then I see him going to finals only to lose to Kevin Steen. But if Kenny King goes over here, especially with interference from Steen or Corino, then I think things are set up for an American Wolves finals. Be sure to check out my tournament preview article for a complete breakdown of all these scenarios (okay now I just feel dirty). Kenny King injures the arm of El Generico and works it for most of the match. I feel like I’m watching the Kevin Steen match all over again. Generico starts to mount some top rope offense, including a Van-Terminator at one point. However he goes to the well once too often and King hits the Royal Flush for the 1-2-3. Surprisingly, there was no interference in the match.

This was a decent episode of ROH. A triple threat World title match was announced that is sure to cause problems for the next few weeks. The TV Title Tournament got under way, albeit slowly. I think these were definitely the weaker of the four first round matchups. Next week should be really good with both members of The American Wolves in action.

Vince DeHoratus lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two kids. He has been a life long wrestling fan and he has passed that love onto his son. Though not quite yet “middle aged and crazy”, he is fast approaching it.

Order Ring of Honor: Greatest Rivalries on DVD by clicking here.

From the ring to your wall – WWE REAL.BIG Wall Graphics on sale now at Fat Head!