9/27 Mathieson's ROH on HDNet Live Coverage: Christopher Daniels and the Briscoes vs. Roderick Strong and the House of Truth, the Kings of Wrestling vs. the Super Smash Brothers, footage of Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin, Steve Corino in action

By Joe Mathieson

Ring of Honor Wrestling on HDNet
Taped in Philadelphia, Pa.

Highlights of the finish and aftermath of last week's Austin Aries vs. Delirious steel cage main event aired, followed by a reminder of tonight's main event.

1. The Kings of Wrestling (Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli) defeated the Super Smash Brothers (Player Uno and Player Dos) in a non-title match in 6:55. Dos was competitive with Hero for the first minute or so, and when Uno tagged in, they hit a couple nice double-teams.

Claudio tagged in and the KOW went right back in control. He hit a military press slam on Uno for a two count. Dos got a hot tag and hit a twisting body press to Hero the floor and Evan Bourne style double knees to Claudio in the ring for a two count. Dos went up top but Claudio hit an uppercut, then another, and then a superplex followed by a Hero top rope moonsault for the pinfall victory.

Joe's Judgment: The SSB are underutilized, Dos in particular. Solid seven minute match and the Kings were great as usual.

Highlights from the Kings' match with Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin from Glory By Honor IX were shown. After the video, Haas talked about how much he loved tag team wrestling and how great ROH was. He said he would be back. Shelton said that the experience was, in one word, fun, and echoed Haas' statement that they would be back.

Joe's Judgment: Haas and Benjamin were on point at GBH. I would absolutely love to see a rematch.

2. Daizee Haze defeated Rachel Summerlyn in 3:42. Summerlyn dominated the opening minutes, with a fisherman neckbreaker type of thing getting a two count. Both women tried to get a backslide, and Summerlyn turned it into a Gory Bomb for a two count. Summerlyn reversed a Daizee German suplex for another two count, but in the end Daizee hit the Heart Punch and then a German for the pin.

Joe's Judgment: That was pretty damn good compared to what I was expecting. If ROH could start to take women's wrestling seriously, it could be a selling point.

Kyle Durden was talking to Christopher Daniels. Daniels wondered what happened to the Roderick Strong who got by on his talent. He introduced the Briscoes, who wondered what happened to the Roderick Strong they used to drink beer with. Daniels said that he and the Briscoes were speaking the same language.

A video recapped the Kevin Steen and Steve Corino vs. Colt Cabana and El Generico chain match, complete with the aftermath of Steen stealing Generico's mask. Steen then cut a promo talking to the mask, where he said he was at a perfect state of serenity after stealing Generico's mask. Steen said he had saved the world.

Next week's show has Generico vs. Davey Richards.

Joe's Judgment: That double chain match and the aftermath was the highlight of the PPV for this viewer. I can not wait for the big blowoff to this feud.

Steve Corino entered, but as he was being introduced, Kevin Steen told the ring announcer to shut up. Steen said Steve was about to show everyone in the audience how to beat up a bully, or better yet, how to become a bully.

3. Steve Corino defeated an unnamed wrestler in 2:09. Steen did running commentary on the live mic. Corino did the octopus stretch bit where he puts his thumb in inappropriate places on the other wrestler's body. Steen yelled "that's what he did to your mother last Wednesday, and she loved it."

Corino eventually won with a sliding lariat and pulled out a fork, but Colt Cabana ran out for the save, followed by El Generico. Colt told Corino to get in the ring, but Corino declined.

Joe's Judgment: Steen should do commentary on every match. Like last week, more time for the post-match would have been nice, but it was effective for the short allotted time.

Video recapped Roderick Strong winning the world title at Glory By Honor. Kyle Durden was standing in what he called a "sea of truth" with Truth Martini, Roderick Strong, Christian Able, and Josh Raymond. Truth said that now that Roderick knew the truth, he was the ROH world champion. Strong said that he was done with always being the best friend and never the lover, and that is the gospel according to him. [C]

A shot was shown of the ROH World Title sitting on a table at ringside. Roderick Strong and the House of Truth were already in the ring as first the Briscoes, then Christopher Daniels entered.

4. Roderick Strong and the House of Truth (Christian Able and Josh Raymond) defeated Christopher Daniels and the Briscoes in 14:44. Raymond started with Daniels and was destroyed. Jay Briscoe tagged in and Raymond tagged in Able. Strong tagged in at 4:00 and Mark hit some redneck kung fu, but Strong eventually gained control.

At 5:30, the HOT hit a pretty nice double team on Daniels, but he kicked out at two. Jay Briscoe tagged in and the Briscoes double teamed Raymond briefly. Shortly after Strong beat on Mark and Able tagged in. Mark hit a neckbreaker and tried to make a hot tag, but Strong knocked both off the apron.

Strong controlled Mark for another couple minutes, and just when Mark was starting to make a comeback, he missed a crossbody, but made the tag to Daniels just seconds later. Daniels cleaned house on the entire HOT and hit the Fall From Grace on Strong. Jay hit a Death Valley Driver on Able, but Raymond did his shooting star crossbody on Jay. Mark threw him to ringside and hit a top rope moonsault to the outside.

In the ring, Truth missed a Book of Truth shot. Roderick went for a backbreaker of some sort, but Daniels rolled him up for a really good nearfall, and then again for a less good nearfall. He ran the ropes for something, and Truth tripped him, leading to Roddy hitting the gutbuster for the three count.

Joe's Judgment: Love Raymond and Able getting the rub from the world champ. Love the idea of Strong vs. Daniels. Love Strong going over. But the match itself... while it was far from bad, it could have been better. It felt like they never got out of second gear. Still a fun main event to a solid show that concentrated on all the right angles.

I'm starting my dream job next Monday night, so this is my last week doing live coverage for the foreseeable future. I'll still do reports, but they'll probably be up Tuesdays instead. If there's anything you'd like to say about this report or any future ones, feel free to contact me at jtmathieson88@gmail.com.