By Chris Shore

ROH on HDNet
Taped in Philadelphia, Penn.

A video recapped the Roderick Strong/Homicide altercation from last week. Mike Hogewood announced that the Strong vs. Homicide match at the PPV is now a street fight…The opening video aired and Jim Cornette was in the ring. He setup a video that recapped Davey Richards's quest for the title leading up to, and at, Final Battle.

Cornette brought Richards to the ring for an interview. Davey said he knew he had a concussion, but he still felt like he failed. He apologized to the fans for failing them. The fans cheered him and chanted for a rematch. Cornette said he offered Davey on but Davey said he wanted it later.

Davey said he didn't want to be handed anything in ROH. He said he would train until he was at the top of his game, and then he would challenge for the title again. He said he wouldn't play with the people's trust. He said if he failed to win the title the next time he challenges for it, he would never seek it again.

He cut a promo on Colt Cabana and their match at the PPV. He said his journey back to the title begins with Colt. He said his hunt would "never die"…The announce team ran down the card for the night…[C]

Shore's Slant: Davey is terrible on the mic. There's just no two ways about it. He's too serious or something. I don't know what it is, but I laughed out loud at his "never dies" moment. And I'm pretty sure that's not the emotion he was hoping to evoke.

A "Top 5 Greatest Moments" video was shown. It was Samoa Joe vs. Kenta Kobashi…Kyle Durdan tried to interview the Briscoes, but Jay snatched the mic away and they cut their typical, crazed promo on facing Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin. A video hyped the match…

1. Christopher Daniels defeated Devon Storm to retain the ROH Television Championship at 7:49. For those who don't know, Devon Storm wrestled in WCW and TNA as Crowbar. They traded headlocks to start and then ran the ropes. Storm hit a punch to the stomach and a front hook suplex for two. Daniels came back with a heel kick and worked a wrist lock.

Storm made the ropes and broke dirty. He choked Daniels and raked his eyes in the corner. He backed up and charged and he and Daniels tumbled over the top rope to the floor. He hit a hangman drop on the barricade and rolled Daniels in the ring for a near fall.

Storm whipped Daniels to the corner and charged. Daniels got the foot up and took control. He worked his offense and hit an enziguri followed by a STO for two. Daniels setup for Angel's Wings, but Storm reversed and hit a suplex with a bridge for two.

He followed with a front flip leg drop for two. Daniels awkwardly reversed a clothesline attempt into the bulldog to the turnbuckle. He followed with a slam and the BME for the win…

Shore's Slant: That was a good match, but the end series was slow and awkward looking. It really hurt the match because that was the last thing we saw.

Another "Top 5 Greatest Moments" video was shown. It was CM Punk's farewell match and moment…The announce team ran down the current 9th Anniversary card. A video hyped the Homicide vs. Roderick Strong match for the ROH World Championship…

2. Claudio Castagnoli (w/Shane Hagadorn and Sara Del Ray) defeated Rhett Titus at 6:13. They shoved each other to start, and then traded chops and punches. Claudio played to the crowd and whipped Titus to the corner. He charged in and Titus hit a back elbow. He charged at Claudio, and Claudio hip tossed him over the top rope. He went to the floor and worked Rhett on the barricade and apron. Rhett made it back in at 19.

Claudio stomped on Titus and worked a rest hold. Titus drove him back to the corner and tried for a bulldog, but Claudio reversed into the UFO for two. Claudio lifted for the Riccola bomb, but Rhett flipped out and hit a standing dropkick.

Titus went to the top and hit a double knee to the stomach from the top rope for two. He hit a kick off the ropes and went for another. Hagadorn grabbed the foot to cause Rhett to stumble and Claudio hit a clothesline for the pinfall victory.

Post-match, Kenny King ran out and argued with the ref. Chris Hero ran out and all four men battled. Claudio slipped to the floor and the ANX clotheslined Hero over the top. Titus hit a Thesz Press from the apron on Claudio on the floor and the ANX celebrated in the ring…

Shore's Slant: Good match that played out well. My guess is King goes over in the next match in some fluke way so that everyone comes out of this looking good. I'm glad they reminded me of the PPV. I forgot.

3. Kenny King (w/Rhett Titus) defeated Chris Hero (w/Claudio Castagnoli, Shane Hagadorn and Sara Del Ray) at 9:56. The bell rang as soon as the show came back and they started on the floor. King hit a flipping back elbow from the barricade and rolled Hero in the ring.

Hero hit a kick to retake control and hit a high vertical suplex for two. Hero said something that got bleeped and chopped King in the corner. He whipped King to the corner and charged. King reversed into a twisting Sunset flip for two. Hero threw King to the floor and Rhett distracted the ref so Claudio could get a few cheap shots in.

Hero hit the rolling elbow and then a clothesline splash in the corner. He went for a moonsault from the springboard and landed on his feet. He spun for another elbow and King hit a Trouble in Paradise type kick. He hit two more kicks to the head and then a spine buster for a great near fall.

King charged and Hero hit a knee. He followed with a rolling kick for two and tried for a Liger bomb. King hooked a small package out of the lift for two. Hero hit the running Liger bomb for another great near fall. Del Ray distracted the ref and Hagadorn held King in the corner.

Hero tried for a splash, but King moved and hooked a surprise roll up for the win. Post-match, the KOW destroyed the ANX and tossed the ref from the ring…A final video hyped the 9th Anniversary Show on iPPV this Saturday…

Shore's Slant: Excellent match to close the show and serve as the go-home for the PPV. This has the potential to be the best match on the card. But so do many of the others. I had forgotten it was this weekend, and I didn't feel like they did a great job of reminding me. All the elements were there, but it just didn't click with me until half way through. Not sure why. I'll have more to say tomorrow on the hitlist. Thanks for reading and I'll see you then.

Questions? Comments? Anyone, anyone? Let me hear from you. Email me at css3238@gmail.com or on Twitter @the_shore_slant with whatever is on your mind.

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