Pro Wrestling Ponderings

ROH on HDNet 09.21.09 Review

Well after missing last weeks show review mostly in part for going to the Chicago show where there will be a special write up coming right after I get some photos and everything put together, I wanted to say out there that this week we definitely got something special and monumental. We got the A Double L Double. Austin Aries Lethal Lottery. Good stuff. The promo ability of this man has always entertained me and from the get go you knew that this could be a great segment from the start. Unfortunately one man isn’t too pleased with this segment and that would be one Kenny Omega who was overseas and thus when his name was pulled from the hat that Austin Aries brought with him to clearly fairly choose his opponent, he was not in the building. But after much contemplation we got another lucky winner and truly it would be a “test” for A Double. Grizzly Redwood would be the first man to challenge Austin Aries based on the A Double L Double challenge.

What this match lacked in main event feel it surely scored high in entertainment. It was short, but truly the simplest psychology was there. Redwood got to hit many of his spots including lifting Aries up over his head which could not have been easy for a man of his stature. But in the end it was Aries who vanquished the “littlest lumberjack” with his finisher of choice, the brain buster. I have to say that this match was an entertaining start and really didn’t do anything but what it was suppose4d to do which was enrage the crowd and put more heat upon Austin Aries.

We got a segment announcing the surprise from last week which was Ladder War 2 coming to New York and we also got a little history piece done for the feud between Kingston and Hero that will take place in the same city.

Next up we had Mr. Choo Choo himself Erick Stevens going up against Brandon Day. Another squash match for Stevens as we are getting to see more and more of him. Obvious build towards upper mid card status and this is probably the best way to do it. A resurgence of his character standing was definitely a step that Stevens needed and anything to erase the memory of The Resilience would be fantastic.

Tyler Black gets some more promo time and this can only give him the tools he needs to get his speaking ability up to where he can make a good match into a great match with the help of his words. Another interview segment done as we are seeing Bryan Danielson in one of his last HDNet showings as he teams with the great Roderick Strong and KENTA to go up against The American Wolves and Chris Hero. Only good things can come out of this main event and I do hope that it comes across well on television.

Jimmy Rave to go up against Necro Butcher as the toilet paper comes flying, something I got to see live again this past weekend but something that never gets old. The carnage these two put themselves through could not possibly be surpassed by this television match but had I seen this match before the event this weekend it would definitely have gotten me ready as this simple brawl really just made the fans crave more from these two. I’ve always been a semi fan of Bison Smith as he plays his role of a big brooding brawler to perfection whether I see it in Japan or when I watched it on Pro Wrestling IRON tapes. I do believe that this could be the beginning of another feud for Necro that could pan out into some entertaining brawls and bloody forays.

We get a history package of Brent Albright against Claudio Castagnoli as next weeks show is going to be main evented by a steel cage match for the first time ever on HDNet.

We finally get to our main event and this one for sure is going to deliver on all fronts. Nothing short of a great ROH main event that would be worthy of any main event placing on a DVD release. I have to say that there are strong feelings that Roderick Strong is being placed in the main event and for very good reason. This match showcased that any of the five men who competed with Bryan Danielson deserver to be in the main event of any ROH event. I would even have to say that Edwards really stepped up his game here and showed that given the right opportunity he could also be in the higher echelon of singles competition in Ring of Honor. A great story was told as all men gave it their all, even the dastardly work of the heels wasn’t ruined by any outside interference from Shane Hagadorn which really added to the match because no one wanted to see any shenanigans in this one. When it came to the end though, clearly a win over Edwards doesn’t hurt either Hero or Richards, but still it meant enough that Strong will be perceived highly after winning such a bout of pure action and fortitude. Great main event that definitely is within the four star range, if not more. Thanks for reading and hope you tune in for more.

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