The intro video plays, followed by a quick recap of victories from Kevin Steen, Sara Del Rey, Claudio Castagnoli, and Nigel McGuinness. They plug this week’s main event, once more at The Arena in South Philadelphia, of Austin Aries vs. Bryan Danielson. Should be a good one.

Mike Hogewood and Dave Prazak give breaking news that Jerry Lynn defeated Nigel McGuinness for the ROH World Championship, so it’s good to know that the shows will be up to date on titles changes when they happen. Though you have to wonder if matches that have already been taped for TV are going to be affected down the road. I know there’s at least one more Jerry Lynn match that’s already in the can, so they’ll have to talk up him being champion without him actually wearing the belt.

Any way, no more time to waste. On to the first match of the night.

1. Sterling James Keenan vs. Erick Stevens

Erick says in his smacktalk that millions and millions of people are watching. Given this show is on HDNet, I highly doubt that. The two trade headlocks before Erick takes over. It takes a cheap shot in the corner for Keenan to gain the momentum. Keenan takes his time with his strikes and moves, slowing the action down, and countering any time Erick tries to fight back. Erick fights out of a modified sleeper hold and hitting a belly-to-belly suplex to turn the tide. The two end up going back and forth before Erick puts him away with the Doctor Bomb for the win. The match was decent, but it definitely lacked heat on all fronts.

And it’s TO THE BACK with Kyle Durden interviewing the undisputed ROH MVP “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson. Danielson cuts a wicked promo talking about how he is no stranger to main eventing and that Aries should be concerned with what he’ll do to him. This man should have been on the first show.

2. Up in Smoke of Cheech and Cloudy vs. The Dark City Fight Club of Kory Chavis and Jon Davis

This is my first time seeing the Dark City Fight Club and they were apparently impressive enough since appearing in February. They waste no time going to work on Cheech and Cloudy. They totally abuse Cloudy, hitting high impact moves left and right. Cloudy fights away with a top rope hurricanrana and tagging out to Cheech. Cheech manages to get the better of the Dark City Fight Club, and he and Cloudy hit a nice double-team move. But it delays the inevitable as Cheech was on the receiving end of a brutal double-team finisher, the Dark City Street Cutter, for the win. Quick and too the point. Not bad. It does make me want to see more of these guys.

We return TO THE BACK as Durden interviews Austin Aries. Aries cuts a nice promo about not caring for the fans and how he is going to defeat Danielson to prove that he should be considered the “Best in the World.” He also throws in some jabs at Durden, which is great. This match should have been on the first show.

3. Chris Hero w/ Larry Sweeney and Sara Del Rey vs. Necro Butcher

All I can say is thank God Hero shaved that beard recently. It did nothing for him. Same with that ring gear, but then the point was to really hate him for it so that’s fine. I actually liked Necro’s smacktalk promo. Back and forth chants for both Necro and Hero to start the match. Hero has a hard time trying to knock down Necro and instead gets silly faces and a punch that drops him. Necro works over on Hero until Sweeney and Sara cause separate distractions, allowing Hero to nail the Rolling Elbow from behind. Necro gets thrown out of the ring and is stomped on by Sara and Sweeney. Hero hits a running senton on the floor while Sweeney literally gets in the face of a fan. Chants of “Fuck you, Hero!” sound while Hero works over Necro.

Necro fights out of The Cravate and goes to work on Hero in the corner to gain the momentum. They go back and forth, Hero using his elbows and Necro eventually using a chair on the floor. Love the facial expressions Sara makes of horror when Necro nails Hero with the chair bodyslam. Sweeney puts together a a series of distractions that results in Hero getting the loaded elbow pad and knocks out Necro with the Rolling Elbow for the victory. I liked this match. Told a good story, the action was well crafted, and there was heat. Chants give Necro an ovation and then chant “Where’s his Oscar?” Awesome.

4. Main Event
Austin Aries vs. Bryan Danielson

Commentary notes that McGuinness is still the champion, so they’ll probably have to acknowledge at some point that the tapings are indeed tapings from previous dates. The tale of the tape says Aries is heavier in weight, which I find interesting considering that Dragon is taller. Crowd chants beautifully “You’re gonna get your fucking head kicked in!” that gets to Aries early.

Aries gets the better of Dragon in the early going with some deep arm drags, but Dragon fights out of any serious trouble he may find himself in. The two go back and forth to the delight of the fans. Dragon tries to set up for the surfboard, but Aries reaches the ropes. The two continue to go back and forth before Aries cements control with a dropkick after rolling out of a sunset flip attempt. Danielson went for the arm lock and was about to tell the ref he “had til the count of five,” only for Aries to nail him. Aries has control from this point and holds Dragon down with, what Prazak calls, the Vulcan Neck Pinch. Dragon tries to fight back, but Aries tosses him out of the ring and hits the running Heat Seeking Missile. Apparently the Fishhook is a submission move that’s not allowed, so Aries uses it further damage Dragon.

Dragon side-steps away from a charging corner dropkick. They trade blows until Dragon hits a European Uppercut and later nails a stiff kick to the back. Dragon is in total control, nailing a butterfly suplex into a crossarm breaker. Aries ends up on the floor and Danielson nails the running knee from the apron. Aries flips over on Cattle Mutilation for a pin attempt. They go back and forth again, which Aries nailing a punt into Dragon’s forehead. Great action going on here. Aries hits a charing corner dropkick and tries for the brainbuster, but instead settles for locking in the Last Chancery. Dragon pulls him over into a Triangle Choke, to which Aries eventually taps out to. Best match so far among the HDNet shows and one of the better television wrestling matches so far this year. Rating: ****

Next week will see Brodie Lee vs. Jerry Lynn in the main event. Geez.

Overview: This pretty much had a taste of everything from a great match to a really good storytelling match, great promos, and just all around awesome fun. You can even hear the fans voicing their enjoyment throughout the hour. They’re still trying to find what works and what doesn’t for complete show presentation, but I think the last two matches were what they needed to show in order to give casual viewers a lasting first impression. A much better outting than the previous two episodes and one that makes it my favorite particular episode of a wrestling show so far this year. Aside from the opening match, I would have said this whole episode should have been the first one to air. Thumbs up.

Dan Short
dan@ifight365.com