ROH on HDNet 4th March 2008
Announcers: Dave Prazak and Lenny Leonard
We begin the show with Dave Prazak and Lenny Leonard standing in the centre of the ring, with Prazak holding the house microphone. Both men are dressed in suits, and their presence is somewhat overawed by the sea of "ROH" chants created by the crowd. Tonight's show is being broadcasted from the old ECW Arena in Philidelphia, so it should come of no suprise that emotions are particularly high tonight.
"Hello my name is Dave Prazak, accompanied as usual by my announcing partner Lenny Leonard, and it is our absolute priviledge to welcome you all to the debut boradcast of Ring of Honor on HDNet! This is our first telecast, and in just 90 minutes we promise that you will get more action, more athleticism, more drama, more WRESTLING, than any other promotion on the face of the Earth, bar none!"
"Thats exactly right Dave. This is Ring of Honor. This isn't sports entertainment. This isn't an alternative. There's to be no line crossing or show boating. This is professional wrestling. And tonight, Ring of Honor starts a new chapter in the Era of Honor, right here on HDNet!"
"Lenny, that new chapter will undeniably feature the best tag team in the world today, Mark and Jay Briscoe, who tonight do battle with a couple of guys they know all to well, Jack Evans and Ruckus, now going by the name of "The Squad""
"Both teams looking to challenge the Ring of Honor World Tag Team Champions Kevin Steen and El Generico, and a victory tonight would all but cement them a challenge for the belts."
"Tonight will also mark the arrival of a veteran to the Ring of Honor ranks, as former WWE Intercontinental and European Champion D'Lo Brown makes his debut in a match with Claudio Castagnoli."
"Dave, D'Lo is a former European Champ, it will be interesting to see if he can shake off the ring rust to match it with one of Europe's finest today, in Castagnoli"
At that second, "I Fought The Law" by The Clash hits, and the reigning Ring of Honor World Champion, Nigel McGuiness appears at the entrance way. The champ, dressed in his trademark black trunks with the Union Jack on the rear, Nigel McGuiness "Sex Pistols" t-shirt and black shades, makes his way to the ring, with the World title worn back to front around his waist. He enters the squared circle to a sea of boos and jeers from the crowd, as fans voice their lack of appreciation for the man from London. he grabs the mic from Lenny Leonard's hand to address the crowd.
"You shut the bloody hell up Leonard you fat tub of custard."
The crowd erupts, and "We Want Dragon" chants begin, which does very little to deter the champ.
"You can follow suit too Prazak, you scrawny little weed, before va Greatest Wrestler in va Wooorld adds Ring of Honor's resident internet geek to his 18-month long list of destruction. First of all, no one cares about vem damn Briscoe bruvvers or veir stupid little attempt at reclaiming glory. If you ask me, which I do, va Briscoes are exactly what is wrong wif professional wrestling. Vey are unwashed, unshaven, unclean, and unprofessional. As a matter of fact, vey look an aweful lot like va majority of Philidelphia, and vats on a good day!"
"f**k you Nigel" chants erupt, prompting Nigel to give the crowd the finger, before continuing.
"No one has tuned into Ring of Honor's debut show on HDNet to get down wif va Brown, and watch some washed up jobber attempt to salvage what career he has left, by jumping on va gravy train. And people certainly havent tuend in to see that overrated, overstated, overecomidated "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson. No! Vere is one thing vat screams Ring of Honor! Vat shouts Ring of Honor! Vat, when people are talking about ROH on va little youtube videos, defines what Ring of Honor is all about. And that is, va 18-month long and counting, reigning and defending Ring of Honor Champion of va World! Nigel McGuiness!"
The crowd explodes when "The Final Countdown" hits, and "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson makes his way to the ring, dressed in maroon trunks, and a black t-shirt. Danielson, without his trademark robe, slides into the ring and grabs McGuiness' mic before he has the chance to say anything, all to a chorus of cheers and "Dragon" chants from the crowd.
"I have but one thing to say to you McGuiness. Put up, or shut up! Either you put that ROH World Championship belt where your mouth is, or shut up, before you feel what it is like to have a true champion's fist 3 inches through your jaw! You see Nigel, for the past 18 months I've been hunting you down, winning match after match, beating competitor anfter competitor, all to get a shot at the belt I was robbed of the chance of winning when Morishima got our match to end in a no result. I've been busting my ass night in, night out, all in the hope that someday I'd get the oppertunity to take back what is so deservadly mine. For the past 18 months Nigel, you've been avoiding me, and even though you've proven yourself against the likes of Tyler Black, Kevin Steen and Austin Aries, there's one person you have yet to prove yourself against, and that's me. What I'm trying to say Nigel, is that I want a title shot, and I want it tonight!"
The crowd falls deadly still, as they await Nigel's response.
"You want a title shot tonight? I'm va Ring of Honor Champion of va World, and you want to walk down my aisle, step inside my ring, and demand va right to become my next victim? Dragon, vere's a reason I havent proven myself against you. Va truf is Dragon, I simply do not have to. You are not in my league. So to answer your question, no you will not get a title shot. you cannot beat me, end of story."
Danielson is visibly destraught, and snatches the mic back from McGuiness.
"Cannot beat you? Cannot beat you? If you think that Bryan Danielson cannot beat anyone in the world, let alone Nigel McGuiness, you quite simply do not know professional wrestling. I'm the American Dragon. I'm the Greatest Wrestler in the World. I've beaten people in every continent bar the Antarctic to give truth that my reuptation is not myth, but fact. And I'll prove it tonight. McGuiness, you say you won't accept my challenge, but how about I offer you something. How about I give you something to sweeten the deal. how about tonight I not only put my reputation on the line, but my career aswell. What I'm saying Nigel, is that if you choose to accept my challenge, and manage to beat me, you will never see Bryan Danielson in a wrestling ring again. What do you say Nigel?"
McGuiness takes the mic back and takes his shades off, before getting right in Danielson's face.
"Your saying vat if I put va title on the line tonight, and I put you to sleep wif va London Dungeon or knock you out wif va Tower of London or va Jawbreaker Lariet, I'll never have to see you again? No more jeers in the street from people saying I can't beat teh Dragon? No more messages on Facebook or Myspace from people saying I can't beat Dragon? No more Youtube videos or blogs from people saying vat McGuiness can't beat va big Big Bad Dragon? You know what Danielson? You're on!"
The crowd explodes as we fade to a commercial.
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When we arrive back to Ring of Honor's debut telecast on HDNet, the tandem of Jack Evans and Ruckus, now simply known as "The Squad" are already in the ring, as "Gimme Back My Bullets" by Lynyrd Skynyrd hits the PA system, and the former Ring of Honor World Tag Team Champions, Mark and Jay Briscoe make their way to the ring. The Briscoes, wearing their trademark baggy red shorts and black hooded sweatshirts egnite a series of thums on the rails by fans, aswell as man up chants, once they enter the ring. Leonard and Prazak make mention that this match is important to both teams as it will cement one team's spot as number one contenders for the Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championships.
The match begins with a flurry of chain wrestling and quick dodges by both Jay Briscoe and Ruckus. Ruckus is able to hit a single-leg drop kick and corkscrew lariet to send Jay to the floor. The Squad member then tunes up the crowd with a series of stomps before bouncing of the ropes and threatening to dive to the outside. This is however interupted by mark Briscoe, who manages to hit Ruckus with a shoulder block. Jack Evans then leaps the top rope to go toe to toe with mark Briscoe. Mark hits Evans with a series of huge right hands, before hitting a Saito suplex. Mark then hits the ropes, leaps over Evans and hits a springboard shooting star press onto a stunned Ruckus outside.
Jay Briscoe slides back into the ring and attempts to hit a J-Driller on Evans, however the white hip hopper is able to slide out and is able to hit a superkick, followed by a AJ Styles' style Pele kick. Jack Evans hits a standing corkscrew on Jay, before heading to the top rope. Mark Briscoe blindsides, Evans, allowing him to climb and hit a super hurricaranna! Mark goes for the cover, but the referee reminds Mark that neither he or Jack Evans are the legal men. Ruckus is then able to take advantage, hitting a sit out suplex, before completing a cartwheel leading into a standing shooting star press. The crowd goes crazy, however Ruckus' dominance is short lived, as when he turns he is hit with a running leg lariet from Jay Briscoe. Jack Evans is coming to, and attempts to hit a super kick, but is caught by Jay, and hit with a double-underhook piledriver from Briscoe. he then calls out to his brother, and Mark, standing on the outside of the apron, springboards into the centre of the ring, as Jay scoops up Ruckus, to hit a Spike Jay Driller and pick up the victory.
As the Briscoes are celebrating in the middle of the ring, and Prazak and Leonard are praising their performance, the shot appears to cut out to interference, and then to a dark, empty room, with a man with his head in his hands.
"They say my movement has been crushed, and that my dream for a full scale revolution in Ring of Honor has been all but culled by those who I for so long have struggle against. To make matters worse, those who I trusted to bring fruition my plan for changes to social order, were the very same people who treacherously undermined my operation and organised my downfall. I have not forgotten, and those who I once called brother, I will enact revenge upon, for I am Jimmy Jacobs, and I will have my vengeance. Tyler Black, you have not experienced true pain and anguish until you have been stabbed in the back by someone you would lay your body down in the line of fire for. Tyler Black, you have not experienced true heart break until you have been turned against by the very same person you brought from the sewers and alleyways and elevated into a man of honor and respect. Tyler Black, you have not experienced true displacement, until the man you trusted as second in command, slices your throat in your sleep so that he can take charge. Tyler Black, I have not forgotten, and you will see just how much I have not forgotten next week here on HDnet. Tyler Black, Age of The Fall is not dead, this was just a minor setback. Under teh guise of new leadership, wI will take back what is mine, and move foreward with what I set out to create in the first place. Tyler Black, you are just another soul lost in the hour of revolution, and I shall save your soul, beginning next week."
The scene fades out to a commercial after going through another few seconds of interference.
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After a few words from our sponsors and a short video hyping Ring of Honor's online store, we are back in the old ECW Arena, where Prazak and Leonard are mulling over what appeard to be Jimmy Jacobs emptying his heart out, and what this could mean for Tyler Black. Next up, however is the second match of the night, and as "I've Got To Have It" by Jermaine Dupri hits the PA system, "The Stallwart Swiss Powerhouse" Claudio Castagnoli makes his way to the ring, complete with his swiss flag. As Claudio steps into the ring, he acknowledges the crowd with a giant "HEYYY!" before giving pulling his finger at them in disrespect. The crowd jeer him with a chorus of boos, before "Whats My Name" by DMX hits the speakers, and Ring of Honor's latest signee, D-Lo Brown, makes his way to the ring, complete with head shaking mannerisms and his trademark strut.
The crowd give D-Lo a reasonable ovation, before Castagnoli gets in his face, screaming at him that he is washed up, and is meeting the real European Champion. D-Lo slaps Claudio, and we begin the match, with Brown taking the early advantage with a series of right hands and chops. Claudio backs into the corner but is able to reverse the situation, chopping D-Lo to the delight of the crowd who respond with a chorus of "Whooooo!". Claudio lays into D-Lo with mudhole stomps, before delivering a hard Irish Whip to the opposite turnbuckle, causing Brown to ricochet to the mat, and the ring to shake. The Stalwart Swiss Powerhouse then lays into Brown's lower back, before locking in the "Neutralizer" - a over the shoulder Boston Crab with headscissors. Brown is able to eventually kick Castagnoli out of the hold, Claudio however, is able to roll away, and then come straight back to the lock it in once more.
D-Lo, this time is able to reach the ropes, and the referee counts to 4.99999 before Claudio finally releases the lock. He scrapes Bron out of the ring with his foot, before heading to the top rope, and delivering a lariet from the top rope to a dazed D-Lo on the outside. Claudio takes a few moments to catch his breath, before rolling D-Lo back into the ring, and making a cover for the count of two. Claudio raises D-lo to deliver a series of European uppercuts, to which teh crowd respond with a "Heyyy!", allowing for Claudio to retort with "Shut up, Your faces!". Claudio whips D-Lo into the ropes and attempts to hit a bicycle kick, however misses when Brown rolls to evade, Castagnoli getting his foot tangled in the top rope.
With Castagnoli tied up, Brown attempts a small package, but Casgatnoli kicks out esily at two. The two stand, and Claudio charges with another European uppercut, but Brown ducks, hitting a boot to the midsection, followed up with a European uppercut of his own, complete with the crowd chants. D-Lo backs Claudio into the turnbuckle, and retreats to allow for a run up, but Claudio snaps out of it and charges Brown.
Sky High! D-Lo is able to hit his trademark high-angle sitout spinebuster, but only gets the two count. D-lo begins to get on a roll, when he hits a huge bodyslam, followed with a leg drop including his trademark WWE theatrics which ignites the crowd. Brown covers again and only gets the two count. He scoops Castagnoli and attempts to hit an ace crusher, only for Claudio to hit a gutwrench side piledriver, which he has dubbed Les Artess Driver. With Brown down, Castagnoli hits the big swing, with over 20 revolutions, which ignites the crowd. Claudio however becomes destracted, and tells a fan at ringside to shut his face. This allows D-Lo to recover and hit a reverse DDT, afterwhich he heads to the top rope.
D-Lo attempts to hit the Lo-Down, however Castagnoli raises his knees to D-lo's unprotected chest (heh). Both men are down, and when the referee gets to seven with his count, they rise simultaniously. D-Lo charges at Claudio, only to be lifted into a flapjack and dropped int oa European uppercut. Swiss Death! With D-Lo down, Claudio strolls over to make the cover, however Brown hits an inside cradle...
1...
2...
Almost three! Both men roll out at the same time, D-lo accidently intoi the referee. With the referee momentarily daized and D-Lo's attention not on Claudio, Castagnoli is able to hit a soccer kick right to D-Lo's groin, followed by a small package to pick up a sneaky victory. Post match, Claudio celebrates in the centre of the ring, waving his Swiss flag much to the jeers of the crowd.
Lenny leonard is talking up D-Lo's performance, before we cut backstage to where Larry Sweeney is standing by with the members of his stable, Sweet & Sour Incorporated. Sweeney is dressed in his trademark suit and glasses, chewing gum, and on the cell phone, before he realises the camera is on him, and he begins to speak.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is proof the dreams come true. Ring of Honor's 7 year history culminating in a television deal with HDNet, an deal some are calling, the most revolutionary television deal in history. Well guess what, those some people do not include Larry Sweeney and Sweet & Sour Incorporated! You see, for the past 4 years, I have systematically recruited and retained talented athletes who will truely make an impact on this business and revolutionise this industry. For the past 4 years, Larry Sweeney has built Sweet & Sour Incorporated from the ground up, as an agency where guys who have a little more than the average joe can seek a career outside of sweaty, rundown bingo halls such as this one. Where athletes can truley can experience the greener grass on the otherside of the bridge. For the past 4 years, it has not been HDnet who has revolutionised Ring of Honor. No! It was Larry Sweeney who revolutionised Ring of Honor! And what do I get for it? Jack diddly squat!
I recruited these two young bucks standing right before you, Shane Haggadorn and Eddie Edwards, because they have what it takes to make it in this business. They have the look, they have the skill, and they have the passion to do what most others can't do, and thats make soem damn money in this business. And what does Larry Sweeney get for his scouting ability? I turn on my monitor 40 minutes ago to see those Delawere hicks the Briscoes win another shot at belts they've lost five times already. let me tell you this, if Haggadorn and Edwards were given a shot by McMahon or Russo, they would tear the fricken house down at Madison Square garden, or at the Impact Zone, yet Adam Pearce and the ROH booking team refuse to give us what we deserver. Don't worry guys, I've just got off the phone to Stephanie, she's tuning in to see what all the fuss is about.
Next, Larry Sweeney hires a guy named Davey Richards, a guy who as one half of the Tag Team Champions held the belts for over four months, beating Austin Aries, Bryan Danielson, Brent Albright, and you, Adam Pearce, in doing so. And what does Larry Sweeney get for hiring a guy who has proven himself against FOUR World Champions? Jack diddly squat! Finally, Larry Sweeney uncovers one of the true hidden gems of professional wrestling, a true superstar in the making, a guy who reaks of charisma, oozes athleticism and sells merchandise by the crateload wherever he goes. I signed Chris Hero as a true World Championship contender, and what did Larry Sweeney get? I turn on my monitor to hear that Bryan Danielson is facing Nigel McGuiness for the Ring of Honor World Championship, despite the fact that Danielson is short, doesn't have the look, or ability to draw, the same way that Chris Hero does.
Let me tell you folks, dreams indeed do come true, because now that Ring of Honor is on HDnet, there will be no more holding back from Larry Sweeney and Sweet & Sour Incorporated. No more sitting back and watching management give other wrestlers oppertunities that shouldn't be theres. Oppertunities that are ours. No! Sweet & Sour Incorporated now has a medium to promote our product and get the attention we so sollemnly deserve. And when we do, and my phone starts ringing, fax machine starts buzzing, and Russo starts kissing my feet like he should be, I'm taking these five true superstars to the big bucks, whilst the rest of Ring of Honor wollows in its own mediocracy. Ahahahahahahahahaha!"
Sweeney and the rest of Sweet & Sour Incorporated break out into fits of laughter as we fade to a commercial.
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When we return from the commercial, and after Dave Prazak and lenny leonard welcome us back, we find lower level talent Silas Young in the ring, staring up the rampway awaiting his opponent for this evening's third match. "I Dont Wanna Stop" by Ozzy Osbourne hits the airwaves, and former NWA World Champion Brent Albright makes his way to the ring. Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 230lb, Albright dwarfs his opponent, and Dave Prazak is quick to point out Albright's achievements and also his time in the WWE as Gunner Scott.
When the bell rings, Albright begins to decimate Silas Young, hitting a variety of different suplexes including an overhead belly to belly, a gutwrench and a snap vertical. Albright, picks Young up and nails hi mwith a flurry of chops, until Young is backed into the corner. The referee is quick to stop Albright from going any further, allowing Young to scurry under Albright's grapple, and nail him in the mid section with a roundhouse right hand. Young hits a dragon screw, and looks like mounting an offense after hitting a running dropkick to a seated Albright. However, his comeback is shortlived, as when he goes to mount Albright in a seated headlock, Brent is able to reverse the hold, in to a Fujiwara armbar, from which Silas young quickly taps, giving Albright a relativly easy and quick victory.
Post match, we head backstage to where we can see Austin Aries walking. He turns a corner only to bump into former ECW, WWE and TNA performer Jerry Lynn, who has been wrestling in Ring of honor for the past two or three months. Aries stares Lynn down, before Lynn offers his hand as a showing of respect.
"Austin Aries. I've been watching you these past few years. You've got talent kid, probably the most talented wrestler in this company. You're one of the reasons I came to Ring of Honor in the first place. Im..."
"I know who you are. Let me make one thing clear, I don't need your approval, I don't need your compliments and I certainly don't need your respect. I've been busting my ass in this business for the better part of a decade. I know I have what it takes. Hearing that from somebody who quite clearly doesn't, judging by his track record in this industry, just sounds pathetic. Now do us all a favour here Jerry, save the slapstick comments for the casual fans. This is Ring of Honor! Now quit riding our coat tails."
With that, Austin has one final staredown with Jerry Lynn, before walking off. Lynn doesn't look the least bit impressed by Aries obvious act of disrespect.
We then cut back ringside, where Dave Prazak informs us that thr fourth match of the night is just about to get underway. Grizzly Redwood, Ring of Honor's resident lumberjack, is already in the ring, hat, coat and all. "Hybrid Stigmata" by Dimmu Borgir hits, and the insane, unprdictable, unhuman masked cruiserweight that is Delirious hits the entrance way, running towards the ring, whilst literally bouncing off of the barricades. Delirious slides under teh ropes into the ring, only to slide back out and run around the ring a few times before sliding back in. The referee manages to calm Delirious down, but the bell ringing only sets him off again as he charges at grizzly, only to duck Grizzly's clothesline and slide under to the outside once more. He heads over to the commentary table, mumbles something in jibbirish, and then returns to the ring.
The match finall begins as Delirious is able to hit a running knee strike, followed by repeated lariets to a cornered Redwood. This, known as The Neverending Story, continues for 30 seconds, before Delirious sprays red mist from his mouth to further daze his opponent. Delirious looked to win without trouble as he signalled for the Chemical Imabalance, when Bison Smith, the 6 foot 5 monster from Denver, Colorado, stormed the ring and decapitated him with a huge lariet. Bison then hit him with a skul lvice slam, followed bytossing him from the ring. Next, Smith took control of an already unconcious Grizzly Redwood, hitting him with a belly to belly inverted mat slam, known simply as Bisontennial. He then picked him up, hit him with another, before tossing him from the ring.
Bison went on to rip his shirt off and screamed at the camera "Who's gonna stop me? Who's gonna stop the Bison?". We faded to a commercial as Prazak and Leonard ponder this very question.
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When we return from the commercial break, we learn that both Delirious and Grizzly Redwood are undergoing medical treatment thanks to the assault at the hands of Bison Smith. The announcers then go on to hype next week's main event for the tag team championships, which is followed by a video package detailing the rivalry between the Briscoes, and Kevin Steen & El Genrico. The video especially highlights their Ladder War match at the very first Ring of Honor pay per view. When we return, we learn it is time for our main event of the evening, as Nigel McGuiness defends the Ring of Honor World Championship against "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson.
