--- SUMMERSLAM RESULTS: Bryan Danielson & Undertaker return - PPV results (CLICK HERE) --- News & Notes (CLICK HERE)
--- WRESTLER DEATH: Former WWE wrestler Lance Cade dies at age 29 on Friday (CLICK HERE)
--- THE EXPENDABLES: Movie with Steve Austin tops weekend box office (CLICK HERE) --- ROH makes booking change (CLICK HERE)
--- Shawn Michaels on ESPN (CLICK HERE) --- Randy Orton interview (CLICK HERE) --- Batista didn't like WWE direction (CLICK HERE)
--- IMPACT RATINGS: "Whole F'n Show" down from last week (CLICK HERE) --- SPOILERS: Aug. 19 Impact (CLICK HERE)
--- WWE EARNINGS: 2nd quarter results "below expectations" (CLICK HERE) --- [Refresh to Update News or CLICK TO GO TO MAIN LISTING] ...
HITS & MISSES - ROH TV on HDNet 8/9: Tyler Black's "John Cena promo," Daniels vs. Black without a time limit countdown, Necro frustration continues
Aug 11, 2010 - 11:19:00 AM
By Tony Donofrio, PWTorch specialist
-- 8/9 ROH TV Hits & Misses
ROH TV HITS
Tyler Black promo: While Black's delivery was not perfect, this was a very effective promo and I hope that John Cena was taking notes. The promo started off very Cena-esque but evolved into something different when Black addressed what the fans could do that didn't like and respect him as champion. Black has all the tools be a great WWE star someday (and based on this weekend's news, time will tell). Hopefully Dusty Rhodes will help Black hone his skills on the mic as he did with Sheamus during his time in WWE developmental's program at Florida Championship Wrestling. This was a short but sweet way to start off the show.
Christopher Daniels and Roderick Strong backstage interviews: I clump these two interviews together because they weren't special enough to give them their own "hit," but collectively, they were both solid enough to belong here. Daniels gave newer viewers and/or loose followers a nice history lesson of how Black has struggled to retain his ROH Title since capturing it earlier this year and how he would capitalize on Black's "rocky reign." Strong was also great in his interview, even nailing some facial expressions to really help put this interview over. Next week's match against Davey Richards should make for a great TV main event.
Colt Cabana vs. Alex Anthony: Sure, this was a short match, but it was Cabana doing what he does best. Cabana is a great comedic wrestler. Sticking with the "notes theme" from the first "hit," this is where Santino Marella should be taking notes as Cabana's in-ring skills help make his comedy more effective. It was nice to see Cabana pick up the easy win and I even enjoyed the post-match run-in. Kevin Steen and Steve Corino as a unit is one of the best things going right now in ROH. The apparent blow-off to this feud should be exciting come September 11.
Tyler Black vs. Christopher Daniels: This was a great TV main event and I'd like to see these guys go at it with a 60-minute time limit for the ROH Title. The conclusion of this match probably made Samoa Joe proud. There were no reminders of the 20-minute time limit. When the bell rang, I actually forget for a few seconds that it was in place because I was so caught up in the match. With that said, TNA should be taking notes here. Again, this shows that ROH is the king of the slow burn because this match had a great 20-minute build. The action was really good and left the audience wanting for more.
Post-main event: The post-match interactions only heightened the feeling of wanting more from the match. Unfortunately, with the news of Black leaving the company soon, we know that he will also be dropping the title soon, one way or another. However, if history teaches us anything (see C.M. Punk's last ROH Title run), we should know that most things in ROH aren't always that cut and dry. Will we see Daniels and Black go 60 minutes on September 11? Will it be Black-Strong...or even Black-Richards as Richards supposedly winds down his run in ROH before giving up wrestling? Will we maybe see a wild card introduced with a surprise appearance by Bryan Danielson wanting "his" title back? The intrigue is there because of the elements that are now introduced. ROH fans are also smart and Black will surely be getting a lot of heel heat soon since his departure is imminent. His current tweener crowd reaction will almost certainly disappear. Was this "hit" long winded? Most certainly, but it was necessary. Stay tuned...
ROH TV MISSES
Necro Butcher vs. Rasche Brown: I hate to beat up on Necro and The Embassy weekly but this is getting hard to watch, especially by ROH standards. The shaved head for Necro is certainly not the answer to making this click. Simply put, I'm tired of the run-ins and this feud feels so "old hat" at this point and I wish it would go away. Necro looked really slow in the ring and I felt like I was watching a wrestler that is on his last legs. I keep my fingers crossed that something will spark this feud into something worth watching.
Tony Donofrio is a Specialist for the Torch covering WWE PPVs monthly, the weekly ROH TV on HDNet, and contributes to the Torch Roundtable Reviews on a weekly basis. You can contact Tony at PWTorchTD@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TonyDonofrio..
[Torch art credit Marco D'Alfonso (c) PWTorch.com]
Please take a moment to answer our demographic survey: CLICK HERE
