411’s Ring of Honor on HDNet Report 3.07.11

Definitely won’t be able to get the third missing review in time, but I’m going to try and do that later tonight. Let’s get straight to it! Tonight we’ve got the semi-final matches of the Top Prospect Tournament, and a four-way main event with Roderick Strong taking on El Generico, Jay Briscoe, and Homicide.

We open with Kyle O’Reilly and Michael Elgin already in the ring.

Match #1: Kyle O’Reilly vs. Michael Elgin

O’Reilly gets some strikes to start. They lock up and Elgin tosses O’Reilly with ease. O’Reilly gets some more kicks before Elgin shoulder strikes him in the corner several times.. O’Reilly gets on the apron and jumps over Truth Martini who’s trying to sweep the leg several times. Springboards into a shoulder tackle though. Elgin taunts. Powerbomb attempt from Elgin but O’Reilly reverses it into a cross-armbreaker before Elgin powes out and gets a fallaway slam. O’Reilly tries striking Elgin but gets elbowed down. Elgin runs the ropes and eats a dropkick! Charging elbow strike in the corner from O’Reilly before a kicking combo knocks Elgin down. Elgin knocks O’Reilly down on the apron and now they’re fighting there. O’Reilly gets a rana from the second rope on the outside to Elgin on the apron to the outside!!! Kyle hits Elgin with a huge dropkick as he took a seat in the corner chair!!! Elgin back in the ring and O’Reilly gets a missile dropkick! Kicks to the leg and he goes for a suplex. Wrist-clutch exploder suplex hits! Urinage from Elgin though. HUGE lariat from Elgin! 1…2…no!! Forearms from Elgin and a whip to the corner. Runs into a boot and Kyle gets a huge flippidy DDT. Cross-armbreaker but Elgin gets the ropes! Bridging leg hook belly to back driver gets two from Elgin!!!! O’Reilly up, gets on Elgin’s shoulders and gets a triangle choke! Elgin powers up but O’Reilly gets a sunset flip over his back for three!

Result: Kyle O’Reilly via pinfall @ 8:05.
Rating: **3/4
My thoughts: The best Top Prospect match so far. This was really enjoyable and I’m starting to think instead of a reliance on big names, Ring of Honor’s being forced to make new stars will end up being a great thing. In a year from now, I think many of these guys will be mainstays on the roster and will be both embraced and more highly-regarded. Great showing from both men. Glad O’Reilly won here.

Corino on the apron says no matter who wins the finals, O’Reilly is the top prospect of 2011.

Match #2: Andy Ridge vs. Mike Bennett

They lock up and Bennett obviously has the power advantage as he ends up in control in the corner. Clean break and cocky swagger. Shoulder block from Bennett. Another lock-up sees Bennett get a headlock takeover. Ridge starts to fight back and gets some hard kicks. Bennett dodges another one and rolls to the floor. Hogewood doesn’t like that Bennett rolls to the floor in his matches. Haha, classic face commentator. Bennett back in and gets control with some big shots. Chop in the corner. A second one attempted, but Ridge gets it. Flurry of right legs to the back of Bennett in the corner before a big sliding kick gets two. Bennett dodges another kick and throws him down to the canvas. Stomps from Mike. Clothesline from Bennett gets two. Bennett is firmly in control here. Snapmare and leg submission attempt, but Ridge kicks him off and kicks him down. Back to their feet and they trade strikes. Right sliding kick to the side of the head gets two for Ridge. Superkick caught and Bennett goes for a powerbomb, but Ridge rolls him up for two! Bennet runs into an elbow and Ridge charges. He’s caught, and Bennett gets his sit-out sideslam urinage! The three is just a formality.

Result: Mike Bennett via pinfall @ 6:56.
Rating: *3/4
My thoughts: This was okay, but too many “boring moves” from Bennett and too many kicks from Ridge. These two don’t mesh very well. Slightly below average.

After the match, Corino says he still thinks O’Reilly’s going to win. Bennett takes exception and trash talks Corino for being old.

Jim Cornette is sitting down with Davey Richards and his trainer Tony Kozina, who are going to face off next week in an exhibition. He said he doesn’t do just an exhibition, it’s going to be a fight, albeit a friendly fight. Tony had his eyes opened when he was introduced to Richards and sees that no one works harder than him. Davey talks about his unique style and that it’s now time to change it up so no one knows how to counter what he throws at them. Davey debuts his new style next week.

Match #3: Roderick Strong vs. Homicide vs. Jay Briscoe vs. El Generico

Match starts in the ring for the third time tonight. Jay and Homicide to start the match. Before anything, Jay tags Strong. Strong circles Homicide and tags Jay back in. They circle and actually lock up. Jay gives the clean break in the corner. Waistlock from Jay into an armlock by Homicide. Take down into a head scissor and they work back up. Homicide gets a one count on Jay. Arm wrench from Homicide and he bites Jay’s tricep! Generico tags himself in and it’s Jay and Generico. Lots of arm work before Jay tags in Roddy. Big chop from El Generico in the corner. Strong goes to the outside and slows the match down. Generico tags in Jay. Wristlock from Roddy. Takedown and he’s holding on. Jay gets an armdrag counter and hits a rana. Chops from Jay in the corner. Tag to EG who gets an axe handle. Roddy tags out to Homicide. Lock up and Homicide gets a headlock. Sequence of armdrags before a shoulder block from Cide. Generico gets a couple more armdrags and Homicide is sent outside, frustrated. Strong tags in and they fight on the floor. Cide bites Strong and they go into the ring. Suplex from Strong gets two. Jay tags Strong. Cide gets a drop toehold into the turnbuckle on Jay. Generico tagged in. Generico takes it to Jay and gets a 2 count. Generico tags Strong who stomps down jay. Punches in the corner from the champ. Strong throws Jay into Homicide, sending him into the guardrail. Belly to back suplex gets two for strong. Irish whip into the corner and Strong gets a big elbow shot. He goes for a clothesline, but gets a downward spiral into the turnbuckle. Jay tags Homicide who starts wailing on Strong. 10 punches in the corner. Vertical suplex from Homicide. A second amigo! Strong blocks the third with a facebuster. Overhead belly-to-belly from Homicide. Strong tags EG. Cide tags Briscoe after hitting EG. Boot to the head by Jay. Jay stomps down Generico in the corner. He runs into an elbow, a boot, and an exploder suplex into the corner. Jay tags Homicide. Clotheslines from EG. Ace Crusher attempt, but Generico gets a swinging DDT. Strong tagged in and eats a Michinoku driver for two from Generico. Strong goes outside. Generico sets up for the suicide dive but Homicide stops him with a back elbow. What is even the elblow? (five internet dollars to whoever gets that reference) Generico sends Homicide to the outside by rolling out of a waistlock and now wants the dive on Homicide and Strong! JAY CUTS HIM OFF and goes for a DVD! Generico gets out of it but eats a kick to the face. Jay charges, but Generico ducks and pulls the rope, sending Jay over the top! HE CAN FINALLY HIT IT!! Generico runs and SENTON OVER THE TOP ROPE!!! Homicide didn’t get hit from it and goes for a powerbomb. Generico flips him out, goes around the ring and climbs the top rope to get a crossbody on Strong in the ring. Homicide pulls Generico out of the ring (and crotches him on the turnbuckle under the ropes in the process. Homicide sets Strong up top and gets a superhurricanrana! 1…2…no! Cop Killer attempt and Roddy rolls him over. Superkick! 1…2…Homicide kicks out! Fireman carry gutbuster from Strong! Strong runs the ropes (that made no sense) but got superkicked by Jay. Yakuza kick by Generico! Lariat by Homicide and all four men are down! Strong and Homicide tag in the others and they trade big boots! Michinoku driver from Briscoe! EG tags Homicide. Jay’s up top and Homicide wants an Ace Crusher, but Jay fights him off. JAY DRILLAH! El Generico hits Jay with a Yakuza kick before he could get the cover! Roderick blind tagged Generico. Generico brainbusts Jay but can’t pin him! Roddy hits a flying knee on Generico and covers Jay for the win!

Result: Roderick Strong via pinfall @ 17:58.
Rating: ***3/4
My thoughts: Great match, but there were a few spots that didn’t either make sense, or didn’t actually make tags although they counted someone as the legal man. Either way though, the action was non-stop (TOTAL non-stop) and excited the viewer. I think since they did the Defy or Deny match later, another guy should have won to make Roddy worried, but overall it was a fun time. Not quite as good as Daniels/King from last week, but the same rating.