ROH TV Workrate Report: 2/21/11

President's Day ROH Report!! What president would have made the best pro wrestler? Like, aside from Lincoln. I'm not even talking from just a carny aspect (like which president's campaign did Pro Wrestling better than Pro Wrestling...I'm looking at you, Grant! Getting all your buddies into office like you were Hogan in '94 WCW!!), either, just who would be the best presidential wrestler. I'd be most interested in seeing Taft work. By all accounts he was over 300 lb., heavier than Stan Hansen, and had an even better mustache. Was he the last president with facial hair? I bet Taft would throw an awesome elbow drop. What president would you want to see work...AND WHY!? Support your answer.

Aw crumbs we start off with a Davey Richards return promo. He failed himself. He failed the American Wolf believers. And he's sorry. People want a rematch, but "The American Wolf isn't about being handed things." That name sounds even shittier when spoken in 3rd person. He's starting with Cabana, and "This is an important hunt to this Wolf." Good lord. When he said "This hunt never dies," I heard my girlfriend do a pity-groan and eye roll from the next room. I wasn't even aware she was within earshot. Cannot wait to have this show filled with Davey and Chris Daniels matches.

Briscoes do another awesome promo calling out Benjamin and Haas. They always talk like they're wearing headphones and don't realize how loud they're talking. "We were only 15, 16 back in Jersey, Haas! We're like, 25, 26 now!" And Mark is always awesome as Jay's hype man. "Yeah, 25 or 26!!"

1. Devon Storm vs. Christopher Daniels. Wow, Devon Storm? Really? This is definitely a battle of the HOTT indie stars of 1997. I eagerly await Davey Richards vs. Ace Darling. And Roderick Strong vs. Cheetah Master. Storm throws some pretty decent jabs. Daniels has a pretty cool ankle pick takedown. Aw shit, Prazak just made a fucking Ace Darling joke. If he mentions Cheetah Master then Prazak and I are one and the same. Rachel points out that Storm has that same "I got bad knees so I walk like I rode a horse halfway across the country to get to this show" gait that Shawn Michaels does. Storm with a crossbody over the top to the floor and back in with some GREAT jabs to a kneeling Daniels and this match is actually getting pretty damn fun. Daniels with a nice STO and....something off the top that ends with his knees into Storm's chest. Storm hits a stiff rope flip leg drop and Daniels kicks out. We go into some slow forearm exchanges and Daniels ends up hitting the BME. This was a pretty fun 6 minute Superstars match up. I'd much rather see Daniels working random 1997 feuds in 6 minutes than him working 20 minute draw "wars".

2. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Rhett Titus. Claudio looks like a fucking superstar wearing the belt and posing, and Del Ray is great doing her pageant queen parade wave on the way to the ring. We start with an uninspiring chop exchange. Titus can't chop, and he can't throw a decent forearm. These guys seem to be on a different page early on. Titus does a goofy somersault into a back elbow out of the corner and this is not working. But Titus takes a big hip toss bump to the floor and that works. Claudio hits a cool back breaker on the apron. Titus sells back pain far less convincingly than Michael Cudlitz on "Southland". Seriously, TNT knows drama, and you owe it to yourself to check out "Southland". Patrol Officer John Cooper's back is fucked beyond belief and Cudlitz makes me believe that he is in constant pain, all while trying to tough it out. Some of the best on-screen selling since Daniel Day Lewis selling his leg in "There Will Be Blood". Castagnoli has wimpy kicks to the stomach. But makes me regret typing that as he ends the match with a great falling clothesline. This was not much.

3. Back from break right into Chris Hero vs. Kenny King. Hero shows the crowd how to throw a chop, then King throws a mighty back elbow that Hero leans way into. King with a crazy springboard move off the guard rail and this is starting off fun. Hero catches a kick and Yakuza kicks King. Hero sells King's punches better than they deserved. And then catches another King kick and Yakuzas him to the floor! Hagadorn throws him back in and Hero gets a running baseball slide kick to a downed King for 2, then locks on a Stretch Plum. Huge rolling elbow from Hero and Titus is quality trying to slap some life into King. Hero misses a springboard moonsault (leaping to the top rope unassisted!) and King hits a spinning heel kick knocking Hero to his butt. King is on fire hitting spinny kicks and non-spinning clotheslines of varying quality, but then throws a beast of a spinebuster for 2. Hero hits a rolling Yakuza kick that looks AWESOME considering how ridiculous it is, then gets a Liger Bomb for 2. Hagadorn interference backfires and King rolls up Hero for the win. Hero is pissed and throws Todd Sinclair to the floor. Todd took a nice bump on that spill. KOW start destroying Titus/King (King bumps a Claudio uppercut awesomely) and Sara Del Ray is kicking ring boys in the face to keep them at bay as we go off the air.

Fun show with a couple decent matches all at reasonable lengths, though I can't say I'm very excited for the big show they've been building to.