ECW on Sci-Fi 2/26/08

-From Tuscon, AZ

-TONIGHT'S MAIN EVENT: Winner gets an ECW Title Match Next Week: CM Punk VS Elijah Burke VS Shelton Benjamin

-Match 1 Mixed Tag Match: Kelly Kelly & Kofi Kingston VS Layla & Santino Marella

-Zero reaction for Kofi. Santino tries to do Layla's entrance. Tazz sings "Centerfold". Kelly & Kofi hit a double dropkick on Santino. Santino hits an STO and a short-arm clothesline before bowing to HUGE boos. Santino tags in Layla, who mocks Kofi, but doesn't see Kelly coming. Kelly quickly finishes with a Rocker Dropper. Nothing special, but not terrible either.

 -Video for Maria's Playboy shoot. Normally I'd have a snarky comment about how sad it is for a woman to consider this the highlight of her career, but in Maria's case, it ended up being true.

-Match 2: Mike Knox VS Stevie Richards

-Knox goes right after Stevie's throat. Knox hits a short-arm clothesline for two. Stevie comes back with kicks. Knox blocks a Stevie-T attempt, but Stevie hits a couple avalanches, and Stevie T finishes. Basically a squash until the very end.

-Tommy Dreamer tries to psych up Colin Delaney, who is mainly interested in getting his own entrance music.

-WWE reminds you: There are no shortcuts to your goals. The ad even says "No 'roids". How completely un self-aware can you get?

-Match 3: WWE Tag Team Champions The Miz & John Morrison VS Tommy Dreamer & Colin Delaney [Non-Title]

-Dreamer and Miz start off, and neither can get the advantage. Dreamer gets a hiptoss and clothesline on Morrison. Colin tags himself in, and Dreamer slingshots him into a tope con hilo. Colin hits a dropkick for one, but takes a vicious clothesline from Morrison to become the face-in-peril. Morrison hits a springboard elbow drop with Colin laying across Miz's knees. Miz gets in and allows Colin to make the tag. Dreamer hits an inverted DDT on Miz. Miz goes for the Reality Check, but Dreamer shoves Miz into Delaney, and hits a DDT for the win. Solid, if unspectacular tag formula match.

-Some members of the Chicago White Sox are in attendance.

-WrestleMania XXIV Press Conference video.

-Miz & Morrison argue over their loss. Lena Yada comes in to tell them that there's a rumor they will have to defend the titles next week against Dreamer & Delaney. M & M hope it's true.

-ECW Champion Chavo Guerrero comes down to ringside to provide color commentary for the main event.

-Match 4 #1 Contender's Triple Threat Match: Shelton Benjamin VS Elijah Burke VS CM Punk

-Punk gets a much bigger reaction than either of his two opponents. Shelton surprised everyone by giving Burke a roundhouse kick to the head. Punk hits a running leg lariat on Benjamin, then Burke low-bridges Benjamin. Awkward moment as Burke whips Punk into the ropes, and they mix up on what's next. Punk dumps Burke. Shelton sneaks in with Paydirt on Punk, but the ref, for some reason, stops counting at 2 3/4. Shelton & Burke clothesline each other on the floor.

After a commercial break, Punk fights with Burke over a suplex while Punk is standing over the apron, then Shelton leaps over Burke, hitting a sunset flip powerbomb on Punk on the floor. Burke baseball slides Benjamin, then hits the Outer Limits Elbow on Punk for two. Burke hits his 4UP punch on Benjamin. Burke goes up top, but has to deal with Punk, allowing Benjamin to leap to the top and throw Burke off. Benjamin hits the Dragon Whip kick on Punk for two. Punk comes back with his running knee in the corner, but Burke connects with a dropkick to the back of Punk's head for two. Burke walks into a back elbow from Benjamin, which sends him into the Go To Sleep from Punk for the pin. Good main event.

-Chavo Guerrero enters the ring and holds the title belt above his head to close the show.

-AFTER THE BELL (WWE Mobile Exclusive): After Chavo holds his belt up, he slaps Punk, who responds with a roundhouse kick to the head. Punk holds the belt before dropping it on Chavo and leaving.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: Not a bad show, but nothing really worth going out of your way to see either, which seems to be the case for most of these episodes.

Random Ring of Honor Matches #6

-Dog Collar Match: Jimmy Jacobs VS Austin Aries (Bound By Hate 11/8/08)

-Jacobs continually refuses to put the collar around his neck. He uses the advantage of not being attached to the collar to use the chain to beat on Aries, and eventually hog ties Aries in the corner. Jacobs repeatedly hits Aries across the back with a chair, while getting on the mic to taunt him. Jacobs finally gets too close, and Aries manages a back kick to the nuts on Jacobs. Aries gets free, delivers a vicious chairshot to the head, and wraps the dog collar around his fist before punching Jacobs and busting him open.

Aries finally gets the collar around Jacobs' neck. Jacobs fights off a brainbuster attempt and tries to bail. They go up the ramp, and Tyler Black attacks Aries. Black gives Aries a superkick, then Jacobs orders him to go to the back. Contra Code only gets two for Jacobs. Jacobs tries to use a chair, but Aries uses the chain to knock the chair out of Jacobs' hands. Aries keeps Jacobs close to the ring, then hits a suicide dive.

Aries wraps the chain around the turnbuckle pad, and rams Jacobs' head into it. Aries goes for the 450 splash, but Jacobs yanks on the chain, sending Aries crashing down. Jacobs manages to lock in the End Time, but Aries fights out. Running dropkick in the corner almost KO's Jacobs. Aries wraps the chain around his knee before delivering several knee strikes to Jacobs' head, then locks in the Last Chancery for the submission. Really good match. Loved the early psychology of Jacobs outsmarting Aries and keeping the advantage by not putting the chain around his neck.

-Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship: Kevin Steen & El Generico [c] VS The Briscoe Brothers (Rising Above 11/22/08)

-Mark is nursing a knee injury sustained at the RoH show the previous night. Briscoes jump the champions to start. Steen quickly becomes the face-in-peril. Jay dumps Steen on his head with a belly-to-back suplex for two. Mark tries an exploder suplex on Steen, who fights out and hits a nasty superkick. Mark tags Jay, and Generico actually moves out of the way when Jay tries to knock him off the apron, allowing Steen to make the tag. Generico gets a Michinoku Driver on Jay for two. Jay counters a springboard armdrag with a clothesline, and Mark takes Generico down with an exploder. Steen prevents Mark from hitting a Cutthroat Driver on Generico. Steen pitches Jay to the outside, and a Generico Yakuza Kick followed by a Steen frog splash on Mark gets two. Mark tries for the Cutthroat Driver on Steen, but his knee gives out. Mark asks for time, but Steen kicks him in the knee, and Package Piledriver gets the pin. Briscoes aren't happy and a post-match fight starts, so several officials rush in to keep them apart. Match was ok for the time given.

-I Quit Match: Jimmy Jacobs (w/Tyler Black) VS Austin Aries (Rising Above 11/22/08)

-Match spills to the floor right off the bat. Aries gets Jacobs on a table and prepares to dive onto him, but Black pulls Jacobs off the table before that can happen. Aries goes for a suicide dive, but Jacobs pulls the dog collar from the previous match out from underneath the ring, and pops Aries in the face mid-dive, busting him open. Jacobs tries to choke Aries out with the chain. Jacobs sets Aries up for a dive to the outside, but Aries blocks it. Jacobs hits a spear through the ropes, sending Aries crashing into the barricade.

Jacobs sets Aries on a chair, then dives onto him. Jacobs uses the chain to tie Aries to another chair, and digs at Aries' open wound. Jacobs has a chair, but as he's ready to use it Lacey (Jacobs' former manager whom he loved, then chased away from RoH when she left him for Aries) makes a surprise return. She teases throwing in a towel, so Jacobs grabs a spike and threatens to spike Aries in the throat. Lacey still won't throw it in, so Jacobs goes after her, and gets a slap in the face for his troubles. Aries frees himself from the chair and knocks Jacobs through the ropes before following up with a suicide dive.

Aries hits a brainbuster on a chair, then uses the chain to bust Jacobs open, then tie him in the corner. Aries refuses to allow Todd Sinclair to ask Jacobs if he quits. After Aries has enough of pounding on Jacobs in the corner, he unties him, then sets him on the table, with a chair across his chest. Aries climbs up top, but Jacobs launches the chair, hitting Aries right in the face. The two fight on the top turnbuckle, then fall through the table.

Jacobs manages to lock in the End Time, then switches to knee strikes and the Last Chancery, but Aries digs at Jacobs eyes to escape. Aries hits his own series of knee strikes and locks in his own Last Chancery. Jacobs motions for Tyler Black to throw in the towel, but Lacey steals it from him. While maintaining the hold, Aries grabs the spike, and repeatedly spikes Jacobs in the head until he quits.

Aries want to celebrate with Lacey, but she takes off. Jacobs gets pissed at Tyler, who walks out after Jacobs pushes him. Tremendous match that told a great story, and a perfect blowoff to the feud. Probably my favorite match I've reviewed for this Random RoH series so far.

-No DQ: Bryan Danielson VS Claudio Castagnoli (Southern Hostility 12/6/08)

-Danielson attacks right off the bat. Claudio pulls Danielson's shirt over his head before delivering some hockey-style punches. Danielson hits a couple suicide dives, which drive Claudio back-first into the barricade. Third dive is met with a chair to the face. Claudio rams Danielson's head into the barricade, and Danielson is busted open. Claudio keeps working on that cut. Claudio pulls the turnbuckle pad off the top and second turnbuckles in one of the corners. Claudio takes the belt off referee Paul Turner's pants, and uses it to whip Danielson, before wrapping it around his fist and delivering punches.

Danielson comes back with a running elbow, followed by a missile dropkick and running leg lariat for two. Danielson wipes his hand across his bloodied forehead before delivering chops and slaps, but rung into a bicycle kick for two. Claudio hits a pop-up European uppercut for two. Claudio wants a superplex, but Danielson slips out, crotches Claudio, and hits a belly-to-back suplex from the top. Danielson wins a European uppercut exchange. Claudio nearly chokes Danielson out with the belt. Danielson whips Claudio with the belt, but then runs into the exposed turnbuckle. Riccola bomb only gets two for Claudio.

Claudio grabs a chair, and tries to stomp it onto Danielson's face, but Danielson holds it up to trap Claudio's leg, then locks in Cattle Mutilation. Claudio rolls out, so Danielson hits a series of elbows to the jaw. Danielson straps the belt around Claudio's neck, lands a couple stomps to his face, then locks in a triangle choke for the knockout win. Danielson holds onto the triangle for a little bit before letting go. Match was OK, but it was missing something to really make it good. Didn't really have that intensity that's required to have a memorable no-dq type match.

NWA/WCW Big Event Project #28: Starrcade '89 "Future Shock"

-This show has a much different format than every other show, as it is divided into two round robin tournaments, an "Iron Man" tournament between Ric Flair, Lex Luger, The Great Muta, & Sting, and an "Iron Team" tournament between the Steiner Brothers, Road Warriors, Doom, and The New Wild Samoans.

-12/13/89

-From the Omni in Atlanta, GA

-Hosts are Jim Ross, Terry Funk, & Jim Cornette

-They review the scoring system: Pinfall/Submission Win: 20 pts. Count-Out Win: 15 pts. DQ Win: 10 pts. Draw: 5 pts. Loss: 0 pts.

-Match 1: Doom (w/Woman & Nitron) VS NWA World Tag Team Champions The Steiner Brothers

-Cornette explains that The Skyscrapers are out of the tournament after an injury to Sid Vicious, and that the New Wild Samoans will take their place. Scott and Simmons start. Scott gets a big powerslam. Scott leapfrogs over Simmons, then drops him with a big clothesline before tagging in Rick. Simmons counters a Rick hammerlock with a Stunner, then tags in Reed. Rick gets an awkward powerslam on Reed. Scott gets in and hits an atomic drop on Reed, who sells by gently rocking back and forth. Scott gets dumped outside, and Nitron holds him so Simmons can pound on him. Nitron's punches are...something.

Reed gets a big vertical suplex on Scott for two. Scott almost breaks his ass landing after a double team backdrop. Simmons' Spinebuster on Scott gets two. Scott has Reed pinned, but the ref is bust with Rick, so he can't make the count. Rick finally gets back in with 2 minutes left. Rick works over both Doom members, but gets tripped by Nitron, which triggers a brawl on the floor. Rick gets back in the ring right before the ref counts 10, allowing the Steiners to get 15 points. Match wasn't much until the big brawl out on the floor. Not a fan of the finish.

-Match 2: Sting VS NWA United States Champion Lex Luger

-Luger takes a walk, but Sting hunts him down, and brings Luger back to the ring. Sting hits a slingshot splash for two, then tosses Luger outside. Sting continues to work Luger over on the floor, ramming him into the guardrail. Sting gets a crossbody from the top for two. Sting completely dominates the vast majority of the first ten minutes. Luger finally manages to turn to the tide. Luger rams Sting into the guardrail, then does a pec dance for some fans in the front row. Luger gets an axe bomber for two.

With three minutes to go, Luger goes for the Rack, but Sting rolls out of it. Sting decides it's time to start a comeback by no-selling some kicks in the corner. Sting charges across the ring...then chokes Luger. Sting suplexes Luger for two. They fight out on the floor. Sting tries to clothesline Luger back into the ring, but can't do it, so it takes too long for them to roll back in the ring. Luger gets on top of Sting and grabs the ropes to get the pin and 20 points before the time limit expires.

-Match 3: Road Warriors VS Doom (w/Woman & Nitron)

-Doom got fucked by the draw. Logic would dictate that Roadies would be wrestling the Samoans here, but this is WCW we're talking about. Cornette implies that JR hit on the scorecard girl. Reed starts with Animal. Match is clipped to Hawk working on Reed before tagging Animal. Reed tries to piledrive Animal, but Hawk comes off the top with a clothesline, allowing Animal to get the pin and 20 pts. Hard to make an assessment with so much clipped.

TAG STANDINGS: Road Warriors 20, Steiners 15, Samoans 0, Doom 0

-Match 4: NWA Television Champion The Great Muta (w/Gary Hart) VS NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair

-Norman the Lunatic Santa Claus is hanging around ringside. Muta starts out fast. Flair fights back and gets the Figure 4. Hart calls for his men to make the save, but Ole & Arn Anderson cut them off. Muta goes for the moonsault, but Flair gets his knees up, and then pins Muta with a small package. Way too short and disappointing. Flair VS Muta could have been a classic.

SINGLES STANDINGS: Flair 20, Luger 20, Sting 0, Muta 0

-Match 5: The Steiner Brothers VS The Road Warriors

-Show of sportsmanship before the bell rings. Hawk catches Scott's foot, but Scott rolls through and picks Hawk's ankle. Hawk turns Rick inside-out with a clothesline. Rick returns the favor on Animal. Hawk gets a huge gorilla press slam on Scott. Hawk tosses Scotty around with relative ease. Scott almost spikes Hawk right on his head with a belly-to-belly from the second rope. Match breaks down, and the Roadies hit a belly-to-back suplex/flying clothesline combo on Scott, but Scott gets his shoulder up while Animal leaves his down, so the Steiners get the win and 20 points. Match could have been awesome with some time.

TAG STANDINGS: Steiners 35, Road Warriors 20, Samoans 0, Doom 0

-Match 6: The Great Muta (w/Gary Hart) VS Sting

-Muta gets a full nelson right off the bat, but Sting reverses. Muta hits a mule kick instead of giving a clean break. Sting almost gets the Scorpion Deathlock, but Muta makes it to the ropes. Muta gets a power elbow, then locks in Cattle Mutiliation (!), but cannot get the submission. First time I've seen the move outside a Bryan Danielson match. Sting fights back with a Gorilla Press slam for two. Muta comes back. Muta misses the moonsault, but landed on his feet, and caught Sting with a spin kick. Muta goes back up, but Sting dropkicks Muta, causing Muta to crotch himself. Sting hits a superplex for the pin. Might be the last time that move actually pinned someone. Match was good while it lasted.

SINGLES STANDINGS: Flair 20, Luger 20, Sting 20, Muta 0

-Match 7: The New Wild Samoans [Fatu & Samu] (w/Sir Oliver Humperdink) VS Doom (w/Woman & Nitron)

-Match is clipped to Simmons dropping Samu with a clothesline. Samu gets a sunset flip on Reed for two. Doom get a double team clothesline on Samu for two.  Fatu cracks heads with Reed, and Humperdink pushes Samu on top for the pin, to a small pop. Samoans get 20 points while Doom is shut out.

TAG STANDINGS: Steiners 35, Samoans 20, Road Warriors 20, Doom 0

-Match 8: Lex Luger VS Ric Flair

-Match is clipped to Luger ramming Flair into the turnbuckle, and stomping away. Luger gets a big Gorilla Press slam, and Flair rolls to the outside. Luger with a blatant choke and more stomps. Flair blocks a suplex, and gets one of his own. Flair counters a backdrop with a backslide for two. Both men get near-falls. Luger slams Flair off the top, but misses an elbowdrop. Flair gets the Figure 4, but time expires, so both men are stuck with 5 points. Finishing stretch was good, if nothing else.

SINGLES STANDINGS: Luger 25, Flair 25, Sting 20, Muta 0

-Match 9: The New Wild Samoans VS The Steiner Brothers

-Match is clipped to the Samoans giving a double headbut to Scott. Scott somehow survives this. Fatu gets a bearhug on Scott, but cannot keep him down. Samu gets in to apply the hold himself, then hits a powerslam for two. Scott gets Fatu down for a pin, but the ref is out of position. Scott hits the Frankensteiner, but cannot make a tag or a cover. Fatu tags Samu, who misses a big splash. Rick gets and and clotheslines both Samoans, but Scott backdrops one of them over the top, and actually gets DQ'd for it. Not bad from what was shown.

TAG STANDINGS: Steiners 35, Samoans 30, Road Warriors 20, Doom 0

-Match 10: The Great Muta (w/Gary Hart) VS Lex Luger

-Match is clipped to Muta locking in a modified STF. Muta hits a dropkick. Luger hits a big desparation clothesline. Luger gets a botched hiptoss, then throws Muta through the ropes. Muta gets a sunset flip for two. Luger comes back with a powerslam and signals for the Rack, but Muta escapes and blows green mist on Luger for the DQ. Another match too clipped to give an opinion on.

SINGLES STANDINGS: Luger 35, Flair 25, Sting 20, Muta 0

-Match 11: Tag Team Iron Man Tournament Final Match: The New Wild Samoans (w/Sir Oliver Humperdink) VS The Road Warriors

-Samoans earn a tie with the Steiners if there's a draw, and win the whole thing if they win this match. Road Warriors tie the Steiners with a count-out win, and win outright with a pin or submission. Hawk no-sells a headbut. FROM A SAMOAN? Really Hawk? Animal becomes the face-in-peril. Fatu misses a splash out of the corner, and Animal makes the hot tag. Awkward ending as Fatu gets crotched, Samu ducks a clothesline from Animal, but runs right into him in the process, then Hawk comes off the top with a flying clothesline for the pin to give the Roadi Warriors the tournament win.

FINAL TAG STANDINGS: Road Warriors 40, Steiners 35, Samoans 30, Doom 0

-Match 12: Singles Tournament Final Match: Sting VS Ric Flair

-Flair ties Luger with a DQ win, Flair wins with a count-out, pinfall, or submission win. Sting ties Luger with a count-out win, Sting wins with a pinfall, or submission. If they draw, Luger wins. Sting and Flair "woo" back-and-forth. Sting out-wrestles Flair, who gets pissed and takes a walk. Sting counters a hiptoss with a backslide, so Flair decides it's time to throw chops. Sting responds with a couple dropkicks. Things get rough on the outside. Flair with a couple chops and he throws Sting into the guardrail, causing Funk to go off on Flair. Flair gets a big delayed vertical suplex for two.

Flair keeps control of the match. They go back outside, and Sting decides it's time to start no-selling. Flair blocks a sunset flip with a punch to the face. Sting keeps coming, and gets the Scorpion Deathlock, but Flair fights out, and locks in the Figure 4. Sting's leg is fucked, and Flair just goes to town on it. Flair goes for the Figure 4 with only 20 seconds left, but Sting rolls him up with a small package for the pin to win the tournament. Good match that really picked up at the end.

-Flair gets in Sting's face right after the pin, and the Andersons rush in. It looks like a beatdown on Sting is emminent, but instead the raise his hands and flash the 4 Horsemen sign.

FINAL SINGLES STANDINGS: Sting 40, Luger 35, Flair 25, Muta 0

-Gordon Solie gets a word with the Road Warriors & Paul Ellering. The end credits play as the Roadies keep talking. Animal goes off, comparing themselves to football players. Flair comes in to put Sting over, but he doesn't get to talk before the show ends.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: Nothing bad here, but nother particularly good either. Not a fan of the biggest show of the year being turned into this, and am happy they didn't do it again. Good way to set up challengers for the World & Tag titles, if nothing else.

Random Ring of Honor Matches #5

-Ring of Honor World Championship: Nigel McGuinness [c] VS Kevin Steen (Injustice, 4/12/08)

-Steen blows snot on Nigel's hand instead of shaking it, so Nigel slaps him in the face with the snot-covered hand. Steen blows snot on his own hand, and returns the favor. Forearm strike exchange is a stalemate, and Steen avoids a lariat before delivering one of his own. Nigel avoids a Sharpshooter. Nigel tries for the Jawbreaker lariat, but Steen just walks away when he sees Nigel rebounding off the ropes. Steen then mocks Nigel by hanging in the ropes before throwing him outside and following up with a dive.

They fight for a little bit on the outside, and Nigel very casually pokes Steen in the eye. Steen avoids a short-arm clothesline, and hits a running powerslam for two. Steen hits a DDT and a flipping legdrop for two. Nigel fights back and starts working on Steen's arm. Nigel locks in an armbar, and uses Steen's hand to flip off the crowd. Nigel continues to work on the arm, but Steen does fight back, and hits a cannonball on Nigel in the corner.

A second cannonball hits, but Nigel fights out of a Sharpshooter attempt before hitting a series of European uppercuts and a big lariat for two. Steen blocks the Tower of London and hits a flying crossbody for two. Nigel gets the London Dungeon, but Steen is out of it quickly. Steen locks in the Sharpshooter, but Nigel gets to the ropes. Nigel hits the Tower of London for two. Steen fights out of an arm submission, but cannot lock in the Sharpshooter. Nigel hits the Tower of London off the ring apron onto the floor.

That only gets two. Steen fights out of a third Tower of London, and counters a superplex by shifting his weight. Steen hits a Swanton Bomb for two. Steen blocks a Jawbreaker lariat attempt and locks in the Sharpshooter. McGuinness makes the ropes again. McGuiiness gets a folding press, and holds the bottom rope for the pin to retain. Match was decent. I'm not sure how credible a challenger Steen was at the time.

Steen flips out when he figures out how he lost, and has to be held back. Claudio Castagnoli challenges Nigel to a title match, but Nigel declines, saying Claudio hasn't proven anything to him.

-Motor City Machine Guns [Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley] VS Age of the Fall [Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black] (Tag Wars 2008 4/18/08)

-Pretty slow first few minutes (well, slow for the MCMG). Shelley wins an exchange with Jacobs by hitting a flying kick to the face. Jacobs tags back out, and pouts in the corner. Shelley blows a snot rocket onto Black, then hits a quebrada for two. Sabin ties up Black, and Shelley sneaks in to slap Black in the face. Shelley hits the Skullfucker on Jacobs, but Black pulls Shelley out of the ring, and set him up for a dive by Jacobs. Black whips Sabin into the barricade, then follows up with a moonsault off the barricade onto Sabin.

MCMG hit some double teams on Jacobs, culminating in a double superkick for two. MCMG set up for more, but Black breaks it up with superkicks on both Gun, then an inverted suplex on Shelley gets two for Jacobs. Shelley is face-in-peril for a bit, before catching the AOTF with a DDT/downard spiral combo, before getting the hot tag to Sabin. MCMG hit an enziguiri--->German suplex--->Dragon suplex chain on Black for two.

Shelley catches Black with a Crippler Crossface. Jacobs tries to break it up with a flying elbow, but misses Shelley, and nails Black. Shelley and Sabin trade Border City Stretch and End Times attempts. Sabin breaks up the End Times on Shelley with a kick to the face. MCMG hit a series of double teams on Jacobs, finishing with the Shell Shock, but Black breaks up the pin attempt at two.

Black drops both Guns with a springboard double clothesline. Doomsday hurricarana put Sabin out. Black hits a running Yakuza kick and a frog splash on Shelley, then Jacobs follows up with a back senton for two. Jacobs blocks a Shelley attempt at the Contra Code, yells "FUCK YOU!", and hits one of his own for two. MCMG fight back and try for a powerbomb/Contra Code combo, but Black breaks it up. Black drops Sabin with a Yakuza kick, Shelly hits a flying back elbow on Black, then Jacobs lays Shelley out with a spear.

Black lays out Shelley with a 2k1 bomb (modified fisherman's brainbuster). Sabin lays out Black with the Cradle Shock. After a few moments, Shelley tries for the Air Raid Crash on Jacobs, but Jacobs rolls out, and locks in the End Times for the submission.

Match got really good after a long feeling out process, and I'd say the last 10 minutes or so were the best, if you can stand people kicking out of big move after big move, which is the MCMG style. Ballsy move to job the MCMG in their RoH return, in Detroit. Crowd shows their displeasure by throwing garbage at Black and Jacobs.

-The Motor City Machine Guns VS Ring of Honor World Tag Team Champions The Briscoe Brothers [Non-Title] (Return Engagement 4/19/08)

-Not much to write about early. MCMG hit a series of moves that ends with Shelley holding Jay so Sabin can deliver a basement dropkick to the face. Cute spot as Sabin rolls up Jay, so Mark pushes it over to put Jay on top, then Shelley pushes it over again to put Shelley back on top, and they do this a couple times until the MCMG use sterio sunset flips. Sabin sweeps Mark's legs to send him crashing off the ring apron. The Briscoes come back with a double team shoulderblock, and the crowd goes into a really stupid and annoying "teamwork! teamwork!" chant.

MCMG clean house, then Sabin fakes diving outside onto Jay, and Jay walks right into Shelley as he hits a double knee strike off the apron. Mark goes after Shelley on the outside, and Sabin does the "ref stops a dive for no reason, so wrestler dives over the ref" spot, actually landing on his feet in the first row after hitting the Briscoes. Sabin ties Mark up, allowing Shelley to kick Mark, possibly in the nuts.

The Briscoes wear Sabin down, including a vicious Ron Simmons-style spinebuster from Jay. Sabin takes more punishment before getting the hot tag to Shelley, who hits a Code Breaker on Jay, and a Tornado DDT on Mark. Shelley misses a frog splash, but the MCMG get dual submissions on the Briscoes shortly afterward anyway. They can't get a submission. Mark saves Jay from an Air Raid Crash, and Sabin saves Shelley from the Jay Driller. Mark pitches Sabin to the outside, and Shelley charges into a Death Valley Driver for two. MCMG fight off the springboard Doomsday Device, and Shelley hits the Skullfucker on Jay.

MCMG hit a couple double teams on Jay. Sabin looks to have it won with a dragon suplex on Jay, but Mark hits Shelley win an exploder suplex to send him crashing into Sabin. Sabin survives a Jay Driller, and Shelley makes the save after a springboard Doomsday Device. Sabin tags Shelley, who hits a Sliced Bread #2 on Jay for two. Sabin tosses Jay with a super German suplex, and Shelley finishes Mark with a Sliced Bread #2.

Good match. Not the out-and-out spotfest I was expecting. They didn't forget about tagging, and only had one finisher kickout per team. Weird booking to have the Guns lose in Detroit, but beat the tag champs in Chicago the next night. It is a nice change from the obvious (reverse the two results, or have the MCMG win or lose both) though.

After the MCMG exit, the Age of the Fall (Jacobs, Black, Necro Butcher, Zack Gowen, and someone else I don't recognize) enter to brutalize the Briscoes. Jacobs goes to spike Mark, and somehow slices his wrist open.

-Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship Tournament Finals: Age of the Fall [Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black] VS Kevin Steen & El Generico (Up For Grabs 6/6/08)

-Titles were vacated after one of the Briscoes hurt himself doing a dive during an altercation with AOTF. The other Briscoe & Austin Aries successfully defended the titles against AOTF, but it was then decided that the titles would be vacated.

AOTF are much more fresh than Steen & Generico, having had an easier road to the finals. Match immediately spills to the outside. Generico drives to give Black a brainbuster on a chair, but Black counters with a backdrop, sending Generico into the edge of the chair. Black powerbombs Generico into the barricade, so Steen powerbombs Black onto the edge of the ring apron. Back in the ring, Steen hits Jacobs with a pump handle neckbreaker for two, then Generico adds a big splash for two. Black tosses Generico off the ring apron and into the barricade, further injuring Generico's shoulder. Generico is helped to the back, turning this into a handicap match.

AOTF work over Steen's injured leg. Black utilizes a figure 4. Jacobs tells Steen that "Jimmy didn't screw Kevin, Kevin screwed Kevin" before locking in a Sharpshooter. Steen fights back with a powerbomb on Black, then he powerbombs Jacobs across the back of Black. Steen tries the Swanton, but Black gets his knees up. Steen fights off a double team, and gets a small package on Black for two. Black fights out of a package piledriver, and hits the small package driver, but Steen kicks out at two. AOTF try for a Doomsday Contra Code, but Generico returns, laying both AOTF members out with Yakuza Kicks, then a springboard moonsault onto Black.

Steen hits a package piledriver on Jacobs and Generico has him set up for a brainbuster, but Black schoolboys Generico from behind for the pin and the titles. Really good match with the classic tag psychology of the babyfaces having to constantly fight from underneath, but not quite having enough to pull it out.

The fans throw garbage at the new champions as Jacobs goes on a rant, then give Steen & Generico a standing ovation as they leave.

-The Motor City Machine Guns VS Kevin Steen & El Generico (Death Before Dishonor VI 8/2/08)

-Steen makes fun of the Guns, prompting a shoving match at the start. Shelley counters a Generico rear chinlock by biting his thumb. S & G hit a drop toe hold ---> front flip legdrop combo for two. Steen makes friends by spitting and blowing snot on Shelley. MCMG get a double team submission on Generico. Guns start playing the heel role in the tag formula with Generico as the face-in-peril, and the Guns get some boos for it.

Generico finally gets the hot tag. Steen gets Sabin on his back and hits a senton on Shelley. Steen locks the sharpshooter on Sabin while Generico hits a dive onto Shelley. Eveyone gets caught up on one corner. Shelley hits a super chinbreaker on Generico, then Sabin tosses Generico into Steen. Kick combination on Generico gets two for Sabin. Shelley gets the Air Raid Crash on Steen for two. Sabin hits a top rope hurricarana on Generico, which sends him crashing onto Steen. Shelley follows up with a frog splash for two. MCMG go for the assisted Sliced Bread #2, but Generico fights out. Steen hits a canonball on Sabin. Generico hits a turnbuckle brainbuster on Shelley, while Steen locks Sabin into the sharpshooter for the submission.

Good tag formula match until they decided that wasn't good enough and started hitting double teams. I really don't like it when tag matches stop involving tags for the last few minutes.

-Ring of Honor World Championship: 4 Way Elimination Match: Nigel McGuinness [c] VS Bryan Danielson VS Ring of Honor World Tag Team Champion Tyler Black VS Claudio Castagnoli (Death Before Dishonor VI 8/2/08)

-The challengers corner Nigel, so he bails and refuses to start the match. CC and Danielson start. Nigel blind-tags Danielson and clotheslines him out. Black blind-tags Claudio and dropkicks Nigel out. Black takes out Danielson with a dive, and Claudio takes out Nigel with a suicide dive. Nigel tags Danielson back in. Once Danielson has Black down in the corner, Nigel tags back in. Once Black hits Nigel with a hard chop, Nigel tags Claudio. Nigel tags in to take advantage of Claudio, but again, once Claudio hits a springboard European uppercut, Nigel tags out to Danielson.

Nigel tags in again with Claudio down, and feels proud of himself when he knocks Danielson and Black off the apron when Claudio tries to tag. Of course, when Claudio gets the advantage, Nigel looks to tag, and Danielson refuses to do so. Soon after, a series of moves leaves all four men down. Claudio hits Danielson with a torture rack backbreaker, Black hits Claudio with a superkick, Nigel spikes Black with a DDT, then Danielson hits Nigel with a release German suplex. Black lays out Claudio and tries for the Phoenix splash, but Nigel cuts him off. Nigel tries for the Tower of London on Black, but gets shoved off into a running leg lariat from Danielson. Danielson locks in Cattle Mutilation on Nigel while Black hits a crossbody on Claudio for two. Danielson starts to hit a series of elbows on Nigel, but Claudio pulls him off Nigel with a German suplex for two, then Black hits a quebrada on the prone Claudio for two.

Claudio hits Black with a step-up enziguiri, but gets caught in a triangle choke as Nigel waves goodbye to him. Claudio makes it to the ropes as Nigel sets Black on the top rope, then comes off the top turnbuckle with a lariat on Black. Everyone but Danielson ends up on the outside, so Danielson hits a basement dropkick on Nigel to send him into the crowd, then follows up with a springboard splash onto Nigel. Claudio gets a giant swing on Danielson, but gets rolled up for a very close two count. Danielson wins a European uppercut exchange. Claudio tosses Danielson into the air, hitting a European uppercut on the way down. Claudio covers Danielson for two, but then gets rolled up by Danielson for the pin, so Claudio is the first man out.

Claudio shakes Danielson's hand as the crowd gets on his case. Claudio then lays out Danielson with a bicycle kick and Riccola bomb (sit-out straight jacket powerbomb) as Nigel happily looks on. Claudio gets a chair, sets it on Danielson's head, then stomps on it before tossing several people aside. Claudio is finally pulled away. Nigel pulls up the KO'd Danielson and delivers a lariat for the pin, so now only Nigel & Tyler remain.

Black gets a springboard clothesline for two. Black gets a hangman's neckbreaker for two. Black misses a frog splash, and Nigel covers Black for two. Black fights out of the Tower of London, and hits a frog splash for two. Nigel comes back with a short-arm lariat for two. Nigel finally hits the Tower of London, but that only gets two. Black dodges the Jawbreaker lariat and hits a powerbomb into the turnbuckles, followed by a death-valley-driver into a faceplant for two.

Black hits a superplex, then holds onto Nigel to deliver an inverted suplex for two. Nigel hits a big lariat for two. Black counters the Jawbreaker again, and this time hits God's Last Gift (small package driver) for two, which the crowd was standing up for, expecting a title change. Tyler misses the Phoenix splash, and huge lariat knocks Black upside down, but that only gets two. Nigel hits the Tower of London, running European uppercut, and another big lariat...for two. Nigel sets Black up for another top rope lariat, but Black fights out. Black springboards into yet another huge lariat, and THAT only gets two. Black counters the London Dungeon with a small package for two. Nigel has had enough of this shit, and TWO huge lariats are finally enough to put Black down for three to allow Nigel to retain.

Really good match that picked up considerably when it came down to Tyler VS Nigel. The goal seemed to be to put Tyler over as a possible future world champion, without giving him the title yet. It definitely worked, as he survived almost everything Nigel threw at him, and almost had the champion pinned several times.

ECW on Sci-Fi: 2/19/08

-From San Diego, CA.

-Ric Flair opens the show. Tazz kisses up a bit, then leaves the ring. Flair talks about how he doesn't plan on ever retiring. Elijah Burke comes out to tell Flair that Burke idolized Flair when Burke was a child, and that Burke, as the Vince-selected leader of the New Breed, is the man now. Shelton Benjamin interrupts that, and says that Flair was the gold standard in wrestling, but now Shelton in. Flair retorts that combined both men will never accomplished what Flair has. Burke & Benjamin go on the attack, but CM Punk runs in for the save.

-After a commercial break, ECW GM Armando Estrada tells Burke & Benjamin that they will be facing Punk & Flair tonight. Shelton starts to say something, but is cut off by...

-Match 1: Kofi Kingston VS Jason Riggs

-No reaction for Kofi's entrance, but he does get claps while he's trapped in a headlock, and the crowd claps along to his warmup before Trouble in Paradise.

-Joey interviews Kofi, who says that ECW is like paradise to him, and if there's trouble in paradise, then Kofi will take care of it.

-LAST NIGHT ON RAW: Hornswoggle had a cage match with Mr. McMahon, and has the shit kicked out of him by JBL as a handcuffed Finlay is forced to watch.

-Match 2: WWE Tag Team Champion The Miz (w/John Morrison) VS Colin Delaney (w/Tommy Dreamer)

-Miz dominates the match. Delaney lands a couple of punches. Morrison trips up Delaney, and is ejected. Miz finishes with the Reality Check anyway. Dreamer steps in to prevent M & M from attacking Delaney. He gets beat down, then M & M drop Delaney with a big double team move anyway.

-LAST NIGHT: Maria (w/help from Candice Michelle) beats Beth Phoenix so she can pose in Playboy.

-Kelly Kelly says Maria always wanted to do it (despite not being sure in storyline), and that Kelly wants to do it too.

-Match 3: Stevie Richards VS James Curtis

-Curtis goes after Richards' neck, but quickly falls to a series of kicks and the Stevie-T.

-RAW REBOUND: Big Show challenges Floyd Mayweather, who accepts.

-Match 4: CM Punk & Ric Flair VS Shelton Benjamin & Elijah Burke

-Punk & Burke start. Punk controls and tags Flair. Flair actually hits a double axe handle off the top onto Benjamin & Burke. After a commercial break, Shelton is working over Flair's leg. Flair makes the hot tag to Punk who hits the running knee in the corner on Shelton, who counters a bulldog by tossing Punk in the air. Burke hits an elevated elbow drop, and locks in a Dragon Sleeper. Burke tags Benjamin, who powerbombs Punk to the outside. Punk counters a second attempt with an enziguiri, and tags Flair. Burke misses the Elijah Express (running double-knees to the back), and Flair locks in the figure 4 for the submission. Good TV main event.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: Not much to this show. Three squashes and a competitive main event. Odd that there was no mention of ECW Champion Chavo Guerrero and/or his win over Punk the previous night.

Live Reaction: WWE SummerSlam 2011

-Unannounced 6 Man Tag: The Miz, R-Truth, & Alberto Del Rio VS Rey Mysterio, John Morrison, & Kofi Kingston

-Missed most of the match because the stream I was watching dropped out. Caught the end with Rey pinning Truth with a splash.

-John Laurenitis demands an apology from Punk for the kick on RAW. Punk gives him an insincere one. Stephanie McMahon enters to wish Punk luck. Punk doesn't buy it, and refuses to shake Steph's hand, stating that he knows where that hand has been.

-Sheamus VS Mark Henry

-Really good match, probably the first time Henry actually delivered in a big spot. Sheamus hits the Brogue kick to send Henry to the outside. Henry snatches Sheamus and drives him through the barricade. Sheamus tries, but cannot make it back to the ring before he's counted out, so Henry wins. Good booking actually, keeping both guys strong. I usually don't like even Steven booking, but this was done well.

-Christian says that Randy Orton will not leave SummerSlam the World Heavyweight Champion, and that he has an insurance policy, before comparing himself to Harry Potter and Orton to COWBOYS AND ALIENS.

-Cee Lo Green performs the theme. I surf the internet until he's done.

-WWE Divas Championship: Kelly Kelly [c] (w/Eve) VS Beth Phoenix (w/Natalya)

-Really strong match. Kelly counters the Glam Slam with a rollup to retain.

-R-Truth has a heart-to-heart with Jimmy Hart. Hart tells Truth to get someone to watch his back and take him to the top. Truth thinks Hart is Little Jimmy and chases him off. Ron Artest is amused.

-Daniel Bryan VS Wade Barrett

-Great match. Barrett survives the guillotine choke and Labell Lock, then crotches Bryan on the top rope before delivering a huge clothesline and Wasteland to finish. Really hard hitting match that both guys needed. Hopefully this will give Barrett some of his lost momentum back, as it was probably his best match since Hell in a Cell PPV VS Cena last October.

-World Heavyweight Championship No Holds Barred Match: Christian [c] VS Randy Orton

-Match of the Year Candidate. Orton survived a killswitch. Christian tried for his springboard into a sunset flip, and Orton countered into an RKO on the ringsteps to win the title. Can't say enough good things about this. Proper blow off to the feud. Before the match, Christian called out Edge to be in his corner. Edge gave a little speech, and said he didn't expect Christian to turn into a whiny little bitch, then left.

-Undisputed WWE Championship: CM Punk VS John Cena (Special Guest Referee Triple H)

-Another great match. Punk wins after hitting a second GTS and getting the pin, despite Cena's foot being on the bottom rope.

-As Punk celebrates, KEVIN NASH comes out through the crowd and lays him out with a jackknife powerbomb. This leads to...

-WWE Championship: CM Punk [c] VS Alberto Del Rio

-...Del Rio rushing out to cash in. He hits a quck running enziguiri for the pin and the title.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: Absolutely AMAZING show from top-to-bottom. One of the best WWE PPVs EVER, and that's the second one in a row that I've been able to say that for. For all their deficiencies, WWE has BROUGHT IT on PPVs this year, with the exception of WrestleMania. Hopefully the streak continues next month, since I'll be there LIVE for Night of Champions in Buffalo.

Random Ring of Honor Matches #4

-Bryan Danielson VS Tyler Black (Breakout 1/25/08)

-Black is currently in FCW as Seth Rollins. Black is a member of the Jimmy Jacobs-led Age of the Fall at this point, and a heel. Black gets on the house mic and says that even though everyone thinks he has no shot tonight, he is going to pin the "Best in the World". Feeling out process for the first few minutes, with Black showing he's not intimidated by pie-facing, then slapping Danielson. Danielson tries to return the favor with a slap of his own, but Black ducks out of the way, and delivers two more slaps, really frustrating Danielson.

Danielson finally gets a series of stiff slaps in, and Black bails. Danielson turns a surfboard into a Dragon Sleeper, then hits a slingshot suplex for two. They brawl for a bit on the outside, and Black takes control by sending Danielson into the barricade, then hitting a moonsault off the barricade. Back in, Black takes the opportunity to land a few slaps, then hits a basement dropckick for two. Black lands a couple kicks for two, then starts slapping Danielson again, which only serves to piss him off. Danielson hits some European uppercuts, a running elbow, and a missile dropkick to send Black to the outside. Danielson follows with a suicide dive.

Black comes back with a SWEET leap over the ropes, doing a twisting back flip in mid-air before landing on Danielson. Black hits the Wall of Death (tosses his opponent in the air, hitting a kick to the chest on their way down) for two. Danielson comes back and kicks Black's head in for two. They go through a series of rollups and reversals. Danielson gets Cattle Mutiliation, a super belly-to-back suplex, the series of elbows to the side of the head, then Cattle Mutilation again, but cannot put Black away. Black comes back with a series of kicks, then an inverted suplex for two. Black hits the Phoenix Splash for two, but Danielson rolls him up for the pin. Black goes after Danielson's injured eye with the timekeeper's hammer, then lays him out with a small package driver.

Good match, GREAT finishing stretch that really put Black over, and overnight turned him from 2nd banana in the Age of the Fall into a breakout star (hence the name of the show), and ultimately a huge babyface and future RoH Champion.

-Ring of Honor World Championship: Nigel McGuinness [c] VS Bryan Danielson (6th Anniversary Show 2/23/08)

-Danielson, because of McGuinness' recent concussion issues, stated that he would not strike the head in this match. The fans immediately annoy the shit out of me by booing McGuinness out of the building, but then the moment the bell rings, there's dueling chants. Fuck that noise. Good counter wrestling early on. Danielson locks in a bow-and-arrow. Nigel reverses a choke and goes for a big lariat, which Danielson dodges. Danielson keeps control of the match, countering Nigel's corner headstand with a dropkick, then hitting a suicide dive. Nigel holds his head and complains to the ref after Danielson delivers a belly-to-back suplex, which draws chants of "You're a Bitch!". The ref says he can't do anything about it, so Nigel drops him with a forearm for the DQ. Nigel tells the fans that they got the World title match they wanted, and walks off.

Austin Aries leads a group including Roderick Strong, Kevin Steen, and Delirious, telling Nigel that he has two choices: go back in the ring to defend the title with honor, or he has to go through them to leave. Nigel goes back in the ring and the match is restarted. Nigel takes control and works over Danielson's arm as the crowd goes nuts chanting "Fuck You Nigel!" Nigel works over Danielson's arm while taunting the fans. They end up brawling on the outside, with Danielson back-dropping McGuinness into the first few rows. Danielson hits his dive to the outside. Back in, Nigel counters a missile dropkick into an attempt at a Texas Cloverleaf, but Danielson counters that into a Triangle Choke. Nigel escapes, and hits a huge lariat for two.

Danielson fights out of the Tower of London (elevated chinbreaker) and dumps McGuinness to the outside. McGuinness counters a suicide dive with a European uppercut, then hits the Tower of London off the ring apron, to the floor. McGuinness is somehow busted open off that. He locks in Danielson's own Cattle Mutilation, then after Danielson fights out, the Tower of London for two. Nigel locks in the London Dungeon (camel clutch position, but pulling back on the arm instead of the chin), but cannot get the submission. Danielson counters a second attempt into a rollup for two. Danielson hits the Chaos Theory (rolling German suplex) and both men are down. Danielson hits a belly-to-back superplex for two.

Danielson locks in Cattle Mutilation, then when Nigel rolls out does not go for the series of elbows to the head, instead landing them on Nigel's ribs, then locking in an armbar. Nigel holds on, so Danielson locks in a Triangle choke, and again not going for the series of elbows when Nigel's head is exposed. Nigel soon exposes the head injury excuse as a fake, as he headbuts Danielson repeatedly, including in the injured eye, before landing a series of elbows to Danielson's head, with one last one going to the eye. McGuinness locks in the London Dungeon, and Danielson is out, so Nigel retains, getting his first singles win over Danielson.

Great match. Loved the psychology of Danielson living up to his word and it costing him against the shady McGuinness, who finally gave the fans a legtimate reason to start booing him. McGuinness had started to get boos after getting injured shortly after winning the RoH title, and not being able to defend at Final Battle 2007, as the more assholish and entitled fans starting hating him for being "soft", as if having long term neurological damage was worth pleasing them.

-Relaxed Rules: Age of the Fall Members Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black (w/Lacey & Rain) VS The Briscoe Brothers (Supercard of Honor III 3/29/08)

-The fight starts immediately as the Briscoes make their entrance. The Briscoes clear the ring, then send the AOTF into the crowd. Briscoes pull a trampoline from underneath the ring, and Mark uses it to springboard into the crowd, onto the AOTF. The fight continues in the crowd, as the teams pair off and take turns hitting each other with chairs, throwing each other into rows of chairs, and hitting each other with anything they can find. The Briscoes get the advantage long enough to grab a table from the backstage area. Mark fights with Jacobs in the balcony while Jay fights with Black over the table. Jay lays out a "homeless man" that the AOTF had purchased a ticket for, and Mark comes down with a splash off the balcony, driving that guy through the table.

Jay takes Tyler into the ring as Mark is out from the dive. Jimmy Jacobs gets into the ring, and it's now a 2-on-1 on Jay. The AOTF try to suffocate Jay with a plastic bag, but can't get it on right. Double dropkick in the corner gets two. Jay refuses to be put away and even manages to get a couple big moves himself. AOTF hit a Contra Code/powerbomb combo and double-pin Jay, and he still kicks out. Mark gets back into the match, preventing a Phoenix splash from Tyler. Briscoes try a Doomsday Device, but Jacobs somehow manages to lock the flying Mark into his End Times guillotine choke. Tyler keeps Jay at bay as Jacobs chokes Mark out for the win. Fun, chaotic brawl that didn't get too stupid, except for Jay kicking out of the Contra Code/powerbomb.

-Ring of Honor World Championship: Nigel McGuinness [c] VS Austin Aries (Supercard of Honor III 3/28/08)

-Nigel has his fans in the arena. Counter wrestling to start. Nigel catches Aries by surprise with a short elbow off a rope break, then locks in a Cobra Clutch. Aries gets out and delivers a couple knees to Nigel's head. Aries is ready to try a suicide dive, but Nigel sees it coming and walks away. Aries goes to work on Nigel's head. Nigel comes back and works on Aries' arm. Nigel keeps the pressure on, and his arm work pays off when Aries tries a brainbuster, but cannot lift Nigel, allowing Nigel to counter out and apply the London Dungeon.

Aries manages to lock in his Last Chancery, but Nigel survives. Aries gets a missile dropkick, but runs into a boot, and Tower of London gets two. Aries lands a series of dropkicks, but charges into a huge lariat, and both men are out. Aries finally gets the brainbuster, but misses his 450 splash. Nigel immediately locks in the London Dungeon, but Aries holds on, eventually countering into a rollup for two. Aries lands a series of knees to the head and locks in the Last Chancery again. Nigel counters that into the London Dungeon. Aries escapes, hits the big kick to the head, brainbuster, and 450, but Nigel gets his foot on the bottome rope at two. Aries tries a suicide dive, but Nigel moves out of the way, and Aries crashes into the barricade.

Nigel clotheslines Aries into the crowd. When he finally gets Aries back in the ring, cover only gets two, as does a short-arm lariat. Nigel tries another big lariat. Aries ducks and hits the Crucifix Bomb, but Nigel rebounds with the Jawbreaker Lariat for the pin.

Match got really good after a slow start. Not as good as the Danielson match, but not much will be.

Random Ring of Honor Matches #3

Random Ring of Honor #3

-KENTA VS Davey Richards (Fight of the Century 8/5/06)

-This is a pretty infamous match. Richards is Chris Benoit clone #345,667,632 and current RoH World Champion. At this point in time, Richards is KENTA's "American Protege".

The two exchange counters and really stiff kicks for the first few minutes. They go outside and exchange more kicks. KENTA hits a running kick to the face to send Davey over the guardrail. KENTA hits a big kick for two, then locks in a camel clutch. More stiff kicks for Davey after he escapes, and KENTA locks in a bodyscissors. Davey comes back with a running powerslam and 2nd rope legdrop for two. Davey gets a capture suplex to send KENTA to the floor, and follows up with a suicide dive. Davey gets a kick combination and a German suplex for two.

After some more big kicks and Davey dropping KENTA on his head, KENTA springboards right into a powerbomb from Davey, who then locks in a stretch muffler, but cannot get the submission. The two then apprently decide that selling is overrated, partiularly KENTA. KENTA gets a tiger suplex for two. Davey comes back, but shooting star press hits KENTA's knees, and a running kick gets two. Davey counters Go to Sleep into a crucifix for two, but Go to Sleep does finish soon after for KENTA.

Crowd goes nuts like they just saw an instant classic, but I can't say I agree, as it was a lot of kicks to the chest with some moves sprinkled in here and there. On the plus side, there weren't any finisher kickouts, which usually annoy me. KENTA & Davey supposedly got some heat on them for going all out and trying to show up the Samoa Joe/Bryan Danielson main event from later that night.

-Ring of Honor World Championship: Takeshi Morishima [c] VS Bryan Danielson (Manhattan Mayhem II 8/25/07)

-Danielson lost the RoH title to Homicide at Final Battle 2006. Homicide lost it shortly after that to Morishima. Morishima, while pretty average size for a wrestler, was able to be a "monster" in RoH because he was a legitimate heavyweight, and almost the only one on the roster. Danielson spends the first few minutes going for leg kicks. Morishima comes back with clubbing blows, at one point detaching Danielson's retna in his left eye. I don't know how the fuck he kept going after that. Especially since everything Morishima does for a while is a blow to Danielson's head. Kick exchange is won easily by Morishima, and he sends Danielson to the outside. Morishima does his own version of Samoa Joe's Ole Kick and follows up with a running butt bump to the face. Danielson is clearly in agony as he clutches at his eye.

Danielson avoids another running kick and pushes Morishima over the barricade, before following him into the first row with a springboard dive.Danielson drapes Morishima's leg over the barricade and smacks it with a chair, somehow not drawing a DQ. Morishima just shrugs off a missile dropkick, then stops Danielson's momentum cold with a wicked clothesline. Morishima goes for his finisher, the backdrop driver, but Danielson counters into a cover for two. Danielson gets a leg lock, but Morishima fights out, hitting a release German suplex and a sambo suplex for two. Danielson tries leg locks and flash pins, but cannot put Morishima away.

Morishima counters a sunset flip with a sitdown splash for two. Danielson throws everything he has at Morishima, trying to KO him with elbows and stomps to the face, then locking in Cattle Mutiliation. Morishima escapes. Morishima squashes Danielson when he tries a belly-to-back suplex from the top. Vicious clothesline spins Danielson like a helicopter blade, and backdrop driver gets the pin for Morishima to retain. Really good match. More than a little uncomfortable at times with Danielson being obviously injured, and Morishima repeatedly striking him in the injured area.

-Ring of Honor Tag Team Championship: Ladder War: The Briscoe Brothers [c] VS Kevin Steen & El Generico (Man Up 9/15/07)

-Champions don't even make it to the ring before the fight starts. The teams pair off and fight into the crowd. All four take several unprotected chairshots to the head. Jay Briscoe is busted open by one of the chairshots. Generico finally tries to climb, but Mark Briscoe hits an Ace Crusher off the barricade to Steen, then stops Generico from climbing. Cool spot as Generico has a hold of the ladder, but Mark punches him down. As Generico falls, the ladder ricochets off the ropes, into Mark's face. Steen stops both Briscoes from climbing the ladder, then calls Generico into the ring to do the climbing. The Briscoes cut him off, and a double team beal toss, sending Generico into the ladder, nearly breaking it in half.

Mark Briscoe tries to climb a second ladder, but Steen tips it, sending Mark into the first ladder, officially destroying it. Mark no-sells a couple superkicks, so Steen kicks him in the nuts. Steen & Generico wipe out the Briscoes with Generico hitting a running Yakuza kick on Mark, driving a ladder into him, then Steen powerbombs Jay over the top, onto a ladder that was bridged between the barricade and the ring. Steen almost makes it to the belts, but Mark manages to push Generico into the ladder, knocking him down. Jay tosses Genrico into one ladder with an exploder suplex, then hits Steen with a Death Valley Driver on the edge of another ladder.

Mark hits a shooting star press on Generico who is laying under a ladder, then Jay hits a flying legdrop to the outside on Steen, which drives him through a table. The ladders they have been using are too beat up to climb, so Jay calls for a maintenance ladder, which is what WWE uses in their ladder matches. Briscoes hit a springboard Doomsday Device on Generico, with Mark diving through the open legs of the ladder. Steen sets up a ladder to bridge the big ladder and the turnbuckle, and ends up hitting a package piledriver on Mark to put him through it. As Generico struggles to get the belts, Jay Briscoe does the same in the opposite corner, then drives Generico through a ladder with the Jay Driller.

Jay and Steen fight at the top of the big ladder, and Jay wins it, sending Steen into the corner and what's left of the ladder that lays there. That looks to be the finish, but Jay...just...can't...get...the belts down. Steen tries climbing the ladder, but Jay punches him down, and finally frees one belt to give the Briscoes the win. Partially blown ending aside, this was a great car wreck. It was such a car wreck, that it led to RoH asking the wrestlers to town it down a bit, and instituting fines for unprotected chairshots to the head. RoH also said that this would be the first, last, and only Ladder War they'd have, but that proved not to be the case.

-Bryan Danielson VS Takeshi Morishima (Glory by Honor VI Night 2 11/3/07)

-Morishima lost the RoH World title to Nigel McGuinness the previous month. Danielson, pissed off that when the two had their rematch after Manhattan Mayhem II Morishima said he would not go after Danielson's injured eye, then went ahead and focused on it, jumps Morishima before he even gets into the ring, hitting a dive over the top onto him. Danielson puts a chair on Morishima's head, then stomps on it. Danielson topples the timekeeper's table over to try to throw it at Morishima. Danielson goes after Morishima's eyes.

Once they get into the ring, Morishima takes over, dumping Danielson on his head, then working him over with kicks, strikes, and a cartwheel avalanche. Morishima takes the fight to the outside. Danielson manages to dump Morishima into the first row, and follows with a springboard clothesline. Danielson gets a hold of the timekeeper's hammer, and digs it into the eye of Morishima. Morishima counters that with a Backdrop Driver out of nowhere onto the floor. Danielson is busted open. Twice Morishima knocks Danielson off the ring apron into the barricade, but the third try is countered with a shoulder to the gut, and a sunset flip for two.

Danielson counters a Backdrop Driver, and after Morishima no-sells three roaring elbows, Danielson dropkicks Morishima's knee, lands a series of kicks, a series of elbows, then a German suplex for two. Danielson tries to kick Morishima's head in then locks in a triangle choke, but Morishima powers out of it. Morishima goes after the injured eye, so Danielson hits him with a low blow, then starts stomping on his nuts, only stopping to throw the referee down to draw the DQ. Danielson keeps stomping on Morishima's nuts, and floors a couple wrestlers who come in to stop him, allowing Morishima to escape.

Really good match that told the story of Danielson desperately trying to get revenge on Morishima, but being physically overmatched.

NWA/WCW Big Event Project #27: Clash of the Champions IX "New York Knockout"

-11/15/89


-From Troy, NY

-Hosts are JR & Gordon Solie

-Pre-recorded video features Flair & Funk. They both agree that tonight is not about the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

-Match 1: NWA World Tag Team Champions The Freebirds VS The Road Warriors (w/Paul Ellering) [Non-title]

-Hayes tries to run from Hawk, but Animal throws him back in the ring. Huge "FREEBIRDS SUCK!" chant. Hawk dominates both Freebirds at the outset, but Animal soon becomes the face-in-peril. Hawk goes in to make the save, and tosses Tommy Young aside, drawing a DQ. This could have been good with more time and a definitive finish.

-Gordon Solie tries to call a replay of the finish, but the crack WCW production staff shows a portion from the early part of the match.

-JR interviews Terry Funk, who contrasts himself and Flair, before stating that both he and Flair love wrestling. Gary Hart tells Funk to not let Texas down, and not let Hart down. Funk says he doesn't want any help tonight.

-JR is with Bill Apter, and the two present the award for Most Popular Wrestler in the NWA to Sting, and the PWI Wrestler of the Decade to Ric Flair.

-Woman says she and Doom will dominate the wrestling world, and that she has a large surprise for Rick Steiner.

-Match 2: Tommy Rich & Eddie Gilbert VS Doom (w/Woman)

-Woman gets an entrance similar to Modonna's "Material Girl" video. The babyfaces control the early going with their speed, but eventually Doom take over, and Gilbert becomes the face-in-peril. The match breaks down, and Doom hit a version of the Hart Attack, with Simmons coming off the second rope with the clothesline. Another match that was too short to mean anything.

-Jim Cornette hosts his interview segment, "The Louisville Slugger" with the Steiners Brothers. They officially dub Scott's big move the Frankensteiner. The Steiners face the Skyscrapers tonight, but Scott says there's noone in the world they can't suplex. Scott basically says he's going to hit Woman. Rick wants Momma Steiner to do it.

-Match 3: The Dynamic Dudes VS The Midnight Express

-Cornette is in a neutral corner, as he has been managing the Dudes for a bit before this. Both teams try to convince them to go to their corner, to no avail. Lane & Douglas do some counter wrestling, and Lane starts pulling Douglas' hair to take the advantage. Cornette stoogers Lane off to the ref. Ace gets tagged in, and avoids the enziguiri. Ace hits a couple slams on Lane, who tags in Eaton. Things do not go any better for Eaton. Douglas gets tagged in, and keeps control over both Midnights, until Eaton gets a cheap shot and starts working him over, to a big babyface reaction. Shane avoids a superplex, and gets a couple two counts on Eaton. Ace gets back in and tries for a headscissors on Eaton, but Lane nails him from the outside to turn the tide.

Ace gets his knees up on the Rocket Launcher, and tags Douglas. Eaton gets a hold of a chain. Cornette gets into the ring to take the chain away...then clocks Douglas with the tennis racket, allowing Eaton to get the pin, to a big pop. Good match, and good idea to keep Cornette with the Midnights and ostensibly turn them heel.

-Match 4: The Super Destroyer VS Steve Williams

-Norman the Lunatic comes down to ringside dressed as Santa Claus. This allows the Destroyer to get the jump on Williams, who quickoy turns it around. Oklahoma Stampede finishes this one quickly. Norman gives Williams a small Teddy Bear in return for getting a big bear from Williams shortly before this. They hug and pose.

-Match 5: The Skyscrapers (w/Teddy Long) VS The Steiner Brothers

-Spivey catches Rick with a Tombstone, but Scott makes the save. Scott gets in, and hits the Frakenstiener on Spiver, and a FLIPPING POWERSLAM ON SID! Holy shit, Scott literally did a backflip with Sid in his arms, and the announcers completely undersold it. Sid misses a charge, but muscles Scott into the corner. Scott becomes the face-in-peril. Spivey looks like he's going to tombstone Scott too, but opts to slam him instead. Scott gets a suplex and a clothesline on Spivey, allowing him to tag Rick. Rick gets a powerslam on Spivey. A member of Doom runs into the ring and right into a Frakensteiner, and Tommy Young goes nuts calling for the bell. Woman hits Rick with her shoe, and some giant guy comes out to save her from Rick. Doom & The Skyscrapers try to beat the Stieners down, but the Road Warriors rush out to make the save.

-JR interviews the Steiners and the Road Warriors about their respective matches at Starrcade. The video cuts out in the middle of Animal's story about the Roadies growing up together. Hawk tells the Skyscrapes to be careful, and that "the life they save may be their very own".

-Match 6: NWA United States Championship: Lex Luger [c] VS Brian Pillman

-Luger stalls quite a bit. Back-and-forth early on. Pillman misses a flying clothesline and it looks like he'll go out, but Pillman skins the cat and takes Luger down with a spin kick. Pillman gets a missile dropkick for two. Pillman tries to work over Luger's arm, but Luger fights that off. Luger slams Pillman on the floor. Luger struggles ot suplex Pillman off the apron into the ring. That gets two. Luger gets a powerslam and motions for the Torture Rack, but Pillman gets a schoolboy for two. Pillman lands some HARD chops. Pillman turns up the heat on Luger. Pillman gets a crossbody off the top, but Nick Patrick is KO'd, in one of the more ridiculous ref bumps I've seen. Pillman gets another visual fall off a rollup. Pillman tries to revive Patrick, but Luger KO's him with a chair, and gets the pin to retain. Match was pretty heated and pretty good, but that ref bump was just awful. Luger wants to injure Pillman and tosses Patrick down. Luger hits Pillman in the back with the chair, then locks in the Torture Rack. Sting comes out for the save.

Luger gets on the mic and applauds Sting for finally having the guts to face him. Sting says because they were friends he overlooked the jerk Luger has become, but Luger has stepped over the line, so Sting pops him. Luger thinks about fighting Sting, but opts to walk away. Sting catches up to him and punches him again.

-Flair promo before the main event. Nothing special.

-Match 7: "I Quit" Match: Terry Funk (w/Gary Hart) VS NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair [non-title]

-Flair chops the shit out of Funk to kick things off. Funk pounds on Flair and tries to get him to quit, but it doesn't work. Flair fights back and rams Funk's head into the guardrail. Flair gets distracted by Hart and blindsided by Funk. Funk goes to work on Flair's neck, including a piledriver on the floor. The two battle all around ringside. Back in the ring, Flair gets a kneedrop to the face. Flair finally goes to work on Funk's leg. Flair goes for the Figure 4, but Funk fights it off. Flair suplexes Funk onto the ring apron. Flair gets the Figure 4, and the crowd goes nuts. After a long struggle, Funk gives it up. Great match. Intense brawl that looked a lot like a real, heated fight.

Gary Hart loses his shit. Funk follows through on his promise to shake Flair's hand if he had won. Hart kicks Funk in his injured knee. Flair goes after Hart, but Muta and the Dragon Master attack Flair. Sting runs out for the save, hitting the Stinger Splash and locking in the Scorpion Deathlock on the Dragon Master as Flair locks Muta in the Figure 4. Lex Luger comes in and KO's Sting with a chair. Muta, Luger, and Dragon Master triple team Flair as Hart bashes Funk's leg with a branding iron.

Since it's pro wrestling, Luger walks up the aisle with a chair, then smashes Sting & Flair's trophies.

-JR & Solie applaud Funk for being a man of his word, and get in one last plug for Starrcade.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: Decent show with a great main event. Undercard was too short for the most part. The U.S. title match was the best out of those matches.

Random Ring of Honor Matches #2

For batch #2, here's a few matches from 2005...


-Bryan Danielson & Samoa Joe VS Austin Aries & Jack Evans (3rd Year Celebration 2/25/05)

-Aries has just beaten Joe for the RoH World title a couple months before this, so he is avoiding Joe at all costs. Evans "serves" Danielson with some break dancing. Danielson gets Joe to do a little dance move with him. Danielson takes Evans down. Evans tries to bridge out, but can't carry Danielson's weight, After three tries fail, Danielson lets go and rolls around to imitate Evans' dancing. Danielson delivers a big dropkick to Evans' face, then tags Joe. Joe tosses Evans into Evans' corner and DEMANDS that Aries tag in. Aries does, but takes one forearm strike to the face before tagging right back out. Evans tries to break out some martial arts, but Joe blocks or ducks every strike before nailing Evans with an open-hand strike, which sends Evans flying.

Evans takes a little stretching from Danielson, who then tags Joe. Joe smacks Evans in the face with Evans' own sneakers, before delivering a big delayed vertical suplex, waiting until the count of 20 before dropping down. Danielson locks in a surfboard, and stretches Evans to the point where the back of his head is almost touching his own feet. Joe adds injury to injury with a basement dropkick. Jack may be legally dead. Danielson takes Evans up top, but Aries sneaks in with a suplex. Aries adds a couple strikes before tagging Jack back in, and Danielson is face-in-peril.

Joe gets tired of waiting, and hits a suicide dive to the outside on both opponents. Back in, Aries clips Joe from behind. Evans botches a move where Aries has Danielson in death valley driver position, and Evans jumps off the top, onto Danielson's back, then does a moonsault onto Joe. Aries hits a frog splash onto the back of Joe for two. The face team comes back. Danielson gets a lengthy airplane spin on Aries, then stops him from interfering when Joe applies a modified stretch muffler to Evans for the submission. Good match with good psychology, as Aries was trying to avoid any kind of injury leading into his title defense against Joe the next night.


-Cage Match: Bryan Danielson VS Homicide (Final Showdown 5/13/05)

-This is the final match of a best of 5 series between the two, and is pin or submission only. Winner takes the series, and also gets a title shot against RoH World Champion Austin Aries the next night. Despite using the Empirial March during his entrance, Danielson is the face in this match, illustrated by Homicide attacking him in the aisle and carving his forehead with a fork before they even get into the cage. Once they're in the cage, Danielson tosses Homicide around, then uses the fork to cut Homicide open. Danielson tries to suplex Homicide on a couple chair, but it gets reversed on him. Danielson turns the match around, but Homicide comes back with an Ace Crusher off the top rope for two.

Danielson comes back with a diving headbut off the top of the cage, then a belly to back suplex off the top rope for two. Homicide gets a big lariat for two, then pulls out brass knuckles. Danielson blocks that, and puts Homicide in the World's Longest Airplan Spin for well over a minute for the pin. Not everyday you'll see a grudge cage match end with an airplane spin. Match could have gone a lot longer, and needed more action inside the cage.

The two shake hands...then Homicide floors Danielson with an Ace Crusher, promising that it's not over. Danielson gets on the mic, and says that after he wins the RoH world title, he's giving Homicide the first title shot.

-Ring of Honor World Championship: Bryan Danielson [c] VS Roderick Strong (Vendetta 11/5/05)

-Danielson did not beat Aries for the title the night after Final Showdown. CM Punk, in what was supposed to be his last night in RoH (sound familiar?) before heading to WWE beat Aries. Then Punk lost the title a couple months later to James Gibson (a.k.a. Jamie Noble), who in turn lost the title a short time afterward to Danielson. During his title reign, Danielson would display an arrogance that he had not shown before, and was essentially a tweener, occaisionally defending the title against heels. He would also have really long title defenses, often approaching an hour, and sometimes going to a 60 minute draw. Strong has had a cup of coffee with TNA, and is known for two things; executing about 100 different varieties of back breakers, and having possibly the hardest chops in wrestling.

Danielson slaps Strong across the face at the bell, so Strong responds with a couple chops and a dropkick. The two fight over a knucklelock for a bit. Danielson chops Strong, who responds with chops of his own. Danielson bails to avoid them, but it doesn't work. Strong breaks Danielsons chest open with the chops. Strong works over Danielson's arm. Danielson comes back with some chops and insulting slaps, then wrenches Strong's leg to take him down when Strong fires back. Danielson gets pissed at the crowd for not cheering for his chops, and stands on Strong's face, just because he can.

The two take turns working over each other's backs, then brawl down the aisle and around ringside. Strong continues to chop Danielson, who responds by spitting in his face. Danielson goes back to working over Strong's back, and hits a diving headbut for two. Danielson keeps control, but cannot put Strong away, even after two attempts with Cattle Mutilation. Strong hits two big backbreakers out of nowhere for two. Strong locks in the Stronghold (modified Boston crab), but Danielson makes it to the ropes. Danielson ties Strong up like a pretzel, but cannot get the submission. Strong gets a big kick for two, but Danielson tosses him over the top, causing Strong to smack his head into the guardrail and bust him open. Danielson pounds away on the outside, then, once back in, dumps Strong on his head with a full nelson suplex for two.

Danielson tries to lock in a cross-face chicken wing, but Strong counters into the Death From Above gutbuster for two. Strong locks in the Stronghold again, but cannot get the submission. Danielson gets the cross-face chicken wing, but Strong makes it to the ropes. Danielson gets a belly-to-back suplex off the top for two. Strong gets a couple chops, but Danielson counters with an eye poke. Strong counters a roaring elbow into a half-nelson back breaker, which Danielson counters into a crucifix for two. Danielson uses that position to pin Strong's arms back, and land a vicious series of elbows for the knockout to retain. Excellent match that two made look like a legitimate struggle, which is always appreciated by me. For a  lot of Danielson's title defenses, the quaility was inversely proportionate to the time of the match, but at over 45 minutes, it is not the case here.

-Generation Next (Austin Aries, Jack Evans, & Matt Sydal) & AJ Styles VS The Embassy (Prince Nana, Jimmy Rave, Alex Shelley, & Abyss) (Vendetta 11/5/05)

-Sydal is currently wrestling in WWE as Evan Bourne. Generation Next has turned babyface. AJ Styles is filling in for Roderick Strong, who had the world title match, and has had a long-running feud with Rave. Shelley used to be the leader of Generation Next until he was kicked out at Final Battle 2004, and joined The Embassy when they were the only ones to accept his apology for his actions when he was the leader of GenNext. Fans toss rolls of toilet paper into the ring, as was the custom whenever Jimmy Rave was in a match. Jade Chung (former abused member of the Embassy) and Daizee Haze accompany the GenNext team. Winning team gets the advantage in an upcoming Steel Cage Warfare match between the factions, which is RoH's version of War Games.

Rave gets trapped in the GenNext corner and takes all kind of abuse. At point he is able to get to his corner, but Abyss & Shelley get knocked off the apron, while Nana refuses to tag in. Match is apparently being fought under lucha tag rules, as when Rave & Styles go outside, Shelley and Sydal go in without any tags. A bunch of dives by GenNext lead to everyone but Nana brawling outside the ring. Back in, Shelley saves Nana from Aries, but takes a senton and a diving elbow for two. Evans gets caught and becomes the face-in-peril. Shelley stretches Evans to the point that Evans' feet touch the back of his own head. Nana gets in, delivers a couple chops, then tags out before doing a happy dance. Shelley talks shit to Evans while Abyss works him over. Evans responds by flipping Shelley off, so Shelley bites Jack's finger.

Nana gets back in and allows Evans to tag. GenNext corner Nana, then move out of the way of a charge by Abyss, so he squashes Nana instead. Match breaks down and Abyss sets a table up in a neutral corner before turning his sights on Evans. The match breaks down completely, and AJ Styles hits a German suplex on Abyss, sending him through the table. Nana threatens Haze, and after Sydal & Aries save her, Haze gives them low blows, turning on GenNext. This all leads to Shelley hitting Aries with an Air Raid Crash (Kryptonite Krunch) and Rave hitting Sydal with a Pedigree for the double pin.


-GHC Jr. Heavyweight Championship: KENTA [c] VS Low Ki (Final Battle 2005 12/17/05)

-After some mat wrestling, the two exchange strikes, an exchange Ki wins with a series of kicks. Ki backs KENTA into the corner, and repeatedly elbows him in the sternum. KENTA comes back with strikes of his own, then slingshots off the apron like he's going to do a big move, only to land on his feet and mockingly kick Ki in the head. KENTA charges into a rolling Liger kick. Ki follows up with a dive. KENTA gets pissed after a series of kicks and lands some forearms, before Ki takes him down with an enziguiri.

Ki continues to kick and chop KENTA. Ki blocks a sunset flip with a double stomp for two. Ki works KENTA over on the outside. Back in, Ki gets KENTA into the position that Rey Mysterio gets opponents in for the 619, but Ki goes up top, and comes down with a double stomp to the back. KENTA fights back with a series of stiff kicks and a springboard dropkick for two. KENTA tries for a superplex, but Ki fights him off, and hits the Warrior's Way (double stomp to the face) for two.

The two trade kicks and strikes again. Ki goes up top, but KENTA leaps right up there and hits a Falcon Arrow from the top for two. KENTA wins a slap fest for two. KENTA tries a hight knee, but Ki catches him with the Ki Crusher (essentially a fisherman's Falcon Arrow) for two. Both men go for their finishes, and KENTA ends up getting a tiger suplex for two. KENTA goes for a series of strikes and kicks, but Ki interupts with a dropkick. Ki hits a double stomp from the top for two. Ki misses a twisting splash, and KENTA hits the Go to Sleep followed up by a running knee to the face for the pin to retain. Really good match, especially if you like two guys just stiffing the shit out of each other. Generally not my favorite type of match, but at the right time, with the right people, it can be good.

Random Ring of Honor Matches #1

So, I found a link to a treasure trove of wrestling matches online (you can have it if you ask for it), and decided that since I've always been interested in Ring of Honor, but never had the money to buy all their DVDs or HD.Net to watch their old show, I would download a bunch of their matches and review them. This will also be a nice primer before their new show (which I will get) debuts on 9/24.

These matches are all from the first couple years of the promotion, starting with the first anniversary show in 2003, and ending with the final show of 2004...


-Bryan Danielson VS Samoa Joe (One Year Anniversary Show 2/8/03)

-Danielson is current Smackdown Money in the Bank holder Daniel Bryan, while Joe is mired in the TNA mid-card after looking like he could be a breakout start for them a few years ago. They fight for holds for the first five minutes or so, with Danielson focusing on Joe's legs, while Joe works on Danielson's back. Chop and slap exchange does not go well for Danielson, until Joe delivers a delayed vertical suplex, and Danielson responds by popping up and slapping the taste of of Joe's mouth before delivering some hard chops. Danielson charges into a vicious urinage (which draws a "holy shit" chant), and Joe just brutalizes him with strikes. Joe continues to work Danielson over, hitting a big powerbomb, then locking in an STF when Danielson kicks out. Danielson comes back with a pair of enziguiris to stagger Joe, then he starts nailing some big strikes of his own.

Joe gets a German suplex for two. Joe gets the facewash for two. Danielson gets a superplex and a diving headbut for two. Slap exchange is pretty even. A pair of roaring elbows gets two for Danielson. Joe avoids a roaring elbow and starts laying waste to Danielson, hitting several vicious knees to his head. Danielson gets a small package for the pin out of nowhere, which would actually be a running theme for Joe in RoH, as he would always have a problem with quick pins like that, while Danielson would eventually develop a small package that was inescapable. Pretty decent match, but I think these two are able to do better, especially with more time.

-CM Punk VS Bryan Danielson (Reborn Stage 1 4/23/04)

-Before the match starts, Rick Steamboat, who Punk is feuding with at this time, comes out and says the RoH paid him to come to the show and ref a match. He asks the crowd if they want him to ref this match, and they reply in the affirmative, much to Punk's displeasure. Lots of stalling by Punk early on. Punk complains of a hair pull. Steamboat asks the crowd, who says there was no hair pull, so Steamboat pulls Punk's hair to show him what it feels like. Danielson tries working over the arm, but Punk cuts him off. Danielson gets a modified abdominal stretch, and wrenches Punk's head into really uncomfortable positions. Punk fights back, but a split-legged moonsault hits Danielson's knees.

Danielson goes to work on Punk's abdominal area. Punk avoids an abdominal stretch, and dumps Danielson over the top to the outside. Punk goes to work on Danielson's back, slamming him into the barricade. Punk chokes Danielson, getting a quick count from Steamboat. When Punk complains about it, Danielson rolls him up, and Steamboat gives another quick count for two. Punk locks in a modified camel clutch, but Danielson escapes. Danielson gets an airplane spin, but misses on a diving headbut. Danielson manages to get the Cattle Mutilation, but Punk rolls out and turns it into a jawbreaker. Punk goes for the Pepsi Plunge (Pedigree from the top), but Danielson turns it into a superplex. Danielson locks in an abdominal stretch, and sits down with it, forcing Punk to tap. Too much stalling and periods of inaction. Plus Gabe Sapolsky is terrible calling a match by himself.


-RoH Tag Team Championship: The Briscoe Brothers [c] VS The Second City Saints [CM Punk & Colt Cabana] (Reborn Stage 2 4/24/04)

-Crowd is pro SCS as Punk turned babyface earlier in the show. Punk and one of the Briscoes (I can never remember which one is Jay, and which is Mark), do some mat wrestling before tags are made on both sides. Colt and the other Briscoe do shoulderblocks with neither budging, then when the Briscoe tries for a third, Colt simply trips him as he runs by. SCS break out some double teams, including a Billy Goat's Curse (inverted Boston Crab) from Colt while Punk has the man in a camel clutch, and tying both Briscoes together so that one accidentally kicks the other in the nuts, and rolling them over so both can lock in camel clutches while the Briscoes are still attached at the feet.

Punk becomes the face-in-peril for quite a bit, until he's able to make the hot tag to Colt. Colt tries to set up one of the Briscoes for a Doomsday Device, but the Briscoe counters that with a reverse hurricarana for two. Briscoes get Punk in position for a Doomsday Device of their own, but Punk catches the flying Briscoe with a powerslam instead. Everyone is laid out after an alternating series of big kicks. Mark Briscoe hits Punk with an Ace Crusher from the second rope, while Jay hits Colt with the Jay Driller (double underhook piledriver). Colt shocks everyone by kicking out. Briscoes chop the shit out of Punk and set up for a double team superplex, but the SCS block that with Punk throwing one off the top into the barricade, then hitting the other with the Pepsi Plunge for the pin and the titles. Not a bad match, as this was apparently before the Briscoes used their matches as opportunities to go through every double-team move they know. I'm not a fan of tag matches where they forget about tagging for lengthy stretches, and that happened here for about the last third of the match. Still, the twenty minutes went by pretty fast.


-I Quit Match: Alex Shelley VS Jimmy Jacobs (Joe VS Punk II 10/16/04)

-These two used to be tag partners, but Shelley turned on Jacobs and has since formed, and is the leader of, Generation Next with Austin Aries, Jack Evans, & Roderick Strong. Match immediately spills outside, and Jacobs tries to choke Shelley out with a chair. Shelley comes back by slamming Jacobs into the guardrail, then hitting the Skullfucker (placing your opponents head between your knees, rolling onto your stomach, and humping the mat, driving your opponent's face into it) on a chair. Shelley teases a second, but just rakes Jacobs' eyes and tells the fans to go fuck themselves. Jacobs pulls a spike from his boot, but Shelley gets a hold of it, and jabs it into Jacobs' forehead, busting him open. Jacobs tries the Contra Code (Sliced Bread #2), but Shelley turns it into a tombstone through a chair.

Shelley ties Jacobs to one of the corners with duct tape, then starts nailing him with a kendo stick. Shelley gets too cocky and too close, allowing Jacobs to back kick him in the nuts and pull a second spike from his boots to break the tape. Jacobs tries to spike Shelley, but takes a kendo stick shot to the head. Jacobs comes right back with a big boot, and a couple kendo stick shots. Jacobs applies a camel clutch with the kendo stick across Shelley's throat, but does not get the submission. Shelley gets a hold of the spike and the stick, and alternates between spiking and striking Jacobs before locking in the Border City Stretch (Crippler Crossface with the opponents' near arm stretched back behind your head). Jacobs almost passes out, but fights out and manages to apply the hold to Shelley.

Jacobs uses three chairs to make a small bridge, but Shelley drives him through it with a fisherman buster, and the Border City Stretch gets the submission for Shelley. Really good match that was all action bell-to-bell.

-Bryan Danielson VS Low Ki (w/Julius Smokes) (Final Battle 2004)

-Low Ki has had a few different stints in TNA, but didn't fit in WWE as NXT Season 2 winner Kaval. Both guys are wearing simple black boots and tights, making this look like a matchup between quickly creates CAWs from the wrestling video game of your choice. CM Punk is on color commentary again. Long feeling out process. Danielson tries to tie up Low Ki, so Ki bites his thumb to prevent it. Ki goes to work on Danielson's arm, slamming, stretching, and stomping on it. Danielson does a masterful job of selling it, making like something has been dislocated and he can't even move it, even at one point having the referee yank on it.

Danielson appears to be out after a kick to the face, but he comes back (and stops selling the arm for the most part), and starts working on Ki's leg before locking in a surfboard and stretching Ki so far back that Danielson was essentially tea bagging him. Danielson locks in another surfboard and combines that with a dragon sleeper, but his shoulders are down, so Danielson has to release the hold to avoid being pinned. Danielson tries an airplane spin. Low Ki locks in a Dragon sleeper while he's on Danielson's back, so both guys go outside. They end up fighting into the crowd, where Danielson is attacked by Smokes and Homicide, and the match is thrown out. Homicide takes a chair to Danielson's injured arm as Ki holds it out stretched.

Back in the ring, Low Ki grabs the ref and demands to be declared the winner, then drops the ref with a punch when he refuses. Ki then chokes the ref out with a belt. This would result in Ki being suspended for much of 2005. Match was another one where I think the guys involved could do better. Still worth watching though.

ECW on Sci-Fi: 2/12/08

-From Houston, TX

-LAST WEEK: CM Punk defeated ECW Champion Chavo Guerrero in a Gulf of Mexico match. I think this is the exact same video that they aired during the No Way Out 2008 pay-per-view.

-Chavo Guerrero comes out, and wwe.com exclusive video shows him being rescued from the Gulf of Mexico. He complains that after last week he has a sinus infection, migraines, an annoying rash (which he keeps scratching at and does show up on his neck), and that he was stung by a jellyfish. Chavo says he wants the title rematch against Punk to take place tonight, but ECW GM Armando Estrada comes out and says he can't allow it to happen, but CM Punk will get a "tune up" match against Mark Henry tonight.

-LAST WEEK: Joey Styles interviewed the returning Stevie Richards. He makes his in-ring return tonight.

-Match 1: Stevie Richards VS Rory Fox

-IIRC, Fox is the same guy that was on an old MTV special about wrestling, as he was having his first matches. Quick squash. Nice reaction for Stevie. Fox is very vocal in the ring. A bunch of kicks and the Stevie-T (double underhook into an elevated DDT) finish for Richards.

-Mark Henry video.

-Match 2: Kelly Kelly VS Layla (w/Lena Yada)

-Match is shockingly decent. Kelly tries headlocks while Layla comes back with arm work. Kelly fights back, and a flying cross body gets two. Rocker dropper finishes soon after. The crowd was hot for this show, and it's helping everything. The fact that this was better and given more time than the Divas get on RAW today helped a lot too.

-Match 3: Kofi Kingston VS Mike Knox

-Knox, who was at one point getting a push, gets less offense than the jobbers Kofi has beaten. Boom drop and a slightly botched Trouble in Paradise finish for Kofi.

-Match 4: WWE Tag Team Champion John Morrison (w/The Miz) VS Tommy Dreamer (w/Colin Delaney)

-Dreamer starts off with a fallaway slam and a clothesline on the floor, but a distraction by Miz allows Morrison to take control. Morrison misses a slingshot kick and crotches himself. Another Miz distraction allows Morrison to hit the flying Chuck/flash kick, but Dreamer counters the Moonlight Drive into the Dreamer DDT for the pin. Miz and Morrison dump Dreamer and demolish Delaney after the pin, finishing Colin with a Death Sentence (powerbomb/neckbreaker combo). Not bad.

-Mark Henry says his match with Punk isn't going to be a match...it's going to be a funeral. I would think he meant a murder, since someone has to be dead for there to be a funeral.

-Match 5: CM Punk VS Mark Henry

-Chavo Guerrero comes out before the match starts. Really short match as Henry overwhelms Punk with his power, but refuses to break a hold while Punk is in the ropes, and actually gets DQ'd for it. Punk manages to floor Henry with a couple kicks, then KO Chavo with the GTS afterward.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: Not much to say here, as it was all short matches. Nothing bad, nothing worth going out of your way to see either.