ECW on Sci-Fi 3/4/08

-From Cleveland, OH.

-Recap of the Chavo/Punk feud, including everything but Chavo's clean win at No Way Out.

-Match 1: WWE Tag Team Championship: John Morrison & The Miz [c] VS Tommy Dreamer & Colin Delaney

-Miz gets a nice hometown reaction. Dreamer and Delaney hit the Quebecers' finisher on Miz. Miz quickly turns the tide, and the champs hit a series of moves, culminating with Morrison hitting the Flying Chuck on Delaney, forcing Dreamer to make the save. Dreamer gets the hot tag. Miz saves Morrison from a basement dropkick, so Dreamer hits an elevated neckbreaker instead. Dreamer locks Morrison in a Texas Cloverleaf, but Miz makes the save. The champions start double teaming Dreamer, and Delaney shocks the hell out of everyone by grabbing a chair and attacking the champions, drawing a DQ. Dreamer is more proud than pissed, and it actually draws an "ECW" chant. Nothing much to the match, more storyline enhancement than anything else.

-Match 2: Shelton Benjamin VS Stevie Richards

-Big jump in competition for Richards. Stevie counters a side headlock with a belly-to-back suplex, but gets caught with a shoulder breaker. Shelton locks in a hammerlock, and the crowd DIES. Stevie fights out, and Shelton misses a cross-body from the top. Stevie hits a side slam for two. Stevie hits a big back kick to the midsection and an enziguiri for two, which wakes up the crowd a little bit. Shelton blocks a roll-up, and hits Paydirt out of nowhere for the pin. Good start, good finish, middle was ghastly, with the long hammerlock putting the crowd to sleep.

-Shelton says there will be no stopping him in the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania XXIV.

-LAST NIGHT: Maria's Playboy cover is unveiled.

-Kofi Kingston hits on Kelly Kelly. Layla starts some shit, leading to a catfight. No "cat fight, CAT FIIIIIIGHT!" call from Joey.

-Match 3: Kane VS James Curtis

-Chuck Palumbo (Kane's opponent on Smackdown) rides out on a motorcycle, causing a distraction. Kane finishes Curtis in seconds with a chokeslam anyway.

-RAW REBOUND: Big Show destroys a "boxer" and jaws with Floyd Mayweather.

-Joey & Tazz announce that next week, Dreamer & Delaney will get a tag title rematch, but next time, it will be contested under "Extreme Rules".

-CM Punk says Chavo is not a warrior, and that it took Vickie and Edge to make him a champion. He conveniently skips over losing clean at No Way Out. Punk says he's a champion, and will earn it for the second time tonight.

-Match 4: ECW Championship: Chavo Guerrero [c] VS CM Punk

-Big heat for Chavo. Punk answers a shove with a roundhouse kick. Punk goes to work on Chavo's arm with a hammerlock slam. Punk counters a side headlock with a back breaker. Chavo drops Punk with a European uppercut. Punk goes for a springboard clothesline, but Chavo shoves him to the floor, and we go to a commercial break.

Back from break, Chavo is working on Punk's leg. Punk fights back, but Chavo regains control with a clip. Chavo locks in a kneebar, but Punk escapes with a headscissors. Punk sends Chavo to the outside with an enziguri, and follows up with a suicide dive. Punk hits the springboard clothesline, and counters a clothesline with a powerslam for two. Punk gets a rollup for two. Punk hits the running knee and bulldog combo for two. Chavo gets a single-leg crab, but Punk gets to the ropes.

Punk's knee gives out on the GTS, but he manages to counter the 3rd Amigo into a small package for two. Chavo hits a tornado DDT for two. Chavo crotches Punk on the top rope, and hits a frog splash for the pin to retain. Really good main event.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: Better than average show this week, with a decent opener and a really good main event at the end. Shelton/Stevie sucked for the most part, and I don't get the point of Kane/Curtis with the Palumbo interaction.

Random Ring of Honor Matches #8

-Ring of Honor World Championship: Nigel McGuinness [c] VS Tyler Black (Injustice II 1/17/09)

-Black pinned Nigel in a non-title match the night before this. Black is getting the shot because Austin Aries backed out. Nigel jumps Black at the bell, and immediately throws him outside. Nigel works over Black's arm, but when he throws Black back inside, Nigel stops to jaw with the fans, and takes a springboard dropkick for it. Black works Nigel over on the floor. Nigel gets on the mic, complains that he has a torn bicept, and that Black doesn't deserve the title shot, and says he's leaving. Bryan Danielson walks out and warns Nigel that if he doesn't go back, Danielson will kill him where he stands.

Black doesn't wait for Nigel's decision, and goes back on the attack. Black ties Nigel in the Tree of Woe, and hits a hesitation dropkick. Black hits another low dropkick, but takes time to preen, allowing Nigel to wrench Black's arm to take him down, and gain the momentum. Nigel goes to work on Black's arm, locking in a unique arm submission I've never seen before. Nigel wins a forearm exchange by hitting Black in the injured arm.

Nigel stretches out Black's arm, and flexes to amuse himself. Nigel slowly continues to stretch and work over Black. Black gets a second wind and a big kick to the back, and a stomp to the jaw. Nigel turns the tide on the outside, and takes the opportunity to steal a fan's camera, take a picture of himself giving Black the V sign, and puts the camera on the timekeeper's table instead of giving it back. Nigel then launches Black over the top, onto the timekeeper's table. It looks like Black can't continue, but when Nigel gets on the mic to declare the match over, Black comes back.

Nigel hits a running lariat for two. Nigel avoids a quebrada, but Black lands on his feet and hits a standing shooting star press for two. Black goes up top, but Nigel cuts him off, and hits a superplex for two. Black fights back, but Nigel trips him up, and hits the Tower of London off the apron to the floor. Black comes back, and gets in position for a Phoenix Splash, but Jimmy Jacobs rushes out to distract him and the ref. This allows Austin Aries to sneak in and shove Black to the floor, then follow up with a brainbuster. This brings out Jerry Lynn, who slides in and hits a cradle piledriver on Nigel, triggering a series of run-ins, including Bryan Danielson, who orders everyone to leave before being jumped by Jacobs. The battle rages on into the crowd, with the babyfaces gaining the advantage.

It's then announced that the match WILL CONTINUE!  Black quickly hits an inverted suplex for two. Black pounds away, but runs into a lariat for two. Black avoids the top rope lariat, but takes a back chop, and the Tower of London onto the apron. Count out is teased, but Black makes it back in the ring at 19. Nigel kicks Black in the back and locks in the London Dungeon, but Black makes it to the ropes. Nigel hits a regular Tower of London, and locks in the London Dungeon again. Black slides out and kicks Nigel in the head. Nigel slingshots back with the Jawbreaker, but Black gets his foot on the ropes at two.

Black wins a slap exchange, and gets a school boy for two, followed by a kick to the head for two. Black hits God's Last Gift for two. Black goes for a second, but Nigel counters into a small package for two. Black lands a big boot, but misses the Phoenix Splash. Nigel starts obviously calling spots. Black slams Nigel off the top, and hits a frog splash for two. Black hits a powerbomb into the turnbuckles and a superkick (the combination that won the match the previous night), but can't make the cover. Black crawls over to make the cover, and the bell is rung for a time limit draw 10 minutes early. Play-by-play man Lenny Leonard is perplexed, since he knows it wasn't 60 minutes.

Black begs for five more minute, and Nigel teases agreeing to it, but tells Black to kiss his ass and leaves. Good match that was a lot different from most RoH title matches. Wasn't an all-time classic or anything, but good enough.

-Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship: Kevin Steen & El Generico [c] VS The American Wolves [Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards w/Larry Sweeny, Shane Hagadorn, & Bobby Dempsey] (Motor City Madness 2009 1/30/09)

-The rest of the crew torture Dempsey and send him to the back before the match starts. Steen & Richards feel each other out. The champs take control with double teams, causing the Wolves to take a powder. Steen takes some abuse from the Wolves for a bit, but the champs regain control with a drop toe hold/front flip legdrop. Generico hits a standing moonsault for two. Steen teases trying a standing moonsault, but opts for a senton instead.

Richards gets in, and gets tossed around by Generico. Richards begs off, actually kissing the boots of Generico, before spitting in his face. Generico chases Richards outside, but gets blind-sided by Edwards. Generico becomes the face-in-peril. Alarm clock (toss in the air, followed by a kick on the way down), Oklahoma Stampede, and diving headbut only get a one count on Generico. Steen gets tagged in and wipes Edwards out on the outside, and follows up with a powerbomb onto the corner of the ring apron. *Ouch*!. Steen misses a moonsault on Richards, but does hit a powerbomb into a sharpshooter on Edwards. Edwards fights the hold as Generico holds Richards back, but Richards manages to hit a headbut on Steen to break the hold.

Richards counters a package piledriver into a backslide for two. Wolves' double-team series ends with a Richards missile dropkick to Steen's face for two. Richards accidentally hits Edwards with an enziguiri, and takes a superkick from Steen. Generico hits a running Yakuza kick on Edwards, and the champions follow up with a swanton/big splash combo on Edwards for two. Wolves hit a superkick/German suplex into a double rollup on Steen, but Generico makes the save at two.

Larry Sweeny tries to hit Steen with his boot, but Brent Albright chases Sweeny off. The Wolves get a hold of the boot, but Richards accidentally KO's Edwards, allowing Steen to get the pin to retain. Decent, if non-descript tag formula match for the most part. Picked up a bit after the heat segment on Generico.

Wolves try to double team Generico after the match, but Steen grabs a chair, and chases them off.

-Austin Aries & Jimmy Jacobs VS Bryan Danielson & Tyler Black (Caged Collision 1/31/09)

-Winner of the fall gets an RoH world title shot whenever he wants it, similar to WWE's Money in the Bank. Aries says he doesn't want the crowd's chants because he knows they don't mean it. After Danielson enters, he gets on the mic and notes that neither of the teams can really trust each other, and proposes the match be changed to a 4 way. Everyone agrees, so instead we have...

-4 Corner Survival: Austin Aries VS Bryan Danielson VS Jimmy Jacobs VS Tyler Black

-Only one fall to win it. Nigel McGuinness joins in on commentary. Danielson mat wrestles with Jacobs a bit before Jacobs tags Aries.

Cute exchange between Nigel and Lenny Leonard on commentary: Nigel: "How is your diabetes?" Lenny: "I don't have diabetes!" Nigel: "Sweet..."

Danielson completely out-wrestles Aries. Jacobs refuses to tag in, so Aries gets in to position to slap Black across the face when he's not expecting it, and that constitutes a tag. Black takes Danielson down, but stops to punch Aries, allowing Jacobs to attack Black from behind. Black quickly stops selling Jacobs' punches and floors him, causing Jacobs to tag Aries. Black uses Aries' escape from a headscissors, then slaps the taste out of his mouth.

Danielson dominates Aries, including sending him over the top and into the front row with a European uppercut after Aries skins the cat. Danielson goes up top for a dive. but Jacobs shoves him off. Jacobs works over Danielson with a series of double stomps and an elbow drop before blowing a kiss to Black. Black goes to town on both heels, before Danielson lays him out with a missile dropkick. Danielson gets a two count on Black after a running knee strike, then locks in Cattle Mutilation. Black escapes and hits an inverted suplex. Black goes up for the Phoenix Splash, but Jacobs cuts him off. Danielson hits a top rope belly-to-back suplex, but Jacobs tags himself in, and covers Black for two.

Jacobs goes for Contra Code, but Black counters and dumps him. Black goes for a dive, but Aries trips him up. Aries tosses Black outside, but accidentally hits Jacobs with the suicide dive. Black hits a dive on both heels. Everyone ends up in the front row after Danielson dives onto the other three. Bison Smith interferes and powerbombs Danielson on the floor.

Black wins a slugfest with Aries, but when Black goes for a powerbomb, Jacobs jumps in and locks in the End Time. Aries accidentally hits Jacobs with a running dropkick, and Black hits Jacobs with an F-5 for two. Jacobs and Aries hit a spear/sunset flip combo into a double pin on Black, but that only gets two. Aries & Jacobs hit a double team kick, and get another double cover for two. Aries and Jacobs start fighting each other. Black hits a running powerbomb into the corner on Aries. Jacobs accidentally spears Aries, and Black schoolboys Jacobs for the pin. Pretty good four way that picked up considerably when Danielson was taken out, as the match had more focus with Aries/Jacobs VS Black.

-Bryan Danielson vs Ring of Honor Tag Team Champion El Generico (Proving Ground 2009 Night 2 2/7/09)

-Cute opening as Generico acts like the "Best in the World!" chants are for him, then freaks out at "You're gonna' get your fuckin' head kicked in!" Generico hugs a very perplexed Danielson after the handshake. The fans chant for Danielson to hug him back, and Generico's pose while he waits for it is hilarious. Danielson balks, so Generico pouts, prompting the fans to chant "say you're sorry!" at Danielson. One fan loudly tells Danielson to get on his knees, and Generico is mortified at the thought. Danielson finally says "lo ciento", and Generico hugs him again.

Danielson applies a wristlock, and Genrico makes himself dizzy by rolling around before breaking the hold. Danielson controls with mat wrestling for a few minutes. Danielson shows impressive strength by maintaining a bridge without using his hands even with Generico on top of him. Danielson wins a Greco-Roman knuckle lock exchange, finishing up with a monkey flip that causes Generico to land on his ass. Generico starts throwing forearms to the surprise of Danielson, who responds with a European uppercut.

Generico takes Danielson down, and tries for a surfboard, but Danielson shrugs him off and lets Generico know that's not going to be happening tonight. Danielson goes for the surfboard, and Generico unsuccessfully tries to shrug him off. Danielson gets Generico down in a pinning predicament, but keeps raising Generico's arm as the ref counts, making him go fast and faster. Generico fights back but Danielson takes him down, slaps him in the face, and goes back to work on the arm. Generico manages to knock Danielson outside, and dives over the ropes to wipe him out.

Generico hits a big splash for two. Danielson hits a German suplex for two. Rollup reversal sequence leads to a two count for Generico. Danielson locks in a triangle choke, but Generico counters into a rollup for two. Generico hits two Yakuza kicks, but Danielson fights out of the turnbuckle brainbuster. Danielson locks Generico into the Tree of Woe, and hits a baseball slide. Danielson follows up with a top rope belly-to-back suplex for two. Danielson hits a series of elbows and locks in Cattle Mutiliation, but Generico makes it to the ropes.

Bison Smith comes out, and Danielson goes on the offensive, taking him out with a dive. The distraction allows Generico to hit another Yakuza kick and the turnbuckle brainbuster to finish. Smith attacks Danielson, but is pulled away by several wrestlers.

Good comedy at the start, and a really good babyface match before the finish. I know it was part of a feud between Danielson and Smith, but I hate that Generico (who has really grown on me since I first saw him) got what should have been a huge win for him in a cheap fashion.

-Ring of Honor World Championship 4 Way Elimination Match: Nigel McGuinness [c] vs. Tyler Black vs. Jimmy Jacobs vs. Jerry Lynn (Eliminating The Competition 2/27/09)

-Black wants to start with Jacobs, who tags out to Nigel. Lynn wants in, so Black tags him, but Nigel doesn't want to face Lynn, so he tags Jacobs back in. Jacobs spits on Black and shoves him, which constitutes a tag. Basic wrestling between Black and Lynn to start. Lynn avoids both a guebrada and a standing shooting star, before locking in La Mahistrol for two. Black gets Lynn down, and Nigel takes the opportunity to tag in. Nigel rolls out when Lynn turns the tide, then tags Jacobs.

Lynn gets a couple near-falls on Jacobs, then tags in Black, causing Jacobs to sprint across the ring and tag Nigel. Tyler gets Nigel in an arm-wringer and moves to tag Lynn, but Nigel knees Tyler in the gut and tags Lynn himself. Lynn avoids a couple moves from Black, but when Lynn runs the ropes, Nigel opens them up, causing Lynn to spill outside. Black shoves Nigel, which is a tag, and Nigel sends Lynn into the barricade. Nigel works on Lynn's arm. Lynn blocks the Tower of London, and hits a cross-body followed by a tornado DDT. Nigel tries a hurriacarana, but Lynn counters with a sit-out powerbomb for two.

Nigel blocks the cradle piledriver, and Lynn avoids the Jawbreaker. Lynn tries to suplex Nigel off the apron into the ring, but Jacobs grabs Lynn's foot and holds it, allowing Nigel to fall on top and pin Lynn. Lynn reacts by hitting an Air Raid Crash on Nigel, and wiping out Jacobs with a dive.

Black hits Nigel with a frog splash for two. God's Last Gift gets two when Jacobs breaks up the pin. Jacobs gets Black in a weakened state, and Nigel tags back in. Nigel hits a short-arm lariat for two. Black hits a kick on Nigel, who tags. Jacobs hits a series of double stomps followed by a slingshot senton for two. Black fights back and takes it to both opponents, and hits an inverted suplex on Jacobs for two. Nigel goes after Black, but misses the top rope lariat. Black counters the Jawbreaker and hits the Buckle Bomb (the running powerbomb into the turnbuckles). Black sets up for a superkick, but Jacobs spears Black for two.

Black wins a slugfest with Jacobs. Black tries a suplex on Jacobs from the apron into the ring, but Nigel returns the favor and holds Black's foot. The ref sees Nigel holding the foot before he counts three this time. Nigel hits Black with a forearm from outside the ring, then hits a Tower of London to the floor. Jacobs hits Nigel with a suicide dive, then locks in the End Time once they're back in the ring, but Nigel is not legal, so the ref continues to count Tyler. Black gets to the apron at 19, but Jacobs dropkicks him off, and Tyler is counted out.

Jacobs hits Nigel with a chinbreaker, but Nigel slingshots back with the Jawbreaker lariat for the pin to retain. Match picked up considerably about 25 minutes in. Good booking to not have Black beaten by Nigel yet again.

Black goes after Jacobs post-match, but Delirious (who at this time is a member of the Age of the Fall) makes the save. Just when it looks like Jacobs and Delirious are going to double team Black, Jerry Lynn rushes out to make the save for Black.

NWA/WCW Big Event Project #29: Clash of the Champions X "Texas Shootout"

-2/6/90

-From Corpus Christi, TX

-Hosts are Jim Ross & Jim Cornette

-Amusing opening video has carboard cutouts of many wrestlers getting "shot". Best is the last, Ron Simmons, fliiping through the air with a WACKY sound effect.

-"Tuxedo" Terry Funk tells the fans to aim their firearms at their TV in preparation for this show. I'm not sure he meant to imply what he did.

-Gordon Solie is backstage, and The Road Warriors come in to say their usual piece.

-Match 1: The Samoan Savage (w/Sir Oliver Humperdink) VS Steve Williams

-Goofy entrance videos for both guys. Savage has the Halloween theme and fire dancers, while Williams, despite being nicknamed "Dr. Death" is portrayed as an EMT trying to save people. Great line by Cornette about Savage: "When he wakes up in the morning, he has to ambush breakfast".

Williams jumps Savage at the bell, and has all the momentum with two football tackles, but he tries a third, and eats a clothesline as a result. Woman makes her way down to ringside. Ross & Cornette note the absence of Nitron. Cornette, ever the politically correct gentleman, says that they'd have more Spanish fans in attendance, but the border patrol added more people this week. How, with WCW being so PC-concious as they were, did he get away with THAT?

Savage slows the match to a hault with a nerve hold. Williams turns the table by no-selling a chop to the head, but misses an elbowdrop. Savage misses a crossbody from the top, and Williams hits a very impressive military press slam. Williams ends up getting the pin with a backslide. Pretty good opener.

-The Tough Guys, the official band of the NWA/WCW perform.

-Terry Funk calls out the 4 Horsemen, at this time consisting of Flair, Ole, Arn, & Sting. Ole lets Sting know that he's out of the Horsemen. They hadn't jumped him before because Sting had helped Flair. When Sting was a Horseman, he was a great one (for a whole two months), but he commited the biggest sin he could: signing to face Flair for the World title. The Horsemen will let Sting walk away, but only if he calls off the title match. Sting says "no chance". Flair blindsides Sting, and tells him to get out of the business. JR is mortified while Cornette loves it.

-A hype video for Wrestle War '90 airs, set to a really cheesy rap song.

-Match 2: The Mod Squad VS Flyin' Brian & The Z Man

-I have no idea who the Mod Squad are, except they would have looked right at home in the leather bar scene in A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2: FREDDY'S REVENGE. JR identifies the Mod Squad as Spike and Basher. Pillman dominates Spike, then both teams tag. Nice combination as Pillman hits a bicycle kick on Basher, and Zenk follows up with an enziguiri. That gets two as Spike makes the save.

Mod Squad take control with jobber offense as Pillman plays the face-in-peril. Basher misses a flying elbow, allowing Pillman to make the hot tag. Zenk finishes Basher with a flying cross-body. Match went waaaaay too long. Should have ended with the kick combination.

-Match 3: Cactus Jack Manson VS Mil Mascaras

-It sounds like Gary Michael Cappetta introduces Foley as "Captain" Jack Manson. Foley is positively svelt here. Mascaras has the Great Khali's physique. Cactus gets dropkicked to the outside, and in a cute spot, chases Cappetta away, but then doesn't see a chair as he backs up, and stumbles over it. Mascaras locks in a Liontamer, but Cactus makes it to the ropes. JR goes on about how stupid Cactus is, while Cornette thinks he just needs a manager. Cactus gets Mascaras in position for the elbow off the apron, but doesn't see Mascaras move. That allows Mascaras to dropkick Foley, and he gets his Nestea Plunge in, prompting Cornette to yell "CACTUS JACK IS DEAD!". Crossbody from the top finishes for Mascaras. Match wasn't as bad as Foley wrote in his book.

-Missy Hyatte stumbles through a video promoting her as the new co-host of Main Event wrestling.

-Back from break, Cactus is still in the ring. He doesn't like the band, and gets in a fight with the drummer, Wolf. They go at it as JR sends it TO THE BACK with Gordon Solie.

-Gordon is with Norman the Lunatic, who doesn't quite understand the concept of a "Falls Count Anywhere" match.

-Match 4: Falls Count Anywhere: Kevin Sullivan VS Norman The Lunatic

-Norman's video is set to "Shout" and sees him visit a petting zoo. He finds a boar that reminds him of Sullivan. Cornette accusses Norman of child molestation as he passes out Valentine's Day candy. Sullivan immediately throws Norman through the ropes and kicks him in the head. Norman counters a sunset flip with a sit-out dick to the face. Sullivan takes Norman's shirt off, prompting fat jokes from Cornette. They have a pretty meandering brawl.

They eventually go backstage and into the women's restroom. Normal is reluctant to go in, but he does so, and apparently (since the door is closed) beats Sullivan inside. Not good, and I don't like the idea of not showing the finish for the sake of trying to be funny.

-Terry Funks is pissed about something or other and starts insulting the crowd before bringout the United States Champion Lex Luger. Luger wants Sting to give up his World title match so Luger can get it. He says Sting is not worthy of facing Flair, and that Sting should be happy in his place. Luger & Funk have a mutual admiration society as Luger reiterates that he's better than Sting and will be the World champion.

-Match 5: The Skyscrapers (w/Teddy Long) VS The Road Warriors (w/Paul Ellering)

-The Skyscrapers are now Spivey and "Mean" Mark Callous a.k.a. The Undertaker. Road Warriors' video sees them demolishing a car before saying they'll beat the Skyscrapers. This is my first look at Callous outside the Undertaker gimmick. Animal sends Spivey flying, so he tags in Callous. It's so weird seeing UT A.) with a mullet, and B.) begging Animal not to punch him in the face. Hawk chops Spivey, but misses a charge in the corner and hits the ringpost. I don't think I've ever seen Hawk hit that charge. Callous does go OLD SCHOOL on Hawk, which impresses JR. Roadies hit the Doomsday Device on Spivey, but Callous comes off the top with a chair on Animal, triggering a six man brawl including the two managers. Skyscrapers lay the Road Warriors out with chairshots before heading off. Post-match beatdown was more intense and entertaining than the match itself.

-Back from break, JR & Cornette replay the ending of the last match, and JR notes that the Road Warriors won by DQ.

-Gordon Solie still cannot get a word with Sting, but Brian Pillman rushes in, and says he's worried because Sting still wants to wrestle with the Horsemen in the main event, and that he needs more help talking Sting out of it.

-Match 6: NWA Tag Team Championship Masks VS Titles: The Steiner Brothers [c] VS Doom

-JR all but admits that everyone knows who Doom are already. Simmons offers Scott a chance to leave, but he doesn't take it. Neither team gets much of an advantage early as Cornette reads off his copy of "Jokes About Stupid People" written by Jerry Lawler. Rick jumps around all excited like a little kid. Scott becomes the face-in-peril. Simmons gets good air on a legdrop. Scott turns the match around with a Frankensteiner on Reed, which allows him to tag in Rick. Rick rips the mask off Reed, puts it on as Reed freaks out, then shoves Reed into Simmons before rolling him up for the pin. Match was nothing special, but the finish was good.

Simmons is threatened with suspension not just from the NWA, but from wrestling itself, so he unmasks.

-The Horsemen promise to find and destroy Sting no matter where he is if he doesn't turn down the title match.

-Match 7: Six Man Tag Team Cage Match: The Great Muta, The Dragon Master, & Buzz Sawyer VS The Four Horsemen

-Ole takes Sting's place in the match. In a nice touch, they don't edit the pre-match video to take Sting out like WWE would. The Horsemen, who were the faces before the night started, are now the heels, and the other team are now getting the cheers. Big "We Want Sting!" chant after the introductions. Sawyer starts with Arn, and misses a charge, sending him flying into the cage. Sawyer comes back and starts to batter Arn, and the fans cheers mystify JR & Cornette. AA rams Sawyer's head into a support beam before tagging Flair.

Flair works over Dragon Master (who I don't recognize), but Master turns it around on Ole when he gets in. Muta gets tagged in to face Arn, and the place EXPLODES. Sting rushes out to climb the cage, but gets held back by officials, Zenk, and Pillman. AA backdrops Sawyer into the ropes in a stupidly dangerous move. Sting breaks free from everyone and rushes the ring again before he's held back again. Sawyer misses a diving headbut. Flair focuses on taunting Sting as the match goes on behind him.

Match breaks down, and AA pins Dragon Master with a DDT. The match was almost inconsequential once Sting came out, but I don't think I've ever seen a crowd reaction flipped by one simple segment before the match like that.

-After the pin, Flair stupidly rushes into the crowd holding Sting as WCW rushes to go off the air on time.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: Not a bad show, but nothing particularly special from an in-ring standpoint. This show was all about the Horsemen turn on Sting, and rendered almost everything else moot. It was nice to see UT before he was UT, and the Foley/Mascaras match after reading about it in Foley's first book.

I like the idea of the pre-match video for the big shows, but the execution here wasn't that good.

Random Ring of Honor Matches #7: Final Battle 2008 Edition

-These three matches are the final matches of RoH's big annual event Final Battle, which is their last show each calendar year. These matches all took place on 12/27/08.

-Ring of Honor World Championship #1 Contender's Match: Tyler Black VS Austin Aries

-Pre-match video shows Black pinning Aries three weeks prior, and Aries'...interesting reaction to it.

Dueling chants before the match starts. Slow start as Aries controls on the mat, seemingly getting more and more agitated at the fans cheering for Black. Black gets a headscissors and Aries tries his signature escape of a headstand followed by a dropkick, but misses on the dropkick. Moments later, Aries gets Black in a headscissors, and Black successfully uses Aries' escape, which irritates Aries further. Aries takes Black down with an STO, but hesitates and misses the power elbow. Black takes too long getting fired up in the corner before charging, allowing Aries to connecting with a running forearm. Aries tries the same thing Black does, but takes a boot to the face for his troubles.

Black goes for a springboard clothesline, but Aries pushes Black to the floor, then follows up with a suicide dive for two. Back outside, Aries sits Black in a chair, and hits a running dropkick to the face. Aries locks in the Last Chancery, but Black makes it to the ropes. Black hits an F5 on the ring apron. Black hits a running shooting star over the ropes to the outside on Aries, drawing a "holy shit!" chant, and a two count. Aries fights off God's Last Gift, but Black fights off a brainbuster and hits an inverted suplex for two. Aries rolls out of a running powerbomb attempt, hits a series of knees to the head, and locks in the Last Chancery again. Black won't tap, so Aries goes for the KO with more knees.

When that doesn't work, Aries signals for the brainbuster, but Black school boys him for two. Black hits a big kick to the head, then a running powerbomb into the turnbuckles for two. Black goes up for the Phoniex Splash as Jimmy Jacobs walks out. Black misses, and Aries hits a big kick to the head, a brainbuster, then after slipping and falling off the ring apron, a 450 splash for the pin. Really good match as Aries sold his frustration well. I expected this to go a bit longer.

Jacobs gets in the ring to berate Black. They shove each other, but Black has seconds thoughts about nailing Jacobs. This allows Jacobs to kick Black in the nuts and lock in the end time. Jacobs goes to Pillmanize Black's neck, but Aries runs back out for the save...before turning and nailing Black with the chair. Black is busted open, and Aries & Jacobs double team him for a bit before they walk away separately.

-Ring of Honor World Championship: Nigel McGuinness [c] VS Naomichi Marafuji

-Pre-match video shows Marafuji defeating McGuinness in 2006.

Feeling out process early on. Nigel goes for the Jawbreaker, but Marafuji avoids it, triggering a rollup reversal series. Marafuji works over Nigel's neck, including utilizing a slower version of the Skullfucker. Nigel sends Marafuji outside, but walks into a superkick, and a Shiranui off the barricade and onto the floor. Nigel starts working on Marafuji's arm, hitting a hammerlock powerslam. Nigel sends Marafuji outside again, but stops to jaw with the fans while sticking his head through the ropes, and takes a dropkick for it.

Marafuji locks in a Cobra Clutch, and turns it into a triangle choke while holding onto the Cobra. Marafuji hits a lungblower for two. Marafuji blocks the Tower of London, but Nigel blocks the Shiranui. Nigel gets Marafuji into position for the Tower of London to the floor, but Marafuji counters into a shiranui on the apron for two. Nigel gets tied to the Tree of Woe, but manages to avoid the Coast-to-Coast dropkick. Marafuji blocks the Tower of London in the ring, but Nigel goes to the eyes, and hits the Tower of London on the apron for two.

Nigel avoids a clothesline and hits a big lariat for two, as he holds his right arm close to him, in obvious pain. Nigel sets Marafuji on the top rope, and hits a top rope lariat for two. Marafuji hits a superkick while Nigel is in a heastand in the corner, then another to keep him in place for the Coast-to-Coast dropkick for two. Nigel takes a couple big kicks, but ducks a third and rolls up Marafuji for two. When Marafuji kicks out, Nigel slingshots back with the Jawbreaker Lariat for the pin to retain. Not bad, nothing great either. Never really had a fast pace to it, and I'm not sure anyone bought Marafuji possibly beating Nigel at the time.

Jerry Lynn comes out to congratulate Nigel and put the company over, but Nigel gets offended and calls Lynn a "washed up dinosaur". Lynn snaps and challenges Nigel to a fight. Lynn blocks the aisleway, so Nigel exits through the crowd.

-Fight Without Honor: Bryan Danielson VS Takeshi Morishima

-A "Fight Without Honor" is another way of saying "no DQ". Much like WWE has "street fight", "no holds barred", and a couple others I can't remember right now.

Danielson attacks from behind while his entrance music is still playing. Danielson dives into the crowd. Danielson uses the ring bell to dig into Morishima's eye. Danielson takes Morishima down with headbuts. Danielson tries for a German suplex on the apron, but Morishima throws him off. Danielson tries a powerbomb off the apron, but Morishima sits on his chest. Morishima sends Danielson into the barricade, busting him open. Morishima works on the cut, and nails Danielson with a STIFF kick to the back. Morishima wraps a chain around Danielson's neck.

Morishima whiffs on a missile dropkick. Danielson hits a suicide dive, then a missile dropkick to the knee. Danielson lands a series of stiff kicks for two. Morishima blocks an attempt at Cattle Mutiliation, and hits a urinage for two. Danielson rolls out of the Backdrop Driver, and gets a small package for two. German suplex gets two, then Danielson transitions right into Cattle Mutiliation and a series of elbows.

Lariat knocks Danielson for a loop. Morishima uses the chain again to try and choke Danielson out. Danielson gets a belly-to-back superplex for two. Danielson wraps the chain around Morishima's neck, kicks his head in, then locks in a triangle choke, but Morishima survives. Lariat sets up the Backdrop Driver, but Danielson gets his foot on the bottom rope. Morishima wraps the chain around his arm and goes for a lariat, but Danielson counters in an armbar.

Danielson ties Morishima's arms behind his back, but a couple kicks to the head keep Danielson down. The two start visably calling spots. Danielson kicks Morishima in the nuts. Danielson wraps the chain around his arm, and delivers 20 elbows before locking in Cattle Mutilation. Morishima is KO'd, so Danielson wins. Pretty good blood feud match. At about 20 minutes, could have been a lot longer.

Danielson gets on the mic and thanks (at least at that point), the largest crowd in RoH history, and invites them all to an after-party.

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.