-LAST WEEK: Davey Richards successfully defended the Ring of Honor World Championship against Roderick Strong.
-Kevin Kelly & Nigel McGuinness start the show in the ring, and hype this week's "double main event". It's hard to have a double main event when your show only has two matches on it.
-Briscoes wax nostalgic about the time when the All Night Express would be asking for their autographs and offering to carry their bags. The Briscoes say not to think of them as two dumb rednecks.
-The All Night Express talk about how their rivalry with the Briscoes has changed them. Titus wants to put a scar on their heads to match the one they gave him.
-Match 1 to name #1 Contenders for the Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship: The Briscoe Brothers VS The All Night Express
-Match immediately spills outside. Briscoes work over King, but get taken out by stereo dives from the ANX. Titus gets caught with a big boot/chop block combo, and he becomes the face-in-peril. Titus no-sells a HARD chop and slaps Mark in the face. Jay hits Titus with a clothesline for two. Mark hits a bulldog for two. Mark tries to hurricarana Titus off the top, but ends up getting alley-ooped for snake eyes.
King gets the hot tag, and Kevin Kelly likens him to a "shutdown corner" in football. Now that's just fucking stupid. Briscoes are outside, and King backdrops Titus over the top onto them. King hits Jay with a powerbomb, and Titus follows up with a double knee drop from the top for two. Mark dives off the apron at Titus, which the camera misses. Mark hits a frog splash into an elbow drop off the top onto King, and Jay gets two.
As Mark and Titus look like they're going to spill onto the announce table, Jay kicks King square in the nuts, and rolls him up with a small package for the pin. Titus points out the kick to the nuts and referee Todd Sinclair actually uses his head to figure it out, but he can't call it because he didn't see it. The two teams have to be separated. Match was good, not great.
-Profile on Ring of Honort Tag Team Champions Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team. They should never be allowed to talk, let along have a lengthy video segment about them.
-Jim Cornette says that because the Briscoes cheated, NEITHER team are the number one contenders to the tag titles. Way to negate the point of the last match, guys.
-A look inside "The House of Truth". Nothing of note here.
-That leads into the question of when the Richards/Edwards rematch will happen.
-Match 2: Michael Elgin (w/Truth Martini) VS Eddie Edwards
-Strike exchange proves nothing. Elgin hits a long delayed vertical suplex for two. Elgin wins a chop exchange, but walks into a hurricarana and the Achillies' lock. Edwards hits a Lionsault for two. Elgin catches Edwards, bashes him into two opposite corners, and throws him down for two.
Back from a commercial break, Elgin hits a back breaker and a side slam for two. Elgin no-sells one superkick, but a second slows him down, and Edwards dumps Elgin on his face. Edwards hits a missile dropkick for two. Edwards sends Elgin outside, and hits a suicide dive. Edwards hits an enziguiri, but a clothesline knocks him for a flip, and gets two for Elgin. Out on the apron, Edwards hits a double stomp on Elgin.
Back in, Edwards hits a double stomp to Elgin's back. Elgin comes back with a buckle bomb. Edwards counters the spinning sit-out powerbomb with a roll up for two. Edwards hits the Die Hard (the renamed 2k1 bomb) for the pin. Good, hard fought main event.
-Roderick Strong comes out to get into Edwards' face. Nigel notices that it's three-on-one in the ring, and climbs in to even the odds. Edwards/Nigel face off with the House of Truth as the show ends.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Not a bad show, but it still has some issues. Still too much time wasting for a one hour show that's supposed to be focused on in ring action. Kevin Kelly should never try to use a football analogy ever again.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Saturday, October 15, 2011
RoH Honor Takes Center Stage Chapter 1 4/1/11
-Every year, RoH does two shows on WrestleMania weekend at whatever city WrestleMania is in. This is the first time the shows were broadcast on iPPV.
-From The Center Stage Theatre (hence the title) in Atlanta, GA
-Hosts are Dave Prazak & Kevin Kelly
-Match 1: Michael Elgin VS El Generico
-Elgin looks like Tazz and Santino Marella mated. Generico avoids an avalanche, and hits a crossbody from the top for two. Elgin counters a swinging DDT into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker in an impressive spot. Crowd is really hot for Generico. Generico gets a schoolboy for two. Ring is mic'd so you can hear everything. I like it when that's the case. It makes everything seem more impactful. Elgin stops a sunset flip, but misses on the sitdown splash.
Generico comes off the top with a hurricarana, and follows up with a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Elgin fights off a half-nelson suplex, but charges into an exploder suplex, which sends Elgin upside-down into the turnbuckles. Generico gets two off that. Elgin hits a big lariat for two. Elgin hits a sweet black hole slam for two. They go outside as Elgin catches Generico diving off the apron, but Generico shoves Elgin into the barricade.
Generico dives between the bottom two ropes, and hits a swinging DDT on the floor to a MASSIVE reaction. Generico looks ready to finish, but a mystery man dressed in all black with a black mask grabs Generico's boot, allowing Elgin to hit a spinning sitout powerbomb for the win. Really strong opener.
-A replay of Eddie Edwards winning the RoH World title airs.
-Match 2 Four Corner Survival: Caleb Konley (w/Truth Martini) VS Tomasso Ciampa (w/The Embassy) VS Homicide VS Colt Cabana
-Crowd chants "Let's Go Spanky!" at Konley, as he does look a lot like Brian Kendrick. Cabana gets a folding press on Konley for two. Colt his a flying ass for two. Homicide goes after Nana, but gets laid out by Princess Mia. Embassy stomp Homicide, and roll him inside for a two count for Ciampa. Konley hits a decapitator on Homicide for two. Cabana lays out the heels with elbows, then some members of the Embassy before stealing a kiss from Mia and hitting a quebrada on Konley for two.
Ciampa hits the Project Ciampa on Konley, but Homicide had tagged himself in, and he steals the cover for two. Homicide hits three tope con hilos, the last laying out all three opponents. Back in, Homicide finishes Konley with the Cop Killer. Fun four corners match. Needed more Ciampa though.
-Truth Martini gives Konley the thumbs up, but it's APRIL FOOLS, and Elgin lays Konley out with a powerbomb.
-Kevin & Dave talk about SHIMMER being the sister promotion of RoH to set up the next match.
-Match 3: Sara Del Ray & Serena Deeb VS Hiroyo Matsumoto & Ayumi Murihara
-Deeb & Hiroyo trade arm drags. Del Ray gets double teamed, and Ayumi hits double knees to SDR's chest twice. Deeb gets tagged in and immediately is locked into a nice submission I haven't seen before, forcing SDR to make the save. Deeb misses a spear and falls out to the floor. Ayumi follows up with a dive, wiping out both Deeb and SDR. Ayumi locks Deeb in a ropes-assisted armbar, but SDR breaks it up with a low dropkick.
SDR hits a wheelbarrow slam on Murihara for two. Deeb hits a legdrop for two. Ayumi gets a rollup for two. Hiroyo gets the hot tag and takes it to both opponents. Hiroyo hits SDR with a gutbuster for two. Deeb takes a urinage from Ayumi, and a backdrop driver from Hiroyo for the pin. Suspense was ruined by the announcement that the Japanese team would be getting a SHIMMER tag team title shot at Chapter 2. Match wasn't bad, definitely a step up from anything you'll see out of the WWE Divas division.
-A replay of the post-match fight between the All Night Express and the Briscoes from Manhattan Mayhem IV airs.
-Match 4: Adam Cole & Kyle O'Reilly VS The Briscoes
-Jay gets caught with a cross-armbeaker by O'Reilly, so Jay kicks him in the head after the hold is broken. Futureshock hit Mark with a flapjack/bulldog combo for two. Jay floors O'Reilly, and hits a legdrop for two. Briscoes chop the shit out of O'Reilly, and hit a huge double-beal toss for two. Cole hits Jay with an enziguiri, and a suicide dive. Jay responds with a nasty spinebuster to turn the tide. Briscoes hit Cole with a double shoulderblock for two.
Cole takes a pounding, but does manage to make a tag. O'Reilly takes Mark down with a series of strikes, followed by a legsweep. O'Reilly takes both Briscoes down with a double dragon screw legwhip, and follows up with a double missile dropkick for two on Mark. O'Reilly hits a couple rolling butterfly suplexes. Cole tags himself in, and hits a double-arm DDT while O'Reilly holds Mark, then Cole adds a German suplex with a bridge for two.
The match spills to the floor, and O'Reilly hits a missile dropkick off the apron onto Jay. Back in, Futureshock hit Mark with a roundhouse kick sandwich for two. Jay spikes Cole with a Falcon Arrow for two. O'Reilly tries to hit Mark, but walks into a SICK superkick from Jay. Briscoes finish Cole with the springboard Doomsday Device. Excellent tag match that really cemented Cole & O'Reilly as players in the tag division.
-The All Night Express come in through the front door and charge into the ring to fight with the Briscoes. Officials come out to separate the two teams. ANX look to set up a spike piledriver on Mark onto the floor, but Jay tosses a security guard over the top rope to break it up. Great segment to set up the match at Chapter 2, and the continuing feud between the two teams.
-Match 5: Roderick Strong (w/Truth Martini) VS Davey Richards
-They trade takedowns to start. Richards hits a snap suplex for one. Richards locks in a version of the Tequila Sunrise, and he turns that into a pinning combination for two. Davey goes up top, but Martini causes a distraction, allowing Strong to hit an enziguiri and knock Richards to the outside. Strong knocks Richards around, and locks in a sitting abdominal stretch. Richards' mouth gets busted open.
They go outside, and Strong tosses Richards onto the barricade. Strong hits a slam onto the corner of the ring apron. Back in, they slug it out. Strong hits a backbreaker for two. Strong follows up with a belly-to-back suplex for two. Richards hits a running kick off the apron, then follows up with a suicide dive. Back in, they slug it out again, and Richards hits a handspring enziguiri for two.
Richards hits a German suplex with a bridge for two. Strong counters an anklelock with the Labelle Lock. Strong hits a slam for two. Strong hits a turnbuckle backbreaker for two. Strong locks in the Stronghold, but Richards makes it to the ropes. Strong hits several chops, and Richards comes back with kicks. Richards tries going up top, but gets caught with a side slam onto the ring apron.
Richards no-sells some strikes, and comes back with slaps before taking a Sick Kick for two. Death from Above gets two. Strong spits in Richards' face after a buzzsaw kick, and ends up taking a superkick and another buzzsaw kick for two. Martini provides a distraction, allowing Strong to hit the Falcon Arrow backbreaker for two. Strong hits the Gibson Driver for two, then turns it into the Stronghold.
Richards lays out Martini, and catches Strong's Sick Kick with an anklelock. Richards hits a superplex and a Falcon Arrow before applying a heel hook for the submission. Good, hard fought match, but Richards needs to figure out how to make his offense work into the finish.
-Match 6 for the Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship: The Kings of Wrestling [c] (w/Shane Hagadorn & Sara Del Rey) VS Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team
-Shelton controls both Kings to start, before tagging in Haas. Haas hits hero with an overhead throw for two. Haas no-sells some chops, so Hero goes to the eyes. WGTT go to work on Claudio's leg. WGTT get stereo two counts off German suplexes. Del Ray causes a distraction, allowing Hero to hit Shelton with a bicycle kick for two. Shelton becomes the face-in-peril. Shelton counters one Claudio chokeslam into a rollup, but a second attempt hits for two.
CC hits a gorilla press into a hot shot for two. Haas gets the hot tag and cleans house, getting two off an exploder suplex on Hero. Hero walks into a superkick from Shelton, and they hit both KoW with a double team. Haas gets two on Hero off that. Hero hits a roaring elbow on Haas, and a double bicycle kick gets two for CC. Giant swing into a low dropkick gets two on Haas.
Shelton hits Paydirt on Hero out of nowhere. CC hits the pop-up European uppercut on Haas for two. Haas fights off the Riccola bomb on locks in the Haas of Pain on CC. Hero gets the loaded elbow pad, but Shelton tosses Hero off the top, and Claudio taps to hend the Kings' near one year long title reign. Match was pretty slow for the longest time. Quite a step down from their first match.
-Match 7 for the Ring of Honor World Championship: Eddie Edwards [c] VS Ring of Honor Television Champion Christopher Daniels
-This is Edwards' first title defense, and he has never beaten Daniels, who was the man who beat Edwards for the TV title.
Neither man gets much of an advantage for the first couple minutes. They both a hurricarana spot, as Daniels lands right on top of Edwards after taking the move. Daniels counters another hurricarana attempt with the Achilles' lock. They go outside, and Daniels gets hip-tossed into the barricade. Kelly and Prazak talk about a world title only changing hands once in Atlanta, with Dusty Rhodes winning the NWA title in 1981, but they forget about Goldberg beating Hogan in the Georgia Dome.
Edwards ties Daniels to the tree of woe, and jumps off the floor onto the ring apron to deliver a dropkick. Edwards hits an overhead throw for two. Edwards runs into a Blue Thunder bomb. Edwards tries to hit a backpack stunner off the apron, but Daniels counters, and drives Edwards through a table with a urinage. Daniels breaks the referee's count, and slams Edwards onto a seated chair.
Daniels focuses on Edwards' back with slams and a hard whip into the buckles. Daniels hits a suplex for two. Daniels keeps right on Edwards' back. They go through a rollup series, but neither gets the pin. Edwards sends Daniels outside, and follows with a suicide dive. Edwards hits a crossbody for two. Edwards chops the shit out of Daniels in the corner, and follows up with a Tiger suplex for two.
Edwards hits an enziguiri and a throw for two. Daniels avoids a top rope double stomp, and locks in a standing Koji Clutch. Daniels hits a side slam from the second rope for two. Edwards locks in the Achillies' lock. Edwards hits the 2k1 bomb for two. Prazak and Kelly correct their mistake, apparently being reminded of Goldberg/Hogan via twitter. Edwards avoids the Angel's Wings off the top, and hits a double stomp to the back of Daniels.
Daniels blocks a powerbomb, and hits the Angel's Wings for two. Daniels hits the BME for two. Edwards gets his feet up on a second BME, and locks in the Achillies' lock. Edwards hits the 2k1 bomb off the top, and follows up with a regular one for the pin. Match was good, but the crowd was oddly quiet for the most part, except for the Daniels' near-falls towards the end.
-Daniels does not shake Edwards' hand, drawing boos. Edwards sucks up to Atlanta to close the show.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: A good, but not a blowaway show. The tag title match was pretty disappointing. I liked Cole & O'Reilly VS The Briscoes more than anything else on the show, which is saying something, as I used to hate the Briscoes. I don't think anyone thought Edwards would lose the title, which really hurt the reception the main event got.
-From The Center Stage Theatre (hence the title) in Atlanta, GA
-Hosts are Dave Prazak & Kevin Kelly
-Match 1: Michael Elgin VS El Generico
-Elgin looks like Tazz and Santino Marella mated. Generico avoids an avalanche, and hits a crossbody from the top for two. Elgin counters a swinging DDT into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker in an impressive spot. Crowd is really hot for Generico. Generico gets a schoolboy for two. Ring is mic'd so you can hear everything. I like it when that's the case. It makes everything seem more impactful. Elgin stops a sunset flip, but misses on the sitdown splash.
Generico comes off the top with a hurricarana, and follows up with a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Elgin fights off a half-nelson suplex, but charges into an exploder suplex, which sends Elgin upside-down into the turnbuckles. Generico gets two off that. Elgin hits a big lariat for two. Elgin hits a sweet black hole slam for two. They go outside as Elgin catches Generico diving off the apron, but Generico shoves Elgin into the barricade.
Generico dives between the bottom two ropes, and hits a swinging DDT on the floor to a MASSIVE reaction. Generico looks ready to finish, but a mystery man dressed in all black with a black mask grabs Generico's boot, allowing Elgin to hit a spinning sitout powerbomb for the win. Really strong opener.
-A replay of Eddie Edwards winning the RoH World title airs.
-Match 2 Four Corner Survival: Caleb Konley (w/Truth Martini) VS Tomasso Ciampa (w/The Embassy) VS Homicide VS Colt Cabana
-Crowd chants "Let's Go Spanky!" at Konley, as he does look a lot like Brian Kendrick. Cabana gets a folding press on Konley for two. Colt his a flying ass for two. Homicide goes after Nana, but gets laid out by Princess Mia. Embassy stomp Homicide, and roll him inside for a two count for Ciampa. Konley hits a decapitator on Homicide for two. Cabana lays out the heels with elbows, then some members of the Embassy before stealing a kiss from Mia and hitting a quebrada on Konley for two.
Ciampa hits the Project Ciampa on Konley, but Homicide had tagged himself in, and he steals the cover for two. Homicide hits three tope con hilos, the last laying out all three opponents. Back in, Homicide finishes Konley with the Cop Killer. Fun four corners match. Needed more Ciampa though.
-Truth Martini gives Konley the thumbs up, but it's APRIL FOOLS, and Elgin lays Konley out with a powerbomb.
-Kevin & Dave talk about SHIMMER being the sister promotion of RoH to set up the next match.
-Match 3: Sara Del Ray & Serena Deeb VS Hiroyo Matsumoto & Ayumi Murihara
-Deeb & Hiroyo trade arm drags. Del Ray gets double teamed, and Ayumi hits double knees to SDR's chest twice. Deeb gets tagged in and immediately is locked into a nice submission I haven't seen before, forcing SDR to make the save. Deeb misses a spear and falls out to the floor. Ayumi follows up with a dive, wiping out both Deeb and SDR. Ayumi locks Deeb in a ropes-assisted armbar, but SDR breaks it up with a low dropkick.
SDR hits a wheelbarrow slam on Murihara for two. Deeb hits a legdrop for two. Ayumi gets a rollup for two. Hiroyo gets the hot tag and takes it to both opponents. Hiroyo hits SDR with a gutbuster for two. Deeb takes a urinage from Ayumi, and a backdrop driver from Hiroyo for the pin. Suspense was ruined by the announcement that the Japanese team would be getting a SHIMMER tag team title shot at Chapter 2. Match wasn't bad, definitely a step up from anything you'll see out of the WWE Divas division.
-A replay of the post-match fight between the All Night Express and the Briscoes from Manhattan Mayhem IV airs.
-Match 4: Adam Cole & Kyle O'Reilly VS The Briscoes
-Jay gets caught with a cross-armbeaker by O'Reilly, so Jay kicks him in the head after the hold is broken. Futureshock hit Mark with a flapjack/bulldog combo for two. Jay floors O'Reilly, and hits a legdrop for two. Briscoes chop the shit out of O'Reilly, and hit a huge double-beal toss for two. Cole hits Jay with an enziguiri, and a suicide dive. Jay responds with a nasty spinebuster to turn the tide. Briscoes hit Cole with a double shoulderblock for two.
Cole takes a pounding, but does manage to make a tag. O'Reilly takes Mark down with a series of strikes, followed by a legsweep. O'Reilly takes both Briscoes down with a double dragon screw legwhip, and follows up with a double missile dropkick for two on Mark. O'Reilly hits a couple rolling butterfly suplexes. Cole tags himself in, and hits a double-arm DDT while O'Reilly holds Mark, then Cole adds a German suplex with a bridge for two.
The match spills to the floor, and O'Reilly hits a missile dropkick off the apron onto Jay. Back in, Futureshock hit Mark with a roundhouse kick sandwich for two. Jay spikes Cole with a Falcon Arrow for two. O'Reilly tries to hit Mark, but walks into a SICK superkick from Jay. Briscoes finish Cole with the springboard Doomsday Device. Excellent tag match that really cemented Cole & O'Reilly as players in the tag division.
-The All Night Express come in through the front door and charge into the ring to fight with the Briscoes. Officials come out to separate the two teams. ANX look to set up a spike piledriver on Mark onto the floor, but Jay tosses a security guard over the top rope to break it up. Great segment to set up the match at Chapter 2, and the continuing feud between the two teams.
-Match 5: Roderick Strong (w/Truth Martini) VS Davey Richards
-They trade takedowns to start. Richards hits a snap suplex for one. Richards locks in a version of the Tequila Sunrise, and he turns that into a pinning combination for two. Davey goes up top, but Martini causes a distraction, allowing Strong to hit an enziguiri and knock Richards to the outside. Strong knocks Richards around, and locks in a sitting abdominal stretch. Richards' mouth gets busted open.
They go outside, and Strong tosses Richards onto the barricade. Strong hits a slam onto the corner of the ring apron. Back in, they slug it out. Strong hits a backbreaker for two. Strong follows up with a belly-to-back suplex for two. Richards hits a running kick off the apron, then follows up with a suicide dive. Back in, they slug it out again, and Richards hits a handspring enziguiri for two.
Richards hits a German suplex with a bridge for two. Strong counters an anklelock with the Labelle Lock. Strong hits a slam for two. Strong hits a turnbuckle backbreaker for two. Strong locks in the Stronghold, but Richards makes it to the ropes. Strong hits several chops, and Richards comes back with kicks. Richards tries going up top, but gets caught with a side slam onto the ring apron.
Richards no-sells some strikes, and comes back with slaps before taking a Sick Kick for two. Death from Above gets two. Strong spits in Richards' face after a buzzsaw kick, and ends up taking a superkick and another buzzsaw kick for two. Martini provides a distraction, allowing Strong to hit the Falcon Arrow backbreaker for two. Strong hits the Gibson Driver for two, then turns it into the Stronghold.
Richards lays out Martini, and catches Strong's Sick Kick with an anklelock. Richards hits a superplex and a Falcon Arrow before applying a heel hook for the submission. Good, hard fought match, but Richards needs to figure out how to make his offense work into the finish.
-Match 6 for the Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship: The Kings of Wrestling [c] (w/Shane Hagadorn & Sara Del Rey) VS Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team
-Shelton controls both Kings to start, before tagging in Haas. Haas hits hero with an overhead throw for two. Haas no-sells some chops, so Hero goes to the eyes. WGTT go to work on Claudio's leg. WGTT get stereo two counts off German suplexes. Del Ray causes a distraction, allowing Hero to hit Shelton with a bicycle kick for two. Shelton becomes the face-in-peril. Shelton counters one Claudio chokeslam into a rollup, but a second attempt hits for two.
CC hits a gorilla press into a hot shot for two. Haas gets the hot tag and cleans house, getting two off an exploder suplex on Hero. Hero walks into a superkick from Shelton, and they hit both KoW with a double team. Haas gets two on Hero off that. Hero hits a roaring elbow on Haas, and a double bicycle kick gets two for CC. Giant swing into a low dropkick gets two on Haas.
Shelton hits Paydirt on Hero out of nowhere. CC hits the pop-up European uppercut on Haas for two. Haas fights off the Riccola bomb on locks in the Haas of Pain on CC. Hero gets the loaded elbow pad, but Shelton tosses Hero off the top, and Claudio taps to hend the Kings' near one year long title reign. Match was pretty slow for the longest time. Quite a step down from their first match.
-Match 7 for the Ring of Honor World Championship: Eddie Edwards [c] VS Ring of Honor Television Champion Christopher Daniels
-This is Edwards' first title defense, and he has never beaten Daniels, who was the man who beat Edwards for the TV title.
Neither man gets much of an advantage for the first couple minutes. They both a hurricarana spot, as Daniels lands right on top of Edwards after taking the move. Daniels counters another hurricarana attempt with the Achilles' lock. They go outside, and Daniels gets hip-tossed into the barricade. Kelly and Prazak talk about a world title only changing hands once in Atlanta, with Dusty Rhodes winning the NWA title in 1981, but they forget about Goldberg beating Hogan in the Georgia Dome.
Edwards ties Daniels to the tree of woe, and jumps off the floor onto the ring apron to deliver a dropkick. Edwards hits an overhead throw for two. Edwards runs into a Blue Thunder bomb. Edwards tries to hit a backpack stunner off the apron, but Daniels counters, and drives Edwards through a table with a urinage. Daniels breaks the referee's count, and slams Edwards onto a seated chair.
Daniels focuses on Edwards' back with slams and a hard whip into the buckles. Daniels hits a suplex for two. Daniels keeps right on Edwards' back. They go through a rollup series, but neither gets the pin. Edwards sends Daniels outside, and follows with a suicide dive. Edwards hits a crossbody for two. Edwards chops the shit out of Daniels in the corner, and follows up with a Tiger suplex for two.
Edwards hits an enziguiri and a throw for two. Daniels avoids a top rope double stomp, and locks in a standing Koji Clutch. Daniels hits a side slam from the second rope for two. Edwards locks in the Achillies' lock. Edwards hits the 2k1 bomb for two. Prazak and Kelly correct their mistake, apparently being reminded of Goldberg/Hogan via twitter. Edwards avoids the Angel's Wings off the top, and hits a double stomp to the back of Daniels.
Daniels blocks a powerbomb, and hits the Angel's Wings for two. Daniels hits the BME for two. Edwards gets his feet up on a second BME, and locks in the Achillies' lock. Edwards hits the 2k1 bomb off the top, and follows up with a regular one for the pin. Match was good, but the crowd was oddly quiet for the most part, except for the Daniels' near-falls towards the end.
-Daniels does not shake Edwards' hand, drawing boos. Edwards sucks up to Atlanta to close the show.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: A good, but not a blowaway show. The tag title match was pretty disappointing. I liked Cole & O'Reilly VS The Briscoes more than anything else on the show, which is saying something, as I used to hate the Briscoes. I don't think anyone thought Edwards would lose the title, which really hurt the reception the main event got.
Friday, October 14, 2011
EWR Diary Week 4: 10/24-10/30/11
Raw 10/24/11:
-WWE COO Triple H came down to the ring to open the show. Before he could say a word, WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio, Awesome Truth, & Kevin Nash rushed the ring and beat the shit out of HHH.
-John Cena is being interviewd backstage, and he is PISSED about what happened in the WWE title match last night, and about what just happened to HHH. CM Punk enters, and he's upset about what happened in the tag team cage match. They end up challenging any two members of the Del Rio/Nash/Miz/Truth group to a match for tonight.
-Match 1: Santino Marella VS Drew McIntyre
-Santino won a fairly short match with THE COBRA. As Santino celebrates, he is ambushed and destroyed by Brodus Clay. (***1/2)
-Backstage, Teddy Long announces that because of how the World Heavyweight Championship match ended last night, Sheamus will get a re-match this week on Smackdown.
-Match 2: 10 Diva #1 Contender's Battle Royale: Eve Torres VS Beth Phoenix VS Natalya VS Maryse VS Nikki Bella VS Brie Bella VS AJ VS Kaitlyn VS Alicia Fox VS Tamina
-Beth Phoenix wins, eliminating Eve Torres last, right after Eve eliminated Natalya. (1/4*)
-The Divas of Doom double team Eve, until Divas Champion Kelly Kelly rushes out to make the save.
-Zig Swag are backstage with Vickie Guerrero. Dolph & Vickie get on Swagger's case, blaming him for their loss last night. Dolph will defend the U.S. title against Mason Ryan next, and they warn Swagger not to screw up again tonight.
-Match 3: United States Championship: Dolph Ziggler [c] VS Mason Ryan
-Dolph had plenty of issues with Mason Ryan's power game. Ryan looks to finish, but Vickie distracts the referee, allowing Swagger to lay Ryan out. Dolph follows up with the Zig Zag to retain. (**1/2)
-Match 4: Ted DiBiase VS Wade Barrett
-Barrett takes out his frustrations from last night on DiBiase, finishing clean with Wasteland, and adding another after the bell for good measure. (**1/2)
-Match 5: John Cena & CM Punk VS Awesome Truth
-Long main event, with Punk playing the face-in-peril. Once Cena & Punk look like they might win, Del Rio and Nash interfere, drawing a DQ. As the four men destroy their opponents, HHH rushes out with his trusty sledgehammer, and the heels run away before they can take a shot. (**3/4)
-Triple H gets on the mic, and announces that at Survivor Series, the four man group will face himself, John Cena, CM Punk, and a fourth man in a traditional Survivor Series match. HHH says his team's fourth man will be...THE ROCK. The arena explodes as Rock's music hits. He doesn't come out, but the heels look worried as the show ends.
Smackdown 10/28/11:
-World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry opens the show. Henry says Sheamus doesn't deserve another title match, since Henry beat him at Vengeance. Henry calls out Smackdown GM Teddy Long, and asks Long to explain himself. Long says he feels Sheamus was cheated at Vengeance, and deserves another opportunity. Henry gets really upset, asking Long if he thinks Sheamus is better than him. Long stammers, and gets laid out with a big clothesline and the World's Strongest Slam.
-Match 1: Justin Gabriel VS Heath Slater
-Gabriel wins clean with the 450. Christian attacks Gabriel after the match, laying Gabriel out with the Killswitch. (***1/2)
-Wade Barrett is backstage. He cuts a promo on Daniel Bryan, saying Bryan got lucky once at Vengeance, while Barrett has beaten Bryan over, and over. Barrett says he's getting another shot at the Money in the Bank briefcase tonight, and tonight Bryan's luck runs out.
-Christian is walking backstage, when Matt Striker stops him to ask about his attack on Justin Gabriel a few minutes ago. Before Christian can answer, Gabriel jumps on him and pounds away before being pulled off by several WWE officials.
-Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes goes to the ring. Rhodes says Randy Orton knows that Rhodes is better than him now, and that Orton knew he could not beat Rhodes at Vengeance, that's why he got himself disqualified. Rhodes says he is moving on to new challengers, namely tonight's opponent, Ezekial Jackson.
-Match 2 for the Intercontinental Championship: Cody Rhodes [c] VS Ezekial Jackson
-Rhodes win clean with the Beautiful Disaster kick, followed by Cross Rhodes. Rhodes puts a paper bag on Jackson's head after the match. (**1/2)
-Match 3 for the Money in the Bank Briefcase: Daniel Bryan VS Wade Barrett
-Long match. Barrett gets Bryan in position for Wasteland, but Bryan counters into a crucifix for the pin. Barrett lays out Bryan after the match. William Regal tries to intervene, but he gets dropped with a big boot, black hole slam, and Wasteland. (***3/4)
-Match 4: Sin Cara I VS Sin Cara II
-Sin Cara II cheats to win by grabbing the ropes while rolling up Sin Cara I. II gets out of dodge after the bell rings. (****)
-Match 5 for the World Heavyweight Championship: Mark Henry [c] VS Sheamus
-The two battle outside the ring, and end up getting counted out to end this match as a brawl. The two are pulled apart. Mark Henry gets in the ring and holds up the World title as Sheamus is led to the back. (**1/4)
-As Henry poses with the World title belt, Kane makes his return, laying Henry out with a flying clothesline and a chokeslam. Kane holds the title belt as the show ends.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
NWA/WCW Big Event Project #34: Clash of the Champions XII "Fall Brawl-Mountain Madness"
-9/5/90
-From Asheville, NC
-Hosts are JR & Bob Caudle
-Match 1: The Fabulous Freebirds (w/Buddy Lee/Jack Roberts) VS The Wild-Eyed Southern Boys (Bullet Bob Armstrong)
-This was supposed to be a six man, and Chapetta announces it as such, but JR points out that Roberts is injured, so it's a regular tag match. JR also refers to Roberts as both Buddy Lee and Buddy Jack. Both teams love themselves some stars and bars. Freebirds go the full nine with face paint.
Smothers drops Garvin with a superkick. Freebirds double-team Smothers, who leads them into a cross-body from Armstrong, and the 'Boys try to double-pin Garvin. Smothers takes a beautiful bump off a Hayes bulldog, which gets two. Hayes locks in a rear chinlock as Smothers blatantly relays the next spots to him. Garvin gets in, but Smothers catches him going up top with a slam. Smothers makes a diving tag, and Armstrong cleans house.
Roberts provides a distraction, which allows Hayes to roll up Armstrong. The ref is not looking, so Bullet Bob nails Hayes, and Armstrong gets two off that. Roberts tries to through an international object to the Freebirds, but Roberts' throw is Mark Sanchez-esque, and the 'Boys hit stereo sunset flips for a double pin as the Freebirds look for the object. Freebirds attack after the bell, and lay out Bullet Bob with a double DDT. Decent opener.
-Tony Schiavone is with the NEW U.S. Tag Team Champions The Steiner Brothers. Scott stumbles over his lines (shocking, I know). No one knows anything about the Steiner's opponents Maximum Overdrive. Rick mumbles something about wrestling bums while trying to get another world title shot against Doom.
-Match 2: Buddy Landell VS Mike Rotunda (w/Sydney Anderson)
-Sydney won a Burger King contest to get her spot as Rotunda's valet. Landell has Skid Row on his shoulder. Basic wrestling. Landell locks in the always-excting ropes-assisted abdominal stretch. Landell goes up top, but gets caught with a punch on the way down. Rotunda drops a leg for two. Rotunda pins Landell with a backslide. This was a lesson in how to get paid for a match without actually doing anything.
-Tony is with the Freebirds. Roberts says General Robert E. Lee is telling them to get rid of the Southern Boys. Hayes introduces a video of The Freebirds going to Hollywood. They get mobbed by a small group of fans at the Holiday Inn, dance with the Hollywood sign in the background, and get hot dogs.
-Match 3: Tim Horner & Brad Armstrong VS The Master Blasters (Kevin Nash as Steele, Corey Pendarvis as Iron)
-Nash has an orange mohawk. This is the Blasters' debut. Both Blasters are so tanned they're almost black, and covered with "soot". Blasters demolish Horner, and the crowd is not impressed. Armstrong gets in, and takes a powerslam from Nash for two. Iron loves to use the flying shoulderblock. Horner gets back in, and is quickly finished with a double shoulderblock. NOT. GOOD.
-Tony is with Brian Pillman. Pillman has no idea who the Black Scorpion is. Pillman will be the first man to run the Gauntlet. To run the Gauntlet, a wrestler draws three names, and he will wrestle those guys on the WCW Friday-Sunday shows. The the man running the Gauntlet makes it all the way through undefeated, he wins $15,000. If he loses one of the matches, the three opponents split $15,000. Not a bad concept, actually.
-Missy Hyatt introduces Ric Flair as "the Greatest World Champion of ever". Flair does his usual.
-Match 4: The Nasty Boys VS Jackie Fulton & Terry Taylor
-Fulton uses his speed advantage. Taylor hits Knobbs with a neckbreaker for two. Faces control the first few minutes until it's time for Taylor to play the face-in-peril. Knobbs hits a splash in the corner for two. Taylor makes the tag after the Nastys run into each other. Fulton hits Knobbs with a bridges German suplex for two, as Sags breaks it up. Knobbs catches a flying Fulton with a powerslam, and Sags finishes with a flying elbow. Taylor tries to get a measure of revenge after the bell. Bad match, good finish.
-Tony Schiavone interviews Sid. Sid wants a shot at Sting.
-Match 5: Bill Irwin VS Tommy Rich
-Irwin cracks a whip, and gets booed out of the building. Irwin hits a nice high knee. Rich tosses Irwin over the top, but does not get DQ'd. They go back-in-forth with nothing particularly exciting happening, until Rich slickly counters a tilt-a-whirl into a sleeper. Rich ends it soon after with the Thesz Press. I can't get over that being a finisher.
-NWA TOP 10 RANKINGS:
10. Buddy Landell (WTF?)
9. Tommy Rich
8. JYD
7. Brian Pillman
6. Stan Hansen
5. Sid Vicious
4. Barry Windham
3. Arn Anderson
2. Ric Flair
1. Lex Luger
Ok, did anyone see Rich or Landell ever getting a world title shot?
-TOP TEN TAG TEAMS:
10. Rotunda & Horner
9. JYD & El Gigante
8. Pillman & Zenk
7. Samoan Swat Team
6. Fabulous Freebirds
5. Southern Boys
4. Midnight Express
3. The Horsemen
2. Rock and Roll Express
1. Steiner Brothers
Were the bottom three teams even still together at this point?
-Tony is with Stan Hansen. Hansen has chew in his mouth, and dripping all over him. Hansen is pissed that he's only ranked sixth.
-Match 6: LPWA Women's World Championship: Susan Sexton [c] VS Bambi
-Well, you can't say either were hired for their looks. JR & Bob ignore the match for a bit to talk about hiring kids to get a free Sting watch at the next Atlanta show. Caudle chides JR, saying the winner gets a dinner date with him. They're trying, but the crowd couldn't care less. Bambi gets a nice cradle for two. Sexton hits a nice springboard into a flying forearm. Bambi gets a small package for two, but Sexton reverses it for the pin. Biggest reaction was Sexton getting booed during the introductions, despite them both apparently being babyfaces. This reminded me of when the WWF tried having midget matches on PPV in 1997-early 98.
-Match 7: NWA United States Tag Team Champions: The Steiner Brothers VS Maximum Overdrive (Jeff Warner & Tim Hunt)
-The heels should have had Emilio Estevez as a manager. I have no idea which member of MO is which. Steiners toss MO around for a little bit. Rick actually sells a couple moves, before going back to beating on his opponents. Scott hits a DDT from the top, and Rick gets the pin. Quick squash, which it should have been.
-Match 8: Stan Hansen VS Tom Zenk
-Zenk gets a loud, high-pitched reaction. Not liking Z-Man's chances. Hansen immediately roughs Zenk up on the outside. As Hansen pounds on Zenk, they show Tony in the back with Luger, and they intercut Luger accepting Hansen's challenge (should Luger get by Flair) while Hansen continues to demolish Zenk. Zenk hits a couple dropkicks. Hansen finishes with the lariat in short order, as JR credits Hansen with inventing the clothesline/lariat. Needed more murder of Zenk.
-Match 9 for the NWA United States Championship: Lex Luger [c] VS Ric Flair
-Luger no-sells some chops, and clotheslines Flair to the outside, before hitting another clothesline on the floor. Luger hits a big Gorilla Press, but misses an elbow drop. Flair fakes a shoulder injury to gain the advantage. Flair has fun whipping Luger into the guardrail. Flair really works Luger over on the outside, as the ref doesn't even consider counting both men out. Luger finally gets tired of getting beat on and lands a series of punches before getting poked in the eye.
Luger gets a backslide for two. Luger decides it's time to start no-selling again. Luger hits a big clothesline for two. Luger hits a Gorilla Press for two. Luger hits a powerslam and calls for the Rack. Luger hits a superplex for two. They tumble outside, and when Luger gets back in, he is blitzed by Stan Hansen, drawing a DQ. Match was usual Flair/Luger, elevated by a really hot crowd. I was wondering if either man would actually job in this match.
-Hansen chokes Luger with his rope, and spits all over him.
-The Black Scorpion says he'll reveal who he is if Sting wins tonight.
-Match 10 for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Sting [c] VS The Black Scorpion
-ProWrestlingHistory.Com has Al Perez playing the Scorpion on this show. Scorpion is all nondescript jobber offense. Sting tries to unmask the Scorpion, but he can't do it. Scorpion wears Sting down as JR & Bob put the NWA title as tracing back to 1905. Sting finishes out of nowhere with the Stinger Splash. Crowd was into it, but this match S-U-C-K-E-D!
-Sting rips off the Scorpion's mask...to reveal another mask. Sting dispatches the man he was wrestling as another Black Scorpion makes his way onto the ramp for a staredown. Sting is sufficiently bewildered, and Nick Patrick holds him back from going after the other Black Scorpion.
-JR interviews Sting. JR makes it clear that the second Scorpion is the real one. It's implied that the Scorpion is someone Sting trained with. Sid Vicious jumps in to challenge Sting. Sting makes the mistake of brushing Sid off, and gets jumped on the ramp for his troubles. Sid makes it known that he rules the world.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Nothing to see here. Some bad matches, and the decent ones are matchups you can see elsewhere.
-From Asheville, NC
-Hosts are JR & Bob Caudle
-Match 1: The Fabulous Freebirds (w/Buddy Lee/Jack Roberts) VS The Wild-Eyed Southern Boys (Bullet Bob Armstrong)
-This was supposed to be a six man, and Chapetta announces it as such, but JR points out that Roberts is injured, so it's a regular tag match. JR also refers to Roberts as both Buddy Lee and Buddy Jack. Both teams love themselves some stars and bars. Freebirds go the full nine with face paint.
Smothers drops Garvin with a superkick. Freebirds double-team Smothers, who leads them into a cross-body from Armstrong, and the 'Boys try to double-pin Garvin. Smothers takes a beautiful bump off a Hayes bulldog, which gets two. Hayes locks in a rear chinlock as Smothers blatantly relays the next spots to him. Garvin gets in, but Smothers catches him going up top with a slam. Smothers makes a diving tag, and Armstrong cleans house.
Roberts provides a distraction, which allows Hayes to roll up Armstrong. The ref is not looking, so Bullet Bob nails Hayes, and Armstrong gets two off that. Roberts tries to through an international object to the Freebirds, but Roberts' throw is Mark Sanchez-esque, and the 'Boys hit stereo sunset flips for a double pin as the Freebirds look for the object. Freebirds attack after the bell, and lay out Bullet Bob with a double DDT. Decent opener.
-Tony Schiavone is with the NEW U.S. Tag Team Champions The Steiner Brothers. Scott stumbles over his lines (shocking, I know). No one knows anything about the Steiner's opponents Maximum Overdrive. Rick mumbles something about wrestling bums while trying to get another world title shot against Doom.
-Match 2: Buddy Landell VS Mike Rotunda (w/Sydney Anderson)
-Sydney won a Burger King contest to get her spot as Rotunda's valet. Landell has Skid Row on his shoulder. Basic wrestling. Landell locks in the always-excting ropes-assisted abdominal stretch. Landell goes up top, but gets caught with a punch on the way down. Rotunda drops a leg for two. Rotunda pins Landell with a backslide. This was a lesson in how to get paid for a match without actually doing anything.
-Tony is with the Freebirds. Roberts says General Robert E. Lee is telling them to get rid of the Southern Boys. Hayes introduces a video of The Freebirds going to Hollywood. They get mobbed by a small group of fans at the Holiday Inn, dance with the Hollywood sign in the background, and get hot dogs.
-Match 3: Tim Horner & Brad Armstrong VS The Master Blasters (Kevin Nash as Steele, Corey Pendarvis as Iron)
-Nash has an orange mohawk. This is the Blasters' debut. Both Blasters are so tanned they're almost black, and covered with "soot". Blasters demolish Horner, and the crowd is not impressed. Armstrong gets in, and takes a powerslam from Nash for two. Iron loves to use the flying shoulderblock. Horner gets back in, and is quickly finished with a double shoulderblock. NOT. GOOD.
-Tony is with Brian Pillman. Pillman has no idea who the Black Scorpion is. Pillman will be the first man to run the Gauntlet. To run the Gauntlet, a wrestler draws three names, and he will wrestle those guys on the WCW Friday-Sunday shows. The the man running the Gauntlet makes it all the way through undefeated, he wins $15,000. If he loses one of the matches, the three opponents split $15,000. Not a bad concept, actually.
-Missy Hyatt introduces Ric Flair as "the Greatest World Champion of ever". Flair does his usual.
-Match 4: The Nasty Boys VS Jackie Fulton & Terry Taylor
-Fulton uses his speed advantage. Taylor hits Knobbs with a neckbreaker for two. Faces control the first few minutes until it's time for Taylor to play the face-in-peril. Knobbs hits a splash in the corner for two. Taylor makes the tag after the Nastys run into each other. Fulton hits Knobbs with a bridges German suplex for two, as Sags breaks it up. Knobbs catches a flying Fulton with a powerslam, and Sags finishes with a flying elbow. Taylor tries to get a measure of revenge after the bell. Bad match, good finish.
-Tony Schiavone interviews Sid. Sid wants a shot at Sting.
-Match 5: Bill Irwin VS Tommy Rich
-Irwin cracks a whip, and gets booed out of the building. Irwin hits a nice high knee. Rich tosses Irwin over the top, but does not get DQ'd. They go back-in-forth with nothing particularly exciting happening, until Rich slickly counters a tilt-a-whirl into a sleeper. Rich ends it soon after with the Thesz Press. I can't get over that being a finisher.
-NWA TOP 10 RANKINGS:
10. Buddy Landell (WTF?)
9. Tommy Rich
8. JYD
7. Brian Pillman
6. Stan Hansen
5. Sid Vicious
4. Barry Windham
3. Arn Anderson
2. Ric Flair
1. Lex Luger
Ok, did anyone see Rich or Landell ever getting a world title shot?
-TOP TEN TAG TEAMS:
10. Rotunda & Horner
9. JYD & El Gigante
8. Pillman & Zenk
7. Samoan Swat Team
6. Fabulous Freebirds
5. Southern Boys
4. Midnight Express
3. The Horsemen
2. Rock and Roll Express
1. Steiner Brothers
Were the bottom three teams even still together at this point?
-Tony is with Stan Hansen. Hansen has chew in his mouth, and dripping all over him. Hansen is pissed that he's only ranked sixth.
-Match 6: LPWA Women's World Championship: Susan Sexton [c] VS Bambi
-Well, you can't say either were hired for their looks. JR & Bob ignore the match for a bit to talk about hiring kids to get a free Sting watch at the next Atlanta show. Caudle chides JR, saying the winner gets a dinner date with him. They're trying, but the crowd couldn't care less. Bambi gets a nice cradle for two. Sexton hits a nice springboard into a flying forearm. Bambi gets a small package for two, but Sexton reverses it for the pin. Biggest reaction was Sexton getting booed during the introductions, despite them both apparently being babyfaces. This reminded me of when the WWF tried having midget matches on PPV in 1997-early 98.
-Match 7: NWA United States Tag Team Champions: The Steiner Brothers VS Maximum Overdrive (Jeff Warner & Tim Hunt)
-The heels should have had Emilio Estevez as a manager. I have no idea which member of MO is which. Steiners toss MO around for a little bit. Rick actually sells a couple moves, before going back to beating on his opponents. Scott hits a DDT from the top, and Rick gets the pin. Quick squash, which it should have been.
-Match 8: Stan Hansen VS Tom Zenk
-Zenk gets a loud, high-pitched reaction. Not liking Z-Man's chances. Hansen immediately roughs Zenk up on the outside. As Hansen pounds on Zenk, they show Tony in the back with Luger, and they intercut Luger accepting Hansen's challenge (should Luger get by Flair) while Hansen continues to demolish Zenk. Zenk hits a couple dropkicks. Hansen finishes with the lariat in short order, as JR credits Hansen with inventing the clothesline/lariat. Needed more murder of Zenk.
-Match 9 for the NWA United States Championship: Lex Luger [c] VS Ric Flair
-Luger no-sells some chops, and clotheslines Flair to the outside, before hitting another clothesline on the floor. Luger hits a big Gorilla Press, but misses an elbow drop. Flair fakes a shoulder injury to gain the advantage. Flair has fun whipping Luger into the guardrail. Flair really works Luger over on the outside, as the ref doesn't even consider counting both men out. Luger finally gets tired of getting beat on and lands a series of punches before getting poked in the eye.
Luger gets a backslide for two. Luger decides it's time to start no-selling again. Luger hits a big clothesline for two. Luger hits a Gorilla Press for two. Luger hits a powerslam and calls for the Rack. Luger hits a superplex for two. They tumble outside, and when Luger gets back in, he is blitzed by Stan Hansen, drawing a DQ. Match was usual Flair/Luger, elevated by a really hot crowd. I was wondering if either man would actually job in this match.
-Hansen chokes Luger with his rope, and spits all over him.
-The Black Scorpion says he'll reveal who he is if Sting wins tonight.
-Match 10 for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Sting [c] VS The Black Scorpion
-ProWrestlingHistory.Com has Al Perez playing the Scorpion on this show. Scorpion is all nondescript jobber offense. Sting tries to unmask the Scorpion, but he can't do it. Scorpion wears Sting down as JR & Bob put the NWA title as tracing back to 1905. Sting finishes out of nowhere with the Stinger Splash. Crowd was into it, but this match S-U-C-K-E-D!
-Sting rips off the Scorpion's mask...to reveal another mask. Sting dispatches the man he was wrestling as another Black Scorpion makes his way onto the ramp for a staredown. Sting is sufficiently bewildered, and Nick Patrick holds him back from going after the other Black Scorpion.
-JR interviews Sting. JR makes it clear that the second Scorpion is the real one. It's implied that the Scorpion is someone Sting trained with. Sid Vicious jumps in to challenge Sting. Sting makes the mistake of brushing Sid off, and gets jumped on the ramp for his troubles. Sid makes it known that he rules the world.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Nothing to see here. Some bad matches, and the decent ones are matchups you can see elsewhere.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Ring of Honor Wrestling #3
-LAST WEEK: Jay Lethal defeated El Generico in extra time to win the RoH Television Championship.
-Jim Cornette starts the show in the ring, and he brings out the Briscoe Brothers. Mark is mad that the $5,000 fine they got for attacking WGTT cost them a lot of beer and bullets. Jay is less upset, but says WGTT are afraid to give them a title shot. Cornette responds that WGTT want to face them, but Cornette doesn't want to reward them for their attack. Cornette has a compromise; next week, the Briscoes will wrestle the current #1 contenders the All Night Express, with the winners getting the next title shot. Briscoes are OK with that.
-Profile video on "The Dominant Male" Tomasso Ciampa, the only undefeated wrestler in RoH. Largely about how he is soley focused on wrestling, and Prince Nana's money affords him the ability to avoid worries everyone else has.
-Match 1: Andy Ridge VS Tomasso Ciampa (w/Prince Nana & Ernesto Osiris)
-Ridge's nickname, "Right Leg" is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. Steve Corino joins us for color commentary. I don't like Ridge's chances.
Ridge starts off with some kicks, but runs into a big clothesline. Ciampa ties Ridge in the ropes, delivering a backchop, kick, and German suplex. Out on the apron, they trade chops (Ciampa) and kicks (Ridge). Ciampa swings Ridge like a baseball bat into the barricade. That gets two. Ciampa figure 4s his legs around Ridge's head, delivers some elbows and a skullfucker, but only gets one out of it.
Ridge hits a slingshot Ace Crusher for two. Ciampa yanks Ridge out of the corner, delivers several running exposed knees, and finishes with Project Ciampa. I LOVE that move. A lot better than I was expecting, as Ridge did a good job of fighting from underneath and being a sympathetic babyface. I've been impressed with Ciampa since the first time I saw him.
-Pre-match video for the RoH title match. Strong wants to be champion again to make Davey's life miserable. Richards talks about the death of his grandparents.
-MAIN EVENT: Ring of Honor World Championship: Davey Richards [c] VS Roderick Strong (w/Truth Martini)
-Barebones stuff to start. Davey locks in an anklelock, but Strong rolls through to send them both outside. They battle out there for a bit. Strong wins a chop exchange. Back in, Strong stomps a mudhole. Richards hits an enziguiri, but gets distracted by Martini as he climbs on the turnbuckles, and ends up taking a flying knee to the face for two.
Back from a commercial break, Richards takes control, sending Strong to the outside, then running along the apron and kicking Strong in the head. Richards hits a suicide dive. Back in, Richards hits a missile dropkick for two. Richards hits an Exploder suplex for two. Strong hits a powerslam for two. Richards gets a crucifix pin for two. Strong avoids a kick, and hits one of his own for two. Strong drops Richards back-first on the corner of the apron for two.
Richards hits the Alarm Clock, avoids a boot, and hits a discus clothesline for two. Richards kicks the shit out of Strong in the corner, but takes an enziguiri and Death from Above for two. Richards hits a superplex and a falcon arrow for two, then locks in an ankelock. Richards avoids falling on the knees on Death from Above, and locks in the anklelock again before turning it into a heel hook. Strong taps, but Martini has the ref.
Richards gets rid of Martini. Strong takes the opportunity to hit the Sick Kick for two. Stronghold is countered into the anklelock. Strong no-sells a kick, ends up taking three more, and the anklelock into a heel hook gets the submission for Richards conveniently right before TV time expires. Match was good. I might have been blown away if I had never seen them wrestle before.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Solid show this week, with a little less time-wasting than the first two. For a company that says it's all about wrestling, it does take them too long to actually get into the wrestling on these shows (this week, the first match didn't start until 15 minutes in). Hopefully they tweak the format a little bit and find the sweet spot.
-Jim Cornette starts the show in the ring, and he brings out the Briscoe Brothers. Mark is mad that the $5,000 fine they got for attacking WGTT cost them a lot of beer and bullets. Jay is less upset, but says WGTT are afraid to give them a title shot. Cornette responds that WGTT want to face them, but Cornette doesn't want to reward them for their attack. Cornette has a compromise; next week, the Briscoes will wrestle the current #1 contenders the All Night Express, with the winners getting the next title shot. Briscoes are OK with that.
-Profile video on "The Dominant Male" Tomasso Ciampa, the only undefeated wrestler in RoH. Largely about how he is soley focused on wrestling, and Prince Nana's money affords him the ability to avoid worries everyone else has.
-Match 1: Andy Ridge VS Tomasso Ciampa (w/Prince Nana & Ernesto Osiris)
-Ridge's nickname, "Right Leg" is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. Steve Corino joins us for color commentary. I don't like Ridge's chances.
Ridge starts off with some kicks, but runs into a big clothesline. Ciampa ties Ridge in the ropes, delivering a backchop, kick, and German suplex. Out on the apron, they trade chops (Ciampa) and kicks (Ridge). Ciampa swings Ridge like a baseball bat into the barricade. That gets two. Ciampa figure 4s his legs around Ridge's head, delivers some elbows and a skullfucker, but only gets one out of it.
Ridge hits a slingshot Ace Crusher for two. Ciampa yanks Ridge out of the corner, delivers several running exposed knees, and finishes with Project Ciampa. I LOVE that move. A lot better than I was expecting, as Ridge did a good job of fighting from underneath and being a sympathetic babyface. I've been impressed with Ciampa since the first time I saw him.
-Pre-match video for the RoH title match. Strong wants to be champion again to make Davey's life miserable. Richards talks about the death of his grandparents.
-MAIN EVENT: Ring of Honor World Championship: Davey Richards [c] VS Roderick Strong (w/Truth Martini)
-Barebones stuff to start. Davey locks in an anklelock, but Strong rolls through to send them both outside. They battle out there for a bit. Strong wins a chop exchange. Back in, Strong stomps a mudhole. Richards hits an enziguiri, but gets distracted by Martini as he climbs on the turnbuckles, and ends up taking a flying knee to the face for two.
Back from a commercial break, Richards takes control, sending Strong to the outside, then running along the apron and kicking Strong in the head. Richards hits a suicide dive. Back in, Richards hits a missile dropkick for two. Richards hits an Exploder suplex for two. Strong hits a powerslam for two. Richards gets a crucifix pin for two. Strong avoids a kick, and hits one of his own for two. Strong drops Richards back-first on the corner of the apron for two.
Richards hits the Alarm Clock, avoids a boot, and hits a discus clothesline for two. Richards kicks the shit out of Strong in the corner, but takes an enziguiri and Death from Above for two. Richards hits a superplex and a falcon arrow for two, then locks in an ankelock. Richards avoids falling on the knees on Death from Above, and locks in the anklelock again before turning it into a heel hook. Strong taps, but Martini has the ref.
Richards gets rid of Martini. Strong takes the opportunity to hit the Sick Kick for two. Stronghold is countered into the anklelock. Strong no-sells a kick, ends up taking three more, and the anklelock into a heel hook gets the submission for Richards conveniently right before TV time expires. Match was good. I might have been blown away if I had never seen them wrestle before.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Solid show this week, with a little less time-wasting than the first two. For a company that says it's all about wrestling, it does take them too long to actually get into the wrestling on these shows (this week, the first match didn't start until 15 minutes in). Hopefully they tweak the format a little bit and find the sweet spot.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
RoH Manhattan Mayhem IV 3/19/11
Not an iPPV, but an important show nonetheless.
-Hosts are Dave Prazak & Kevin Kelly
-Match 1: Michael Elgin & Mike Mondo (w/Truth Martini) VS Kyle O'Reilly & Adam Cole
-Martini cuts a lengthy pre-match promo. Mondo needs to impress tonight to earn a spot in the House of Truth. Elgin overpowers both opponents, so they respond with a double hiptoss and a double dropkick. Cole hits Mondo with a basement dropkick for two. Mondo is tied to the Tree of Woe, and takes a double basement dropkick for two. O'Reilly boots Mondo off the apron and wants to try a missile dropkick off the apron, but he runs into a clothesline from Elgin.
Crowd chants "you can't wrestle" at Elgin, who responds by turning a tornado DDT from O'Reilly into an impressive tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Mondo locks in a rear chinlock on O'Reilly, so the crowd takes the opportunity to chant "Spirt Squad" at him. Cole gets in, and hits a leg lariat off the second rope on Mondo for two. Elgin hits Cole with a slingshot back elbow, setting up a diving headbut from Mondo for two.
Elgin takes superkicks from Cole and O'Reilly, before O'Reilly drops him with a discus lariat for two. Elgin gets O'Reilly on his back, then catches Cole in mid-air, then he delivers a fallaway slam/samoan drop combo, getting two on Cole. Cole & O'Reilly hit Mondo with a wheelbarrow code breaker/lungblower combo for two, then Cole finishes Mondo with a superkick and a German suplex. Really fun opener. Not a lot of psychology, but a fast pace and some innovative stuff.
-Martini gives Mondo the thumbs down, and Elgin lays Mondo out with a clothesline and spinning sitout powerbomb.
-Grizzly Redwood says he's going to chop down the Embassy.
-Match 2: Tommaso Ciampa (w/The Embassy) VS Grizzly Redwood
-I don't like Redwood's chances. Redwood lasts longer than I thought he would, controlling the first couple minutes with his speed, and side-headlocks. Grizzly hits a suicide dive, then plants a kiss on Princess Nia when she tries to hit him. Grizzly sends Ciampa into the barricade, but ends up taking a dropkick from Nia. Ciampa slowly works Redwood over. Ciampa exposes his knee, and hits a running knee to Redwood's face for two. Redwood fights back, and hits a sloppy hurricarana for two. Redwood tries another hurricarana, but gets caught with the Project Ciampa for the pin. Match was way too long and way too even, as Ciampa looks like he's getting a decent push, and Redwood is a tiny comedy character.
-Steve Corino saves Redwood from a beatdown, and says he was there for Redwood like he promised he would be, and asks Redwood if he will be there for Corino. Before Redwood can answer, Mike Bennett & Brutal Bob Evans enter. Bennett goes for the cheap heat, wearing a Red Sox shirt in New York City. Evans & Bennett get on Corino about his age. Bennett says tonight will be the night Corino falls off the wagon. Corino responds that NYC may hate him more than anywhere else in the world, but at least he's not from Boston. Corino says that facing Bennett would constitute falling off the wagon. Bennett says Corino will wrestle him tonight, if Bennett has to push Corino off the wagon. Corino fights with his emotions, and Bennett goads him into accepting the match.
-Match 3: Mike Bennett (w/Brutal Bob Evans) VS Steve Corino
-Match immediately spills outside, and they take turns going into the barricade. Corino actually looks like he's going to do a dive, but Bennett dropkicks Corino at the exact moment Corino sticks his head through the ropes. Corino wins a "boo-yay" exchange with an STO. Corino hits the Colby Shock (hammerlock DDT) for two. Corino hits the Eternal Dream (sliding clothesline) for two.
Corino locks in an abdominal stretch, and after giving it some thought...sticks his thumb in Bennett's ass. Bennett two Side Effect Rock Bottoms for two, and a third one finishes. Nothing particularly impressive from Bennett, but that's his whole gimmick. Corino was good here though.
Bennett and Evans attack Corino post-match, stopping to wait for someone to save Corino. Bennett finishes the beatdown with a piledriver.
-Match 4: The All Night Express VS The Briscoe Brothers
-ANX hit a springboard legdrop/big splash combo on Mark for two. Briscoes come back with a big boot/German suplex combo on King. Titus hits a Stinger Splash and big boot on Mark. King takes Jay outside, and Titus hits a really awkward dive. Please don't do that again, Rhett. Titus becomes the face-in-peril, and has a recent wound re-opened. Mark pulls Titus outside, and gives him a suplex on the floor. Jay hits a sliding boot on Titus for two.
Jay gets Titus in position for a top rope hurricarana, but stops to fuck Titus' face, and takes Snake Eyes, allowing Titus to make the tag. King drops both Briscoes with kicks, and hits a spinebuster on Jay for two. Titus gets back in, but gets dropped on his head b Mark, and Jay follows up with a lariat for two. ANX prevent the Doomsday Device, so Jay hits Titus with a Michinoku Driver for two. Briscoes get Titus in position for a springboard Doomsday Device, but Titus rolls up Jay for the pin.
Briscoes go after the ANX after the bell, tossing aside anyone who rushes out to stop them. Titus avoids a Jay Driller on the floor, and King hits a dive to turn the tide. Briscoes fight back, and hit the ANX with chairshots to end the fight. Match was unremarkable until the hot tag to King. King managed to get the crowd behind the ANX, and the match picked up from there, spilling over to the post-match antics.
-Match 5: TJ Perkins VS El Generico
-Lots of reversals early. Perkins figure 4's his legs around Generico's head. Generico almost gets a pin, so Perkins Skull Fucks him. Generico hits a Michinoku Driver for two. Generico hits a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Twice Perkins is able to avoid a Yakuza Kick, the second time he slickly uses that to maneuver Generico into a sitout powerbomb for two. Perkins locks in a single leg crab with the other leg locked, but Generico reaches the ropes.
Generico hits a Yakuza Kick. Perkins comes back with a GTS/Death from Above mix, dropping Generico off Perkins' shoulders, as Perkins falls back and kicks Generico in the head. Generico goes outside. Perkins tries a suicide dive, but Generico catches him, and hits a brainbuster on the ring apron for the win. Slick finish, but these Perkins matches feel like exhibitions than anything competetive.
-Match 6: Ring of Honor World Tag Team Champions The Kings of Wrestling (w/Shane Hagadorn & Sara Del Ray) VS The Latin American Xchange (Homicide & Hernandez)
-Nothing is settled in the first few minutes. CC hits an impressive delayed vertical suplex on Hernandez, which Hernandez no-sells. Hernandez holds CC up in a suplex for almost a full minute before dropping down. Hero makes a blind tag, and suplexes Homicide onto CC's knees. CC hits a gorilla press hot shot on Homicide, then poses. CC goes for a diving European uppercut, but Homicide catches him with an Ace Crusher.
Hernandez gets in, and tosses both KoW around, getting a two count on Claudio. Claudio gets the UFO on Hernandez for two. KoW hits a superplex/moonsault combo on Hernandez for two. Homicide goes for the Three Amigos on CC, but Hero breaks up the third. Hernandez goes for the Border Toss on CC, but Hero breaks it up with a roaring elbow. Hernandez border tosses Homicide over the top and out onto the KoW and Hagadorn, then follows up with a dive on Hero.
LAX hit a powerbomb/big splash combo on Hero for two. Del Ray stops Homicide from hitting a lariat. Hero puts on a loaded elbow pad, but Homicide avoids it and strips it off Hero. Homicide goes for the Cop Killer on Hero, but Hero gets out of it, and the KoW hit a kick combination for two. CC finishes Homicide with a running European uppercut shortly after that. Excellent tag match. Wasn't formula, wasn't a bunch of finishers. It was just a fast-paced showing of the best both teams have.
-Backstage, Homicide is distressed about the loss as well as some other recent losses. Julius Smokes enters to pump Homicide back up.
-Match 7-Pure Wrestling Rules: Ring of Honor Television Champion Christopher Daniels VS Davey Richards
-Pure rules refresher: Each man gets three ropes breaks, after that, they cannot earn a break by using the ropes, and their opponent can use the ropes when applying a pin or submission. No closed fists to the face. First is a warning, second is a lost rope break. If the wrestler has no rope breaks, he will be DQ'd.
Split crowd at the start. Davey seems to have more support. Daniels doesn't give Davey a clean break, drawing some jeers. Daniels comes off the top with a stomp on Davey's chest for two. Daniels locks in a triangle choke around the ropes, and then talks the ref into charging a rope break to Richards. Daniels figure 4s his legs around Davey's head, forcing Davey to use his second rope break. Daniels gets sent outside, and Davey hits a springboard moonsault.
Richards blocks a hurricarana with a powerbomb, and locks in a Texas Cloverleaf, which causes Daniels to use his first rope break. After a series of counters, Davey slaps on an anklelock, forcing Daniels to use his second rope break. They trade kicks (Richards) and palm strikes (Daniels). Richards hits the Alarm Clock, but Daniels comes back with an STO, and locks in the Koji Clutch. Davey counters that into an anklelock. Daniels gets the Koji Clutch again, and Richards has to use his last rope break.
Richards avoids the Arabian Press to the outside, and hits a baseball slide, off which Daniels tumbles over the barricade. Richards drapes Daniels over the barricade, and hits a double stomp from the top. That gets two, but really should be a finish. Richards hits a superplex, and holds on to hit a Falcon Arrow and lock in a cross-armbreaker, which causes Daniels to use his last rope break.
Out on the apron, Richards hits about 20 kicks to Daniels' chest. Richards gets Daniels up on his shoulders, but Daniels counters into a standing Koji Clutch, which appears to put Richards out. Daniels wants a count out, but Richards gets in at 11. Richards avoids the BME. Daniels tries to use his legs and the ropes to choke Richards out. Richards counters with an anklelock in the ropes, but Daniels uses a headscissors to dump Richards over the top. They fight on the top turnbuckle. Daniels locks in a guillotine choke, but Richards counters into a Texas Cloverleaf with Daniels hanging upside down.
Richards hits a double stomp to the back. Richards goes for a shooting star press, and somehow manages to land on the ropes. Daniels goes for Angel's Wings, but Richards counters into a jackknife rollup for the pin. Action was good, but the psychology was all over the place.
-Daniels reluctantly shakes Richards' hand.
-Match 8: Ring of Honor World Championship: Roderick Strong [c] (w/Truth Martini) VS Eddie Edwards
-Strong sends Martini to the back. Neither man has an advantage for the first few minutes. Edwards opens Strong's chest open with chops. Elbow exchange proves nothing. Strong locks in a Crippler Crossface. Edwards hits a modified F-5 for two. Edwards ties Strong to the Tree of Woe, and runs from the entrance to the ring, jumping onto the apron with a kick to Strong's shoulder.
Strong slams Edwards back-first onto the corner of the ring apron. Strong slowly works Edwards over. Edwards blocks a backbreaker and hits an enziguiri, but Strong counters the backpack stunner, and slaps on the Stronghold. Strong goes for a Gibson Driver on the apron, but Edwards counters into a hurricarana. Edwards hits a dive, which smashes Strong into the barricade and busts Strong open.
Edwards hits a flying knee for two. Edwards hits an inverted bodyslam for two. Strong hits a roaring elbow and a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Strong hits a turnbuckle backbreaker for two. They chop the shit out of each other. When it looks like Edwards is going to win the exchange, Strong hits a high knee. Strong hits a high knee, but runs into a lariat for two. They fight on the top turnbuckle. Edwards sends Strong down, and hits a double stomp off the second rope. Edwards hits a powerbomb for two, and locks in the Achillies Lock.
Truth Martini causes a distraction, allowing Strong to hit a superkick, Death From Above, and the Sick Kick for two. Strong spits on Edwards, hits a superkick, and a suplex into a backbreaker for two. Edwards counters the Stronghold into the Achillies Lock. Strong kicks his way out, but ends up getting rolled up and pinned to give Edwards the title. Crowd EXPLODES for that. Started off really slow, but turned into a HELL of match before it was over. Edwards becomes the first Triple Crown winner in RoH, and the first to dethrone a defending champion on his first opportunity.
-Davey Richards teases being pissed that his partner won the title before he did, but ends up giving Edwards a hug.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Pretty good show, with only one match I could say that entered "bad" territory, with a couple others being pretty bland. The dream tag team match and the main event are well worth going out of your way to see, and some will like the pure match more than I did.
-Hosts are Dave Prazak & Kevin Kelly
-Match 1: Michael Elgin & Mike Mondo (w/Truth Martini) VS Kyle O'Reilly & Adam Cole
-Martini cuts a lengthy pre-match promo. Mondo needs to impress tonight to earn a spot in the House of Truth. Elgin overpowers both opponents, so they respond with a double hiptoss and a double dropkick. Cole hits Mondo with a basement dropkick for two. Mondo is tied to the Tree of Woe, and takes a double basement dropkick for two. O'Reilly boots Mondo off the apron and wants to try a missile dropkick off the apron, but he runs into a clothesline from Elgin.
Crowd chants "you can't wrestle" at Elgin, who responds by turning a tornado DDT from O'Reilly into an impressive tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Mondo locks in a rear chinlock on O'Reilly, so the crowd takes the opportunity to chant "Spirt Squad" at him. Cole gets in, and hits a leg lariat off the second rope on Mondo for two. Elgin hits Cole with a slingshot back elbow, setting up a diving headbut from Mondo for two.
Elgin takes superkicks from Cole and O'Reilly, before O'Reilly drops him with a discus lariat for two. Elgin gets O'Reilly on his back, then catches Cole in mid-air, then he delivers a fallaway slam/samoan drop combo, getting two on Cole. Cole & O'Reilly hit Mondo with a wheelbarrow code breaker/lungblower combo for two, then Cole finishes Mondo with a superkick and a German suplex. Really fun opener. Not a lot of psychology, but a fast pace and some innovative stuff.
-Martini gives Mondo the thumbs down, and Elgin lays Mondo out with a clothesline and spinning sitout powerbomb.
-Grizzly Redwood says he's going to chop down the Embassy.
-Match 2: Tommaso Ciampa (w/The Embassy) VS Grizzly Redwood
-I don't like Redwood's chances. Redwood lasts longer than I thought he would, controlling the first couple minutes with his speed, and side-headlocks. Grizzly hits a suicide dive, then plants a kiss on Princess Nia when she tries to hit him. Grizzly sends Ciampa into the barricade, but ends up taking a dropkick from Nia. Ciampa slowly works Redwood over. Ciampa exposes his knee, and hits a running knee to Redwood's face for two. Redwood fights back, and hits a sloppy hurricarana for two. Redwood tries another hurricarana, but gets caught with the Project Ciampa for the pin. Match was way too long and way too even, as Ciampa looks like he's getting a decent push, and Redwood is a tiny comedy character.
-Steve Corino saves Redwood from a beatdown, and says he was there for Redwood like he promised he would be, and asks Redwood if he will be there for Corino. Before Redwood can answer, Mike Bennett & Brutal Bob Evans enter. Bennett goes for the cheap heat, wearing a Red Sox shirt in New York City. Evans & Bennett get on Corino about his age. Bennett says tonight will be the night Corino falls off the wagon. Corino responds that NYC may hate him more than anywhere else in the world, but at least he's not from Boston. Corino says that facing Bennett would constitute falling off the wagon. Bennett says Corino will wrestle him tonight, if Bennett has to push Corino off the wagon. Corino fights with his emotions, and Bennett goads him into accepting the match.
-Match 3: Mike Bennett (w/Brutal Bob Evans) VS Steve Corino
-Match immediately spills outside, and they take turns going into the barricade. Corino actually looks like he's going to do a dive, but Bennett dropkicks Corino at the exact moment Corino sticks his head through the ropes. Corino wins a "boo-yay" exchange with an STO. Corino hits the Colby Shock (hammerlock DDT) for two. Corino hits the Eternal Dream (sliding clothesline) for two.
Corino locks in an abdominal stretch, and after giving it some thought...sticks his thumb in Bennett's ass. Bennett two Side Effect Rock Bottoms for two, and a third one finishes. Nothing particularly impressive from Bennett, but that's his whole gimmick. Corino was good here though.
Bennett and Evans attack Corino post-match, stopping to wait for someone to save Corino. Bennett finishes the beatdown with a piledriver.
-Match 4: The All Night Express VS The Briscoe Brothers
-ANX hit a springboard legdrop/big splash combo on Mark for two. Briscoes come back with a big boot/German suplex combo on King. Titus hits a Stinger Splash and big boot on Mark. King takes Jay outside, and Titus hits a really awkward dive. Please don't do that again, Rhett. Titus becomes the face-in-peril, and has a recent wound re-opened. Mark pulls Titus outside, and gives him a suplex on the floor. Jay hits a sliding boot on Titus for two.
Jay gets Titus in position for a top rope hurricarana, but stops to fuck Titus' face, and takes Snake Eyes, allowing Titus to make the tag. King drops both Briscoes with kicks, and hits a spinebuster on Jay for two. Titus gets back in, but gets dropped on his head b Mark, and Jay follows up with a lariat for two. ANX prevent the Doomsday Device, so Jay hits Titus with a Michinoku Driver for two. Briscoes get Titus in position for a springboard Doomsday Device, but Titus rolls up Jay for the pin.
Briscoes go after the ANX after the bell, tossing aside anyone who rushes out to stop them. Titus avoids a Jay Driller on the floor, and King hits a dive to turn the tide. Briscoes fight back, and hit the ANX with chairshots to end the fight. Match was unremarkable until the hot tag to King. King managed to get the crowd behind the ANX, and the match picked up from there, spilling over to the post-match antics.
-Match 5: TJ Perkins VS El Generico
-Lots of reversals early. Perkins figure 4's his legs around Generico's head. Generico almost gets a pin, so Perkins Skull Fucks him. Generico hits a Michinoku Driver for two. Generico hits a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Twice Perkins is able to avoid a Yakuza Kick, the second time he slickly uses that to maneuver Generico into a sitout powerbomb for two. Perkins locks in a single leg crab with the other leg locked, but Generico reaches the ropes.
Generico hits a Yakuza Kick. Perkins comes back with a GTS/Death from Above mix, dropping Generico off Perkins' shoulders, as Perkins falls back and kicks Generico in the head. Generico goes outside. Perkins tries a suicide dive, but Generico catches him, and hits a brainbuster on the ring apron for the win. Slick finish, but these Perkins matches feel like exhibitions than anything competetive.
-Match 6: Ring of Honor World Tag Team Champions The Kings of Wrestling (w/Shane Hagadorn & Sara Del Ray) VS The Latin American Xchange (Homicide & Hernandez)
-Nothing is settled in the first few minutes. CC hits an impressive delayed vertical suplex on Hernandez, which Hernandez no-sells. Hernandez holds CC up in a suplex for almost a full minute before dropping down. Hero makes a blind tag, and suplexes Homicide onto CC's knees. CC hits a gorilla press hot shot on Homicide, then poses. CC goes for a diving European uppercut, but Homicide catches him with an Ace Crusher.
Hernandez gets in, and tosses both KoW around, getting a two count on Claudio. Claudio gets the UFO on Hernandez for two. KoW hits a superplex/moonsault combo on Hernandez for two. Homicide goes for the Three Amigos on CC, but Hero breaks up the third. Hernandez goes for the Border Toss on CC, but Hero breaks it up with a roaring elbow. Hernandez border tosses Homicide over the top and out onto the KoW and Hagadorn, then follows up with a dive on Hero.
LAX hit a powerbomb/big splash combo on Hero for two. Del Ray stops Homicide from hitting a lariat. Hero puts on a loaded elbow pad, but Homicide avoids it and strips it off Hero. Homicide goes for the Cop Killer on Hero, but Hero gets out of it, and the KoW hit a kick combination for two. CC finishes Homicide with a running European uppercut shortly after that. Excellent tag match. Wasn't formula, wasn't a bunch of finishers. It was just a fast-paced showing of the best both teams have.
-Backstage, Homicide is distressed about the loss as well as some other recent losses. Julius Smokes enters to pump Homicide back up.
-Match 7-Pure Wrestling Rules: Ring of Honor Television Champion Christopher Daniels VS Davey Richards
-Pure rules refresher: Each man gets three ropes breaks, after that, they cannot earn a break by using the ropes, and their opponent can use the ropes when applying a pin or submission. No closed fists to the face. First is a warning, second is a lost rope break. If the wrestler has no rope breaks, he will be DQ'd.
Split crowd at the start. Davey seems to have more support. Daniels doesn't give Davey a clean break, drawing some jeers. Daniels comes off the top with a stomp on Davey's chest for two. Daniels locks in a triangle choke around the ropes, and then talks the ref into charging a rope break to Richards. Daniels figure 4s his legs around Davey's head, forcing Davey to use his second rope break. Daniels gets sent outside, and Davey hits a springboard moonsault.
Richards blocks a hurricarana with a powerbomb, and locks in a Texas Cloverleaf, which causes Daniels to use his first rope break. After a series of counters, Davey slaps on an anklelock, forcing Daniels to use his second rope break. They trade kicks (Richards) and palm strikes (Daniels). Richards hits the Alarm Clock, but Daniels comes back with an STO, and locks in the Koji Clutch. Davey counters that into an anklelock. Daniels gets the Koji Clutch again, and Richards has to use his last rope break.
Richards avoids the Arabian Press to the outside, and hits a baseball slide, off which Daniels tumbles over the barricade. Richards drapes Daniels over the barricade, and hits a double stomp from the top. That gets two, but really should be a finish. Richards hits a superplex, and holds on to hit a Falcon Arrow and lock in a cross-armbreaker, which causes Daniels to use his last rope break.
Out on the apron, Richards hits about 20 kicks to Daniels' chest. Richards gets Daniels up on his shoulders, but Daniels counters into a standing Koji Clutch, which appears to put Richards out. Daniels wants a count out, but Richards gets in at 11. Richards avoids the BME. Daniels tries to use his legs and the ropes to choke Richards out. Richards counters with an anklelock in the ropes, but Daniels uses a headscissors to dump Richards over the top. They fight on the top turnbuckle. Daniels locks in a guillotine choke, but Richards counters into a Texas Cloverleaf with Daniels hanging upside down.
Richards hits a double stomp to the back. Richards goes for a shooting star press, and somehow manages to land on the ropes. Daniels goes for Angel's Wings, but Richards counters into a jackknife rollup for the pin. Action was good, but the psychology was all over the place.
-Daniels reluctantly shakes Richards' hand.
-Match 8: Ring of Honor World Championship: Roderick Strong [c] (w/Truth Martini) VS Eddie Edwards
-Strong sends Martini to the back. Neither man has an advantage for the first few minutes. Edwards opens Strong's chest open with chops. Elbow exchange proves nothing. Strong locks in a Crippler Crossface. Edwards hits a modified F-5 for two. Edwards ties Strong to the Tree of Woe, and runs from the entrance to the ring, jumping onto the apron with a kick to Strong's shoulder.
Strong slams Edwards back-first onto the corner of the ring apron. Strong slowly works Edwards over. Edwards blocks a backbreaker and hits an enziguiri, but Strong counters the backpack stunner, and slaps on the Stronghold. Strong goes for a Gibson Driver on the apron, but Edwards counters into a hurricarana. Edwards hits a dive, which smashes Strong into the barricade and busts Strong open.
Edwards hits a flying knee for two. Edwards hits an inverted bodyslam for two. Strong hits a roaring elbow and a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Strong hits a turnbuckle backbreaker for two. They chop the shit out of each other. When it looks like Edwards is going to win the exchange, Strong hits a high knee. Strong hits a high knee, but runs into a lariat for two. They fight on the top turnbuckle. Edwards sends Strong down, and hits a double stomp off the second rope. Edwards hits a powerbomb for two, and locks in the Achillies Lock.
Truth Martini causes a distraction, allowing Strong to hit a superkick, Death From Above, and the Sick Kick for two. Strong spits on Edwards, hits a superkick, and a suplex into a backbreaker for two. Edwards counters the Stronghold into the Achillies Lock. Strong kicks his way out, but ends up getting rolled up and pinned to give Edwards the title. Crowd EXPLODES for that. Started off really slow, but turned into a HELL of match before it was over. Edwards becomes the first Triple Crown winner in RoH, and the first to dethrone a defending champion on his first opportunity.
-Davey Richards teases being pissed that his partner won the title before he did, but ends up giving Edwards a hug.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Pretty good show, with only one match I could say that entered "bad" territory, with a couple others being pretty bland. The dream tag team match and the main event are well worth going out of your way to see, and some will like the pure match more than I did.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
EWR Diary Week 3: 10/17/11-10/23/11:
-WWE has released Rosa Mendes (Milena Roucka). We wish her the best in her future endeavors.
(NOTE: A confrontation between John Cena & Alberto Del Rio is hyped throughout the show.)
-Triple H opens the show. He says that last week, he was attacked by The Miz & R-Truth. HHH says that as much as he wants to kill them, they are still fired. This brings out CM Punk. Punk wants to kill them too for costing him the WWE Championship last week. Punk proposes that he and HHH put aside their differences for one night, and team up at Vengeance to face the Miz and R-Truth. HHH thinks about it. He says it's a good idea, but he knows Miz and Truth won't accept the match without getting something out of it, so he says that if Miz and Truth accept, if they win the match, then they will be rehired. Punk proposes it be a cage match so they can't run. HHH then officially issues the challenge: CM Punk & HHH VS Awesome Truth in a Cage match, and if Awesome Truth win, they're re-hired.
-Match 1: Justin Gabriel VS Drew McIntyre
-Gabriel wins a somewhat competitive match clean with the 450 splash. He is attacked by Christian after the win, and laid out with the Killswitch. (***1/2)
-HHH is in his office, when David Otunga & Michael McGuillicutty enter. Otunga says he is still weighing his options after HHH attempted to make him compete last week with a head injury. McGuillicutty says he wants something done after John Cena brutalized him last week. HHH asks Otunga if he's ok, then when Otunga says yes, HHH makes Otunga & McGuillicutty VS John Cena & Randy Orton before kicking the former tag champions out of his office.
-Match 2: Divas Champion Kelly Kelly & Eve VS The Divas of Doom
-Match quickly breaks down as a pier-6 brawl erupts. No one leaves the ring, so the ref DQ's both teams. (**)
-As the teams are separated, The Divas of Doom challenge Kelly & Eve to a No-DQ match at Vengeance. Their challenge is accepted.
-Match 3: WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio VS Zack Ryder
-Ryder gives it his best shot, and gets a couple hope spots, but falls victim to the cross-armbreaker. ADR keeps the hold on for a few seconds after the bell, because he can. (***3/4)
-Vickie Guerrero is backstage with United States Champion Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger. The trio say that at Vengeance they will prove they are the better team when they win the tag team championship from Air Boom, and tonight they will prove they are better individually, when Ziggler faces Bourne and Swagger faces Kingston in a special challenge series.
-Match 4: John Cena & Randy Orton VS David Otunga & Michael McGuillicutty
-Quick squash, as you would expect. Otunga walked out when McGuillicutty tried to make a tag. Cena hit the AA, and Orton finishes with the RKO. (***)
-MAIN EVENT: Special Challenge Series Match 1: United States Champion Dolph Ziggler VS WWE Tag Team Champion Evan Bourne
-Bourne had Ziggler in position for Air Bourne, but Vickie knocked him off the top rope, and Ziggler finished with the Zig Zag. (**3/4)
-Special Challenge Series Match 2: Jack Swagger VS WWE Tag Team Champion Kofi Kingston
-Vickie was ejected from ringside after interfering in this match. The ref was bumped. Kofi hit Trouble in Paradise, but Ziggler snuck in and hit the Zig Zag on Kofi, allowing Swagger to follow up with the gutwrench powerbomb for the win. (**3/4)
-John Cena & WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio had their confrontation. ADR says that he has fulfilled his destiny by becoming a two-time WWE Champion, and proven that ADR is the greatest of the great. Cena responds that the only thing ADR has proven is that he can get lucky and win the title. Cena says ADR knows he can't beat Cena, and that Vengeance will be a replay of Night of Champions. The two almost come to blows, but ADR backs away as the show ends.
-Match 1: Randy Orton VS Tyson Kidd
-Orton wins a quick squash with the RKO. As he celebrates, he is attacked by Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes. Rhodes lays Orton out with a belt shot and the Cross Rhodes. Cody yells at Orton, repatedly asking if Orton wants to fight him now. (**1/4)
-As Cody Rhodes walks around backstage, he bumps into Sheamus. Sheamus gives Cody sarcastic applause for what he did to Orton. Rhodes takes offense, and says that Sheamus wouldn't be able to beat him for the IC title, and he won't beat Mark Henry for the World Heavyweight title at Vengeance. Sheamus takes this as a challenge, and the two agree to a title match later tonight.
-Match 2: Christian VS Yoshi Tatsu
-Christian wins another short match with the Killswitch. After the bell, Justin Gabriel runs out to attack Christian. (**1/4)
-As Christian runs away from the ring, Justin Gabriel gets on the microphone, and announces that he will be facing Christian at Vengeance.
-Match 3-Handicap Match: World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry VS The Usos
-The Usos throw everything they have at Henry, but end up getting destroyed. Henry hits both with the World's Strongest Slam, then stacks one on top of the other so he can pin them both. (*)
-Henry gets on the mic, and says Sheamus better win the IC title tonight if he wants to leave Vengeance with some gold, because he's not getting the World Heavyweight Championship. Henry says he just destroyed two men, so what chance does one man have?
-Match 4: Ezekial Jackson VS Evil Sin Cara
-Sin Cara gains the advantage by cheating, but then Good Sin Cara distracts him, allowing Jackson to lock in the Torture Rack for the submission. Good Sin Cara adds a couple splashes after the match. (*3/4)
-Daniel Bryan comes out with William Regal. Bryan says that Regal was right in that he was holding back in his matches, not wanting to really risk anything before WrestleMania. Bryan says he knows the WWE Universe does not want to see a loser in the main event at WrestleMania, and that because of his recent losses, that's how he is being seen. Bryan says to correct that, for every match he is in until WrestleMania, Bryan will be putting up his Money in the Bank briefcase. If Bryan is pinned or submits, he will hand the contract over to whoever does it. This brings out Wade Barrett. Barrett points out that he beat Bryan last week, and that he also beat Bryan at SummerSlam. Barrett says he should be the first man to challenge Bryan for the Money in the Bank briefcase. Bryan agrees, and the two set up a match for Vengeance.
-MAIN EVENT: Intercontinental Championship: Cody Rhodes [c] VS Sheamus
-Long main event. Sheamus looks to be in position to win the title, when Mark Henry interferes, drawing a DQ. The heels beat Sheamus down, until Randy Orton rushes out to even the odds. Sheamus knocks Henry out of the ring, before hitting Rhodes with an RKO. The faces stand triumphant as the show ends. (***1/4)
-Match 1: Justin Gabriel VS Christian
-Excellent opener. Gabriel wins clean with the 450 splash. (****)
-Match 2 for the WWE Tag Team Championship: Air Boom [c] VS Zig Swag
-Swagger accidentally runs into Ziggler, knocking Ziggler outside the ring. Kingston hits Trouble in Paradise, and Bourne follows up with the Shooting Star Press for the win. Zig Swag argue after the loss. (***1/4)
-Match 3 for the Money in the Bank briefcase: Daniel Bryan VS Wade Barrett
-Bryan wins clean with the Labell Lock. (***)
-Match 4 for the Intercontinental Championship: Cody Rhodes [c] VS Randy Orton
-Cody kept using the facemask as a weapon, REALLY pissing Orton off. Orton finally had enough, removed the mask, and waffled Cody, drawing a DQ. Orton dropped Cody with an RKO after the bell. (***1/2)
-Match 5 for the World Heavyweight Championship: Mark Henry [c] VS Sheamus
-The ref gets bumped. Henry drills Sheamus with the title belt, and finishes with the World's Strongest Slam. (**)
-Match 6 Cage Match-If Awesome Truth win, they are rehired: Triple H & CM Punk VS Awesome Truth
-Both Punk and Truth escaped the cage, leaving Miz with HHH. As Punk and Truth fought on the outside of the ring, HHH crawled towards the door to escape. Just when he get there, Alberto Del Rio bum-rushed the ring and slammed the door on HHH's head, allowing Miz to get the pin. (**3/4)
-Match 7 No DQ: Divas Champion Kelly Kelly & Eve VS The Divas of Doom
-Beth and Natalya took Eve out with chairshots, then Beth finished Kelly with the Glam Slam on a chair. (**)
-MAIN EVENT for the WWE Championship: Alberto Del Rio [c] VS John Cena
-Cena was rolling when Awesome Truth came out to interfere. CM Punk & HHH came out to brawl with them. In the ensuing chaos, Kevin Nash snuck into the ring, and delivered a massive Jackknife powerbomb on Cena, allowing ADR to retain. (**3/4)
Raw 10/17/11:
(NOTE: A confrontation between John Cena & Alberto Del Rio is hyped throughout the show.)
-Triple H opens the show. He says that last week, he was attacked by The Miz & R-Truth. HHH says that as much as he wants to kill them, they are still fired. This brings out CM Punk. Punk wants to kill them too for costing him the WWE Championship last week. Punk proposes that he and HHH put aside their differences for one night, and team up at Vengeance to face the Miz and R-Truth. HHH thinks about it. He says it's a good idea, but he knows Miz and Truth won't accept the match without getting something out of it, so he says that if Miz and Truth accept, if they win the match, then they will be rehired. Punk proposes it be a cage match so they can't run. HHH then officially issues the challenge: CM Punk & HHH VS Awesome Truth in a Cage match, and if Awesome Truth win, they're re-hired.
-Match 1: Justin Gabriel VS Drew McIntyre
-Gabriel wins a somewhat competitive match clean with the 450 splash. He is attacked by Christian after the win, and laid out with the Killswitch. (***1/2)
-HHH is in his office, when David Otunga & Michael McGuillicutty enter. Otunga says he is still weighing his options after HHH attempted to make him compete last week with a head injury. McGuillicutty says he wants something done after John Cena brutalized him last week. HHH asks Otunga if he's ok, then when Otunga says yes, HHH makes Otunga & McGuillicutty VS John Cena & Randy Orton before kicking the former tag champions out of his office.
-Match 2: Divas Champion Kelly Kelly & Eve VS The Divas of Doom
-Match quickly breaks down as a pier-6 brawl erupts. No one leaves the ring, so the ref DQ's both teams. (**)
-As the teams are separated, The Divas of Doom challenge Kelly & Eve to a No-DQ match at Vengeance. Their challenge is accepted.
-Match 3: WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio VS Zack Ryder
-Ryder gives it his best shot, and gets a couple hope spots, but falls victim to the cross-armbreaker. ADR keeps the hold on for a few seconds after the bell, because he can. (***3/4)
-Vickie Guerrero is backstage with United States Champion Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger. The trio say that at Vengeance they will prove they are the better team when they win the tag team championship from Air Boom, and tonight they will prove they are better individually, when Ziggler faces Bourne and Swagger faces Kingston in a special challenge series.
-Match 4: John Cena & Randy Orton VS David Otunga & Michael McGuillicutty
-Quick squash, as you would expect. Otunga walked out when McGuillicutty tried to make a tag. Cena hit the AA, and Orton finishes with the RKO. (***)
-MAIN EVENT: Special Challenge Series Match 1: United States Champion Dolph Ziggler VS WWE Tag Team Champion Evan Bourne
-Bourne had Ziggler in position for Air Bourne, but Vickie knocked him off the top rope, and Ziggler finished with the Zig Zag. (**3/4)
-Special Challenge Series Match 2: Jack Swagger VS WWE Tag Team Champion Kofi Kingston
-Vickie was ejected from ringside after interfering in this match. The ref was bumped. Kofi hit Trouble in Paradise, but Ziggler snuck in and hit the Zig Zag on Kofi, allowing Swagger to follow up with the gutwrench powerbomb for the win. (**3/4)
-John Cena & WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio had their confrontation. ADR says that he has fulfilled his destiny by becoming a two-time WWE Champion, and proven that ADR is the greatest of the great. Cena responds that the only thing ADR has proven is that he can get lucky and win the title. Cena says ADR knows he can't beat Cena, and that Vengeance will be a replay of Night of Champions. The two almost come to blows, but ADR backs away as the show ends.
Smackdown 10/21/11:
-Match 1: Randy Orton VS Tyson Kidd
-Orton wins a quick squash with the RKO. As he celebrates, he is attacked by Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes. Rhodes lays Orton out with a belt shot and the Cross Rhodes. Cody yells at Orton, repatedly asking if Orton wants to fight him now. (**1/4)
-As Cody Rhodes walks around backstage, he bumps into Sheamus. Sheamus gives Cody sarcastic applause for what he did to Orton. Rhodes takes offense, and says that Sheamus wouldn't be able to beat him for the IC title, and he won't beat Mark Henry for the World Heavyweight title at Vengeance. Sheamus takes this as a challenge, and the two agree to a title match later tonight.
-Match 2: Christian VS Yoshi Tatsu
-Christian wins another short match with the Killswitch. After the bell, Justin Gabriel runs out to attack Christian. (**1/4)
-As Christian runs away from the ring, Justin Gabriel gets on the microphone, and announces that he will be facing Christian at Vengeance.
-Match 3-Handicap Match: World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry VS The Usos
-The Usos throw everything they have at Henry, but end up getting destroyed. Henry hits both with the World's Strongest Slam, then stacks one on top of the other so he can pin them both. (*)
-Henry gets on the mic, and says Sheamus better win the IC title tonight if he wants to leave Vengeance with some gold, because he's not getting the World Heavyweight Championship. Henry says he just destroyed two men, so what chance does one man have?
-Match 4: Ezekial Jackson VS Evil Sin Cara
-Sin Cara gains the advantage by cheating, but then Good Sin Cara distracts him, allowing Jackson to lock in the Torture Rack for the submission. Good Sin Cara adds a couple splashes after the match. (*3/4)
-Daniel Bryan comes out with William Regal. Bryan says that Regal was right in that he was holding back in his matches, not wanting to really risk anything before WrestleMania. Bryan says he knows the WWE Universe does not want to see a loser in the main event at WrestleMania, and that because of his recent losses, that's how he is being seen. Bryan says to correct that, for every match he is in until WrestleMania, Bryan will be putting up his Money in the Bank briefcase. If Bryan is pinned or submits, he will hand the contract over to whoever does it. This brings out Wade Barrett. Barrett points out that he beat Bryan last week, and that he also beat Bryan at SummerSlam. Barrett says he should be the first man to challenge Bryan for the Money in the Bank briefcase. Bryan agrees, and the two set up a match for Vengeance.
-MAIN EVENT: Intercontinental Championship: Cody Rhodes [c] VS Sheamus
-Long main event. Sheamus looks to be in position to win the title, when Mark Henry interferes, drawing a DQ. The heels beat Sheamus down, until Randy Orton rushes out to even the odds. Sheamus knocks Henry out of the ring, before hitting Rhodes with an RKO. The faces stand triumphant as the show ends. (***1/4)
Vengeance 10/23/11:
-Match 1: Justin Gabriel VS Christian
-Excellent opener. Gabriel wins clean with the 450 splash. (****)
-Match 2 for the WWE Tag Team Championship: Air Boom [c] VS Zig Swag
-Swagger accidentally runs into Ziggler, knocking Ziggler outside the ring. Kingston hits Trouble in Paradise, and Bourne follows up with the Shooting Star Press for the win. Zig Swag argue after the loss. (***1/4)
-Match 3 for the Money in the Bank briefcase: Daniel Bryan VS Wade Barrett
-Bryan wins clean with the Labell Lock. (***)
-Match 4 for the Intercontinental Championship: Cody Rhodes [c] VS Randy Orton
-Cody kept using the facemask as a weapon, REALLY pissing Orton off. Orton finally had enough, removed the mask, and waffled Cody, drawing a DQ. Orton dropped Cody with an RKO after the bell. (***1/2)
-Match 5 for the World Heavyweight Championship: Mark Henry [c] VS Sheamus
-The ref gets bumped. Henry drills Sheamus with the title belt, and finishes with the World's Strongest Slam. (**)
-Match 6 Cage Match-If Awesome Truth win, they are rehired: Triple H & CM Punk VS Awesome Truth
-Both Punk and Truth escaped the cage, leaving Miz with HHH. As Punk and Truth fought on the outside of the ring, HHH crawled towards the door to escape. Just when he get there, Alberto Del Rio bum-rushed the ring and slammed the door on HHH's head, allowing Miz to get the pin. (**3/4)
-Match 7 No DQ: Divas Champion Kelly Kelly & Eve VS The Divas of Doom
-Beth and Natalya took Eve out with chairshots, then Beth finished Kelly with the Glam Slam on a chair. (**)
-MAIN EVENT for the WWE Championship: Alberto Del Rio [c] VS John Cena
-Cena was rolling when Awesome Truth came out to interfere. CM Punk & HHH came out to brawl with them. In the ensuing chaos, Kevin Nash snuck into the ring, and delivered a massive Jackknife powerbomb on Cena, allowing ADR to retain. (**3/4)
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
EWR Diary: Present Day WWE Week 2: 10/10/11-10/16/11
Raw 10/10/11:
-The show opens with WWE COO Triple H coming out to the ring. HHH announces that in tonight's WWE Championship match between Alberto Del Rio & CM Punk, EVERYONE, including Ricardo Rodriguez is banned from ringside. Triple H also says that even though there are plenty of people who want to kill The Miz & R-Truth, he will not reward them by letting them back into WWE. Before HHH can leave, United States Champion Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, & Vickie Guerrero come out. Ziggler and Swagger want another WWE Tag Team Championship Match. HHH comes up with a solution, a Fatal 4 Way between Ziggler, Swagger, Evan Bourne, and Kofi Kingston. If either Ziggler or Swagger beat Bourne or Kingston, then their team gets another tag team title match. If Swagger loses the fall, then they don't get another shot and if Ziggler loses the fall, then whomever beats him becomes the new United States Champion, and that includes Swagger. HHH leaves a happy Swagger and a suspicious Ziggler.
-Alex Riley comes out for a match. His scheduled opponent David Otunga comes out in street clothes. Otunga gets on the mic and bashes Triple H, saying that HHH knows Otunga suffered a head injury against John Morrison last week, and that trying to force him to compete again this week is creating an unsafe work environment, and that Otunga is contemplating legal action. Otunga says he has a replacement for tonight's match...
-Match 1: Alex Riley VS Wade Barrett
-Barrett wins a back-and-forth match. Barrett blocks the Impaler DDT, hits a Black Hole Slam, and finishes with Wasteland. (**1/4)
-John Cena drags Michael McGuillicutty down to the ring. Cena gets on the mic, and says that McGuillicutty tried to attack Cena in the back. Cena gets McGuillicutty to admit that Alberto Del Rio paid him to attack Cena. Cena gets mad, and asks for a referee to come down so he and McGuillicutty can settle this.
-Match 2: John Cena VS Michael McGuillicutty
-Cena wins a good squash, completely demolishing poor McGuillicutty. He finishes with the AA and STF. (***3/4)
-After the match, Cena kicks McGuillicutty out of the ring. Cena goes on a rant against Alberto Del Rio, calling him a coward and other bad (but PG-appropriate) names. Cena says he hopes Punk wins the title tonight so they can have another great match at Vengeance, but then after that, Cena is going after Del Rio.
-Josh Matthews is backstage with Kelly Kelly & Eve. Just as an interview is about to start, they are attacked and beaten down by Beth Phoenix & Natalya.
-Match 3: Mason Ryan VS Primo Colon
-Ryan wins a quick squash with his bodyslam into a Rock Bottom. (**)
-Josh Matthews interviews CM Punk. Punk says he doesn't blame Del Rio for cashing in Money in the Bank at Summerslam, nor does he blame him for doing what needed to be done to regain the title at Hell in a Cell, but Punk is the best in the world, and tonight, he will regain what is rightfully his.
-Match 4: Fatal 4 Way for a Tag Title Shot or the WWE United States Championship: U.S. Champion Dolph Ziggler VS Jack Swagger VS WWE Tag Team Champion Evan Bourne VS WWE Tag Team Champion Kofi Kingston
-Match was essentially a tag match, with the two teams sticking to tagging their partners. There was miscommunication and Swagger clotheslined Ziggler, which lead to Bourne almost winning the U.S. title. Kingston KO'd Ziggler with Trouble in Paradise and Bourne followed up with Air Bourne. Swagger laid out both tag champions and tossed Bourne out of the ring. He had to choose between going for the tag title shot or winning the U.S. title. He chose to give Kingston the gutwrench powerbomb to get the tag title shot. Vickie squeeled in delight. (**3/4)
-Backstage, a crowd forms around a KO'd HHH. No one knows who did it.
-MAIN EVENT: WWE Championship: Alberto Del Rio [c] VS CM Punk
-Great main event. The ref got bumped and Punk had the title won with the GTS, but then The Miz & R-Truth came through the crowd and attacked Punk. They laid Punk out with their finishers and put Del Rio on top of him before taking off. The ref came to, and counted the pin for Del Rio to retain. Roberto Rodriguez ran down to ringside and celebrated with Del Rio to close the show. (****1/2)
Smackdown 10/14/11:
-The show opens with a video hyping a potential Mark Henry VS Sheamus match up. They will be signing a contract for a match at Vengeance tonight.
-Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes comes down to the ring. He issues an open challenge for a championship match to take place right now. The challenge is answered by Sin Cara.
-Match 1 for the Intercontinental Championship: Cody Rhodes [c] VS Sin Cara
-Sin Cara has all the momentum when EVIL Sin Cara causes a distraction, allowing Cody to hit Cross Rhodes to retain the title. (***)
-Matt Stryker interviews Christian. Christian talks about deserving one more match for the World Heavyweight Championship. Christian says he will show everyone why he deserves one more match when he faces Justin Gabriel later tonight.
-Match 2: Daniel Bryan VS Wade Barrett
-Bryan goes for the missile dropkick, but Barrett shoves him off the top, and Bryan hits the ringsteps on the way down. Barrett finishes clean with Wasteland. (***1/4)
-After a commercial break, Daniel Bryan is sulking in his locker room, when William Regal enters. Regal gets right in Bryan's face, asking what his problem is. Ever since Bryan won Money in the Bank, he's been losing matches left and right, and Regal didn't train him to be a loser. Regal says he think Bryan has been holding back, not wanting to risk anything before WrestleMania. Regal says if Bryan does that, he will keep losing, and no one wants to see a loser wrestling in the main event at WrestleMania. Before he leaves, Regal turns back, and asks if maybe it's because Bryan simply isn't that good.
-Match 3: AJ & Kaitlyn def. Alicia Fox & Rosa Mendes
-AJ pins Rosa with a rollup. Rosa didn't sell very much, which hurt the match. Best of luck in your future endeavors Rosa. (-*)
-Match 4: Randy Orton VS Heath Slater
-Orton wins an extended squash with the RKO. (***)
-As Randy Orton walks around backstage, he is approached by Cody Rhodes. Cody congratulates Orton on his victory, and says he remembers what a great Intercontinental Champion Orton was. Rhodes challenges Orton to an IC title match. Orton says thanks but no thanks, as he moved to a level beyond the IC title years ago. Cody does not look happy as Orton exits.
-MAIN EVENT: Christian VS Justin Gabriel
-Gabriel has to consistently fight from underneath in a long match. Christian cuts Gabriel off at every pass. Christian gets Gabriel in position for the Killswitch, but stops to savor the moment, allowing Gabriel to counter into a rollup for the upset victory. Christian flips out as Gabriel celebrates all the way to the back. (***3/4)
-Mark Henry & Sheamus have their contract signing. Henry re-iterates that this is the biggest mistake Sheamus has made in his life. Sheamus counters with some cockny Irish yarn about fighting large animals in his backyard, and says he's not afraid of Henry. Henry signs the contract and says Sheamus should be afraid, before toppling the table over on top of Sheamus. Henry attacks the prone Sheamus, hitting a big splash and the World's Strongest Slam. Henry stands above Sheamus and holds the World Heavyweight Championship high in the air as the show closes.
NWA/WCW Big Event Project #33: Great American Bash 1990 (Turner Home Entertainment Edit)
-7/7/90
-From Baltimore, MD
-Hosts are JR & Bob Caudle
-Four matches took place at the event that are not on this release: Doug Furnas def. Dutch Mantell, Mike Rotunda def. The Iron Shiek, Brian Pillman def. Buddy Landell, and Harley Race def. Tommy Rich.
-Match 1 for the United States Tag Team Championship: The Midnight Express [c] (w/Jim Cornette) VS The Wild-Eyed Southern Boys
-Fast start by the Midnights doesn't last long. The 'Boys get Eaton in a double arm-ringer, then floor him with a double chop. Smothers drops Eaton with a nice superkick. Smothers hits a backdrop and another superkick on Eaton. A bunch of superkicks? It's like an RoH match in here. Lane and Smothers do a karate face-off. Lane appears to win, until Smothers blocks a kick to the ribs, then nails a series of backfists and a kick to Lane's ribs, then another superkick for Eaton when he tries to get in there. It really IS like an RoH match, or at the very least, a Tyler Black match.
Midnights finally turn the tide when Lane is able to toss Smothers over the top undetected, then knock him off the apron into the guardrail. Eaton gets in, and is hit with ANOTHER superkick. Eaton hits the Alabama Jam anyway. Smothers makes the hot tag to Armstrong. 'Boys hit their finisher, with Armstrong hitting a missile dropkick while Smothers has Lance in a bearhug. Ref is busy with the two illegal men, and doesn't make the count. Midnights come back with the Rocket Launcher, and Armstrong kicks out at two. Smothers switches places with Armstrong, and small packages Eaton for two, with Lane making the save. Lane catches Smothers with an enziguiri, and Eaton gets the pin with a small package. Good match, HOT finishing sequence. Going to be hard to top this.
-Gordon Solie is with the Freebirds, who go out of their way to look effeminate with lipstick, eyeliner, and glitter. They wrestle the Steiners later.
-Match 2: The Z Man VS Big Van Vader
-How the hell does Vader see out of that...whatever he's got on his head and shoulders? Vader wears a more traditional mask instead of what he'd become known for later. Vader plays to the crowd like a babyface during his entrance.
This does not go well for Zenk. Quick squash and Vader finishes with a big splash. Vader got some impressive height on the splash.
-Gordon is with the Horsemen, sans Flair. They don't say anything of note.
-Match 3: The Fabulous Freebirds VS The Steiner Brothers
-Freebirds jump the Steiners at the bell. Scott fights off a DDT, and Rick clotheslines them out. A very un-PC shot of fans chanting "f-a-g-g-o-t" at Garvin is shown. Steiners control the first few minutes. Hayes hits some hard chops on Scott, who responds with a Pearl River Plunge, then a tilt-a-whirl slam on Hayes when he tries to get in. Rick eggs on some fans who chant "Michael is a bitch". Rick takes a ridiculous bump over the top off a Hayes punch. Rick is the face-in-peril for a bit. Scott gets in, and hits the Frankensteiner on Hayes. Garvin sneaks in with a DDT on Scott and makes the cover, but the ref actually notices that Garvin is not the legal man, and refuses to count. As the ref puts Garvin out, Rick hits a belly-to-belly suplex on Hayes, and puts Scott on top for the pin. Match was OK. Good finish, if nothing else.
-Match 4: The Four Horsemen (TV Champion Arn Anderson, Sid Vicious, & Barry Windham) VS The Dudes With Attitudes (Junkyard Dog, Paul Orndorff, & El Gigante)
-This may be the only time anyone in the U.S. was excited to see Gigante wrestle. Sid manhandles Orndorff, and the crowd loves him for it. AA gets in there with Orndorff, before Gigante gets in, and scares the Horsemen away. Orndorff gets stuck as the face-in-peril. The crowd chants "We want Sid!", and Arn obliges. Match breaks down, and the Horsemen throw JYD over the top for a DQ. Well that was stupid. Gigante goes after the Horsemen, but they scatter. Not much as a match. Good idea to keep Gigante out of the match. That finish was weak sauce.
-Gordon Solie is with United States Champion Lex Luger. Luger says he's going to be harder to tear apart than a t-shirt, and that it's Sting's night to become the new World Heavyweight Champion.
-Match 5 for the United States Championship: Lex Luger [c] VS Mean Mark (w/Paul E. Dangerously)
-Hard to believe Mark is only four months from becoming a big star in the WWF. Scientific start, as the two feel each other out. Luges controls for some time. Mark throws punches to take control. Luger fights back, and Mark's face while he's being punched is pretty funny. Luger dives at Mark and misses, going over the top and out. Mark works Luger over on the outside. Luger no-sells a suplex, and quickly gets Mark in the rack. The ref accidentally gets kicked in the face by Mark, so Paul E. sneaks in, and nails Luger in the ribs with a phone. That gets two after the ref gets up. Luger avoids a heat punch, nails Paul E., then hits a clothesline for the pin. Luger needs a new secondary finisher. That ref counts ridiculously fast when it's the finish. Crowd was totally buying into Mark as a contender. Anyone know why WCW let him go?
-Gordon Solie is with Sting, who says neither he or Flair will have any excuses should they lose.
-Match 6 for the World Tag Team Championship: Doom [c] (w/Teddy Long) VS The Rock 'N' Roll Express
-They start out pretty even, until Morton becomes the face-in-peril (I'm as shocked as you are). Reed hits a flying elbow from the 2nd rope for two, as the crowd reacts to something else. Doom completely dominate the match with brief glimmers of hope for Morton. Gibson gets in, and "hits" a dropkick that misses by a mile on Simmons. Match breaks down. Gibson hits an enziguri on Reed that sends Reed into Teddy, and sends Teddy flying into the ring. Gibson nails Teddy, but turns right into a flying shoulder block from Reed, and Doom retains. Match was the usual RnR formula. Another hot finish.
-EARLIER TODAY: Gordon Solie is in the empty arena with Ric Flair. Flair cuts his usual promo.
-Match 7 for the World Heavyweight Championship: Ric Flair [c] VS Sting
-The Dudes with Attitudes and the Steiners are at ringside. Ole is handcuffed to Gigante, who walks Ole away from the ring and casually takes a seat so Ole can't go anywhere. The rest of the Horsemen are nowhere to be found.
Sting dominates the early going. Flair goes for a walk, but Sting chases him down, and tosses Flair on the entrance ramp. Sting no-sells a delayed vertical suplex. Sting hits a crossbody leg. Flair misses a kneedrop, and Sting locks in a figure 4. Sting gets a near-fall, but then stops to argue with the ref, and gets chop blocked by Flair for his troubles. Flair slaps Sting in the face, so Sting starts no-selling again.
Sting hits a huge gorilla press and a clothesline for two. Sting hits the Stinger Splash and locks in the Scorpion Deathlock. The Horsemen rush out, but are cut off by the Dudes With Attitudes before they can get to the ring. Flair tries to use the ropes to get a pin, and Scott Steiner pushes Flair's legs off them at two. Sting gets a couple near-falls as the crowd senses that this is it. Sting misses a high knee in the corner. Flair tries to lock in the figure 4, but Sting counters with a small package to pull the sword from the stone and win his first world title. Crowd goes ape shit with glee.
-Sting quickly leaves his friends standing in the ring. A drawing of Sting descends from the ceiling and sparkles. Sting puts Flair over as the greatest champion of all-time, and thanks the fans for helping him become champion.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: This was a pretty good show, from what was shown. Some really hot finishes, and a feel-good moment WCW actually managed to not screw up. I'm ready for Sting as World Champion, and for Vader to crush some poor souls.
-From Baltimore, MD
-Hosts are JR & Bob Caudle
-Four matches took place at the event that are not on this release: Doug Furnas def. Dutch Mantell, Mike Rotunda def. The Iron Shiek, Brian Pillman def. Buddy Landell, and Harley Race def. Tommy Rich.
-Match 1 for the United States Tag Team Championship: The Midnight Express [c] (w/Jim Cornette) VS The Wild-Eyed Southern Boys
-Fast start by the Midnights doesn't last long. The 'Boys get Eaton in a double arm-ringer, then floor him with a double chop. Smothers drops Eaton with a nice superkick. Smothers hits a backdrop and another superkick on Eaton. A bunch of superkicks? It's like an RoH match in here. Lane and Smothers do a karate face-off. Lane appears to win, until Smothers blocks a kick to the ribs, then nails a series of backfists and a kick to Lane's ribs, then another superkick for Eaton when he tries to get in there. It really IS like an RoH match, or at the very least, a Tyler Black match.
Midnights finally turn the tide when Lane is able to toss Smothers over the top undetected, then knock him off the apron into the guardrail. Eaton gets in, and is hit with ANOTHER superkick. Eaton hits the Alabama Jam anyway. Smothers makes the hot tag to Armstrong. 'Boys hit their finisher, with Armstrong hitting a missile dropkick while Smothers has Lance in a bearhug. Ref is busy with the two illegal men, and doesn't make the count. Midnights come back with the Rocket Launcher, and Armstrong kicks out at two. Smothers switches places with Armstrong, and small packages Eaton for two, with Lane making the save. Lane catches Smothers with an enziguiri, and Eaton gets the pin with a small package. Good match, HOT finishing sequence. Going to be hard to top this.
-Gordon Solie is with the Freebirds, who go out of their way to look effeminate with lipstick, eyeliner, and glitter. They wrestle the Steiners later.
-Match 2: The Z Man VS Big Van Vader
-How the hell does Vader see out of that...whatever he's got on his head and shoulders? Vader wears a more traditional mask instead of what he'd become known for later. Vader plays to the crowd like a babyface during his entrance.
This does not go well for Zenk. Quick squash and Vader finishes with a big splash. Vader got some impressive height on the splash.
-Gordon is with the Horsemen, sans Flair. They don't say anything of note.
-Match 3: The Fabulous Freebirds VS The Steiner Brothers
-Freebirds jump the Steiners at the bell. Scott fights off a DDT, and Rick clotheslines them out. A very un-PC shot of fans chanting "f-a-g-g-o-t" at Garvin is shown. Steiners control the first few minutes. Hayes hits some hard chops on Scott, who responds with a Pearl River Plunge, then a tilt-a-whirl slam on Hayes when he tries to get in. Rick eggs on some fans who chant "Michael is a bitch". Rick takes a ridiculous bump over the top off a Hayes punch. Rick is the face-in-peril for a bit. Scott gets in, and hits the Frankensteiner on Hayes. Garvin sneaks in with a DDT on Scott and makes the cover, but the ref actually notices that Garvin is not the legal man, and refuses to count. As the ref puts Garvin out, Rick hits a belly-to-belly suplex on Hayes, and puts Scott on top for the pin. Match was OK. Good finish, if nothing else.
-Match 4: The Four Horsemen (TV Champion Arn Anderson, Sid Vicious, & Barry Windham) VS The Dudes With Attitudes (Junkyard Dog, Paul Orndorff, & El Gigante)
-This may be the only time anyone in the U.S. was excited to see Gigante wrestle. Sid manhandles Orndorff, and the crowd loves him for it. AA gets in there with Orndorff, before Gigante gets in, and scares the Horsemen away. Orndorff gets stuck as the face-in-peril. The crowd chants "We want Sid!", and Arn obliges. Match breaks down, and the Horsemen throw JYD over the top for a DQ. Well that was stupid. Gigante goes after the Horsemen, but they scatter. Not much as a match. Good idea to keep Gigante out of the match. That finish was weak sauce.
-Gordon Solie is with United States Champion Lex Luger. Luger says he's going to be harder to tear apart than a t-shirt, and that it's Sting's night to become the new World Heavyweight Champion.
-Match 5 for the United States Championship: Lex Luger [c] VS Mean Mark (w/Paul E. Dangerously)
-Hard to believe Mark is only four months from becoming a big star in the WWF. Scientific start, as the two feel each other out. Luges controls for some time. Mark throws punches to take control. Luger fights back, and Mark's face while he's being punched is pretty funny. Luger dives at Mark and misses, going over the top and out. Mark works Luger over on the outside. Luger no-sells a suplex, and quickly gets Mark in the rack. The ref accidentally gets kicked in the face by Mark, so Paul E. sneaks in, and nails Luger in the ribs with a phone. That gets two after the ref gets up. Luger avoids a heat punch, nails Paul E., then hits a clothesline for the pin. Luger needs a new secondary finisher. That ref counts ridiculously fast when it's the finish. Crowd was totally buying into Mark as a contender. Anyone know why WCW let him go?
-Gordon Solie is with Sting, who says neither he or Flair will have any excuses should they lose.
-Match 6 for the World Tag Team Championship: Doom [c] (w/Teddy Long) VS The Rock 'N' Roll Express
-They start out pretty even, until Morton becomes the face-in-peril (I'm as shocked as you are). Reed hits a flying elbow from the 2nd rope for two, as the crowd reacts to something else. Doom completely dominate the match with brief glimmers of hope for Morton. Gibson gets in, and "hits" a dropkick that misses by a mile on Simmons. Match breaks down. Gibson hits an enziguri on Reed that sends Reed into Teddy, and sends Teddy flying into the ring. Gibson nails Teddy, but turns right into a flying shoulder block from Reed, and Doom retains. Match was the usual RnR formula. Another hot finish.
-EARLIER TODAY: Gordon Solie is in the empty arena with Ric Flair. Flair cuts his usual promo.
-Match 7 for the World Heavyweight Championship: Ric Flair [c] VS Sting
-The Dudes with Attitudes and the Steiners are at ringside. Ole is handcuffed to Gigante, who walks Ole away from the ring and casually takes a seat so Ole can't go anywhere. The rest of the Horsemen are nowhere to be found.
Sting dominates the early going. Flair goes for a walk, but Sting chases him down, and tosses Flair on the entrance ramp. Sting no-sells a delayed vertical suplex. Sting hits a crossbody leg. Flair misses a kneedrop, and Sting locks in a figure 4. Sting gets a near-fall, but then stops to argue with the ref, and gets chop blocked by Flair for his troubles. Flair slaps Sting in the face, so Sting starts no-selling again.
Sting hits a huge gorilla press and a clothesline for two. Sting hits the Stinger Splash and locks in the Scorpion Deathlock. The Horsemen rush out, but are cut off by the Dudes With Attitudes before they can get to the ring. Flair tries to use the ropes to get a pin, and Scott Steiner pushes Flair's legs off them at two. Sting gets a couple near-falls as the crowd senses that this is it. Sting misses a high knee in the corner. Flair tries to lock in the figure 4, but Sting counters with a small package to pull the sword from the stone and win his first world title. Crowd goes ape shit with glee.
-Sting quickly leaves his friends standing in the ring. A drawing of Sting descends from the ceiling and sparkles. Sting puts Flair over as the greatest champion of all-time, and thanks the fans for helping him become champion.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: This was a pretty good show, from what was shown. Some really hot finishes, and a feel-good moment WCW actually managed to not screw up. I'm ready for Sting as World Champion, and for Vader to crush some poor souls.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Ring of Honor Wrestling #2
-LAST WEEK: Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team defeated the Kings of Wrestling to retain the RoH World Tag Team Championship.
-Jim Cornette brings out Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team for an interview. Shelton says they've beaten every major tag team in RoH. Shelton says the attack on them by the Briscoes was the most disgusting thing he's ever been a part of. Shelton is pissed that Cornette hasn't given them the Briscoes yet. Cornette says the Briscoes refuse to wrestle WGTT unless the tag belts are on the line. WGTT agree to put the belts up, but Cornette refuses to reward the Briscoes for what they did. WGTT implore Cornette to change his mind, but he won't, at least not yet.
-A look at Mike Bennett. He wants to use RoH as a springboard to Hollywood.
-Match 1: Jimmy Jacobs (w/Steve Corino) VS Mike Bennett (w/Brutal Bob Evans)
-Bennett gets the old Jimmy Rave toilet paper treatment, but doesn't sell it nearly as well as Rave did. Jacobs stomps a mudhole. Bennett comes back with his ropes-assisted back breaker. Jacobs sends Bennett outside with a flying headscissors, but misses a dive. Bennett teases doing a dive, but just walks outside instead to pound on Jacobs. Jacobs starts no-selling, and hits a neckbreaker for two. Jacobs hits a snap suplex for two. Bennett hits a nice spinebuster for two. Jacobs hits a springboard Ace Crusher for two. Jacobs goes for a senton, but Bennett gets his knees up, and hits the Box Office Smash (Rock Bottom/Side Effect) for the pin. Bennett shakes Jacobs' hand, and mockingly rubs Corino's head. Jacobs has to hold Corino back. Decent match. Much better effort from Bennett than his match against Shelton Benjamin.
-Nigel asks a fan who he thinks is going to win tonight's main event. He picks El Generico.
-Eddie Edwards talks about how he got the nickname "Die Hard" after breaking his elbow and wrestling the next night before going back to get surgery. Eddie says he was supposed to be out 6 months, but was back in the ring 9 weeks later.
-Preview for next week's World Title match between Davey Richards & Roderick Strong. Richards says he doesn't like Strong and that when Martini leaves Strong, he'll be looking for someone else to lead him. Strong says Richards doesn't like him because Strong is a dick, and that pisses Davey off. Probably the best promo work I've seen from Strong, even if he did laugh a bit when having to talk about partying and having women.
-Match 2: Ring of Honor Television Championship: El Generico [c] VS Jay Lethal
-I don't think they could have picked a worse pick for Lethal's headshot. He looks like he's reacting to someone taking a shit in his living room. Lethal takes Generico down with a flying headscissors, and helps Generico back to his feet. Lethal keeps control with a hiptoss followed by a basement dropkick, then a backbreaker. Lethal locks in a unique submission, but can't get the win. Lethal tying his hair back makes him look OLD. Generico comes back with a series of armdrags. Generico hits a running swanton over the top rope, and RoH takes their lead from WWE, going to commercial break when both wrestlers are on the floor.
During the break, Generico hit a moonsault off the barricade. Lethal hits a handspring elbow. Lethal hits a missile dropkick for two. Lethal hits the Lethal Injection (toss into a neckbreaker) for two. Generico hits a tornado DDT for two. Generico ducks a kick, and hits a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Lethal blocks a Yakuza kick, and gets a school boy for two. They fight over a suplex as the time limit expires.
Neither wants a draw. Cornette comes out and says they can go until the end of the show, which is in about three minutes. They slug it out as the bell rings. Generico hits a Yakuza kick and a half-nelson suplex for two. Lethal twice fights off the turnbuckle brainbuster. Generico avoids the Savage elbow once, but not the second time, and that gets two for Lethal. Generico goes for another Yakuza kick, but runs into a superkick, and the Lethal Combination (backbreaker/downward spiral) gets the pin and the title for Lethal. Good main event.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Better show than last week. Hopefully they'll add a third match to the show instead of the time wasting once they really get going. Match quality was better this than last, and they did waste less time this week too.
-Jim Cornette brings out Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team for an interview. Shelton says they've beaten every major tag team in RoH. Shelton says the attack on them by the Briscoes was the most disgusting thing he's ever been a part of. Shelton is pissed that Cornette hasn't given them the Briscoes yet. Cornette says the Briscoes refuse to wrestle WGTT unless the tag belts are on the line. WGTT agree to put the belts up, but Cornette refuses to reward the Briscoes for what they did. WGTT implore Cornette to change his mind, but he won't, at least not yet.
-A look at Mike Bennett. He wants to use RoH as a springboard to Hollywood.
-Match 1: Jimmy Jacobs (w/Steve Corino) VS Mike Bennett (w/Brutal Bob Evans)
-Bennett gets the old Jimmy Rave toilet paper treatment, but doesn't sell it nearly as well as Rave did. Jacobs stomps a mudhole. Bennett comes back with his ropes-assisted back breaker. Jacobs sends Bennett outside with a flying headscissors, but misses a dive. Bennett teases doing a dive, but just walks outside instead to pound on Jacobs. Jacobs starts no-selling, and hits a neckbreaker for two. Jacobs hits a snap suplex for two. Bennett hits a nice spinebuster for two. Jacobs hits a springboard Ace Crusher for two. Jacobs goes for a senton, but Bennett gets his knees up, and hits the Box Office Smash (Rock Bottom/Side Effect) for the pin. Bennett shakes Jacobs' hand, and mockingly rubs Corino's head. Jacobs has to hold Corino back. Decent match. Much better effort from Bennett than his match against Shelton Benjamin.
-Nigel asks a fan who he thinks is going to win tonight's main event. He picks El Generico.
-Eddie Edwards talks about how he got the nickname "Die Hard" after breaking his elbow and wrestling the next night before going back to get surgery. Eddie says he was supposed to be out 6 months, but was back in the ring 9 weeks later.
-Preview for next week's World Title match between Davey Richards & Roderick Strong. Richards says he doesn't like Strong and that when Martini leaves Strong, he'll be looking for someone else to lead him. Strong says Richards doesn't like him because Strong is a dick, and that pisses Davey off. Probably the best promo work I've seen from Strong, even if he did laugh a bit when having to talk about partying and having women.
-Match 2: Ring of Honor Television Championship: El Generico [c] VS Jay Lethal
-I don't think they could have picked a worse pick for Lethal's headshot. He looks like he's reacting to someone taking a shit in his living room. Lethal takes Generico down with a flying headscissors, and helps Generico back to his feet. Lethal keeps control with a hiptoss followed by a basement dropkick, then a backbreaker. Lethal locks in a unique submission, but can't get the win. Lethal tying his hair back makes him look OLD. Generico comes back with a series of armdrags. Generico hits a running swanton over the top rope, and RoH takes their lead from WWE, going to commercial break when both wrestlers are on the floor.
During the break, Generico hit a moonsault off the barricade. Lethal hits a handspring elbow. Lethal hits a missile dropkick for two. Lethal hits the Lethal Injection (toss into a neckbreaker) for two. Generico hits a tornado DDT for two. Generico ducks a kick, and hits a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Lethal blocks a Yakuza kick, and gets a school boy for two. They fight over a suplex as the time limit expires.
Neither wants a draw. Cornette comes out and says they can go until the end of the show, which is in about three minutes. They slug it out as the bell rings. Generico hits a Yakuza kick and a half-nelson suplex for two. Lethal twice fights off the turnbuckle brainbuster. Generico avoids the Savage elbow once, but not the second time, and that gets two for Lethal. Generico goes for another Yakuza kick, but runs into a superkick, and the Lethal Combination (backbreaker/downward spiral) gets the pin and the title for Lethal. Good main event.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Better show than last week. Hopefully they'll add a third match to the show instead of the time wasting once they really get going. Match quality was better this than last, and they did waste less time this week too.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Live Hell in a Cell 2011 Thoughts:
-Awesome Truth have front-row tickets, but are booted by Johnny Ace.
-Match 1: Christian VS Sheamus
-Really strong opener. Match picked up when Sheamus pulled himself from the mat to the top rope, and delivered a shoulder block from the top. Christian hit two spears, but Sheamus hit the Brogue Kick for the win.
-Match 2: Sin Cara VS Sin Cara
-1 def. 2 with an infrared. Match was interesting, and as close to an old WCW Cruiserweight match as you'll get in WWE.
-David Otunga tries to talk CM Punk into letting Otunga represent him. Punk doesn't like lawyers, and shoos his former New Nexus underling away.
-Match 3: WWE Tag Team Championship: Air Boom [c] VS WWE United States Champion Dolph Ziggler & Jack Swagger (w/Vickie Guerrero)
-Another good match. Heels control the majority of the match. Swagger tries to powerbomb Bourne off the second rope, but Bourne counters into a hurricarana for the pin.
-Match 4: Hell in a Cell Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Mark Henry [c] VS Randy Orton
-Match was mostly a slow beatdown by Henry. Orton came back with a DDT on the steps. Orton hit the RKO, but Henry kicked out. Orton went for the punt, but Henry caught him with the World's Strongest Slam for the pin to retain. While I like the result, the match was weak sauce.
-Orton avoids the Pillmanizer, and Orton goes to town on Henry with a chair.
-Cody Rhodes comes out, and dumps the IC title belt in a paper bag, before revealing a new, old-school style title belt, to a big pop. He names some of the champions who wore that style of belt, and says he'll defend it any time, any place. Johnny Ace comes out to inform Cody that he will be defending the title right now, per the order of HHH...
-Match 5: Intercontinental Championship: Cody Rhodes [c] VS John Morrison
-Match was decent. Not much heat, but more than Rhodes/DiBiase from Night of Champions. Morrison missed the flash kick, and Rhodes pinned him clean with La Mahistrol.
-HHH gets pissed at Ace for making matches (implying that the last match was NOT HHH's call). Ace cuts him off and lets him know that Miz & Truth are in the locker room. They run to catch them, but are too late, as cops take Miz & Truth away after they have apparently laid out Air Boom.
-Match 6: Divas Championship: Kelly Kelly [c] (w/Eve) VS Beth Phoenix (w/Natalya)
-Match was every match these two have had until the finish. Beth overpowers Kelly, who uses her quickness to stay alive. Natalya laid out Eve on the outside. Beth locked in a unique submission as Natalya got on the mic and yelled at Kelly. Once Kelly got to the ropes, Natalya hit Kelly with the mic, and Beth hit the Glam Slam for the pin and the title.
-Match 7: Hell in a Cell Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship: John Cena [c] VS CM Punk VS Alberto Del Rio
-Was half-paying attention to the match and half-paying attention to the football game. Seemed to start out like a regular triple threat match. Punk got put through a table by ADR. Cena had ADR beat with the STF, but Ricardo Rodriguez unlocked the cage door to distract Cena and introduce a pipe. Cena gave Ricardo an AA on the floor outside the cage, but was then locked out of the cage by ADR. Punk fought off a cross-armbreaker and went for the GTS, but ADR KO'd Punk with the pipe and got the pin to regain the title.
-Cena slid back in as the cage was being raised after the match, but then Miz and R-Truth ran in to attack everyone, and the cage was lowered again. Pretty much the whole roster banged on the side of the cage in a neat visual (even though I'm not sure why the heels should give a shit). Eventually they got bolt cutters, and Miz & Truth were arrested. HHH attacked them, and had to be pulled away as the show ended really early.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Pretty decent show overall. Not one of the top shows this year, but it wasn't bad, as WWE has been bringing it on PPV this year, even if the TV still sucks for the most part. Will be worth a DVD purchase.
-Match 1: Christian VS Sheamus
-Really strong opener. Match picked up when Sheamus pulled himself from the mat to the top rope, and delivered a shoulder block from the top. Christian hit two spears, but Sheamus hit the Brogue Kick for the win.
-Match 2: Sin Cara VS Sin Cara
-1 def. 2 with an infrared. Match was interesting, and as close to an old WCW Cruiserweight match as you'll get in WWE.
-David Otunga tries to talk CM Punk into letting Otunga represent him. Punk doesn't like lawyers, and shoos his former New Nexus underling away.
-Match 3: WWE Tag Team Championship: Air Boom [c] VS WWE United States Champion Dolph Ziggler & Jack Swagger (w/Vickie Guerrero)
-Another good match. Heels control the majority of the match. Swagger tries to powerbomb Bourne off the second rope, but Bourne counters into a hurricarana for the pin.
-Match 4: Hell in a Cell Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Mark Henry [c] VS Randy Orton
-Match was mostly a slow beatdown by Henry. Orton came back with a DDT on the steps. Orton hit the RKO, but Henry kicked out. Orton went for the punt, but Henry caught him with the World's Strongest Slam for the pin to retain. While I like the result, the match was weak sauce.
-Orton avoids the Pillmanizer, and Orton goes to town on Henry with a chair.
-Cody Rhodes comes out, and dumps the IC title belt in a paper bag, before revealing a new, old-school style title belt, to a big pop. He names some of the champions who wore that style of belt, and says he'll defend it any time, any place. Johnny Ace comes out to inform Cody that he will be defending the title right now, per the order of HHH...
-Match 5: Intercontinental Championship: Cody Rhodes [c] VS John Morrison
-Match was decent. Not much heat, but more than Rhodes/DiBiase from Night of Champions. Morrison missed the flash kick, and Rhodes pinned him clean with La Mahistrol.
-HHH gets pissed at Ace for making matches (implying that the last match was NOT HHH's call). Ace cuts him off and lets him know that Miz & Truth are in the locker room. They run to catch them, but are too late, as cops take Miz & Truth away after they have apparently laid out Air Boom.
-Match 6: Divas Championship: Kelly Kelly [c] (w/Eve) VS Beth Phoenix (w/Natalya)
-Match was every match these two have had until the finish. Beth overpowers Kelly, who uses her quickness to stay alive. Natalya laid out Eve on the outside. Beth locked in a unique submission as Natalya got on the mic and yelled at Kelly. Once Kelly got to the ropes, Natalya hit Kelly with the mic, and Beth hit the Glam Slam for the pin and the title.
-Match 7: Hell in a Cell Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship: John Cena [c] VS CM Punk VS Alberto Del Rio
-Was half-paying attention to the match and half-paying attention to the football game. Seemed to start out like a regular triple threat match. Punk got put through a table by ADR. Cena had ADR beat with the STF, but Ricardo Rodriguez unlocked the cage door to distract Cena and introduce a pipe. Cena gave Ricardo an AA on the floor outside the cage, but was then locked out of the cage by ADR. Punk fought off a cross-armbreaker and went for the GTS, but ADR KO'd Punk with the pipe and got the pin to regain the title.
-Cena slid back in as the cage was being raised after the match, but then Miz and R-Truth ran in to attack everyone, and the cage was lowered again. Pretty much the whole roster banged on the side of the cage in a neat visual (even though I'm not sure why the heels should give a shit). Eventually they got bolt cutters, and Miz & Truth were arrested. HHH attacked them, and had to be pulled away as the show ended really early.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Pretty decent show overall. Not one of the top shows this year, but it wasn't bad, as WWE has been bringing it on PPV this year, even if the TV still sucks for the most part. Will be worth a DVD purchase.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Ring of Honor Final Battle 2010 12/18/10
-From New York City
-Hosts are Kevin Kelly & Dave Prazak
-Match 1: All Night Express (Kenny King & Rhett Titus) VS Adam Cole & Kyle O'Reilly
-O'Reilly immediately takes Titus down with a rolling armbar, but Titus counters with a rollup for two. O'Reilly hits a series of kicks and a legsweep on Titus. ANX catch O'Reilly on a dive attempt, so Cole throws himself on top of everyone to take ANX down. Titus uses a distraction from King to hit a teardrop suplex on O'Reilly for two. Titus whips O'Reilly into a King back kick for two. O'Reilly bates King into accidentally clotheslining Titus. O'Reilly dragonscrews Titus, which makes Titus dragonscrew King in a ridiculously contrived spot.
Cole gets in, and hits a slingshot DDT on King, spiking him on the ring apron. OUCH!. O'Reilly hits a butterfly suplex and a double-arm DDT on Titus, then springs off the apron with a missile dropkick, sending King into the barricade. Cole hits a top rope crossbody on Titus for two. Titus alley-oops Cole into the turnbuckles, and King follows up immediately with VICIOUS shotgun knees (think the Elijah Express). That gets two.
King hits a capture suplex on Cole for two, as O'Reilly makes the save with a double stomp. O'Reilly spikes King with a swinging DDT, then Titus hits a double knee drop on O'Reilly, then Cole hit a superkick on Titus to put all four men down. Cole hits a missile dropkick on King, then he and O'Reilly hit a double dropkick on Titus, who is locked in the Tree of Woe. Cole & O'Reilly go for a double team on King, but Titus low-bridges Cole and hits a beautiful dropkick on O'Reilly. ANX finish O'Reilly with a powerbomb/block buster combination. Tremendously fun opener. Really put both teams over as future players in the tag team division.
-Kevin Kelly reads a letter that basically states that RoH is washing their hands of Steen VS Generico, and that, according to them, it will be taking place after Final Battle is over.
-Match 2: Scientific Match: TJ Perkins VS Colt Cabana
-No special rules for this "scientific" match. Perkins used to wrestle as Puma. I remember seeing him under that gimmick on a TNA PPV or two. Cabana sends Perkins into the ropes, and Perkins hangs out in between the 2nd and top rope. Cabana fakes out Perkins, but ends up taking a flying headscissors when he tries to slam Perkins. Cabana gets Perkins on a no-hands surfboard. Cabana wins a fight over a wristlock.
Cabana laughs when Perkins tries a shoulder tackle. Series of reversals leads to Cabana locking in the Billy Goat's Curse. Another series of counters ends with Cabana getting a sunset flip for the pin. Good, fun match while it lasted. I'd like to see more of Perkins.
-Match 3: Sara Del Ray & Serena Deeb VS Daize Haze & Awesome Kong
-Serena was last seen as part of CM Punk's Straight Edge Society in WWE. Kong was going to be running through the WWE divas division this year as Kharma, but then she got pregnant.
Haze hits Del Ray with some chops, and gets a crucifix for two. Deeb gets in and prevents Haze from tagging Kong. Deeb's presence draws a "CM Punk" chant. Del Ray catches Kong napping on the apron with a boot, and Deeb hits a gutbuster on Haze for two. Heels keep preventing Haze from making the tag. Haze gets out of the Tree of Woe with a Diamond Cutter on Deeb. Kong finally gets in. Kong hits the Implant Buser on Del Ray for two. Deeb gets taking out by the faces. Del Ray drops Kong with a kick to the head. Del Ray hits the Royal Butterfly powerslam on Haze, but that only gets two.
Del Ray hits Haze with a piledriver, but Kong makes the save. Deeb spears Kong, allowing Del Ray to hit a second piledriver on Haze for the pin. Good, but needed more Kong.
-Kelly & Prazak note that Eddie Edwards lost the RoH TV title to Christopher Daniels at the last set of RoH on HDNet TV tapings.
-Match 4: Sonjay Dutt VS Eddie Edwards
-Dutt is filling in for Kenny Omega. Dutt immediately gets a modified surfboard submission. Dutt feigns going for a handshake, slaps Edwards across the face, then slides under the ring. Dutt sneaks behind Edwards, but gets caught with a STIFF chop. Dutt drapes Edwards' throat across the bottom rope, and hits a lionsault onto Edwards' back. Dutt takes Edwards outside and rams him into the barricade. Dutt lays Edwards across the barricade, and hits a springboard legdrop.
Edwards crotches Dutt on the top rope, and hurricarans him off for two. Dutt counters the Achilles' Lock with a small pacakge for two. Edwards hits a backpack chinbreaker for two. Dutt hits a Rey Mysterio-esque springboard splash for two. Dutt spikes Edwards with a DDT, and follows up with a standing shooting star press for two.
They trade superkicks before Dutt runs into a huge lariat, and that gets two for Edwards. Edwards hits a double stomp to the back, a big powerbomb, and the 2K1 Bomb for the pin. Good undercard match, even though it had an obvious outcome, they were able to keep the crowd with them.
-Interview time with Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team during intermission. I skip this, but stop for a really sweet video for Steen VS Generico:
-Mike Bennett (w/Brutal Bob Evans) comes out to ringside to watch the next match. Crowd taunts Bennett by chanting "who are you?".
-Match 5: RoH TV Champion Christopher Daniels VS Homicide (w/Julius Smokes)
-First few minutes see no clear advantage. Daniels hits an Arabian Press to the outside on a standing Homicide. Homicide plays homage to Eddie Guerrero with the Three Amigos. Homicide hits a tope con hilo, and Smokes does a happy dance. Homicide hits an exploder suplex with a bridge for two. Homicide hits a flying knee off the second rope to the back of the neck for two. Daniels avoids the Cop Killer and hits a urinage. Homicide avoids the Best Moonsault Ever. Ref gets sandwiched in the corner. Homicide tosses his shirt at Daniels, then hits him with an Ace Crusher when Daniels catches it. That gets the pin. Match was OK. A lot shorter than I was expecting.
-Mike Bennett rubs Daniels' face in the loss afterward.
-Match 6: The Briscoe Family (Jay, Mark, & Papa Briscoe) VS RoH World Tag Team Champions The Kings of Wrestling (Chris Hero, Claudio Castagnoli) & Shane Hagadorn (w/Sara Del Ray)
-Hero chops Jay, then immediately shoves Papa Mike off the apron. Jay holds Hero, and Papa chops him. Mark gets tagged in, and the Briscoes hit a double shoulder tackle for two. Hero holds Mark for a Hagadorn chop, but Mark moves out of the way. Claudio gets his chest opened up by a chop from Mark. Briscoes chop CC some more, and hit a double team beal. KoW toss Mark into the air.
Jay no-sells some Hagadorn offense, then tags in Papa. Papa kicks Hagadorn out of the ring. Papa shocks everyone by hitting a flying headscissors on CC for two. Del Ray pulls Papa off the cover and tries to kick him, so Papa grabs and kisses her. The ref then ejects Del Ray from ringside. Mark becomes the face-in-peril. Mark dives into a European uppercut from CC for two. Hero accidentally elbows Claudio, allowing Mark to make the tag.
Jay drops Hero with a big boot for two. Hero hits a big kick on Jay. CC hits a pop-up European uppercut for two. Double clothesline drops both CC and Mark. KoW and Briscoes lay each other out, then Hagadorn kicks Jay in the nuts, prompting Papa to spear Hagadorn and pound away. Briscoes hits dives on KoW. Hagadorn stops Papa from diving himself, and Hero lays Papa out with a roaring elbow. KoW go for the KRS-1 on Papa, but Mark spears CC. That leads to the Briscoes hitting the Doomsday Device on Hagadorn for the win, with Papa delivering the clothesline from the top. Fun match that didn't wear out the crowd before the main events.
-Match 7: Ring of Honor World Championship: Roderick Strong [c] (w/Truth Martini) VS Davey Richards
-Feeling out process to start. Richards locks in a modified surfboard, but when he tries to turn it into a pin, Strong locks in the hold himself. Richards lands a couple kicks, and goes for Konnan's old Tacquila Sunrise submission, but Strong makes it to the ropes. Richards continues to work on Strong's arm. Richards locks in a chimera, but Martini puts Strong's foot on the bottom rope. The match spills to the outside, where Strong finally gains control.
Richards hits a couple slaps, but walks into a leg lariat for two. Strong wins a strike exchange, and drops an elbow for two. Strong counters a handspring with a basement dropkick. Richards sends Strong outside, and hits a tope con hilo which puts himself in the crowd. Richards hits a high-angle suplex for two. Richards hits the Alarm Clock. I love that move. Richards hits a diving headbut for two.
Strong hits a big boot, enziguri, and a Falcon Arrow for two. Strong hits a Blue Thunder Bomb for two, then locks in the Stronghold, but Richards makes it to the ropes. Richards wins a kick (Richards) and chops (Strong) exchange in the corner. Richards hits a German suplex for two. Richards hits a belly-to-back superplex, then a lariat for two. Richards hits a buzzsaw kick for two. Richards locks in an anklelock. Martini distracts the ref as Strong taps. Richards KO's Martini, then hits a shooting star press for two.
Strong hits a half-nelson backbreaker, using the top turnbuckle instead of his knee. Strong drops Richards through the announce table, then hits a Gibson (Tiger) driver on the floor, then tosses him into the crowd, hoping for a countout win. If you're counting on a guy being out for a 20 count, why wouldn't you go for the pin? Richards barely makes it in at 19. Strong immediately hits Death From Above, a Gibson driver, and the Stronghold.
Richards counters the Stronghold into an anklelock. Strong counters that into a heel hook. Richards turns THAT into a Texas Cloverleaf. Strong counters AGAIN into a Labelle Lock, and Richards turns that into a rollup for two. Richards hits a Gibson driver for two, then applies an anklelock. Richards suddenly lets go of the hold, and looks dazed. Strong hits a Death From Above backbreaker and a Sick Kick for two. Strong hits another backbreaker, superkick, and another Sick Kick for two. Strong applies a Stronghold variation (a Lion Tamer), and Richards is out. Roderick's "I can't believe I won" look after the bell is tremendous.
Some questionable psychology aside, this was suitably epic for a main event at RoH's WrestleMania. Well worth seeing if you haven't, although if you know both wrestler's styles, I don't think you're getting anything new out of them. A ring announcement is made to give them some time as Richards may have a concussion. Richards' look after he's told he lost is heartbreaking.
-Match 8: Unsanctioned Fight Without Honor Mask VS Career: Kevin Steen VS El Generico
-Steen uses part of the theme from SAW in his entrance music. Generico hits a Yakuza Kick to send Steen outside, then follows up with a running swanton over the top. Generico attacks Steen with a chain. Steen is busted open. Generico grabs a table, and uses it to hit Steen in the head. Generico grabs a ladder. Steen powerbombs Generico onto the corner of the apron. Steen uses his blood to pain his own arm...and then licks it off. This draws a justifiable "you sick fuck!" chant.
Steen buries Generico under some barricade covers, then hits a frog splash off the ring apron. Steen grabs a whole section of the barricade and tosses it at Generico, but he misses. Generico throws the ladder at Steen's head. Steen backdrops Generico onto the ladder as it's rested on the ropes. Steen paints in his own blood on Generico's back, and goes after the mask.
Steen tosses Generico in the air, and catches him with a powerbomb on the way down. Steen gets Generico down in the corner, sets a chair in front of his face, and hits a cannonball. Steen gets the mask partly ripped open. Generico tries a chairshot, but Steen hits a double-knees code breaker, driving the chair into Generico's face, which busts him open. Steen tastes Generico's blood. I hope for their sakes, neither one has AIDS.
Steen works Generico over and tries to bodyslam him onto the standing edges of the ladder, but Generico counters, and steals his idea. Generico hits a half-nelson suplex on the ladder. Steen blocks a Generico dive with a barricade cover. Steen powerbombs Generico into the barricade. Steen bridges the guardrail and the ring apron with the ladder and sets a table on top of it. Generico dives between the table and the ladder, hitting Steen with a tornado DDT on the way down.
Steen sets a chair in seated position in the ring and goes for a package piledriver, but Generico counters into a half-nelson suplex through the chair, and follows up with a brainbuster for two. Generico rocket launches Steen off the top, through the table that was standing on the ladder. Generico hits Steen with a package piledriver for two. Generico hits a brainbuster on the apron, and Steve Corino makes the save for Steen.
Corino lines Generico up for a chairshot, but Colt Caban chases Corino away, and hits Steen with the chair. That gets two for Generico. Generico accidentally kicks the ref and knocks him off the apron. Steen hits a kick to the nuts and a package piledriver for two. Steen attacks the ref for not making a three count. Steen hits another package piledriver on a seated chair for two, as a third ref slides in to make the count.
Steen goes for the turnbuckle brainbuster, but Generico fights out, hits a Yakuza Kick, and a turnbuckle brainbuster for two. Generico grabs a chair. Steen holds out Generico's original mask and begs Generico not to hit him. Generico takes the mask back, throws it down, and pastes Steen with a chairshot for the pin. Had some slow parts, but as a blowoff to a year-long feud, it was very satisfying.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Another really good show, especially the opener and the two main events. RoH has apparently gotten a lot better at not burning their crowds out with big move after big move, instead saving it for the main events.
-Hosts are Kevin Kelly & Dave Prazak
-Match 1: All Night Express (Kenny King & Rhett Titus) VS Adam Cole & Kyle O'Reilly
-O'Reilly immediately takes Titus down with a rolling armbar, but Titus counters with a rollup for two. O'Reilly hits a series of kicks and a legsweep on Titus. ANX catch O'Reilly on a dive attempt, so Cole throws himself on top of everyone to take ANX down. Titus uses a distraction from King to hit a teardrop suplex on O'Reilly for two. Titus whips O'Reilly into a King back kick for two. O'Reilly bates King into accidentally clotheslining Titus. O'Reilly dragonscrews Titus, which makes Titus dragonscrew King in a ridiculously contrived spot.
Cole gets in, and hits a slingshot DDT on King, spiking him on the ring apron. OUCH!. O'Reilly hits a butterfly suplex and a double-arm DDT on Titus, then springs off the apron with a missile dropkick, sending King into the barricade. Cole hits a top rope crossbody on Titus for two. Titus alley-oops Cole into the turnbuckles, and King follows up immediately with VICIOUS shotgun knees (think the Elijah Express). That gets two.
King hits a capture suplex on Cole for two, as O'Reilly makes the save with a double stomp. O'Reilly spikes King with a swinging DDT, then Titus hits a double knee drop on O'Reilly, then Cole hit a superkick on Titus to put all four men down. Cole hits a missile dropkick on King, then he and O'Reilly hit a double dropkick on Titus, who is locked in the Tree of Woe. Cole & O'Reilly go for a double team on King, but Titus low-bridges Cole and hits a beautiful dropkick on O'Reilly. ANX finish O'Reilly with a powerbomb/block buster combination. Tremendously fun opener. Really put both teams over as future players in the tag team division.
-Kevin Kelly reads a letter that basically states that RoH is washing their hands of Steen VS Generico, and that, according to them, it will be taking place after Final Battle is over.
-Match 2: Scientific Match: TJ Perkins VS Colt Cabana
-No special rules for this "scientific" match. Perkins used to wrestle as Puma. I remember seeing him under that gimmick on a TNA PPV or two. Cabana sends Perkins into the ropes, and Perkins hangs out in between the 2nd and top rope. Cabana fakes out Perkins, but ends up taking a flying headscissors when he tries to slam Perkins. Cabana gets Perkins on a no-hands surfboard. Cabana wins a fight over a wristlock.
Cabana laughs when Perkins tries a shoulder tackle. Series of reversals leads to Cabana locking in the Billy Goat's Curse. Another series of counters ends with Cabana getting a sunset flip for the pin. Good, fun match while it lasted. I'd like to see more of Perkins.
-Match 3: Sara Del Ray & Serena Deeb VS Daize Haze & Awesome Kong
-Serena was last seen as part of CM Punk's Straight Edge Society in WWE. Kong was going to be running through the WWE divas division this year as Kharma, but then she got pregnant.
Haze hits Del Ray with some chops, and gets a crucifix for two. Deeb gets in and prevents Haze from tagging Kong. Deeb's presence draws a "CM Punk" chant. Del Ray catches Kong napping on the apron with a boot, and Deeb hits a gutbuster on Haze for two. Heels keep preventing Haze from making the tag. Haze gets out of the Tree of Woe with a Diamond Cutter on Deeb. Kong finally gets in. Kong hits the Implant Buser on Del Ray for two. Deeb gets taking out by the faces. Del Ray drops Kong with a kick to the head. Del Ray hits the Royal Butterfly powerslam on Haze, but that only gets two.
Del Ray hits Haze with a piledriver, but Kong makes the save. Deeb spears Kong, allowing Del Ray to hit a second piledriver on Haze for the pin. Good, but needed more Kong.
-Kelly & Prazak note that Eddie Edwards lost the RoH TV title to Christopher Daniels at the last set of RoH on HDNet TV tapings.
-Match 4: Sonjay Dutt VS Eddie Edwards
-Dutt is filling in for Kenny Omega. Dutt immediately gets a modified surfboard submission. Dutt feigns going for a handshake, slaps Edwards across the face, then slides under the ring. Dutt sneaks behind Edwards, but gets caught with a STIFF chop. Dutt drapes Edwards' throat across the bottom rope, and hits a lionsault onto Edwards' back. Dutt takes Edwards outside and rams him into the barricade. Dutt lays Edwards across the barricade, and hits a springboard legdrop.
Edwards crotches Dutt on the top rope, and hurricarans him off for two. Dutt counters the Achilles' Lock with a small pacakge for two. Edwards hits a backpack chinbreaker for two. Dutt hits a Rey Mysterio-esque springboard splash for two. Dutt spikes Edwards with a DDT, and follows up with a standing shooting star press for two.
They trade superkicks before Dutt runs into a huge lariat, and that gets two for Edwards. Edwards hits a double stomp to the back, a big powerbomb, and the 2K1 Bomb for the pin. Good undercard match, even though it had an obvious outcome, they were able to keep the crowd with them.
-Interview time with Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team during intermission. I skip this, but stop for a really sweet video for Steen VS Generico:
-Mike Bennett (w/Brutal Bob Evans) comes out to ringside to watch the next match. Crowd taunts Bennett by chanting "who are you?".
-Match 5: RoH TV Champion Christopher Daniels VS Homicide (w/Julius Smokes)
-First few minutes see no clear advantage. Daniels hits an Arabian Press to the outside on a standing Homicide. Homicide plays homage to Eddie Guerrero with the Three Amigos. Homicide hits a tope con hilo, and Smokes does a happy dance. Homicide hits an exploder suplex with a bridge for two. Homicide hits a flying knee off the second rope to the back of the neck for two. Daniels avoids the Cop Killer and hits a urinage. Homicide avoids the Best Moonsault Ever. Ref gets sandwiched in the corner. Homicide tosses his shirt at Daniels, then hits him with an Ace Crusher when Daniels catches it. That gets the pin. Match was OK. A lot shorter than I was expecting.
-Mike Bennett rubs Daniels' face in the loss afterward.
-Match 6: The Briscoe Family (Jay, Mark, & Papa Briscoe) VS RoH World Tag Team Champions The Kings of Wrestling (Chris Hero, Claudio Castagnoli) & Shane Hagadorn (w/Sara Del Ray)
-Hero chops Jay, then immediately shoves Papa Mike off the apron. Jay holds Hero, and Papa chops him. Mark gets tagged in, and the Briscoes hit a double shoulder tackle for two. Hero holds Mark for a Hagadorn chop, but Mark moves out of the way. Claudio gets his chest opened up by a chop from Mark. Briscoes chop CC some more, and hit a double team beal. KoW toss Mark into the air.
Jay no-sells some Hagadorn offense, then tags in Papa. Papa kicks Hagadorn out of the ring. Papa shocks everyone by hitting a flying headscissors on CC for two. Del Ray pulls Papa off the cover and tries to kick him, so Papa grabs and kisses her. The ref then ejects Del Ray from ringside. Mark becomes the face-in-peril. Mark dives into a European uppercut from CC for two. Hero accidentally elbows Claudio, allowing Mark to make the tag.
Jay drops Hero with a big boot for two. Hero hits a big kick on Jay. CC hits a pop-up European uppercut for two. Double clothesline drops both CC and Mark. KoW and Briscoes lay each other out, then Hagadorn kicks Jay in the nuts, prompting Papa to spear Hagadorn and pound away. Briscoes hits dives on KoW. Hagadorn stops Papa from diving himself, and Hero lays Papa out with a roaring elbow. KoW go for the KRS-1 on Papa, but Mark spears CC. That leads to the Briscoes hitting the Doomsday Device on Hagadorn for the win, with Papa delivering the clothesline from the top. Fun match that didn't wear out the crowd before the main events.
-Match 7: Ring of Honor World Championship: Roderick Strong [c] (w/Truth Martini) VS Davey Richards
-Feeling out process to start. Richards locks in a modified surfboard, but when he tries to turn it into a pin, Strong locks in the hold himself. Richards lands a couple kicks, and goes for Konnan's old Tacquila Sunrise submission, but Strong makes it to the ropes. Richards continues to work on Strong's arm. Richards locks in a chimera, but Martini puts Strong's foot on the bottom rope. The match spills to the outside, where Strong finally gains control.
Richards hits a couple slaps, but walks into a leg lariat for two. Strong wins a strike exchange, and drops an elbow for two. Strong counters a handspring with a basement dropkick. Richards sends Strong outside, and hits a tope con hilo which puts himself in the crowd. Richards hits a high-angle suplex for two. Richards hits the Alarm Clock. I love that move. Richards hits a diving headbut for two.
Strong hits a big boot, enziguri, and a Falcon Arrow for two. Strong hits a Blue Thunder Bomb for two, then locks in the Stronghold, but Richards makes it to the ropes. Richards wins a kick (Richards) and chops (Strong) exchange in the corner. Richards hits a German suplex for two. Richards hits a belly-to-back superplex, then a lariat for two. Richards hits a buzzsaw kick for two. Richards locks in an anklelock. Martini distracts the ref as Strong taps. Richards KO's Martini, then hits a shooting star press for two.
Strong hits a half-nelson backbreaker, using the top turnbuckle instead of his knee. Strong drops Richards through the announce table, then hits a Gibson (Tiger) driver on the floor, then tosses him into the crowd, hoping for a countout win. If you're counting on a guy being out for a 20 count, why wouldn't you go for the pin? Richards barely makes it in at 19. Strong immediately hits Death From Above, a Gibson driver, and the Stronghold.
Richards counters the Stronghold into an anklelock. Strong counters that into a heel hook. Richards turns THAT into a Texas Cloverleaf. Strong counters AGAIN into a Labelle Lock, and Richards turns that into a rollup for two. Richards hits a Gibson driver for two, then applies an anklelock. Richards suddenly lets go of the hold, and looks dazed. Strong hits a Death From Above backbreaker and a Sick Kick for two. Strong hits another backbreaker, superkick, and another Sick Kick for two. Strong applies a Stronghold variation (a Lion Tamer), and Richards is out. Roderick's "I can't believe I won" look after the bell is tremendous.
Some questionable psychology aside, this was suitably epic for a main event at RoH's WrestleMania. Well worth seeing if you haven't, although if you know both wrestler's styles, I don't think you're getting anything new out of them. A ring announcement is made to give them some time as Richards may have a concussion. Richards' look after he's told he lost is heartbreaking.
-Match 8: Unsanctioned Fight Without Honor Mask VS Career: Kevin Steen VS El Generico
-Steen uses part of the theme from SAW in his entrance music. Generico hits a Yakuza Kick to send Steen outside, then follows up with a running swanton over the top. Generico attacks Steen with a chain. Steen is busted open. Generico grabs a table, and uses it to hit Steen in the head. Generico grabs a ladder. Steen powerbombs Generico onto the corner of the apron. Steen uses his blood to pain his own arm...and then licks it off. This draws a justifiable "you sick fuck!" chant.
Steen buries Generico under some barricade covers, then hits a frog splash off the ring apron. Steen grabs a whole section of the barricade and tosses it at Generico, but he misses. Generico throws the ladder at Steen's head. Steen backdrops Generico onto the ladder as it's rested on the ropes. Steen paints in his own blood on Generico's back, and goes after the mask.
Steen tosses Generico in the air, and catches him with a powerbomb on the way down. Steen gets Generico down in the corner, sets a chair in front of his face, and hits a cannonball. Steen gets the mask partly ripped open. Generico tries a chairshot, but Steen hits a double-knees code breaker, driving the chair into Generico's face, which busts him open. Steen tastes Generico's blood. I hope for their sakes, neither one has AIDS.
Steen works Generico over and tries to bodyslam him onto the standing edges of the ladder, but Generico counters, and steals his idea. Generico hits a half-nelson suplex on the ladder. Steen blocks a Generico dive with a barricade cover. Steen powerbombs Generico into the barricade. Steen bridges the guardrail and the ring apron with the ladder and sets a table on top of it. Generico dives between the table and the ladder, hitting Steen with a tornado DDT on the way down.
Steen sets a chair in seated position in the ring and goes for a package piledriver, but Generico counters into a half-nelson suplex through the chair, and follows up with a brainbuster for two. Generico rocket launches Steen off the top, through the table that was standing on the ladder. Generico hits Steen with a package piledriver for two. Generico hits a brainbuster on the apron, and Steve Corino makes the save for Steen.
Corino lines Generico up for a chairshot, but Colt Caban chases Corino away, and hits Steen with the chair. That gets two for Generico. Generico accidentally kicks the ref and knocks him off the apron. Steen hits a kick to the nuts and a package piledriver for two. Steen attacks the ref for not making a three count. Steen hits another package piledriver on a seated chair for two, as a third ref slides in to make the count.
Steen goes for the turnbuckle brainbuster, but Generico fights out, hits a Yakuza Kick, and a turnbuckle brainbuster for two. Generico grabs a chair. Steen holds out Generico's original mask and begs Generico not to hit him. Generico takes the mask back, throws it down, and pastes Steen with a chairshot for the pin. Had some slow parts, but as a blowoff to a year-long feud, it was very satisfying.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Another really good show, especially the opener and the two main events. RoH has apparently gotten a lot better at not burning their crowds out with big move after big move, instead saving it for the main events.
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