For many years there was one name of note on the independent scene that it would have total sense for ROH to bring but they didn't. He had the perfect style for ROH he could handle himself very well on the microphone and he was very popular with the ROH/Indy fans out there. And a big part of CM Punk's pre ROH reputation was do to the matches he had with this man. And in 2006 it was finally time for Chris Hero to make his ROH debut. And he wasn't just going to debut he was going right to the main event challenging Bryan Danielson for the ROH world title and he was kicking the Ring of Honor vs Combat Zone Wrestling war. Now there had been a hint a inter company battle years earlier but it never got going this would be a true story. And if the invasion proved one thing it's you can fuck them up badly. See often I hear people say company vs company is easy. It is and it isn't. See like any feud you need both sides to look strong at points. And sometimes that just doesn't happen. For the most part ROH got this feud right. This was the first ROH show of the year and on the same day CZW ran a show in the afternoon where Danielson and over members of the ROH roster showed up and got in a brawl with Hero and the CZW roster. Hero and Danielson also had several exchanges online leading up to the event. The ROH vs CZW feud is actually my all time favorite ROH story so lets look and see if it's as good as I remember?
We open with Bobby Cruise introducing new ROH tag team champions Roderick Strong and Austin Aries. ROH had a tradition of letting a new ROH world champion start the new show and decided do it for tag champs this time. I actually like this move as a world title or even tag title change should be treated as big deal and company changing. Strong and Aries had won the belts at Final Battle. Aries notes its the second straight year he won a championship at Final Battle. Aries gives you typical ROH new face champion promo about taking the belts all over the world making them them most important in wrestling today. Roderick repeats what Austin said and than starts talking about Bryan Danielson. Strong had a number of matches with Bryan Danielson where he was more or less his first real feud. They kept hyping that each match went longer and longer saying Strong was getting closer to winning when really he would lose clean and if the match went longer he was use getting closer to a draw. Strong promise to win the FIP title tonight. Aries tells Strong to go to the back. Aries and Strong had both come out in street clothes. Aries stripped to gear and called out Ricky Reyes for a match. King of strange they would have a tag champ open the show talk about how important they were going to make the tag belts and than have singles matches that night. Dave Prazak and Lenny Leonard are are announcers here and they are so much better than Gabe.
Austin Aries vs Ricky Reyes with Julius Smokes- Reyes had been bulling the ROH students and at the previous show had destroyed the top of the class trophy. Aries was the head trainer of those students and couldn't take it anymore. Smokes was in full anyone annoying mode but Aries took him and Reyes out right away with a suicide dive at the start. Nice over head belly to belly suplex by Reys and than a Saito suplex by Aries. Smokes being an ideated felt the need to run around the rig clapping and make sure to get himself in a camera shot. Seriously why did this guy have a job with ROH of so long? Reyes hit some really good looking around house kicks into Aries' chest. Aries with a beautiful looking missile drop kick followed by the running drop kick. In an nice finish Reyes countered the brian buster into the Dragon Sleeper but Aries rolled back and pinned Reyes when he wouldn't let go of the hold. Reyes refused to break the hold until Roderick Strong ran out for the save. Post match Reyes taunted Aries that couldn't get out of the hold and challenged Aries and Strong to put the belts on the line. Good opener solid work and ROH was setting up for a Rottweilers vs Generation Next feud that never happened and I even like the sequence to end the match. It allowed Aries to win but not damage Reye's rep as killer.
We than get a look at the ROH Top 5 rankings. ROH had used these early on to set up who would be the challengers for the world title. Sadly the gave up on it and modified it to the contenders ring and than just up completely. These ranking actually were never used to set up the challenger witch makes me wonder why rank them? We see Colt Cabana backstage. Cabana snaps at the camera man. Cabana talks about Homicide pouring Drano down his throat at the last show. The idea was Colt the normally fun loving guy was coming apart now. Sadly Colt went "I can't describe what its like," after he described what he was going through not being able to sleep how worried about Homicide. After Colt Cabana walked off Adam Pearce and complained about how Jim Cornett had been booking him and putting him in a six man mayhem match. Wait Cornett not knowing how to book someone in ROH or someone that wasn't around in 1975 that not shocking at all.
ROH Pure Title Nigel McGuinness © vs Tony Mamaluke- The Pure title was the ROH secondary belt at the time. It had some different rules than the usual ROH match. A 20 count on the floor. No close punches to the head. Only 3 rope breaks once you used them the ropes were in play. Nigel starts with a wrist lock. Dave says Nigel refused to follow top five rankings (agin showing they were pointless) and was only granting shots to the best pure wrestlers. Nigel transitoined to a full nelson and drove Mamaluke into the ropes for the first rope break. Mamaluke lost his second rope break short after that on another Nigel submission. Mamaluke looked in a front face lock but Nigel just suplexed him off. Nigel went for a vertical suplex but Mamaluke counted into a fujawar arm bar. Nigel tried to roll though but Mamaluke kept the hold forcing Nigel to use the ropes. Nigel hit the rebound lariat this was before he used it as a finish. Nigel got a key lock and rolled Mamaluke into the ropes costing him his final rope break. Mamaluke hit a frog splash for two and than quickly got cross arm breaker. Nigel used his sec on rope break. Finish was that Mamaluke was trying to hit Nigel in the head but Nigel bout his arm and locked in a kimura for the win. Good match again nice exchanges and I like the strategy of Nigel forcing the smaller man into position where he used a rope break even if he didn't want to also I like when guys win not using there normal finisher.
The Embassy Jimmy Rave and Alex Shelley with Prince Nana vs Azrieal and Claudio Castagnoli with Colt Cabana- Man if Claudio wants get any where in ROH he needs a better partner than the resident jobber. Actually he was billed as teaming with Colt but the storyline was that Colt had been pulled from the match due to his mental state after the Homicide attack and back inures. Rave got the toilet paper treatment as he climbed into the ring. As I have said in past reviews Rave is one of the few guys in ROH that truly got heel heat. Claudio with a beautiful standing drop kick given the guy is well over six foot and 230 lbs that's impressive. The Embassy tired to double team but Double C's power and Azrieal's speed led to them hitting each other instead early on. Leonard mentioned that ROH was adding the tag rope rule back into ROH. To be honest I have no idea if TNA, ROH, WWE or any other company uses tag ropes as of writing this and I really don't care it's a guy holding a rope doesn't really add or take away from a match. Lionsault by Shelley got two. The Embassy took over on Azrieal. Sadly Nana had gone into Julius Smokes mode and wouldn't shut up for long stretches. Azrieal hit a block buster and made the hot tag. Shelley went for suplex but Claudio got him one instead and held for a 40 count. He than dropped Rave right onto Shelley. Tag back to Azrieal witch felt like it was way to soon given how much punishment he had taken. Rave ate a double stomp by Azrieal but kicked at two. Rana off the top by Shelley followed by an flying elbow by Rave. In a really cool spot Rave went for a running knee of his trademark moves Claudio blocked flipped Rave over and than Rave hit the running knee. Rave locked in a butterfly Submission on Azrieal for the win. Decent match but I almost felt like Azrieal got way to much offense in.
Next we get a look at the Roderick Strong vs Jack Evans FIP number 1 contenders match. Next we get Gary Michael Capetta in front of the FIP interview set. GMC explains what FIP is I find it can odd GMC was doing this given it was Lenny Leonard's role in FIP why not have him do it and two do they really have to explain to the the live crowd what FIP was given ROH was so close with it. GMC does explain that FIP has no bookers/GM's etc ant that wrestlers make the rules. I was never a big fan of that given I felt it was to open needed and you would wonder why so and so wouldn't just do that. GMC introduces FIP Champion Homicide. Homicide was dealing a bad shoulder injury from a previous ROH show and his shoulder was tapped up. We got highlights of Homicide's sixteen month FIP title run. GMC asked Homicide about his shoulder but the champ said it didn't matter. Strong came out said he wouldn't show any mercy and promised to be FIP champion. This being Strong the promo sucked. Suddenly the music of heel stable DP Associates played as Dave Prazak and Bryan Danielson came out. Danielson and Prazak added the American Dragon to the match. See this is what I'm talking about with the wrestlers in charge thing not working logically since you wonder what's to stop Evans or Aries or Colt Cabana or anyone else who works FIP from coming out and adding themselves to the match? Plus I don't have Prazak do his FIP gimmick here. In ROH Dave was a baby face announcer but now suddenly he's a heel manager. I'm ok with them having FIP title matches to a point in ROH to help promote the company but since guys are working different gimmick it hurts the logic. They had a good reason to add Danielson give his feud with Strong so you didn't need DP.
Full Impact Championship Homicide © vs Roderick Strong vs Bryan Danielson with Dave Prazak- Colt Cabana runs out and jumps Homicide and whipped him into the guard rail shoulder first taking Homicide out of the match right at the start. Meanwhile Strong and Danielson brawled in the crowd. Gabe Saplosky joined in commentary for this match using his Matt Pike name. Strong got a bottle of water and poured on Danielson who I think respond by hitting Strong with a three ring binder. All I can say is What the Fuck? The problem with crowd brawls in ROH is they only really light the ring and when action spills into the crowd it gets really bought to see what is going on. Finally Strong and Danielson got into the ring. Strong hit the Gibson Drier for two and than locked in the Strong Hold. Homicide return and pulled Strong off. An elbow by Danielson took out Strong. Homicide went for the lariat but Danielson locked in arm bar and got the submission win. Clusterfuck match. The brawl went on to long the in ring stuff was short. Its also disappointing that the first FIP title change took place outside of FIP but I understand why. Homicide's shoulder was really bad and he couldn't afford surgery or to take time off but to protect it he had to limit where he could wrestle and that came down to TNA and ROH where he was making the most money. I think the long term plan was always to put the belt on Strong but they were saving his title win for the home town crowd. Plus it's Bryan Danielson not like he was going to go stink up the joint as FIP champion.
Jay Lethal vs Christopher Daniels with Alison Danger- Both men were in the top five rankings of course as I already explained that meant nothing with these ranking. Lethal heeled up early on and take Daniels down with a firemen's carry early on. Lethal with a top wrist lock but Daniels flips out and gets a headlock takedown. Daniels went for a hip toss but Lethal cartwheeled out and hit dropkick. Lethal worked over Daniels back. Lethal went for some move off the second rope but Daniels caught him with the STO. Lethal hit a suicide dive on the outside and than a big Spine buster when they were back on the ring. Daniels countered a roll up and got the win. Decent match but i feel like it went to long as neither guy was really going all out. I question the logic of having Lethal break from his mentor turn heel and in his first singles match he loses. The mention that Lethal had pinned Daniels in a four corner survival but so it was 500 booking.
They teased Lethal might join the Prophecy (Daniels faction that was disbanded at this point) but Joe ran out and chased off Lethal. Daniels and Joe started to brawl. Lethal came back in and low blowed Joe. Daniels and Lethal started to argue when BJ Whitmer a former Prophecy member ran out and hit Daniels withe Exploder. Whitmer explained his attack was based on Daniels walking out on him and the Prophecy two years ago. He also said no would save Joe during his match with Whitmer later that night. Joe than hit a running kick on Daniels. Wow a hell of lot there. Decent segment though. GMC interviewed AJ Styles about his match with Matt Sydal later that night. AJ said he wanted to face Sydal as a test and walked off. Adam Pearce walked up to GMC wanting to know where Cornett was? GMC explained Cornett wasn't there but what be at upcoming events.
Six Man Mayhem- Jack Evans vs Trik Davis vs Sal Rinauro vs Kid Mikaze vs Adam Pearce vs Jason Blade- Six man mayhem was the other get as many people on the card as we can match ROH had. Unlike Four corner Survival witch could have anyone in it SMM was mainly for high flying style wrestlers. Only two at a time in the ring you could tag in and out but you could enter with a tag. So the story here is Perace is upset since what he wants is a singles match. Blade and Mikaze started us off. Being partners we got a lot each guy knowing what the other was going for until the finally nailed each other in the mouth. Blade tagged in Pearce while Mikaze tagged in Evans. To give us a few laughs Evans changed Pearce to a trick off and than hit some dance moves. Perace tried to do the moves but well he some meant weren't meant to dance. A pissed Pearce tag in Rinauro. Adam Perace came in and took out his anger on Trick Davis who had tagged in. Perace with a big spin buster and than Giant Swigned Davis. The other wrestlers jumped into help but they all got hit by Davis swinging body.Pearce let the move go and than fell over since he was dizzy as well. Jack Evans went for a running knee strike but Sal dropped and pulled down the rope problem it was clear what Sal had done so it made Evans look like he just ran across the ring and jumped over the rope. Pearce his a big splash on Rinauro. Rinauro pulled and a Sabu and slipped on the ropes going for a move. Blade and Mikaze double teamed Pearce but they missed a high flying move. Pearce hit his finisher the jumping pile driver on Mikaze but Evans came off the top with a 630 taking out Pearce allowing Evans to pin Mikaze. Good match for what it was meant to be a spot fest. Plus the comedy moments were actually funny.
BJ Whitmer with Lacey vs Samoa Joe- Whitmer had hit Joe with a chair at FInal Battle and that led to this match. Joe locked in a cravat but Whitmer escaped and nailed Joe with an elbow.Whitmer nailed a few elbows and forearms before Joe snapped and hit some kicks. Joe whipped Whitmer into a corner and hit him with a running knee Joe actually wound up going over the top rope. Prazak clammed Joe had given Daniels another concussion with the kick from earlier. I found it strange that ROH was restarting the Joe vs Daniels feud just as TNA was starting it up on there show. (Yes I'm aware ROH had both guys first but my point stands.) Joe hit the suicide dive elbow taking Whitmer down. Whitmer got control and taunted Joe by going for the Ole kick but Joe got up and it looked like Joe was about to show him how it was done but Whitmer moved and nailed Joe with a stiff forearm. Finally Joe managed to nail the ole kick and sent Whitmer into the second row. Nasty spot where Whitmer goes to hit the exploder on a propped up table but Misses and instead Joe hits the floor it looked like BJ was just a half step out of position. The announcers were smart and said that did more damage that the table would have. Inside the ring Whitmer goes for a frog splash but Joe rolls out of the way. Joe went for the Ole Kick on the inside but Whitmer caught him in the Exploder Suplex however Joe got his foot on the rope. Whitmer hit a few forearms but Joe fired back with a slap and than a kick that Knocked Whitmer out. And I think he was legit knocked out since we see him not moving after the match. Actually a few good match it stood out given we didn't a lot of heavy striking matches in ROH very often and these were two of the true heavyweights ROH had at the time. Also Joe usually had a size advantage over anyone in ROH he faced so it was nice to see him face someone like BJ.
Jimmy Jacobs was somewhere and talked about his two and half years in ROH. He he started as the guy Alex Shelley used to mess with and than how Ricky Steamboat and BJ Whitmer saw something in him. And talked about he and BJ won the tag belts together. Than he started to talk about Lacey. This was the start of Jimmy Jacobs long Jimmy loves Lacey story. Jimmy declared his love for Lacey. This story had it's problems. It had it's good in that it got Jimmy out out his "Huss" gimmick witch had run it's course the bad being it went on forever and ever and ever and ever and it was pretty much the same stuff every time. Jimmy loves Lacey and she doesn't care. Someone like BJ or Colt pisses off Lacey Jimmy goes after them.
Matt Sydal vs AJ Styles- These two had actually teamed in the past as both men had issues with the Embassy. In storyline AJ had asked for a match with Sydal. AJ hit the kip up rana early on. Even exchanges early on but the vet Styles usually wound up in the advantage. Sydal with a head scissors took AJ down. Sydal goes to charge but AJ hits a phenomenal looking dropkick. AJ hit a brian buster on the ring apron. Sydal with a spinning kick off the second rope. AJ went for a springboard forearm but Sydal caught him with a dropkick as he was coming in. Sydal with a moonsault press off the top rope into the crowd whipping out AJ awesome spot. AJ went for the hangman's neck breaker but Sydal countered. Sydal climbed the top rope and went for the Shooting Star but AJ moved. Man it really is to bad Sydal has been out for so long the guy was an amazing high flyer and WWE could use him right now. AJ goes for the clash but Sydal turns it into an amazing looking hunncanrana. Sydal sent for the Belly to Belly off the top but AJ got him into position for the clash. Again Sydal turns it into Rana but this time AJ rolls through and get the pin. THat's better than the cross body off the top where they roll through since with this move you at least rolling though so I can see the momentum taking over. Very good match between AJ Styles and a guy that many people compared to AJ Styles. You could see why Sydal got the call from WWE a few years later.
Post match AJ got a microphone and put over Sydal. AJ said if he' s Phenomenal there isn't a word to describe Sydal. He than explained why he asked for the match with Sydal. AJ reminded us he had been the ROH world tag team champions with Amazing Red who had never been able to find a replacement for. He offered Sydal the chance to team with him and go after the belt. AJ said he was going to let Sydal think about tit but Sydal didn't need to think and accepted the offer. The new parters left together. I actually liked the Sydal and AJ team and it was an interesting story with Sydal now in position to go against his Generation Next stable mates for the belts. The problem is they started doing this thing where Sydal became the go to guy for random teams to challenge for the tag belts it was just odd given that he would always face his stable mates.
Backstage addressed Christopher Daniels and said he wanted to finish there long standing ROH feud and he would finish Daniels. Good short intense promo by Joe. Adam Pearce walked into the shot and spoke with a rough voice. Pearce explained he had been kicked in the throat during the six man mayhem. He ranted at Cornett and said he would prove his worth and warned Cornett he didn't know the lengths he would go.
Next we see Chris Hero arriving with Necro Butcher, Nate Webb, Adam Flash and CZW referee Bryce Remsberg. Hero hands his music witch is the CZW theme to some ROH staff remember and so it can played. Also Hero isn't making his entrance through ROH entrance all sending the message this man is invading he is not a ROH wrestler he is a CZW wrestler. All nice touches I like that add to the story. Hero gets a microphone. Hero mocks the fans that said he would never wrestle in Ring of Honor. He mocks ROHH and Gabe (by name) and says it reminds him of Nazi Germany for being elitist. And says tonight the wrestler that was never good enough for Ring of Honor will take the title back to CZW and throw it in the trash. I'm never a big of using comparisons to the Nazi's but this a pretty good promo. Hero is always solid on the microphone and brought up some good point. For years there was always this question of why Hero wasn't in ROH or had never been given a tryout or something. And to be honest while Gabe gave a lot of guys big chances he is kind of an elitist. Look Gabe clearly likes what he likes and has a pretty clear cut vision of what he wants what ever company he is with to be. Now he has put aside that at time for Hero here and other guys at times. Also I should note during the match Gabe rejoined commentary under his Jimmy Bower name now and mocked Hero. I think Gabe meant to come off like an ROH guys just hating Hero or towing the line. But instead it come off like an idiot who has never sent a Hero match or worse just burying the guy. Also instead of just mocking Hero why not come out and put over his talent but explain "ROH has never booked this guy because he made so many damn demands." Instead it's "Oh is this that Chris Hero everyone says should be ROH…. He's not good enough he's not a real wrestlers." Even more annoying Gabe wold "Leave" and than return. Now at one point he started playing "panicking member of management." But because Gabe sucks at acting it just lame.
ROH World Heavyweight Championship Bryan Danielson © vs Chris Hero with CZW- Danielson's music actually cut off Hero's promo. Right away before the match could start Hero got in Danielson face. Danielson also had his newly won FIP belt with him while Hero had the CZW tag belt with him. Pretty decent heel heat for Hero but there is a a audible portion of the crowd that is pro CZW. Full nelson but Danielson to start. Hero breaks it into an arm wringer. In a dumb moment Lenny Leonard insists Hero was knocked out by a drop kick that clearly hit him in the chest and it was also clear he was standing on two firm legs. Lots of stalling and milking the crowd reaction which makes for some fun the live crowd boring if your watching the DVD. Danielson goes for the surfboard but Hero gets to the ropes some brawling on the outside. Danielson snaps and hits a series of slaps. Danielson went for a shin breaks but Hero locked in the cravat. Prazak and Leonard actually did a good job of putting over Hero's skills and making him seem like a legit contender. Early on it's really all Danielson in control honestly I think needed to give Hero a lot to build drama but they didn't that way. Finally Hero got control and began working over Danielson arm with a modified hammer lock and stomping on it. Hero with a back breaker while having Danielson's arm in a back breaker. Danielson keeps trying to break Hero's control but every time Hero just attack the arm and re takes control. Hero also starts prying on the fingers when the ref can't see. Danielson with a butterfly suplex and a diving head but. Danielson started using the slap a lot. The problem is he only had one arm so it looks stupid why Hero can't block it. Finally Hero locks in the hangman's clutch but Danielson gets to the ropes. Danielson locks in Cattle Mutilation but Hero rolls out of it. Hero with two Cravat Busters and than back into the hangman's clutch. Danielson was locked in the hold for a period of time before reaching the ropes. Hero hits the Hero's welcome but Danielson kicks at two. Danielson locked in the cross face chicken wing and finally Hero tapped. Good match but both guys could have better. I think a big part of it is Danielson already had beat a number of guys from outside companies like Hustle, NOAH, some indy in Detroit. Also Gabe's efforts to add by announcing did more harm than good since just so bad at it.
Right afar the match Prince Nana's music plays and he makes his entrance. So in other words instead of getting a chance to let what we just saw sink in we are jumping to another story. Nana made Danielson an offer to buy the ROH world title. Audio was awful here so it was hard to hear what either guy was saying. Danielson refused and declined the offer. Nana slapped Danielson and as the champion was about to kill him Rave and Shelley ran out and jumped Danielson. Rave set up for Greeting from Ghana (The Pedigree) but Shelley stopped him so he could hit Sliced Bread #2. Shelley also did the Spanky Dance and we wend the embassy celebrating over the fallen champion. This segment is ok but not perfect. For one I felt it was way to soon after the end of the Gen Next feud witch the Embassy lost to have them going after the world title. I know they had a couple of wins after that but I think a little rebuilding was still needed. Also the Sliced Bread stuff was kind of confusing the idea was that Shelley had learned it from Spanky aka Brian Kendrick when he turned heel in ROH and it was Danielson weakness. Problem is Spanky's heel turn was on one show months ago and he had only been mentioned by James Gibson since leaving. Also and if anyone can say different go ahead but I'm pretty sure we had seen Spanky and Danielson in ROH and he had countered sliced bread. Another thing that bothers me this never became a full feud and I think Danielson vs the Embassy could have a great one. Instead he wrestled Rave and Shelley each once.
Hell Freezes Over is actually the rare show thats where I thought it was when I first watched. It's a good show but not great. Production wise it's fine outside of the end promo. I have not idea why Gabe was still doing announcing at all much less using two fake names when it was clearly the same guy. Ok Matt Pike is the FIP announcer but why not just say its Bower why your going to use the Bower name later. There are some good matches nothing great that you need to see. If your a completes and want to see every chapter in the ROH vs CZW war I could see track it down but you don't have to.
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