Am I to hard ROH? I mean I trashed the milestone series for the most part I didn't enjoy there first PPV on a number of levels. And well if you follow the Facebook page you know I'm not a fan of there current direction. I do think part of it is my fighting back against the "ROH can do no wrong" mindset a number of IWC fans have. Also I disagree with a number of things ROH had done especially pushing guys like Roderick Strong and the Briscoe Brothers into the main event. Also I'm hard on 2006 and 2007 ROH because if it wasn't bad it was getting back. A lot of that has to do with the burning out of Gabe Sapolsky the ROH booker. I know Gabe said in an interview "I will never say I was burned out." But he was burned out. Remember by 2006 Gabe had been booking for four years and the work load had only gotten higher. First because of the ROH business model at the time DVD had to sell so each show had to be PPV like and Gabe admits this. Than ROH goes from running one show a month to two or three and they add double shots meaning they could do maybe four show in a month. On top of that Gabe also started booking FIP. Than add all other stuff that came up over the years like the Rob Feinstein scandal and the loss of the TNA talent because of it killing off some big feuds Gabe was building towards in 04. Plus guys would come and go sometimes to WWE or Japan sometimes they just left wrestling. So hell its no wonder he did burn out.
So to be fair I thought we should take a look back to an earlier show one from 2003 just after ROH had celebrated one year in business. And this is really early on for ROH Samoa Joe has not title yet. CM Punk has only done a handful of matches and guys like Austin Aries, Roderick Strong, and Nigel McGuinness haven't even wrestled there debut for ROH yet and those are months aways. This is also the kind of show why bookers burn out. A number of changes had to take place to the card for various reason for example Paul London was set to team with AJ Styles but than had to have emergency surgery. So ROH pull a great show out even with some bumps or should just expect me to hate everything ROH puts out?
We open with ROH tag team champion Christopher Daniels and his faction the Prophecy that is comprised of ROH champion Xavier, Alison Danger, and Daniels tag partner Donavon Morgan who is a beset from this show. Daniels congratulates Xavier on his win at the first anniversary show. Xavier talks about how everyone thought he would lose to Low Ki, AJ Styles, Jay Briscoe, and Paul London but he still has the belt. Xavier says it doesn't matter who win the number one contenders trophy he will beat them. Daniels talks about ROH making him defend the titles while Morgan is in Japan. Daniels says he couldn't find a better replacement for Morgan the Xavier. Daniels people buy the shows to see him not ROH. Daniels promise to tear down the code of honor. Daniels talks about all the new talent joining the ROH roster but it the Prophecy still holds all the gold. Daniels says who ever wins the tag scramble they will lose to Daniels and Xavier. Daniels than talks about Steve Corino and his faction the group. Alison Danger (who is Corino's sister) claims when the were kids he would hurt and even broke her leg and if he doesn't back off she will reveal his secretes. Daniels and Dangers promos were very good as Daniels has always been on fire when it comes to promos. Xavier's was boring and stuck out like a sore thumb. And him holding the world title was a huge mistake. I think it was a case of ROH trying to out work the net since it would have made more sense for Daniels to win the title but no one would see Xavier coming. Now the guy was by no means awful in the ring but he just wasn't a world champion it be like TNA putting the world title on Wes Briscoe over Bully Ray last year.
Matt Stryker vs Chad Collyer- This is not the Matt Striker who worked for the WWE. Instead Stryker was out of the HWA as was Collyer. This was a rematch from the Revenge of the Prophecy with Collyer win via submission. Fight over the lock up the start. Headlock takedown by Collyer than a head scissors by Stryker. Stryker with a headlock take down and head scissors by Collyer. Head lock takedown by Collyer and he blocks the head scissors. Stryker fights into a top wrist lock countered into a Hammer Lock by Collyer. Stryker with a hammer lock. Collyer escapes and gets a drop toe hold.Collyer with a wrist lock. Takedown by Collyer and he ties up the legs. Greco knuckle lock but Collyer turns it into a top wrist lock. Collyer stomps the arm than goes for an arm bar but Stryker blocks it. Chin lock with the legs tied up by Stryker and Collyer gets the ropes. Back elbow by Stryker. Exchange of holds before Collyer hits a shoulder block. Arm drag by Collyer. Dragon screw leg whip into the Styker Lock but Collyer gets the ropes for the break. Full nelson by Collyer that gets reversed. Knee breaker than trip into a spinning toe hold. Stryker limping on his leg and Collyer kicks it and than stretches the leg than into a single leg crab. Forearms by Stryker. Stryker goes for a high knee but Collyer moves and Stryker hits the pad. Clover leaf by Collyer but Stryker gets the ropes. Collyer kicks at the leg than a vertical suplex. Big forearm and a chop to the back by Stryker. Shin breaker by Collyer is countered. Stryker blocks a clothesline and hits a forearm than a leg lariat. Back body drop by Stryker than a big boot to the face gets two. Stryker goes for a DVD but Collyer escapes. Rana by Stryker is blocked and does a camel clutch into a pin attempt that gets two. Victory rolls exchange. Back slide by Stryker gets two. Collyer goes for La Ma He Stroll but Stryker counters it. Ankle lock by Stryker. Roll up by Collyer for another two. Back to the clover leaf by Collyer but Stryker rolls him up for two. Back to the ankle lock but Collyer rolls him up for two. Stryker monkey flip blocked. Collyer rolls through on a sunset flip and locks in the clover leaf for the submission win. Awesome opening match I love matches like this lots of exchange and counters. Some great technical wrestling. I used to love watch both Collyer and Styker work in the HWA and in ROH.
Low Ki is meeting with the Da Hit Squad Dan Maff and Monster Mac. Maffia snaps when Low Ki says he wants to cut the promo. Maffia insulting calls Low Ki "Mr. ROH" while he and Mac are just mid carder. Mac asks where this is coming from before telling them to work it out later. Low Ki starts to address the heel faction Special K. Low Ki says the disrespected what they do and the code of honor and tonight they will beat some respect into the. Ki talks about the talent Special K has but they won't do anything without respect. Maff interrupts again to yell Boyaka. Maff just says lets leave it at that. Ki asks if it's true Homicide is bring the thugs back. Maff admits they are already here. Interesting promo to set up a lot that was going on. Da Hit Squad and Low Ki had been trained by Homicide and Maff was getting ready to turn heel and join up with Daniels. Meanwhile Ki was going to have issues with Homicide bring in the thugs from the street.
Slim J with Slugger and Highjinks vs Amazing Red- I reviewed Slim J back during my FIP reviews he was out of NWA Wild Side and in ROH he was a member of Special K. Red with a head lock than a top wrist lock. Arm drags by both men head scissors by Slim J. Red offers his hand but Slim J kicks the hand. Shoulder block by Red. Monkey flip by Slim J but Red lands on his feet. Clotheslines by Red turns Slim J inside out. Slim J to the outside and Red with a flip dive over the head of Highjinks onto J. We see Highjinks doing something implied to be drugs so Red punches him. Running single kick to the face by Red. Slim J with a flip kick off the second rope. Kick to the balls by Slim J when the referee isn't looking. Suplex by Slim J. Electric chair set up by Slim J but reverse Rana by Red. Cover by Red but Slim J gets his foot on the ropes. Cradle DDT by Slim J gets two.Spring board into an inverted DDT by Slim J. Slugger trips Red allowing Slim J to hit a body scissors takedown. Big boot by Red than flying STO for two. F 5 by Red. Low blow by Slim J than body slam. Slim J climbs the ropes and hits a moonsault but Red catches him for ace crusher. Back to the electric chair by Slim J. Red goes for the reverse Rana but Slim J just shrugs him off Red lands on his feet and hits a series of kicks. Red Start press gets two. Another trip by Slugger but Red Kicks him. Inverted pile driver by Red for the win. Good match much better than anything else I have seen from Slim J. During the match the revealed AJ Styles had asked Red to be his partner since London couldn't make it to the show.
Post match Slugger comes in the ring to hit a move he calls the body bag to layout Red. Red was in a mini feud with Special K at this point so that was meant to get them some heat back after Red won. Also it was meant to make it hater for Red and AJ. Truth is while on the commentary the explained Red would be AJ"s parter. That night fans had no idea. AJ actually wrestled the scramble mach for the title shot alone and I think they wanted fans to not guess it could be Red who would team with him later.
In the ring Gary Michael Capettia introduces CM Punk. Punk talks about his straight edge lifestyle and how it makes him better than you and Raven. Punk claims the people's hero Raven isn't even there. Punk says if The was there he would stink the place up worse than Konnan did in Philly. As Punk is about to exit Raven walks right through the curtain and backs him up to the ring. Raven gets a microphone and sits in a corner. Raven says Punk is full of cap. Raven admits his older amen maybe he's not the man he was and the camera shot is moving all over as the guy tires to climb up on the apron since Raven stood up. Raven says there is no chance the will stink worse Konnan. Punk says all the drugs Raven has done just wore him down. Punk says Raven could never beat him in a normal match. Raven says Punk might be right so lets make it Raven Rules. Punk claims that would be the easy way for Raven. Raven agrees to wrestle the first ten minutes ROH style. Raven goes to leave but Punk attacks him. Raven with some punches and goes for the DDT but Punk escapes. It's a decent segment given how good the guys are on the microphone and there is natural feud there. Some production issues hurt it though first the audio was tough to hear second it was shot with one camera and when the guy would move he would actually stop shooting the action.
Tag Team Scramble Winner Gets a Shot at the ROH World Tag Team Titles Later that Night
The Carnage Crew Loc and DeVito vs Backset Boys Trent Acid and Johnny Kashmere vs AJ Styles with Alexis Laree vs The SAT Jose and Joel Maximo- Rules are one fall to a finish if someone rolls out of the ring another wrestler can take his place. As I mentioned earlier AJ was set to team with Paul London for this show but London had to under go emergency sinus surgery so he was going solo for this part and Alexis is the future Mickie James. The Carnage Crew's gimmick was they were a couple of blue collar guys. The Backseat Boys you would know from a number of companies around Philly mainly CZW The SAT's are an east coast team that had some appearances in TNA. Trent Acid and Jose starts us off. Head lock takedown by Acid. Joel with a few rolls up. Firemen's carry into a pin by Acid. Acid offers the hand but Jose sweeps the leg. Exchange of punches. Jose goes for a Belly to Back suplex but Acid lands on his legs. Head Scissors by Jose. Blue Thunder Driver by Acid and Jose goes out. Loc does in and knock Acid to the floor with one stiff shot. In comes Kashmere. Spear by Kahmere. Joel tag in by touching Kashmere Loc rolls out and here comes AJ Styles. Single leg by AJ and he keeps control on the exchange of holds. AJ with a trip and into a bridge cover. Awful looking Rana by Joel takes AJ down. Enziquire sends Joel to the floor. AJ out to the apron setting up for something but first he nails the charging Jose. Moonsault off apron into the inverted DDT by AJs. Suicide dive by Jose takes out AJ. Summer fault off the apron by Loc whips out there guys on the floor. Double flip dives by the Backseat Boys takes out everyone. Devito climbs up the turn buckle and hits a moonsault press to the floor. Joel back in the ring and a senton off the top that comes short good news enough guys saw it was going to be short and moved to catch him. AJ back in the ring and hits a spring board shooting star press to floor a move out of Paul London's playbook. Back in the ring it's Styles and Acid who scares with a kick to the back. Back elbow by Kashmere as Acid hits a shoulder to the stomach than double bulldog on AJ. Devito in and his a Double clothesline on the Backseats. Devito with a vertical suplex on Kashmere as Devito dives off the top for a double team. SAT's in and take out Devito and Loc. Kashmere bails out . In comes AJ but the gets planted by the SAT's. Devito takes Joel out to the floor. AJ goes to hit the ropes but Acid pulls down the ropes and AJ goes to the floor. Yakuza by Acid on Jose. Hart attack by the Backseats. Loc in with a neck breaker on Kashmere than a double electric chair on Acid. Neck breaker and Moonsault combo by SAT's. AJ takes out one SAT with a drop kick. Wheel barrow by AJ on Jose plants him down. Discos lariat by AJ on DeVito. Acid in and attacks AJ. Pump handle suplex by AJ. AJ climbs to the top but Joel cuts him off. SAT's set up for spanish fly but the Carnanage Crew cuts them off. T- Gimmick by the Backseats on Loc. AJ with a sunset slip into a power bomb for a pin by AJ on Jose. I think AJ was trying for a clash but for what ever reason Jose didn't want to take it. Good match but a little sloppy at times. Still it was meant to be a high spot match and that is what we got.
AJ leaves with Alexis as The Outcast Killaz of Orman Tatuga and Diablo Santiago make there way to the ring and take a microphone. Gabe and Ray Mauroo explain that the Killers are part of the ROH ring crew and they were hoping to get an opportunity in ROH. The Killaz confront the SAT's. Orman demands to know when they are getting a chance. The Killaz jump the SAT. Bit boot Side russian leg sweep but the KIllaz on Jose. Joe takes out Tatuga than he and Jose hit an assisted DDT off the top on Santiago. Orman climbs to the top rope but it cut off allowing the SAT's hit the Spanish Fly. Strange booking you would think the Killaz would beat up the tired SAT's and get some heat instead it just seemed like Gabe was worried the fans would be pissed they didn't get to see the Spanish Fly.
Special K Dixie, Angel Dust and Deranged with Brian XL Slim J and Hydro vs The Da Hit Squad Mafia, Monster Mac and Low KI- The Idea behind Special K was they were spoiled rich kids who wasted there parents moneys on Raves and Drugs. Most of it's members got there start in JAPW. The one member more main stream fans would know is Hydro who is better known as Jay Lethal. Da Hit Squad were a big powerful team also out of JAPW and they like Low Ki are trained by Homicide. Mafia would also be known as Dan Maff. OH NO Julius Smokes just appeared in the crowd as one of the thugs Homicide had brought in. The three members of Special K tease like they are going for a dive Ki and Squad see it but it's a distraction allowing the other members of Special K members to hit flip dives to start the action. Dixie and Dust try for dives but get Caught Deranged goes one again but gets kicked by Low Ki. Low Ki and Deranged into the ring. Double chops by Low Ki and than knife edge chops by Low Ki. Gabe mentions that Low Ki had asked to face Special K so he could beat some respect into them. Tag to Monster Mac who tosses Deranged into the air so Ki can kick him as he jumps off the top. Tag to Mafia who tears the shirt off Deranged to chop him. Mafia docs a spin kick.and hits a spin buster than hits a butterfly suplex than tosses Deranged on Dixie who was coming into the ring. Tag back to Mac who hits a headbutt. Blind tag by Dixie who comes in. Dixie with a rana on Mac but than he charges across the ring and takes an over head belly to belly suplex into the corner. Low Ki tags in and sets up for the series of kicks. Dixie sees what is about to happen and quickly tags in Angel Dust. Angel tries a leg sweep leaped over by Low Ki. Angel tries a spin kick that is ducked. Double chop by Low Ki. Low Ki tears of Angel's shirt and double chop to the back than chop to the chest. Knee by Low Ki and more chops. Yakuza kicks by Low Ki. Upper cuts and chops by Low Ki be before a slap to the face. Angel moves on a corner splash and than snap mares Low Ki down. Angel goes for one of Low Ki's trade mark spots kicks to the back followed by a sliding kick to the front but Ki catches the foot so Low Ki shows him how it's done. Dust again moves on a corner splash. KI hangs Dust from the corner and kicks the back. Hanging dragon clutch by Low Ki. Gabe goes nuts saying it's a new vacation the truth is they were slipping and Ki just grabbed on at the last second to avoid doing the botch he and AJ did on a TNA PPV. Finally they drop to the mat and Ki keeps the clutch locked in. Ki drag Dust to the corner and tag in Mafia. Mafia holds Angel Dust allowing Low Ki to kick him. Dixie tries to make a save but eats a sidekick from Low Ki. Mac stacks up Angel Dust and Dixie for another Low Ki kick than german suplex by Mafia. Deranged in no tag but the ref allows it Hydro grabs on to Mafia's leg allowing Slim J to kick him. Enziquire by Deranged. Head Scissors by Deranged. Mafia tossed to the ground allowing the rest of Special K to put the boots to him. Tag to Dixie triple team in the corner by Special K. Dragon suplex on Angel Dust than a release German on Dixie by Mafia. Tag to Low Ki who chops and beats on Deranged the combo kick Brian XL on the apron but he is kicked off by Low Ki. Ki Krusher set up for. Hydro into the ring but takes a Low Ki side kick. Krush Rush onto Hydro. Angel Dust runs in an eats a Monster Mac clothesline. Cannon ball by Mafia.
Slim J up onto the top turn buckle with a chair Mac hits the ropes and Slim J falls over putting the chair in front of Angles Dust's face. Mac with what they claim was a diving head but into the chair but in looks more like he climbed the ropes jumped off and than missed a coast to coast. A turn buckle pad has been pulled off. Deranged hits Mac with the pad witch he sells even though it's a a pad. Deranged hits Mac with chair right in front of the referee Gabe claims the ref won't DQ since he wants an conclusive finish. You know that kind of flies when a guy jumps in illegally and doesn't land anything before getting taken out it doesn't when a wrestlers uses a weapon. Finally Slim J jumps in and starts kicking Low KI and that is the DQ. WHAT THE FUCK? Post match the beat down on Low Ki keeps going. Low Ki fights back and retakes the ring. Special K starts to leave as Low Ki calls for the microphone. And says he doesn't' want a DQ and tells the referee to restart the match with all six members of Special K being legal. Ki and Squad attack in the aisle. Low Ki brings Dixie and Slim J back into the ring. Kick to Slim J. Dixie pulls some pills out his pocket offers them to Low Ki. Low Ki pops it much to the shock of Gabe. Music starts to play. Low Ki starts to stumble around and falls to the ground. XL and Slim J pick Low Ki up and dance with him. Low Ki spits out the pill. You ever seen a bad marital arts movie where the thugs all attack one at time allowing the hero to do some cool moves we than gets that from a wrestling match. Dixie taken down with a cloth line. Tidal crush on Dixie. Hit Squad return Everyone this the there finisher on Special K for the win. Gabe than claims "We just proved we can do sports entertainment better than anyone." And starts to rave about ow great it was. You know what Gabe I give the WWE a lot of shit I really do. But even at there worst I can't see them being this stupid! Hell if anything it came off like something ECW would try to get people talking about it kind of like the how lesbian kiss.
Match starts off ok but than it goes down the shit hole fast and turn into an over booked nightmare. First tag were completely forgotten about and I don' mean old heel exchange when the referee ins't looking I mean it felt like guys would just jump in and be legal. You have an awful botch than a guy selling hitting hit by a pad. Yes it's a giant pad but still a pad. A weapon doesn't cause a DQ but than right after than a guy comes in and stomps on someone that is DQ? Than we have Low Ki restarting a match even though he should have the power to do that and I think Special K was refusing. Than we have the end witch ranks up there among the stupidest things I have ever seen on any wrestling show ever. How has wrestle crap never inducted that? I don't what they going for if they wanted it to be funny or shocking all I know is the crowd was dead silent for it.
Backstage GMC interviews is with the Carnage Crew. The Crew remind us they don't care if they win or lose they just want to beat people. Loc rants about all the BS they go through in there life and how they are sick of there fat wives and nagging kids. DeVito claims they go out and break some bones and they win. GMC says the Christopher Street Connection and the Kids From Texas were after them. Never let the Carnanage Crew talk again awful promo. Next GMC interviews Raven. Trinity walks by and Raven starts to hit on her. I guess the DVD was running short so they added that 30 second segment.
The Ring Crew Express Dunn and Marcos vs Quiet Storm and Ghost Shadow- Quiet Storm worker a few shows for TNA. Marcos gets a microphone that doesn't' work so he gets another. Than he talks but again audio is bad so I can't understand what he is saying. Marcos and Storm start us off. Shoulder block by Storm tag to Shadow than a spine buster followed by a spinning elbow drop. Head scissors by Marcos sends Shadow into the corner. Tag to Dunn who hits a clotheslines. Assisted slice bread by the Ring Crew Express. Climbing Shinning Wizard by Shadow. Muscle Buster by Samoa…. I man Ghost Shadow. Spinal shock by Storm. Gory slam by Dunn. Double tag in comes Storm and Marcos. Forearms on both members of RCE by Storm. Sling shot by Storm into a Shadow who hits a ace crusher. Shine breaker by Storm. Rolls up into a ankle lock by Storm and Marcos taps out. Ok mach nothing to special just something quick to come back from intermission.
Fist few minutes are under ROH Rules rest is under Raven's Rules
CM Punk vs Raven with Trinity- Trinity was most know for her run in TNA she also worked in WWE on the new ECW. Raven had been cut by the WWE a few months earlier and looking to rebuild his rep by working for ROH and TNA. Hip toss by Punk to start. Raven goes for a hip toss but Punk counters and does one of his own again. Shoulder tackle by Punk than a drop kick off ducked clothesline. Punk starts to mock Raven. Headlock by Punk and another shoulder tackle. Arm drags than a hip toss by Raven and drop kick by Raven sends Punk to the floor. Raven twisting over the top rope takes out Punk. Gabe claims he hasn't seen him do that since 1997. Snapmare by Raven than a rolling neck snap. Head lock by Raven. Punk drives Raven into the corner and gets free. Punk goes to the floor. Raven gets on the microphone and says he has out wrestled Punk now he is brining out the plunder. Punk grabs a chair and heads back into the ring. Raven ducks a swing char. Punk hits the ropes and the chair bounces back into Punk's head. Punk to the floor and he goes after Trinity. Raven gives chase and Punk turns around to hit Raven with the chair. Punk drives the chair into Raven's stomach and than whips him into the guard rail. The Guard rail gives way. Raven reverses another whip and Punk into the guar rail and than one just comes apart and caves in. Raven picks up a spare guard rail and hits Punk with it. Punk punches Raven in the stomach and send him back to the ring. Vertical suplex by Punk. Punk sets a chair in the corner and whips Raven into it. Raven to the outside. Punk rakes the boot against Raven's face. Raven blocks the suplex and hits one on Punk who screams in agony. Raven sends Punk into post. Punk ducks another chair shot. Power slam by Punk in the ring. Raven climbs to the top and goes for a leg drop but Raven moves. Belly to back suplex by Raven and both men are down. Punk with a sleeper hold and we seen Raven is bleeding. Gabe explains that Raven has been injured during a TNA show and the injury had been opened. The referee checks the arm but since this isn't 1970 and Punk isn't named Piper so Raven keeps the arm up on the third check. Raven reverse and gets a sleeper of his own chin breaker by Punk breaks the hold. Discos clothesline by Raven. Raven whips Punk into the corner and hits the ropes for a that short arm clothesline he does. Big knee lift by Raven than the bulldog. Punk kicks at two on the cover. Raven sits Punk on the top rope. Superplex is blocked of Punk shoves Raven off. Raven catches the missile drop kick and lock in the sharp shooter. Although the doesn't have it locked in right I think either Raven wanted to lock in an STF but than gave up but was to far gone on it to do the move so Gabe claims its a modified Sharp Shooter. Punk gets the ropes to break the hold. Raven back to the floor and and gets a table. Punk with a baseball slide into the table driving it into Raven. Trinity checks on Raven. Punk whips Trinity into the guard rail. Suicide dive by Punk whips out Raven again. Trinity up and she hosts a moonsault press off the top rope onto Punk. Punk throws a chair into Raven's head when both men stand up. Punk drives the top of the chair into Raven's head. Punk puts Trinity onto the table and than hits a leg drop off the top rope putting her through it. Neck breaker onto the knee by Punk than the shinning wizards gets two. Punk hits the DDT. Punk locks in the devil lock. Raven best the ropes. Raven ducks a clotheslines and Punk hits the referee. Punk gets up a chair in the ring but Raven drop toe holds Punk into the hair. Referee is still down. Punk with a low blow than back to devil lock and Raven taps out. Very good match. If the mid 90's was Raven's peak in terms of great matches I would say 2002 to about 2006 was his second best era. Punk had picked up a few wins in ROH but this was the biggest and his feud was Raven was key to putting him into the main event.
Post match Punk mocks Raven's pose than does his own straight edge pose. Punk demands Raven shake his hand. The fans start chanting Punk is an ass hole. Raven takes Punk's hand but Punk kicks him. Raven fights back and sets up for the Raven effect DDT. The referee stops Raven and tells him that's not allowed in ROH. Raven DDT's the referrer.Decent heat getting segment for Punk as Raven doesn't even get to send the crowd home happy spot.
Number 1 Contenders Trophy Match Four Corner Survival
BJ Whitmer vs EZ Money vs Samoa Joe vs Homicide - The number one contenders trophy is just what it sounds like the winner is the number one contender to the ROH world title. Who ever held the thing could also defend it making it a secondary title at times for ROH. There is some back story to this match Joe had debuted at Gory by Honor as the hired gun of the Prophecy to take out Low Ki it was meant to be a one time only booking but the match was so good he became a regular. So Joe worked for Daniels but was never one his followers Joe had turned on the Prophecy to join up with the Group Led by Steve Corino. Corino had also just stabbed Homicide in the back kicking off there long feud and at a NYC show a "riot" had broken out between the group, Homicide's thugs and the rest of the ROH locker room trying restore order. We see Smokes is back with some other guys and Becky Bayless who would for ROH as a valet and interview you may know here as Cookie in TNA. Yeah anytime "thugs" showed up in ROH they were usually people Homicide had trained or in Smokes case his good friend. Joe and Homicide get face to face before the match. Homicide demands Joe start the match with him but Joe won't so it's BJ and EZ that start. Arm wringer by EZ. BJ flips free to a hammer lock. Reversed by EZ. Shoulder tackle by BJ. Hip toss by EZ. Tag to Homicide by BJ and EZ tags in Joe. Lock up and Joe gets a head lock. Arm drag by Homicide. Monkey flip by Joe. Running forearm by Homicide he goes for another one but get the ST Joe. Joe tags in BJ who hits a high knee and gets two. Running knee by Homicide to BJ's head. Forearms by Whitmer. EZ money tags and hits the money flip on Whitmer. Inverted crap into a pendulum by EZ Money. Spin kick to the face by Money gets two. Money tags in Joe. Chops by Joe. Chop to the back and kick to the chest by Joe. Joe's special boston crab by Joe on Whitmer. Homicide comes in and takes shot at Joe. Tag to Money. Money with a shoulder block on Whitmer. Spinning vertical suplex by Money. Seated stretch by Money. Joe comes in and headbutts Money. Tag to Homicide by Money. Kick to the back by Homicide. Homicide goes for the lariat. Whitmer catches it and hits a Dragon Suplex for two. Homicide sends Whitmer to the floor. Topa Con Hilo by Homicide. Joe with a dive but I think he caught his feet on hit as he comes up a little shorter than usual. EZ Money to the top ropes and body press off it. Homicide and Money in the ring. Chop exchange. Homicide goes to the eyes. Top rope rana by Homicide but EZ Money hooks the ropes. Block Buster by Money who than takes time to pose. Whitmer in with a leg lariat but Joe takes out Whitmer with an elbow. Chops and slaps by Homicide and Joe. Eye poke by Homicide all that does is piss Joe off so we get rabid fire chops. Power bomb by Joe. Homicide grabs the arm for the worse looking Tri Angle Joke not done by the Undertaker ever. Joe some knees to Homicide's head. Whiter up and he takes out Joe with a forearm. Homicide with a T-Bone suplex on BJ. No sell by Whitmer and hits an exploder. No sell gain and again and again. Joe back in Power bomb on Whitmer than the STF. Homicide breaks up the submission. Joe tags in Money who hits a double stomp on Whitmer. Second rope moonsault by Money but Whitmer has the legs up. BJ tags in Homicide. Lariat by Money than a knee to the back. Blind tag on Money by Joe. Homicide hits an ace crusher after blocking Joe's lariat. Low blow by Homicide than a big boot. Homicide locks in the STF on Joe. Money breaks it up. The Cha ching (Suplex Bomb) by Money but Whitmer breaks up the pin. Chin breaker onto the ropes by Money puts down Whitmer. Whitmer counters the Cha Cing and hits the Exploder 98/ wrist clutch exploder suplex. Homicide and Joe break it up. Knee to the jaw by Joe. German suplex by Money on Joe. Money takes time play to the fans. Cha Ching blocked. Joe locks in the rear naked choke and Money taps out. Very good match. Although you knew Money and Whitmer had no chance of winning they did great job of making you think for a second hey maybe.
Post match Homicide and Joe would get face to face. Joe is handed the trophy. Homicide yells it's not over Joe or Steve Corino. Joe gets int eh faces of the thugs. Joe starts to leave but the thugs start come after him. Security holds them back. Joe and Homicide start brawl as the locker room comes out to separate them. Something goes down in the parking lot but the Fans blocks the camera from seeing it. We see Mafia yelling at Gabe Sapolsky he won't go to the back. More stuff is going on outside and again we don't see what. Amazing this is show before ROH started turing out all the lights and I still don't see what is going. As a results I'm not sure if Mafia is pissed at Joe, the thugs getting in since the idea was that Da Hit Squad and Low Ki didn't like Homicide's thugs or what.
ROH Tag Team Championship
Christopher Daniels © and ROH Heavyweight Champion Xavier with Alison Danger vs AJ Styles and The Amazing Red with Alexis Laree- AJ had a number of run ins with The Prophecy and had come up his shot at Xavier. (as had London thus the storyline for them teaming together) Red had also pinned Xavier at Road to the Title. They claim during the match that the entire faction is the champion so any members can defend even though all ROH history lists Daniels and Morgan as champions. Daniels and Xavier jumps Red and Styles at the start. Double clothesline by AJ. AJ elevates Red who hits a double kick. Stereo flip dives by Styles and Red to the floor after the champions bail out. Daniels and Xavier stall. Xavier and Red in the ring. Red tosses Red to the floor. Xavier charges but Red block. Big toss by Xavier sends Red across the rope. Xavier taunts the fans and Red kicks him. Xavier catches one but that just allow Red to hit an enziquire. DDT by Red gets two. Xavier bails to the floor. Gabe starts claiming Xavier might be woozy. AJ and Daniels are in and they lock up. AJ keeps powering out. Go behind by Daniels but AJ bars the arm and than gets the hammer locks. Headlock takedown by Daniels but Styles gets a head scissors. Escape by Daniels back to the headlock. AJ Powers into a top writs lock and a head lock of his own Shoulder block by AJ and a second one. Hip toss than a drop kick by Daniels. Shoulder block by Daniels but a kip up rana by AJ . Jackhammer by AJ followed by the spin kick and he gets Xavier as he is coming in as well. Tag to Red. 718 by Red followed by the AJ senton. Head scissors take down by Red and he tag back in AJ. Belly to back suplex by AJ. Daniels thumbs eyes and tags in Xavier. AJ with a leg lariat before Xavier can attack. Lariat in the corner by AJ. Power slam by Xavier. Cobra clutch suplex by Xavier. Tag back to Daniels. Neck breaker by the Fallen Angel. Cravat by Daniels than into a neck snap. Tag back to Xavier. Double team beat down on AJ. Stiff forearm by Xavier. Inverted lung blower by Xavier gets two. Xavier with a back breaker. Tag to Daniels who hits a delayed vertical suplex. Daniels twist at the neck of Styles. Xavier tags in. Daniels hangs AJ on the ropes and hits a cutter as Xavier comes off the top with an elbow to the back. AJ ducks a double clothesline and hits a drop kick. Hot tag to Red who comes off the double with a double missile dropkick. Spin kicks on the champions. Monkey flip by Red on Xavier. Daniels attacks Red but misses a splash. Red sets for another Monkey flip this time on Daniels but Xavier hits a cutter onto the ropes. Xavier holds Red for the clothesline but Red ducks so Daniels hits his partner. AAJ tags and clothesline for Daniels than a drop kick. Inverted DDT off the Moonsault by AJ. Hangman's neck breaker by AJ. Danger grabs AJ's boot and AJ grabs her by the hair and calls in Alexis who spears Danger. Cat fight inverted DDT on Danger. Xavier up and hits AJ with kiss you X goodbye (Pump handle pile driver) Xavier covers but Red makes the save. Red hits the Code Red but Daniels breaks the cover. Belly to back suplex neck breaker combo by Xavier and Daniels on AJ than sit-down powerbomb neck breaker combo on Red. Daniels misses a cross body and takes an AJ enziquri. Xavier and AJ square off. Kick exchange AJ nails Xavier in the head. Spin kick to the head by AJ. Brian Buster by AJ gets two. Daniels in and hits an STO on AJ. Daniels gives Red an STO and than goes for the Best Moonsault Ever. AJ makes the save. STO into the koji clutch on AJ. Daniels his the angels wings on AJ but Red with another save. Daniels goes for a slam on Red who rolls him up for two. Daniels goes for a superplex on Red. AJ pulls him down and hits the Styles Clash. Ok and the finish is really badly botched. Red is on the top and I think he was expecting to hit a big move. He than fails to stop Xavier from breaking up the pin and the ref counts three anyway. To bad because the finish damages an other great match. It also takes away from a big moment of AJ and Red being the first guys to take a title from the top heel group. Sadly we never see Red and Styles with the tag belts. The ROH tag belts at the time looked awful and Gabe even mocked them on commentary but still we have new champions and I think we should see the new champions picking up the belts.
Homicide talks about how Corino may say its over but its not. Homicide says he has peoples behind him anytime to watch his back. Homicide says this will be more violent than the riot. Smokes and company walk up to Homicide.Smokes starts talking his damn "rap" and demand to know what is up with Low Ki. And we hear that damn Yeah Yeah Bee At bullshit. Homicide tells them not to worry about Low Ki. More none sense from Smokes. Homicide says World War Three has just begun. Gabe asks Daniels for a promo. Daniels demands to be left alone. Daniels refuses and rants he' sheen screwed. CM Punk says wrestling is life not a hobby. Punk says he knows he is in Raven's head and talks about the match match for the next show where Raven will team with Colt Cabana and Punk will train with Ace Steel. Punk says Raven was born and Philadelphia and he will die there to. Punk says Raven's time in ROH is Never More quote me on it. Homicide's promo was good until Smokes showed up both Daniels and Punk were great Punks being particular strong it wasn't a "pipe bomb" level promo but the potential was there.
Am I to hard on ROH? Hell no the shows I review usually just suck! This show however is pretty good book wise. The only real issue I have is the dumb ass insane "rave" stuff with Low Ki and Special K. The rest of the show is pretty solid just a few mistakes here or there. There are some production issues with audio even on commentary there were a couple of times the voices would gets strange like there speaking though those voice chaining things you see on TV for spy shows. Commentary is handled by Ray Mercer who is about at the same level as Mark Nultey he's not awful but I've heard better. Gabe Sapolsky is on commentary and is better than usual but not great he also uses the name Chris Lovey see not only did Gabe have a Jimmy Bower is drinking story but when he went with the Jimmy Bower name he clammed "I want to be more serious so I ma now using my real name." Video quality is a little bit worse than I'm used to from ROH but I can forgive that given the time period and the fact it was early on. Plus light sweet beautiful light. This was before ROH started during out all the light in the arena and using lamps to light the ring. So when anyone brawled outside of the ring I could actually see what is going on. So Expect the Unexpected is recommend by me especially if you want to look back at the early days of ROH.
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