Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Flashback Review ROH Gut Check

 One night after his hour long draw with Nigel McGuinness, ROH world champion Bryan Danielson had another two out of three falls match set this time in Chicago vs Colt Cabana. So yeah another hour long draw ending one fall a piece. And yeah once the result from Epic Encounter II it was clear to anyone they next night was going to do the same thing. Now don't get me wrong I do think do correctly an hour long draw can be entreating or a good part of a storyline. These weren't done correctly as both were meant to be blow offs to feuds Danielson was in. On top of that Danielson had just done an hour long draw with Samoa Joe right before these two shows. What really frustrates me is ROH booker Gabe Sapolksly knows how to book an hour long draw. The Punk vs Joe matches. The first one never really dragged they didn't have a stipulation that made it clear they had to do a while and it was first time Joe hadn't won an ROH title match. It was first time Joe couldn't say he was the better man in that match. This show features the first appearance of Jim Cornette since his heel turn so yeah its time for full on heel Corn Ball. At the very least the title of the show is fitting. It's a Gut Check for me to get through this.

Video Recap is the same as the last show we jump right into the main show. Colt Cabana is with Lacey as agonized Jimmy Jacobs looks on. Lacey says she had fun last night but tonight will be more special since Colt is brining the title to Lacey's angels. Colt says business is business and fun is fun before walking off. Lacey than starts to yell at Jimmy demanding he take out BJ Whitmer. Jimmy starts talking about Cabana seducing Lacey but he will win her love even he has to kill BJ Whitmer. Jimmy than starts to cry. We cut to BJ Whitmer who talks about how crazy things have gotten the last two times he wrestled Jimmy. BJ says tonight he puts Jimmy behind him and than starts his quest to become ROH world champion. Jimmy is trying to get something good going hear but sadly the segment feels lost and it makes Lacey look stupid since it was clear Colt wasn't there to be her client. It so ironic that BJ is cutting a promo about ending his feud with Jacobs because they they would feud well into 2007.

Nigel McGuinness and The Embassy Jimmy Rave and Sal Rinauro vs Delirious and The Irish Airborne Jake and Dave Crist- Nigel was sporting a black eye from the match the night before. Nigel was smart enough to get of the ring before Rave got in meaning he got laugh as he fans threw the toilet paper at Rave. Jake Crist and Rave start us off. Arm wringer by Rave. Jake reveres and gets a wrist lock. Single leg to a leg scissors by Rave. Jake escapes and gets a head lock and than nails a shoulder tackle. Back kick by Rave who locks in a top wrist lock. Tag to Delirious. Rave runs away and tags Sal Rinauro in. Sal pie faces Delirious. Go behind by Delirious  and than he lupus up the fingers for his own take on the face wash. Rave slaps Sal for letting the happen. Head lock by Rinauro. Delirious no sells a shoulder tackle and than dares Sal to try again. Sal does but Delirious bails to the floor to run some laps. Leaping lariat by Delirious than a back drop suplex. Kick to the back and tag to Dave Crist. Crist in with a stomp to the chest.  Drop kick by Dave than a tag to Jake. Double team by the Airborne tag back to Dave Crist. Sal gets free and tag Save.  Arm drag  and a hip toss by Dave. Walking the ropes arm drag by Dave. Nigel McGuinness tags himself in. Exchange of the wrist lock by the former HWA stars. Shoulder block by Nigel. Dave kips up and Jimmy nails him in the back before tagging in. Jimmy refuse to tag Nigel and instead tags in Sal who hits a running knee. Suplex into a pin by Rinauro get two. Tag back to Rave who kick Dave in the side. Sal tag back in and stomps to the back of the head. Sal tears at the face of Dave Crist. Rave tags back in. Dave over the back of Rave and he tags in Delirious. House of fire time he send Rave crashing into Sal and nails Nigel. Roll up and Rave gets. Delirious keeps causing Rave to nail Sal by mistake. Bizzaro driver on Rave gets two. Sal attack and hits  chin breaker setting up for the Rave running knee that gets two. Superkick by Sal followed by Rave spear for two. The Airborne send Sal to the floor and go after rave. Double team Spin buster by the Crist Brother. Kaprana by Dave on Jimmy. Lung blower power bomb combo on Sal. Jake Crist tags in Legally and hits Rave with a neck break for two. Nigel makes the save and sends Jake to the floor. Nigel forces Jimmy Rave to tag. Delirious in no tag. Nigel goes for the jawbreaker lariat but Delirious catches him in a drop toe hold. Rave attack but get planted on Nigel than Sal get planed onto of Rave who is still on top of Nigel. Jake with a super fly splash onto the pile followed by Dave with a double stomp onto it. The Embassy to floor. Pair of dives by the Crist Brothers takes them out. Down to Nigel and Delirious. Hammer lock takedown by Nigel. Delirious crotches on the ropes.  Nigel takes to much time setting up the diving lariat so he takes a double team drop kick bro the Airborne. Double Superplex set up for. The Embassy in and make the save for Nigel. Double drop kick on the Embassy by Jake. Dave is on the ropes allowing Nigel to hit that diving lariat. Jaw breaker lariat on Jake for the win. Good opening match. I understand why they gavin Nigel the pin this was rebuilding him from having lost out on the world title. This was also the start of a an eventual Rave vs Nigel feud as the two had tension throughout  the match.

Jimmy Jacobs with Lacey vs BJ Whitmer- Yes these two former partners are still feuding and now with the CZW feud over the go with the full feud. There first match had featured a shocking spot where Whitmer slipped on a top rope power bomb causing both men to fall to the floor unprotected Jimmy even smacking his head on the apron. The second match had featured a power bomb off the ropes tot eh floor. I should note Jimmy isn't not acting as despondent as he was earlier I assume that was the call made based off the fact the fans couldn't have seen any of the backstage stuff with Colt Cabana yet. Jacobs jumps BJ at the start. BJ no sells the punches and they starts to trade. Whitmer sends Jacobs tot he floor. Jimmy moves before the suicide dive the first time but BJ stops himself from diving tries again and hits Jimmy on the second attempt. Jacobs gets sat in a chair as BJ chops him. Whitmer rams Jacobs face into some chairs. More big chops from Whitmer.  Whitmer gets a whip reversed and goes into the guard rail. Jacobs sends Whitmer into the guard rail again this time via the hair. Jacobs chokes Whitmer. Running drop kick by Jacobs when Whitmer head is next to the post. JYD style head butts from Jacobs. Elbow drop by Jacobs. Kicks to the ribs by Jacobs. Whitmer fires up but gets slapped in the face. Running kick to the face by Jimmy. Diving head butt to the chest by Jacobs gets two. Spine buster by Whitmer out of no where. Whitmer with a body slam. Whitmer to the floor and sets up the time keepers table. This gives Jacobs a chance to catch to hit a drop kick when BJ is trying to climb back into the ring. Jacobs goes for a move off the second rope but Whitmer catches him and hits a power bomb. Whitmer points to the table as he has Jacobs in power bomb position. Jacobs slips off the back. Whitmer instead power bombs Jacobs into the turn buckle. Whitmer tells the fans to move as he sits Jacobs on the top rope. BJ sets for a tope rope power bomb but Jacobs crotches him. Super rana off the top rope by Jacobs. Jacobs hits the ropes and Whitmer hits the table. Referees and other officials come out to check on BJ. Really annoying moment here as Bobby Cruise announcers the referee has rule BJ has to return to the ring by ten or get counted out. But Dave Prazak (who is normally a good announcer) talks over it. The refs help BJ up and start taking BJ to the back even though he hasn't been counted out. What the hell? Some logic please. BJ finally breaks free and gets back in the ring to beat the count. Jimmy to the rope  and hits a back senton that gets two. Series of chops by Jacobs wakes BJ up. Bj goes for a lariat. Jacobs ducks the move and gets the roll up for three. Where to start match starts off good but the finish is some dumb booking It was clear what was going to happen for the count and they killed what ever drama there was by having the referees pick BJ up. Second commentary was awful here. You had Prazak talking over the announcement from Cruise. Plus it comes off like Prazak and Jarred David don't get the story with Jimmy and Lacey. They keep talking about how she is leading him on. But she's not leading him on. She never acted like she returned Jimmy love for her.

Post match Whitmer argues with the referee. Lacey hands Jacobs a chair. Jimmy nails BJ in the ankle and than the head. Chair shots to the ankle of Whitmer. Lacey screams for him to do it again. Con Chair To  on the ankle. Jacob than stacks the char. Back Senton off the top to the chair stack. They did this beat down because Whitmer needed time off to get surgery on his bad ankle that he had been working with since his first match with Jacobs. The problem is as I watch this I'm going "BJ you have a bad leg not broken arms. Move the chairs!" It was clear he was still awake. 

Backstage Samoa Joe talks about his match with Claudio Castagnoli. Tonight no tricks no back up. He says Claudio is renegade that needs to eliminated. Joe says death in the penalty for treason. We than cut back to Whitmer being carried to the back? Ah did the editor make a mistake? Did Gabe rule "That one part where moves to the apron is way to boring?" Its not a big deal but it just seems awkward in how they did it. 

My worst nightmares come true when Jim Cornette comes out the Briscoe Brothers. The fans boo Cornette and chant for Homicide. Cornette tells them not to be like that. He says he wants to explain. The microphone keeps dying on Cornette sadly they are stupid enough to give him another one. Cornette talks about how everyone think he is now a heel commissioner. He says ROH is know for cutting edge wrestling and should get more credit. Cornette recaps the CZW feud he talks about picking to work an ROH show over a TNA PPV to be a Death Before Dishonor. Well I give Cornette credit he knew his audience as the drew a huge pop. Cornette says everyone volunteered to join Team ROH while Homicide demands three wishes. Cornette talks about how ROH made it possible for Homicide to get booking over seas how it got him to TNA and he was hoping Homicide would come through. He recaps the stuff with Danielson and Homicide saving the day for ROH. Cornette recaps three wishes and how he gave him two. Cornette recaps Low Ki knocking out his teeth and says he can't deal with Low Ki on a business standpoint anyway. Cornette starts to rant about Homicide calling him a liar and says he's a kid been in the business ten minutes. He than brings up the Homocide comment and Homicide than spitting in his face. He than aces a shot at Oprah for some reason. Why Oprah? I know she is from Chicago are we supposed to hate Oprah or are we supposed to hate Cornette because of that? Cornette than rants about the fans of Philadelphia for turning him after everyone he did for ROH. Cornette tells the boys in the back they are good he doesn't have an issue with the locker room unless they side with Homicide. Cornette says he will run Homicide out of wrestling. Cornette brigs the Briscoes into the ring. He than shows he is an idiot by talking about how great the Briscoes are. He tells the Briscoes they have his permission as Commissioner to hurt Homicide. I WANT THE EIGHTEEN MINUTES OF MY LIFE BACK. This segment is such a waste as for all his talking about not being a heel is undone during the segment itself. This show is over three hours already we don't need a long boring talking segment.

The Briscoe Brothers Jay and Mark vs Homicide and Davey Richards- The Briscoes had history with Homicide during there first run with the company and they had now been recruited  by Cornett.e Homicide comes out slides in the ring allowing the Briscoes to put the boots to him. Richards rushes out and makes the save. Homicide leaves the ring to give chase to Cornette. Jay Briscoe makes the save for Cornett brining Homicide back to the ring. All four meant brawl on the floor. Mark Briscoes gets a chair and hits Homicide. Homicide send Mark into the guard rail. In the ring Richards hits a back body drop on Jay. The referee stops Homicide from using a chair. Not even two minutes after he let Mark Briscoe use one. Davey tags in Homicide who hits some punches. Over head belly to belly suplex by Homicide and than some gourd and pound. Tag to Richards. Sloppy snap suplex when Briscoe decides to dead weight Richards. Running shoulder block by Richards. ay sent to the floor allowing Homicide to hit a double ax off the apron and than send Jay into the guardrail. Tag to Homicide Butterfly suplex by Homicide gets two. Blind tag by Mark Briscoe who comes in a cross body that gets two. Gut wrench by Mark Briscoe. Tag back to Jay Briscoe.  Spin kick by Mark that is clearly not an actual kick. Leg drop by Jay off the ropes Davey breaks up the pin. Leaping forearm by Jay and tag to Mark. Northern lights suplex by Mark gets two. Atomic drop off the second rope by Homicide and he tags Richards. Chops by Richards. Mark goes to whip Richards but he uses this as a chance to hit an Yakuza on Jay. Running power slam by Richards and a second rope leg drop (That looks so much better when done by Davey compared to the shit one Jay did) and gets two. Tag to Homicide. Double team Richards and Homicide. Running corner kick by Homicide. Snap suplex by Homicide and tag to Richards. Kick to the Back by Jay than a leg lariat by Mark. Figure for around the head that just doesn't look tight at all.  Tag to Jay and those dump looking double team pounding on the back shots that look more like they are giving Richards a back massage than trying to inflict damage. Drop kick by Jay. Tag to Mark. Barking shoulder block and I get make it clear just who stupid it sounds. You have two men hitting a move barking like dogs. Fist drop by Mark Homicide breaks up the pin. Double team as Jay chokes Davey on the ropes followed by Mark kicks him in the back and it's a awful looking kick like Mark hadn't decided if he wanted to kick for make it a hip attack. Over head belly to belly and a tag to Jay. Jay locks in a toe hold but Davey kicks free. Tag to Mark who cuts off the tag to Homicide with a dive. Chink lock by Mark. Double after a tag to Jay running boots int he corner by the Briscoes. Tag to Mark. STO on Mark by Richards than a victory on Jay that gets hi close enough to tag in Homicide. 

House of fire time by Homicide. Mark hits a knee to the stomach but than gets a lariat. Backslid by Jay  Homicide flips over and hits a pile driver. Homicide core but the referee says Mark is legal. Power slam by Mark. Homicide cuts him off on the ropes and and give Mark a superplex. Than a T-Bone Suplex gets two before Jay makes the save. DDT off the second rope by Jay. Homicide covers again but Jay still isn't legal. Ok that's just dumb either have the refer remove Jay from the ring or don't make the next world champion look stupid by having him cover the wrong guy twice. Once ok it happens you lose track but he just was told he couldn't' do that. Big boot from Mark Briscoe. Blind tag by Davey. Homicide ducks a lariat and hit a topa con hilo on Jay. Dave yin with a spring board missile drop kick. Kick combo a German super by Davey gets two. Homicide sent into the guard rail on the floor. Back breaker by Davey Richards. Power bomb into a horse collar by Davey on Mark. Briscoe gets the ropes. DR Driver is blocked so Richards kicks.  Hot shot by Mark Briscoe. Jay into the ring. Double team neck breaker by The Briscoes gets two. Homicide knocks Jay off the top rope to the floor. Jay being a idiot appears to actually leap so he can hit the guard rail instead to taking a safer bump. tombstone pile driver by Richards, Big splash by Homicide on Mark gets two. Double team by Homcide and Richards. Jay pulls Homicide to the floor. DR Driver blocked again. Nice looking saito suplex by Richards on Mark. Jay in with a sloppy looking big boot or on leg drop kick. Homicide back in and gives Jay a Ace Crusher form the top. Mark breaks up the lariat and hits a T-bone suplex on Homicide. Back spring kick by Richards on Mark than a leg trop suplex on Jay. Double clotheslines line and everyone is down. Spear by Homicide as he spills to the floor why Mark (who took the move remember) just stays on the apron. Spring board dooms day device set up for Richards escapes the electric chair and shoves Jay into the ropes.  Roll up one of the Briscoes I assume Jay since "He's not legal" but the referee is awful so I don't know. Cover on Mark gets two. Jay gets Davey int he electric chair for the sprain board dooms day for the win. Boring match it really dragged at times. Homicide was made to look like an idiot at times. And the Briscoes were there usual sloppy selves. 

Back stage at intermission Dave Prazak has an update on BJ Whitmer saying he is on way to the hospital. A down right giddy Jimmy Jacobs interrupting talking about the power of love. And than he leaves looking  for Lacey. I get wanting to do an update on Whitmer but the Jacobs stuff was pointless.

Claudio Castagnoli vs Samoa Joe- Claudio at this point is just killing time until Chris Hero full return. This is  another hold over the CZW feud. Claudio had beat Joe after turning on ROH so this was Joe's chance at revenge. Claudio bails out before the bell and refuse to get back in. Joe is getting pissed at the referee for holding him back. Claudio gets in for the cheap shot. Joe no sells the forearms shots. Claudio turns to run and Joe grabs onto his pony tail. Knees and kick by Joe knocks Claudio down. Chop kick and knee drop by Joe. Joe just stands on Claudio. Forearm followed by kicks from Joe. Big shop by Joe than head butt. Joe runs into the boot stunning him. Claudio goes for the cross body by Joe just steps away. Claudio whipped in the corner. Flying forearm followed by the jumping round house kick by Joe that gets two. Series of jabs by Joe. Claudio tries to crawl away by Joe just stands on the leg. Claudio goes to the eyes and hits a Samoan drop on Samoa Joe. Joe tries to fire back but Claudio goes back to the yes. Shoulder blocks in the corner by Claudio than a snap mare into a chin lock. Amazing looking dropkick by Claudio gets two. Power slam followed by the the leg drop by Claudio. Chin lock covering the eyes by Claudio. Joe tries to power up but Claudio drops his weight driving Joe down. Claudio runs into the boot. ST Joe is countered into a Claudio arm drag. Leg lariat by Claudio gets a two count. Claudio uses the ropes an his leg to choke Joe. Claudio rakes the eyes on the ropes. Claudio whips his boot on Joe and takes time to mock the fans.  Chop and jabs by Joe.  Knee to the gut by Claudio who than goes for a running upper cut. Atomic drop by Joe.  Flying big boot and a sent by Joe gets two. Running knee in the corner by Joe. Face Wash by Joe. Claudio bails to the floor but Joe hits the elbow suicidia. Claudio sat in a chair on the floor. Ole Kick by Joe. Joe moves claudio to a different chair. Another Ole kick and this sends Claudio over the guard rail into the crowd. The fans want it one more time. Joe rams Claudio into the guar rail first. A third Ole kick. Back to the ring Joe covers but Claudio kicks at two. Chops and punches by Joe. Knee to the gut by Claudio and a sloppy looking spinning face buster. I assume it was due to Joe's size I get a big part of Claudio's gimmick is his power but yeah that's tough move to pull out on a super heavyweight. Upper cuts by Claudio. Water slide by Claudio gets two. Claudio bias Joe into going for the snap slam but hold onto the ropes do Joe winds up hitting the ground.  Joe moves an elbow drops and gets an fujwara arm bar. Claudio gets the ropes. Power bomb by Joe into the STF. Joe change to a cross face. Claudio to the ropes again. Slaps and chops in the corner.  Claudio moves on a running corner splash and hits a big running upper cut.  Claudio tries to for a monkey flip but Joe block and sits Claudio not he top. Big palm strike followed by the Muscle Buster to win the match. Very good match. Both guys are among the bigger guys in wrestling but were never your typical Big Men.

ROH World Tag Team Championship Austin Aries and Roderick Strong © vs Christopher Daniels and Matt Sydal- Daniels and Donavan Morgan were the first ever ROH tag team champions and since teaming Sydal is what anyone singles wrestlers did when trying to beat Aries and Strong he teamed with Sydal. The two had a bit of a "competitive rivalry" where Sydal had earned Daniels respect. In reality I think ROH wanted to do the AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels team form TNA but AJ was won so why not Sydal. But this point Generation Next had disbanded but the on again off again  Sydal trying to beat Aries and Strong story was still happening. Aries still has his ribs tapped up. Strong and and Sydal start us off. Waist lock takedown by Strong but Sydal gets to a hammer lock . Standing up Sydal gets a top wrest lock. Drop toe hold by Strong. Back to the wrist lock by Sydal. Strong counters into a top wrist lock. Head lock by Sydal. Takedown by Strong to break the hold. Cradle by Sydal gets two. Greco knuckle lock. Strong drops don and uses his legs to force Sydal into the splits and than slaps him in the face. Arm wring by Strong but Sydal gets the arm drag. Head scissors takedown by Sydal but Strong cart wheels out of it. See its stuff like this that shows me Strong does have potential but than he will have that one match where he just goes all chops and back breakers. Tag to Daniels. Strong turns into Eugene for a second because as the face are chatting "Fallen Angel….Austin Aries." he keep points back and forth at each man. Tag to Aries. Side head lock by Aries power Daniels down. Daniels back to his feet break the hold and gets a hammer lock. Drop toe hold into a head lock by Aires.  Roll up by Daniels gets one. Hammer lock by Daniels. Aries gets free and locks in a head lock unit Daniels gets position for the hammer lock. Head scissors by Aries and than a kick to the head.  Head scissors by Daniels but Aries head stand escapes and hits a drop kick. Tag to Strong who nails Daniels in the side. Club to the back followed by the chop by Strong. Back heel kick by Daniels. Tag to Sydal. Standing drop kick by Sydal. Step up knee followed by the leaping clothesline gets two. Tag to Daniels. Chop by Daniels. Shoulder block by Strong knocks Daniels down. Tag to Aries who comes in with a sling shot senton that gets two. Second rope elbow drop by Aries. Tag to Strong.  Double team atomic drop and double team belly to back suplex gets two for the champions. Butter fly suplex by Strong gets two. Tag to Aries. Catapult into the fore am by Strong and Aries. Aries in with a sling shot elbow drop. Matt Sydal breaks up the pin. STO by Aries followed by the Power Driver elbow for two. Aries to the top. Frog splash by Aries but Daniels gets the knees up. Tag to Sydal who gets at the inured ribs. Sydal place Aries between the ropes and than comes in a drop kick to the gut. Leaping corner clothesline by Sydal who than pulls Aries into a shoulder block by Daniels. Tag to Daniels. Gut buster suplex by Daniels. Knee to the gut by Daniels gets one. Tag to Sydal. Back suplex by Daniels and Sydal hits a second rope back elbow. Strong breaks up the pin. Back breaker into a stretch by Sydal. Aries slaps free but still no tag. Inverted DDT with the leg drive by Sydal gets two. Tag to Daniels. 

Aries tries to dive to the corer. Daniels catches him and drives him back into the turn buckle. Abdominal stretch by Daniels. Tag to Sydal who comes in with a sling shot drop kick as Daniels keeps the hold on. Seated abdominal stretch by Sydal. Tag to Daniels. Daniels drops Aries on the ropes and holds him. Leg drop to Aries by Sydal. Daniels overs but Aries is in the ropes. Chops exchanged.  Back to the abdominal stretch by Daniels. Belly to back suplex by Aries. Tag to Strong and tag to Sydal. Back body drop on Sydal. House of fire on Daniels. and Strong hits a a back heel kick.  Drop kick for Sydal. Over head belly to belly on Daniels by Strong.  Falcon Arrow by Strong on Sydal gets two. Atomic drop on Daniels and Strong sets for the Gibson driver.  Enziquri  by Sydal. Aries back  in and hits a roaring elbow on Sydal. Long blower by Daniels on Aries. Double clothesline by Strong and Daniels all four men are down. Chops by Strong on Sydal. Here it is Driver on Strong gets two for Sydal. Tag to Daniels. Really sloppy double team by Daniels and Sydal I'm not even sure what hit or what they were going for. Clothesline on Sydal. Daniels with the body scissors takes himself and Strong to the floor. Dive by Sydal takes out Strong. Aries snack up and hits Daniels. before hip tossing him into the ring.  Daniels whips Aries but that just allows him to hist a suicide dive on Sydal. Baseball slide by Daniels to Aries. Split legged moonsault by Daniels to the floor takes out everyone. Daniels and Strong to the ring. Tag to Sydal who hits  top rope rana on Strong. Strong rolls though  and nails a power bomb back breaker. Ok that makes no sense do a roll through on a inside cradle not being pulled off the top rope. Tag to Aries who hits a frog splash for two. The champions hits a double team back breaker on Sydal. Daniels pulls Strong to the floor. Small package by Sydal gets two. Shoulder to the cut and tag to Daniels. STO on Aries gets two. Back breaker by Aries than a  brain buster chop combo with Strong. Cover gets two. Sydal takes on Strong and hits a leaping rana on Aries. Yurnagi by Daniels. Standing moonsault by Sydal followed by the Best Moonsault Ever by Daniels on Aries. Strong breaks up the cover. Military press into a TKO by  Strong on Sydal. No sell by Sydal and and moonsault  press to the floor takes out Strong. Drop toe hold by Aries sends Daniels into the turn buckle. Running cover dropkick by Aries gets two. STO into the koji clutch by Daniels. on the Outside Strong militarily presses Sydal into the post. Aries gets the rope break. Strong breaks up the Angles Wings by hitting the sick kick.Half nelson back break by Strong followed by the Aries 450 for the win. Good match but it had some strange moment that hurt it and keep it from being great. Mainly some strange logic gaps. 

ROH World Championship 2 out of 3 Falls Bryan Danielson © vs Colt Cabana- Cabana had come up short in several previous title shots and lost his last one on a roll up. Like the night before with Nigel this was Colt's last chance at the title as long as Danielson was  champion. They mention in the introductions that if a wrestlers is leading in the falls and the time limit expires that person will be the winner. So yeah that made it clear Cabana was going to go up 1-0 at some point. Tonight's Danielson is "The man that has beat this chump two times." The two men circle to start with Colt paring off Danielson's lock up attempts. Greco knuckle lock  allows Cabana to hit a monkey flip. Arm wringer into by Danielson. Cabana escapes and goes though Danielson's legs. Daniels force Colt down into a chin lock with the arm trapped. Cabana gets free and ducks Danielson's attempt at a slap.Fight over a wrist lock with Cabana yes the advantage and he even picks Danielson up by the arm and sits him on the top rope. Cabana mocks Danielson's best on the world claim. Cabana blocks a single leg and gets Danielson in a cravat like hold  and than a neck crank. Danielson gets Cabana in the corner and slaps him. Dropkick by Danielson. Cabana side steps a Danielson charge and gets him a sunset flip for two. Daniels tries to go through the legs but Cabana catches him in the in the colt 45 to win the first fall. Prazak points out its about five minutes in meaning Cabana has gotten some revenge for the 100th show. And I actually y do like them doing it this early as I think it caught people in the live crowd off guard. Danielson offers the hand and uses it to kick Colt when he takes it. Danielson head lock with a punch to the head. Chops to the back by Danielson than an uppercut. Danielson tears at the face. Danielson to the hammerlock. Cabana drops down sending Danielson to the floor. Danielson gets back in and Colt avoids a charge off the ropes to toss Danielson to the floor again. Danielson is pissed off. The announcers smartly point out that Danielson has to be aggressive to even the score but he can't be over aggressive and cost himself a fall. Shoulder block by Danielson and than he chokes Cabana. Danielson shoves him off and its another shoulder block to the stomach. He than chokes and tries again but this time Colt side steps him. Daniels falls to the floor and I believe it was here that Danielson suffered a shoulder injury that he felt with the rest of his title reign. We see Danielson holding his shoulder on the floor. Danielson stalls but finally gets back in the ring. Single leg into a an ankle pick by Cabana. Spinning toe hold by Cabana but Danielson kicks him off. Single leg by Danielson and he goes for a spinning toe hold Cabana kicks Danielson off into the turn buckle and than gets him a pin for two. Greco knock lock that Colt turns into a surfboard and than he elevate hims in style similar to mexican surfboard before turing it into a body scissors. Nice combo there by Danielson. Danielson gets to his knee and put she pressure on Cabana's knees this just Cabana grabs the arm and work on the shoulder. Cabana finally escapes and gets Danielson in a spinning toe hold before tying up the legs. 

Danielson gets to the ropes. Colt claims he can't break because he stuck but he actually using this as a chance to put more pressures onto the hold as the referee pulls him up. Cabana declares he is best in the match. Head lock by Danielson but Cabana reveres and than his a shoulder tackle. Dropkick by Danielson. Single knuckle lock by Cabana an the uses it work over the shoulder and a wrist lock. Hammer lock by Danielson. Cabana gets the ropes but this gives Danielson a chance to stomp him. Chop to the face by Danielson. Knee to the gut connects for Danielson than another chop to the face. Chin lock into the head lock with the arm tied up by Danielson. Round house kick by Danielson to the chest of Cabana than a spin kick. Cabana to the floor for  second. Chops by Danielson. Cabana ducks on and hits some chops of his own. Headlock by Cabana and he drives Danielson head first into the turn buckle and again. Danielson revers the head lock but than gets shoved shoulder first into the turnbuckle. Rolls up by Cabana gets two. Bionic elbows by Cabana. Enziquri by Danielson. Kaprana by Cabana gets two. German suplex by Danielson. Cross face chicken win attempt by Danielson but Cabana gets free. Danielson dropkick sends Cabana to the floor. Cross body off the top by Cabana gets two. Colt 45 is blocked. Sling shot by Danielson.  Second rope elbow drop by Danielson. Danielson to the top and  hits a knee drop that gets two. Cabana goes for a tornado DDT but can't get Danielson down so he hits a snap fishermen's suplex that gets two. Cabana goes for the kaprana again but Danielson kicks the ropes and Colts hits the mat hard. Cannon ball on the leg by Danielson.  Danielson ties up Cabana's legs and drops back to put more pressure on them. Danielson keeps the legs tired and gets a modified Muta lock on. Cabana gets the ropes. Cabana blocks the suplex attempt. They fighter over position way to long it goes on about two minutes before Cabana finally gets the move hit. Danielson up first and goes after the leg. Knee bar by Danielson. Danielson sets up for the mexican surfboard. Cabana won't give up the arms so Danielson drives the knees into the mat. Figure four by Danielson and he grabs the ropes for leverage. The referee finally sees it and forces the break. Chop by Danielson. Knee bar using the ropes by Danielson. Danielson stomps at Cabana leg and than he goes to the second rope and  goes for a knee drop but Cabana moves. Both men are down.  Chops by Cabana and than some jabs. Body slams by Cabana than he hits snake eyes. Knee lift from Cabana connects. Butt butt misses and so does a cross body. Roll up by Danielson gets two. Back to the cross face chicken wing. Cabana revers the hold. Danielson gets free and kicks at the knee. Running lariat by Cabana gets two. 

Single leg crab by Danielson. Cabana tries to get the ropes but Danielson pulls him back to the center. finally Cabana gets the ropes for the break. Knee drops to the knee by Danielson.Cabana goes to the floor Baseball slide by Danielson sends Cabana into the crowd. Spring board dive into the crowd by Danielson. Sadly that gets almost no pop. I get Danielson does that ever match but come on people. Danielson steals someone camera and takes  photo of Cabana who is still down. Chop to the face and than he Cabana's face gets rammed into a chair. Danielson uses a chair right in front of the referee an no DQ. Ok enough is enough ROH has done this on several shows and it's stupid. These aren't supposed to any type of hardcore match. I can understand letting the ramming of the head into something go but not picking up a weapon and using it. I could even give it a pass if the match had beens some wild and crazy brawl but this wasn't. Fighting in the crowd and for once ROH did a dent job of getting light. Danielson sends Cabana into the bleachers. Kick to the back by Danielson. Cabana sent into a row of chairs. Cabana picks up a chair and tosses it at Danielson. Osi Moonsault by Cabana over the guard rail pretty awesome move and that does get a big pop. More brawling in the crowd. Danielson picks up a chair and tosses it. Cabana ducks and some poor guy gets hit with it. Danielson sent into the bleachers Ok ROH didn't count out at this point (pure title matches did) but the rules said you could be DQ'ed for being on the floor to long. ANd given earlier they were going to enforce that rule on BJ Whitmer why is this mach taking forever outside. Danielson chokes Cabana with something and again the referee lets it go oh wait he counts later a good twenty mittens. Danielson with another chair and he hits Cabana. All logic has left this match that three weapon spots from Danielson. Again I could understand this if the match had been some wild brawl from the start or this was another Cabana vs Homicide like feud but it wasn't. Suplex onto some chairs by Cabana. Cabana covers but the referee doesn't count. Than again given everything else the referee has let go why not suddenly make it falls count anywhere?  Back to ringside after Danielson sends Cabana into the guard rail. Cabana whipped into the guard rail again and a third time. Danielson gets the time keepers table and sets it up o the guard rail and apron. Shin breaker on the table. Danielson to the apron but since the fans want him to put Cabana though the table he won't do it. They announcers again bring up the time and the fact if it ends with Cabana leading 1-0 he wins.

Slaps exchange. Danielson goes to the eyes. Bear hug into a cradle DDT gets two for Cabana. Colt to the top rope. Danielson trips him.. Belly to back superplex by the champion gets two. Back to the cross face chicken win and this times it's fully locked in. Cabana gets the ropes. Regal plea with a bridge gets two for Danielson. Cabana rolls out of Cattle Mutilation twice. MMA elbows by Danielson but the referee breaks it since Cabana is in the ropes. Danielson butterflies the arms but Cabana gets him up on the shoulders. Neck breaker onto the knees by Cabana. Dragon Sleeper by Cabana. Danielson reveres into an inverted suplex. Cattle Mutilation by Danielson. Cabana gets the ropes. Massive next world champ chant breaks up. Slaps by Danielson and he goes for the roaring elbow but Cabana lands a punch first. Scoop slam by Cabana. Top rope moonsault by Cabana gets two. Colt 45 is blocked as the five minutes remain announcement is made. Finally Colt 45 is hit. Danielson gets a rope brake. Power bomb into the billy coats curse (Inverted crab) by Cabana. Chin lock also locked in. The crowd is convinced Colt is going to win this match. Danielson gets the ropes. Cabana asks for the time. Victory roll by Danielson gets two. Roaring elbows by Danielson. MMA Elbows by Danielson. Cabana fights to the ropes to break it again. Cabana rolls to the floor. Two minutes reaming announcement is made. Danielson starts to panic. Cabana won't get back and Danielson has to chase him. Ok really strange moment when Cabana grabs a female ringside photographer and shoves her into Danielson who hits an elbow on her. And the announcers ignore it. At the very least you gotta say something .Danielson sent into the guard rail. Cabana back to the ring. Danielson back into the ring but he is still down. One minute left. Cabana swing. German suplex by Danielson gets two. Danielson goes back to the cross face chicken win. Danielson tells the referee to check the time.. Low blow into the small package to tie up at 1-1 by Danielson. The time expires. Ok this match is better than the night before as it felt like Danielson changed it up more. I will also give the wrestlers credit as the fans were convinced this was it Colt's finally winning the title. But again this match did not have to be an hour other than ROH wanted it to be an hour long. Also the brawling in the crowed dragged this match down. 

Post match Danielson celebrates as Prazak reminds up Cabana can't get another title shot as long Danielson is champion even though he was ripped off. As Cabana leaves the fans chant think you Colt as keeps saying I'm sorry. Cabana does a great job of selling his disappointment at not winning the belt. We close with a report that Danielson is injured and needs surgery but is "choosing" to keep on wrestling. The real truth is ROH would have been royally screwed if Danielson didn't hold out until Final Battle and sadly given the poor state of indy payoffs Danielson no doubt need time to save the money to afford the surgery. Also this "report" is just a voice over showing a still photo of where Danielson got hurt why not do an actual report. Film Danielson in his apartment or have Prazak at the ROH wrestling school. Hell even just have Carry Silkin or Gabe Sapolksly appear on screen and explain.


Gut Check is a boring show at times. Once again we have a very long main event with all the matches before it going twenty minutes or more. Even the matches I like feel like they could get some time chopped off and still be good. Over all the cracks in the ROH booking are really starting to show. Mainly why everyone knows the main event of Final Battle will be Homicide vs Danielson for the title we aren't building for that. We have Danielson off doing his thing and Homicide feuding with Camp Cornette. At the very least put in some slight hints. Them running into each other backstage something. Yeah skip this show as well. 

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