Second show of the FYF for ROH and hit sone takes place in its home town. Like night one this is a show that features a number of moves that will shape ROH story lines for the months ahead. The biggest one begin the title change as Takeshi Morishima wins the belt from Homicide. I'm torn on the title change. On the one hand Morishima is a great wrestler and gave ROH a chance to do something different. On the other hand the title change was out of no where and while they started of being different it wasn't long before he turned into you typical ROH champion. Super long matches, ultra aggressive in keeping the title. Not really a heel not really a face. This show will also see the debut of one of the greatest teams in ROH history Kevin Steen and El Generico. It will also ROH make a dumb ass move that sends the message of "Our world title doesn't matter that much." So let this how this show holds up no over seven years later.
We pick up from where we left off the on the last show with Jack Evans down on the ground having been attacked. Someone picks up the camera and aims it at Davey Richards. Davey says he's not taking responsibility for anything but accidents happen around the No Remorse Corps. (Its pronounced Core but spelled Corps.) I like they giving this spot to Davey since part of Jack's story at this stage is he wants to work things out with Roderick. Since Roderick isn't there you can plant the idea Davey acted solo on the attack. Plus Davey wasn't able to wrestle this weekend due to an injury so this keeps him in a key spot. After the special FYF intro we get BJ Whitmer backstage. Whitmer says the money Lacey paid Albright was money wasted since it failed to take him out and now he's one step closer to ending things with Jacobs. Whitmer talks about the long feud and Whitmer says the only way it might end would be if one cripples the other. BJ says he's will to make the sacrifice to cripple Jimmy and asks Jimmy if he is? BJ switches gears telling fans he hasn't lost focus on the ROH world title. It's a good promo by BJ and sublet hype for his title shot on the next show. Rebecca Bayless is Jimmy Rave. Bayless informs Rave that since he used the styles clash ROH officials have suspend him. Jimmy declares no one supposed him and gets in Bayless face. Samoa Joe arrives and says once again Jimmy is taking advantage of those weaker than him. Joe reminds Rave about jumping from behind and putting him in a heel hook. Rave says he did that because Joe had slapped him at Final Battle. Joe says since it's his goodbye tour he will demand Rave suspension be lifted so he can wrestle Rave and settle things. He than mocks Rave's shirt. Ok promos by Rave and Joe. Bayless again is pretty awful her. I really don't get why the made her an interviewer she had been a manger prior to taking break and she has wrestled.
TJ Perkins vs Nigel McGuinness- Perkins you would know as Puma or the Current Manik/Suicide in TNA. At this time he start wrestling more with out his mask. Nigel was odd man out he is feuding with both Joe and Rave who are facing each other and Colt Cabana who is supposed to be his tag partner is in a street fight. Leg kick by TJ doesn't phase Nigel. Lock up and in a full nelson than a wrist lock by Nigel. TJ tips free in a wrist lock of his own. Nigel spins free in wrist lock. Takedown by Nigel. TJ tries a shoulder tackle but can't move back Nigel. Head scissors takedown by Perkins and than a drop kick to the face. Nigel to the floor. Senton off the apron by Perkins knocks McGuinness. Upper cut and chops by Perkins than a heck. TJ tries to throw Nigel back into the ring. Nigel use the ropes to bounce back and hit a lariat. Nigel sends Perkins into the ring and hits upper cuts and thrust. Elbows by Nigel than a running upper cut. Short arm lariat by Nigel gets two. Tower of london is blocked. Top rope cross body by Perkins gets two. Nigel blocks a suplex. Spin kick to the cut by Perkins. Slaps to the face by Perkins. Uppercut by Nigel. Flying spin kick by Perkins. Nigel runs into a back elbow. Perkins to the top. Nigel takes out his balance. Tower of London only gets two. WHAT? I like TJ he's a great talent but this was his ROH debut he should not be kicking out of Nigel's finisher. Tj revers a whip but Nigel's moves on a splash. Kick to the back falling lariat to the chest by Nigel gets two. Slaps and elbows by Nigel. Nigel runs into the boot. Rebound/ Jawbreaker Lariat for the McGuinness. Ok opener. This was the time Nigel really started using the Rebound as he finisher but I'm not happy to see the tower london become another move.
Lacey is with Jimmy Jacobs and Adam Pearce and talks about there six person street fight. Lacey talks about how tough and violent Pearce is. Lacey tells Jimmy he could learn a ting or two by watching Pearce. Lacey offers Pearce money if he can take out Whitmer and Cabana. Pearce talks about this past with both men but says Lacey has offered him the money. Jimmy finally talks and bring up love which causes Lacey to yell at him. Its pretty much been the same thing from every Lacey and Jimmy promo. I now ROH is clamming Jimmy has snapped and gone insane now but it didn't look like it here.
Claudio Castagnoli vs Austin Aries- As I mentioned in the final battle review Double C's WWE offer had been pulled but from some insane reason Gabe went foreword with breaking up the Kings of Wrestling. Witch wouldn't be that big a deal but they also kept him heel instead of turning him face. So Claudio has no direction as a heel even though he has a natural feud with Hero. Hell Hero has nothing going on and isn't even on these shows. There is back story to this match. Aries has been hit in his bad ribs with Claudio's' briefcase causing him and Strong to drop the tag belts to the KOW's and in November Aries had gotten DQ'ed when he returned the favor in there rematch. Front face look by Aries and Claudio drives Aries to the corner. The ref forces the break. Lock up and go behind takedown Claudio. Aires gets the arm and wrings it to a wrist lock. Revers of potion by Claudio. Firemen carry takeover by Aries into a wrist lock. Up and over in the corner but Aries and than a flying back elbow. Kick to the gut by Claudio than into head lock. Shoulder block by Claudio. Aries goes a leap frog. Castagnoli hooks the ropes. Aries hurt his bad ankle. Uppercut by Claudio drops Aries. Slaps to the face by Aries. Sling shot senton by Aries gets two. Claudio to the apron and he snaps Aries' throat on the top rope than he drags him to the floor and drives Aries back first into the ring. Aries' head sent into the apron. Back to the ring. Body slam by Claudio gets two. Claudio takes off his neck tie and uses it to choke Aries. Catapult into the bottom rope by Claudio gets two. Claudio goes after the ankle. Aries with elbows but Castagnoli lands a big knee to the stomach. Diving upper cut to the back by Castagnoli. Over hand chops to the stomach by Aries. Spinning face buster attempt by Claudio. Aries lands on his feet and drop kicks Double C in the face. Exchange of strikes. Claudio to the eyes. Series of clothesline by Aries. Back body drop to the floor by Aries followed by the suicide dive. Back to the ring. Corkscrew press by Aries gets two. Aries goes for the brain buster its blocked. Spinning face buster by Claudio gets two. Spring board diving uppercut by Claudio than the Waterside gets two. Claudio with an upper cut in the corner. Aries rolls out of the way and hits the running drop kick in the face that gets two. Aries to the top rope. Claudio shakes the ropes and than he summersaults into an upper cut. Aries is hung up in the core. Claudio goes for the Ricola bomb. Rana counter by Aries.Fight over a back slide Aries over the back and kicks Claudio in the face. Brian buster by Aries than the 450 splash for the win. Very good match by both men. Its just to bad Claudio was so directionless at this time. Honestly both men could have used the win. Aries was a singles wrestler again and Claudio well he just wasn't booked well.
Post match Aries gets a microphone. Aries talks about what Strong jumping him from behind. Aries calls Davey Richards Austin Aries Light. Aries says he will do this like a man and calls out Strong. Jack Evans makes his way out. Evans says he's dead serious for once and says he won't let a war start between Aries and Strong. Evans than kills that whole dead serious thing by making Jokes about how all they need to do is drink and go bowling. If you want to be serious than don't crack jokes. Strong and Richards make there way to the ramp. Strong tells Aries to calm down. Strong says he would love to wrestle Aries but he has FIP title match tonight. Strong says in the future Aries will see he (Strong) was the top member of Generation Next. Strong warns Evans your either with him or against him and seeing him hang around Aries says you against him. Strong says it's not about friendship its about the top spot in ROH. Davey says he and Roderick Strong are recruiting and tells Evans to pick a side.Davey said two sentences and said it about 1000 times more effect than Strong. Aries says he will have Evans but but warns him to make a design. Evans says Strong is his boy and tells Aries not to make him do this. Aries says he won't make him do anything but his goal is to take out the NRC. Evans chases after Aries like begging his dad not to take a stray dog to the pound. Its an ok segment Aries and Davey are really good on the microphone but Strong was his usual boring self and Evans just doesn't come off well. He starts off say "I'm usually the jokester but I'm dead serious." Only to crack a joke and well he seems more like a kid on a soap opera who folks are splitting up.
Street Fight
Jimmy Jacobs, Lacey, and Adam Pearce vs BJ Whitmer, Daizee Haze and Colt Cabana- I assume they holding Albright off this show too the damage from the match the night before or he was legit hut. In a nice touch I like everyone is dressed in street fighting gear well except for Jacobs who looks like he's about to go hang out at coffee house but I assume this is supposed to be street fighting gear for an emo. Lacey and Haze into the ring while the men fight on the outside. Cabana whips Pearce into the guard rail. Jacobs use his scarf to choke Whitmer. Cabana tries to pull him off. Pearce in with a running splash onto the other three dudes. Power slam by Lacey on Daizee. Jacobs uses a chair to choke Whitmer. DDT by Haze than a Yakuza kick to side of the head sends Lacey to the floor. Pearce pokes Haze in the eyes. Cabana with a drop kick to Pearce. Jacobs sends Whitmer head first into the guard rail. Sadly the edit is bad we don't' miss it but it was kind of clear they were having out for second either waiting for time to do it or planing there next sequence of moves. Cabana rams the head of pearl into the corners over and overs and over again. Lacey is whipped hard into the guard rail sadly we don't' get a good shot of it. Spear by Jacobs on Cabana in the ring. Yakuza by Whitmer on Jacobs. Lacey sent into the ring apron hard. Everyone int eh ring. Chops by Haze on Lacey than she puts the boots to her. Whitmer whips Jacobs into a corner where Pearce is already than Daizee whips Lacey in that same corner. Cabana picks up Haze and tosses her into the corner hit a butt butt on Lacey. Big back body drop by Cabana on Pearce. Everyone outside the ring. We focus on Whitmer and Jacobs. The crowd pops at something that we don't' see and they never explained on commenter. Whitmer knocks Jacobs into the crowd and than hits an elbow off the guard rail. Jacobs is bleeding. Whitmer tosses a chair onto Jacobs. Jacobs gets a sign and hit Whitmer. Jacobs gets a rolling case and rams it into Whitmer than into his head. I assume they are showing so much of Whitmer and Jacobs because they are the only two in a area with decent lighting. Elbow to the back of the heir by Whitmer than chair shot to the back. In the crowd we see someone tosses another person into something it has to be Cabana and Pearce but I can't tell who is who since both men have there head covered and the lighting sucks. Whitmer and Jacobs back to the ring. Snap suplex a roll through into a northern lights suplex by BJ gets two. Spine buster by Whitmer gets two. Cabana and Pearce are back at ring side. Pearce whips Cabana into the guard rail. We finally see Lacey and Daizee again as they have been added to a little box in the corner. Pearce sends Cabana back over the guard rail to the crowd Whitmer hangs Jacobs over the top rope with his belt. Jacobs gets his spike and steps BJ in the head to get free.
On the floor Lacey rakes the eyes of Haze and than rams her head first into the guard rail. Another shot by the spike on Whitmer. Whitmer is bleeding. Haze has gotten control not eh floor and its stomping at Lacey. They keep taking the box showing them away. And it gets annoying because it seems like all the girls are doing is stuff like punches and kicks or stomps. More shots by the Spike by Jacobs. Pearce stops Cabana from making the save. Jacobs stand son the throat of Whitmer. More spike shots by Jacobs over and and over again. Hard fore am by the Haze on Lacey than a drop kick to the ass. Contra code is blocked and Whitmer places Jacobs on the top rope. Whitmer on the top rope but Jacobs knocks him off. Reverse rana by Jacobs on Whitmer. Cabana breaks up the ring. Lacey uses a cable to choke Daizee. Air raid crash to the knee by Cabana on Jacobs. Cabana with jabs on Peaces than elbows to the head. Chokes slam by Pearce on Cabana gets two. Whitmer sends Pearce to the floor and goes out after him. Cabana and Jacobs are still down Women into the ring. Implant DDT by Lacey on Daizee. ON the floor Whitmer is sent into the guard rail. Lacey pulls up Cabana who grabs her by the hair. Low blow by Jacobs. Someone tosses duct tape into the ring. Jacobs uses it to tie up Cabana. Whitmer sent into another guard rail by Pearce. Lacey has her spiked high heel. This takes way to long and well it was clear Cabana was still wide awake I know he got hit low but it would have been better to "Knock him out" first. Plus why not try to roll out of the ring anything other than just be on your knees as Jacobs does this. Jacobs has the shoe and nails Cabana in the throat. Cabana is staring to "choke" Pearce has Haze while Jacobs and Lacey set up an chair and place it on Cabana throat. Jacobs to the top rope. Whitmer is up and tosses Lacey to the canvas. Jacobs is still on the top rope as he and Whitmer. fight. Lacey is being choked by Haze. I assume Pearce was taken up by Whitmer at some point. Exposer 98 off the top rope by Whitmer for the win. Post match Cabana who is still tapped up runs to the back. I think they are trying to see how bad he's hurt that he rising to the back but it just looks goofy. This felt like something out of CZW or ECW at there worse or hell WSX. Big spot after big spot with no time to get what I was watching. And I feel like we miss so much often we would see two guys or the girls brawling with simple moves as the fans popped for something else. TNA and WWE can do these big wild brawls all over the arena because the have the money and crew to film and usually not miss anything. ROH needs to know its limits.
Kevin Steen and E Generico vs The Briscoe Brothers Jay and Mark Briscoe- Steen and Generico had worked a handful of ROH dates in the past but never been full time. I will give ROH credit usually Steen and Generico come to a company and pretty much feud from day one. Hell I was convinced once the feud with the rednecks was over they wold do what they always did have Steen go heel instead they held off another year and had some great matches from Steen and Generico as partners vs The Age of the Fall, The Wolves Young Bucks. Of course if I'm wrong about that and someone else had Steen and Generico as a regular tag team before this let me know. On the hand handshake before the match Steen gets in Jay's face leading to things staring off a brawl. Steen sent to the flop. Double team hip toss on Generico. Now I really do like Generico/Sami Zayn but the guy does over sell some times. Running corner clotheslines by the Briscoe than the double bots to the face. Steen pulls Mark to the floor and sense him into the guard rail. Steen and Jay exchange blows. Running back elbow by Steen than big chops. Jay rolls out of the way on a corner clothesline and than hits allying clothesline that sends both men to the floor. Mark and Generico in tot eh ring. Leaping lariat in off the top by Generico on Mark than chops. Steen and Jay brawl on the floor. Generico changes into the back elbow of Mark. Generico goes for the hula kick but Mark jumps to the apron. Sloppy looking Summersault senton to the floor by Mark takes out Steen. Jay into the ring. Mark sends Steen int he guard rail. Mark is some how bleeding from the back. Generico's head rammed into the corner. Tag to Mark. That stupid barking shoulder tackle by the Briscoe gets two. Awful looking gut wrench suplex by Mark than bad looking knee drop. Generico kicks at two. Tag to Jay who hits a back elbow. Jay telegraphs the back body drop and gets kick. Arm drags by Generico. Leg lariat by Generico gets two. From chicanery by Generico and he tags in Steen. Head butt to the back by Steen. Chop by Steen than a head butt. Back breaker by Steen gets two. Tag to Generico who hits a big chop and a forearm. Snapmare and a drops kick to the back of the head by Generico. Tag to Steen. Drop toe by Generico front flipping leg drop by Steen gets two. Running back elbow to the head by Steen gets two. Tag to Generico. Chin breaker by Jay and a tag to Mark. Spring board kick by Mark witch of course he has do dumb yell on. YOu know I say review talking about how Cena always had a dumb smirk on his face and well Mark Briscoe always does this dumb yell. Red neck Kung Fu by Briscoe witch for those that have not seen it that's when Mark does stupid looking Karate Chops and kicks on Steen. Head scissors on Generico by Mark. Generico gets the ropes. Head butt by Mark. Awful looking belt to belly suplex by Mark. Tag to Jay. Sideslam leg drop combo by the Bricoes. Steen breaks up the pin. Jay with the worse looking snap mare ever. Again how do you botch that move? Strange hold by Jay on Generico. Tag to Mark. Generico with chops. Double teams by the Briscoe. Backdrop suplex by Jay and a spring board double stop by Mark. Mark knocks Steen off the apron drawing him in to distract the ref. Jay in no tag.
Jay uses a broken tag rope to choke Generico. Mark with a boot to the head. Alicia Fox (and that's not a good thing) like drop kick by Jay. Steen knocked off the apron again by Mark. Mark goes for a spring board move but Generico catches him with an ace crusher. Tag to Jay who cuts off the tag. Generico uses a leverage move to send Jay into the corner where Steen nails him. Tag to Sten. Missile drop kick by Steen on Jay. Power slam on Mark. Back body drop to Jay than he an avalanche in the corner followed by a rolling senton in the corner on Mark. Jay and Steen exchange forearms. Superkick by Jay. Back body drop send Jay to the floor. Steen to the top and sextons to the floor taking out both Briscoe Brothers. Jay sent back into the ring. Mark nail Steen from behind. Oh you gotta be kidding me. Generico dives through the bottom and middle ropes to hits a tornado DDT on the floor but the camera crew misses it. Instead of seeing the move we get to see the ref reacting to it. It's bad enough to miss as much as they missed in the street fight. But this was not street fight and this was one of Generico's trademark spots how could you miss it. Hell that should be a thing a good crew knows to look out for. Steen back up top. Swanton in the ring on Jay gets two. Pump handle neck breaker by Steen on Jay gets two. Package Pile driver is blocked. Running boot by Jay Briscoe. Half and half suplex on Jay by Generico. Leg lariat on Generico by Mark. Power bomb by Steen on Mark and all four men are down. Jay and Steen back to there feet in the ring. Forearm exchange. Both men run the ropes and colloid I think Steen forgot what he was dong for because he just kinds of runs into Briscoe and falls down. Tag to Mark. Tag to Generico. Mark runs into a boot. Nigeria driver neck breaker combo is set up for. Steen pulls Jay out of the ring. Sunset flip by Generico gets two. Buckle bomb and a t-bone suplex by Mark gets two. Mark being the idiot actually starts to get up before the count kick out. Steen sent into a guard rail witch we don't' see. Niagara driver neck breaker combo by The Bricoes. Steen breaks up the pin by throwing Jay into Mark. Steen sends Jay to the floor and power bombs him onto the apron. Forearms by Generico. Tag to Steen. Gut buster by Steen. Moonsault by Steen but Mark moves. Hula kick by Generico on on Mark. Generico up and over the top rope to take Jay out on the floor. Frog splash by Steen only gets two. Man way to kill off the effectiveness of such big guy hitting moves off the top rope. Steen and Generico are in shock. Package pile driver. Mark over the back. Burning hammer by Mark. Jay is up. Mark slips on the apron. Jay with a top rope leg drop that clearly misses. and Mark with Shooting star press that almost does for the win. Ok match not as bad as the usual Briscoe botch spot fest. But well it's still a Bricoes Brothers match. I do think the wrong team went over as a win would have been big for them. And they needed it more than Cabana and Nigel needed there win the night before.
Backstage Rebecca Bayless has a update on Cabana. We see Cabana is still choking as Whitmer and some other guy are talking to him. BJ convinces the guy to take Cabana to the hospital. Bayless asks what he's condition. BJ snaps he Cabana can't fucking talk. BJ says Jimmy has Cabana in Chicago and than he gets what left. This segment is really stupid. I am all for selling an injury but it's just stupid how they did it. Cabana is just stumbling around backstage. I get ROH may not have had a budget to to rent an ambulance like WWE or TNA would do but you don't have to show Cabana. Have Bayless find an upset Whitmer backstage. Have him go "Cabana is on his way to the hospital because that damn shot to his throat did real damage.
Jimmy Rave vs Samoa Joe- Although not directly feuding these two had a few run ins that saw Joe slap Rave and Rave latter put Joe in the heel hook. Lock up into a head lock by Joe. Rave toes to the hair but can't get free. Joe goes to the air and puts Jimmy in the corner. Lockup and Joe drives into the corner and grinds the forearm into the face. Wrist lock by Rave and he drives Joe down into an arm bar. Trip by Joe and he smacks Rave in the back of the head a few times. Rave to the floor. Lockup up and a side head lock takedown by Rave. Joe revers into a chin lock. Rave gets the ropes. Lock up and a go behind takedown by Rave. Rave fishhooks Joe. Rave drives Joe into the corner. ST Joe is counted into an arm drag. Joe side steps Rave and sends him to the floor. Joe goes for the suicide dive but Rave move. Joe stops him self but still goes to the floor. Rave on the apron and Joe takes his legs out from him. Joe picks rave up and swings him head first into the guard rail. Joe gets a chair and sits Rave in it. Ole Ole Kick by Joe. The fans chant one more time and Joe gives the people what they want. Rave sent back into the ring. Chop to the back kick to the chest and a knee drop by Joe gets two. Rave whipped into the corner hard back first. Jabs by Joe. Joe runs into back elbow. Rave off the top for a cross body but Joe just steep aside. Rave to the floor again. Joe follows him out. Rave back to the ring. Rave tries to get to get Joe when he gets to the apron. Joe catches and Rave and than kicks him int eh chest. Yurinagi by Rave on the apron and Joe hits hard. Chops on the floor by Rave. Back into the ring. Swinging neck breaker by Rave gets two. Side russian leg sweep into a tie up of the head and shoulders by Rave. Joe gets the ropes for a break. Rave stands in the corner and spits in Joe's face. Atomic drop by Joe than a flying big boot. Senton by Joe gets two. Running back elbow than the flip kick by Joe. Face wash by Joe. Rave rolls out of the ring before the running boot. Rave gets the boot and drives the ankle into the apron. Rave wraps Joe's leg around the rope and than stomps on it. Rave grape vines the leg. Dragon screw leg whip by Rave than back into a leg lock by Rave. Joe gets the ropes. Open hand strikes by Joe. Drop kick to the knee by Rave. Rave back to the leg lock. Rave with kicks to the leg and a big chop in the corner. Joe with big slaps and a chop. Snap power slam by Joe gets two. Power bomb by Joe into the STF. Rave gets the ropes. Head butts by Joe. Rave ducks the lariat and kicks the leg. Move the rocked the world by Rave gets two. From dusk till dawn cross face by Rave. Joe gets the ropes. Rave drags him back to the center and locks in the heel hook. Joe turns to get free and reverses the hold on Rave. Rave kicks off Joe. ST Joe in the corner. Joe goes for the muscle buster but Rave goes to the eyes. Joe blocks the pedigree. Island driver by Joe for the win. Really good match as the two guys clocked well together. I like how it appeared went for the cross face just to open up Joe to get the heel hook and it was cool to see the Island Driver again before Joe left. My only issue is Rave needed a win. He had just lost a world title match and was gong to lose a big match to Nigel in a few weeks. I get it's Joe's goodbye tour but maybe he shouldn't have faced Rave if you didn't want him do doing jobs.
Post match Rave is helped from the ring and Joe gets a microphone. Joe takes a knee as the fans chant his name. Joe welcomes the fans to Ring of Honor. Witch was kind of a catch phrase for Joe in ROH he even admits this will be the last time he says that in Philly. The fans chant please don't' go. SOme woman screams she loves Joe and he jokes he will meet her after the show. Joe talks about coming to Philadelphia four years ago. Joe puts over the fans of Philly. Joe calls it the birthplace of the hardcore wrestling fan and how they wold only accept excellence and nothing less. Joe I get you are saying goodbye but as someone who has been watching big league wrestling and Indies I call Bullshit on that. Joe talks bout how he was born in California but he was forged in Philadelphia. Joe thanks the fans one more time. The fans chant thank you Joe.
Rebecca Bayless is with Jack Evans during intermission. She asks about who attack him and she accuses Davey Richards. Evans says he knows it was not Davey Richards. Evans admits he doesn't care about who attacked him… WHAT? Ok he's trying to talk about how getting a title means so much to him but you don't say "I don't care who attacked me." If the wrestler doesn't care why should the fans?
Full Impact Pro Heavyweight Championship Roderick Strong © vs Delirious- This is what I'm talking about when I said ROH took steps to devalue it's own world title. This is the start of the FIP title being defended regularly in ROH. In the past it had been used as a special bonus on a few cards. But from here on out until Gabe leaves ROH and it's owner Sal Hamaoui stays loyal to him the FIP belt will be on numerous ROH cards. Now you might be thinking "Nick I read you Unified review you made a big deal out of ROH needing a secondary title." But that's not how ROH is us using it. When the FYE goes over to the UK Strong will defend the title there and they will be start calling it a World title. And there would be an article on the ROH website saying "The FIP championship is not a secondary or mid card title." They want the fans to view it as a world title on the same level as the world title. But instead of building up the FIP belt it tears down the ROH belt. For years ROH built up the ROH title as the top prize in the company now here's another belt they are saying means as much. And no they aren't building up for a big title unification match. Oh it gets worse see a few months later ROH brings in the NWA world title. You know one thing ROH and Strong should have done with his heel turn was change his look and music. He still comes out to the same song with the "There Was Firefight Intro." He's eating he same gear he wore while teaming with Aries. Speaking of Aries he comes out and tries to go after Strong before the match but security hold him back. Aries gets through and Strong heads into the crowd. Finally security gets Aries to leave. Strong returns and the bell rings. Freak out by Delirious. Tons of stalling as they circle each other. Strong avoids a lock up. Single leg into a head lock by Delirious. Strong pulls on the tassels to get free. Forearms by Delirious. Back kick by Strong. Wrist lock by Strong. Reversed by Delirious. Drop toe hold by Strong. Strong turns into pin and gets two. Back heel trip by Strong and he holds onto the wrist lock. head lock takedown by Delirious. Stomp on the foot by Strong. Arm drag by Delirious. Crucifix gets two. Flying cross body by Delirious gets two. Strong goes to the mask. Diving head butt to the stomach by Delirious. Power slam by Strong gets one. Chin breaker by Delirious. Never ending story clotheslines by Delirious. Strong goes to the eyes. Bulldog by Delirious. Delirious to the top rope for Shadows over hell. Strong grabs his foot and pulls him to the canvas. Delirious is not moving after that. The announcers claims he hit the back of his head and say he had to be knocked out.
The referee checks on Delirious. Strong pulls the challenger out of the ring. Strong acts like is going to take a count out win since in FIP they had count outs while ROH didn't' at tipis time.The announcers stupidly act like Strong is dong something of kind thing. I know they are setting up for something but come on this is just stupid. Delirious climbs back into the ring. Strong with a press gets one. Strong ties up the arms. Delirious tries to elbow free. Clubs to the back by Strong. Gibson driver by Strong only gets two. Ok I normally like Prazak and Leonard but they are Michael Cole bad here. They keep acting like Delirious is in some kind of mortal danger even though the first bump didn't' look that bad. Plus he stood up and got in the ring. Strong pitches Delirious to the floor. Strong follows him out and moves the guard rails. Strong pitches Delirious into the guard rail head fist. Strong sats down the guard rail. Gibson drivers onto the guard rail. Leonard and Prazak act like Strong just killed the guy. The referee counts out Delirious. Post match official come out to help Delirious to the back. Strong than hits hi with the belt and pus the boots to him. Aries runs out and Strong runs out the front door into the night. This match failed in what they wanted it to be. It was clear the goal was to have Strong show No Remorse. The problem is Strong doesn't wrestle this any different than other singles match. He just went his normal pace. He shows no new fire or aggression or mean streak outside of the final blow. It doesn't help you have the commentary going "This is so Wrong!… Think about the man's life…" It doesn't help they keep pouting out "Stoping the match is the ref's call so he must not think Delirious is in danger."
ROH World Tag Team Championship Matt Sydal and Christopher Daniels with Alison Danger vs Jack Evans and Shingo- Evans and Shingo are both members of Blood Generation in Dragon Gate at this time but man this tag match just feels really random. They explain on commentary that this match was booked because Shingo and CIMA had a great match with Sydal and Daniels months earlier. WTF? I could get if this was a meant to be a rematch and CIMA got hurt but t doesn't sounds like that. Sydal and Daniels have never really clicked as a team and now they are working with a team that feels like it was pulled out of a hat. And I remind everyone Gabe broke up the Kings of Wrestling a great team that was able to make anyone look good. Daniels and Evans start us off. Lock up and a head lock by Daniels. Daniels goes for a snap mare but Evans lands on his feet. Lock up and a head lock by Evans. Daniel gets free. Tag to Shingo and tag to Sydal. Lock up and Shingo tosses Sydal to the ground. Lock up again and Sydal with an arm drag. Evans tags in. Back and forth exchange with each man coiner or avoiding the move. Sydal runs into the boots. Cartwheel kick by Evans and a knee drop. Evans mocks Daniels and Sydal nails him in the back of the head. Drop kick by Sydal who mocks Evans dancing. Tag to Daniels. Back elbow by Daniels and he busts a move before cosigning Evans and getting one. Wrist lock by Daniels. Evans gets free and tags Evans. Greco knuckle lock but Shingo with a forearm. Shoulder block by Shingo. Daniels goes for a leap frog but Shingo catches him in the air and drop him throat first on the top rope. Head lock by Shingo. Leg lariat by Daniels. Tag to Sydal. Double team power slam by the champs and than Daniels slams Sydal onto Shingo. Shingo shakes off Sydal's stomps. Shingo drives Sydal to the corner. Blind tag by Daniels. Belly to back suplex spring board back elbow by Daniels and Sydal. Chin lock by Daniels. Knee drop by Daniels. Tag to Sydal. Side slam cannon ball leg drop combo by Sydal and Daniels. Shingo kick at two Sydal chokes Shingo on the ropes. Running corner clothesline by Sydal. Tag to Daniels. Scoop slam by Sydal sling shot elbow by Daniels gets two. Head lock by Daniels.Evans kicks Daniels in the back of the head. Shingo drops Sydal on the top rope again. Tag to Evans. Evans covers and gets two. Double stomp into a standing moonsault by Evans gets two. Seated abdominal stretch by Evans. Chops in the corner by Evans. Tag to Shingo. Double ax to the back by Shingo than a big chop. Knee drop by Shingo. Shingo cranks at Daniels neck and hits an elbow.
Shingo rams Daniels head into the turnbuckle. Running lariat in the corner by Shingo. Inverted DDT neck breaker by Shingo gets two when Sydal puts Daniels foot on the bottom rope. Tag to Evans. Wish bone by the challengers. Series of kicks by Evans and a running shooting start gets two. Tag to Shingo. Daniels with punches and chops. Shingo in control but runs into the boot. Spine buster by Shingo gets two. Single legged crab by Shingo than he shifts to a cross face. Daniels gets the ropes. Tag to Evans. Power slam by Shingo and than supple Evans into a splash on Daniels. Sydal breaks up the pin. Daniels ducks a kick and hits a lariat. Both men are down. Tag to Sydal. House of fire by Sydal. No hand dive by Sydal whips out Shingo on the floor. Standing moonsault by Sydal on Evans in the ring gets two. Daniels. Inverted DDT and big splash combo by the champion.s Shingo pull daniel to the floor and teases him into the guard rail. Over hand chops by Sydal. Blind tag by Shingo. Double chop by Shingo on Sydal. Sydal charges into the boots. Running buckle bomb by Shingo than a spinning gut wrench bomb. Daniels breaks up the pin. Tag to Daniel. Flying cross body by Daniels on Shingo gets two. STO by Daniels than a kaprana that gets two. Yurnaig by Daniels. Best Moonsault Ever but Shingo moves. They than cut to Alison Dangers as Evans breaks something up. I am going to guess it was a bad botch why else just cut to Danger. Shingo clotheslines Daniels to the floor. Saksue special by Evans takes out Daniels. Sydal off the top but Shingo catches him. DDT by Sydal. Evans breaks up the pin. Tag to Evans. Back drop suplex by Shingo in combo with an flipping neck breaker by Evans. Daniels breaks it up. All four men fight. Shingo has Daniels on his shoulder. Evans off the top stomps on Daniels and Moonsaults into Sydal. Backslid by Evans is reversed by Sydal. Shingo lays out Sydal with a lariat Evans covered and gets two. Daniels with the angles wins on Shingo. Spinning kick by Evans knocks down Daniels. Sydal on the top cut off by Evans. Sydal blocks the rana and Daniels splashes the upside-down Evans. Double team Angles wings for the win. Ok match but it goes way to long. Neither team was great tougher and it felt like no one really got it together to make a forged teamed that was working tother well.
Austin Aries makes his way out and gets in the ring. Evans apologizes to Shingo admits he has other business and asks him to go to the back. Evans says he knows why Austin is out there. Evans says nothing has changed he won't' pick sides. Aries says that's fine and puts over Evans. Aries says he respect Evans but his track record speaks for itself. Aries talks about leading Generation Next to the top. Aries says he will go out and scout his the next generation of talent. Aries leaves. Evans admit Aries molded him into the do his own. Evans says since Aries and Strong both have factions going he will have to get a crew to led. Ok Evans comes off much better her than he did earlier where he weakly begged Aries not to make him pick sides. But you go from him not wanting to pick sides to suddenly adding a third. And well while the idea of the three feuding like this is interesting ROH was rolling the Dice. Evans has missed a lot of time the year before spending most of it in Dragon Gate and Aries had a TNA contract and what happen. Evans missed months because he got dates from Dragon Gate and when ROH announced the PPV deal TNA pulled Aries. And it just didn't help the feud was so one sided with the NRC winning every match.
Backstage stage Bayless is with Lacey and Jacobs. Bayless says Lacey had requested this time and asks her what she wants to say. Lacey turns to Jimmy. Jimmy apologized for getting pinned in the match. Lacey tells Jimmy she is proud of him for the damage he did to Cabana and she's proud of him. Lacey starts to whisper something to Jimmy. Lacey leaves and Jimmy is in shock and starts to celebrate by jumping around. Ok it since to finally see some foreword momentum with Jimmy and Lacey. I mean the way had been written for so long you really had to wonder why she was still his manager The problem is this undermines the whole transformation Jimmy had just made as he acts like a goofy kid.
We than get a high light video showing the various international talent that had been in ROH for the pas year. Its a well done video but I really don't' think we needed to get a whole video about it. Yeahs this action is awesome but its not enough to make me go back and guy any DVD's I don't' already have. We see stars from Dragon Gate, NOAH and the UK.
ROH World Championship Homicide © with Julius Smokes vs Takeshi Morishima- It make no sense Morishima is getting a title shot after losing his debut. They says he got the shot though NOAH and an open contract with is code for Gabe can book who ever he wants in title match no matter what. Morishima jumps Homicide during his entrance and tosses him into the guard rail. This marks the first time in ROH history a world title match ever started in this fashion. Homicide run around the outside into the guard rail. DDT on the floor by Morishima. Morishima chokes Homicide and than stomps him. Homicide sent into the ring and the bell rings starting the match. Running hip attack in the corner by Morishima and than he stands on Homicide. Morishima runs into a boot. Tornado DDT by Homicide. The challenger to the floor. Topa con Helio by Homicide. Smokes again being an idiot gets in the way of the camera so we can watch him do a dumb little dance. Homicide sends Morishima in the guard rail and than rams his head into the rime keeps table. Morishima whipped into the guard rail and it gives way. Head butt by Homicide. Smokes keeps getting in the way. Homicide tears at the sad of Morishima. Smokes with the worse looking clothesline ever on Morishima. Again why are they gong out of the way to make the manager look good. Homicide whips Morishima into the guard rail again and again. Homicide clubs to the back and goes after the eyes.Into the ring they go. Knee to the head by Homicide. Smokes into the ring. Morishima lays out both men with a clothesline. Smokes does an awful sell job. Cartwheel splash by Morishima gets two. Morishima chokes Homicide on the ropes. Power slam than double stomp by the challenger. Forearms by Morishima and he no sells chops by Homicide. Running hip splash by Morishima gets two. Chin lock by Morishima. Homicide goes for a sunset flip but Morishima drops down on him for a cover and gets two. Chin lock by Morishima. Head scissors by Morishima. Homicide gets the ropes. Stomps by Morishima. Ace crusher out of no where by Homicide gets two. Lariat to the back of the head than one to the front by Homicide only gets two. Power slam by Morishima who climbs to the top rope. Smokes grabs onto the ankle. Ok what is the deal with the ref just letting Smokes get involved. That's three times now. Homicide hits a superplex but he can't follow up right away and only gets two. Homicide to the top rope. Morishima catches him and hits an over head belly to belly suplex. Flying hip check by Morishima. Morishima to the top rope for the missile drop kick. Homicide to the floor. Morishima stands on Homicide. Morishima is bleeding from the nose.
Drop toe hold by Homicide than a neck breaker. Homicide back to the top rope. Senton by Homicide only gets two. Side slam by Morishima to shut Homicide down. Back drop driver is blocked. Homicide gets the STF locked in. Homicide lets the hold go and goes back to the top rope. Rana by Homicide. Homicide goes for a lariat but gets caught. Exploder suplex by Morishima Both men are down. Morishima rolls to the the cover but Homicide kicks at two. Exchange of strikes. Back drop driver is blocked. Morishima no sells big boots. Back drop driver by Morishima than a massive lariat only gets two. Back drop diver again this time its wins the title. Its an ok match but it falls short of great. I love how they start if off differently than the usual ROH match. There is very little technical wrestling in this and given how they wanted Morishima to come off a dominated force that's a good idea. The problems are repeatedly letting Smokes get involved and I think it should have been one back drop drive to win the match.
Oh fuck you Smokes the idiot is running around trying to get everyone to focus on him instead of the new champion. I supposed you say he's in shock than be in shock not running around waving you arms. Morishima grabs the belt from Bobby Cruise and holds it up. The ROH Locker Room starts to empty out to celebrate the win as is tradition. Morishima takes out two students and than tosses BJ Whitmer over the top rope. The rest of the locker room stops. Morishima leaves as Lenny Leonard asks where he's going with the belt? Again this is an effective way to make Morishima different than other ROH champions. The problem is they don't stick to this. The title change is pretty shocking but that's ultimately all it had going. They never really got a great story or rival for Morishima built up. Yes the ROH title got defend on NOAH shows but ROH never got much back. At this time it felt like ROH was all about putting NOAH over. Stars from NOAH won pretty much all the matches they appeared in. It never felt like ROH picked up that big win that showed the two companies as equal.
I don't know how to feel about this show. I've seen a lot worse from ROH so I can't hate it. I feel like if this was the first time I saw this show and I didn't know where it all wound up going I would be interested. But as someone who has seen the show and knows the outcomes it doesn't stand the test of time. Also like the NYC show it doesn't feel like a celebration of ROH's five year anniversary.
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