After the shocking title change in Philly it was time for Morishima's first title defense against Ohio's own BJ Whitmer. This is also the last title match on the FYE meaning the final three would be without one. I know both TNA and WWE have major events where the world title wasn't on the line but these shows so far have't come across like Major Events. Instead them come across like B-shows. And not having the world title around for weeks is just strange. Now a big part of Morishima's title reign early on was the unpredictable factor. Also he did defend it in NOAH but those matches never made it over to the US. And I really don't understand that why not inched it as a bonus on a DVD? This event was actual anniversary show as it took place five year to the day ROH started. Now again ROH was undergoing a lot of changes at this point so lets see if things pick up for ROH as the FYE reaches the halfway point or or things dive a cliff?
We open with Dave Prazak in the ring. Dave talks about history being made with the title change. Dave talks about the tradition of the new champion opening the next show with an interview. Dave introduces Morishima but Nigel McGunniess comes out instead. Nigel takes the microphone from Dave. Nigel talks about how he is teaming with Morishima at the next show and says the NOAH office sent him out to speak for the champion. Nigel says Morishima never gets in the ring unless he is going to kick someone's ass. The Irish Airborne Jake and Dave Crist come out to the ring. Dave says the business is all about opportunity and challenges Nigel and Morishima to a tag match. Morishima comes out and attacks the Airborne. Nigel counts the fall after a pari of back drop drivers both the airborne and than the champion leaves. Nigel than rolls the Crist Brothers out of the ring. WHAT THE FUCK was that? At this stage the ROH tag division was so thin all Shingo needed to do was bring someone from who also worked for Dragon Gate around and he will get a title shot. Yet you do that to an actual tag team that could be full time and pushed. Would be natural rivals for the Bricoes who you are about to put the belts on. I know they are trying to set up Morishima as a monster but this was dumb. Here's an idea why not have BJ come out to confront Nigel and say he's pissed about Morishima attacking him in Philly and demanding to know if Joe is right Nigel being NOAH's bitch send out Morishima and set up the title match for later tonight. Instead the Airborne show up and get squashed randomly. Hell Zack Ryder would feel bad for how much a burial that was.
Lacey, Jimmy Jacobs, and Brent Albright comes out. Lacey gets in the ring. The fans are chanting for Jimmy Jacobs and Lacey is upset. Lacey you do remember your his manager right? Lacey says she will destroy Daizee Haze later. Lacey talks to Nigel saying she doesn't have a problem with him. But he's teaming with Colt Cabana against her team. Lacey suggest Nigel just let them take care of there personal business with Cabana. Nigel says he will won't succumb to a threat from a cheap dirty slag like Lacey. Nigel says he will have that match anytime the fellas want. Jacobs and Albright get in the ring. Suddenly Jimmy Rave runs down to put Nigel in the heel hook. Cabana waits for this music to play before running to make the save. Awful opening segment. We get a dumb burial of the Airborne and the stuff Lacey came off a dumb and did really need Rave come out to again put Nigel in the heel hook?
Nigel McGuinness and Colt Cabana vs Jimmy Jacobs and Brent Albright with Lacey- Why are they doing this match now? Cabana and Jacobs are already set for a death match the next night. Series of right and elbow by Cabana on both heels. Oh wow this is stupid Brent and Jimmy pull Nigel to the ring and the forces Colt to the corner. Ok you want do the face in peril right out of the box do it in a way that makes sense. This just looks like the ref is helping the heels. Albright works over the bad knee of Nigel. Tag to Jimmy Jacobs. Jacobs stomps on the leg. Knee bar to Nigel but Jimmy. Tag to Albright. More working over the leg as Albright wrenches at it. Albright drives the knee into the canvas tag to Jacobs and he kicks it. Boot to the back by Jacobs. Jacobs ties up Nigel's leg in the ropes. Punches from the outside by Albright. Tag to Albright who tosses Jimmy into a drop kick at Nigel. Tag to Jacobs More working over the knee. Man this is getting boring it stem same stomps and wretches at the leg. Spinning toe hold by Jimmy who Nigel kicks off. Jacobs cuts off the tag. Jacobs stands on the throat. Thrust by Nigel and a second one. Head butt by Jimmy. Tag to Albright and drops knees on the knee. Chop by Albright. Albright tires up the leg int eh corner and Jacobs rips at the face. Shoulder block to the leg by Albright. Tag to Jacobs. Jacobs use the tag rope. Chop by Jacobs. and than he rakes the back. Nigel kicks with the bad leg and it hurts him. Jacobs drop-kicks the leg and than trips Nigel. Tag to Albright. More working over the bad leg. Stiff forearm by Nigel rocks Albright and he strumpets by Cabana who lands a shot. Clotheslines by Albright gets two. Shin breaker attempt by Albright. Nigel escapes and hits a lariat. Tag to Cabana and it house of fire time. Jacobs and Albright attack din the corner. Butt butt by Cabana but Jacobs moves so only Albright takes. Spring board butt butt on Jacobs. Albright goes for a kick but Cabana catches it. Roll up by Cabana gets two. Power slam is counted so Albright shoves Cabana into the corner. Tag to Jacobs. Attempt at a double team back body drop. Kick to the face of Albright and a Jacobs gets launched drop kick fashion at his partner by Cabana. Moonsault on Jacobs on gets two.
Albright blocks the Colt 45 and Cabana runs into an elbow. Jacobs uses as weapon again this time by Albright. Half nelson suplex on Cabana by Albright. Top rope senton by Jacobs. Nigel breaks up the ring. Albright toes Nigel to the floor. Knee to the face by Albright than a spear by Jacobs gets two. Tag to Albright. Attempt at spiked pile driver but Nigel cuts off Jacobs. Tower of London on Jacobs by Nigel. Air raid crash on Albright by Cabana. Cabana tags in Nigel legally. Uppercuts and thrust for Albright. Running uppercut on Nigel. To Nigel's credit he is limping so he's still selling the knee so it comes off like he is getting it out. Short arm lariat gets two. Tower of London attempt on Albright but Jacobs makes the save. Cabana goes after Jacobs but gets sent to the floor. Rebound Lariat attempt on Jacobs. Albright catches him and locks in the crowbar. Jacobs is blocking Cabana. Cabana tosses Jacobs into the Albright and the referee. Double team Tower of London to Albright who rolls to the floor. Jacobs has a guitar. Jacobs takes the strings and uses it to choke Cabana. Nigel and the referee are down. Rebound lariat to make the save and win the match by Nigel. It ok but it start off really boring by doing the face in peril spot right off the bat. Also the finish is strange as Nigel takes extra time to hit the rebound instead of just saving his friend.
BJ Whitmer is backstage. Whitmer says title shots are hard to come by and you have to out of your way to earn them.Whitmer says he's earned this title shot and recaps the various "Highlights." of his ROH career. Stuff like the feud with Jacobs or Necro Butcher. Whitmer calls Morishima the biggest baddest man in Japan. Whitmer talks about he looked unstoppable vs Homicide something no else has. Jacobs says the fans droves him to get back up every time he was done. Whitmer says he will the title in Dayton and bring the biggest party of the year. Its an ok promo but the you have to go out of you way to earn title shots line confuses me. From a basic story telling standpoint you just rack up win to get a title shot.
Sterling Keenan vs Jimmy Rave- Sterling Keenan normally used the name Sterling James Keenan you would now know him as Cory Graves in NXT. Some fans throw TP at Rave enough it had actually been banned by ROH a few mother before. Lockup and Rave drives Keenan into the corner but breaks clean. Arm drag by Keenan. Head lock by Rave. Keenan tries to shove Rave off but Rave uses hair. Keenan goes for a back body drop but Rave side steps it and tosses Keenan to the canvas. Headlock again by Rave. Reveres by Keenan and than an arm drag. Hair mare by Keenan. Stringer splash by Keenan. Head scissors using the ropes by Keenan. Whip to the corner by Keenan who charges. Rave moves and Keenan hits hard. Snap mare and a big stomp by Rave. Handful o fair send Keenan down again. Stomp off the second rope by Rave gets two. Belly to back suplex by Rave gets two. Keenan blocks a suplex and his one of his down. Clotheslines by Keenan and a big boot. Keenan charges into a boot. Spine buster by Keenan and he locks in a stretch plum. Rave gets to the ropes. Knee to the gut by Rave. Back breaker by Keenan gets two. Dragon screw by Rave and he locks in the heel hook for the win. Good short match. I'm surprised how much they let Keenan get in.
Post match Nigel runs out and goes after Rave. Running upper cut by Nigel on Rave breaks the guard rail. They run to the back and the segment is over. What was the point of that?
Lacey with Jimmy Jacobs vs Daizee Haze- These two had been feuding for months since Lacey had left Daizee take a pin in a tag match. It was really the first time two women had a real feud in ROH. No hand shakes they go rich tout . Lacey slips and Haze clubs away. Kick to the stomach by Lacey than a clothesline. Thez press by Haze. The rolls around exchange punches. Lacey tosses Daizee to the floor. Drop kick by The Haze back in the ring sends Lacey to the floor. Haze to the top ropes with a cross body that takes out both Lacey and Jacobs. Stomp to the back by Haze. Back to the ring and Lacey rolls all the way to the other side. Jacobs distracts Haze and this lets Lacey hits a clothesline on the floor. Lacey bounces the head off the floor and than whip the Haze chest first into the guard rail. Chops by Lacey than she uses he leg and the guard rail to choke Haze. Lacey bends Haze around the ring post. Back to the ring and boots by Lacey. Punches by Haze. Lacey ducks a clothesline. Neck breaker by Lacey. Forearms to the head by Lacey than she covers and gets two. Snap suplex by Lacey gets two. Right hand by Lacey drops Daizee. Lacey stands on the throat. Haze's head rammed into the turnbuckle. Weak looking kicks to the back by Haze. Running knee to the back by Lacey. Lacey goes for it again but this time Haze moves. Belly to back suplex by Lacey gets two. Cobra clutch by Lacey. Daizee starts to fade but fight back. Back breaker by Lacey. We suddenly cut to the crowd and see see Delirious in the crowd. They are doing this for part of a storyline but why now in the middle of the match why not before or after a match? ROH never cuts to the crowd so doing it now just seems strange. Slap to the face exchange. Palmstirke by Haze. Haze charges into about. Fighting on the ropes. Superplex by Daizee Haze gets two. Haze to the top rope and misses the missile drop kick. Lacey singles she is going for Haze's hart punch mind trip combo but its blocked German suplex with a bridge by Haze gets two Hart push and two Yakuza to the head by Haze. Lacey to the ropes and she distract he reef. Jacobs into the ring and spears Haze. Lacey covers to steal the match. Its a good match and I would take it over anything on WWE for the most part but it's not some great match that shows how good this girls could be. I feel like they had more in them. But I also get it ring the third match on the card they could only do so much.
Rebecca Bayless tires to speak to Delirious. She points out he's not cleared to wrestle. Delirious just sits silent in the crowd. She asks he's here to get back at Roderick? Still nothing. Finally she just asks if he's if he's chilling still noting. She messes up by saying he has a lot to say for himself. I really don't get why they made Bayless an interviewer. She had been a valet and she just doesn't seem to be working this role.
Austin Aries talks about Roderick Strong turning on him. Aries says he knows he there is strength in number. Aries says he will find the best talent rather it be ROH, FIP or over seas and they will go to war with Roderick. Aries talks about Matt Sydal walking around with a cocky smile. Aries says he will take the Open the Brave Gate title. Its an ok promo but production wise they made a strange call. It was done entirely in super close up. So the whole interview Aries face is right there taking up the whole screen. Now watching the DVD's from this era it appears ROH is trying different things with backstage interviews. Some guys will be looking off to the side instead of into the camera, BJ early one was done in a low angle. Those work this though didn't. Its not some tight close up it's the whole shot is just Aries' face to the point we can his pores.
Christopher Daniels with Alison Danger vs Jay Briscoe vs Homicide- The idea behind this mach is everyone including Danger were on the first ROH show back in 2002. And I really think this a cool idea for an anniversary show. And for the first time the FYE feels like one. In a nice touch during the intros we get footage of each person from the first show. Homicide attacks Daniels on the handshake. Briscoe pulls Homicide off Daniels. Homicide runs into a leg lariat by Daniels than Briscoe hits s sloppy version of the move on Homicide. School boy by Daniels on Briscoe gets one. Hip toss by Briscoe than a sloppy drop kick on Daniels. Homicide off the top rope and gets hit with an atomic drop. Cross body by Briscoe gets two. Daniels after Briscoe and hit a power slam than an elbow. Daniels covers but Homicide pulls him off. Exchange of punches by Homicide and Daniels. Snap suplex by Briscoe on Daniels. Belly to belly suplex by Briscoe on Homicide. Flap jack by Briscoe on Daniels than a chin breaker on Homicide. Double clothesline by Briscoe and Homicide to the floor. Chin lock by Briscoe on Daniels. Daniels gets free but runs into a back body drop. Homicide attacks Briscoe and kicks him in the back before choking him. Daniels after Homicide but he takes a chin breaker from the Notorious 187. Running corner clothesline by Homicide on Briscoe than a running knee to the face. Overhand chops by Homicide. Daniels nails Homicide. Daniels whipped in the the cover and Homicide with a monkey flip. Daniels lands on his feet and clotheslines Bricoes. Blue Thunder bomb on Homicide by Daniels. Power slam on Briscoe and than Homicide slammed on Briscoe. Daniels picks up Briscoe and slams him down so he basically leg drops Homicide. Daniels puts Briscoe in a Boston Crab and puts Homicide in a chin lock. Briscoe powers free. Briscoe rammed in otto the corner. Homicide sends Daniels to apron an side steps Briscoe so he hits the post. Back drop suplex by Homicide on Briscoe. Arm and hammer lock with a head scissors by Homicide. Daniels breaks it up with a leg drop. Chin lock on Daniels with the legs tied up on Daniels. Briscoe breaks it up. Briscoe chokes Homicide on the ropes. Head butt by Daniels on Briscoe than an elbow to the head and another head butt. Head but for Homicide. Homicide with an over head belly to belly for Daniels than a neck breaker for Briscoe. back elbow sends Daniels to the floor and than Homicide tosses Briscoe to the floor on Daniels. Topa Con Helio by Homicide takes out the other two men. Daniels back into the by Homicide. T-Bone suplex by Homicide but Briscoe breaks p the pin. Double team shoulder tackle by Daniels and Briscoe on Homicide. Enziquri by Daniels on Briscoe. Lariat by Homicide on Daniels Superkick by Briscoe on Homicide. Daniels and Homicide to the floor. Flipping back splash by Briscoe takes out both men And for once a Briscoe high spot was actually done well.
Briscoe with a front suplex on Daniels in the ring gets two. Briscoe turns into a boot but block the Yurnaig and hits a fishermen's' buster. Homicide breaks up the pin. Homicide goes for a monkey flip on Briscoe but its blocked and Homicide is sat on the top rope. Briscoe goes for a superplex but it blocked. DDT off the top rope by Homicide gets two. Homicide to the top and hits a senton on Briscoe. Daniels breaks up the pin. Daniels goes for a titlawhilr back breaker but Homicide lands on his feet. Death Valley Diver by Daniels gets two. Koji clutch by Daniels on Homicide. Briscoe is still down. Homicide gets the ropes. Yurnaig by Daniels. Best Moonsault Ever by Daniels. Homicide moves but Daniels lands on his feet. Daniels runs into a boot. Big boot by Briscoe on Homicide. STO on Briscoe by Daniels gets two. We again cut back to Delirious why? You already made it clear he was there even worse they do this when Daniels is going for the angles wings. Briscoe blocks it and back drops Daniels. Running fore am by Briscoe and he sits Daniels on the top . Briscoe foes of a superplex by Daniels knocks him off the top rope with a palm strike. Top rope ace crusher by Homicide to get the win and pin Daniels. Its very good match and after the way Homicide was beat so easily by Morishima he needed a win here. Also with two very talented guys in the ring Jay Briscoe wasn't awful or in spot monkey mode.
Dragon Gate Open The Brave Gate Championship Matt Sydal © vs Austin Aries- The open the brave gate title is a secondary championship in Dragon Gate witch Sydal had won while on a tour. This a storyline to this as Aries and Sydal had always had tension since Sydal first teamed with AJ Styles against him and Strong. The problem is with all the various tag matches and other matches they squared off in this match it just feels like a stable feud even though they really hadn't had a full feud. Lock up and Aries sends Sydal to the conner and slaps the chest on the break. Lock up and a go behind take down by Aries. The fight for position and Sydal gets back to they feet. Wrist lock by Sydal. Aries reveres the hold. The fight for position on the hold than the exchange strikes. Head lock by Aries and takes over Sydal. Head scissors by Sydal. Sydal blocks the head stand escape so Aries spins on his head and gets a head scissors of his own. Kip up escape by Sydal. Head lock by Aries. . Spring board back elbow by Aries than a shoulder tackle. Hip toss by Sydal is blocked. Arm drag by Sydal and another. Sydal goes for a flying head scissors but Aries catches him and drives into the canvas face first. Club to the back by Aries. Kicks to the chest by Aries. Aries charges Sydal drops down and lowers the rope. Aries on the apron and hits an elbow. Sydal avoids the sling shot senton. Aries knocks Sydal off the apron. Aires goes for a sling shot press but Sydal moves. Baseball slide by Sydal. Aries tips Sydal to hit sling shot senton and than frog elbow for two. Shoulders in the corner by Aries. Gut wrench suplex by Aries gets two. Sydal runs into a back elbow. Aries to the top but Sydal trips him and hangs him in the tree of woe. Sydal works over the bad ankle of Aries. Dropkick to Aries who is still tired up. Sling shot drop by kick by Sydal gets two. Sydal with a ankle lock. Aries gets the ropes for a break. Power slam by Sydal than a cannon ball leg drop off the second rope. Aries moves. Clotheslines by Aries. Inverted atomic drop by Aries than a regular atomic drop sends Sydal to the floor. Suicide dive by Aries who lands some punches. Power slam by Aries. Corkscrew press by Aries gets two. Kaprana by Aries. Aries to the top rope. Sydal cuts him off. Aries and Sydal fight on the ropes. Aries knocks him off. Missile drop kick by Aries than a running corner drop kick gets two.
Aries goes for the brain buster but Sydal to his feet. Moonsault int the leg drive takedown by Sydal gets two. Standing moonsault by Sydal but gets the legs up and kicks Sydal in the chest. Jig and Tonic by Sydal gets two. Aries blocks the here it is driver. Inside cradle by Sydal gets two. Kick to the fare by Aries than the brain buster that only gets two. Aries back to the top but his bad leg slows him. Sydal cuts him off. Top rope rana by Sydal than a flying head scissors sends Aries face first into the turn buckle. Here it is driver by Sydal followed by the Sydal press for the win. Pretty good match it helped that this wasn't a tag match so for once it was Aries vs Sydal one on one. Given Aires wasn't a regular in Dragon Gate you knew he wasn't going to win the title and at no point do you think he has a chance.
Aries and Sydal shake hands. The Ne Remorse Corps of Davey Richards and Roderick Strong hit the ring. Strong sends Sydal to the floor. Double team stomps on Aries. Delirious jumps the rail and runs off the NRC. Delirious gets a microphone and in his lizard talk says he will get revenge for what Strong did to him in Philly. Delirious helps Aries to his feet. Now you would think this would mean Delirious was joining the faction Aries was forming given they both had issues with Strong. But he never did. He was instead an alley to the Resilience and teamed with them and I do think if Aries hadn't gotten his TNA release they might have made him a member to keep the faction at three men.
Bayless is backstage and talks about how it's five years to the day since the first ROH show. She says she's happy not to be in the same place she was in ROH a few years ago. I assume that was mean to be allison to her time in Special K the faction she was a part of. She is with Lacey and Jimmy Jacobs. Bayless points out Lacey's win earlier wasn't fair. Lacey says she doesn't care and starts to talk about hot great it was have Jimmy out there supporting her. Lacey says Jimmy has been stepping his game up and talks about how great it was to watch him choke Cabana out. Lacey says she doesn't care about wins or losses she wants him to kill to Cabana and than starts whispering in his ear about what she will do for him. Lacey walks off. Jimmy says the winds of change are i the air and the season of love starts tomorrow an the will do anteing to assure that happens. Well again it's nice to actually see Lacey not just be annoyed by Jacobs.
Larry Sweeney makes his way out with Tank Toland and Match Franklin. Sweeney tells Dayton that should appreciate they are looking at the best agent in sports today. Sweeney calls Chris Hero the number one athlete in ROH and brags he is over seas in Japan for NOAH. Sweeney claims he got Hero to Japan in under sixty days. Sweeney puts over Toland as superior natural athlete. Sweeney says Toland will be Hero's personal trainer. Sweeney says Franklin is the opposite of Toland he's an inferior athlete and says Franklin has no tan and weigh about as much as Toland's bicep. Toland nails Franklin starting the next match. Good promo by Sweeney and it's nice to finally see Sweat and Sour Inc on these shows. I get Hero was out of the country but you couldn't pre-tape something. Or have Sweeney scout talent or something.
Tank Toland vs Mitch Franklin- Toland picks Franklin up in a gorilla press and just tosses him across the ring. Hip toss acres the ring by Toland. Snap mare follow by a kick to the face by Toland. Forearms by Franklin. Toland blocks the hip toes but gets a rana. Flying head scissors by Franklin takedown Toland. Franklin to the tope. Cross body attempt but Toland catches him. Spine buster by Toland for the win. Good squash it really did show off how powerful Toland was. And I like the idea of SNSI adding members.
Six Man Mayhem Pelle Primeau vs Matt Cross vs Claudio Castagnoli vs Shingo vs Mark Briscoe vs Roderick Strong - Claudio again enters through crowd acting like a heel again showing why doing the break up at FInal Battle was stupid. If your going to break up the KOW than have one turn face. Its like Gabe wasn't sure if he was going to reunite them or not. The graphic tells us Strong is the FIP champion even though he doesn't bring out the title we also get a graphic tell us it's non title. Claudio and Briscoe exchange worlds before the match. I just noticed something funny everyone is either wearing red or black except Pelle who is in blue. Strong and Pelle start the match. Claudio playing heel shoves Pelle in the head. Lock up and Strong tosses Pelle down. Knee to the gut by Strong Strong goes for a second one but Pelle rolls him up. Flaying head scissor take down by Pelle than arm drags. Back Breaker by Strong than he picks Pelle up and tosses him into the corner through the air. Briscoe in with a muscle drop kick and he has to do that stupid yell. Spin kick by Briscoe on Strong. Claudio in but Mark hits a northern lights suplex for two. Forearms by Briscoe. Briscoe charges but Castagnoli drops down and Briscoe over the top to floor. Matt Cross into the ring but Castagnoli hits him with a knee to the stomach. Monkey flip by Claudio. Cross goes to land on his feet but slips. They do for a drop toe hold but it looks like Cross isn't in position. Instead Claudio just goes the apron and than the floor. In comes Shingo with a kick and chop. Drop kick by Cross but all that does is send Shingo into the ropes so he can come back with a shoulder tackle. Shingo picks Cross up and drops him throat first across the top rope. Strong into the ring. Strong and Shingo go for a double team atomic drop but Cross lands on his feet. Strong goes for a kick but Cross catches the foot and swings it into Shingo. Drop kick and both Strong and Shingo go to the floor. Claudio in but Cross ducks the clothesline and hits a head scissors. Strong and Shingo flight pin the floor. Cross fakes out Strong and Shingo than eh fakes out Castagnoli before diving onto Strong and Shingo. Pelle and Briscoe into the ring. Enzqirui the misses by a mile by Briscoe that Pelle sells. Briscoe runs into a punch. Moonsault press int a weak looking head scissors by Briscoe on Pelle. Claudio into the run and puts Briscoe in a seated abdominal stretch. Strong with a cross face chicken wing on Claudio. Cross grape vines Pelle's head. Shingo puts Cross in a head scissors finally everyone just lets go. Everyone leaves the ring but Shingo and Pelle. Power slam by Shingo. Giant swing with a chin lock by Shingo. Strong into the ring and grabs Pelle from Shingo. Claudio into the ring and pulls Pelle away from Strong. Power slam by Claudio and again. Claudio pins and gets two. Claudio tags in Shingo and holds Pelle so Shingo can kick him. Shingo no sails fore ams by Pelle. Sunset flip by Pelle. but Shingo rolls through. They try to go for one os those spots where your not sure who is getting the advantage but the flow isn't' that smooth so Pelle just land awkwardly on his head. Shingo gets two.
Single leg crab by Shingo. Claudio tags himself in and out goes Shingo. Claudio whips Pelle and I believe the planned spot was for him to run into a side slam but he never gets hight enough so Double C just knees him. Strong wants a tag and Claudio mockingly taps him in the face. Big chop by Strong on Pelle. Stomps to chest by Strong. Delayed vertical suplex by Strong on Pelle. Strong walk around ring and instead of falling back he sits Pelle on his feet so he can slap him in the face. Strong covers and gets one. Power slam by Strong than an elbow drop for two. Strong tags in Shingo. Stiff chop by Shingo on Pelle and another one. Shingo covers but Strong into the ring. Shingo abandons the cover. Strong picks up Pelle and chops him. Strong over and Pelle kicks at two. Fall away slam by Strong Claudio tags in. Claudio takes off his tie an dusts it to choke Pelle. Uppercut by Claudio Knock Pelle across the ring. Claudio tags in Shingo. Shingo does' tike the fact Claudio is ordering him to hit Pelle. Vertical suplex by Shingo on Pelle gets two. This face in peril stuff has gone on way to long. Remember you don't have to tag in during a SMM you can just come in the ring. Why would Cross and Briscoe just lets Pelle take a beating and potentially get pinned or submit. Yeah you could argue they are getting rested but than why not sneak in and take over by knocking one of the heels out of the ring and going after Pelle yourself? Head butt by Shingo and Claudio tags back in and shoves Shingo. Shoving match. Head scissors by Pelle on Claudio than he tags in Cross. Spring board missile drop kick by Cross on Claudio. Spring board rana by Cross gets two. Claudio rolls to the floor and here comes Strong. You know because the rules of the match allow that ten though Cross and Briscoe seem to not be aware. Shingo shoot suplex by Strong gets two. Strong goes to whip Cross who slides to the food. Strong stick his head between the ropes and Briscoe hits a knee. Spring board double stomp by Briscoe on Strong gets two. Shingo in and head butts Strong. Inverted DDT neck breaker by Shingo on Briscoe. Clothesline by Shingo sends Briscoe to the floor.
Pelle on the top rope and comes off with a seated senton that takes Shingo off his feet. Pelle covers and gets two. Strong into the ring. Strong runs into Pelle's boot. Pelle goes for a rana. Strong blocks tin and hits a power bomb back breaker. Claudio breaks up the ring. Uppercuts to Strong and than the water slide. Shingo breaks up the pin. Exchange of strikes between Shingo and Claudio. Clothesline by Shingo. Briscoe breaks up the fall. Forearms by Briscoe eon Shingo. Awful looking leg lariat by Briscoe. Sloppy looking twisting splash by Briscoe and he makes it even worse with that dumb call again. Cross breaks it up. Death Valley Neck breaker by Cross than the twisting moonsault. Cross covers and Strong breaks it up. Gut buster by Strong. Shingo back up but Strong nails an enzqirui. Briscoe sends Strong into the corner and sets him on the top. Sick kick off the second rope by Strong. Gibson Driver on Claudio by Strong and Pelle breaks it up. Torture rack back breaker by Strong on Pelle. Austin Aries limps out hand runs off Strong. Ok that was dumb for one simple reason if Aries wanted Strong that badly why would wait so long to come out. Why no jump him on his entrance? Pelle tips to the floor and hits a rana on Claudio. Briscoe and Cross go after Shingo in the ring but he ducks he attack. Sloppy looking exploder by Briscoe. Than that shitty looking Shooting star press to the floor by Briscoe. Cross goes for something to the floor but Claudio into the ring and hits the pop up upper cut for the win. This match sucked on so many levels. Moves are botched, dumb booking, and it just goes way to long.Your just eating for it to finally end.
Davey Richards vs Samoa Joe- Davey had new music and had lowered the energy level on his entrance. Its two small things but I like guys doing that after a heel turn. There really isn't any reason for this match other than wanting to do it before Joe left ROH. Both men have there hand up like they want to strike Leg kick by Richards checked by Joe. Another one and Joe checks again. Again that's a minor thing that fans that don't watch MMA or Muay Thai may not get. But as someone who understands the point of a check I love it. For those that don't' know a leg check is bringing you leg and turing so the kick hits the shin bone instead of muscle or nerves. Joe goes a head kick but Richards ducks. Dave with a back heel trip and he ties up Joe's ankle. Joe turns over into a pin and gets two. Both men back to there feet. Waste lock by Richards but Joe gets two wrist lock. Richards goes down but keep chi shoulder off the match. Richards yes up and bridge and lands hard kick to break the hold as Joe lets it go. Leg kick by Richards and this time Joe downs' check. More leg kicks and Joe catches one. Slaps to the face by Joe. Enziquri by Richards. Snapmare into a chin lock by Richards. Knee to the gut by Richards and he goes for a suplex. Joe blocks and hits an enziquri. Jabs o the face by Joe than spinning back fist. Punches in the corner by Joe. Running back elbow than a flip kick by Joe gets two. Some great selling by Richards as he sell every move making Joe look good. Richards gets the leg and lands some chops. Joe catches a kick but another enziquri by Richards. Running fore arms by Richards. Richards goes for a the hand spring kick but tJoe just walks away. Nice twist combing trademark spots by both men. Chop to back kick to the chest and a knee drop by Joe gets one. Chin lock by Joe. Richards charges into a knee to the gut. Kicks to the back and chest by Joe. Richards fires up. Exchange of leg kicks. Richards goes down and Joe kicks him the back of the head. Richards rolls to the floor. The fans chant Joe killed Davey Joe waits for Richards to get back in the ring and than covers. I think maybe kick to the head was supposed to be the back and it just rocked Davey for a few seconds. Joe covers and gets two. Chops in the corner by Joe. Joe whips Richards but he goes to the apron. Richards snaps Joe's throat on the ropes. Spring board missile drop kick by Richards. Joe to the floor. Baseball slide by Richards than a Suicide dive and both men are down on the floor. Richards sits Joe in the corner and kicks him the chest. Joe reverses a whip and sends Richards back first into the guard rail. Joe sits Davey in the corner and hits the Ole Kick. Joe hits the guard rail so hard the metal ROH sign they have on it gives way and Joe gets trapped for a second in the guard rail. Joe drags Richards to the other side and rams his face into a chair. A second Ole kick. More great selling by Richards as we see him acting like he's been KO'ed or that kick to the head earlier is still hurting him. A third side of the ring and a third Ole kick. Joe goes for a fourth but this time Davey hits some forearms like he suddenly woke up before going back to the ring. Normally I would say your killing a spot but Joe had done a series of Ole kicks a number of times over the years. And this was his last singles match for ROH in the US so I get he was trying to make it special.
Joe still on the apron. Shoulder to the stomach by Richards. Swinging DDT over the ropes by Richards and drives Joe's head into the apron. Both men are down. Clubs to the back by Richards. Back to the ring. Richards goes for the running liger bomb but Joe is to big. Joe picks Richards up and drives him into the corner. Muscle Buster is blocked. Joe goes for a superplex. Richards hits the sunset bomb for two. Really cool spot there given how big Joe is. Richards up and goes for a running corner forearm. Joe moves but Richards sees it so he moonsault off the turnbuckle. Richards charges again in the center of the ring but Joe hits the snap power slam for two. Power bomb by Joe into the STF. Joe changes to cross face. Richards gets the ropes with his boot for the break. Joe goes for a supple but knees to the stomach Richards. Joe blocks a suplex. Kicks to the chest by Richards. Richards ducks the clothes line and hits the hand spring kick. German suplex with a bridge by Richards gets two. Richards goes for it again but Joe blocks. O'Conner roll by Richards. Joe pulls him down into the Coquina clutch. Richards won't quit and tires to get fried but Joe won't go and pulls him back to the ground. The referee checks the arm but Richards keeps it up on the third lift. Richards rolls to his stomach and gets to his feet. Low blow by Richards. Now they try to do the whole referee doesn't see it spot but since ROH"s referee Todd Sinclair sucks he's clearly right in position to see it. A good ref helps a match a bad ref like Sinclair takes away form it. Kicks and forearms by Richards. Joe with jabs. Another low blow by Richards and again they claim the ref couldn't have seen it even though there is no way he could have missed it. Leg drop by Richards. Richards to the top rope. Richards takes time to pose on the ropes. Shooting star press by Richards and Joe kicks at two. Joe to the apron. Richards goes for the DDT on the apron but Joe hits elbows. Muscle buster on the apron. HOLY SHIT that had to hurt. Joe covers to win the match. Very good match. I like how change things up working a spot in a different way or when a guy went for something that worked earlier it gets blocked our countered.
Post match the fans chant Thank you Joe. Joe helps Richards up and offers the hands. Davey spits at him and than runs off first giving the up yours sign and than flipping him off. I assume that meant to give Davey some heat but really maybe they should have not have Davey wrestle Joe and lose just after turning heel. Joe has a microphone. Joe says that proves a point "You smack your bitch around in public she will spit on you." Joe welcomes Dayton Ohio to Ring of Honor. Joe says he's glade he got to stop in Dayton before leaving. Joe makes a joke about some of the fans that are at every show. Joe says Dayton is one of ROH's smaller markets but the fans are passionate and there have been some great matches. Joe says ROH appreciates the fans in Dayton. Joe talks hints at his draw with CM Punk that took place in Dayton. It's a nice little segment. Its nice Joe is trying to make each goodbye personal instead of just repeating the same stuff.
We get a video looking the best match from the year past. Stuff like Sydal vs Delirious at SOTF. THe Cage of Death vs CZW. The three way between Joe, Kenta, and Bryan Danielson. KENTA and Richards vs Strong and Aries. OH FUCK YOU ROH Do not put the Briscoe Brothers in this segment especially not that shitty match from the UK where Aries got hurt and you went like 30 mins. Sorry but can you blame me. We than gets footage of the Unified match between McGuinness and Danielson. KENTA vs Danielson at Glory by Honor. The BEst in the world main event with Joe and Daniels vs KENTA and Marfuji. The Dragon Gate 3 way at WrestleMania weekend. Its another ok video. But once more I pout out the FYF wasn't about just the past year for ROH its was about five years of ROH. So it just seems like they should be airing more than just clips of what took place during 2006.
ROH World Title Takeshi Morishima © vs BJ Whitmer- Gabe must have real loved this match because he also had these two kick off the first ever ROH PPV against each other. BJ was granted this shot because well he's from the area. Morishima gets in the ring and goes right after Whitmer once again meaning no code of honor or introductions for the match. Whitmer sent to the floor. Morishima tosses him into the guard rail and than uses his boot to choke BJ. Morishima whips Whitmer into the guard rail again an dues a chair to choke. Chops by Morishima and than he tosses Whitmer into the post. Whitmer first back with chops but Morishima no sells them. Hard shots by Morishima. Back to the ring. Forearms by Whitmer have no effect. One by forearm by the champion drops Whitmer. Double stomp by Morishima. BJ goes for a sent set flip but Morishima just drops on him and gets two. Morishima whips Whitmer into the corner and hits a cartwheel splash. Morishima cranks on Whitmer's neck. Running hip check by the champion and a second one. Morishima covers and gets two. Double chop by Morishima. Morishima puts hi boot on BJ's throat. Exchange of forearm. Shot to the back of the head drops Whitmer. Morishima chokes Whitmer i the corner. This match is just the same thing over and over again. Morishima beats up Whitmer or chokes him. Whitmer fires back but its' all no sold Single power shot regains full control for the champion. Chops by BJ but a single forearm drops him. Morishima telegraphs a back body drop and gets kicked. Drop kick to the leg by Whitmer than a running knee to the head. Morishima to the floor. Suicide dive by Whitmer. Whitmer sends Morishima into the guard rail and than second time. Whitmer goes for the exploder on the floor but Morishima elbows free Power bomb on the floor by Morishima. Back in the ring Whitmer kicks out at two. Morishima goes to whop Whitmer but Whitmer's legs just give out. Morishima to the top rope and hits a missile drop kick for two. More big shots by Morishima. Whitmer side steps an avalanche. DDT by Whitmer. Whitmer to the top rope and hits a frog splash for two. Forearms by whitmer and big Boot. . Exploder suplex by Whitmer. Morishima kicks at two. Whitmer goes for wrist clutch exploder but Morishima elbows free. Side slam by Morishima. Whitmer driven face first into the mat. Yurnaig by Morishima. Whitmer ducks a clothesline and hits a German suplex. Lariat by Whitmer gets two. Chin lock by Whitmer but Morishima stands up and hits the back drop driver. Whitmer kicks at two. Lariat by Morishima yes two. Another back drop driver this time for the win. The biggest problem with this match is so much is about building up Morishima as a monster. As a result none of Whitmer's near fails get any drama. Plus a huge chuck of this match is just Whitmer getting beat up. They are trying to set Morishima up as a monster but when you hand him the world title your not burying the upper level guys.
Backstage the Briscoe talk and as usual the only thing I can tell they are saying is man up. I can tell enough that's about there tag title shot the next night. Why waste time on this ROH? We close on Austin Aries talking to someone who is off camera. He says he wants to lead them and we get the to be continued screen. Its a nice ending cliff hanger as we are left to wonder who Aries is talking to. This show is a real missed chance. Once again this doesn't feel like an anniversary show. So far the FYF doesn't feel like the big can't miss show series. Yes we got a world title change but so much of the other stuff just feels like set up for what is to come in the months ahead. Overall I would recommend checking it out but only if you can find at a decent price.
No comments:
Post a Comment