2007 was a key year for ROH the company turned five. Samoa Joe and several long time talents departed and a great deal of new talent debuted. Than came the big news ROH was going on Pay Per View. Now PPV can make a lot of money but just getting on PPV doesn't mean your set for live. ECW got on PPV and was gone in four years. Hell indy companies WEW have been on PPV also some company that had a main event of Curt Henning vs Dennis Rodman got on PPV. The ROH PPV's didn't last that long and they went to IPPV (until they kept fucking that up) also unlike a WWE or TNA PPV where they have a TV show to build to the PPV ROH more or less used the PPV to advertise the DVD's the thought being a $15 PPV would entice new fans to check out ROH be impressed and be willing to but a $20 plus DVD. Now a lot of ROH fans thought the PPV deal would be the moment where they would jump into the number two spot and surpass TNA it never happened. I have also heard ROH booker Gabe Sapolsky say about the PPV's "We didn't get the time slots we wanted. We didn't get promotion we wanted."
I'm jumping out of my look at the milestone series so some things have changed. Takeshi Morishima was now world champion and The Briscoes hold the tag belts for this event. The Pure title is gone having been united with the world title. Also no TNA stars could appears in ROH although really that only affected Homicide and Austin Aries since guys like Joe, Daniels, and Styles had already departed ROH. Our announcers are Lenny Leonard and Dave Prazak who as I have stated in the past I enjoy.
This PPV is unlike the other ones I have reviewed in the past see they were all shown live the night they took place. This was filmed in May of that year and aired in July. So yeah the results of the matches were all out there not only that but ROH had keep hyping live events so even if you didn't read the spoilers if were on the ROH website you would see Morishima was still champion and since the DVD came later events filmed after it were already being offered for sale. One thing also included is the ROH Video Wire that was a series of web videos ROH would use to hype events and I also feel it's useful in helping the bridge the gap if you skip DVD's. This video wire though its actually hype shows that come after the PPV and event features highlights from matches on the DVD set? I don't get that why not use this video to set up what we will be seeing on the main show (Like WWE or TNA does when they include a pre show) or hell why not do a special video wire to hype the PPV only and mike it clear we need to see it.. Instead we get a video preview of an upcoming Jay Briscoe vs Morishima match for the June 8th shows. That's like WWE putting a preview of a match at Extreme Rules on the WrestleMania DVD. It does help a little bit as it you see some of the angles going on like Steen and Generico vs the Briscoes plus Delirious' feud with the No Remorse Corps. Ok onto the show.
We open with BJ Whitmer in the ring. BJ tells us in ROH we let the wrestling speak for us. Ok than why open the PPV talking? I could understand something like Joey Styles used to do on ECW PPV's but this wasn't it. Now to be fair it's not a long promo but I think it would have made more sense if BJ just would have said "I want to be one the one to kick off the ROH PPV era someone get out here." Instead BJ tells us ROH doesn't talk and talks before calling for an open challenge. After the intro video witch is just guys coming down the aisle witch confuses me why not put some action in there just shot people want to expect from ROH outside of ring entrances. Finally ROH world champion Takeshi Morishima makes his entrance. The champ puts the belt on the line and we are opening with a title match.
ROH World Championship Takeshi Morishima © vs BJ Whitmer- Morishima was much bigger than most of the ROH roster so he was pushed a monster type. He's also a star in Pro Wrestling NOAH and was on an extend series of dates in the US to get experience. He and BJ had also faced off in Morishima's fist title defense. Side slam by Morishima than a running Yakuza kick. Morishima mauls BJ the referee tires to break it up but is shoved off. Morishima goes for the back drop driver but BJ counters and lands on top for a one count. Exploder suplex by BJ gets two. Whitmer with a great looking frog splash gets two. BJ goes for the wrist clutch exploder but Morishima elbows free. Big boot and lariat fail to knock the champion but one massive from Morishima cents BJ down another running Yakuza kick gets two even though the bell rings. Another lariat gets two finally the back drop driver gets the win for the champion.Its an ok match but nothing spectacular that makes ROH stand out as being miles ahead of TNA or WWE in terms in ring quality. Also the booking is a mess we have the world champion opening the show to crush a guy that was on a losing streak. I like BJ but giving him the first title match is a mistake. I think the smart move would have been to have BJ open the show vs Albright or Perace or Generico or Steen or anyone. Meanwhile throughout the night show clips hyping the force that is the ROH champion Morishima.
As Morishima celebrates Nigel McGuinness makes his entrance and climbs in the ring. Nigel puts over the opening match and what a great champion Morishima as a wrestler. Nigel "Puts his name in the hat" and challenges the champion to give him a shot. Nigel teases the match could take place that night until Bryan Danielson comes out. Danielson had been out of ROH for several months healing injures he suffered during his ROH title reign so the fans pop big for his return. Danielson reminds us he held the title for fifteen months and than names the list of guys he beat including Nigel so he should be getting a shot tonight not Nigel. Cheap shot by Danielson and Morishima joins in and beats down on Nigel. Danielson picks up the ROH world title and declares it's his. Morishima grabs the belt and elves. Nigel gets up and Danielson bails out. It's an ok segment but it feels like something I could see on Raw or Impact for free. This segment was done to set up the main event for the show and I could get including on the DVD as a bonus but on the PPV broadcast. Also it throws a lot at new viewers. I know who everyone is but I'm sure for anyone that was trying ROH for the first time (One of the goals of the PPV I remind you) had to be going who are these people what the deal with the spiky headed guy and the bald one? I think it would have been better and more friendly to the people at home watching the first time to announce the main event (since it was advertised any way) and show highlight packages to introduce the four men of Nigel, Danielson, Morishima and KENTA.
Next we get a highlight package of the "Hired Gun" Brent Albright and it's a great video. Getting over Albright as a dangerous wrestlers who was willing to hurt people. It's also makes people go "When does that guy wrestle? Oh he's on the next one well I want to see him I' might have to buy that one."
Rocky Romero vs Naomichi Marufuji- At this time Rocky was a member of the No Remorse Corps with Davey Richards and Roderick Strong. Marufuji is a top guy out of Pro Wrestling NOAH and even held the GHC Heavyweight Championship he was one of several guys that made semi regular appearance for ROH at this time. Take down into a leg hold by Romero. Marufuji escapes. Full nelson into a octopus by Romero. Marufuji puts Romero into a abdominal stretch. Amateur style exchange on the mat. Series of big leg kicks by Romero. Exchange of strikes but each misses as the other guy blocks and counters. Dave tells us this is what ROH is about taking two of the best and letting them wrestle. I don't know Dave so far I've seen more talking than wrestling. Romero goes for a cross arm breaker in something I like Romero makes sure to turn Marufuji away from the ropes. Big stiff kicks to Marufuji's arm and back. Back to the cross arm breaker but Marufuji rolls turing it into a pin. Mount by Romero and weak looking slaps by Romero. Romero on the apron Marufuji drops kicks him off. Marufuji picks Romero up and rams his leg into the ring post. Dragon screw into the ropes by Marufuji gets two. Dragon screw off the top rope than the figure four by Marufuji. DDT by Romero but he can't follow up due to his knee. Romero goes for a drop kick but Marufuji catches the leg. Twisting kick by Romero. Tiger suplex blocked. Springboard DDT by Romero gets two. Tiger Suplex by Romero but Marufuji lands on his feet. Marufuji drives his knee into Romero's face. (not the way he did it inspired Chris Jericho's code breaker) Big running lariat by Marufuji than a power bomb gets two. Diablo arm bar into the cross arm breaker off the top by Romero. Marufuji gets the ropes for the breaks. More stiff kicks to the arm. Superkick by Marufuji both men are down. Power bomb into the corner by Marufuji and than ties him the tree of woe. Coats to coast drop kick by Marufuji gets two. Shiranui (Sliced Bread Number 2) gets the win for Marufuji. Prazak declares its the style of wrestling ROH is built on. Good match this should have been the opener. My one issue is I think Romero should have won. The NOAH almost always went over outside of ROH title matches and remember Romero was there all the time it's like a loss would have damaged Marufuji badly.
Larry Sweeney (RIP) and Tank Toland were backstage. Sweeney says we will be seeing more of him now that ROH is on PPV. Sweeney tells us about his top client Chris Hero and announces his newest client Sarah Del Rey. Sweeney talks about what a huge coo it is He also tells us he's not afraid to have his clients sit out. Sweeney puts over Tank as the best personal trainer in ROH. Tank bring in the over weight Bobby Dempsey and says he is going to remake Bobby and orders Bobby to start doing squats. We get a little fun with Sarah and Tank getting into a squat contest. Bobby collapses after a few. Now I love Larry Sweeney and Sweet and Sour Inc is one of the biggest missed chances in ROH history. Larry was great Hero was well Chris Hero Tank was very underrated and Del Rey was the best women's wrestlers in the world at this time. I think ti's one of the biggest missed chances ROH had. I hated the Dempsey stuff as it was meant to make him a sympathetic face but it just went on to long.
Suddenly we here Gabe Saplosky yelling "Get to the ring get to the ring." We back to the ring as Nigel is getting jumped again Danielson and Morishima. KENTA a rival to both Danielson and Morshima makes the save. Nigel puts the ROH champion down with a lariat. And that's it' why not include that during the first segment with Nigel, Danielson and Morishima? During the next match the tag match main event is made official.
ROH World Tag Team Championship The Briscoe Brothers Jay and Mark vs Claudio Castagnoli and Matt Sydal- Late in 2006 Claudio had gotten a WWE deal but than for somer reason it was pulled. And I don't think Gabe any idea what he was going to do with Claudio since they broke up the Kings of Wrestling tag team but kept him heel for a long time. Sydal really didn't have a a storyline at this time either so he Claudio teamed up and got the shot via "Open Contract." The open contract being ROH's excuse to put together any match or team they wanted. The Briscoes had regained the belts months earlier and were actually in the middle of a hot feud Kevin Steen and El Generico and I have no idea why Gabe didn't book that on the PPV? I like Claudio and Sydal but the story was with Steenerico. Claudio and Mark start us off. Waste lock takedown by Claudio than a headlock. Claudio works the arm. Northern lights suplex by Mark but Claudio holds on for a front face lock tag to Sydal. Headlock by Sydal tag to Jay. Exchange of holds flying headscissors by Sydal than one by Jay. Leg lariat by Sydal. Tag to Claudio blind tag by Mark and double team by the Briscoes. Sydal tags in double team on Mark. Cannon Ball legdrop by Sydal gets two. Mark with those stupid looking "Kung Fu" chops. The Briscoes attempt a STO and bulldog combo but it's clear Mark never gets a hand on Sydal. Drop kick by Jay and it's clear he's not even trying to get up. That dumb just toss him up high spot by the Briscoes. Mark clearly misses a knee drop by a mile tag to Jay. Awful looking attempt at the split legged moonsault by Mar. Sydal sends Mark over the top to the outside and than catches Jay with a top rope Rana. Tag to Claudio series of upper cut than a slam. Claudio walks the ropes to tho the elbow. Double teams hip tosses by the Briscoes but that actually a move there guy taking makes look good. Spring board upper cut by Claudio and a running enziqurie by Sydal. Fishermen suplex with a bridge by Claudio. Rolling upper cut by Claudio than he whips Sydal who hits a knee. Giant swing time by Claudio on Jay gets two. Tag back to Sydal who hits a springboard bulldog than a spring board twist senton. Claudio back in with a springboard elbow. Tag back to Sydal and the challengers for a super suplex. Jay fights free flipping neck breaker on Sydal chin breaker to Claudio. Tag to Mark spring board super kick and than that dump "red neck kung fu." Claudio monkey sloped the floor. Flip dive by Jay. Corner bomb and than a suplex by Mark on Sydal. Top rope leg drop sidewalk slam by the Briscoes. Match Killer by Claudio than the alpamarie waterside gets two. Step up tope rope head scores by Claudio amazing. Bicycle kick gets two. Standing moonsault by Sydal gets two. Modified goardbuster by Jay. Corkscrew press by Mark gets two. Another spring board uppercut by Claudio. Sydal with a dive to floor off Claudio's shoulders takes out the Briscoes. Richola bomb on Jay but Mark with the save. Shooting star press by Sydal on Jay but again Marks the save. Death valley driver by Jay on Sydal gets two. Mark with a dive takes out Claudio. Sydal counters the Jay Driller into the rana. Springboards dooms day for the win by The Briscoes Brothers. Very good match and maybe the best Briscoe match I have seen outside of the early ROH days. For once they looked pretty crips in the ring and built to big spots. So yeah credit to Gabe and the Briscoes booking this match was good and they for once had a good match.
Dave and Lenny appear on camera and thank the fans for letting Earn Your Respect. Dave also tell us it's another Sellout in Manhattan. Lenny hypes up the live event atmosphere. We can still the Briscoes celebrating in the ring. El Generico and Kevin Steen charge past Lenny and Dave and get a microphone. Steen demands to know when he and Generico are getting there title shot. Steen and Generico charge the ring and the champions. The locker room clears to pull them apart. Mark with a dive and I don't think he told he was going for it for it since he just bounces off the people he hit. We see the security pull Jay out of the ring but Steen starts pulling guys off Generico. Steen and Generico hits big moves on the ROH students including the package piledriver Brain Buster Combo. Generico with a dive off the top whips out the rest of the students. Steen and Mark start brawling again. Brawl spill to the backstage area and the stands and wet go "love" ROH tradition not being able to see what is going on. Finally we see Steen hitting a wall and standing over Mark. They try to see it like Steen hits Mark but it's clear he hit the wall and Mark was starting to lay down. Jay checks on his brother as Steen yells "Kiss them goodbye." Good brawl sadly I don't think we had any mention of Steen and Generico before this. Why not say something like "Kevin Steen and El Generico were infuriated that they did not get a title shot on this show…"
We get high lights the Roderick Strong and Delirious feud starting with Strong destroying an "Injured" Delirious in a match even hitting the Gibson/Tiger Driver on a steel guardrail. See I like this as new viewers or people that maybe skipped some DVD's finally get some on going storyline catch up. This I think was more of a place holder feud. Strong had turned on Aries to form the No Remorse Corps but Aries was out of ROH stalling out his own stable the Reliance.
Roderick Strong vs Delirious- Delirious loses his mind at the start as he runs around. Roderick bails out. Delirious sees him and goes after him. Big chops by Delirious. Back in the ring Strong catches Delirious coming in. Firemen's carry into a foreword slam by Delirious. Running cross body gets two Kick to the spine by Strong. Rana off the top by Delirious. The masked man charges but Strong just tosses him into the corner. Big running lariat by Delirious than a belly to back suplex. Strong with his first back breaker after again catching Delirious. Strong with some kind of flying move but Delirious hits a head but to gut. Panic attack running knee into the corner by Delirious. Bizaro driver gets two for Delirious goes for the cobra stretch but Strong drives him into the corner to get free. Neckbrekaer off the top rope by Delirious. Torture rack into the back breaker by Strong gets two. Fall away slam off the second rope by Strong. Delirious scores with an enziqurie and goes for shows over hell but Strong cuts him off. Delirious fight him off and hits SOH than into the cobra stretch center of the ring. Strong rolls into a pin exchange of pinning combos. Powerbomb back breaker by Strong. Strong sent to the floor. Delirious climbs the top suicide flip whips out Strong both men are down. Panic attack into the guard rail. Strong with a belly to back suplex slam Delirious back first on the apron and a massive thud is heard. Gibson driver blocked. Strong uses the gut buster in the ring. Boston crab I never guy why Strong wouldn't just for the strong hold since he has the guy in position. Delirious gets the ropes. Chemical Imbalance 2 and than the cobra stretch by Delirious. Strong gets up to his feet but the cobra clutch part of the hold is still locked on. Cobra Clutch suplex by Delirious. Strong grabs the rope on the pin. Strong sells a kick the to the head the misses. Half nelson back breaker than the running big boot than the Gibson Driver for the win by Roderick Strong. Another very good match. These two really sold the big feud ROH was going for of Delirious trying to get revenge and Strong have No Remorse (pun intended)
Strong stable mates in the NRC of Davey Richards and Rocky Romero make there way out with a extra guard rail. Richards and Romero stomp on Delirious. Guard rail set up on birding the ring and the actual guard rail. Strong hits a Butter Fly Bomb on the guar rail. Dave calls it the Gibson Driver and that was what it was supposed to be but Strong didn't do the sit-down no doubt not wanting to break the guard rail or have it slip injuring himself and Delirious for real. Erick Stevens of the Reliance runs out and takes the NRC. This actually would had pay off as Delirious would team up with Stevens and Matt Cross at the next PPV to face the No Remorse Corps.
Backstage Adam Pearce told his lackey Shane Hagadorn to find "him." Pearce cut a promo talking about the growth of ROH and now they were on PPV. He say everyone in ROH has to step and ask themselves what am I willing to do. Hagadorn returns having found him. We see BJ Whitmer looking depressed. Pearce talks about the sacrifices BJ has made for ROH and the fans and how he lost his feud with Jimmy Jacobs and now he is the first man to lose on ROH PPV. Pearce talks about how everyone must know what the are capable of but he knows what he is capable off he than goes and starts to talk to BJ. Damn good segment Pearce was awesome in promos and it was something to hook new fans. We also got the start of the Hangmen's 3 stable. Sadly ROH was stable overkill at this point and it was quickly dropped.
KENTA and Nigel McGunniess vs Takeshi Morishima and Bryan Danielson- Now it was pretty clear Nigel was the next champion at this point. ROH has only ever had one two time champion and Nigel "had paid his dues." He also in storyline been the one to bring Morishima to ROH. So logically you would want him to look really strong here. Danielson and KENTA start us off. Danielson with a monkey flip off knuckle lock. Tag to Morishima and tag to Nigel. Morishima no sells some shoulder tackles and than hits Nigel with one. Danielson back in and exchange of hold Danielson into a arm bar but Nigel to the ropes. Morishima distracts Nigel allowing Danielson to hit a missile drop kick Everyone enters and the two teams fight to a stalemate. Back to Nigel and Danielson force into the corner tag to Morishima. Hip attack by the ROH champion. Tag back to Danielson. Dragon sleeper by Danielson. Tag back to Morishima another hip attack this time with Nigel in a seated position. Camel clutch by Morishima. Tag to Danielson and he goes for the surfboard but instead used it to drive Nigel's knees into the group. Danielson misses a a running forearm and Nigel drops him with a kick and down ward lariat. Morishima in without tag hits Nigel who rebound off the ropes dues a clothesline and hits a short arm lariat. Tag to KENTA. Big series off kicks on Danielson. Springboard missile dropkick by KENTA gets two. Chop and forearm exchange running boot to Danielson's face. Danielson hits a back breaker and tag in Morshima. Morishima with a cartwheel into a splash amazing agility for a guy as big as he is. Missile dropkick off the top by Morishima. KENTA blocks the back drop driver but takes a side slam. Power slam by KENTA. Tag to Nigel. Running Uppercut by Nigel . Short arm lariat misses big boot my Morishima with another missile dropkick. Nigel rolls through and hits a lariat for two. Morishima with another cartwheel splash but Nigel hits another lariat. Danielson sends Kenta into the guar rail. Nigel goes for sunset flip but Morishima crushes the chest. Danielson into the guardrail by KENTA. Jawbreaker lariat blocked. Backdrop driver but KENTA makes the save. Tower of London but Nigel can't follow up. Tag s to Danielson and KENTA. Spinning back kick and than a foreword suplex puts Danielson on the ropes. Flying knee off the top by KENTA. Dragon suplex by Danielson gets two. Crossface chicken win locked in by Danielson. Kenta fights back to his feet. KENTA uses the ropes to go back for the pin. Danielson goes for the Belly to Back superplex but Nigel comes in and power bombs him. KENTA off the ropes Morishima catches him into a over head belly to belly. Nigel with the flying lariat on Danielson. Morishiam throws Nigel to the floor another lariat by Nigel. This was during time where many fans called him McLarait because he started overusing the move in ever match he would vary it up but like Strong and his backbreakers at the end of the day its the same move in the end. Nigel's sends Morishima into the crowd. Nigel climbs to the top and comes off with a huge cross body. Back in the ring snap suplex by Danielson on KENTA. Nigel back in and goes faces to face with Danielson. Uppercut exchange. Danielson blocks a lariat and attacks the arm Nigel injured on the cross body. KENTA gets his boots up on a flying head but. Big running knee by KENTA. GO TO SLEEP by KENTA. But Morishima makes the save. We see Nigel tapping up his injured arm. Double teams on KENTA but he won't stay down. Nigel still taping his arm.Finally Nigel back in and he goes for a forearm with the injured arm. Jaw breaker lariat by Nigel on Morishima and Falcon arrow by KENTA on Danielson gets two. Back down to just KETNA and Danielson. Belly to back superplex by Danielson. Cattle Mutilation by Danielson but KETNA rolls back over. Elbows to the head. GO to sleep block Tiger Suplex back to the Cattle Mutilation. Morishima attack Nigel's bad arm so he can't make the save KENTA taps. This is a very good match but man it has some major issues. The "taping up" spot just came off as lame. And Nigel over used the lariat as he was doing at this time. It felt like everyone reused the same moves. And from a story building side Nigel should have pinned Morishima to set up his big title win down the line. We should be selling him as the man dethrone the champion.
Post match Danielson gets the ROH world title Morishima hits the back drop driver. Nigel gets up and picks up the belt and hands it Morishima who than hits a lariat. We close on Morishima standing tall. Yeah I hate the end. As I said it was clear Nigel was the next champion. And we close on him looking like a fool but being so close to the monster.
Bonus Section- None of these matches aired on the PPV instead they were used to entice people to buy the DVD.
Tank Toland with Larry Sweeney and Bobby Dempsey vs Brent Albright- Both these guy were heels. Both had also been on WWE Smackdown Roster for a short time. Tank as one of the Dicks and Albright as Gunner Scott. Tank forces Bobby to work out before the match. Big Fuck him up Albright Chant since fans usually pick the bad ass heel. Albright works over the arm at the start but Tank reverses and than Albright reverses and into head lock. Tank with a hip toss. I think they went for a back body drop but it look strange I think Tank was out of position or Albright turned to far. Over head belly to belly hit by Albright. Tank with a military press onto the ropes and than a discos clothesline gets two. Snap mare than a body scissors by Tank. Tank picks the much larger Albright up with one arm and
slams him down. Great looking standing drop kick by Albright and the series of clotheslines ending with a back body drop. Albright with the snap power slam for two. Half nelson suplexed blocked by Tank. Big spear by Tank takes Toland down. Half nelson suplex gets the win for Albright. Good match as I always enjoyed both guys and the boy looked solid here. Albright was a big athletic heavyweight and Tank had real power for guy his size.
We get some post match fun with Albright stealing the flex bar Tank uses and Sweeney trying to get it back. Than we cut to the No Remorse Core. Roderick call them the most dominate faction in ROH. Davey tells us No Remorse is not just a name but a way of life he than grabs Pelle Primeau and they beat him up. Rocky cuts a promo on Marufuji who he wrested not the PPV. So clearly this was meant to air on the PPV so why didn't' it? Its one of the better Strong promos I have seen and it would have been a great introduction to the NRC for new fans.
Erick Stevens vs Davey Richards- Stevens had a made a name for himself in FIP and was brought up to ROH at the start of the year Davey has joined ROH in 06. Richards of course was a member of No Remorse Coprs and Stevens a members of the Reliance a stable recruited by Austin Aries to get back at Strong. But when ROH went on PPV Aries was pulled by TNA who had a contract with witch stalled the feud out. Richards throws his shirt at Stevens and jumps him but fight back. Stevens goes for the choo choo splash but Davey bails. Davey tries to go to the back Stevens stops him. Davey tries going over the guar rail but Stevens stops him. Back int he ring back body drop by Stevens than a massive clothesline sends Davey back to the floor. Stevens with a flying forearm off the apron. Big running boot sends Stevens flying off the apron into the guar rail. Big irish whip sends Stevens into another guard rail. Richards with the snap suplex and than doubles over Stevens with a knee. Second rope leg drop by Richards gets two. Akward spot where Davey looks like he is about to suplex Stevens to the floor but than they whip back into the ring. Suplex revered and Richards crashes to the floor. Release German by Stevens than the Choo Choo splash in the corner. TKO hit by Stevens gets two. Handspring kick by Davey but a lariat and a pump handle bomb by Stevens for two. Saito suplexs by Richards and than the kimura until Stevens gets a rope break. Swinging DDT than back into the Kumara for the win by Davey. Good match again I liked both guys and they could really go. Davey of course just debuted on TNA and at this time I thought the sky was the limit for Stevens. Sadly the NRC vs Reliance feud was flat the NRC won pretty much every match.
We get Lacey and Jimmy Jacobs in a car. This was part of the Jimmy Loves Lacey story that started in 2005. Jimmy spent all of 2006 trying to win Lacey over and she finally gave him a days to try and win her over after he won the feud with BJ Whitmer. This was also during a time where Jimmy was out hurt so this meant to keep him and Lacey on shows. The video is long and boring and comes off as WWE like. Not this all aired on the ROH website and thank god this wasn't on the PPV. We close with them going to separate room after Jimmy had taken her shopping. Shit we get the freaking to dar to see what is going on stuff even in a hotel.
Sara Del Rey vs Daizee Haze- ROH was featuring a lot more women's matches at this stage to help sell SHIMMER DVD's. I think Del Rey was SHIMMER champion at this point but she doesn't have the belt. She also doesn't comes out with Sweeney or act hellish even with the stuff on the PPV portion. I'm amazed TNA never gave these girls more a look when they starting the Knockouts Division but than again maybe they did but they girls wanted to stay where they were. Del Rey tosses Haze down. Haze goes for a cross body but Del Rey catches fall away slam and a big boot gets two. Del Rey works the arm and shoulder of the smaller Haze than a back breaker. Boston crab by Del Rey. Dave talks about how Haze had beat Del Rey on a previous ROH show with a roll up. Haze hung in the tree of woo but fight free for a cutter. Heart punch and than a leaping clothesline off the top by Daizee Haze gets two. Del Rey locks in the Royal Butterfly than turns into a moiled Gory Special. Haze with a roll up gets two. Del Rey ties up the legs for the pin. Better than a a divas match but I have seen both girls have much better matches. Honestly the finish looks like Haze forgot to kick out.
More Jimmy and Lacey stuff. Jimmy takes Lacey stuff. This is so boring its something I would see on WWE I have expect when it's over for King, Cole and JBL to be laughing about what a goof Jimmy is. Theme is after Jimmy managed to impress her earlier he blows it on the second one. If you have ever seen a really bad or unfunny romantic comedy this is ten thousands time worse.
Tag Team Scramble Pelle Preimeau & Mitch Franklin vs Irish Airborne Jake & Dave Christ vs Kevin Steen and El Generico vs Adam Perace with Shane Hagardorn & Jimmy Rave- Pelle and Franklin were out of the ROH wrestling school. The Crist brothers are a great team ROH never gave a push to. Steen and Generico were the team feuding with the Briscoes the idea was Steen as a pure heel but Generico was a face. Pearce and Rave had nothing going on at this point so they were teamed up for this show. This being a scramble no tags were needed you could enter as soon as one man left the ring. Fans with a massive Repo Man chant for Pearce. Pelle and Rave start us off. One chop from Rave puts Pelle down. In comes Generico Yakuza kick misses. Pelle sent to the apron he comes off with a stomp right on Rave. Pearce in to back rack Generico. More Repo Man chants Pearce pulls out a domino mask and puts it on. Another back rack send Generico and he bails in come Franklin who slaps Pearce and than he gets one back. Perace tosses Franklin off the top rope. In come Jake and Dave Crist. Pearce gone in comes Steen and Generico. Arm Drags by Dave and a Cross body take Dave and Generico out. Dropsault by Jake. Steen Sends Jake to floor and than a summer sault splash by Steen takes out everyone. Pearce is up and sends Pelle in. Pelle with a spring board thez press on Rave. Jake Crist and Steen back in. Spring board neck breaker by Jake. Perace goes for a top rope leg drop on Generico but the Airborne beak up the fall. Double Osi Moonsualts by the Airborne. Spinning sit-down powerbomb by Generico on Franklin. Pelle in but Steen catches Pelle and plants him with a modified Irish Cross. Generico with a big boot takes out Rave. Package piledriver by Steen on Dave Crist for the win. Matches like these are meant to spot fest and the is what we got and it was pretty entertaining.
And we close with more Jimmy and Lacey stuff. Jimmy gives a ring and says he's not proposing but he does love her. Lacey goes back in her room to get something and Jimmy is force to wait and wonders if she just locked him out. Lacey finally opens the door and is wearing lingerie. Jimmy and Lacey kick k the camera out. But he seeks back in and front eh angle they should be able to see him hell. The Camera guys leaves but returns later to and sneaks back into catch Jimmy and Lacey post sex. Lacey is raving and says she loves Jimmy while doesn't look happy. This was the start of Jimmy going into his Age of the Fall Gimmick but man this video was stupid and I didn't need three of them on a DVD.
You know Respect is Earned is actually better than I remember it. All the matches outside of the opener are very good. And the bonus stuff is fun to watch outside of the Jimmy and Lacey stuff. But this is far from a touchdown for ROH. First Nigel the champion is waiting looks pretty bad on this show. There are times in setting up for the main event where it feels more like I'm watching a weekly TV show instead of PPV. Also way to many NOAH guys on the PPV portion. Yeah KENTA and Marufuji are talented guys and you needed to included World Champion Morishima but you leave off guys like Pearce, Richards, and Rave who will be regulars on those DVD your trying to sell? I just don't get it.
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