Thank god we are finally in the home stretch for for the ROH Milestone series just this and 100th show to go. Better than Our Best was the final show in the ROH triple shot weekend during WrestleMania 22. Taking place in Chicago it wold see the blow off of the long running feud between Chi town's own Colt Cabana and Homicide that had been on since the fall of 2005. Also former ECW, WCW, and WWE wrestler Lance Storm was coming out of retirement to face Bryan Danielson for the ROH world title. Now I have never been big on Storm I actually think he ranks right up there with Bret Hart as the most over rated guys the net loves and for all my bitching about Roderick Strong getting a title shot at least Strong is an ROH regular. I could understand if they could have gotten RVD or Taz or Chris Jericho to show up but was anyone flocking to the show to see Lance Storm again? Also the guys the guys from Dragon Gate were still around along with CZW invaders. At Our Best had been the show that set the ROH attendance record and this show break that record thus the name. Let see if Better than Our Best can rebound from the shit pile that was Supercard of Honor or will some how make that show look great in comparison.
We open with Dave Prazak cashing after Colt Cabana as Colt head out to the ring. Cabana jumps in the ring just as a Dark Match Between some of the Shimmer girls is ending and we got a graphic says it's Pre-Show. Colt calls out Homicide and again states This has got to end! Derrick Dempsey one of the ROH students comes out to inform Colt that Homicide is not there here yet. Way to kill a really effect open ROH. I loved breaking from the usual pattern and having Cabana do something on the Pre-Show but than you go Cide not being there and it comes off like a joke. I could even hear people laughing. It just really tanked the whole segment.
Six Man Mayhem Jack Evans vs Jake Crist vs Dave Crist vs Matt Sydal vs Jimmy Jacobs with Lacey vs Ace Steel - This was going to be Jack Evans last ROH match for a while since he was heading out to appear for Dragon Gate for three months. The Crist brothers came out together but wore different tights. The had taken to holding up there cell phones during Jacobs entrance. Sydal made mentioned of his injured noise from the night before on his entrance saying it wouldn't stop him. Evans and Sydal start us off. Evans works over the arm and gets it down toe the Fujiwar arm bar. The two men tease like they are about punch each other but stop and than kick each other at the same time. Sydal tags in Jake Crist and Evans tags in Jacobs. Boot to the gut and headlock by Jacobs then the helicopter head scissors by Jacobs. Jake with a flying neck breaker gets two. Jake Tags in Dave double team kicks by the Irish Airborne. Ace Steel comes charging in and clothesline both Jake and Dave. Power bomb by Ace on Dave Crist. Arm drag and running the ropes for another arm drag by Crist. Evans in power slam than a standing senton followed by the standing corkscrew press. You Evans might run through high spots but at least he does them all well unlike some people I can name. Jacobs break up the pin. STO by Jacobs on Jake Crist. Standing moonsault by Sydal on Ace Steel. Jacobs, Evans and Sydal all the climbs the robs while the other three men on down. Steel, Jake and Dave Crist all get up and put them in the electric chair position. Chicken fight. Tell me again how ROH is always serious wrestling. Evans and Sydal take Crist brother to the floor. Evans Uses Steel as a stand for a moonsault that whips out everyone on the floor. Steel goes for a dive but the Crist brother in Spinning neck barker by Jake. Sydal in and springboards into a double team spine buster. Springboard flying kick by Dave. Jake places Sydal on the top rope. Dave climb and goes to German him but Sydal lands on his feet and takes out Jake. Dave goes for a cross body but Sydal nails a dropkick. Sydal to the top Moonsault to the floor whips everyone but Ace Steel out. Steel tosses Jake Crist back in the ring. Running dropkick by Steel than a sloppy looking tiger driver. Steel to the top rope but Jacobs crotches him. Back senton from the top by Jacobs on Jake Crist. Evans with a series of kicks send Jacobs to the floor. Springboard 450 to the floor by Evans. Sydal and Dave go after Steel. Steel off the ropes hitting a neck breaker on Sydal a stunner on Dave and leg drop on Jake. Lacey jumps up the distract the referee as Steel covers. Steel goes after Lacey but Jacobs attacks him. Evans with a 630 for the win. Decent and exciting opening match but the wrong guy went over. Evans wins and is gone for months. Steel one match removed from his feud ending mach with Collyer loses. The Crist who sadly ROH just used as Jobber could have used a win. Jacobs was 0-2 on the weekend and needed to win to justify why Lacey wasn't giving up on him. Hell Sydal was staying. But instead it goes to Evans who won't be seen in ROH for a long time.
ROH commissioner JIm Cornett made his way to the ring carrying his baseball bat. Cornett thanked the fans for attending the show and how proud he was to be part of ROH. He promised someone was going to get there ass kicked tonight. He started talking about the CZW wrestlers marred an other wise great show the night before. He than brags about hitting Necro with the bat. Cornett points to Adam Pearce in the crowd saying Pearce will keep his eyes on the entrances and make sure the CZW guys don't in. Colt Cabana came to the ring with no music. Cornett told Colt he should even be in the building tonight. Cabana pleased with Cornett to sanction a match with Homicide tonight. Colt also asked for it to be Chicago street fight. Now I admit I'm splitting hairs here but they already set up for a fight without honor so why now call it a street fight. I am going to guess that Gabe didn't want to tip off the Homicide would finally show respect for Cabana but still. Colt got the fans to cheer for the street fight. Cornett started to run down the various injures Cabana had and again stated the doctor didn't want him wrestling. Cornett finally gave in and booked the match. Its a decent segment and I have to wonder why not do something like the night before so you don't' have Colt taking another ass kicking. Its simple during his over long into on night one have Cornett call out Cabana and Homicide and give a reason why they couldn't touch each other than or face his wrath. I know have talked about this a lot but my point if valid Colt keeps taking one sided ass beatings but you not making the feud hotter if anything you cooling it off by over doing these wild brawls.
Cornett was not done yet and asked Delirious to come out. The mad masked man started walking around the ring non stop. Cornett jokingly told Delirious he was getting dizzy and warn him he could turn to butter. Finally Cornett got Delirious to stop and put over the man ability and talent. Cornett said there was one part of Delirious game that needed to be upped he ability to win. Cornett said he wanted to give the people what he wanted to see. (This coming from the guy that does all he can to try and take wrestling back to 1970's rassilin) Cornett told Delirious he is making him an offer to challenge anyone on the roster to a match but he if can't beat that man he was off the roster. Delirious began to spake in his own language than started to do the dumb Bee AT thing Smokes does. Cornett took this to mean Delirious wanted Ricky Reyes. Another decent segment and I really wish they would have kept Cornett as a face. Since he was actually good in the role of good guy boss that wanted to help ROH grow.
Delirious vs Ricky Reyes with Julius Smokes- Delirious jumps Reyes ad hits a baseball slide drop kick. Prazak and Leonard recap the disrespect Reyes showed Delirious the night before and how no one has escaped the Dragon Sleeper. Smokes attack Delirious from behind right in front of the referee. Ok I get the old the referee is down/distracted/back turned stuff gets old but having that happened in front of the referee and there being nothing happen is BS. Delirious punches Smokes and this being Smokes he sells by waving his arms around and taking forever to go down. Reyes with a big kick and the send the match back in the ring. Delirious all over Reyes when he climbs back into the ring. Spin kick and neck breaker by Reyes. Smokes is up hopping around doing his damn Bee Yat yell. Reyes goes for the dragon sleeper but Delirious gets the ropes. Reyes uses one of the tassels of Delirious mask to choke him. Belly to back suplex by Reyes gets a one count. Fishermen's Buster turned into a small package for Delirious. Reyes goes for the Dragon again but Delirious gets to the ropes.. Shadows over hell connects. Bizzaro Driver gets two for Delirious. Smokes starts running around the ring screaming. Big knee and series of corkscrew neck breakers and a fishermen's busters gets two for Reyes. Reyes back to the dragon sleeper but Delirious knees himself free and reverses the hold into a the move that would become the Cobra Stretch for the win. Post match Delirious jumps into the crowd to celebrate. Boring match I think they wanted it to be high drama of would Delirious finally get a win but it never got there. Seems strange to kill of Reyes winning streak vs a guy he was not feuding with.
Jimmy Rave, Alex Shelley, and Masato Yoshino with Prince Nana vs Do Fixer Dragon Kid, Genki Horiguchi, and Ryo Saito- As always the top entrance for Rave. Yoshino as a member of Blood Generation was feuding with Do Fixer and with his parters set to get a tag title shot he paired up with the Embassy for this match. Shelley and Saito sat art us off. Yosihno tosses one of the toilet paper rolls into Saito's head. Quick exchange of holds by Shelley and Saito. Shelley with a top wrist lock. Saito power free and ties up the legs. Shelley revers into a inverted figure four. Shelley with front face lock. Saito hip tosses him off. Shelley crawls over and after a hug tags in Yoshino. Dragon Kid tags in. Arm drag and a flying head scissors takes down Yoshino. The Embassy bails out to the floor. Tag to Horiguchi. Rave comes in. Rave bails out before the action starts finally Rave is back in with a big shoulder tackle. Horiguchi with a hip toss and a few drop kicks. Rave bails out again. In comes Yoshino (no tag so is this Dragon Gate Rules.) Dragon Kid in with an elbow to the back. Saito and Horiguchi in and double team Yoshino with a series of moves ending in a basement drop kick. Saito gets revenge for the toilet paper stuff at the start. Shelley tags in and kick Saito in the ribs. Dragon Kid back in. Saito back in and we get another double team Saito using Kid as weeping. Triple Team dropkick by Do Fixer. Horiguchi with an arm bar. Yoshio breaks it up allowing Shelley to take over. Tag to Rave who stomps at Horiguchi. Big slam. The embassy in to triple team with some moves that plant Horiguchi. Tarantula by Yoshino. Back in comes Shelley. Shelley with the lionsault than an abdominal stretch Yosino in twits drop kick than one by Rave. Rave hold Horiguchi so Shelley can kick him. Shelley with a revers chin lock. Horiguchi fights free and hits a leaping elbow. Tag to Saito and Rave. Over head belly to belly by Saito. Yoshino in and gets the Deja Vu by Dragon Kid. Dragon Kid with a suicide dive hits Yoshino. Double team bulldog off the ropes by Do Fixer gets a two count on Shelley. Fishermen's express by Saito but the Buster is blocked. Brain buster by Shelley gets two. Rave and Dragon Kid in. Flipping block buster by Dragon Kid but a spear than a gut buster than a DDT by Rave.I have no idea who hit who but suddenly all the Dragon Gate Guys were down. Big splash by Saito on Yoshino. Springboard Arabian press by Dragon Kid gets two two. Running knee by Rave gets two. Nana trips Saito than hold him. Yoshino nails Nana by Mistake. Big Rana by Dragon Kid gets two. Shelley with a buster off the top. Backslide from heaven by Horiguchi gets two. Greeting from Ghana by Rave gets the win. Ok match but it was a tough match to get into the spots came so fat you had no time to take in the big spot you had just seen before the next one started.
Lance Storm talks about how he thought he had wrested his last match ten months ago. He says it was Ring of Honor and a shot at the world title brought him back. He says ROH is wrestling the way it's supped to be. Storm says he doesn't do anything half assed. Storm claims he has held every title except The World Title. Storm is trying but I just never could get into him. It didn't help that outside of backstage promos by Storm nothing was done to hype this match. Storm made one appearance before the fans back at Steel Cage Warfare. I get maybe he didn't' have a lot of chance to appear but why not do something like have him at ringside during the Strong and Danielson match and have Danielson slap him or something.
Four Corner Survival Jimmy Yang vs AJ Styles vs Christopher Daniels with Alison Danger vs Samoa Joe- Why would you put Yang in a AJ, Joe, and Daniels match? That's like having a perfect pepperoni pizza and pouring soda all over it to wreck it. Than again why are doing an AJ vs Joe vs Daniels match at this point when TNA had been doing it all over there shows for months? I love all three guys but you couldn't hold off a little. Plus we also have Joe and Daniels meeting again two night now after the big single match blow off. Except it's not a blow off when they keep wrestling. Daniels and Yang start us off. Yang with a waste lock but Daniels revers into a hammer lock but Yang revers into an arm ringer. Daniels back into the hammer lock than an arm ringer. Daniels with a shoulder tackle and hip toss. Yang kicks are blocked and ducked. Each man with a arm drag. Yang tags in Joe. Joe with a big kick and than he swarms on Daniels. Atomic drop by Joe and he goes for a boot but Daniels tag AJ in and bails out. AJ with a kick to the leg so Joe fire back. AJ first back and Joe returns again. AJ with a kick to the body and than he sweeps Joe's legs when he goes for a kick. AJ tags in Daniels. Leg lariat by Daniels than a head scissors by Daniels. Yang tag in an hits a standing moonsault on Joe than super kick. AJ tags in. AJ and Yang with a double team suplex on Joe. Knee drop by AJ gets one. Joe with a knee but AJ hits a phenomenal drop kick. AJ goes for a spring board move but Joe kicks him as he is coming down. Joe tags in Yang. Spin kick by Yang. AJ with a head scissors into a roll up. Yang off the ropes and hits a leaping side kick. Yang tries to tag in Daniels but the Fallen Angel won't tag in. Yang with a back body drop. AJ with a series of forearms and chops. Back heel kick by Yang than a suplex. Yang tags in Joe who kicks away at AJ. Running knee int the corner and the face wash by Joe. Ole kick by Joe after he knocks Daniels off the apron. Joe tags back in Yang. Yang shoves Daniels off the apron and the ref calls it a tag. STO by Daniels on AJ. Yang tags back in and kicks at AJ. Yang Tag back to Joe who kicks AJ in the chest and head. AJ first back and hit the pelle. AJ tags in Daniels. Joe tags Rang. Flying back elbow by Daniels. Blue Thunder bomb by Daniels gets two. AJ in (no tag) with a springboard double clothesline. AJ goes for a spring board on Joe but Yang sakes the ropes. Joe goes of for the Ole Kick on AJ but AJ gets up and misses a clothesline so Joe Dropkick him into the guard rail. Yang with aver the top rope dive nearly misses Joe on it. Arabian press to the floor by Daniels. Daniels tosses Yang back into the ring. More kicks by Yang get two. Yang sets up for Yang time but Daniels gets up and the fight on the ropes. Reverse rana off the top by Daniels. Moonsault press by Yang. Joe makes the save. Over head belly to belly for Daniels. Snap slam for Yang. AJ breaks up a cover. Inverted DDT by AJ off the moonsault. Sunset flip into the rolling cradle by Joe gets two. Lariat by Joe but Yang and Daniels break up the pin. Enzirqur by Joe takes out Yang. Daniels lock in the Koji Clutch broken up by AJ. Last rights counted, Styles clash counted Angles wins counter into a Northern lights. Joe locks in the choke on AJ. AJ shakes it off. Muscle buster by Joe gets the win. Fun mach although I could do with Yang and his reprieve spin kick stuff. I still think Daniels should have picked up another win here. Post match Joe and Daniels lock eyes witch seems to send the message the feud still isn't over.
Joe gets a microphone and welcomes Chicago back to Pro Wrestling. Joe talks about joining ROH and winning the world title shortly after that. Joe says he is the man that made the ROH championship a world championship. Joe plays to the crowd and declares he wants his title back. Joe says Danielson claims to be the best wrestlers in the world but Joe is the baddest mother fucker in the world. Bryan Danielson Makes his way out as we see clips of a previous match between the two. The fans start to change "Joe's going to kill you." Danielson says Joe will be killing no one. Danielson says it was the ROH world championship that made Joe and says if not for ROH Joe would still be in Samoa climbing trees. The fans start chanting for Joe to Fuck Danielson up. Danielson tries to start a lose some weight Joe chant. Joe starts to advance on the champ. Danielson after take a shot at Lance Storm but says he can't' guarantee how long he will hold the ROH world championship says that why Joe is the so called ROH Icon it was the record breaking crowd came during Bryan Danielson's title reign. Danielson pie faces Joe after saying Joe's not the ROH Icon. Danielson says he will give Joe a shot after he gets down beating Storm before bailing out of the ring. Decent segment although the Joe vs Danielson story wrote it self you had the current champion vs the greatest champion.
Chris Hero and Necro bother run out. Pearce comes in and goes after both men. And sadly because of the way this is shot I can't tell what happened. I think it was some how Danielson and Joe started to fight each other because next thing you know Pearce is being double teamed as Joe is running after someone backstage. Pearce sends Hero into the cord and hits him with a chair. Hero and Pearce fight back to where is no light again. I think Pearce tossed Hero off the bleachers and than smack him with a chair but al lI see is black screen and hear yelling.What good is this when you go several minutes not being able to see what is going on. Ok back to where we can see Hero get nailed with a chair. The fight back towards the ring. Hero sends Pearce over the guard rail where Necro is waiting. Back in the ring Butch with lousy looking forearms. Pearce fights as Claudio Castgonili and Jim Cornett arrive. Claudio accidentally nails Pearce with an uppercut. Claudio calls for the bat from Cornett but gets tossed to the outside by Hero and hurts his leg. Hero nails Cornett and attack his arm. Hero hits Cornett with a chair. BJ Whitmer runs out and attack but Hero nails him in the injured leg and than hits him with a chair in it. Pearce tries to cover BJ wit his own body but Hero pulls him off. Hero hits BJ in the bad leg leg again. Finally the ROH locker room runs out and chases off the CZW invaders. Decent segment as again we see then CZW guys get one over on the ROH crew.
Backstage Dave Prazak is with the Embassy. Nana says he finally figured it out and asks his boys if there on the same page.Nana says finally the Embassy is going to bring home the titles.Nana promises raises. Ok interview to set up the Embassy up coming tag title match. Plus Shelley had a few funny lines.
ROH World Tag Team Championship Generation Next Austin Aries and Roderick Strong © vs Blood Generation Cima and Narkui Do with Yoshino- Blood Generation was getting this shot based off there win over Generation Next a few nights before this. Honestly I think they should have gone with Doi and Yoshino are regular tag partners but it could be Cima the top guy in Dragon Gate needed to be in the title match for political reasons. Doi and Strong start us off. Prazak claims this is the first time an team of international stars are getting a shot at the tag belts. Strong with a takedown and grape vines the leg. Front face lock by Strong but Doi with a side headlock takedown. Tag to Aries and Tag to Cima. Cima flips into the ring so Aries climbs out so he can flip in the ring as well. Head scissors by Aries. Cima into a hammer lock takedown back to the Aries head scissors but Cima counters into one of his own. Headstand escape into a drop kick by Aries. Tag to Strong. Arm wringer by Strong Cima flips free and kicks Strong off. Blind tag to aries in with a senton and a frog elbow drop. Tag to Strong who chops Cima. Strong decides to sell the hand he "hurt" the night before. Wait he sells the hand the next night but ton the LEG! Hell he barely sold the leg in the match the night before. Tag back to Aries. Hart Attack clothesline save by Doi on the pin. Tag back to Strong. Strong fakes a chop so he hit a fore arm. Running boot by Strong than delayed vertical suplex. I think Strong had Cima up for nearly a minute. Tag to Aries who comes in with a twist body press than a lionsault. Another save by Doi. Tag back to Strong who of course hits a chop. Head scissors by Cima sends Strong into the turnbuckle. Tag to Doi who comes with forearms. Strong with a belly to back on Doi Generation Next wind up running into each other on a charge. Double Suicide Dives by Blood Generation. Aries is bleeding out of the noise. Big chop by Doi. Rolling senton in the corner by Doi. Tag to Cima who stomps at the face of Aries. Cima tears at Aries' face. Aries tied in the ropes running drop kick by Cima. Tag to Doi Chop exchange unit Doi tears at the face. Belly back suplex and drop kick combo by Doi and Cima. Big slam by Doi.. Doi climbs the ropes but Aries gets up and goes for a superplex. Running power bomb into the Corner by Doi. Tag back to Cima. Doi splash over CIma and than holds Aries so Cima can hits a Double stomp off the top rope. Aries gets to the ropes on the pin. Aries catches a kick knee barker than a belly to back suplex. Tag to Strong. Strong in with baby face fire. Great looking drop kick by Strong on Doi. Double team elbow by Generation Next. Double stomp by Cima on Strong. Falcon Arrow by Cima gets two. Ace Crusher by Cima on Aries. Cima goes for a lung blower but Strong gives him a back breaker. Sit out power bomb by Doi on Strong. Release German by Doi on Strong. release vertical suplex on Doi by Strong. Tag to Aries. Aries hung in the corner. Corner to corner drop kick by Cima connects. Iconoclasm by Cima. Mad Splash by Cima but Aries gets his legs up. Gut buster by Strong. Doi five on Strong. Brain buster on Doi by Aries. Falcon arrow by Cima on Aries. Doomsday drop kick into back breaker by Generation Next . Half nelson back breaker by Strong and the 450 by Aries for the win. Some really cool moves in this match. My one issue is I think the referee forgot who was legal at times and kept counting on any pinfall. Still though a very good match.
Post match the fans chant please come back at the Dragon Gate Stars as they shake hands with Generation next and Cima even kisses Aries on the noise. Cima gets a microphone. Cima declares he loves ROH and thanks the fans. Blood Generation than raise the hands of the ROH world tag team champions. Prazak mentions the next title defenses for Aries is Strong is Homicide and Ricky Reyes.
ROH World Heavyweight Championship Bryan Danielson vs Lance Storm- There is no storyline to this match. Yeah they play up Storm is coming out of retirement. But really that's not a story I do with they had done a little more. During the segment with Joe Danielson in a attempt to put any head on the mach talked about how he was trained by HBK by Storm was a Hart guy and promised to make Storm tap out with his own single leg crab but thats about it. Danielson's chest was badly bruised up from the night before. We get a video from there in ring segment back at Steel Cage Warfare and I question why since all it was use a clip of Danielson talking with no sound. Lockup with neither guy getting the advantage. Storm with an arm ringer and Danielson tries to escape. Danielson goes for a drop kick but Storm moves out of the way. Danielson rings the arm but Storm snap mares him down only for Danielson to turn it into a hammerlock. Firemen's carry takedown by Storm. Waste lock takedown into a front face lock by Storm. Storm with a hammer lock and drives a knee into Danielson's back. Danielson scores with the drop kick and than drops a knee. Storm scores with a drop kick of his own and Danielson bails to the outside. Danielson has the referee check his teeth to kill time. Test of strength and Danielson powered down. Storm tries to break the bridge. Monkey flip by Danielson but Storm lands on his feet. Waste lock takedown by Danielson into a front face lock and drives the knees into Storm's heads. Storm reverse into a cover. Danielson revers to get back on top. Danielson racks his laces across Storm's face. Delayed vertical suplex by Storm. Danielson gets Storm in the corner and uses his boot to choke storm. Drop toehold into the single leg crab by Storm but Danielson gets the ropes. Storm misses a chance to interact with the fans. See a common things in Danielson's matches would be for him do something to draw a count break on four and declare "I have till five." He had been doing that to Storm before the crab so you would think Storm would hold the move until 4 and steal Danielson's taunt. Instead he lets go at three and says nothing. Danielson to the outside and Storm follows him out. Storm sends Danielson into the guard rail and chops at the chest. Danielson goes back into the ring. Clothesline into the corner by Storm gets two. Storm on the ropes but Danielson knocks him off and to the floor with a running forearm. Danielson follows Storm out. Storm int the guar rail and eats come chops and an uppercut. Back in the ring Danielson drives some knees into Storms back and than drops a knee into it. Chin lock by Danielson as he demands Storm tap. Storm fights free but Danielson knocks him down again with a running clotheslines.
Mule kick by Storm as Danielson pulls back on the arms. Sloppy forearm by Storm that Danielson sells. Danielson hangs Storm in the ropes and pulls at the face. Back breaker by Danielson and he goes for the surfboard but instead drives the knees into the mat first. Surfboard locked in fully. Storm fight up so Danielson turns it into a chin lock and than just tears at the face. Back heel kick by Storm and both men are down. Storm up an chits a leg drop. Storm goes for Da back body drop but Danielson instead gives him a suplex.. Enziguri by Storm. Leg lariat by Storm gets two. Awful looking tiger driver by Storm as eh need gets Danielson hight enough. Power slam by Storm for a two count. Rana attempted by Storm blocked into a Danielson power bomb. Danielson with the bow and arrow. Danielson sets up for the regalplex but Storm fights free. Danielson goes for the chicken wing but again Storm fights it off. Super kick by Storm gets two. Leonard and Prazak try to sell it as a big moment but the fans are so quite for this I think I hear a girl asking if the concessions stands were still open. Storm sits Danielson on the top turnbuckle. Danielson goes for a sunset flip but gives up and Danielson nails in him the back. Super belly to back suplex by Danielson. Danielson goes for the chicken wing again and locks it in. Storm gets the rope break. Danielson climbs to the top and misses the diving headbutt. Cradle power driver by Storm gets two. Again I think that was meant to be one of those big an you believe it near falls but the crowd was silent. I think could have drawn a bigger pop if Storm had done That's Incredible (A spinning tombstone piledriver) since Storm had a history with Justin Credible as a partner and I don't know if he ever really feuded with Jerry Lynn who used that as a finisher. Storm goes for the Calgary Crab and finally the fans respond. Danielson goes for the ropes but Storm pulls him to the center Danielson with the counter he used to pin Strong and gets two. Super kick misses and than caught forearm by Danielson. Regalplex by Danielson gets two. Cattle Mutilation but Storm flips over for a near fall. Tiger suplex by Danielson than back to the Cattle Mutilation for the win. This match was doomed from the start. Despite his reputation as a great technical wrestlers Storm doesn't connect with the fans. Storm wasn't awful but much like Roderick Strong I have a hard time seeing him a world champion. ROH didn't help itself by doing nothing to build the feud so people were so dead because it was clear Storm was heat to put another name on Danielson's resume. Prazak again tries to tell tis as a huge moment saying Danielson is approaching legendary status as World Champion. And while Danielson was having a great title run this was not a big moment. Maybe it would have also felt bigger if Storm had gotten more of a push in WWE but by this point had a been a jobber. Yes ROH had some success with James Gibson but Gibson had time to be built into his role.
We get a recap video of the Homicide and Cabana feud starting with Colt making some jokes that Homicide found disrespectful. The various wild brawls. The Drano, the chokes with a coat hanger even Homicide attempting to cut out Cabana's tune. Cabana attacks as a masked man that cost Homicide a match to Corino and the FIP title and the rap Cabana did where he called Homicide Konnan's bitch. Very well done video perfect to set up the main event for anyone that might be new to ROH.
Chicago Street Fight
Homicide with Julius Smokes vs Colt Cabana- Again I wonder why isn't this a fight without honor since they had already set up for it? Did Gabe not want to tip off Homicide would be turning face and it would start with him shaking hands with Cabana. Smokes his usual idiot self has now added some stupid move with his head. Think about for all the shit I give Cornett could you ever see him doing a dumb dance before big blow off? Hell I couldn't see freaking Vickie Gurrerro being that stupid. Homicide goes for a splash at the start but Cabana moves. Cabana uses his jacket to choke Homicide. Back body drop by Cabana. Cabana tosses Homicide to the floor. Big punches to the head of Homicide. Back the ring and more punches by Cabana. Butt Butt misses but a Yakuza kick doesn't. Cabana again tosses Homicide to the floor. Homicide blocks a suplex. Brawl head up the the entrance ramp. Cabana pounds on Homicide on the ramp and toss him back to the ring. Back body drop seen coming elbows and than a back elbow by Homicide. Back to the floor and Cabana sent into the guard rails. Chair shot to the back by Homicide. Homicide pulls out a hanger from under the ring. Cabana blocks it and chokes Homicide with the coat hanger. Homicide manages to escape. Topa con Helio by Homicide. Smokes starts doing his damn laps he might as well be going "Look at me Look at me!" Ace crusher off the apron blocked by Cabana. Colt 45 off the apron blocked by Homicide. Cabana pulls out a ladder. Homicide gets the advantage but Cabana plants him on the canvass and than launches him into the ladder. Running splash follows and gets two. Cabana dumps the ladder on Homicide. Tornado DDT by Homicide sends Cabana headfirst into the ladder. Smokes again runs around like a moron because he can't stand anyone not watching him. Again could you imagine after a big spot any good manager doing something to get the people to focus on him. And no it was not a time where both men needed a minute it was just a moron being a moron. Back to the floor. Cabana sent into the ring post and he is laid on on the apron. Homicide to the top rope for a splash that sends them both through the table.. Smokes and homicide pull out a barb wire board and put it in the ring. Smokes puts the board some place and he must have put in the wrong spot because we clearly see Homicide moving it. Ladder shot to the back of Cabana's back. Suplex onto the ladder block by Cabana and he suplexs Homicide though it and beaks the ladder. Cabana goes to power slam Homicide into the barb wire but Homicide turns it into a side russian leg sweep away from the wire.
Cabana no sells some punches and land one of his own. Cabana pulls the fork out Homicide boot and uses it on him stabbing him in the head. Homicide is bleeding. Homicide swings wildly and gets forked again. Cabana goes for the eye. Homicide manages to pitch Cabana to the floor. Homicide pulls out the bottle of draino. Cabana jumps right into the ring showing no fear. Cabana stomps Homicide and than a TKO with the top rope.Cabana gets a bottle of alcohol. Smokes jumps in the ring but gets hit by Cabana. Smokes being an idiot doesn't sell the punch so much as he dances for it. Cabana tosses the alcohol into the face Homicide. Homicide rolls around in agony and grabs Cabana ring jacket to try and wipe it off. Homicide tries to escape to the fans but Cabana stops him. In the ring Homicide pleads for mercy. Cabana punches him. Colt 45 escaped. Low blow by Homicide. Homicide tosses a chair in the ring and than tells the fans to throw them into there charing into the ring ring. And they do it. Ok wouldn't it have made more sense for the baby face Cabana to do it Poor good Sinclar desperately covers up in the corner. Now ROH had done this once before during a match with Punk and Steel vs Whitmer and Maff. It also happened in ECW before and that was what Gabe wanted to recreated. Honestly I'm not a fan of this since all the chairs seem to do it make it hard for the wrestlers to move. Both men climbs back into the ring and poor Cabana gets hit in he head by a flying chair. Cabana pulls Homicide up and see for a superplex. Both men crash onto the chairs. Homicide kicks at two. They start clearing the chair out of the ring. Cabana goes for another superplex but a low blow by Homicide. Pepsi Plunge by Homicide. Prazak calls it that and point it was Punk's move and Cabana and Punk are friends saying hit was meant to an insult. Homicide hits the lariat but Colt kicks at two. Homicide holds Colt and calls for Smokes to attack. And I swear I am not making this up but Smokes attack looks like he is running to give Colt a hug. His arms are stretched out and everything. Cabana (no doubt not wanting a hug from Smokes) moves and Smokes hits Homicide. Another punch to Smokes who again dances as he falls over. Head trap suplex by Cabana.
Cabana starts to undo the tape on his hands and uses it to tie up Smokes. Smokes again being an idiot makes it's clear he is up and conscious when Colt does this so now it looks like he just let himself get tied. Again Smokes is a moron hell that's an insult to morons. We get replay of some of the action form earlier in the match. Cabana and Homicide each bring a table into the ring. Cabana sets his up over the barb wire board. Homicide tosses a chair into Cabana's head. Homicide sets Colt on the top ropes but Cabana winds up power bombing him through the table into the barb wire. Cabana covers and Homicide kicks at two. Lariat by Cabana gets two. Colt 45 is finally hit as Cabana yells out Please Please he finally gets the win. Ladies and Gentlemen this is how you do hardcore wrestling with logic. This feud had built to a match this violent. Both guys sold the moves and make them look like they hurt it was not a Necro Butcher match where he hits a chair face first and pops right up. Also I like them revisiting various things from the feud like the coat hanger, alcohol and even having Cabana tie up Smokes like he had been tied up before. Smokes was freaking awful and kept doing all he could do to blow this match and gets the fans there that night to ignore the match but its Smokes of course he is going to suck.
Post match Cabana throws his hands above his head and than starts to cry out of joy. For the first time in months Cabana starts to smile. Reyes comes out and jumps Cabana. Smokes and Reyes get a noise and start to hang Cabana. Homicide stops them and even tells Smokes to back off and says he will handle it. Homicide tell Smokes and Reyes to get behind him. Homicide gets a microphone. Homicide tell his boys to show Cabana respect because he beat him in this match. Homicide than extends his hand to Cabana and even drops to his knees saying "I respect you Colt Cabana! I'm sorry!' Cabana takes his hand and the two rivals even hug as confetti falls the sky. Homicide makes its done and even Smokes shakes Colts hands. Cabana's music plays after months Cabana can celebrate and have good times and great memories again. I do have a minor issue with Reyes and Smokes beating up Cabana after the match but it is short and over all I like the ending. The whole feud had been a issue of respect Homicide having none for Colt and feeling as if he had been disrespected by him. However in the end Cabana won Homicides respect. I also over all like the direction this took Colt going back to something HBK said once. "With my gimmick it can't just be "Oh Shawn is going to beat you up now." We had to have a reason why he is getting tough." And I think Cabana fits that given his normal gimmick of a comedy guy this was a nice change.
We close with ROH owner Cary Siklin having Bryan Danielson sign something. As I have said all the shows in this series were meant to end as a cliff hanger and this is a really effective one. Most fans know who Cary is and what he looks like. And the fact the world champion appears to be sining some kind of contract makes you want to find out what's going.
Better Than Our Best is a much better show than the last few. Being the last night ROH could all out and not have to save anything. The matches are all pretty good only the Delirious vs Reyes match hasn't aged well. And the Evans win on the open was just puzzling. I may not like Lance Storm but the guy does have a fan base and we have great ending to a long standing ROH feud. Plus an example of how to hardcore well. So yeah Better Than Our Best is one show you should pick up.
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