Bedlam in Beantown

Ring of Honor

ROHwrestling.com

$20.00

Reviewed by Joe Babinsack

In terms of wrestling content, Ring of Honor remains the top notched promotion in the country, if not the world. In terms of its position as a money-maker, and in terms of appreciation, it takes a third tier seat in this country.

That remains a frustrating position, especially to the fans and admirers of the type of professional wrestling that the Philadelphia based promotion provides.

But, perhaps, no one benefits so much from CM Punk winning the WWE Championship than ROH, and it’s future looks just a little brighter since that momentous event of last Monday Night Raw.

It certainly is a bit of a stretch to say that CM Punk was the face of ROH, but let’s keep in mind that the first time Punk won the ROH World Title, he was under contract to the WWE. Despite the grumblings and gripes by influential members of the WWE family, CM Punk’s style, the one that ROH displays above any other promotion, is now the one that is perfected by it’s own champion.

Maybe, just maybe, that may create some curiosity and allow WWE fans to want to take a look at what ROH has to offer.

After all, Colt Cabana is on the WWE roster, and Bryan “Best in the World” Danielson is knocking on the door, having been seen in a dark match (triumphant, no less) and having the pedigree of being trained by Shawn Michaels.

But enough of the pandering for mainstream fan recognition….

ROH presents a very strong show in it’s 4/11/08 Bedlam in Beantown DVD. It also shows some progression in its presentation, as the card seems to build up new stars and new faces instead of over-relying on the typically excellent crop of headliners.

On the show, we’re seeing a lot of Erick Stevens, Keven Steen and Larry Sweeney; and surprisingly, none of Austin Aries, Bryan Danielson or even Takeshi Morishima.

Ok, I’m sure the faithful can tell me why that is, but the show really doesn’t miss a beat (or a beatdown) in elevating Erick Stevens to challenger status, or headlining a card with a Steen vs Necro Butcher “Boston Massacre” match, and especially not in building up the whole Larry Sweeney as heel manager non pareil.

It’s a welcome change of pace, and almost a necessary change of focus. ROH seems to have settled into a bit of a rut. It’s action is top-notch and it’s cards are filled, without an exception, with a high level of wrestling and a variety of styles. But the one drawback has been an ongoing battle between the same names, and almost a damnable reliability. At some point, just expecting a great wrestling show just doesn’t draw in the next bunch of fans. It also makes an entry level to new fans impossible to be had.

The problem ROH has had is that it just doesn’t have the highs and lows of building to big events. It’s been a while since the culmination of the ROH/CZW war. It’s been a while since the cataclysmic battles of Samoa Joe and then Takeshi Morishima. And, of course, ROH is building on another track to it’s own monthly PPVs. But without TV, they rely upon DVD sales, and those sales are built upon the expectations of their fan base of always maintaining the ROH excellence.

Which means that once you’re in the ROH circle of fans, you get it; but there’s seemingly no effort to draw in another batch of new fans.

Now, to me, that’s not a challenge, because you can drop me into a new wrestling promotion, and I’ll work backwards and forwards to learn the wrestlers, the styles and the storylines. But we live in an era where explaining to a WWE fan that there’s more to the industry than what Vince pours out is an impossibility. Once again, maybe CM Punk opens up some possibilities.

Speaking of champions, Nigel McGuinness is starting to fill out the role in ROH, showing a different side than the previous title holders. Nigel has size, not quite like Morishima, but he’s big; has mad wrestling skills, not quite like Danielson, but he can go; and has an aura, not quite like Samoa Joe, but he’s growing into it. But while Danielson played a subtle heel, McGuinness is playing all out heel, and while some of the early road was quite bumpy, he has risen to a level where he can rile up the fans and still demand a level of respect requisite for the ROH World Title.

I like the inherent cockiness of the Brit, and his keen ability to portray an attitude that says: “I’m man enough to challenge all comers, but I’ll take the easy way out if I can.”

That’s a less than subtle heelishness that deservers praise. Nigel isn’t chicken enough to back down from the winner of the Four Corner Survival Match, but he’s all too quick to call out Ernie Osiris for an easy Title defense. Of course, to this ROH Champ, basking on the reputation and living off the legacy of the belt isn’t anything to be ashamed of.

And it shouldn’t be.

But there is a fine line there, and Nigel McGuinness is walking that line with a pretty strong strut. With his unique style and approach and his skill and look, he’s rounding out into another strong ROH champ, in a strong line that does date back to, and back beyond, CM Punk.

The DVD itself is another strong showing. It features some younger talent, in the names of Jason Blade (of the YRR,) Mike Bennett, Eddie Edwards (a new addition to Sweet & Sour, INC,) and the Vulture Squad’s Jigsaw (now unmasked.)

The opener is the Four Corner Survival match. While I’d prefer the elimination rules, it makes sense here with the winner going on to challenge for the ROH title. One more level of McGuinness’ tile reign, as he does wind up in some advantageous situations, with both the setup and a pre-match attack.

But the opener does set up a few other things, including some in-fighting in the No Remorse Corps, another strong showing by El Generico and the gradual elevation of Erick Stevens (now without his Mohawk.)  Solid, solid ROH style, with some great dives, evolution of the art form and great competition that we’ve come to expect with ROH.

Only one tag match on this DVD, but settling for the Briscoes vs Jack Evans & Ruckus is by no means a letdown. The Briscoes rule the tag team universe, which is not damning them with faint praise, despite the lack of competition. Jack Evans is the best and purest athletic talent on the planet with Rey Jr acclimated to the WWE house style. Just watch what he can do!

I’m usually underwhelmed by six man tags, and the setup – which disses all-around great women talents by the name of Daizee Haze and Sara Del Rey, didn’t do much for me either, but the working in of Larry Sweeney and his manager/agent/takeover angle was well done. Every time I see the likes of Claudio Castagnoli and Chris Hero I just shake my head, but appreciate their spots on the ROH roster. And Delirious is the best gimmick character in the past five years.

And Brent Albright has a role, which cannot be a bad thing.

The coolest part of this ROH DVD is that the headline matches feature a lot of guys that you might not expect, but the quality and competition cannot be faulted.

Kota Ibushi is a newcomer to ROH, and gets locked into an awesome match with the NRC’s Davey Richards. Ibushi has the athletic look of a Marafuji, a KENTA or, of course a very young Kenta Kobashi. And he can go like the aforementioned Pro Wrestling NOAH stalwarts. Ibushi is from the DDT promotion, and is obviously due for a good run in the US with ROH. He’s got fire, mad moves and stood toe-to-toe with Richards, which is not a feat to ignore.

There were a few ‘what was that!’ moments that you’ll just have to watch the DVD for.

The title match was not anticlimactic by any means. Erick Stevens is getting the slow-build push, which he both deserves and is working into. And I do mean working. Few wrestlers this day are talented enough to sell an arm injury throughout the match and make it work for them, but Stevens certainly shows his capability here. Again, with Nigel McGuiness, he has the depth and psychology and awareness to build up a championship match of his own liking, and this is a great example of it.

With the selling and the kick-outs and the flashes of potential, this match is everything a title match needs to be in setting up a challenger for the long term.

The Headline match, featuring Kevin Steen and Necro Butcher is one that isn’t ordinary these days. Nor of the past decade. Did it become a garbage match when someone got chaired in the opening moments, or when the garbage can full of plunder appeared around 7-8 minutes in, or when the barbed-wire board came into play? But garbage it wasn’t, as Necro is growing on me as a real master of psychology, and Steen just has that drive that makes a true wrestling fan rally around his offense.

A little bit of blood, but not overdoing it….which is absurd for a “Boston Massacre” match, but once again ROH pulls out the stops in making the match meaningful – Steen is slated to challenge Nigel “isn’t that a coincidence” McGuinness the next day. And the post match interviews put Mr. Steen on the warm up circle for expectations and a solid performance. Mr. Wrestling, indeed!

Bedlam in Beantown would be unfairly rated as a typically excellent ROH production, since it breaks some of the molds and elevates some much needed talent to new levels. It shows some of the building blocks to some ongoing angles, and – as always – the dedication, drive and talent that makes ROH a must-see promotion.

Joe Babinsack can be reached at [email protected]. I’ve got SHIMMER, Big Vision releases, CM Punk retrospective and quite a number of books on the slate. Drop me a line or drop me a suggestion, just don’t drop me on my head. Or else!

www.ROHWrestling.com