RING OF HONOR RESULTS FROM LAST NIGHT
- 07/09/2005 (1:14:33 pm)
- GeorgiannMakropoulos
You haven’t seen good Indy wrestling, until you see a ROH show…..
Obviously, first and foremost, let me take a minute and thank Georgie and the staff of Wrestlingfigs.com along with the ROH promotion for the tickets and the wonderful experience. Now, to borrow some work I wrote for my home site, Wrestleview.com, I'll give you some thoughts on the card from top to bottom. I can summarize it in two words.
My God!!!!!
I could not be more impressed with the show that was put on at Sports Plus tonight. I don't have a blow by blow recap of the festivities, but I do have the EMOTIONAL aspect of the program. First and foremost, let's go through the results.
Dixie & Jay Lethal defeated the Heartbreak Express
Roderick Strong defeated Azrieal (forgive the spelling) by submission.
BJ Whitmer & Jimmy Jacobs defended successfully their ROH Tag Team Championship against Lacey's Angels.
Roderick Strong defeated Azrieal (forgive the spelling) by submission.
BJ Whitmer & Jimmy Jacobs defended successfully their ROH Tag Team Championship against Lacey's Angels.
(One of the members of the challengers was Deranged, I do not know who the other one was...(sound system issue, and the fact that I can't hear, much.)
A.J. Styles defeated Jimmy Rave
Nigel McGuiness defeated Vordell Walker
Austin Aries wins the 4 corner Survival Match featuring ROH Pure Champion Samoa Joe, Homicide, and James Gibson. Aries pins Joe to get the dupe.
Christopher Daniels defeated Colt Cabana
ROH World Champion CM Punk defeated Jay Lethal by submission
A.J. Styles defeated Jimmy Rave
Nigel McGuiness defeated Vordell Walker
Austin Aries wins the 4 corner Survival Match featuring ROH Pure Champion Samoa Joe, Homicide, and James Gibson. Aries pins Joe to get the dupe.
Christopher Daniels defeated Colt Cabana
ROH World Champion CM Punk defeated Jay Lethal by submission
Ok. I got a lot to discuss about this... here goes...
The World Champ comes out at the beginning of the show, with PURPLE HAIR, and dressed in a three piece suit. He promos about winning the ROH title, and part of his master plan basically, in no short of terms, leaving ROH with the title because the fans of ROH allegedly turned their backs on him, since he built ROH from the ground up, according to him.
Little did the champ know that the attire he wore at the beginning of the show would come back to haunt him, but we'll bring that up in a little bit.
He begins to discuss his WWE status, and claims he did NOT sign a contract. He pulls out a piece of paper out of his suit, and asks the ring announcer to hold the belt while he signs his "WWE contract" on top of the ROH World title. The ring announcer refuses to assist Punk, so the champ demands the referee to assist him, who also refuses. Punk tells both of them he expected them to grow 'spines' today, so he brings up one of his students, a guy who's name escapes me. The student holds the belt, and Punk signs the piece of paper over the ROH title, to the thunderous chants from the crowd varying from some I can't repeat, to Good Bye Punk, to singing adios to the future WWE talent.
James Gibson runs out and tries to go after Punk, but Punk throws his protege at the aggressive ROH competitor, who tiger drives the young kid. Punk slides out of the ring and heads back up the ramp to the waiting sneer of the Fallen Angel, Christopher Daniels. Punk tears out of the arena area through the crowd, leaving Gibson and Daniels in the ring, who stare each other down before leaving without saying a word.
The first match up, a tag team match between the Heart Break Express against Jay Lethal and Dixie. For Lethal, a blossoming talent, this is the beginning of a long night. Briefly on the Heart Break Express, well, the gimmick sucks. I don't know the members names, specifically, but one looked like a bad Adrian Adonis, and the other one was trying to look like Chris Candido, may he rest in peace. Personally, the narcissistic angle bothers me, but that's my own opinion.
Dixie takes a pretty good pounding in the match, but he and Lethal come out on top via the use of the dragon suplex. A basic match from the outset. Not terrible to open the show, but nothing of real impact to note here.
Azrieal vs. Roderick Strong is up next. This match was back and forth from the word go. It was a bit longer than probably they would have liked. I was very impressed with Strong. I thought his arsenal of offensivre maneuvers was very impressive. A lot of very high impact spots, Azrieal hit Strong with a sick kick to the head when Strong fell off the top turnbuckle and straddled the top rope. Strong caught Azrieal, going for a plancha, in a powerbomb position, and nailed a pretty hard backbreaker.
Strong got the dupe in this match with a high angle version of the Boston Crab. A body is not supposed to bend the way Strong had his opponent's.
A surprise occurred after this match, as Alex Shelley ran in and attacked Strong following the victory. The crowd went nuts. No words or promos from Shelley. He made his impact, turned and left.
Matt Striker, who has made news from his foul up with the New York State Board of Education, came out for a promo, basically thanking Ring Of Honor, and the fans for supporting him during this difficult time. He then took a seat ringside as the show continued.
Next up was the match for the ROH Tag Team Titles. The champs, BJ Whitmer, and Jimmy Jacobs, defended against Lacey's Angels. Now, I had some difficulty hearing who were the members of Lacey's Angels. I don't know who one of the wrestlers was, and I don't know who the chump on the floor with the sunglasses was. Lacey herself has a voice that could shatter glass.
Predictable spots, focusing on Jacobs, using the numbers game to the challengers' advantage. Deranged hit an absolutely scintillating neckbreaker off the top rope on Jacobs, almost capturing the titles. Once the hot tag to Whitmer came in, the champs took control, and won the match with an Electric chair style hurricanrana by Jacobs on Deranged for the victory.
Quickly, before continuing, Jimmy Jacobs. Is he a Paul London clone, or is it just me?
It's now announced Sports Plus will host Ring Of Honor again on Saturday night, September 17th. Already signed to appear are da Pure Champ, Samoa Joe, Homicide, Christopher Daniels, and AJ Styles. Expect yours truly to be back in attendance for this one.
Oh, one other question. The crowd was chanting, Huss, Huss, Huss for Jacobs all through the match. Someone tell me the legitimacy of that nickname, OK?
Prince Nana and the Embassy come out next. Nana comes out alone with Mike Kruel at his side. Quick side note, Mike Kruel has the factor to go very far in this business, in my opinion. He's built like a fireplug, and looks as mean and tough as a two dollar steak. Just an opinion.
Nana starts rambling, and then gets in Matt Striker's face, which prompts him to come in to the ring, for a "shoot" promo with the jewel-clad, Akeem-looking leader of the Embassy. Nana claimed Striker was being used by ROH. Striker came back with some verbal shots against who he called the SD Jones and Paul Roma of the Ring Of Honor fed, which led to Striker getting beat down by Kruel and Nana. He is then led back to the locker room, and Jimmy Rave comes out, to a royal entrance, so to speak.
The two henchmen, who sprayed aerosol all over the arena when Rave entered, got in to Nana's face, and teased a break up when Nana went nuts on Jade, the female member of this faction, for not following his orders. Again, my apologies, I don't know who these two henchmen were, but their resistance toward the leader forced their removal from the Embassy, as the Prince subsequently fired them. They asked Jade to go with them, but Jade did not, looking pensive the whole time.
One of the four pack of superstars I was DYING to see came out now, the Phenomenal One, A.J. Styles. The pop for him was unreal. There was some geniune tension between the two competitors as this match started, but they still managed to shake hands prior to locking up. One thing to mention quickly before continuing. I ENJOYED and APPRECIATED seeing the RESPECT that was shown between all the competitors in ROH. I know in a previous column I ripped Spike Dudley for bitching and complaining about his time in WWE, but maybe he has a point, because these guys, these talented individuals, seemed to LOVE what they were doing, and it showed throughout the performance tonight.
Back to the Styles/Rave match. Styles took the momentum with the opening bell, hitting 3 MAJOR LEAGUE backbreakers on Rave, declaring he would, well, I can't say exactly, but let's just say he was very emotional about wanting to cause major damage to the Embassy member's lower back area.
Later in the match, Styles tried for a DDT and missed, and Rave countered with a serious kick to the head, that I thought knocked Styles a little loopy. 2 near falls resulted from that exchange.
More significant offense occurred later in the match, when Styles hit a Jumpin' Jim Brunzell style drop kick right in Rave's teeth. It was a thing of beauty to experience. The match concluded after a missed spiral tap attempt due to outside interference, and a subsequent roll up by the Phenomenal One as Rave was trying to go for a piledriver.
Nana is going absolutely nuts on the outside after the match, and is caught by Styles, who tries, and almost hits a Styles Clash on the Embassy leader, but Rave stops him with a DUNKIN DONUTS BAG? Rave puts this bag over Styles' head and tries to suffocate the TNA & ROH superstar. Matt Striker and BJ Whitmer come out to fight off the Embassy, but Rave, Kruel, Jade, and Nana retreat before a confrontation ensues. AJ was on the other side of the ring as he made his way to the back, but he looked less than thrilled en route.
Time for intermission. Quick comedic note here. If you're a big man, like me, 6 feet, and large, better make sure to bring a can opener, because these seats they had were literally almost right on top of each other. Wow, was it small cramped quarters in the seating area. Sheesh.
First match off the intermission is Vordell Walker taking on Nigel McGuiness. This one was a bit of a snoozer. McGuiness though hit a nasty clothesline on Walker which made Vordell go 360 degrees in the bump. McGuiness hit the move after a bounce off the rope that looked very similar to Tajiri's back elbow strike. Pretty unique for a man of Nigel's size, and he ain't small. McGuiness gets the win with a neckbreaker off the top rope. Some nice respect shown by McGuiness checking on the fallen Walker after the match concluded. Never would see that in a WWE ring, that's for damn sure.
Time for the show stealer. The Four Corners Survival Match. James Gibson, Homicide with Julius Smokes, Austin Aries, and ROH Pure Champion Samoa Joe.
Before talking about the match, few things to say. Smokes got in to it hot and heavy with a female fan. I thought for sure this chick was going to kick Smokes in the WHOOPS, can't go there. The crowd starting chanting "YOU'RE HARDCORE" to this chick. It was comedic, to say the least.
Samoa Joe, I understand now, why he was not signed by WWE. I also understand now, why he is considered the 'stiffest' competitor in the independent circuit. The man is a monster. Every single shot he delivered sounded and looked devastating.
I mentioned eariler that I thought Mike Kruel has the tools to go far in this business. I am going to add another name to that list, and that name is Austin Aries. He looked evil, man. One of those guys who will shake your hand one minute, and stab you in the back with the same hand the next. They call it the "IT" factor. I am not a talent evaluator, by any stretch, but if Aries were to try and make the jump to the next level, I think, if packaged right, he could be a major player.
Lastly, with Gibson. I have to say this, again, based on what Spike said in his comments. Maybe working the indy scene is more difficult for these competitors, but I mean this sincerely, Gibson looked like he was having the time of his life tonight, and he got his ass whooped in this match by all of the competitors.
Now, to the match...first thing to say is, I may be buying general admission next time, because we almost got Homicide and Samoa Joe fall at our feet, literally. Joe did a dive over the ropes, and nearly missed Homicide, and if the barriers weren't there, I was going to be in the hospital from getting absolutely demolished by these two monsters.
A tremendous amount of action took place outside the ring on this one, making it difficult to see, being in the 3rd row, on one side of the coin. You had 3 straight planchas on everybody by all the competitors on the outside, and it was topped off by a somersault plancha off the top rope to the floor by Gibson. Never saw Jamie Noble do that in WWE.
I honestly thought through this match that Samoa Joe was invincible. He seemed to almost feel no pain. I wish I could tell you more spots that happened during this match, but I couldn't take my eyes off of it. Needless to say, this match itself is worth the price of this show, when it comes out on home media. Believe me. Aries got the win when Joe, with the help of all the other stars involved in this match, was set up for a 450 splash off the top.
Alex Shelley then comes back through the crowd, about 4 rows over from where I'm sitting, superkicks Aries in the face, and runs out of the arena area.
Where that's going, I have no idea.
The Fallen Angel, Christopher Daniels, with Allison Danger is out next, to take on Colt Cabana. Ok, first, Allison Danger is a very good lookin' valet. Daniels got good taste. Ok. Sorry. Daniels got some major pop from the faithful. Cabana came out to "Copa Cabana" by Barry Manilow.
Now, tell me something. How serious can you take anyone who comes to a wrestling ring with a Barry Manilow song playing in the background?
Anyway, this match was intense. Daniels had some major league grudge against Cabana for events that occurred 16 months ago. Every single time Cabana tried to offer his hand for Daniels to shake it, it made Daniels even madder, leading up to the topper, when the ROH World Champ hits the ringside area. Daniels naturally takes the bait, and Cabana capitalizes with a very stiff kick. He gets some momentum on the 210 pound TNA X Division champion, highlighted by a major missile drop kick off of the top rope. Punk is in Cabana's face, demanding Colt to get nasty with Daniels, but Colt is telling him no.
The match is back and forth, with a tremendous amount of near falls on both parties. Punk gets involved in the match, and ends up hitting everybody, the ref, Daniels, and even Cabana. Daniels takes advantage of the opportunity and wins the match via a top rope moonsault.
He then challenges the champion to a match for the belt. Punk responds by saying he would fight Daniels, but it must be non-title, because, according to Punk, Daniels hasn't beaten anyone. Punk demands Daniels to leave, and referees finally usher the Fallen Angel to the locker room.
Punk enters the ring, and promos for the World title match, and his hand picked opponent. He claims he wants to fight an ROH legend, and challenges Low Ki to a match. Music plays, no Low Ki. The fans are getting on Punk something awful.
Punk then challenges American Dragon, Bryan Danielson. Same setup, music, but no talent. The fans are getting pissed.
The champ says if ONE legend doesn't want to fight, then maybe he'd fight TWO, and challenges the Briscoe Brothers.
Same deal. No show.
Punk says since nobody's here, and he made two challenges more than he would like, he's out of here. Out comes the Hardcore Legend, Mick Foley.
In another typical classic Foley promo, complete with the cheap plugs, Foley insults Punk for his wardrobe, and his overall look. He also claims that Punk's dreams of being champion forever would not happen in ROH because the owner of ROH doesn't have a daughter than Punk can marry. Ouch. I wish I could use Foley's exact words, but again, this is a family column.
Punk lambastes Foley for his 'lack of imapct' in the business, and Foley responds in turn, saying that ROH made Punk, just like Foley helped make WWE what it is today, and Foley left WWE in a better condition than what it was when he arrived. He challenges Punk to do the same for ROH, make ROH a better place for the people coming after you when you leave than when you arrived. He challenged the champion to pick a young lion to defend the title against.
Punk mentions a loss he suffered at "Back to Basics" and wants to avenge that loss, and challenges "Young Lion" Jay Lethal. Lethal takes momentum initially from the start, and Punk appears to be running away from Lethal as much as he possibly can. Punk manages to hit Lethal with a spinning snake eyes on the turnbuckle, which changes momentum to the champion's favor.
He then screams, "It's clobberin' time." What is this, gimmick infringment?
Punk takes advantage on Lethal until a back suplex attempt off the top, which was countered by the challenger in to a 2 count off a high cross body block. Samoa Joe hits the ring to cheer Lethal on. Lethal continues to get some major offense on Punk, and a ton of near falls. Honestly, through this match, I thought Punk was going to lose. I thought ROH had found their torch runner for the post-CM Punk era. I thought Lethal won the ROH world title off a fisherman suplex combination with a Chris Benoit style flying headbutt for a 2 3/4 count. An Angle like kick out, right at the last possible micro-second.
Back and forth the momentum continued. I heard Joe tell Lethal after a chop by Punk, "I hit harder than that." I would agree, and I haven't had the pleasure. Punk hit a SICK brainbuster off the top rope on Lethal that I thought was the end of the match. But, Lethal was pulled up by the champion at the count of 2. I thought for sure the deal was done, and Lethal would be champion. Punk however wins the match with a submission hold I cannot describe because it was facing opposite of where I was sitting.
Joe and Foley come in the ring, and Punk attacks both of them, knocking Foley in to Joe. Gibson comes out, and Punk takes a run out of the ring, and begins to head back to the locker room, when Foley stops him, claiming he just got off the phone with Vince McMahon.
Foley told Punk that if Punk isn't going to do the right thing in ROH with the world title, Vince wondered how he would do the right thing in WWE. Foley told Punk he needs to do the right thing right now for ROH, before he ends up spending a lifetime in Ohio Valley Wrestling, and possibly Mr. Sunday Night Heat. Foley told Punk he needed to be in Manhattan tomorrow night, and defend the title at that show.
Four and a half hours after the opening bell, the show ended with that promo by the Hardcore legend. Foley stuck around to sign autographs, which of course, being an autograph hound, I had to do. Also, the donations were going to Make A Wish, so it was a no brainer, being my child has been a wish child in the past already. Foley was a gentleman, as expected, and was gracious in my brief discussion with him about my experiences with the foundation. While on line, I had the chance to shake hands with Nigel McGuiness and James Gibson. I again say that I think Gibson is having so much fun right now, I feel for him. I thought he got a raw deal, as all the released did from WWE, but maybe there's a silver lining somewhere in the clouds for all those talents. Who knows?
Now, through the magic of the internet, some of the pieces that I missed from the puzzle I saw last night I have had filled. However, I thought it best to keep this piece in tact, because, when going to one of these shows, its not the statistics, its the EMOTION that counts, isn't it? And this piece had all the emotion from the show last night, I can promise you that.
Comparing the show I saw in February (UXW, USA Pro Wrestling) to the ROH product, the analogy I used with my wife is this. "It's like I went to the penthouse after living in the gutter." The action, the quality, the presentation, the LACK OF OFFENSIVE STORYLINES, I mean, I can't tell you how impressed I was with Ring of Honor. Even the 4 hours, it didn't feel like 4 hours. It was a tremendous program put on by the Philadelphia based promotion, and I hope, I really do hope, they come back more often to the Long Island area.
Lastly, a quick hello to my new friend, who sat next to me at the show, I believe his name was Zach. (if I got your name wrong, sorry, man, it was loud in there) I hope he enjoyed the show as much as I did. Just wanted to recognize you, and say thanks for listening to my babbling throughout the night.
Quick Plug: SUNDAY, JULY 17TH, 12noon to 2pm, KANE & CHRISTY HEMME signing autographs at New York Sports Works in the Sunrise Mall, Massapequa, Long Island. Check out www.NewYorkSportsWorksInc.com for more information.
Check out my columns, "Pro's from the Palace" on WRESTLEVIEW.com.
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