RING OF HONOR SHOWS THIS WEEKEND
- 12/24/2008 (12:29:15 pm)
- Press Releases
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All Star Extravaganza IV Set For PhillyThursday, December 18, 2008
Ring of Honor is proud to announce that on December 26, 2008, we will be holding our 4th ever All Star Extravaganza right here in our home, Philadelphia, PA. It is with this announcement in mind that we will take a brief look at the history of this ROH original event, as well as look at the matches announced thus far.
It all started on November 9, 2002 at the legendary Murphy Recreation Center in Philadelphia. That night ROH held its first ever “All Star Extravaganza” before a packed house in a building that was hot even during the winter. The show was main evented by Shinjiro Ohtani & Masato Tanaka, visiting from the Zero-1 promotion in Japan, defeating two of ROH’s own in Low Ki & Steve Corino. In addition to that huge main event, AJ Styles beat Bryan Danielson to become the first holder of the since-retired #1 Contender’s Trophy, Xavier successfully defended the ROH Title against Jay Briscoe, and The Prophecy of Chris Daniels, Donovan Morgan, and Samoa Joe retained the ROH Tag Titles opposite Low Ki, Homicide, and Doug Williams. The inaugural event set a high mark for future ROH events bearing the same name.
As a matter of fact, it was another two years before another event was held carrying that title. “All Star Extravaganza II” was held in Elizabeth, NJ at the famed Rexplex, on December 4, 2004 and featured the last match of the famed Samoa Joe/CM Punk trilogy. It was an historic, and surprisingly bloody, battle that saw Joe retain the ROH World title for one last time. The event also presented fans with an epic 20-minute draw between former champion Low Ki and future champion Austin Aries as well as a landmark “Managerial Debate” between Jim Cornette and Bobby Heenan, two men who had never been in the same place at the same time before. This second incarnation of the ASE surpassed the mark of the previous event bearing the same name, and is regarded by many as the best of the three, but the third go-round definitely lived up to the name.
“All Star Extravaganza III” was presented as part of a March 2007 double shot weekend in Detroit, MI, and featured talent from the Dragon Gate promotion competing against the ROH roster in several matches. The team of CIMA, Susumu Yokosuka, Dragon Kid & Ryo Saito defeated Austin Aries, Delirious, Claudio Castagnoli & Rocky Romero in the main event while Jay & Mark Briscoe captured their 4th Tag Team Titles in a rematch with SHINGO & Naruki Doi despite Mark suffering a serious concussion during the match, and Jay having to finish it on his own. And for those historians out there, this event also marked the ROH debut of one Erick Stevens as he mauled Alex Payne in just about a minute.
Now ROH proudly presents “All Star Extravaganza IV” at the New Alhambra Arena, just a short distance from the birthplace of the original. It will feature representatives from Pro Wrestling NOAH and Kensuke Office, as well as ROH’s best and brightest. The card hasn’t yet fully come together, and already it’s loaded with one show stealer after another. Morishima versus Shiozaki, Sasaki & Nakajima versus Strong & Albright, Aries versus Marufuji, Danielson versus Lynn; each one of those is a main event on any wrestling card in the world, and all will take place one night only in one place only. Ring of Honor, December 26th, New Alhambra Arena; this is ROH’s gift to its fans, and it is, without a doubt, the best holiday present you could give yourself or any wrestling fan. Be it technical wrestling, strong style fighting, or hate filled grudge matches, ROH is bringing it all to you in Philadelphia. We’ve set quite a standard for ourselves with
the “All Star Extravaganza” name, and we aim to live up to every event that has come before. Below is the line-up, tickets are waiting for you here at www.rohwrestling.com, don’t miss out on the best night of professional wrestling Philadelphia has seen in a long time…well, at least since the last ROH show.
Ring Of Honor
December 26th, 2008- 8:00 pm bell time
New Alhambra Arena (former ECW Arena)
7 Ritner Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148
First Time Ever- Dream Match #1
Austin Aries vs. Naomichi Marufuji
First Time Ever- Dream Match #2
Bryan Danielson vs. Jerry Lynn
Three Way Tag Match
ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness & Claudio Castagnoli vs. The American Wolves of Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards with Larry Sweeney vs. Jay & Mark Briscoe
Tag Team Challenge Match
Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Roderick Strong & Brent Albright
Six Man Tag Team Grudge Match
ROH World Tag Team Champions Kevin Steen & El Generico & The Necro Butcher vs. Jimmy Jacobs, Tyler Black, & Delirious
Pro Wrestling NOAH Special Attraction
Takeshi Morishima vs. Go Shiozaki
Grudge Match
Erick Stevens vs. Chris Hero with Larry Sweeney
Singles Action
Kenny Omega vs. Rhett Titus
*** *** ***
Final Battle
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Since 2002, Final Battle has stood as the closer on each calendar year for Ring of Honor. It’s an event that has marked some of the greatest wrestling in the company’s history, some of the bloodiest violent matches, and several of the landmark moments. It’s been held in New Jersey once, Philadelphia three times, and this year will mark the third time for New York City as well. Titles have changed hands, feuds have come to a head, and it sets the tone for the year to come.
“Final Battle 2002” took place at the Murphy Rec Center on December 28th and featured what would become known as a Four Corner Survival between Steve Corino, Samoa Joe, Low Ki, and Bryan Danielson. The match itself went to a time limit draw, but the real drama took place before the match even started when Corino attacked Homicide and took his place in the match. Xavier successfully defended his ROH Title against Paul London, Chris Daniels & Donovan Morgan retained the ROH Tag Titles against the SAT, and CM Punk beat Colt Cabana to earn his ROH contract.
12 months later, the ROH landscape looked just a little different. New champions, new venue, and some new faces in the company. “Final Battle 2003” was held on December 27th at the National Guard Armory in Philadelphia, and was highlighted by an All Japan vs. ROH series. It was an all day festival that included a autograph signing with the Great Muta, Kaz Hayashi, Kojima, and the other AJPW guests. as well as a Convention Card early in the afternoon highlighted by the Briscoes retaining their tag titles against the SAT. As for the card later that night, well it was main evented by Great Muta & Arashi defeating Chris Daniels & Dan Maff, but also featured Kojima beating Homicide, AJ Styles defeating Kaz Hayashi, as well as Samoa Joe retaining the ROH World title against Mark Briscoe while Jay Briscoe fell to Bryan Danielson in one of the best openers in ROH history.
Skip ahead to December 26, 2004 and “Final Battle 2004”. Somethings had changed, but somethings hadn’t. Samoa Joe still reigned as champion after 21 months, but was faced with the challenge of a red-hot Austin Aries. The struggle was epic, but Aries couldn’t be stopped as he brought an end to Joe’s legendary streak and became new ROH World Champion. Low Ki and Danielson locked horns, the Carnage Crew and Maff & Whitmer engaged in a brutal Fight Without Honor, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat made his last appearance in ROH, and Steve Corino & CM Punk teamed up to defeat Alex Shelley & Roderick Strong. It marked the end of a tumultuous year for ROH, and sent us into 2005 for a whole new chapter in the company’s history.
“Final Battle 2005” was the first one not held in Philadelphia, as ROH ventured into Edison, NJ for it’s end of the year festival. 2005 was a chaotic year for ROH, especially where the World Title was concerned. Aries lost it to Punk in June, Punk lost it to James Gibson in August, and Gibson lost it to Bryan Danielson in September. And on that December night, Danielson successfully defended his belt against a debuting Naomichi Marufuji. Low Ki, on the other hand, was unsuccessful in his bid to capture the GHC Jr. Title from an also debuting KENTA. Those two top flight contests rounded out a card that saw Aries & Strong capture the ROH Tag Titles from Tony Mamaluke & Sal Rinauro, Nigel McGuinness retain the Pure Title over Claudio Castagnoli, and Jay Lethal beat Samoa Joe, Chris Daniels, and BJ Whitmer in a Four Corner Survival.
“Final Battle 2006” was historic in that it was the first emanating from New York City’s Grand Ballroom, but it was also historic for a totally different reason as well. December 23rd marked the day Homicide captured the ROH World title from Danielson to one of the loudest, most emotional crowd reactions in the history of the company. It was one of those special moments that just you had to be there for. The rest of the event was highlight by guests from Dragon Gate (CIMA & SHINGO) teaming with Matt Sydal to defeat Roderick Strong, Aries, and Delirious. The undercard also saw the Briscoes defeat Claudio & Chris Hero, as well as Jay & Mark decimate Santa & his helpers at the beginning of the night.
For “Final Battle 2007”, ROH returned to the Grand Ballroom on December 30th for the second night of a double header (the first being the “Rising Above” PPV taping). This night proved to be another landmark night in ROH history as Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black defeated the Briscoes to become new ROH World Tag Team champions. For them, it was a fulfillment of destiny, for ROH it meant dark days ahead. Also that night, Danielson became #1 Contender by beating Morishima, Aries, and Hero in a Four Corner Survival while Erick Stevens captured the FIP Title from Strong, Marufuji beat Davey Richards, and the trio of Adam Pearce, Brent Albright, & BJ Whitmer beat Delirious, Kevin Steen, and El Generico in a violent Tables Match. Unfortunately, Nigel McGuinness had been seriously injured the night before (or sandbagging it if you asked the fans in attendance) and was unable to defend his ROH World Title as scheduled.
Now ROH presents “Final Battle 2008”, once again in NYC, this time from the famed Hammerstein Ballroom in the Manhattan Center. To call this card stacked would be an understatement as it features talent from Pro Wrestling NOAH and Kensuke Office, as well as ROH’s own athletes. McGuinness looks to continue his year plus run as ROH World champion, as well as avenge a past defeat, when he faces Marufuji. Danielson and Morishima will settle their blood feud in a Fight Without Honor. The Briscoes are looking to beat a legend in Sasaki & Nakajima. Aries and Black will battle it out to settle a score, as well as determine the new #1 Contender for the World Title. These matches, plus the others listed below, combine to make this one of the greatest line-ups in recent memory. “Final Battle” has a history of delivering spectacular matches, unforgettable moments, and historic title changes, and it also serves as ROH’s gift to its loyal fans. Tickets are
still available at www.rohwrestling.com until Friday morning, so don’t take the risk of not being able to get into the hottest wrestling event of 2008!
Ring Of Honor
December 27th, 2008- 7:30 pm belltime
Manhattan Center (Hammerstein Ballroom)
311 West 34th St.
New York, NY 10001
(212) 279-7740
Tickets are available at www.rohwrestling.com, www.tickets.com, or by calling (215) 781-2500.
ROH World Title Match
Nigel McGuinness defends vs. Naomichi Marufuji
Fight Without Honor
Bryan Danielson vs. Takeshi Morishima
Dream Tag Team Match
Jay & Mark Briscoe vs. GHC Heavyweight Champion Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima
World Tag Team Title Match
Kevin Steen & El Generico defend vs. Jimmy Jacobs & Delirious
#1 Contender's Match
Austin Aries vs. Tyler Black
Come Dressed As You Are- New York City Street Fight
Brent Albright, Roderick Strong, & Erick Stevens vs. Davey Richards, Eddie Edwards, & Go Shiozaki with Larry Sweeney
Four Corner Survival
Chris Hero vs. Jerry Lynn vs. Rhett Titus vs. The Necro Butcher
Special Challenge Match
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Kenny Omega
*** *** ***
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