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Wrestling
Ring of Honor On-Site Report (1/10/2004)
Posted by Jared "JHawk" Hawkins on Jan 11, 2004, 21:42
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Ring of Honor On-Site Report (1/10/2004)
by Jared "JHawk" Hawkins
I've gotten a ton of great comments concerning my Pete Rose rant during my SmackDown recap this week. I've responded to some privately and not to others, but you'll all be heard in a column later this week, probably on Tuesday evening.
It's a new year, and with that, a new year for the world of professional wrestling. The first show of 2004 could set the tone for the rest of the year. The Royal Rumble could set the tone for WWE in 2004 and beyond. And for Ring of Honor, their show last night at the Roberts Centre in Wilmington, Ohio, might have set the stage for the hottest year in the company's brief history.
Prior to the show, a handful of wrestlers were eating at the Max & Erma's adjacent to the building, and the staff came over to sing "Happy Birthday" to one of the Briscoe Brothers (I believe it was Mark Briscoe). Later, as fans entered the building, Christopher Daniels sold autographed pictures for five dollars (which is cheap by indy standards for someone with name recognition) and posed for pictures.
The show starts on time at 7:30 with ring announcer Jeff Gorman welcoming us to the show, and then we're ready for action.
One fall with the three rope break rule in effect: Alex Shelley vs. Matt Stryker
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the three rope break rule, it's really simple. The three rope break rule is going to be instituted as part of the pure wrestling division. Each wrestler is allowed to stop a pin or submission by reaching the ropes three times. In this particular match, if a wrestler reaches the ropes after the third rope break has been used, the man executing the hold does not have to break the hold.
The result: Stryker and Shelley spent more time trying to counter out of submission holds instead of reaching the ropes to release them. Among the submissions: Shelley using the octopus and Stryker busting out the Indian deathlock. You don't see those moves much in the United States anymore. Near the finish, Stryker locked the Stryker Lock on Shelley, who reached the ropes for his third rope break. Stryker put it on again only moments later, and Shelley reached the ropes, but since he was out of rope breaks, he was forced to tap out at 14:24. Really good match, and now that I've seen the three rope break rule in action, I think it's going to work just fine. Let's see how it works when you add the other rules of the division to it, though.
One fall with a 20 minute time limit for the Heartland Wrestling Association Heavyweight Championship: Cody Hawk vs. Nigel McGuinness (champion)
As ROH likes to do, they give the local independent promotion a chance to work their show, although they've been using McGuinness ever since Wrath of the Racket anyway. Some pretty solid technical wrestling throughout. At one point, the bout spills to the floor, and they exchange shots into the ringpost, one of them busting McGuinness open hardway. The finish comes when McGuinness uses a drop toehold and turns it into a roll up to retain the title in 7:34. Good stuff, though the finish looked awkward.
Out come The Second City Saints for an in-ring promo, with Tracy Brooks looking very nice in her schoolgirl outfit. They briefly explain how BJ Whitmer attacked Lucy backstage the last time they were in Ohio to lead to the main event tonight. CM Punk then picks out a Detroit Pistons fan in the second row and uses him to insult the area, even though it became very apparent before the end of the show that the fan was actually from Detroit. Sadly enough, that fan wound up having more heat than about half the roster before the end of the show. Punk cements his heel status to the crowd by giving Brooks his ring jacket.
Special Attraction Match with a 20 minute time limit: Jimmy Jacobs vs. "The Future" Chris Sabin
The crowd was pretty split for this one. Jacobs, for those of you who aren't familiar with him, basically does the old Bruiser Brody gimmick, complete with furry boots and running kneedrop. A nice mix of solid wrestling and high spots, ending with Sabin hitting Future Shock (I think, although feel free to correct me if I'm wrong) for the pin at 10:44.
Four Corner Survival Match: Rainman vs. Todd Sexton vs. Caprice Coleman vs. Jimmy Rave
Rave was the crowd favorite early, simply because he was the only one a lot of the crowd recognized, although Rainman gained support with some good moves and a stiff clothesline that nearly took Coleman out of his boots. This match featured one of my few problems with Ring of Honor: They tried to enforce tags for five minutes, but then we went to suicide dives and everybody trying to pin each other with no thought given to the legal men. Either let them all in at once or don't, but pick one. After the extended cover and save sequence, Rave hits Coleman with a shining wizard to get the pin at 9:54. Not much from a psychological standpoint, but quite entertaining.
First Time Ever Dream Match with a 30 minute time limit: "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles vs. "The Notorious 187" Homicide
When they were in Ohio on August 9, Homicide wound up taking The Amazing Red's place, teaming with Styles against the Prophecy. Both men go for their respective finishers in the early going, but neither can hit it. At one point early on, a fan yelled something at Homicide that I couldn't hear, but I assume it was something really offensive, as Homicide stopped and glared, and the entire section began backing away from the fan that said it while pointing at him. The match, however, was fantastic. The match eventually went to the floor, and with Styles leaning back against the guardrail, Homicide dove onto him. Styles bent backwards over the guardrail while Homicide landed at least five feet behind it. The referee checked on Homicide and called for help, but Homicide insisted on continuing. Work or shoot, I don't know, but the predominantly AJ Styles crowd began chanting for Homicide as a result. The match continued for a good four or five minutes, with Styles getting the pin off the Styles Clash at around 21:30. Simply one of the best matches I've ever seen live, and the crowd agreed, chanting "Thank you" to both wrestlers during the postmatch handshake.
Intermission time, as there was no way anybody was going to follow that one. When we return from intermission, Jeff Gorman informs us that Jim Cornette is having transportation problems and "may not be able to make it", which smelled like an angle to me.
Ohio Valley Wrestling Challenge Match with a 15 minute time limit: "The Giant Killer" Mike Mondo vs. Seth Skyfire
I swear to God that when Mondo came out to the ring, people actually said "I thought Crash Holly was dead." He's an absolute dead ringer for him, with only a few inches in height and about 30 pounds being the difference. Probably the worst match of the night, but still actually pretty solid, with Skyfire getting the pin with a flying legdrop at 9:05. Nothing bad, but the crowd didn't respond to it at all.
Scramble Tag Team Match: Special K (w/Becky Bayless and some guy) vs. The Carnage Crew and The Ring Crew Express
The Crew were represented by HC Loc and Tony DeVito despite Justin Credible being advertised. Joey Matthews and Slim J were on Special K's side, but they add members to the group so often that I can't keep track of the rest of them. As always with the scramble matches, this turned into a spotfest before it was all over, and if you're at ringside for one of these you don't know whether you're supposed to watch the action in the ring or watch the action on the floor so you can run for your life if they're near the guardrail. Late in the match, Loc has the match won as Bayless distracts the referee, when Abyss (w/two hot chicks) runs to the ring and takes Loc down. Slim J covers for the at 13:00. Postmatch, Abyss lays out the remaining members of the losing team as Special K announces Abyss as their "new insurance policy". Entertaining, but tame by ROH scramble standards.
One fall with a 45 minute time limit for the ROH Tag Team Championship: Samoa Joe (ROH World Champion) and "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson vs. The Briscoe Brothers (champions)
Joe and Danielson beat Jay and Mark Briscoe, respectively, at Final Battle 2003, with Joe's victory turning this into a title match. This one had the old Rock 'n' Roll Express formula, as Samoa Joe played face-in-peril before making the hot tag, then Danielson played the face-in-peril for several minutes as well. Joe uses a bodyscissors roll at one point, with American Dragon busting out an airplane spin. It's a great night for moves you don't see much in the United States these days. Joe and Dragon each appear to have the match won before the illegal Briscoe makes the save. The finish comes with Dragon and Jay Briscoe in the ring and Joe working on Mark on the floor. Jay connects with the J-Driller on Danielson, and Joe tries to make the save, but Mark slows him down enough for Jay to get the pin to retain at 23:58. Not as good as it should have been although I liked the story behind it. Postmatch, Danielson spits at Joe rather than shake his hand (he refuses to shake Joe's hand until it's a title match between them), so Joe spits right back at him. Cornette never did show up, which honestly did surprise me.
Six Man War with a one hour time limit: The Second City Saints (w/Tracy Brooks) vs. The Prophecy (w/Allison Danger)
This was signed based on the Prophecy helping take Lucy out at Wrath of the Racket. Colt Cabana drops an item of clothing for the sole purpose of looking up Tracy's skirt as he picks it up. You've got to love Colt Cabana. Daniels and Punk start, and Punk dares Daniels to cross the line and come toward him. Daniels tells Punk that he should cross the line...and Punk decides to tag out instead. The story for the bulk of this one has Punk trying to avoid Daniels unless things are to his advantage. The Saints play the heels, as they do tons of double and triple teaming in front of referee Paul Turner, while Turner immediately forces the Prophecy to the apron when they try to even the odds. Punk and Daniels are finally in legally, and all hell breaks loose. Dives to the floor, saves on pinfall attempts, you know the drill. The ladies get into the catfight, and Punk grabs Danger. In comes Whitmer with a plastic chair, and Punk moves, causing Whitmer to absolutely glom Turner. The brawl continues, and a second referee comes out to call for the bell, signaling a no contest at 28:33. A mild "bullshit" chant starts, but the brawl continues for about ten minutes and spills out in the crowd. Whitmer and Punk eventually reenter the ring, and Whitmer tries to put Punk out, but Lucy returns and low blows Whitmer. The heels lay out Whitmer, then Dan Maff, and finally Daniels with a Pepsi Plunge through a table that appears to injure Daniels legit. Staff members come out to check on Daniels as the show is let out after just shy of four hours, and Gorman is practically begging people to go to their cars. The second best match of the night, and the non-finish only hurts it slightly, as the stage is set for what should be an awesome series of matches between these six men.
Overall, an absolutely amazing first half of the show, but the second half just seemed to drag, largely due to how great Styles and Homicide was. But the idea is to give the people their money's worth, and I certainly got mine. Over the last year I've attended four of their shows, and I've never been disappointed. Obviously I'd rather they do a few shows closer to my home so I don't keep having to do these four hour trips one way, but this show was worth every mile on the car and every penny off the credit card. If you're within a four to six hour drive of one of their shows and want to see wrestling, get to one of their shows.
You can send your feedback here if you'd like.
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