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On November 2nd, 2007, the first night of Ring of Honor's Glory by Honor
Weekend was held in Philadelphia, PA. This card looks absolutely stacked,
so let's get right into it.
Becky Bayless opens the DVD by announcing that Nigel McGuinness has suffered a
torn bicep. She goes over to try and get a word with him. Nigel
speaks about how the bicep was torn completely, then he talks about his muscles
in technical terms. He's upset about having to sit for a month.
Age of the Fall is at Independence Hall with Jimmy Jacobs, Lacey, Tyler Black,
and Necro Butcher talking about revolutions of the past. It's not a bad
promo, but something didn't click for me.
Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. Brent Albright & BJ Whitmer w/ Shane
Hagadorn
The two teams waste no time in starting the match and almost immediately, the
action spills to the floor with Whitmer and Albright attacking Steen and
Generico by throwing them into the guardrail. Generico is put into the
ring with Whitmer and Generico taking turns in attacking him. Generico
fights them off and hits a dropkick on Albright. Leg Lariat to
Whitmer. Steen tags in and double teams Whitmer with Generico. Steen
gets a big response from the Philly crowd.
Steen chops Whitmer then gets two with a snapmare and diving elbow. He
tells Generico to put the boot up, then drives Whitmer into it before taking his
partner back in. Whitmer gets the better of him and tags Albright
in. Albright gets a near fall with a delayed vertical suplex.
Whitmer tags back in and works over Generico in the corner. The exchange
chops and Generico goes for a tornado DDT, but he ends up getting tossed into
the turnbuckle for two. Albright and Whitmer continue to display good
teamwork with quick tags.
Whitmer is able to prevent Generico from tagging Steen in and the Hangman 2/3
continue to double team him. A German Suplex Pin by Whitmer gets
two. Generico makes the hot tag and Steen runs in to knock Albright off
the apron. Steen comes off the turnbuckle with a missile dropkick to
Whitmer, then kicks the ropes into Albright's groin before knocking him off the
apron with an enziguri. Steen goes for a package piledriver, but Whitmer
blocks, only to fall to a top rope cross body by Generico.
Albright gives Steen a release belly to belly suplex and Whitmer hits a Frog
Splash for two when Generico breaks it up. Generico comes back in to help
Steen and he plants Whitmer with a DDT out of the corner. Steen drops
Whitmer's head across his knee for two when Albright interferes. Generico
dumps Albright and hits the running kick on Whitmer in the corner before diving
over the top to take out Albright. Steen delivers a Swanton to Whitmer for
the win.
Your winners, Kevin Steen & El Generico!
Immediately after the match, Hagadorn throws powder in Steen's eyes.
Albright gives him the half nelson, and Whitmer puts down Generico with a
Brainbuster. Hagadorn says it's all for Adam.
In the back, Hagadorn has Adam on the phone as Whitmer and Albright say that is
just a taste of what will happen to them. Albright says they walked out as
winners, and calls out Delirious.
Hallowicked vs. Claudio Castagnoli
Double C gets his heys in. Claudio and Hallowicked trade reversals and
holds on the mat, then trade arm drags and pins. Hallowicked with a
headscissors takedown, then a kick to the head in the corner for two. He
tosses Castagnoli off the top rope into the middle of the ring for two.
Wicked with a chinlock on the mat, then another arm drag. A leg drop gets
another two count. Hallowicked chips and keeps the pressure on
Claudio. Snapmare out of the corner gets two. Claudio ducks a big
boot, then takes down Wicked with one of his own. Body slam by Castagnoli,
who then walks the ropes and gets two with an elbow drop. Giant Swing by
Claudio for two. Hallowicked blocks a European Uppercut and hits Sky High
for two. Big boot from Wicked for two. Claudio drops Hallowicked to
the mat and nails a running European
Uppercut for two.
Your winner, Claudio Castagnoli!
Larry Sweeney comes out and says the sight of Double C is making him sick.
He wants to buy Claudio out of his ROH deal. He offers to sell Claudio to
Vince McMahon. Claudio says the contract will come in handy when he runs
out of toilet paper. He tells Sweeney he'll get his hands on him to
deliver a beating he deserves.
Davey Richards vs. Delirious
Davey and Delirious fight for position on the mat. Davey almost locks in
the kimura, but Delirious makes the ropes. The two lock up. Delirious
with a side headlock. Davey throws him off and they meet with shoulder tackles.
Delirious with a single leg takedown. He scores two with a roll up.
Delirious almost gets the Cobra Stretch locked in, but Richards bails and throws
a tantrum on the floor. Davey comes back in and Delirious tries for the
Cobra Stretch again, but Davey forces him into the turnbuckle. Delirious
drops Davey to the mat and gets two after a back senton.
Delirious with a chop to the chest. He blocks a charge, but runs into an
STO. Richards dumps Delirious to the floor and whips him into the guardrail.
Davey slams Delirious onto the floor. Back suplex can only get a series of
one counts for Richards. Davey with a clothesline. Davey with a
chinlock, but Delirious frees himself. Delirious no sells the forearms,
but Davey hits a dropkick. Delirious dodges a charge and starts the
Neverending Story, but Richards headbutts out, then hits a Lou Thesz Press,
followed by a series of forearms. Delirious blocks the cross armbreaker
attempt and gets to the ropes.
Davey gets two with a Northern Lights Suplex. He continues to work on the
arm with a bridging hammerlock. Davey drives his knee onto the
elbow. Snap suplex by Davey for two. Davey stops a Delirious rally
with a kick to the gut, but Delirious trips him into the bottom turnbuckle and
hits the Panic Attack. Delirious with some forearms and shots to the
midsection. Delirious with his Warrior like Lariats. He finally hits
the Leaping Lariat for two. Delirious gets a Cobra Clutch, but Davey
tosses him out. Here It Is Driver by Delirious gets two. Richards
with some headbutts and shots to the arm. Davey catches Delirious and
drives him into the corner. He hits a forearm splash, then an enziguri.
A German Suplex Pin to Delirious gets two. He immediately locks in the
kimura. Delirious gets his foot on the ropes. Richards handsprings
off the ropes, but Delirious headbutts him in the gut. Cobra Clutch Suplex
by Delirious gets only two, but he immediately gets the
Cobra Stretch. Davey rolls him over for two. Delirious climbs to the
top, but Davey catches him and hits a Tombstone Piledriver into the kimura and Delirious
taps.
Your winner, Davey Richards!
Age of the Fall are in a once thriving neighborhood with abandoned buildings and
empty lots. I'm not buying Jimmy Jacobs in these promos.
ROH World Tag Team Title Match: The No Remorse Corps (Rocky Romero &
Roderick Strong) vs. The Briscoe Brothers (c)
This card is so stacked that this match is only the fourth on the card.
Mark and Rocky start us off. The two feel each other out and then lock
up. Mark takes Rocky to the mat and applies a side headlock. Romero
frees himself and tries for a cross armbreaker. The two trade
hammerlocks. Rocky gets an Octopus Stretch. Mark tosses him off and
the two trade takedowns. Knee strike by Mark to Rocky's chest.
Jay and Roderick tag in. They lock up and jockey for position. Jay
with a headscissors take down and back heel kick. Mark comes in and hits
multiples shoulderblocks in the corner. Mark with a vertical suplex and Jay tags
back in. Rocky tags in as well and the two trade overhand chops.
Jay throws Rocky into the corner and tags in Mark for a suplex/knee drop combo
for two. Mark headbutts Rocky into the corner and stomps him. Rocky
gets a waistlock and is able to get Roderick in. Strong with some nasty
chops and a running forearm in the corner. Beautiful dropkick by Roderick
for two.
Mark drives Strong into the corner and tags Jay in. The Briscoes double
team him in the corner and hit stereo kicks. Finally, the crowd seems to
wake up for a moment before going quiet again. The Briscoes maintain the
frequent tags in the corner. Roderick drives Jay into the corner and tags
Romero back in. They have another exchange of strikes. Rocky gets
the better of it with a knee to the gut. Romero gets two with a knee
drop. Jay backs Roderick into the corner and tags Mark in.
Mark with a Samoan Drop for two. Jay tags in and they hit double
shoulderblocks to Roderick. Strong chops back and tags Romero in.
Jay trips Romero into the ropes and Mark kicks him. Mark tags in with a
slingshot double stomp. He then karate chops Strong and Romero. He
blocks charges by both and hits a springboard moonsault press to the NRC.
Roderick and Rocky put him down and drag him into their corner. Double
back elbow to Mark gets two. Roderick puts Mark in the Tree of Woe and
assists Rocky in getting extra height on a dropkick. Back suplex by Romero
for two.
Roderick tags in and takes Mark to the canvas with a waistlock. Mrk
tries to come back, but Rocky interferes to knock Jay off the apron and kick
Mark in the head for two.
Mark rolls up Roderick for two, then suplexes him. Jay tags in and kicks
Roderick down. Big dropkick to Strong. Jay chops him. Romero
interferes with a knee to the back. Jay ducks a double team and gives
Rocky a superkick, but Roderick with a nasty chop. Jay catches both NRC in
the corner and then gives Rocky a sitout gordbuster before getting two with a
DVD to Strong. He goes for they Jay Driller, but it is blocked and
Roderick gets two with a spinebuster.
Rocky tags in and kicks Jay in the chest. DDT by Rocky and a running knee
strike to the face for two. Strong and Romero double team Jay for
two. The Briscoes turn the table. Jay with a DVD to Rocky and Mark
with a springboard Ace Crusher off the top to Roderick on top of Rocky for
two. Roderick prevents the springboard Doomsday Device and Rocky applies
an Anklelock to Jay. Jay makes the ropes. Roderick tags in and hits
the double knees to the chest, but Jay has fighting spirit and knocks him
down. The Briscoes with a double team neckbreaker to Romero, who rolls to
the floor. Mark tags in. He and Roderick trade chops. Mark
with a spinning heel kick. He hits a moonsault for two. Jay kicks Romero to the floor and The
Briscoes nail the springboard Doomsday Device for the win.
Your winners, The Briscoe Brothers!
The Age of the Fall hit the ring. The Briscoes are able to hold them off
until Lacey interferes with low blows. The No Remorse Corp stand up and have a
face off with AOTF. The Vulture Squad then hits the ring to set up the
next match.
Tag Team Scramble: Vulture Squad (Jack Evans, Jigsaw, & Ruckus) vs.
Age of the Fall (Jimmy Jacobs, Tyler Black, & Necro Butcher)
Jack and Jimmy brawl on the floor as Ruckus fights Jimmy in the ring.
Ruckus does a shooting star press off the apron onto Jacobs. Evans with a
spin kick to black in the ring. Ruckus and Jigsaw help Jack leap onto
Black. Necro takes out Ruckus and Jigsaw. Evans uses his quickness
and kicks to take on Necro, but he gets punched. Evans throws Necro off
the apron to the floor.
In the ring, Jigsaw with an arm drag and two count on Jacobs. Jacobs
punches back, but misses a charge in the corner, allowing Ruckus to hit Razzle
Dazzle, and a double team with Jigsaw. Black breaks up the pin and hits a
spinning heel kick on Ruckus. He puts him in the Tree of Woe and dropkicks
him with Jacobs. Jigsaw tries to make the save, but Black and Jacobs pound
him. Jigsaw with a neckbreaker to Black, but he falls to a spear from
Jacobs. Ruckus takes Jacobs down, but Black kicks him in the head.
Evans climbs to the top rope. He sees Black move and catches himself, but
Necro Butcher gives him a backbreaker. Jigsaw breaks up the pin and takes
down Necro with a superkick for two when Black interferes. Black kicks
Jigsaw in the head. He springboards, but runs into a Ruckus neckbreaker.
Ruckus climbs to the top but Necro hits him with a chair. Jacobs fights
off the Jig n Tonic. Jigsaw blocks the Contra Code. They fight on
the top rope, but Black breaks it up. They double team Jigsaw and Jacobs
puts on the Guillotine Choke.
Your winners, the Age of the Fall!
The Briscoes and NRC hit the ring after the match and chaos erupts. Lacey
gets on the mic and tells every woman they should support AOTF. Daizee
Haze runs out and the two have a fight in the middle of the ring. Daizee
hits a Mind Trip and kicks Lacey to the floor. Davey teases a Shooting
Star Press to the floor, but refuses to do it. Delirious then runs out,
but the Hangman Three join the war and take Delirious down. This brings
out Steen and Generico. Delirious dives off the top rope onto the big pile
of people. Tyler Black does a Fosbury Flop over the top rope to the
floor. Haze climbs to the top and she dives onto a pile. Quite a
scene now.
Now Necro goes to the top and he somersaults onto everyone. Not to be
outdone, Jay Briscoe dives over the top rope. Roderick tosses Romero into
the crowd from the ring, Davey hits a suicide dive, and Roderick jumps over the
top. The members of the Vulture Squad jump onto three different groups of
people. Best faction warfare segment yet. The Vulture Squad ends up
standing tall at the end as Julius Smokes cuts a promo.
Becky Bayless is in the back when the Briscoes walk by and cut a trademark
rambling promo. Daizee joins in to celebrate with them.
Top of the Class Trophy match: Mitch Franklin vs. Ernie Osiris
Mitch boots Osiris in the corner. Mitch with a side headlock
takedown. He works over Osiris' arms, but Osiris uses a headscissors
takedown to get out of it. He hits a boot in the corner, then gives
Franklin a flapjack. He gets two with a suplex. Franklin gets two
with a gutwrench suplex. Franklin with an ugly headscissors takedown off
the second rope. Osiris catches him with a wheelbarrow suplex and standing
shooting star press to Franklin's back for the win.
Your winner, Ernie Osiris!
Best of Three Finals: Austin Aries vs. Bryan Danielson
Their series is tied at one fall apiece. They lock up and Danielson gets
an early arm drag. Aries takes down Dragon and goes for the legs. Danielson
is able to avoid that and work the back. Aries frees himself and takes
Dragon down with his legs. Danielson applies the headscissors to Aries,
but Aries uses one of his own to escape. Dragon with a shoulderblock.
Aries catches him off the ropes with his feet and hits a couple of arm drags.
Aries keeps the arm locked, but Dragon makes the corner and hits Aries with some
Uppercuts. Danielson catches Aries coming off the ropes and tries to get a
crossface chickenwing, but he is tossed out. Aries goes for a suicide
dive, but Dragon blocks it. Dragon gets back in the ring and gets a couple
of ones with a neckbreaker. Danielson clubs Aries in the face, then hits a
dropkick. Suplex by Dragon. Danielson works Aries head and
back. Aries gets back to his feet, but is taken down with another
neckbreaker for two. Danielson goes back to the headscissors. Aries
bridges then floats over so he can make the ropes.
He gets up and trades shots with Danielson. Danielson steps on Aries'
knees and goes for the Mexican Surfboard. Aries keeps his arms free, so
Danielson claws at his face instead. Ouch. Aries gets two with a
roll up. Danielson takes him down by the leg and applies a single leg
crab. Aries tries to reach the ropes, but he is drawn into the center of
the ring. Aries is able to make the ropes again. Dragon lets go, but
tries for an STF. Aries is forced to again grab the ropes. Danielson
puts Aries on the top. Aries slaps him in the head, but Danielson gets him
into the Tree of Woe. Aries frees a leg and kicks Danielson in the head
before getting a chinbreaker to free himself.
Aries with some forearm strikes. He drives Danielson to the canvas and
connects with his swinging elbow drop for two. Aries shoves Danielson to
the floor and hits a brutal suicide dive. Aries with a twisting body press
for two. He goes for the Lionsault, but Dragon gets the knees up and puts
Aries in a Triangle Choke. Aries almost fades, but he is able to keep his
arm up and grab the ropes. Danielson pulls out an Airplane Spin, but Aries
is able to hit a shinbreaker/suplex combination. Danielson gets his foot
up to block a dropkick in the corner.
They two fight for position on the apron by trading forearms. Aries climbs
to the top, but has some trouble and Dragon hits him in the head.
Danielson climbs to the top and delivers a dropkick. Aries nips up
immediately after Danielson does and the two trade Roaring Elbows to knock each
other down. Danielson with a running kick to the chest. He puts
Aries on the top and goes for a suplex, but Aries falls on top for two.
Danielson rolls over for a two count of his own and then rolls over into the
Cattle Mutilation.
Aries gets up and backs Danielson to the corner, where he delivers some elbows.
Danielson back with a Tiger Suplex for two. He hits the series of elbows
to Aries' head. Dragon again goes for Cattle Mutilation, but Aries falls
on top for two. Aries tries for a back slide, but Danielson keeps his
shoulders up. Aries kicks him in the head and hits a DDT, then Last
Chancery. Danielson with a small package for two. Aries hits a
Brainbuster and the 450 Splash to win the best of three series.
Your winner, Austin Aries!
Age of the Fall are in a slightly nicer neighborhood now in South
Philadelphia. He points out some cookie cutter homes across the street
from some older buildings.
Larry Sweeney brings Chris Hero and Sweet N' Sour, Inc to the ring. He
says all eyes are on Chris Hero. Sweeney had a stipulation added to
Survival of the Fittest that says the winner can get a title shot whenever he
wants, and Hero wants it now. Hero wants a moment of silence for Nigel
McGimppyArm. He says Nigel is terrified of him.
Nigel comes out and says he's killed himself for seven years to get his
spot. He says he can't put the belt on the line until he is healthy.
Sweeney says if he
doesn't wrestle, he will forfeit the belt to Chris Hero. Chris Hero shows
off what he will do to Nigel on poor Bobby Dempsey as Sweeney calls him a
fluke. Nigel finally accepts the challenge.
ROH World Title Match: Nigel McGuinness (c) vs. Chris Hero
Chris kicks him in the head and rolls him up for two. He follows Nigel out
of the ring and attacks. Nigel tries to chop back, but Hero kicks him in
the head. Hero whips Nigel with his own shirt. Hero puts Nigel's
shirt on and imitates Nigel's entrance. Nigel tries to fight back again,
but Hero thumbs him in the eye. Hero stomps the injured arm, then mocks
Nigel's headstand. Hero misses a splash in the corner and Nigel hits a
Lariat with the healthy arm. Hero twists Nigel's injured arm to drive him
to the canvas. Hero hits a Blockbuster out of the corner for two.
Hero jumps off the top and applies a cravate. Nigel uses his good arm to fire back with chops and European Uppercuts. Hero blocks a charge, but Nigel connects with a lariat for two. Nigel with another lariat on the floor. Nigel chops Hero on the floor. Sweeney distracts Nigel, and Hero kicks him in the back of the head. Hero locks up the inured arm. Nigel makes the ropes, but the ref doesn't see it and Nigel taps.
The referee, realizing his mistake, says the match must continue. Nigel
hits a Tower of London with the injured arm, then repeatedly drives Hero's arm
against the barricade. Nigel hits a Lariat in the middle of the ring and
applies London Dungeon, making Hero tap.
Your winner, Nigel McGuinness!
Sweeney and Hero complain about the conspiracy in the back.
Takeshi Morishima & Naomichi Marufuji vs. KENTA & Mitsuharu Misawa
KENTA and Marufuji start us off. They trade forearms, then KENTA gets a
dropkick. Marufuji avoids a KENTA kick and they stand off. They
exchange wristlocks. Marufuji cartwheels to get the better of him.
KENTA with a single leg takedown and leglock. Marufuji applies the
headscissors and gets a two count. KENTA makes the ropes. Morishima
tags in and he wants Misawa.
Misawa obliges to the delight of the crowd. Misawa with a side
headlock. The two monsters don't budge on shoulderblocks. Misawa
forces Morishima to bail with a forearm strike. Misawa with a snapmare and
chinlock. Morishima gets up. KENTA tags in and takes down Morishima
with repeated hard kicks. KENTA keeps him on the mat with a side
headlock. Morishima lifts him up and puts KENTA on the top rope, then tags
in Marufuji. Naomichi looks like he is going to let KENTA down, but he
jumps up and kicks him. Marufuji with a headlock, then a sleeper.
KENTA suplexes
out of another headlock.
Misawa tags in and Marufuji backs off. The two trade forearms.
Marufuji staggers. Waistlock takedown by Misawa into a front facelock.
Misawa lays out Marufuji with a forearm for two. Misawa throws him into
the corner and tags KENTA in. KENTA lays Marufuji on the top rope and
kicks him. He then knocks Morishima off the apron before jumping off the
top rope with a knee strike to a still dangling Marufuji for two. KENTA
applies and maintains the headscissors. Marufuji is able to make the ropes
and he tags Misawa back in. Misawa charges in the corner and gets two with
a monkey flip. He uses his knee to work over Marufuji's back. Misawa
with a forearm strike in the corner. KENTA tags back in. He slaps
Marufuji to block a sunset flip. Marufuji floats over a back suplex, but
KENTA applies an STF. Morishima runs in to break the hold up.
KENTA kicks him off the apron again and tags Misawa. Misawa with a
European Uppercut and some leaping kicks, followed by a back senton.
Chinlock by Misawa, followed by an elbow to the head. Misawa with some
elbows to the back of the head. Spinning elbow in the corner. He
boots Marufuji in the corner, then chokes him. Marufuji blocks a charge
and hits a drop toe hold, followed by a baseball slide.
Morishima tags in and hits a cartwheel avalanche to Misawa. He connects
with a missile dropkick off the top rope for two. Misawa elbows back and
exchanges forearms with Morishima, taking him down with a spinning kick.
KENTA hits a couple of big boots, but Morishima doesn't budge. Morishima
kicks him, but KENTA knocks him down with a charging boot. KENTA catches
him with another boot for two. Morishima falls on KENTA and Marufuji leaps
off the top with a splash.
Marufuji dumps KENTA and attacks him on the floor. He seats KENTA then
hits a running dropkick against the guardrail, followed by a Morishima
charge. They put KENTA back in the ring and Marufuji hits a perfect
dropkick for two, followed by an elbow to the head. He steps on KENTA's
head and applies a seated Cobra Clutch. KENTA gets back up, but Marufuji
is able to get a crossface chickenwing variation. Morishima tags in and
steps on KENTA. Marufuji gets on Morishima's back for some more pressure,
which gets their team a two count.
Morishima with a side headlock, then a lateral press for two. Marufuji
tags in with a slingshot elbow drop for two. Camel Clutch to KENTA.
Morishima tags back in as KENTA fights back. He then runs into a sideslam.
Morishima pulls back with another Camel Clutch to KENTA. Morishima goes to
sit down on a Sunset Flip attempt, but KENTA gets out of the way. He then
hits a knee to Morishima's face and tags Misawa back in.
Misawa knocks down his opponents and climbs to the top, diving with a forearm to
Morishima. He goes for a Tiger Driver, but can't get him up.
Morishima with a butt bump. He tags in Marufuji, he splashes Misawa, then
gets ten punches in the corner. Marufuji gets a low dropkick and
clothesline to Misawa. He nails a superkick, but gets caught in a
butterfly suplex. KENTA tags in and hits running boots in opposite
corners. Springboard missile dropkick by KENTA for two. He delivers
a Fisherman's Buster and body slams Morishima onto Marufuji. Naomichi
avoids the double team when KENTA kicks Misawa. KENTA then avoids a double team and goes for a german
suplex on Morishima, who falls onto him. Misawa tries to help KENTA, but
eats a superkick
Marufuji covers KENTA for a couple of two counts. KENTA fights back and
no sells a superkick. He gets two with a tiger suplex when Morishima
breaks the pin up.
Five minutes remain. KENTA strikes Marufuji and kicks him for two.
Marufuji blocks Go 2 Sleep and hits a shiranui for two when Misawa breaks the
pin up. Misawa hits the Tiger Driver on Marufuji. Morishima runs in
and hits a Back Drop Driver. KENTA with the Busaiku Knee to Morishima and
all four men are down.
KENTA gets up and knees Marufuji in the back of the head. Marufuji
recovers and hits a clothesline. Three minutes remain. KENTA and
Marufuji trade kicks. Marufuji drives KENTA to the mat and nails another
superkick for a very near fall. KENTA catches Marufuji on the shiranui
attempt and hits Go 2 Sleep for two when Marufuji gets his foot on the
rope. Dragon Screw by Marufuji for two. He tries to tag in
Morishima, but gets caught with a back slide for two. KENTA and Marufuji
trade inside cradles and roll ups for two with under a minute remaining.
Misawa and Morishima come in and trade forearms. Morishima with a lariat
for two. He goes for the Back Drop Driver but eats some elbows and a
forearm. As he puts Morishima on the top rope, the thirty minutes elapse.
Result: Time limit draw
Age of the Fall are complaining about the Liberty Bell becoming a tourist trap
that you have to pay for. Uhhh...no you don't. There is no cost to
see the Liberty Bell, so don't let AOTF discourage you from coming to
Philadelphia. It really is a great city, I swear!
Match thoughts:
I really liked the tag match because it was the perfect length, not too long,
not too short. The action was well paced with no lulls. The post match
beatdown allowed the Hangman 2/3 to come out stronger even in losing.
The Hallowicked-Claudio match is nothing special. It's a fresh ROH match,
but the crowd was dead for the most part, and the wrong guy was in control for
most of it. If the story was really Hallowicked has to win to stay in ROH,
you could have had him being dominated, but getting near falls throughout.
Davey-Delirious was technically well done, but the lack of any sustained crowd
heat really hurt it. I'm very disappointed in the Philly audience by this
point.
The tag title match was another one that was a lot of fun, but tainted by a dead
crowd.
The trios scramble was short, but action packed. Finally, the crowd wakes
up for a longer period of time. Match of the Night to this point.
The brawl only added to the fun.
The students match doubled as filler to pad out the DVD and a shill for the ROH
Wrestling Academy as Prazak and Leonard put it over on commentary.
The finals of the Best of Three series was excellent, the second best match
overall, just slightly behind the first. The ending was bordering on epic
and the match maintained it's unpredictability until the ref finally counted
three. I loved every minute of it.
The Hero-Nigel match wasn't as bad as I thought after reading the results.
My initial fear was that Hero would look like a chump, but he did get a lot of
offense in, and the restart of the match kept some of his momentum. Plus,
the crowd loved it, so how can I argue with that.
You got thirty minutes out of top NOAH stars, so it is hard to complain, but the
lack of a real finish was a little discouraging. Still, the match needs to
be seen if you don't watch a lot of Japan tapes. The silence from the
crowd here was appropriate. My only other complaints aside from the finish
are that some of the camerawork was off, and no disrespect to Prazak and
Leonard, but this is the kind of match that could use better commentators.
I understand you can't get Jim Ross, but even Mike Quackenbush could have been
an excellent choice, and he is local.
Overall, you should pick up this DVD. It's definitely worthy of a stand
alone buy, though you'll definitely want to pick it up with Night Two.
Some of the matches looked better on paper, but others, like Nigel-Hero,
exceeded expectations. The second half of this show is just insanely
loaded, and the crowd finally picked up through most of it. Match of the
Night honors naturally go to the main event, even with a non-finish.
Thanks for reading. Any questions or comments can be emailed to edsh007@hotmail.com.
