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DVD REVIEW: RING OF HONOR RECKLESS ABANDON

On November 30, 2007, Ring of Honor held Reckless Abandon in Dayton, Ohio.  The
lineup features a couple of interesting local talents, a truly unique match up
between Necro Butcher and Bryan Danielson, plus what should be a barn burner of a 30
Minute Iron Man Match with Austin Aries and Roderick Strong.

The DVD opens with an Age of the Fall promo outside of a hospital.  Necro Butcher
REALLY shouldn't speak.  It looks like his lines are scripted, and it kills a little
bit of his mystique.  A tough guy fretting about getting looked at by a doctor?
Tyler brings up a groupie and it looks like Jimmy, Allison the groupie, Tyler, and
Lacey are going to...ahem...party.

Seth Skyfire vs. Claudio Castagnoli

This match took place shortly after Skyfire was released from a WWE developmental
deal.  Claudio powers Skyfire into the corner during a lockup.  Claudio gets the
headscissors locked in on the mat, but Skyfire gets out.  Wristlock by Double C.
Skyfire cartwheels out and rolls up Claudio.  Seth with a wristlock, but Claudio
turns it into a submission hold focusing on the ankle.  Skyfire manages a two count.
 Castagnoli maintains another wristlock, but Skyfire reverses into a headlock.
Castagnoli with a shoulderblock.  Skyfire kicks Claudio in the head and hits a
headscissors takedown, then a rana out of the corner.  Skyfire sends Claudio to the
floor with another headscissors takedown.

Skyfire slingshots over the top and wipes out Castagnoli.  He covers in the ring for
two.  Claudio avoids a spin kick and hits a big boot for two.  Claudio walks the
ropes and delivers an elbow drop for another two count.  Giant swing by Claudio for
two.  Chinlock on the mat by Claudio.  Europeans by Claudio.  Skyfire turns one into
a backslide for two.  Spin kick gets another two count.  Claudio nails a European
for another near fall.  Nice sell by Skyfire.  The two jockey for position on a back
slide.  Skyfire flips out and hits a chinbreaker.  Enziguri by Skyfire, but he
botches a move to the top rope.  Pump Up European is followed by the Ricola Bomb and
Claudio wins.

Your winner, Claudio Castagnoli!

American Dragon is in the back talking about his mutual hatred with Morishima.  To
prepare for their next showdown, he set up a match with Necro.  He tells Necro that
he's going to bring out all that hatred out on him.  Danielson vows to show he is
one of the best brawlers in the world.  Great promo.

Falls Count Anywhere:  Adam Pearce w/ Shane Hagadorn vs. Delirious

Pearce meets Delirious at the entrance, but Delirious is ready with headbutts and
some biting.  Pearce kicks back.  Delirious suplexes Pearce onto the entrance ramp.
Delirious calls for a piledriver, but he gets back body dropped.  Delirious turns it
into a Sunset Flip for two.  Pearce begs off, but Delirious follows and dives off
the apron onto him.  Forearms to Pearce on the floor.  Pearce catches a charging
Delirious with a spinebuster into the guardrail.  Delirious reverses a whip and
sends Pearce into the second row.  Delirious fires away with rights to the head,
followed by a bite for two.  Hagadorn tries to interfere, but Delirious tosses him
off.  Pearce whacks his opponent in the head with a steel chair for two.

Pearce scoop slams Delirious onto some chairs.  He then slingshots Delirious into
the support beam for two.  Chair to the back by Pearce.  Pearce showboats and
Delirious fights back.  Delirious puts a chair across Pearce's neck and drives him
into the steel beam.  He hits Pearce in the back with a chair, then throws a garbage
can on him.  Delirious puts the can on Pearce, but Pearce tosses it off and punches
Delirious, then throws the garbage can onto him.  Pearce drops Delirious on the
bleachers for two.  Suplex onto one of the section signs for another two.  Nasty.

Pearce applies a Figure Four Leg Lock on the floor.  Delirious tries to turn it
over, and he finally manages to reverse the pressure.  Pearce reaches for a chair
and throws it at the back of Delirious.  Forearms by Delirious.  He throws a chair
in Pearce's face.  Delirious sets up a chair across Pearce's neck and chokes him.
Pearce boots Delirious then climbs a scaffold.  He orders Hagadorn to help with a
hanging attempt.  Delirious uses a chair to get out.  He climbs to the top of the
scaffold and applies a Cobra Stretch as Pearce is locked up in the bars, causing
Pearce to submit.

Your winner, Delirious!

Albright and Whitmer come out.  Delirious dives onto them off the top of the scaffold.

Erick Stevens cuts a promo about his return, and tells Davey Richards he hasn't
forgotten about him.

Chris Hero w/ Sweet n' Sour, Inc. vs. Jigsaw

The Hero shenanigans are highlighted by him kicking Dempsey off the apron.  Knuckle
lock by Hero.  Jigsaw reverses.  Hero reverses.  Jigsaw reverses into a hammerlock,
then side headlock.  Hero controls the arm and takes Jigsaw to the mat.  Hero shows
off his athleticism.  Jigsaw hits an armdrag, then a dropkick.  Hero avoids a third
dropkick and stomps Jigsaw in the root.  He applies a side headlock on the mat.
Hero takes Jigsaw to the mat with a shoulderblock.  Hero shows off more still.

Jigsaw with some arm drags.  Hero does a move and covers for two.  We don't see the
move because they show Tank Toland teaching Bobby Dempsey how to use some flexible
bar on the floor.  Hero toys with Jigsaw.  Hero with a chop.  He measures Jig and
punches him.  Standing back senton for two with a Superman cover.  Hero chops Jigsaw
in the corner then boots him in the face.  Hero runs into an elbow, and Jigsaw takes
Hero down.  Hero complains to the referee and Tank Toland interferes.  Hero kicks
Jigsaw a little more.  Hero and Jigsaw trade shots.  Hero talks trash.  Jigsaw tries
to fire back.  Jigsaw gets out of a cravate, but runs into a Roaring Elbow.  Cravate
suplex gets two.  Another back senton from Hero.  Hero mocks the Vulture Squad
battle cry.

Shots to the head, throat and chest from Hero.  Hero goes for a tilt a whirl, but
Jigsaw falls onto him.  Enziguri by Jigsaw knocks both men down.  Jigsaw with an
armdrag.  Tilt a whirl by Hero is countered into another armdrag.  Standing
Dragonrana by Jigsaw for two.  Hero ducks one superkick, but runs into another.
Jigsaw jumps out of the ring and armdrags Hero into the guardrail.  Jig with a
couple forearms.  Jigsaw counters another Tilt a Whirl into an inside cradle.  Hero
catches Jigsaw's boot and hits a powerbomb for two.  He applies the Hangman's
Clutch.  Jigsaw blocks a Hero's Welcome with a backslide for two.  Headscissors
takedown by Jig.  Superkick to Hero for two.  Jigsaw climbs to the top with a
crossbody, but Hero rolls through and uses an elevated Cravate to drive Jigsaw to
the mat.  He stretches Jig's back and gets him to tap with another variation on the
cravate.

Your winner, Chris Hero!

Austin Aries is talking about his match with Roderick Strong tonight.  He wants to
prove to himself he is the best wrestler in Ring of Honor. 

Relaxed Rules:  Necro Butcher vs. Bryan Danielson

Necro gets the mats off the floor when he comes out.  As Dragon gets in the ring,
Necro attacks with headbutts and kicks.  Back body drop by Danielson.  He
clotheslines Necro out of the ring, then hits a suicide dive.  Dragon sends Necro
over the barricade and into the crowd.  Chair shot by Necro.  Punches to the gut and
some kicks by Danielson.  Suplex on the floor to Necro.  Danielson goes after
Necro's face.  Necro chops back, but is again whipped into the barricade, followed
by a kick.  Danielson chokes Necro with a chair, then hits him in the leg with it.

Dragon again claws at the face.  Danielson unloads with more kicks.  Necro whips
Danielson into the steel, then crotches him onto the ring post.  This is followed
with a chair to the leg.  Necro puts a chair in the ring, then finally, the
wrestlers follow.  Chair slam by Necro for two.  Sninbreaker onto the chair,
followed by a DDT.  Back suplex by Dragon onto that set up chair.  Dragon and Necro
trade shots.  Danielson stomps at the bare feet of Necro.  Necro rains punches down
on Danielson.  Danielson back with forearms.  Kicks by Dragon in the corner.  Paul
Turner tries to break it up, but Danielson says it's relaxed rules and he has until
five before hitting poor Turner.  Necro uses this distraction to floor Danielson.
Really lame and old Chappelle Show joke by the announcers.  Danielson grabs the
injured arm of Necro and locks in Cattle Mutilation.  Necro taps.

Your winner, Bryan Danielson!

Post match, Necro is shown in near tears as he clutches his arm.  The crowd cheers
for him, but this just goes against all of the AOTF stuff they are trying to do.  I
DO pop for the CZW mention from someone in the crowd.

Prazak is in the back with Human Tornado.  H Tizzle says his backhand is the most
dangerous weapon on Erf.  His goals are to bring as many women to ROH as possible.
Tornado gives a shout out to Jack Black.

Silas Young vs. Nigel McGuinness

Nigel and Silas do some mat wrestling to start the match.  Then there is a lot of
flipping and flopping by Silas.  Young counters a sunset flip attempt for two.  The
two do some more standard reversals and wrestling, with neither getting an
advantage.  Nigel gets fired up and drives Young to the mat with a wristlock, then a
Hammerlock Divorce Court.  He works the shoulder on the mat.  Nigel drives his leg
across the face of Young, then violently throws Young into the ringpost.
Chinbreaker from Young, but Nigel no sells and pounds Silas in the corner.  He goes
back to the arm, but Silas gets out of it.  He headbutts Nigel in the chest and
avoids a Jawbreaker Lariat, getting two with a neckbreaker.  Young climbs to the top
rope, but McGuinness stops him.  Silas boots Nigel off and hits a bulldog off the
middle rope before getting another two with a slingshot press.  Nigel crotches Young
and hits the Tower of London.  He charges in the corner with a European Uppercut and
knocks him down with a Lariat.  He then hits a short arm lariat.  Nigel pulls Young
back up and puts him in the London Dungeon for the win.

Your winner, Nigel McGuinness!

Nigel gets on the mic and puts over his experiences in Dayton.  Eventually, Sweet n
Sour, Inc. come out.  Sweeney says the next time that ROH is in Dayton, Hero will be
the champion.  Sweeney says they are going to take the belt in a real city.  Nigel
calls Hero into the ring for a fight.  Sweeney says they aren't giving it away for
free.  Sara Del Ray wants to fight.  Sweeney and Toland tell her to shine her
SHIMMER belt.  Tank offers to go and fight Nigel to soften him up for Hero.  First
they send Bobby Dempsey in.  Toland uses Bobby Dempsey as a distraction.  He forces
Bobby to do some calisthenics in the ring.  McGuinness gets the better of Toland and
Tank bails.  He puts Dempsey in the London Dungeon.  Hero jumps in the ring and hits
Hero's Welcome.  He says the ROH World Championship is his belt, but there's a
conspiracy against him.  He says tonight he is going to make sure there is no ROH
champion and tells Tank it's time for Plan B.  He sets up Nigel's injured arm in a
chair and goes to the top rope.  At this moment, Claudio Castagnoli runs out with a
chair to scare SnS, Inc. off. 

Human Tornado vs. Davey Richards vs. Erick Stevens

Richards and Stevens start by brawling in the entranceway.  Tornado takes the
opportunity to dive over the top onto them.  Tornado slams Richards then gets two
with a standing moonsault.  Leg lariat to Richards gets another two.  Richards goes
for an early DR Driver, but Stevens comes back in the ring and goes after him.
Stevens is stomps a mudhole in the corner, then chokes Richards with his boot.
Tornado offers to help and he chokes Richards on the rope.  Double elbows to
Richards.  Stevens with an elbow drop, but Tornado stops the pin.

Tornado and Stevens take turns hitting Richards in the back.  The wishbone the legs
of Richards.  Stevens mounts and punches Richards in the face.  Tornado does the
same.  Richards slides out of the ring and walks towards the locker room.  Stevens
follows, but Richards goes for the eyes.  Tornado goes up to Stevens and gets
knocked down for his troubles.  Richards tosses Stevens into the guardrail, then
scoop slams Tornado on the mat.  He whips Stevens into the guardrail, then knocks
him into the front row with a running big boot.  Richards goes to injure Stevens
arm, but Tornado saves him and pimp slaps Richards.

Back in the ring, Tornado goes for a missile dropkick, but Richards avoids it.  He
hangs Tornado in the Tree of Woe and teases a charge, but stops short and hits
Tornado in the stomach.  Snap suplex by Richards.  He keeps Stevens from getting
back in the ring.  Richards misses a charge and Tornado hits an elbow in the corner
followed by a bulldog for two.

Stevens comes back in and goes for a Doctor Bomb.  Tornado pulls Richards off and
has words with Stevens.  Richards tries to take advantage, but gets double team back
dropped.  Tornado and Stevens then take turns on Richards.  Tornado with a Stinger
Splash in the corner.  Stevens with the choo choo.  Tornado and Stevens team up for
a cool split kick sequence in the corner on Richards.  Richards bails.  Tornado gets
two with an inside cradle.

Stevens goes after Richards on the floor.  He goes for a Doctor Bomb on Tornado, but
Richards hits a springboard missile dropkick on Stevens.  Tornado gets two with an
inside cradle, but Richards makes him tap with the Kimura.  Richards quickly gets
out of the ring and runs to the back.

Your winner, Davey Richards!

30 Minute Iron Man Match:  Roderick Strong vs. Austin Aries

This match is not for Strong's FIP belt.  Roderick doesn't like the crowd, so he
threatens to walk off.  The two lock up in the middle of the ring.  Aries takes
control of Strong's arm.  Strong reverses into a hammerlock.  They lock up again.
Strong backs Aries into the corner, but Aries forces a clean break by threatening an
elbow.  Aries gets a headscissors locked in.  Strong tosses himself over for a one
count.  The two find themselves at a stand still.

Aries with a side headlock.  The two then jockey for position with a series of
reversals.  Aries gets the better of it with a side headlock on the mat.  Roddy
pushes him off and tips Aries, then scores a couple of arm drags.  Strong works the
arm.  Aries gets out and takes down Strong with a Fireman's Carry, then goes after
the left arm of Strong on the mat.  Strong gets a couple one counts.  He manages to
get Aries off, but Aries quickly hits a dropkick, followed by a scoop slam,
slingshot senton into the ring, and an elbow drop for two.

Aries hits some shoulderblocks in the corner.  Strong with a knee to the gut.  He
hits a clothesline in the corner, followed by a belly to belly out of the corner.
Backbreaker by Strong for one.  Snapmare and another series of ones for Roderick.
Strong chops Aries to the mat.  Aries dodges a dropkick and slaps Strong in the
chest.  They block each others suplex attempts, but Aries hits an STO and trademark
elbow drop for two.

Sideslam by Aries for two.  Aries traps the arms of Strong on the mat, then starts
elbowing him in the chest.  Aries turns it into a pin for two.  Front facelock to
Strong.  He went for Last Chancery, but Strong escapes.  Aries kicks him in the
corner at the 10 minute mark.  Strong blocks a charge in the corner and hits a
missile dropkick off the middle rope for two.  Bearhug on the mat by Strong.  Aries
elbows out of it, but Roderick puts him down with a back elbow.  Strong slingshots
Aries throat-first into the bottom rope.  He pulls him in the ring and stomps Aries
in the gut.  Aries with a series of blows to the back and midsection.  He knees
Aries into the corner.

Roderick puts Aries knees in the ropes and hits a spear in the corner.  Roderick
pulls Aries hair, then scores with a high angle back suplex for two.  Strong applies
pressure to the back.  Aries stands up and kicks Strong, but runs into a dropkick.
Aries fights off Strong on the apron.  He clotheslines Strong into the ring and hits
a twisting body press to the back.  Facelock by Aries, but Strong gets out of it.
He goes for the Stronghold, but Aries sends him to the floor and hits a suicide dive
with 15 minutes remaining.

Aries slingshots back into the ring and elbows Roderick in the side of the head,
even removing his elbow pad.  He charges with a dropkick to Strong in the corner for
two.  Roddy floats out of a brainbuster and goes for a gutbuster, but Aries locks in
the Horn of Aries and Roderick quickly taps to preserve his strength.

Austin Aries leads 1-0.

Roderick comes back with an inverted atomic drop into a backbreaker for two.  Aries
drives Strong into the corner, then puts him in a fireman's carry position before
somersaulting forward.  Aries goes to the top rope, but Roderick quickly gets up and
crotches him on the top rope.  Top rope superplex by Strong ends up in a double pin
for two.  Strong hits a gutbuster, but Aries blocks the Gibson Driver with a rana.
Roderick goes for the Stronghold, but Aries rolls him up for three.

Austin Aries leads 2-0.

Strong quickly gets up and kicks Aries head off, putting both men down.  Strong
chops Aries in the corner.  He charges with an elbow.  Aries goes for a Crucifix
Bomb, but Strong dumps him on the top rope, then hits two backbreakers, followed by
a Gibson Driver for the three count.

Austin Aries leads 2-1.

10 minutes remain.  Strong applies a Boston Crab.  Aries goes for the ropes, but
Strong brings him into the center of the ring, and Aries taps.

Aries and Strong are tied at two falls apiece. 

Strong waits for Aries to get up.  He trips Aries and looks for another Boston Crab.
 Aries makes it to the ropes this time.  Aries locks in another Boston Crab without
bothering to drag Aries into the middle of the ring.  Aries crawls to the floor, but
Strong maintains the Boston Crab to continue his assault on the back.  Aries makes
it back to the apron, but Strong meets him.  Strong goes for a delayed vertical
suplex, but Aries floats over and rolls him up for two.  Aries kicks Strong in the
chest for two.

Strong and Aries trade shots in the middle of the ring.  Five minutes remain.
Backbreaker by Roderick.  Aries hits a Crucifix Bomb and kicks Strong in the head.
Brainbuster by Aries.  He goes to the top rope, but Strong gets the knees up on the
450 Splash attempt and pins Aries with four minutes left.

Roderick Strong leads 3-2.

Strong begins to play defense and throws Aries to the floor, then stomps him as he
tries to get back in the ring.  Aries gets back in, but Strong knees him in the gut
and dumps him out again with three minutes left.  Springboard dropkick by Strong as
Aries gets on the apron.  Aries gets on the apron and hits Strong in the head, then
snaps his head on the top.  Strong recovers and dropkicks Aries to the floor with
two minutes left.

Aries shows his frustration at being unable to get in the ring.  He finally gets
back on the apron and trades forearms with Strong.  Roaring Elbow by Aries, followed
by a slingshot rollup for the pinfall.

Austin Aries and Roderick Strong are tied 3-3.

Immediately after pinning Strong, Aries uses Last Chancery to make Strong tap with
seconds left.

Austin Aries wins 4 falls to 3!

Tag Team Scramble:  The Vulture Squad (Ruckus & Jack Evans) vs. The Hangman 2/3 (Brent Albright & BJ Whitmer) vs. The Age of the Fall (Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black) vs. The Briscoes (Jay & Mark)

This is a non title match.  Whitmer and Albright run out and attack the Vulture
Squad while they are still doing their entrance.  Ruckus and Evans comeback with
kicks and flips to their opponents.  The Vulture Squad show off more acrobatics, but
they both get clotheslined out.  Age of the Fall come out of the crowd and go after
Whitmer and Albright.  Whitmer attacks Black and then faces off with his rival Jimmy
Jacobs.  Before they can get into it, the Briscoes run out.  Mark gets attacked by
multiple men and Jay slugs it out with Whitmer.  Jay kicks down Mark, then dives
onto the wrestlers on the floor.  Tyler Black gets in the ring and does the Fosbury
Flop over the top rope.  Then it's Ruckus' turn to dive onto everyone.  Mark goes to
the top rope, but gets shoved onto the top rope crotch first.  Evans knocks Whitmer
from the ring and dives over the top with a rana.  Albright clotheslines both
members of the Vulture Squad.  Black with a Lionsault to Albright for two.

Age of the Fall go to work on Albright, but the Briscoes run in to attack Age of the
Fall.  They toss Jacobs out of the corner, then go after Tyler Black.  Clotheslines
and forearms, then the Briscoes kick Black in the corner.  The Hangman 2/3 come in
and take out the Briscoes.  Knee drop/backbreaker combo and the 6-1-Knee into a
Dragon Suplex.  Ruckus and Evans come in and kick Whitmer.  The Vulture Squad show
some Razzle Dazzle in the corner on Whitmer, then Evans kicks Whitmer in the head.
Ruckus hits a moonsault leg drop on Whitmer, but Albright comes in and gives him a
German Suplex.  Albright tosses Evans up and down to the mat.  Whitmer is pulled out
of the ring and Evans hits a springboard twisting kick.  Mark Briscoe with a kick to
Evans.  Ruckus kicks Mark.  Jimmy spears Mark.  Jay with a big boot to Jimmy.
Fustercluck!  Albright hits a Half Nelson Suplex on Black for two.

Jacobs puts the Guillotine Choke on Albright.  Jay breaks it up with a Leg Drop.
Exploder by Whitmer to Ruckus.  Mark breaks the pin and trades forearms with
Whitmer.  Exploder by Mark to Whitmer.  Jack comes in and kicks Mark, followed by a
German Suplex and standing corkscrew for two.  Evans goes to the second rope, but
Tyler Black meets him and drags him off onto his knee, then drives Evans to the mat
for two when Albright runs in.  Powerslam by Albright to Black for two.  Albright
strikes Black with knees, then hits a belly to belly.  Whitmer hits the Frog Splash,
but Jay breaks the pin up.  Jay and BJ suplex each other to the floor.  Albright
catches Jacobs on a spear, but runs into the Contra Code.  Mark spins Jimmy around,
but Evans comes in.  Evans kicks Jay then Ruckus hits a Coast to Coast somersault
dropkick.  Evans hits the 630 Splash for the win.

Your winners, The Vulture Squad!

Match thoughts:

The opener was surprisingly solid.  After some overly scripted sequences that looked
too indy, they put together a competitive match.  Skyfire had a good showing, and
the botch, if it was a botch, led to a good finish.

Very cool Falls Count Anywhere match with a unique finish.  This is the kind of
match that is better on DVD than it is live, unless you are right in front of the
action.  I hate Pearce, and am indifferent towards Delirious, but I was really into
what they were doing here.

The Hero-Jigsaw match ended strongly.  This seems to be a common theme in Hero's
matches, so for now, you can just fast forward to the last five minutes or so to get
to the good stuff.

Solid relaxed rules match.  Danielson again proves to be an able brawler.  The
finish kept Necro strong since his arm was injured.

The McGuinness match started slow, but got interesting when he seemed to get a "What
am I doing in the ring with this guy" attitude and started pounding him.

The three way had its moments.  Davey was the MVP here, effectively selling all the
moves, and looking convincing on offense.

Excellent 30 Minute Iron Man Match.  Both men come out looking good.  Strong loses
nothing with the effort that he put in, and trying to keep Aries out of the ring was
a great heel tactic.  Great booking, great psychology.

The Scramble was a lot of fun, but it bordered on overkill.  Luckily it was short,
so they didn't overdo it.  I don't need to say that like most scrambles, this one
was action packed.  I really liked that Vulture Squad picked up a big win by pinning
one of the Briscoes.  It made them a major player in faction warfare.

Overall, I really enjoyed the DVD.  I thought they made some mistakes with the Age
of the Fall promo at the beginning, but the cat's out of the bag and some of Necro's
mystique is gone.  This is made up for by some great action elsewhere, and even
though this is shorter than most DVDs, I'd recommend picking it up.

You can of course pick this up at www.rohwrestling.com.  If you have any questions
or comments, feel free to email me at edsh007@hotmail.com