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DVD REVIEW: RING OF HONOR EYE OF THE STORM

On February 22, 2008, Ring of Honor held Eye of the Storm in Deer Park, NY.  The big draw is a number one contender's tournament to the ROH World Title, and their are some exciting names here.  It's also the company's sixth anniversary weekend, a big occasion for any wrestling company that can last this long.

Bobby Cruise opens the show by announcing who WON'T be at the show.  Nigel, Davey Richards, Brent Albright, Tyler Black, Erick Stevens, and Roderick Strong can't make it.

First Round:  Rocky Romero vs. Bryan Danielson

Danielson tries to get the advantage with some mat wrestling, but Romero is too quick.  They go to the mat again, but neither man can apply anything.  They feel each other out with some tentative kicks.  Rocky goes after Dragon's thigh.  Dragon comes back with a wristlock.  Romero makes the ropes.  Romero stretches the back, then takes Dragon down to the mat.  Danielson reverses into a Mexican Surfboard attempt, but Romero grabs the ropes.

Romero throws some punches and lands a few strikes in the corner.  Dragon powers him to the opposite corner and fires away with his own punches.  Romero kicks Danielson in the face as he teases a lock up attempt.  He then slaps Dragon on the mat, but Danielson reverses into a single leg crab, pulling Romero into the middle of the rind before really wrenching back.  Dragon ties the legs up and gets the Mexican Surfboard.

Romero frees himself and applies an ankle lock.  Romero goes to the mat and applies a grapevine around the ankle, but Danielson is able to reach the ropes.  Rocky with more kicks to the taped thigh.  Romero with a side headlock on the mat, but Danielson reverses with the headscissors and pulls back on the knee.  When he releases, Rocky quickly applies another ankle lock.  Dragon makes the ropes.

More kicks to the injured thigh in the corner.  Romero steps on Dragon's face.  Romero goes for the cross armbreaker a couple times, but can't get it locked in.  Danielson pulls back on the left leg of Romero that he'd been working on.  Romero reverses with a cross armbreaker, but Dragon is too close to the ropes.

Roaring elbow by Dragon.  Romero gets a glancing blow with the Knockout Kick for two.  He locks in a Guillotine Choke, but Danielson hits him in the head with elbows.  Romero maintains the hold and elbows Danielson.  Dragon Screw by Romero into another ankle lock.  Romero safely escapes the release German Suplex and hits some strikes, but Danielson boots him in the gut and hits the midsection.  Armbar by Danielson, and Romero taps.

Your winner, Bryan Danielson!

First Round:  Kevin Steen vs. Delirious

Steen powers Delirious into the corner on a lock up.  Delirious stands on the middle rope and plays to the crowd.  Delirious gets Steen in the corner on a second lockup and they break cleanly.  Steen scares Delirious off.  Test of strength and Steen gets the better of it to start.  Delirious with a side headlock and they do the shoulderblock spot in the middle of the ring.  Steen pokes him in the eye.  Heh.  He gains some momentum and knocks Delirious from the ring with a shoulderblock.

Steen slingshots to the apron, but Delirious pokes him in the eye.  Another heh.  Delirious somersaults off the apron onto Steen.  Back in the ring, Delirious tries to scoop up Steen, but he gets clubbed in the back.  Delirious snaps Steen's neck off the top rope and comes off the top with a leaping lariat for two.

Delirious goes for another scoop slam, but Steen falls on him and hits a back senton for two.  Steen slaps Delirious in the face, then punches him in the head.  Stomps in the corner by Steen.  Steen charges with a clothesline for two.  Running elbow to the back of Delirious' neck for two.  Steen pulls on the tassels to injure Delirious.

Steen keeps Delirious on the mat and kicks him in the head.  Delirious blocks a charge and dropkicks Steen in the back, following that up with Panic Attack.  Delirious with some forearms.  Steen doesn't budge on the clotheslines, but he is weakened and Delirious gets two with a body slam.

Sleeper hold by Delirious.  Steen throws him off for his own sleeper.  Chinbreaker by Delirious.  He catches Delirious and drops him with a side slam for two.  Steen goes to the top rope, but Delirious gets the knees up on the Swanton attempt.  Delirious goes to the top, but Steen gets his knee up on a Shadows Over Hell attempt.  Steen with a cannonball in the corner, and he scores the win with a Swanton Bomb.

Your winner, Kevin Steen!

First Round:  El Generico vs. Austin Aries

They lock up and Aries quickly shoves Generico into the corner, rubbing his face for good measure.  Front facelock on the mat by Aries.  Generico trips him and applies a leg lock, then goes after the ankle.  Aries kicks him in the chest to get out.  Another lock up, with Aries quickly getting a side headlock.  Generico throws him off, but Aries hits a shoulderblock.  Arm drags from Aries, and he keeps Generico on the mat for a moment with a wristlock. 

Generico is able to reverse, but Aries gets a side headlock takedown.  Aries blocks the headscissors attempts, but is caught off guard with a two count.  Generico gets the headscissors applied.  Aries gets out and kicks Generico in the chest, then goes back to a side headlock.  Aries with a knee to the head.  Generico back drops Aries and dropkicks him in the head.  Single leg dropkick by Generico and Aries bails.

Generico teases a dive, but bounces back in the ring.  Aries pulls him out and bounces his head off the apron.  Drop toe hold by Generico, followed by an elbow drop for two.  Forearm from Generico.  Scoop and a slam by Generico gets two.  Generico elbows Aries in the back of the neck and goes for a split legged moonsault, but Aries gets the knees up. 

Aries clotheslines Generico from the ring and hits a suicide dive.  He puts Generico face down across the apron and drops a knee across the neck for one.  Neckbreaker by Aries for two.  Snapmare and knee to the back from Aries.  He pulls back on the leg and sits back for two.  Dragon kick gets another near fall.  Aries traps the arm and rolls down for another submission, focusing on the back of the neck.

The two trade shots.  Palm strikes to the chest by Aries in the corner.  Delirious dumps him onto the apron and elbows Aries.  Aries slingshots back in the ring with elbows to the head in the corner.  Generico blocks a charge and hits a cross body off the top for two.  Aries blocks a charge, but runs into a Michinoku Driver for two.

Aries with some forearms.  Generico with a spin out powerbomb for two.  He charges with the Yakuza Kick, but misses, and Aries hits a dropkick in the corner.  Shinbreaker/suplex combo.  Another dropkick in the corner followed by the Brainbuster for two.  Aries climbs to the top, but Generico meets him.  Aries tosses him off and hits a diving headbutt on the back.  Horns of Aries, followed by knee strikes to the head.  Generico makes it to his feet.  Big boot and back slide from the luchador, but Generico is kicked in the head.  Generico gets a roll up out of nowhere for the win as Aries bleeds from the nose.

Your winner, El Generico!

First Round:  Go Shiozaki vs. Necro Butcher

Necro goes right after Go and sends him flying from the ring.  Necro with a chop and headbutt.  The throws Go face first into the ring post.  Necro goes after the eyes.  Go chops back, but Necro calls for more.  They exchange stiff chops on the floor.  Go gets the better of Necro.  Necro blocks Go and puts his head against the ring post.

Go back with some chops.  Knee to the gut of the Butcher.  Necro back with some punches to the gut and he tosses a chair into Go's knee.  Necro grabs a chair and hits Go in the stomach.  Necro jumps off the apron and hits Go in the head.  Necro hits Go in the gut with a chair, then gets a chairshot to Go's back.  Go blocks the next chairshot and he kicks the chair into Necro's face.  Slaps to the chest by Go against the ring post.  Necro rakes him in the face.

Go chops and puts Necro back in the ring.  Sleeper hold to a seated Necro in the ring.  Go covers for two and Necro is busted open.  Go with a back elbow.  He yanks on Necro's beard and clubs him in the chest.  Necro is slapped in the chest again.  He punches back and clotheslines Go for two.

Necro with a chokeslam for two.  Necro slides three chairs into the ring.  Necro kicks Go in the head and goes to slam him on the chairs, but Go escapes and delivers a German Suplex onto the chairs for two.  Short arm lariat by Go for two.  Scoop slam by Go and he connects with a moonsault for the win.

Your winner, Go Shiozaki!

The Larry Sweeney Show starring Larry Sweeney

GLF may not wear GL gear anymore, but he's annoying as ever.

Is Larry Sweeney looking good tonight, or what?  Sweeney plays off the fans and says he is going to Manhattan to get laid while one fan is going to his mom's house to play video games.  He says ROH officials have caved in and now he has his own platform.  He says there is only one undefeated competitor in ROH and he mentions it is himself.

Sweeney claims Castagnoli is hiding in Japan because he is scared.  He says he called everyone in his book, but no one wanted to come before the freaks in Long Island, so his guest, accompanied by Bobby Dempsey, is Shane Hagadorn.  Hagadorn teases Dempsey with some Starburst.

Hagadorn says it is an honor to be the first guest on the show.  Hagadorn does what he does best and sucks up.  Sweeney says that Dempsey should aspire to be like Hagadorn.  He then asks Hagadorn to have Adam Pearce give him a call.  Sweeney goes to abuse Dempsey.

Second Round:  Bryan Danielson vs. Kevin Steen

Side headlock takedown by Dragon.  Steen quickly gets out.  Waistlock by Steen.  Danielson takes him down with a hammerlock.  Dragon pulls back and steps down on the other arm.  Dragon twists Steen's wrist and takes him to the mat again.  Steen gets out with a roll up.

A lock up ends up in the corner with Dragon clutching Steen's ears, making the Canadian upset.  Side headlock by Steen.  He takes down Dragon with a shoulderblock, but runs into a hip toss.  Snapmare and chinlock by Danielson.  Sunset flip by Steen, but Dragon gets out.  They shove each other.  Dragon pops Steen in the ear.  Steen comes back and shoves him in the corner, then punches him.  Steen kicks the rope into Dragon's thigh, and Dragon gets tied up in the ropes.  Steen comes back with more kicks and he stands on the thigh.

Steen sits on the leg, then continues to focus on it.  Steen punches the right thigh, then slams the leg to the mat.  Steen puts the leg on the rope, then goes outside and whips it down.  He pulls Danielson into the ringpost and whips the leg into that next.  Steen covers for two.

Single Leg Crab by Steen.  Danielson goes to the ropes, but Steen pulls him to the middle of the ring.  Dragon finally makes the ropes.  Steen covers for two.  He punches the leg again, but Danielson fires back with elbows.  Danielson pulls the tape off and hits a couple forearms.  Dragon charges in the corner and suplexes Steen.

Danielson climbs to the top rope, but he misses a diving headbutt.  Steen goes for a figure four, but he is kicked off.  Danielson rolls him up for two.  Powerbomb by Steen for two.  Steen tries for a Sharpshooter but is kicked off.  Superkick by Steen for two.  Steen tries for a package piledriver, but he gets kicked in the gut.  Dragon pulls back on his arm just like he did to Romero.  Elbows to the side of the head.  Steen with another superkick.  Over the knee neckbreaker gets two.

Steen climbs to the top, but he gets crotched.  Danielson gets on the top turnbuckle, but Steen slides under and puts him in the Tree of Woe, then hits a cannonball.  Dragon avoids the Sharpshooter with some punches to the head.  Steen steps on his face and turns over.  Danielson has no choice but to tap.

Your winner, Kevin Steen!

Second Round:  El Generico vs. Go Shiozaki

The two feel each other out for a minute.  Generico makes the mistake of trying to trade chops with Go.  Obviously, Go gets the better of it.  Generico with a low dropkick to take the big man off his feet.  Generico with a leg lock.  Generico works on the leg with some kicks and punches.  Go chops back, but Generico with another boot to the leg.

Go with more chops.  He misses a charge and drives his knee into the top turnbuckle.  Generico hits a standing moonsault on the left leg for two.  Generico's chops have little to no effect and Go gets back to his feet and chops Generico down.  Go boots him to the floor and whips him into a guardrail, then delivers more chops.  Go with a nice dropkick.  Go works on Generico's back.

Generico shows some fighting spirit and exchanges shots.  Go chops him to the mat.  Go with a Camel Clutch.  He lets go and covers for two.  Back chop by Go.  He hits a charge in the corner and no sells a big boot from Generico.  Generico pulls down the top rope and a charging Go ends up on the floor.  Generico climbs to the top rope and dives to the floor on Shiozaki.

Generico goes for a scoop slam back in the ring.  He kicks the leg to get Go up.  Generico to the top rope.  He connects with the Big Splash for two.  Generico avoids a powerbomb and hits a Swinging DDT out of the corner for two.  Generico's corner kick is blocked and Go gets two with a big German Suplex.

Back Drop Driver by Go, but Generico no sells and suplexes Go for a near fall.  Go gets the running Yakuza Kick and he tries for a BRAAAAINNNNNBUSSTTAHHH~!, but Go is too big and he clubs him off and covers for two.  Vertical suplex into a powerbomb by Go for two.  Generico ducks a clothesline and rolls Go up for two.  He eats a lariat shortly thereafter, followed by Go Flasher as Shiozaki advances to the finals.

Your winner, Go Shiozaki!

Becky is in the back with Rocky Romero.  She asks if his loss had anything to do with his losing here.  Romero says he was supposed to hurt Danielson and he did his job.  He says Nigel owes him one.  He then invites Becky to his hotel room.

Four Corner Survival:  Mitch Franklin vs. Human Tornado vs. Jason Blade vs. Pelle Primeau

Tornado's antics cause Blade to bail.  The two lock up.  Side headlock by Blade.  Shoulderblock by Blade.  Arm drag by Tornado into a wristlock.  Blade with a thumb to the eye.  He clotheslines Tornado out, but Tornado pulls himself back up and takes Blade out of the ring with the headscissors.

Blade brings Pelle in the match.  Tornado shows off his height when he calls for a knuckle lock.  Hip toss by Tornado for two.  Pelle with a chinbreaker.  Blade tags himself in, but runs into a drop toe hold.  Franklin tags Blade out and stomps Pelle for two.  Snap suplex by Franklin.  Pelle backs Mitch into the corner.  Blade tags Mitch out.

Blade with a body slam and leg drop on Pelle for two.  Blade rolls through a sunset flip and hits a nice dropkick for two.  Pelle with a tornado DDT.  He tags in H-Tizzle.  Tornado cleans house and kicks Blade in the head.  Tornado with a leaping back elbow into the corner, followed by a dropkick.  Tornado then does his trademark dancing in the corner for two.

Tornado with a spin kick to Blade's head for two.  Tornado dumps Blade to the floor.  Franklin comes in and gets a DDT.  Tornado avoids a charge, but Franklin drives him into the corner with a rana.  Turner won't make the count since Franklin isn't legal.  Pelle comes in and gets a springboard seated senton followed by a double stomp, but Tornado breaks the pin up.  Blade with forearms to Tornado.  Tornado dumps Blade on the apron, then sends Pelle into Blade. He dives over the ring post, but Blade moves and he hits Pelle.  Blade charges at Franklin and drives him to the mat for two.

Your winner, Jason Blade!

Tornado gets on the mic after the match.  He says he knows he needed to win to stay in ROH, but his main goal is to bring more women to the show.  He says he's been looking at some women for a stable.  He calls out Lacey and...ahem...compliments her appearance.

Lacey comes out and says Tornado is like everyone else.  Tornado asks her to come to his side.  She is offended and says he couldn't handle her.  She goes to slap Tornado, but he ducks.  Jacobs makes Tornado scram with a spike.  Jacobs threatens to stab him in the eye.  Tornado gives a parting shot with a double entendre.

Jimmy talks about AOTF being for outcasts.  He says there is someone who is seizing an opportunity.  Someone who has lived a tragic life.  He brings out Zach Gowen (misspelled as Gowan on the DVD case).

Jimmy Jacobs & Zach Gowen w/ Lacey vs. Ruckus & Jigsaw w/ Mercedes Martinez

AOTF attack before the bell.  Gowen, with one leg, goes after Jigsaw.  Jacobs and Ruckus go at it in the ring.  Jacobs punches Ruckus in the face.  They avoid each other's moves.  Ruckus slingshots from the ring to the floor onto Jacobs.  Gowen floats over a suplex in the ring and puts on a sleeper hold.  Jig backs him into the corner and hits a dropkick.  Jigsaw to the top and Jigsaw with a double stomp to the back.  Jacobs comes in, but Jigsaw applies a Gory Special.

Jig and Ruckus double team Jacobs for two.  Gowen tags in, but Jigsaw trips him up.  Jacobs low bridges Jigsaw and Gowen springboards off the top rope to the floor.  Jacobs and Gowen double team Jigsaw.  Jacobs tags in and prevents the tag.  Jacobs chops Jig in the corner.  Scoop slam by Jacobs and he tries to rip off the mask before punching Jigsaw in the head.

Jacobs drives Jig into the corner and brings Gowen in.  Gowen with a dropkick to Jigsaw's arm.  Back senton by Gowen for two.  Headlock on the mat by Gowen.  Gowen with a reverse STO and a modified triangle choke on the mat.  Jigsaw makes the ropes.  Snap suplex by Gowen and Jacobs tags in with a fist drop off the second rope for two.

Atomic drop and clothesline to the midsection by Jacobs for two.  Jacobs misses an elbow drop off the middle turnbuckle.  Jacobs prevents the tag by pinning Jigsaw and punching him.  Jacobs backs off as Gowen pounds on Jigsaw.  Neckbreaker by Jacobs and he gets a few two counts.  Jigsaw fires back, but he is driven into the corner again.  Jigsaw avoids a spear and Ruckus tags in.

Ruckus knocks Jacobs down a few times, then uses AOTF against each other.  Standing SSP on Gowen gets two when Jacobs breaks the pin up.  Neckbreaker to Jacobs, but the foot is on the ropes.  Jacobs and Ruckus double team Gowen in the corner.  Suplex/powerbomb combo gets two.  Jacobs blocks a handspring and places Ruckus in the ropes.  Gowen moonsaults onto Ruckus as he hangs in the ropes and Jacobs covers for two.

Swinging DDT by Gowen to Jigsaw with an assist from Jacobs.  Jacobs and Gowen team for a triple stomp on Jigsaw, but the referee all of a sudden cares about the legal man.  Jacobs clubs Ruckus to the mat and tags in Gowen.  He misses the moonsault as Jacobs misses a dive to the floor.  Ruckus double stomps Gowen and hits a moonsault leg drop for the win.

Your winners, The Vulture Squad!

Becky is in the back with Austin Aries.  She wants to know how the nose is.  Aries simply replies, "Broke."  Heh.  She wants his thoughts on AOTF, but he brushes that off, too.

Finals to determine the #1 Contender:  Kevin Steen vs. Go Shiozaki

Winner gets a future title shot.  The two trade forearms right at the bell.  They go to chops next.  Steen with a side headlock.  Steen runs through a chop and scores with a shoulder tackle.  On the apron, Steen tries for a suplex, but Go blocks and hits a DDT.  Steen reverses an irish whip and tosses Go into the guardrail.  He charges, but Go drops him into the barricade.  Go drops Steen across the apron, then drives his face into the ring post.  Steen is whipped into the guardrail.

Back in the ring, Go covers for one.  Go charges with a boot to the jaw, followed by a DDT for two.  Steen tries to trade chops, but Go with a low dropkick.  Dragon Screw to Steen.  Go twists the ankle.  Go steps over and sits on the ankle, then drops a leg across the shin.  Go ties up Steen's legs for two.  Steen tries to forearm and chop out, but Go with a stiff shot.

Go puts Steen's left leg in the ropes and charges.  Go with a dropkick to the leg, followed by a modified cloverleaf.  Go dropkicks the leg on the mat.  Go with some stiff shots and kicks in the corner, nearly knocking Steen out for two.  Neckbreaker by Steen.  He clubs the back, then locks in a crossface.  Steen bites Go's neck.

Elbow to the back of Go's neck gets two.  Elbow drop to the back of the neck.  Chinlock on the mat by Steen.  Go makes the ropes, but Steen keeps pounding the neck.  Go goes after the leg to knock Steen off his feet.  Dropkick to the thigh and Go puts Steen in an STF.  Steen with some forearms.  Go dumps Steen onto the apron, where Steen snaps the back of Go's neck off the top rope.  Steen whips Go into the barricade.  He hits a frog splash off the top of the guardrail.

In the ring, Steen covers for two.  Go reverses a whip and meets Steen on the turnbuckle.  Go with some headbutts, and he gives Steen a rana off the top.  Steen no sells and Go hits him with a superkick.  Steen no sells that and gives Go a superkick.  Go ducks a clothesline and hits a Fisherman's Buster.  More Fighting Spirit and Go no sells a German Suplex.  They collide with clotheslines, but don't budge.  Steen with an enziguri.  Lariat from Go.  Go gets two with a German Suplex.

Go hits a picture perfect moonsault, but Steen kicks out at two.  Steen nails the Package Piledriver, but Go is able to kick out.  Both men struggle to their feet.  Steen charges with a clothesline in the corner, and a lariat as Go comes out of the corner.  Steen wins with a second package piledriver.

Your winner, Kevin Steen!

El Generico comes out to congratulate him.  He gives Steen the mic.  Go shows poor sportsmanship.  He finally shakes Steen's hand.  Steen directs the cameras because he has an important announcement.  He says he won the title shot, but says that he didn't forget about the tag team titles that the NRC currently have.  It doesn't if it is the tag titles or the World Title, or both titles...he promises to have gold around his waist.

Match thoughts:

I enjoyed the opener, and thought Rocky did a nice job of hanging with his submissions.  My biggest complaint was that Danielson won by going after the arm and not the leg he'd been working on.

The next bout was a solid first round match.  I mean that in the best possible way.  It was short, quickly paced with a limited amount of rest holds, and they wasted no time.  Couple funny spots, too.

Another fun first round match, with a nice surprise finish.

Necro-Go was a nice change of pace from the more technical first round matches.  It wasn't pretty at times, but it was effective.

The Sweet and Sour Show was boring, which you could probably guess based on who the guest was.

Steen-Danielson was a nice tease for what could be a great feud down the line.  They had Romero wear down Danielson in the first match, so it makes perfect sense for Steen to go over with a Sharpshooter.

Generico and Go put on a textbook big man-little man match.  The selling here is off the charts.  A Generico-Steen final would have been fun, but you can't waste that match without a proper build.

The four way wasn't anything more than filler.  Tornado totally outshone everyone else in the match.

More filler with the tag match.  I don't like watching Gowen wrestle, so this did nothing for me.  And since when do the referees care about the legal man in tag matches?

The finals were good, but I hate Fighting Spirit.  Hate hate hate it.  It looks so silly.  Can't complain about a Kevin Steen title shot, though.

Overall, I'd recommend this on DVD.  It's not a strong must buy, since there are no blowaway, must see matches, but everything in the tournament was entertaining.  ROH, as usual, did a good job of covering for the weather.  None of the non tournament material is worth watching, to be honest.

For comments or questions, please email me at edsh007@hotmail.com