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DVD REVIEW: RING OF HONOR IRON ANNIVERSARY DVD

Ring of Honor held their Sixth Anniversary Show in New York City.  That's the Iron Anniversary for those keeping track at home.  It's a momentous occasion and ROH truly deserves all the credit they get for reaching that milestone.  Here's to ten years after this, the tungsten anniversary!

The show opens with Becky Bayless catching a glimpse into the Vulture Squad locker room.  Julius Smokes is rallying the troops in anticipation of their title match against the NRC tonight.

Delirious vs. Human Tornado

Shenanigans from both competitors to start the match.  Tornado is the better dancer, in case you were wondering.  His dance offs are legendary, though I like the one with Ruckus in CZW better.  POUNCE from Tornado puts Delirious on his behind in the corner, so Tornado does his thing.

And here comes Age of the Fall.  Boo-urns.  The night before this show, you'll recall, Tornado wanted to add Lacey to his ho train.  Lacey slaps Delirious, but Daizee Haze comes out to fight her as Delirious cheers her on.  Black, Jacobs, and Gowen move off of Tornado and go after Delirious.  Tornado helps Delirious clear the ring and we have a no contest on our hands.  Delirious and Tornado want to tag instead.

Delirious & Human Tornado vs. Tyler Black & Jimmy Jacobs w/ AOTF

Black and Tornado start.  Leg lariat by Tornado for two.  Delirious tags in and chops Black.  Back suplex to Black.  Tornado comes back in with an axe handle.  Scoop slam and a somersault, followed by a standing moonsault by Tornado for two.  Delirious tags in again and headbutts Black in the gut.  Delirious takes Black for a tour of a couple turnbuckles.  Delirious drops Black to the mat and goes to the second rope.  He knocks Jacobs to the floor, but Black catches Delirious and dumps him to the floor.

Black and Jacobs choke Delirious and Jacobs tags in.  Body slam by Jacobs.  He does it one more time.  And one more time after that for a couple of one counts.  Jacobs applies the bodyscissors.  Black tags back in.  They take Delirious to the mat and choke him, followed by punches from both.  Black covers for two.

Delirious tries to kick out of the corner, but Black catches him and clotheslines him to the mat.  Jacobs tags in and knocks Tornado off the apron.  AOTF dropkick combo in the corner for two.  Gowen taunts Delirious and Jacobs chokes him in the ropes.  Gowen canes Delirious in the head and Jacobs covers for two.  Delirious gets out of a suplex, but Jacobs prevents the tag.

Delirious with an enziguri.  Black tags in and keeps Delirious from getting Tornado in.  Delirious headbutts Black off as Black springboards off the ropes.  Delirious tags in Tornado, who clotheslines Jacobs and knocks down black.  Jumping lariat to Jacobs.  Black dumps Tornado on the apron.  Tornado jumps up and ranas Black from the ring.  Tornado flips over the ringpost and wipes out Jacobs and Black.

Elbow to the back of Black's head.  Delirious and Black charge Black in the corner.  Panic Attack from Delirious.  Split kick by Tornado.  Tornado kicks Jacobs in the head for two when Black breaks the pin up.  Black prevents the Cobra Clutch and dropkicks Delirious off the top rope to the floor.  He powerbombs Tornado into the corner and the End Time is cinched in as AOTF win.

Your winners, the Age of the Fall!

Nigel McGuinness comes to the ring as Tornado and Delirious are still hanging around.  Nigel talks about being 100% cardio wise.  However, he is still worried about his head.  The crowd is split down the middle in deriding/cheering Nigel.  He says he wouldn't be worried if it wasn't for Bryan Danielson.  He calls Danielson a reckless, dangerous human being who doesn't care about his own body, let alone Nigel's.  He says he'll get hit with elbows, headbutts, and stomps.

The crowd, using their worst chant, tells Nigel he is getting his head kicked in.  Nigel says it is time to put his health, and the health of the company, first.  He wants to know who will main event the PPV if he is hurt, and says he is Ring of Honor.  He accuses the crowd of not caring about his health, so he doesn't care about them.  He lays the belt down and says maybe he shouldn't defend it.

Danielson comes out and says the belt he should be HOLDING has been around for six years, and is one of the most sought after titles in wrestling.  He says the title is important because every wrestler works their ass of to get it.  He says Nigel is dropping the belt on everything they have ever done.  He asks how can Nigel do that in front of 1200 people at the Manhattan Center.  He says he never took the big money contract (yet) because he wants to wrestle main events in front of the ROH crowd. 

Danielson is willing to make a concession.  He is willing to not do the elbows, the stomps, and the headbutts.  He won't do anything that might give Nigel a concussion.  He gives McGuinness his word on that since he is the best wrestler in the world with a million ways to beat Nigel.

Brent Albright vs. El Generico

Albright socks Generico right at the bell.  Generico comes back with forearms.  Side headlock by Albright.  Monkey flip by Generico, who then clotheslines Albright out of the ring.  He gets ready to dive out, but Albright trips him, pulls him out by the legs, and swings him against the guardrail.  Ouch!

Back in the ring, Albright starts to work on Generico's back.  Body slam by Albright, followed by an elbow drop to the back for one.  Generico gets out of trouble with a dropkick.  He gets some shots in the corner on Albright.  Swinging DDT and Albright bails.  Generico flips over the top rope to the floor.  Elbow to the back of the head by Generico.  Split legged moonsault gets two.

Albright avoids a leg lariat and nails a wheelbarrow suplex.  He starts to work on the back again.  High angle back suplex by Albright.  Albright with repeated forearms to the back and Generico is knocked out of the ring.  Generico is whipped into the guardrail.  Albright lifts up the mat and suplexes Generico onto the unforgiving (and ugly) carpet.  He picks him up and rams the back against the ringpost.

Back in the ring, Albright covers for two.  Backbreaker, and Generico is laid across the knee.  Generico kicks Albright in the head to get out.  Generico avoids a chair, but so does Albright.  Albright sits on the top rope, but Generico kicks him to the floor.  Slingshot springboard moonsault press off the top rope to Albright on the floor.

Generico rolls Albright in the ring and connects on the Big Splash off the top for two.  The two exchange forearms.  Albright starts to charge, but Generico hits a Blue Thunder Powerbomb for two.  Albright comes back with a backbreaker STO and a powerslam for two.  Generico blocks a charge, but is caught on his crossbody attempt in another backbreaker for two.

Albright sits Generico on the top rope.  Generico fights him off and gets two with a sunset flip from the top.  Generico goes for a brainbuster, but is caught in a German Suplex.  Albright charges in the corner, but Generico charges right back with the Yakuza Kick.  Albright floats over the brainbuster attempt and hits the Half Nelson Suplex.  He picks up Generico and wins with repeated knees to the head.

Your winner, Brent Albright!

The Larry Sweeney Show with Larry Sweeney

This is the infamous show that was off the DVD before it was on it.  I've since heard it was edited.  Bobby Dempsey gets chants right away and Sweeney hits him.  Talks about beating Claudio.  He quickly gets to his first guest, Allison Danger.

She thanks the ROH fans, and her promo skills haven't improved since we last saw her.  He talks about all the lewd acts she's committed with wrestlers, accusing her of sleeping her way into the business.  Well, let's be honest...she wouldn't be the first!  He says he hopes she brought her knee pads.  Ohhhhhhh!

She says she doesn't need his sorry talk show, and she is the reason for the ROH Women's Division.  She starts to walk out of the ring, but Sweeney knocks her out.  Sweeney, and this is the controversial part, tells it's time for Bobby to become a man.  He even spreads Danger's legs.  Dempsey says he can't do it and Sweeney repeatedly tells him to be a man.  He knocks Dempsey out, and Bobby falls, really sloppily, on Danger.  Sweeney calls it the best moment of Dempsey's life.  He says Sweet n' Sour is starting a hostile takeover of Ring of Honor.

Joey Matthews vs. Kevin Steen

Steen makes fun of Matthews MNM past by pretending to take photos.  Hey...MNM rocked!  Matthews takes his time getting ready for action.  Matthews and Steen trade shots.  Joey with a side headlock.  They meet and don't budge on shoulderblocks and take turns slapping each other.  Steen catches a kick and gives Matthews a Dragon Screw, going for the Sharpshooter early.  Matthews grabs the ropes, then kicks Steen off.

He blocks a charge, but Matthews shields himself with the ref and shoves Steen off the top rope to the floor.  Matthews tosses Steen against the guardrail.  He rolls him in the ring and covers for two.  Clothesline to Steen.  And another for one.  Matthews punches Steen, but Steen fires back with forearms and chops.  Joey blocks a charge and knocks Steen to the mat for one.

Matthews tries to suplex Steen in the ring, but he is blocked.  He knees Steen, then brings him in with a neckbreaker through the ropes for two.  Matthews tries to wear down Steen with a sleeper.  Steen elbows out and catches Matthews for a powerbomb.  Big back body drop and a couple clotheslines by Steen.  Over the knee neckbreaker gets two.

Matthews avoids the package piledriver with a back drop, but Steen is able to go for a Sharpshooter.  He gets kicked off, but puts Matthews in the corner and kicks the rope into his leg, then sweeps him a couple times.  Matthews is slammed to the mat, but he gets the knees up on the Swanton.  Double arm DDT to Steen for two.

Steen is dead weight on the mat, frustrating Matthews.  He wakes up with a superkick.  Matthews goes to the top again, but gets crotched.  Matthews climbs to the top too.  Steen goes for a package piledriver from the top, but Matthews avoids it again.  Rana by Joey off the top, but Steen rolls through and locks in the Sharpshooter and Matthews taps.

Your winner, Kevin Steen!

Daizee Haze is in the back talking about her SHIMMER title match against her longtime rival, Sara del Rey.

Go Shiozaki vs. Austin Aries

A lock up quickly leads to Go pushing Aries in the corner.  Aries ducks a punch on the break.  Another lock up ends with Go in the corner and a clean break.  Waistlock takedown by Aries.  Go reverses.  Aries sandwiches Go's head with kicks from his back.  Test of strength and Go pushes Aries towards the mat.  Aries reverses, but Go quickly applies headscissors.  Aries reverses.  Aries releases the hold and ducks a chop.

Another test of strength is called for, but Aries goes for a side headlock.  Aries uses his speed advantage to duck some chops, but Go finally gets a hold of him.  Go clubs Aries in the back.  Aries goes after the taped knee to get the big man down, followed by some elbows to the head.  Fighting Spirit prevails and Go gets to his feet.  Go brushes off some chops and chops Aries hard.

Another stiff chop against the ropes.  Aries ducks a chop and dumps Go, then jumps off the top rope to the floor with an elbow.  He then drives Go into the guardrail before sitting him on a chair and hitting a running knee strike to the chest.  Aries with a Side Russian against the ringpost.  He lays Go face down across the apron and drops a knee across the back of the head.

Aries rolls Go back in and covers for two.  Knees to the back of a seated Go.  Aries traps the neck and pulls back on the taped leg.  Aries with some shoulder charges in the corner to the gut, followed by kicks to the chest.  Go with a drop toe hold that sends Aries into the ropes.  He charges and jumps on him, then goes to the floor and hits Aries in the head.  Go with a diving shoulder tackle from the top rope.  Go knocks Aries to the mat, then charges with a back elbow for two.

Chinlock by Go on the mat.  Aries gets bak to his feet, but he runs into a sleeper hold.  Go beats Aries in the chest for two.  Go hangs Aries off the top rope and clubs him into the Tree of Woe.  Aries blocks a charge and hits a Stunner.  Go recovers and charges to knock Aries down again.

The two jockey for position on the apron and Aries wins the battle with a back suplex that drops Go right to the floor.  Aries waits for him to stand up and nails the suicide dive.  He rolls Go in the ring and climbs to the top, scoring two after a missile dropkick.  Go and Aries trade shots.  Aries with a low dropkick.  Go blocks the kick to the head and gets a near fall with a German Suplex.

Superkick and overhand chop by Go get another near fall.  Go blocks a charge, but Aries comes right back with three dropkicks in the corner and a running dropkick makes four.  He sits Go on the top rope.  Go recovers and hits a top rope Go Flasher for two as Aries gets a foot on the ropes.

Scoop slam by Go.  He whiffs on the moonsault and Aries locks in the Horns of Aries.  Go inches over to the ropes.  Aries climbs to the top, but Shiozaki recovers and tries for a suplex.  Aries off the top with a chop to the head.  Orange Crush by Go gets two.

Aries ducks a lariat and hits a clothesline, but Go gets a lariat right away.  Back suplex by Aries.  Elbows in the corner.  He hits the Brainbuster for two before going back to the Horns of Aries.  Knee strikes, but Go blocks another Brainbuster.  Go lifts up Aries and withstands a couple of knee strikes to get two with a suplex.

Go with a some chops, but Aries catches him with a Crucifix Bomb and kick to the head.  Brainbuster and 450 Splash end the match.

Your winner, Austin Aries!

Go extends his hand and Aries brushes it off, continuing a trend.

The lights go out and a spotlight is shone on Aries.  He looks up to the balcony and Jacobs is there.  He continues his recruitment of Aries into Age of the Fall.  Tyler Black is in the balcony, too, and he says they are bigger than the company.  Lacey throws her two cents in.  The lights come back on and Tammy Sytch walks to the ring.  She says she's going to make Aries decision easy.  Tammy can offer more than he ever dreamed of, promising Sunny days ahead.  Aries says he has to sit on this since he finds himself in some interesting positions.  Lacey calls Sunny a whore.  Sunny brushes that aside and walks off.

Becky is in the back with Roddy and Rocky.  Se wants his thoughts on rewinning the FIP title.  Davey comes in and Roddy picks on him.  Davey got the belt waxed.  But he neglected to bring his own.  Davey isn't worried about the Vulture Squad, and Strong isn't worried about his match.  Davey wants to party, but Rocky wants him to shine HIS belt.

SHIMMER Title Match:  Daizee Haze vs. Sara del Rey (c)

Haze with a side headlock.  She trips the champion to the mat and reapplies the headlock.  del Rey shoves her off, but Haze gets another headlock.  And another.  del Rey rolls her up for a couple two counts, then applies the headscissors.  Haze gets out and applies a....headlock.  Haze with a unique roll up for two.  Headscissors takedown and Haze blocks a charge before hitting a rana off the middle rope.  del Rey catches Haze and dumps her on the mat before going to the kicks.  Big boot gets two.

Suplex slam for two by the champ.  She chokes Haze with her ample thighs.  Haze is unable to escape until she reaches the ropes.  del Rey with a headbutt as Haze is in the ropes for two.  Haze avoids the corner big boot and dumps del Rey from the ring.  Splash off the top to the floor by Haze.  Forearms by Haze.  Haze shoves del Rey off the top and hits a missile dropkick, putting both women on the mat.

del Rey trips Haze, but gets caught with a facebuster for two.  Victory Roll by Haze for two.  Haze with a kick to the head and German Suplex for two.  Back slide by Haze for two.  del Rey kicks her in the head and hits a Royal Butterfly for the win.

Your winner, Sara del Rey!

ROH Tag Team Championship Match:  The Vulture Squad (Ruckus & Jigsaw) w/ Mercedes Martinez & Julius Smokes vs. The No Remorse Corps (Davey Richards & Rocky Romero)(c)

Jigsaw and Davey start things off.  Davey gets the early advantage until Jigsaw fires back with an arm drag.  Richards kicks Jigsaw off and Ruckus comes in, connecting with a handspring kick.  Romero comes in.  Ruckus sends Romero into the ropes and dropkicks him.  Romero with an enziguri, but Jigsaw kicks him out with a missile dropkick.

Jigsaw goes to dive out, but Richards prevents it.  They go back and forth, with Davey sliding out of the ring, allowing Romero to sneak up on Jigsaw.  Rocky dumps Jigsaw to the floor, where Richards throws him against and on the guardrail.  Richards and Romero take turns kicking him in the chest.

Back in the ring, Richards with a clothesline and he prevents the tag.  He throws Jig into Rocky's boot and tags Romero in.  Rocky sits Jigsaw on the top rope and goes after the mask.  Back suplex by Rocky and Richards tags back in.  Snap suplex to Jigsaw for two.  Jigsaw is put in the Tree of Woe and kicked by Richards.  Low blow to Jig.  Double team knee strike by the NRC and Romero comes in.  Jigsaw with a quick roll up for two, but Romero is able to prevent the tag.

Richards back in with some charges in the corner.  Jigsaw knocks Romero to the floor with a dropkick.  Jigsaw suplexes Richards out of the ring to the floor and tags in Ruckus.  Ruckus flips over the top rope onto the NRC.  He puts Davey in the ring and comes off the top with a dropkick, followed by Razzle Dazzle and a Famouser for two.

Ruckus dodges a charge and double teams Richards with a sit out powerbomb and a standing SSP for two.  Richards avoids a dropkick and tags Romero in.  Ruckus blocks a charge, but Romero charges with a dropkick.  Jigsaw runs in with a Leap of Faith.  Romero dumps him out of the ring.  NRC with a double team DDT for two when Jigsaw comes back in.  The champions kick Jigsaw in the corner, but miss a double team.  Jigsaw gets Romero in the Tree of Woe and takes Richards from the ring.  Ruckus with a corner to corner dropkick for two.

Romero with a knee strike.  Ruckus with a neckbreaker.  Jig and Davey tag in.  Davey drives Jigsaw into the corner and hits a series of strikes.  Richards charges with a forearm.  Jigsaw fights back with a couple of superkicks.  Double stomp off the top by Jigsaw for two.  He goes for and hits the Jig n' Tonic, but Romero makes the save for a rollup by Richards that also gets two.  Ruckus goes to the top, but is shoved to the floor.  Jigsaw and Romero trade slaps to the chest.  Jigsaw with a big boot that knocks Romero to the floor.  Jigsaw goes for a dive, but he gets kicked in the head.  He rolls Richards up for two.  Richards with a kick to the head and powerbomb for two.  Liger bomb by Richards for the win.

Your winners, The No Remorse Corps!

Kevin Steen and El Generico come through the crowd.  Steen comes out and challenges the champions to a match, just like the challenged the Briscoes at the first PPV.  Richards says they aren't the Briscoes, and calls the fat boy into the ring for a fight.  Steen and Generico run through the crowd, but the NRC bail.  Heh.  Romero says they can't touch the World Tag Team Champions.  Steen and Generico chase them to the back.  They can't find them.  Steen says they can't run forever and they will take the sweet, shiny tag title belts.

No DQ FIP World Heavyweight Title Match:  Roderick Strong (c) vs. Erick Stevens vs. Necro Butcher w/ Lacey

Strong and Stevens brawl immediately in the aisle.  They back drop Necro onto the ramp and go back after each other.  Strong with some forearms.  Stevens whips Strong into the guardrail.  Necro wraps a plastic bag around Stevens' head and goes after Strong with a clothesline.  Necro kicks Stevens in the head, then rolls him in the ring.

Necro with a side slam onto the chair, but Strong breaks the pin up.  Strong lifts Necro's shirt up and chops him in the chest.  Vertical suplex by Strong onto the chair for two.  Strong goes after Stevens and they trade chops..  Stevens sends Strong into the floor and barricade again then he does a choo choo charge.  Necro somersaults off the apron and knocks Stevens into the barricade.

Necro rips off a metal ROH sign and throws it on Stevens a couple of times.  Chair to the head by Strong, followed by a running boot to Necro.  Stevens and Strong trade forearms.  Stevens puts Strong on top of the barricade and chops him.  Necro kicks Stevens, then Strong.  Necro knocks Stevens' elbow into the ring post.  He throws a couple of chairs into the ring.

Necro drives the ring bell into Stevens.  Stevens comes back with a scoop slam onto the floor.  Strong back with chops to Stevens.  Strong with a forearm to Necro's head.  Necro blocks a Gibson Driver attempt and claws Strong in the crotch.  Necro kicks a chair into Roddy and Stevens as they try to get in the ring.  Roddy with some forearms and he puts Necro and Stevens back in the ring.

Necro charges in the corner and throws a chair into Stevens' gut.  Necro with a bulldog onto the chairs for two when Strong breaks the pin up.  Strong chops Stevens into the corner.  Necro and Strong exchange forearms and chops.  Strong stomps on Necro's bare feet and sits Necro onto a chair.  Strong with a backbreaker onto a set up chair for two when Stevens breaks the pin up.

Stevens and Strong trade chops and they are stiff.  Necro with some punches to Strong's gut, followed by an uppercut.  Necro boots Stevens in the corner.  Hard chair shot by Strong to Necro.   Stevens with a release German Suplex to Strong.  Necro with a knock out punch to Stevens and all three men go to the mat.

The fans change from an ROH to a FIP chant.  Thanks to the people who did that.  Three way chopfest!  Stiff!  Stevens punches Necro in the face, then bashes the heads of Stevens and Strong together.  Headbutt to Stevens.  Chair slam by Necro to Stevens.  Stevens comes back with another exchange of chops.  Stevens with a back body drop to Necro.  Cactus clothesline by Stevens sends himself and Necro to the floor.

Strong gets to his feet and dives over the top onto his two opponents.  Strong whips Stevens into the barricade and charges with a forearm.  Stevens catches him on another attempt and plants him onto the floor.  Necro slams a chair into Stevens head.  Necro puts the barricade across Stevens' back in the ring and jumps on it with a senton for two.

Stevens with the choo choo in the corner on Necro.  He places a chair in the corner, then hits Necro in the gut with another chair.  Necro is whipped into the chair, then hit with another.  Stevens charges, but Necro throws a chair at his feet.  Necro with a DVD through a chair to Stevens for two when Strong breaks the pin up.  Strong sets up another chair and connects with a half nelson backbreaker on the chair.  Strong kind of sort of gets a Gibson Driver through the table.  It ends up more like a pedigree.  Strong puts him back in the ring and hits the Gibson Driver this time for the win.

Your winner, Roderick Strong!

There is a well done video package on ROH's 6 years in the business, with some classic moments and wrestlers no longer in the company.

ROH World Championship Match:  Nigel McGuinness (c) vs. Bryan Danielson

Collar and elbow to start.  Already with the dueling chants?  The two go hold for hold for a minute.  Dragon takes Nigel to the mat by his arm.  Nigel reverses with a wristlock.  Danielson with a dropkick to the knee.  Knuckle lock and more reversals.  Danielson trips up Nigel and begins to work on the legs.  He applies a bow and arrow.

Danielson forces Nigel's shoulders down for two, then traps the champion's arms around his throat.  Nigel reverses this hold.  Dragon ducks a lariat.  Side headlock by Nigel.  Shoulderblock and side headlock takedown to the challenger.  Single leg crab on the knee Dragon had been working in, but Nigel reaches the ropes.

Nigel gets Danielson into the corner and hits him with a European Uppercut.  He works on the arm and mocks Danielson.  Headstand in the corner, but Danielson with a dropkick to the body (rather than the head).  Suicide dive, also to the body.  Danielson with a missile dropkick, once again, to the body.  Back suplex by Danielson and Nigel grabs his head.  The ref tells him to come back in, but Nigel gives him a big forearm to try and get out of the match.  Paul Turner disqualifies Nigel. 

Nigel grabs the mic and says the wankers have their world title match.  Aries, Steen, Delirious, and Roddy (?) tell him to defend the belt with honor or go through them.  Nigel elects to get in the ring.

Danielson goes on the attack right away and begins to chop Nigel, with the announcement that Cary Silkin has announced the match must be restarted.  Nigel kicks Dragon in the chest, then drives his shoulder in the turnbuckle, and then the post.  Nigel scissors the the left arm on the mat, then goes after Danielson's face by rubbing his forearm on it.

Dragon kicks him in the leg, but Nigel kicks right back with a shot at the bandaged thigh, followed by a boot choke in the corner.  Nigel with a running European Uppercut in the corner.  Nigel drives the arm to the canvas.  He sits on the arm and twists Dragon's head, then pulls back on the right arm, going after three spots.

European right to Dragon's face.  Dragon ducks a lariat and kicks Nigel.  Charging knees to the gut, followed by a Dragon Kick.  Nigel sits on the apron and Dragon with another running kick to the back.  Nigel blocks Dragon and suplexes him to the floor.  Nigel with a running European Uppercut on the floor.  Dragon reverses an Irish Whip and sends Nigel into the barricade.  Dragon ducks one of those lame rebounds on the floor and back drops Nigel into the crowd.  Dragon springboards off the top rope into the crowd on Nigel.

Nigel catches Danielson and tries to turn him, but Dragon locks in a Triangle Choke.  Nigel escapes and hits a lariat.  Nigel with a late cover for two.  He sits Danielson on the top rope and tries for the Tower of London.  Danielson pushes him off and takes Nigel to the floor.  Dragon charges, but Nigel hits him before he can dive out and hits a Tower of London off the apron to the floor.

Nigel rolls Danielson in the ring and covers for two.  Nigel applies Cattle Mutilation on Dragon.  Heel!  Did Danielson just lose a tooth?  Danielson turns it into a cover for two.  Nigel misses the Jawbreaker Lariat, but he is able to hang Dragon on the top rope.  He connects with this lariat.  Tower of London gets two.

Nigel locks in the London Dungeon.  Dragon makes the ropes.  Nigel tries for the hold again, but he gets rolled up for a near fall.  Chaos Theory by Danielson.  Nigel and Dragon exchange stiff shots.  Throat thrusts by Nigel.  Danielson avoids a charge and places Nigel on the top rope.  After some brief fighting, Nigel gets a back superplex for two.  He cinches in Cattle Mutilation, literally in the middle of the ring.  Nigel turns over, and this is where we normally get the elbows, but Danielson stays true to his word and gets two with a superplex.  Elbows to the ribs and an armbar.  Nigel rolls right into a Triangle Choke.  Danielson again refrains from throwing elbows at the head.  The arm goes down twice, but Nigel holds on and makes the ropes.

Nigel with shots to the body.  Danielson orders the ref to make a ten count.  Nigel pulls himself up.  More body shots from Danielson and Nigel gets out with a HEADBUTT!  Evil!  Danielson with a kick to the gut, but Nigel comes back with another headbutt, going after Dragon's bad eye.  Lariat to the eye by Nigel.  Nigel with elbows to the head.  You cad, Nigel!  Big elbow right to the eye, followed by London Dungeon, and Danielson is out.

Your winner, Nigel McGuinness!

Match thoughts:

Fun tag match to open the show.  More Tornado in any promotion is good.  This was probably better than a singles match with Delirious would have been.  Gowen sucks, though.

The promo between Danielson and Nigel was amazing.  This is a must see promo.  It beautifully foreshadowed events in the title match later on in the night, and the mic work by Nigel and Danielson was passionate.

Albright-Generico was a good back and forth affair, but I kind of hate the MMA style finish.  I prefer to see a guy lose with his shoulders on the mat, or his hands tapping.

Unlike a lot of people, I had no problem with the Larry Sweeney Show.  My problem is with idiots who would cheer that, but it sounds like they worked on that in post production.  It's an effective angle, certainly not the worst thing ever done in wrestling.

Matthews-Steen had a really cool finish.  Joey had some good matches in ROH up to and including this point, but a lot of them were too similar.  The stalling was kept to a minimum, thankfully.

Aries-Go turned out to be a near classic.  Love the psychology here.  The near falls were believable and built up a ton of drama.  The crowd was really into this match, and rightly so.  Must see bout.

The SHIMMER match was a lot more enjoyable than I thought it would be, mostly due to del Rey's excellent selling and offense.

Tag match was faced paced and pretty exciting.  The Vulture Squad is good, but it's pretty clear they rank low among the tag teams, so I didn't expect them to win. 

The FIP three way was as brutal as you'd expect, but it went on about five minutes too long.  For most of the match, it was unlike a typical three way as all men were involved in the action.  That broke down towards the end. 
Definitely worth watching, though.

Brilliant psychology by the champion, and this is a pivotal moment in his career.  An epic match that will definitely be on the shortlist for MOTY.  The booking was genius, taking the promo from earlier and using Danielson's promises to make Nigel look like the biggest heel in the world.  Nigel really turned around his championship reign here.

It goes without saying that this is must see.  The Anniversary show is obviously one of the ROH tentpoles, and the matches live up to that standard, especially the title match.  You won't be disappointed.

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