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DVD REVIEW: RING OF HONOR INJUSTICE

On April 12, 2008 in Edison, NJ, Ring of Honor held Injustice.  Looks like a strong card, so let's dig in.

El Generico vs. Jack Evans

Little bit of stalling before the bell.  Generico with a waistlock.  Evans flips over into a headlock.  Generico with a reversal.  Evans bridges out.  Test of strength and Generico forces Evans down, but Evans flips out and gets one.  He ties up Generico on the mat.  Evans keeps after Generico's left arm.  Evans gets a two count.  Generico fires back with a leg lariat.

Elbows to the back of Evans' head.  Scoop slam by Generico for two.  Evans tries to punch back, but Generico keeps him down and gets another two count.  Chops in the corner by Generico.  Evans counters with a rana off the top.  Generico with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two.

Evans with some kicks and he ducks a big boot.  Backflip kick, and he then takes Generico out of the ring with more flippy floppy action.  Evans with a twisting backflip off the apron into a rana on Generico.  Evans rolls Generico in the ring and springboards off the ropes with a kick, followed by a Standing SSP for two.

Evans with an inverted rana that plants Generico for two.  Generico avoids a backflip in the corner and hits his corner big boot.  He sits Evans on the top and connects with a BRAAAAIINNNBUSSTAAAHHH for the win.

Your winner, El Generico!

After Evans goes to the back, Nigel McGuinness comes to the ring.  He says he came out because he has a message for Kevin Steen.  Nigel gives Generico a lariat, then locks in the London Dungeon.  Steen runs out and Generico bails.

Steen takes the mic to talk about Nigel's comments about Steen.  He thinks the crowd likes him not for his gut or his zits, but because every night he steps in the ring to run his mouth and kick ass like no one else can, and Nigel will find that out later.

The Briscoes are in the back cutting a promo like only they can on AOTF.

Jigsaw w/ Julius Smokes vs. Mitch Franklin

Franklin gets the early advantage and holds on to a wristlock.  Armdrags by Franklin.  Jigsaw with a Gory Stretch.  Franklin escapes with a roll up for two.  Jigsaw avoids a charge and kicks Franklin in the head, followed by a corner dropkick for two.  Snapmare by Jig and he ties up Franklin before dropping him on the mat.  Franklin chops back and applies an abdominal stretch.  Tilt a whirl backbreaker by Jigsaw for two.  Jig puts Franklin on the top rope.  Franklin escapes with a suplex, followed by a tornado DDT for two.  Jig blocks a couple of charges and hits a dropkick from the corner, followed by the Jig n' Tonic for the win.

Your winner, Jigsaw!

Sweet n' Sour, Inc. come down to the ring.  Hero doesn't want to hear the laughter.  He says he is tired of being entertaining.  He's proved his greatness, but has been robbed of the ROH Title on two occasions.  He looks at Dempsey, who slammed a cage door on his head, and says he will no longer tolerate his antics.  Bobby begs off.  Hero orders him to take his shirt off and his singlet straps down.  Hero tells Dempsey to get on his knees, then tells him being a fat slob isn't funny before kicking him in the face.  Hero dishes out more punishment.  Dempsey is taken to the back.

Sweet n' Sour, Inc. (Chris Hero & Eddie Edwards) vs. Erick Stevens & Pelle Primeau

Edwards and Primeau start.  Edwards easily shoves Pelle to the mat.  Stevens tags in.  He and Edwards go around the ring with a collar and elbow.  Stevens no sells some big boots.  Shoulderblock by Stevens.  He catches Edwards with a Samoan Drop.  Pelle comes in and gets powerbombed onto Edwards for two.  Edwards chops Stevens and tags Hero in.  Stevens with a scoop slam and Pelle tags in.  Pelle gets a couple shots in and quickly brings Stevens back in.  Stevens works the arm and Pelle comes back in.  Pelle is thrown to the apron.  He avoids Hero and Edwards, but can't do anything on a springboard and Hero knocks him to the mat.

Edwards back in with a series of suplexes, finishing with a Northern Lights for two.  Edwards and Hero charge Pelle in the corner.  Hero with a dropkick for two.  Hero drops Pelle on his bottom, then chops Primeau to the mat.  Pelle with a roll up for two, but he eats a big boot.  Edwards tags back in and chops Pelle.  Clothesline by Edwards for two.  Hero tags back in and double teams Primeau with Edwards.

Hero toys with Primeau and brings Edwards back in.  Edwards rolls through a Sunset Flip and another roll up.  He is finally caught with a Tornado DDT and makes the tag to Stevens.  Stevens in and he cleans house.  He and Primeau work together on S n' S.  Pelle flips over the top rope into a rana on Edwards.  Stevens with a Powerslam on Edwards for two when Hero breaks the pin up.  Stevens tosses Hero from the ring.  Edwards goes to the top and hits a missile dropkick on Stevens, knocking both men down momentarily.  Stevens with a jawbreaker, but it sends Edwards into a tag.  Edwards takes Stevens out of the ring and Hero connects with a Roaring Elbow on Pelle for the win.

Your winner, Sweet n' Sour, Inc.!

Brent Albright vs. Delirious

Delirious gets an early advantage and takes Albright down with a side headlock.  Albright tries to suplex out, but Delirious maintains the hold.  Albright throws him off, but Delirious gets a side headlock takedown.  Albright forces a break in the corner.  Delirious blocks Albright and scores with another side headlock.

Albright gets out this time by dumping Delirious over the top to the floor.  Albright throws Delirious in the corner and gives him a European Uppercut.  While he is arguing with the fans, Delirious comes back with multiple headbutts in the gut.  Albright charges in the corner for two.  Backbreaker by Albright, and he maintains the hold to stretch Delirious.  Delirious rolls through a back suplex and gets a chinbreaker.  He charges Albright, but he is tossed into the corner.

Powerslam by Albright gets two.  Albright with a charging forearm, but Delirious prevents a second charge with a drop toe hold, following that with a Panic Attack.  Strikes and an enziguri send Albright to the floor.  Delirious climbs to the top rope and hits a suicide flip to the floor. 

Leaping Lariat off the top gets two on Albright.  Cobra Stretch is locked in, but Albright quickly gets out.  Albright catches Delirious, but he is rolled up with a crucifix for two.  Delirious goes right to the Cobra Stretch.  Albright struggles and reverses with a Crowbar.  Delirious rolls him up for two.  Big boot and 6-1-Knee from Albright.  Delirious counters a slam with a roll up for two.  Air Raid Crash by Albright gets two.  Delirious blocks the Half Nelson.  Albright places him on the top rope.  Delirious with a Sunset Flip Powerbomb for two.  He climbs to the top rope and Goes for Shadows Over Hell, but Albright catches him with a Crowbar.  Delirious rolls through.  Albright ties up Delirious' leg, but a rope break is forced.  Delirious locks in the Cobra Stretch again.  Albright makes the ropes.

Albright locks in another submission, stretching Delirious' arm.  Albright lets go and applies another Crowbar for the win.

Your winner, Brent Albright!

Larry Sweeney runs out and tells Albright to break his arm.  Albright looks willing, but Daizee Haze covers Delirious.  Sweeney orders him to break her arm.  He is less willing to do this.  Albright walks off.  Daizee comforts Delirious, but they leave separately.

No DQ:  Necro Butcher vs. Roderick Strong

Necro attacks when Strong is posing on the apron.  He kicks him to the floor and dumps Strong into the crowd.  Necro punches Strong, then slams him face first onto the seat of a chair.  The two lay into each other with shots.  Strong goes after the eyes.  Strong gets a chair and bashes Necro in the head.  Necro comes back with kicks to the face, then throws a trash can at Roddy.  Roddy sends Necro head first into the plexiglass.  Necro fires back with some punches.  He starts to throw chairs onto Strong, then tosses the section sign on him.

Strong body slams Necro onto the bleachers.  Ouch!  More chair shots to Necro.  Necro applies a testicular claw as they come back to the ring side.  Roddy throws Necro against the guardrail, then charges with running Yakuza Kick to knock Necro Butcher into the crowd.

Roddy gets a bunch of chairs and sets them up side by side and across from each other, then places more chairs on top.  He tries to suplex Necro onto them, but is blocked.  Instead, he does a Side Russian Legsweep that puts both of them on the pile.  Roddy is the first to get up  Back in the ring, an enziguri by Strong gets two.  Necro drives Roddy into the corner and fires back with a bunch of shots, connecting with a bulldog out of the corner for two.  Necro sets up two chairs back to back, then kicks Roddy in the head.  Roddy escapes from Necro and drops NB gut first onto the chairs, followed by a kick for two.

Roddy puts Necro on the top turnbuckle.  Necro counters with a Victory Roll for two.  He stops a charging Strong by throwing a chair at him.  A Tiger Driver to Strong on to a chair can only get two.  Necro puts Strong on the top turnbuckle and hits him with a chair.  He climbs up to go for a rana, but he is dumped to the floor.

Half nelson backbreaker by Strong onto the top of the guardrail.  Roddy knocks Necro to the ground and exposes the floor.  He drops Necro on the exposed floor with a standing Gibson Driver.  Strong gets a table and sets it up in the ring.  Erick Stevens runs out and powerbombs Strong through the table.  Necro takes advantage and covers for three.

Daizee Haze is cutting a promo and again it looks like they are done.  Delirious comes up and thanks her for her assistance.  She again makes a point to call him buddy.  Friend zone!

Kota Ibushi vs. Claudio Castagnoli

Surprisingly, they get right into the match.  Claudio powers Kota into the corner.  Ibushi demonstrates his kicking ability.  Side headlock by Claudio.  Ibushi reverses into a headscissors.  Castagnoli escapes and twists Kota's ankle.  Ibushi gets out and they stand off.  Castagnoli tries to intimidate him.  They shove each other.  Kick by Kota, European by Claudio.

Wristlock by Claudio, Ibushi reverses.  Front facelock by Claudio.  Ibushi comes back with a hammerlock.  Fireman's Carry by Claudio for one.  They continue to reverse holds.  Ibushi gets the advantage with kicks.  Stiff kick to the throat as Claudio is backed into the corner.  Side headlock to Claudio.  Shoulder tackle by Claudio.  Castagnoli catches Ibushi with a backbreaker, then works the back.

Ibushi gets up, but is knocked down with a European Uppercut for two.  Neckbreaker by Castagnoli for two.  Scoop slam and HEY elbow drop for two, though Claudio was easier on the theatrics.  Claudio with an uppercut as Ibushi lies on the apron.  He rolls Kota back in the ring for two.  Leg drop by Claudio for one.  Claudio turns Kota inside out with a clothesline for two.  Diving European to the back for two.

Ibushi reverses a whip into the corner.  Handspring back flip kick by Kota gets two.  Ibushi takes down a charging Claudio with a kick to the face for two.  Slaps and kicks by Kota, followed by a standing moonsault for two.  Series of kicks to the chest.  Claudio with a black tornado slam for two.  Running European by Claudio gets a near fall.  Ibushi blocks a Giant Swing by grabbing the bottom rope.  Kota manages to sweep Claudio through the ropes.  He follows up by diving over the top and hitting a springboard moonsault press to the floor.  He then kicks Claudio on the floor.  Kota with a springboard 450 splash to Claudio on the floor.  Nice!

Kota rolls Castagnoli in the ring for two.  Claudio blocks a kick and hits a European, followed by the Giant Swing for about twenty rotations.  This results in a two count.  An Alpamare Waterslide gets another two count.  Ibushi tries to get up, but he falls right back down.  Claudio goes for a Super-Alpamare Waterslide on the top rope.  Ibushi blocks and kicks Double C to the mat.  Ibushi goes for a moonsault and lands on his feet when Claudio rolls away.  Ibushi immediately hits a standing moonsault for two.

Claudio with a Bicycle Kick, but Ibushi no sells and gets two with a German Suplex.  Kota goes back to the top, but Claudio meets him.  Ibushi fights off a Ricola Bomb, but he eats another Bicycle Kick.  Castagnoli quickly follows with a Ricola Bomb for the win.

Your winner, Claudio Castagnoli!

Tammy Lynn Sytch comes to the ring.  She starts by pumping up the crowd.  She was originally here to see Aries, but he has disappeared with Lacey.  Sweeney comes to the ring.  Sweeney introduces Sara del Rey and says he loves to help people.  The crowd starts to get to him.  He calls Sytch over the hill, but he still wants to help her.  He announces the beginning of the Larry Sweeney Diva School.  Sara is a great wrestler, but he wants Sytch to turn her into a marketable commodity for the WWE, dying her hair, getting her on the diva diet, and helping with the personality coughimplantscough.  del Rey takes the mic and says she is a wrestler, not a Diva.  She has a better way of making money in this business and she walks out.  Sytch asks if Sweeney wants to be the pimp and she the madam.  Sytch starts to list the sleaze she has worked with.  Cornette and Heyman...so she can handle Sweeney.  She seems agreeable to making some money with him.

ROH World Championship Match:  Nigel McGuinness (c) vs. Kevin Steen

The two don't exactly exchange pleasantries and get right to the punches.  Steen gets the advantage and goes for an early sharpshooter.  Nigel bails and bides his time.  Steen chases him, but Nigel gets in the ring first and pounds Steen.  Steen walks out of the way of the Rebound Lariat and mocks the admittedly weak looking finisher.  Steen sends Nigel to the floor, then somersaults over the top rope.  He continues to mock Nigel's Rebound.

Steen chops the champion against the guardrail.  Nigel catches him with an elbow.  He throws Steen shoulder first into the barricade.  Steen tries to chop back and Nigel pokes him in the eye.  Nigel chokes Steen back in the ring.  Arm trap chinlock by Nigel.  Steen is able to counter with a powerslam for two.  Charging forearm to the back of Nigel's neck gets another two.

Steen blocks a back body drop with a DDT and nails a front flip leg drop for two.  More chops and shots from Steen.  Kick to the back and club across the chest in the corner by McGuinness.  Nigel drives Steen to the mat by his shoulder, getting ready for the dungeon.  Nigel stretches the left arm on the mat.  Nigel toys with Steen.  He avoids a charge and sends Steen into the ringpost by his shoulder.

Nigel uses the ringpost to inflict further harm to Steen's shoulder on the floor.  Steen rolls back in the ring after a European Uppercut from Nigel.  Nigel punishes Steen in the corner some more, then taunts Steen.  Nigel blocks one charge, but Steen does his spot where he kicks the rope into his opponent's thigh.  Missile dropkick and Steen retakes the advantage.  A couple of cannonball splashes in the corner, but Nigel is still able to block the sharpshooter.

Europeans and chops in the corner by Nigel.  Running European and a lariat for two.  Nigel blocks the Tower of London and connects with a crossbody.  Divorce Court and Nigel goes for the London Dungeon, but Steen is able to escape.  Scoop slam and Nigel goes to the top rope.  Steen gets to his feet and dumps Nigel off the top.  Steen trips Nigel and goes for the Sharpshooter.  He gets Nigel over, but Steen is forced to release when Nigel gets the ropes.

Scoop slam by Steen.  He goes to the top rope, but Nigel crotches him and nails the Tower of London for two.  Nigel with elbows to Steen's shoulders, followed by a bridge back to put pressure on Steen.  Steen rolls through and goes for another Sharpshooter.  Nigel easily makes the ropes.  He kicks Steen and hits a Tower of London on the floor.

Back in the ring, Nigel covers for two.  Nigel goes for a third Tower of London.  Steen fights it off, but Nigel hits a European.  Steen reverses a superplex with a cross body for two.  Superkick and Swanton by Steen for a near fall.  Steen blocks the Rebound Lariat and applies a Sharpshooter, but Nigel makes the ropes.  Pumphandle Neckbreaker.  Steen goes for a Package Piledriver, but Nigel counters with a pin and grabs the ropes for leverage and the win.

Your winner, Kevin Steen!

El Generico comes out to explain what Nigel did.  Steen flips out at ringside and the locker room empties to help calm him down as Nigel gloats in the ring.  Nigel calls out Claudio.  Castagnoli gets in the ring.  Claudio gets the mic and calls out Steen for his heelish behavior, in addition to claiming that his Europeans are better.  He also points out all they have in common.  Foreigners who left it all behind to go for success in the wrestling business.  Claudio wants a title shot to show he can be ROH Champion, too.  Steen is being held back by other wrestlers.  Nigel tells Claudio to back up.  Castagnoli does not oblige.  Nigel says he and history say Claudio doesn't deserve a title shot because he doesn't have the credentials.  It takes more than cheap "heys".

Erick Stevens is in the back talking about how his interference tonight was just a taste of what is to come.

ROH Tag Team Title Match:  The Briscoes vs. No Remorse Corps (Davey Richards & Rocky Romero)(c)

Quick cross armbreaker by Rocky, but Jay is easily able to get out.  Rocky counters a suplex with a side headlock takedown.  Headscissors takedown by Rocky.  Jay with a rana.  The two trade forearms.  Running elbow by Jay.  Mark tags in and hits a body slam followed by a fist drop.

Rocky turns the tables and tags Davey in.  Mark and Davey trade slaps.  Neither man budges on the shoulderblocks.  Knee to the gut of a charging Mark Briscoe.  Davey with a hard Irish Whip to the corner.  Jay helps to block Mark from going into the turnbuckle and Mark pounds Davey in the corner.  Rocky tries to help Richards in a similar way, but he ends up getting knocked to the floor by Mark.

The Briscoes with double team shoulder tackles to Richards.  Mark tags in with a knee drop to Richards' arm for two.  Another knee drop gets another two.  Richards and Jay exchange forearms.  Rocky interferes with a springboard dropkick and then legally tags in.  Romero kicks Jay in the arm, then snapmares him to the mat, followed by a knee drop to the arm.  Romero with a snapmare/dragon kick combo for two.

Another forearm exchange.  Leg Lariat by Jay.  Mark in with a slingshot double stomp, followed by a dive over the top rope onto Davey Richards.  Mark stays on Davey by whipping him into the barricade.  Davey fights back and whips Mark into the barricade.  Mark knocks Davey down and comes to toss Rocky in the ring.  He goes for a springboard crossbody, but Rocky gets a knee up, then dives on top of Mark to the outside.  On the floor, Davey drives Jay into the guardrail.

Richards tags in and gets a two count with a snap suplex to Mark.  Chinbreaker and back suplex get another two count.  Romero tags in and they hit a double team gordbuster.  Mark avoids the stereo kicks.  Mark tags Jay in, but the ref doesn't see it.  Richards "tags" in and hits Mark in the chest with some knees.  Romero back in and they team to drop Mark on the top rope.  Romero covers for two.

Richards and Mark fight on the top turnbuckle.  Mark shoves Davey down.  Rocky tries to interfere, but Mark jumps off and tags Jay in.  Jay cleans house on Davey and Rocky.  Richards sits Jay on the top rope, but ends up taking a top rope gordbuster.  Jay tags Mark in and whips Davey into a Mark dropkick.  Springboard splash by Mark for two.  Rocky prevents a double team and Richards gives Mark an enziguri.

Davey blocks a moonsault press by dropping down and getting his knees up.  Texas Cloverleaf by Davey to Mark.  Rocky gives Jay the cross armbreaker, but Mark makes the ropes.  Rocky tags in.  The NRC charge in the corner.  Mark avoids the double team and kicks Davey in the head.  Double team neckbreaker by the Briscoes to Rocky for two.  Romero avoids the Jay Driller, but runs into a DVD.  Davey sends Jay into the turnbuckle.  Mark with a springboard superkick to Davey.  Richards kicks Mark in the head and all four men are down.

Davey and Mark headbutt each other.  Everyone is slugging it out.  Davey takes himself and Mark out of the ring with a clothesline.  Jay with a press into a DVD on Rocky for two.  The NRC block the Doomsday Device.  Tiger Suplex by Rocky on Jay, followed by a Doomsday Knee Strike, with Rocky springboarding off the top rope.  Both NRC members cover, but Mark makes the save.

Mark pulls Davey out and piledrives him on the floor.  Jay no sells Rocky's kicks and nails a Jay Driller for two.  The Briscoes connect with the Doomsday Device and Mark dives to the floor to take out Richards.  Jay covers for the win and the Briscoes are five time champions.

Your winners, and new ROH Tag Team Champions, The Briscoes!

The NRC are in the back lamenting their bad luck tonight.  They plan on regrouping.

Match Thoughts:

The Evans-Generico match started a little too slowly for my liking, but I understand why they did it.  The match was a little too short, and I kind of feel that the big finisher should have been saved for a more important match.  It never really got going like I thought it would when I saw it on the DVD cover.  Still, not a bad match.

The Jigsaw-Franklin match was just a showcase for Jigsaw, so your enjoyment will depend on how much you like him.

The first tag match of the night went exactly like you thought it might.  Pelle took a beating and the pin.  Stevens was barely in the match.  Pretty average as far as these things go.

Pretty good Delirious-Albright match when they dropped the side headlock nonsense.  Nice sequence with the submissions and a decent post match angle.

The No DQ match was the first true standout of the night.  Lots of brutal plunder, and I like that most of the action took place in, or near it.

Now we are picking up some steam.  Best Claudio match in months.  He kept his usual, tired pandering to the crowd to a minimum, and I mean a bare minimum.  The pace was quick, and they were a lot of exciting sequences and near falls.

The Title match was a step back from the previous matches.  The finish was cheap, but I didn't feel ripped off.  Still, these two can do better.

The titles changed hands, but it just didn't feel special, like the NRC were just placeholders in the first place.  It was a good enough match, but there have been much better tag title matches in the past.

The show had an average first hour, then peaked in the middle, but surprisingly, to me, came back down in the last two matches.  The Steen-Nigel match was just a set up for a rematch, and the tag match is overshadowed by the return of the MCMG to ROH for a weekend of shows.  I'd save your money because nothing jumps out as must see, and there are some marquee match ups and subsequent shows.  It's not bad by any means, but there's just so much better stuff to choose from in this stretch of shows.

For any comments or questions, please feel free to email me at edsh007@hotmail.com