PWInsiderXTRA - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

DVD REVIEW: ROH SOUTHERN NAVIGATION - DANIELSON VS. BLACK, NOAH VS. NO REMORSE, NECRO BUTCHER VS. JACK EVANS AND MORE

On May 9, 2008, Ring of Honor ventured below the Mason-Dixon Line for their first show in Virginia, Southern Navigation.  Looking at the match listing, this could be a top heavy show.

Roderick Strong and Rocky Romero are in a press box of some sort as Team NOAH works out in the ring.  Roddy is asking how is teammates are doing, and Davey is shining Strong's FIP belt.  Strong calls the NRC the top faction in ROH.

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

Sweeney runs down Manassas before Pelle comes out.  Pelle goes right after Hero, but is chopped to the canvas after getting some offense in, then kicked in the head.  Pelle with an inside cradle for two.  He blocks a charge and gets a headscissors takedown out of the corner.  One more headscissors.  Pelle through the ropes with another headscissors.

Hero rolls in the ring and avoids a springboard, then boots Pelle in the face, knocking Primeau off the apron.  Hero drops Pelle chest first across the apron.  Hero rolls Pelle in the ring, then kicks him in the face and kind of covers for two.  Elbow to the side of Pelle's head.  Pelle rolls up Hero for two, but is caught on another wheelbarrow and dropped on his posterior for two.

Hero drops Pelle on the mat and gets two with a back senton.  He then chokes Pelle.  Pelle with some forearms.  Armdrag to Hero and a bodyscissors rollup for two.  Another headscissors takedown.  Hero catches Pelle with a Roaring Elbow in the ropes, then hits a big boot for the win.

Your winner, Chris Hero!

After the match, Sara del Rey, who walked off several shows back, comes to the ring.  Sweeney tells Sara to show the crowd what she is made of, so she beats up an ROH staff member.

Rhett Titus & Rex Sterling vs. Mitch Franklin & Sean Denny

Denny and Sterling start.  Denny trips Rex and gets a wristlock.  Rex reverses and takes Denny to the mat, but he gets kicked in the head.  Titus and Franklin tag in.  The two trade side headlocks.  Side headlock takedown by Franklin.  Rex kicks Mitch in the back.  Titus dumps Franklin on his head, but Franklin no sells and applies a side headlock.  Titus knocks Franklin to the mat for one.  Titus distracts the official while Rex chokes Franklin.  Sterling tags in and hits a backbreaker.  He goes after the back on the mat and tags Titus back in.

Titus kicks Franklin.  Suplex by Rhett for two.  Forearms by Franklin, but Sterling tags in and keeps up the assault with a kick to the head.  Mitch with a sunset flip for one.  Sterling with a vertical suplex into a neckbreaker for two when Denny breaks the pin up.  Titus "tags" in, but misses a charge and Denny comes in to clean house.  Release German Suplex on Rex.  Back body drop to Titus for two.  Franklin tags in, but the Tornado DDT is blocked.  Dropkick by Titus, and he hits Splash Mountain for the win.

Your winners, Rhett Titus & Rex Sterling!

Age of the Fall is stalking Lacey.  Mercury says Jimmy is really going to do it, isn't he.  Jimmy says yes.  They spot Lacey and Jacobs gets out of the car.  He approaches her and she wants to know what is going on.  He pulls the spike out as the other AOTF members stop the tape.

Four Corner Survival: Damien Wayne vs. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Brent Albright vs. Nigel McGuinness

Nigel shakes everyone's hand but Claudio.  Claudio forces a handshake.  Wayne and Albright start off.  Waistlock by Albright.  Albright trips him and gets a front facelock on the mat.  Wayne with a hammerlock.  Albright gets to his feet with a waistlock.  Wayne and Albright continue to mat wrestle and reverse holds.

Albright with a shoulderblock.  Wayne and Albright trade arm drags and trips for one counts.  Forearm by Albright and this might be the worst standoff I've ever seen.  They shake hands, but Albright uses the opportunity to suplex Wayne.  Dropkick by Wayne.  Nigel comes in and attacks Wayne from behind.  Claudio wants a piece of Nigel, but the ref keeps him out.  Nigel and Albright charge Wayne in the corner.  Claudio comes in and knocks Albright down, then steps up to kick Nigel off the top turnbuckle.

Claudio officially tags in and he wants Nigel.  Nigel tags in as well.  Claudio forces him into the corner and Nigel tags Albright in.  Heh.  They lock up.  Claudio with a side headlock takedown.  Albright charges in the corner.  Shots from Albright and Nigel with a blind tag.  Nigel with some uppercuts and chops.  Claudio meets him on a charge and begins to fire away.

Vertical suplex by Castagnoli for two.  Nigel reverses an irish whip and clubs Claudio to the mat after a kick to the back.  Nigel puts Claudio on the top rope.  Wayne tags Claudio out, climbs over him, and gets two with a sunset flip on Nigel.  Wayne with a couple shots to Nigel, but McGuinness with a big European Uppercut.  He sweeps him to the mat.  Albright tags in and goes after Wayne.  Albright covers for two and hits a European Uppercut.  He takes a cheap shot on Claudio, then Nigel comes back in.  Nigel with a headlock on Wayne, then a short arm lariat, but Albright breaks the pin up.

A couple more Europeans by McGuinness.  Wayne blocks a charge and Nigel goes for the jawbreaker, but Claudio tags in and meets him.  He knocks Albright out of the ring, then slams Nigel to the mat for two.  Lariat from Nigel for two.  Nigel goes for another Jawbreaker, but Claudio trips him and hits a Giant Swing.  Claudio measures Nigel and hits a running European, but Albright breaks the pin up.  Albright with a backbreaker.  He drags Claudio to the corner, then tags him out.  Wayne tags in, as well.

Body Slam by Wayne for two.  He tosses Albright out of the ring.  Nigel gets up and slaps him to the mat.  Claudio blocks Tower of London on Wayne and sends Nigel to the floor.  Wayne leg drops Albright in the back of the head as he tries to get back in the ring, but he misses a top rope elbow.  Albright with repeated knee strikes, and the ref stops the match.

Your winner, Brent Albright!

After the match, Claudio grabs the belt and soaks in the crowd's chants of "Next World Champ".  He shoves the belt in Nigel's chest, then shares some words.  Nigel says Claudio hasn't proved a thing and Castagnoli chases him to the back.

AOTF are at a lovely stream.  He says anyone who should question his leadership ability looks clueless.  He did what he had to do, now it's Tyler's turn, telling him titles mean power.  Black talks about how things will be different from his last matches with Danielson.  He's learned a lot since then, and is more focused than ever.

Aries comes out for his match, but he gets on the mic and tells Jacobs to come to the ring instead.  Stevens comes out.  Aries tries to tell him he has something to take care of, but Stevens is having none of it.  Stevens turns him around, but Aries pounds him.

Austin Aries vs. Erick Stevens

Aries, wearing jeans, goes after Stevens in the corner.  Stevens comes back and chops Aries in the chest.  Stevens kicks Aries in the corner.  Scoop slam to Aries, followed by a fist drop for one.  Aries kicks Stevens and hits him in the back, then chokes him in the corner with his boot.  Stevens punches Aries in the gut, then hits a double axe handle to the back.  Stomps to Aries in the corner.  Stevens goes for a charge, but Aries gets out of the ring.  Stevens gives chase and pounds Aries on the floor.

Aries is sent back in the ring, but Stevens is caught with a dropkick on the apron, then Aries hits a suicide dive.  Stevens drives Aries into the corner.  Roaring Elbow by Aries, but he is caught with a powerslam.  Stevens puts Aries on his shoulders, but Aries elbows out.  Stevens blocks the brainbuster and lifts Aries up.  Aries tries to get out with knees, but Stevens perseveres and hits a TKO.  Aries blocks a Doctor Bomb attempt and goes after Stevens' legs.  Shinbreaker into a back suplex, followed by a dropkick in the corner.  Brainbuster by Aries for two.

Aries locks in Last Chancery.  Stevens kicks Aries leg out, but Aries holds on with some knee strikes.  Stevens tosses him off and hits a release German, then charges in the corner.  Stevens drives Aries to the mat for two.  He goes for a Doctor Bomb, but Aries counters with a back slide and he kicks Stevens in the head.  Aries makes like he is going for the Brainbuster, but he applies the End Time instead and Stevens taps.

Your winner, Austin Aries!

He calls Jacobs out again.  He says Lacey didn't reject Jacobs, Jacobs rejected her and threw her away, using her as a pawn.  He calls Jacobs insecure and asks what he is going to do.  Aries says Jacobs didn't take, but he gave Aries hate.  He again calls him out to the ring.  Jacobs doesn't come out and Aries says he will have to hunt him down.

Jay, sans the injured Mark Briscoe, also wants Jimmy Jacobs.

No DQ Match:  Necro Butcher vs. Jack Evans

Necro goes right after Jack and punches him, then throws him out of the corner.  Jack with a backflip kick to Necro's head.  He then kicks Necro out of the ring and gets a baseball slide.  Jack flips over the top rope and grabs a chair.  Jack jumps off the apron and hits Necro in the head.  He tosses Butcher into the guardrail and hits various shots.  Necro throws Jack into the crowd, then delivers a backbreaker onto the guardrail.  He lifts the mats up, then slams Evans onto the floor.  He covers him with the apron and hits a back senton.

In the ring, Evans is choked by Necro.  Necro with thumbs to Evans' eyes.  He kicks him in the back.  Bearhug by Necro.  Jimmy elbows out.  He tries to slam Necro but falls back and Necro gets a two count.  Bulldog out of the corner by Necro for two.  Necro goes for a chair.  He hits Evans in the back.  Chair slam by Necro for two.  Necro sets two chairs up back to back.  Jack fights off Necro, then drives Necro's head onto the chairs.  Jack with a knee strike in the corner, and he hits a 630 Splash, but can't cover right away, so Necro kicks out.  Jack with more shots.  Necro punches Evans on a springboard, then hits a nasty backbreaker on the back of the two chairs.

Your winner, Necro Butcher!

Lenny Leonard gives us an update on Mark Briscoe.  Jay has selected Austin Aries to defend the belt in Mark's absence.

Jay Briscoe vs. Jimmy Jacobs

Jacobs comes through the crowd.  Aries tries to attack, but Tyler Black is there and he takes him to the back.  Jay comes out to go after Jacobs and the match is officially on.  Jacobs puts the breaks on a charge, but misses a dropkick off the apron.  Briscoe throws a chair at Jimmy's head, then punches him.  Jay puts more chairs in the ring and kicks Jacobs in the head.  He throws Jimmy across the timekeeper's table, then rings the bell on his head.

Jay rolls Jimmy into the ring and kicks him in the corner.  Jay with a running clothesline.  He picks up a chair, but Jacobs with a low dropkick.  Jacobs with repeated double stomps in the corner followed by a back senton.  Jacobs wallops Jay in the head with a chair shot, then kicks him in the head, followed by a neckbreaker.  He lays the chair on Briscoe, then hits more double stomps for two.  Jacobs drives the top of a chair into Jay's throat, then gets a shot to the kidneys in.  Jacobs chokes Briscoe with a chair, then spears him in the corner with the chair for a couple of two counts.

Jay and Jimmy trade punches.  Jacobs drives Briscoe into the corner.  Jimmy with a crotch squeeze.  Jimmy lays a chair across Jay's face and drives it into the side of his head.  He sets up a chair in the corner and suplexes Jay to the mat.  Jay puts the brakes on and sends Jacobs into the chair face first.  Kick to the back of Jacobs' head.  Jay with a chair shot and Jacobs falls to the floor.  DVD by Jay for two.

Jacobs goes to the eyes, but Jay comes back with a spinebuster.  Jay piles some chairs in the middle of the ring.  Jay sits Jimmy on the top turnbuckle.  He looks for a top rope Jay Driller.  Jacobs blocks and sends Jay onto the pile of chairs.  Jay rolls out of the way and Jacobs goes onto the chairs when he misses a back senton.

Jay with a nasty rebound chair shot on Jacobs.  Jimmy blocks the Jay Driller and rolls through a Sunset Flip to lock in the End Time.  Jay gets up and drops Jacobs onto the chairs.  Jay sets up two chairs face to face.  He smacks Jacobs in the head with a chair shot.  Briscoe lies a chair on top of the set up chairs.  He goes for a Jay Driller, but Necro runs out, and Jacobs applies the End Time after crashing through the chairs. 

Your winner, Jimmy Jacobs!

Jacobs keeps the hold on after the bell.  Aries comes out and hits Necro with a chair, then goes after Jacobs.  Some of the under card performers try to break it up.  They keep Aries from going after AOTF.  Aries runs to the back.

Tyler Black vs. Bryan Danielson

Black drives Danielson into the corner and fires away on Dragon.  He then dumps Danielson to the floor and kicks him when he jumps off the apron.  Suplex on the floor by Black.  He sandwiches Dragon's head against the ring post with his knee, then covers in the ring for two.  Black with some punches, but Dragon Hulks up and comes back with a couple Europeans.  Dropkick by Black for two.

Front facelock by Black.  Danielson forces a break by taking Black to the corner.  Black blocks a right hand and hits Danielson, then gives him a scoop slam, followed by a stomp to the face.  Black with another right hand, followed by a choke in the ropes.  Snapmare and Black goes for one of Danielson's signature holds.  Danielson avoids it, but gets elbowed in the back and sent into the turnbuckle.

Dragon blocks a charge and charges with a running kick.  Danielson pulls back on Black's nose, then drives the knees to the canvas.  Knees to the chest of Black.  Knee to the gut and a Dragon Kick by Dragon.  Danielson successfully applies a surfboard.  Danielson has Black bent in a really sick way, so sick that he is able to seamlessly go to Cattle Mutilation, but Black makes the ropes.

Danielson peppers Black's sauce in the corner.  Snapmare and Dragon Kick.  Danielson turns Black over, but before he can apply anything, Black makes the ropes.  Danielson snaps to the mat and sits on Black's tied up leg.  He snaps back to the mat again and relaxes.  Bow and Arrow by Danielson.  Black makes the ropes.  Danielson covers for two.  He teases Black and then knocks him down with a European.  He does this again.  Danielson wants the best from Black, but he hits another European Uppercut, then follows with a knee drop out of the corner.  Danielson wrenches back and bends Black's back again, then covers for two.

Danielson kicks Black in the back, then ponders his next move.  A couple of stiff kicks to the chest by Dragon for two.  Black dumps Danielson over the top rope again, then flips over the top rope onto Dragon.  Black springboards into the ring, then gets a spinning heel kick.  Black charges in the corner with a forearm.  Danielson avoids another charge, but gets kicked in the back of the head.  Springboard lariat by Black for two.

Black slaps and taunts Danielson.  Danielson meets Black on a springboard attempt and shoves him to the floor.  Danielson goes for a suicide dive and ends up in the front row.  He quickly gets back to his feet and climbs to the top rope.  He hits a missile dropkick.  Black avoids a charge, but runs into a mule kick.  Kick to the side of the head by Danielson for two.  Danielson goes for Cattle Mutilation, but Black rolls over.  He lands on his feet after a suplex attempt.  Danielson rolls through a rana for two.

Black kicks Dragon in the head.  Black and Dragon with a forearm exchange.  Roaring Elbow from Dragon, enziguri from Black.  Powerbomb in the corner by Black, followed by a Big Boot.  Black goes to the top rope, but Danielson crotches him.  Black elbows Danielson off, but Dragon follows one more time.  He is again elbowed off.  And again Dragon goes up.  Down goes Danielson.  Black goes for the Phoenix Splash, but lands on his feet as Danielson rolls out of the way.  Dragon catches Black and locks in Cattle Mutilation again.  Black turns over, but Dragon with elbows to the head.  Black gets to his feet and drives Dragon to the corner.  Danielson avoids the leaping kick and locks in a heel hook.  Black kicks Danielson in the head, but Danielson is still able to lock in a half crab and Black taps out.

Your winner, Bryan Danielson!

Team NOAH (Go Shiozaki, Takeshi Morishima, & Naomichi Marufuji) vs. No Remorse Corps (Roderick Strong, Rocky Romero & Davey Richards)

Go gets Davey to the mat with some headscissors.  Davey gets out and works on Go's left arm.  Go reverses into a hammerlock.  Davey's shoulderblocks have no effect, and neither does his snapmare and dragon kick.  Davey ducks a chop and avoids a suplex, but Go eventually chops him down.  Davey avoids a charge and tags Rocky in.  Morishima tags in for NOAH.

Rocky is at a height disadvantage.  He pleads for mercy and tries to go under Mori's legs.  Big forearms from the former ROH World Champ.  Rocky with some kicks, but he runs into a Morishima dropkick and Mori does the hip swivel.  Strong tags in for Romero and Marufuji tags in for Morishima.

They meet to no effect on shoulderblocks in the ring.  Roddy chops Naomichi down to the mat.  Knuckle lock and Strong powers Marufuji to the mat for a couple of two counts.  Dropkick by Marufuji.  Go tags in and locks up with Strong.  They trade chops.  Rocky tags in and chops Go in his corner, then pokes him in the eye.  Knee drop by Go.

Davey tags in and keeps up the assault on Go in the NRC's corner.  Go blocks a suplex and hits one of his own.  He tosses Davey to the floor and Morishima crushes him against the guardrail.  Go holds Davey in the ropes and Marufuji dropkicks him in the head.  Go with a chop and Marufuji tags in.  He toys with Davey on the mat and Morishima tags in.  Morishima sits on the back of Davey's neck in the corner.  Go and Marufuji tower on top of him.  Poor Davey.

Morishima charges and throws himself against a sitting Davey.  Go tags in and gives Richards a dropkick for two.  Davey is able to get to his corner and the NRC duplicate NOAH's earlier corner spot.  Go powers Rocky into his corner and Marufuji tags in.  Rocky kicks him to the mat and tags Strong in.  Marufuji blocks a charge and puts Roddy in the corner, then hits a leaping splash.  The NRC triple team Naomichi in the corner, ending with a Davey nut flick and Strong covers for two.

Romero ties up Marufuji in the middle of the ring, then gets a two count.  Davey with repeated shoulder charges in the corner.  Clothesline by Davey.  Strong tags in and hits a dropkick for two.  Romero tags in and Strong tosses him on top of Marufuji for two.  Davey in with some headscissors on the mat, getting help from Rocky for leverage.

Kicks to the chest from Davey.  Marufuji kicks back, then gets a baseball slide to Davey's head.  Hot tag to Morishima, but he is jumped by the NRC.  He suplexes Rocky and Roderick, then charges Romero in the corner.  Morishima goes to the top, but Davey meets him.  Davey is shoved off and Morishima connects with a missile dropkick for two.

Morishima sits down on a sunset flip, but Davey moves and kicks him.  Enziguri by Davey.  The NRC come in to attack Morishima.  Frog Splash from Davey for two.  Morishima fights back against Strong and tags in Go.  Go with a charging chop in the corner.  He catches Roddy with a back suplex, then chops for two.  Chop exchange by Strong and Go.  Strong with a couple big boots.  Go blocks the third and chops down Strong.  Go to the top, but Strong meets him.  Superplex by Strong.  Go no sells, but Roddy gets a pumphandle backbreaker for two.

Romero tags in and hits a top rope crossbody, followed by some kicks.  Victory roll by Romero for two.  Go chops him down, then tags Marufuji in.  Romero kicks him on the rebound from an enziguri, but runs into a clothesline for two.  Dragon screw to Romero, who was sitting on the top rope.  NOAH triple team him for two.

Springboard DDT by Romero for two as NOAH fights the NRC on the floor.  Armbreaker by Romero, but Go breaks it up.  The NRC charge Marufuji in the corner.  Flying knee strike by Romero for two when NOAH breaks it up.  Marufuji with elbows in the corner.  Springboard rana by Romero sends Marufuji out.  Go comes in with a suplex.  Richards slingshots Romero into Go's groin.  Roderick gets Morishima up for a gutbuster, but Marufuji gives Strong what is now known as a Codebreaker.  Swinging DDT by Romero to Marufuji for two.  Marufuji avoids the Tiger Suplex and drives Romero to the mat, then hits a superplex for two.  Another superkick, followed by a Shiranui and Team NOAH wins.

Your winners, Team NOAH!

Match thoughts:

You know what you are getting with a match that Pelle Primeau is in.  He gets a few headscissors, some roll ups, then his opponent wins.  Standard fare.

Tag match was filler, but it's nice to see Titus being used on more shows since he is the most talented of the students.

The Four Corner Survival was better than the word of mouth I had heard would indicate, but it wasn't a blowaway match.  Also, I hate ref stoppages, so that hurts it for me.

Good, short match between Stevens and Aries.  Not every match needs to go over 15 minutes, and the End Time finish was a nice touch.

The No DQ match wasn't bad, but we've seen better from both.  I think they might have had a better No DQ match in JAPW now that I think about it.

The relaxed rules (read: No DQ) match was a better plunder battle than the one that preceded it.  Jacobs and Jay went after each other hard.  Best match to this point.

Black and Danielson had an excellent match, with Danielson once again pushing Black to another level.  Best in the World versus one of the best up and comers on the independent scene.  Lots of fun to watch, and Dragon was really at his near best here.  He looked like he was having a lot of fun after a brief hiatus from ROH.

The main event tag was fun, but I thought it was a let down from the previous two matches, probably because I prefer to see Morishima and Marufuji in singles matches.  It was enjoyable, though.

Match of the night honors go to Danielson and Tyler Black.  It was an good show, but I can't give it a recommendation to buy because it's shorter than most DVDs by about thirty minutes and the opening matches aren't anything special.  A show this short needs to be strong top to bottom for it to be really worth your money.  As I said, I enjoyed watching it, and I won't recommend not buying it, either.  Just know you might not be getting the value that you do with other ROH shows.

Any comments or questions can be sent to edsh007@hotmail.com.