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DVD REVIEW: RING OF HONOR A NIGHT OF TRIBUTE

RING OF HONOR: A NIGHT OF TRIBUTE
LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK
NOVEMBER 19, 2005
 
Show opens with the ring announcer asking for a moment of silence as they give Eddie Guerrero a ten-bell salute.  After the tenth bell, there is applause followed by an “Eddie!” chant.  This show is dedicated to the memory of Eddie Guerrero.

Samoa Joe Promo: Oh, how things have changed.  You know, Chris Daniels actually brought him here to ROH with one simple mission and that was to hurt Lo-Ki.  He did exactly what was asked of him.  He had victory at hand but that wasn’t his job.  His job was to come to Glory By Honor and hurt him.  When he came to ROH, he had one simple goal.  That goal was to make his payday, make it well, and he did.  Then at the First Anniversary Show you have a riot break out.  By this time he had realized where his loyalties lied.  Those loyalties lied with those people who had his back around the world.  It was with Corino and it was with the group.  It was one of the craziest things he was ever involved in.  You’ve got a bunch of rabid, angry, and some say personally involved friends of Homicide.  They were seeking blood for what happened to their boy.  But he was making his payday and getting the job done.  He protected his boys because he knew they would have his back.  However, things happen that make you think that paydays just aren’t enough.  Maybe cashing that paycheck had nothing else to show for it or isn’t worth it.  I decided it was time to move on to bigger and better things.  An opportunity presented itself.  He was the number one contender for the ROH World Championship.  Why waste that?  See ROH fans hated Xavier.  Let’s not mince words or pretend there was anything else involved.  They hated him and they wanted a new champion, a new leader, and somebody to take this promotion into the next era.  He decided it was time for him to be that man.  He had one goal as champion.  That was to take a company into a new era.  In order to take a company into a new era, you have to have a mission.  His one mission was to bring pro wrestling back to the forefront.  Men like Christopher Daniels, Paul London, and the phenomenal AJ Styles stepped up to the plate.  He’ll be damned if one of them didn’t take that belt away from him and end his era.  That ended his goal and stopped me from achieving what I wanted to do. 

Then when you have a list of challengers there’s always exceptions.  One of those exceptions was Homicide.  Ever since he came to ROH they have had each other’s number.  Homicide and Joe do not like each other but there was respect there for a time.  Then it escalated.  If there is one thing people need to understand about Homicide it is that there is only two ways with him, black or white.  You’re either on his side or against him.  He has stood against him ever since he got there and will pretty much stand against him well into the future.  But, with Homicide you took him to the limit but you couldn’t get the job done and then there are other exceptions like CM Punk.  Punk, a man I hold in great regard outside the ring but inside the ring a man who is my greatest competitor.  He is a man with one goal.  They entered ROH at the same time and they wanted the same things.  Punk wanted his championship and he wanted his win, his definitive championship win over him.  In three matches they changed everything.  In three matches they pushed each other to the limit of 60 minutes, 60 minutes, and when it came down to it 30 more minutes later he was still ROH Champion and Punk could not beat him. 

Outside from challengers, you have men who just want a piece of you.  When you’re rising and when you’re making headway when they said that men like him couldn’t make headway heads turn and eyes get fixed upon you, you realize one thing and that is no matter now great the superstar they still want a piece of you.  This was person was Mick Foley.  Foley thought he’d come to ROH he thought his reputation would precede him and that would stand up and he would be his friend simply because of who Foley was.  Foley was not there in the battles he has fought in.  Foley was not at ringside seeing him hurt.  Foley was never in his corner when I needed a friend.  Foley’s career and what he’s done in the wrestling industry is legendary.  Well, hell, he’s one of the greatest success stories in the history of professional wrestling.  That was then and this is now.  When it comes down to it, Mick was the one that left.  Mick was the one that didn’t want to compete.  Joe says he’s always ready for a fight and as soon as Foley takes the time to realize he’s ready for a fight too, he’ll be here.  Until that time, Foley is the one that walked away. 
After it’s all said and done, his time as champion is over.  There are other goals to achieve.  Even though he no longer has a belt, he still wanted to test himself against the best in the world.  Then came Kenta Kobashi.  His career, what he’s done and his performances are legendary but once again that was then and he is now.  In New York, he put it on the line.  He came out on top but left knowing that outside the fine parameter of competitors you’ve had throughout his career there’s one more man in the world that can take him to the limit.  That was him, Samoa Joe. 

From international superstars around the world we come to something a little bit more home grown.    First off, there’s Jay Lethal.  It’s no secret he saw potential in him quite a long time ago.  I asked him one question and that question was did he want to be the best.  Lethal said yes.  Then he asked Lethal if he would do whatever it took it takes.  Lethal said yes.  Lethal became Pure Champion.  That is an accolade that is highly regarded in ROH and around the world.  But the one lesson I gave him was that champions aren’t forever.  As champion, you always have to be on your guard.  In New York, they put it all out on the line and Joe came out victorious.  Now, he was Pure Wrestling Champion.  He held the World Title for 21 months then he had the Pure Title belt.  Now, there’s one more belt, one more goal, one more thing in Ring of Honor that he has not achieved, the tag team titles.

Now, most would say the tag team titles are no big deal.  It’s the singular accomplishments that make him and they’re right.  He will be singlehandedly the first ROH Grand Slam Champion.  He says Jay is his protégé for one reason.  That is because he thinks Jay has what it takes to the be the very best.  You know what?  Lethal has fought all up and down this great country with me at my side.  He’s been in his corner and it’s for one reason.  He thinks Jay has the potential to be the very best.  He says he plans on taking Jay with him when he hunts down the Tag Team Championship because he is Samoa Joe.  He is a Ring of Honor wrestler and he is pro wrestling.

Jason Blade and Kid Mikaze vs. Dunn and Marcos, the Ring Crew Express
 
The match was a really good opener.  Prazak and Leonard took a few minutes to reflect on the late Eddie Guerrero.  This match had a lot of offense in it.  Mikaze did hit a nice spingboard dropkick the corkscrew by Dunn and Marcos.  Blade and Mikaze did hit a slingshot into a dropkick for a two count.  They then hit a springboard dropkick off the second rope.  Dunn then got caught into a headscissors then went into the turnbuckles.  Dunn hits a back bodydrop.  Then Dunn and Marcos hit a elbow drop.  Dunn and Marcos then hit gorybombs and then hit a sliced bread number two.  They then hit a senton off the top rope for the pin.  I liked this march.  There is a lot of potential in all four of these athletes.
A digital image is shown that was taken by a fan at Vendetta in Chicago Ridge.  After the show Jimmy Rave attacked Jade Chung in the parking lot.  There is no video footage of the attack, just this promo.  Rave gave Chung a pedigree in the parking lot.  She suffered broken cheek bones and is out of professional wrestling.

Austin Aries Promo: Prince Nana, Alex Shelley, Jimmy Rave, and the Embassy, your time is drawing near.  This is the last show before Steel Cage Warfare.  This is the last show before they get their hands on the Embassy in the cage where there is nowhere to run.  But tonight they have to put personal issues aside.  They have to focus on professional things and one of our professional things is Matt Sydol having a chance to become ROH World Champion.  Aries says Strong he doesn’t have to tell him how important that is.  Also, the two of them have a shot to become number one contenders to the ROH tag belts.  He says he know Strong is going through some personal things right now.  They’re going to put personal issues aside and focus on professional things.

Roderick Strong Promo: See, ever since Chicago Ridge 11/5 his life hasn’t been the same.  See, Jimmy Rave, Prince Nana, and the whole Embassy think it’s okay to take something from somebody, something that means so much, something that had such potential.  Well, when Jimmy Rave gave Jade that pedigree and crushed in her face, they just upped it another notch.  December 3, Steel Cage Warfare, they don’t understand.  He will do whatever it takes.  He will crush in their faces with his bare fists.  He will chop their chests until they are gushing blood.  He will give them backbreakers until they can no longer walk.  But tonight is just going to show them that their little games does not affect him and/or Generation Next.  So tonight they will become the number one contenders for the tag belts.

Davey Andrews versus Jimmy Rave
 
As Prince Nana enters the ring he asks if this is what they say about Jimmy Rave.  Are they kidding him?  As a “shut the f*** up” chants, he says first and foremost.  Then he says he bets they know how to use a dictionary.  Can he keep it real with us?  First and foremost let him explain something to us.  At Steel Cage Warfare, New York City, New York, Generation Next the Embassy will finally finish them in that steel cage.  They can go back to Michigan or wherever it is they’re from because the Embassy are going to put Generation Next out.  He then asks how we liked what they did our friend Jade?  As a boring chant starts, Prince Nana says he and Jimmy Rave are upset at the Ring of Honor fans for how they treat him.  The next time anyone throws any of those stupid toilet papers into the ring it will be the last time they’ll be working for the company.  Now he introduces Jimmy Rave.
Andrews starts out with a waistlock.  Then he follows it up with chops.  Rave hits a neckbreaker.  Andrews hits forearms followed by chops and elbows then a clothesline.  Rave has a roll-up.  Andrews hits a missile dropkick for two.  Then he hits a chinlock.  Rave hits a spear and gets the pin with the pedigree.  I really like Davey Andrews.  I think he really makes a good impression whether it would be Adam Pearce or Jimmy Rave.  He definitely has a huge future in front of him.

Colt Cabana promo:  He calls Homicide a thug.  He sure is for leaving him in his own pool of blood and held him defenseless against myself.  That’s a thug tactic.  Also a thug tactic is trying to cut his tongue with scissors while duct taped.  He took him all wrong.  Homicide is a hard man.  He is a notorious thug.  He is a mean man.  He took him all wrong but if he took him all wrong then what did Homicide take him for?  The silly white guy or the silly white boy?  Is that what hethinks they took him for?  He thinks since he’s a thug that he’s the weaker man.  That’s what a thug does.  He prys on the weak.  Well, yeah, yeah, he grew up in a big white house with a white picket fence and a loving family.  Yeah I did.  His parents still love each other   They’re not divorced.  They love each other and they love him.  They gave him the best educations.  They sent to the best schools and to college.

He had great friends.  One is working as a bigwig at the Tribune.  One is in the NFL.  One is at the Merck.  They are all successful people.  His parents said to him that he can do anything with his life that he wants.  He can be a doctor, a lawyer, or an architect.  They say to look at his brother.  He is a director in Los Angeles.  He could have done anything he wanted and asks Homicide what he should do.  He says he could’ve been a doctor or a lawyer but he’s a fighter.  That’s what he does for a living.  I’m in the scummiest business there is.  It’s a carnival or side show or a freak show.  He’s a fighter or a grappler.  He has the fighting instinct and he was born with it.  That’s why he does what he does.  He’s not a big shot lawyer or doctor.  Him?

He had to do it.  He is a thug growing up on the streets of Brooklyn fighting not knowing where your next meal was or where you were sleeping.  He had to do it.  He had to but what’s going on in his brain?  He didn’t have to do it yet he still fights because of who he is.  That’s what he was made to do. 

Maybe he told a joke but he did not have that hatred.  There was no reason for it.  There was no reason that got him going.  Nothing that got his blood going or made him tingle inside go through his veins.  When a man tries to cut out your own tongue well you start thinking things that go through your head.  That hatred or the reason for fighting starts to come alive and now only now he got his eyes on the prize.  He has got it goingand focused.  He has a reason, a meaning in professional wrestlingand he’s going to face him tonight with no DQ and he wants him to remember one thing.  He wants him to think about it.  They are fighters.  The cavemen that used to fight for women.  Olympians used to fight for medals.  Professionals would fight for money.  Tonight Homicide no DQ there has to be a winner.  He’s not fighting for his life.  He’s fighting for Homicide’s.  He says he’ll see him in the ring.

Matt Sydal vs. Christopher Daniels with Allison Danger vs. AJ Styles

Styles and Daniels battled a lot early on and forgot about Sydal for the most part until he came off the top and hit a legdrop.  Styles came back with a dropkick of his own on Sydal.  Styles then hit a vertical suplex.  He then hit a knee drop.  Sydal and Styles then double team on Daniels.  Daniels then hit a powerslam on both Styles and Sydal.  Sydol hit a backbreaker then a vertical suplex from Styles.  Daniels then hit a neckbreaker.  Daniels then hit a belly to back suplex on Styles and Sydal.  He then hit an Arabian Press for a two count.  Sydal then hit a drop toe-hold.  He then hit a dropkick and a chop.  Styles then hit an inverted DDT.  Styles then hit a backbreaker on Syaol.  Then he hit Sydal with a DDT.  That is followed by a clothesline and a moonsault.  Sydal then hit Styles with a dropkick.  Sydal hit a clothesline on Daniels.  That is a Death Valley Driver.  AJ Styles applies a hammerlock.  Daniels hit a powerbomb on Styles.  Then he hit a powerslam.  Styles applies the torture rack.  He then hits a splash on the floor.  Sydol hits a twisting body press.  Sydal hits a pumphandle gutbuster for a near fall.  Styles hits a senton on the floor.  Daniels hits Sydal with the Best Moonsault Ever for the pin.  As he leaves, he claims one match away from destiny.

Claudio Castagnoli Promo:  Hey once again it’s Claudio Castagnoli on your TV set.  Tonight he will be wrestling the Italian Supermodel Milano Collection AT, a very tough opponent.  Despite how tough he ishe cannot fully concentrate on the match.  That is because of Nigel McGuinness.  He is still in the back of his head.  He made him bleed for the first time in his career and then he screwed him for the Pure Title but this goes to Jim Cornette.  Castagnoli then asks for another title shot.  Just one more title shot is all he needs and he is coming for Nigel McGuiness. 

Gary Michael Cappetta is in the ring.  He says a member of the Ring of Honor member has asked for a few minutes in the ring.  But it’s not just any member.  He is the member having won the World Title last time in Long Island.  Ladies and Gentlemen, the American Dragon Bryan Danielson!  Ring of Honor Champion Bryan Danielson!  

Bryan Danielson says the Styles/Sydal/Daniels match was great.  He also announces to the crowd that the winner of that match gets a title shot against him tonight.  So later on in the main event he will be facing the “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels.  “A Fallen Angel’ chant followed by a “Let’s Go Dragon” chant starts.  See the reason he is out here is because he doesn’t think it was fair for them to have a tough match and then have to fight him fresh later on.  See he has scheduled a match for himself and asks for his opponent to come out.

Bryan Danielson vs. Azrieal
 
This match was a joke.  It really was.  Danielson was calling it a warm-up match but it really came off like Danielson was taunting Daniels.  Allison Danger joined on commentary and was saying how Danielson was underestimated Daniels.  Daniels has been working on this for the last four years and Danielson had better not underestimate him.  Azrial got very little offense in. Danielson taunted Azrieal by stepping on his face.  Azrieal was able to apply a sleeper and a springboard crossbody but Danielson had most of the offense and hit a German suplex after Azrial hit some chops.  Danielson won by submission.  Kind of a blah match really.

Homicide versus Colt Cabana
 
This is not a wrestling match.  It is a fight.  Cabana came to the ring and was really reserved and not all dancing to the music as he normally is.  Cabana then grabbed a fork and went after Homicide but Homicide got out of the ring first.  He then sent Cobana in the steel.  He then chokes Cabana with a bat.  Cabana hits a powerslam.  Homicide hits a dropkick where Cabana's arm in a chair then while his arm is stuck he uses a second chair on Cobana.  Homicide then uses a fork and makes Cabana bleed.  Cabana is then able on Homicide on a chair.  He then hits a lariat.  Then they both hit a suplex then Homicide hits an Ace Crusher through the table.  How Cabana kicked out of that pin attempt I have no idea.  Homicide then brings out a coat hanger and chokes out Cabana.  You got to love Lenny Leonard at the end of this match.  He is really selling how Cabana is being murdered and is turning blue.  He is screaming for Homicide to get off Cabana.  He uses expletives and they are not edited out.  I do agree that Homicide and Cabana's feud is going way over the edge.
Intermission Interview with Christopher Daniels
 
Gary Michael Cappetta welcomes us backstage.  First thing we need to know is Homicide and Colt Cobana are being attended to after that war they were in.  Now, standing next to him is the “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels.  He was in a war, a three-way war and has earned an opportunity to go for the ROH World Title.  He asked Daniels if he was ready.  Daniels asked if he is ready.  He asked Cappetta how long he has watched him wrestle and how long they have known each other.  He knows that every time he walks through that curtain, every time he makes his way down the aisle he’s ready.  But let him be perfectly clear.  Just because he and Bryan Danielson do not have a heated rivalry that he had with Samoa Joe or that we don’t have the hatred he had with CM Punk that he wants Danielson to understand that because of that thing around his waist makes him a target for him tonight.  Just because this match was not months in the making or just because this match was made minutes ago when he pinned Matt Sydol in that three way match doesn’t make it any less important for me to be Ring of Honor Championship.  So Bryan Danielson may have had only a few minutes to prepare for me but understand that he has been preparing for this opportunity ever since he walked in Ring of Honor’s front door.  So mere moments from now Bryan Danielson will step into the ring and will be face to face with “The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels on the night his destiny will be fulfilled and the only thing Danielson can do is say his prayers.  He then says “Let’s go” to Allison Danger.  Gary Michael Cappetta then sends us back to the ring for the second half of the show.
Gabe Sapolsky Tribute to Eddie Guerrero
 
Note: This tribute is verbatim from Gabe Sapolsky.  "Hello Everyone.  I just want to take a moment at this time to say a few words about Eddie Guerrero.  Of course, the wrestling community suffered a huge loss when Eddie Guerrero passed away six days before this event took place.  We have dedicated this event to Eddie Guerrero, who had a huge impact on Ring of Honor.  Umm directly he had an impact on Ring of Honor when he was the main draw when ROH started.  The very first show, “The Era of Honor Begins” in Eddie Guerrero’s name and that great match against Super Crazy that he had.  The fans in the US had not seen that match before.  That got Ring of Honor a lot of press and put a lot of attention on Ring of Honor.  And then he returned for the third show, “The Night Of Appreciation”.  Even though he was Intercontinental Champion in WWE, he committed to the booking and insisted that he keep it.  You’re seeing a highlight of that night right here with Eddie Guerrero in the ring with Bryan XL and we called it “A Night Of Appreciation” because that’s exactly what it was.  It was a night of appreciation for Eddie Guerrero.  It was for our locker room to show Eddie Guerrero how much of an influence he had on them, how much he’s overcome, and everything he did in this business how much that all meant to everybody in the locker room.  Indirectly, Eddie Guerrero had a huge influence on Ring of Honor on the style you see in Ring of Honor paving a way for the kind of wrestler you see in Ring of Honor.  Eddie Guerrero was a true influence and a true pioneer in this business and uh his loss words can’t state how huge his loss will be.  I want to thank Eddie Guerrero for all his contributions to Ring of Honor and let him know he’ll never be forgotten.'

Milano Connection AT versus Claudio Castagnoli
 
A collar and elbow tie-up begins things.  Milano begins working on Claudio’s arm.  Milano then hits a springboard then an armdrag and follows that with a second armdrag.  Claudio hits an European uppercut to Milano’s neck.  Milano hits a running dropkick.  Claudio hits Milano with a knee and his own momentum takes him to the floor.  Milano hits a dropkick to Claudio’s arm.  Claudio then hits an inverted atomic drop followed by uppercuts.  Milano and Claudio trade chops and European uppercuts.  Claudio hits an airplane spin for two and hits an enziguri.  Milano hits a money shot for a two-count.  Claudio hits an elevated uppercut.  Milano makes Claudio to an armbreaker.

Roderick Strong and Austin Aries versus Samoa Joe and Jay Lethal.
 
This is a number one contender’s match for the tag team belts.  Roderick Strong applies a hammerlock on Lethal.  Lethal applies a top wristlock.  Strong applies a cross armbreaker.  Lethal and Strong then engaged in a Grecko-Roman knucklelock.  Strong applies a full nelson.  Joe tags in and applies a snapmere.  Joe then hits some chops.  Aries then hits a side headlock takedown.  Lethal then hits boots to Aries’ midsection.  Lethal then hits some hard chops.  Strong hits Lethal with such a hard chop it knocks him down.  Strong hits a leg lariat for a two-count.  Strong and Aries hit a double delayed vertical suplex.  Aries hit a body press for a two-count.  Lethal hits a spinebuster on Aries for a two-count.  Joe tags in and hits a leg lariat.  Joe then hits a rear chinlock on Aries.  That is followed by a running boot.  Lethal hits a knee to Areies’ solarplexes.  Strong then hits a series of chops and a backbreaker on Joe.  Lethal then hits a running vertical suplex and a diving headbutt.  Joe then hits a series of chops.  He then hits a powerslam on Aries.  Strong hits half nelson backbreakers.  Aries then hits the frog splash for the win.  After the match, Aries cuts a promo saying they are number one contenders and are coming after the tag team belts.  Jimmy Rave then comes to the ramp and pedigrees Roderick Strong.  Then they cut to the back where Matt SydAl is also laid out.


For the ROH World Title: Christopher Daniels with Allison Danger versus Bryan Danielson
 
The two men begin talking trash as the match starts.  Danielson applies an armbar.  Danielson then applies a side headlock.  Daniels then hits a shoulder tackle.  Danielson hits a takedown.  Daniels then applies a leg scissors.  Danielson then hits an uppercut.  He then grapevines Daniels’ legs.  That is followed by a knee drop.  Daniels hits a roll-up for a two-count.  Daniels hits a clothesline.  Danielson then hits a lariat.  He then applies a surfboard.  Danielson then hits a dropkick to the back.  That is followed by a slingshot suplex.  Daniels then hits an enziguri.  Daniels then hits a running knee followed by an Arabian press.  Daniels then hits a high cross body.  Daniels then hits a powerbomb.  Danielson then hits a diving European uppercut.  He then hits a diving headbutt.  Daniels then hits a Kunji Clutch.  Daniels then hits a Best Moonsault Ever for a two-count.  Danielson then hits a dragon suplex.  He then hits a rolling forearm for the pin.

Samoa Joe Promo:  Things don’t always go as planned.  We can call tonight a temporary setback.  His partner Lethal and he have been a long time.  They’ll be at it for it for a long time until Joe becomes ROH Grand Slam Champion.  Joe slaps Lethal on the arm and asks if Lethal is all right then asks what.  Lethal looks at Joe and says he can’t deal with this.  Joe then calls for Jay to come back.

The DVD closes out with Eddie Guerrero crying in the ring with the crowd chanting “We will miss you”.

Thoughts on the card: First and foremost, the Eddie Guerrero tributes were well done.  I was really disappointed in the card as a whole considering this was the go-home show before “Steel Cage Warfare”.  Why was there only one promo each for the Embassy and Generation Next going into Steel Cage Warfare?  I was not at all pleased with Nana’s cheap heel heat promo on Jade Chung’s being pedigreed on concrete.  The Aries/Strong vs. Joe/Lethal was good.  Sydal/Daniels/Styles was really good.  The rest of the matches were pretty good but there wasn’t that one match that was just one that brought the house down though the Styles/Daniels/Sydal match was the closest.  All the matches had solid work-rate.  I just wish it had promoted Steel Cage Warfare a bit more.  I give this card a three out of five star rating because of the decent match quality but outside the three-way match there was nothing that really stood out. 

Next time, I will backtrack a bit and review the October 15, 2005 “Buffalo Stampede” show.  If you have any comments or requests, feel free to email me at ke4ole@bellsouth.net.