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Ring of Honor Caged Rage DVD Review
Caged Rage was held by Ring of Honor on August 24, 2007 in Hartford, CT. The show has two Steel Cage matches at the top, the main event being for the Tag Team Titles, and a Three Way for the ROH World Championship on the undercard.
The DVD opens with the ROH Tag Team Champion Briscoe Brothers talking about their cage match tonight, the first time those belts are being defended in a cage. Jay shows off a bump on his head. Mark makes sure Generico and Steen know that they are crazy country boys.
Hallowicked vs. Chris Hero (w/ Larry Sweeney, Bobby Dempsey and Sara Del Ray)
It's pretty wild for me to see this CHIKARA match in a ROH ring. Dempsey does some squats and pushups while Sweeney lays down the law with the ref than jaws with the fans. Hero works the arm to start. Hallowicked reverses into a hammerlock. Hero reverses into a wristlock into a side headlock. Shoulderblock by Hero then he hot dogs around the ring. Hallowicked springs off the ropes for an arm drag then makes fun of Hero. Wicked gets his own side headlock and leaps off the ropes for another arm drag. He follows it up with a couple more arm drags to put Hero on the mat. Hero gets out and shows off his agility. Sweet n Sour, Inc. does some squats on the floor before Wicked takes them out with a dive from the ring. Hero with a forearm smash and boot to the side of Wicked's head for two. Hero boots him again and then stomps the hand and head. Standing senton gets two. Head and arm trap by Hero. Wicked fights out and rolls up Hero for two. He goes for the big boot, but gets caught in a release German by Hero for two. Sweeney berates a Hallowicked fan at ring side. Hero with a Camel Clutch in the ropes. Slingshot stomp onto Wicked. Chops in the corner. WIcked dodges a charge and hits the Big Boot. Wicked chops back. Another two count with a roll up by Hallowicked. Headscissors takedown to Hero for two. Hero blocks a charge, but runs into a Sky High for two. Hero's Welcome ends this one.
Your winner, Chris Hero!
The announcers plug Hero's grudge match against Claudio Castagnoli at Manhattan Mayhem II, which took place the night after this show. In the back after that match, Sweeney brags about S n S's win. He puts over Hero and says this was almost an exhibition match. Sweeney hypes the Double C match and Hero talks about how he carried Claudio into the United States.
Rhett Titus vs. Jimmy Jacobs
This is Jacobs' return from injury and he gets a Welcome Back chant. Sign of respect before the match. Lockups and reversals to start. Titus tries to work on Jacobs' formerly injured leg. He kicks Jimmy in the corner. Side headlock by Titus. Jacobs punches out. Hip tosses by Jacobs. He tosses Titus to the floor. The jockey for position on the apron. Titus' head is driven into the turnbuckle and Jacobs hits a springboard clothesline. Titus stops Jacobs by pulling him down by the hair, but Jacobs takes advantage of the showboating. Jacobs puts Titus by the turnbuckle pole and connects with a kick that sandwiches the head. Jacobs applies pressure to the back in the middle of the ring. Standing dropkick by Titus for two. He works the healing left leg again. Suplex into a pin for two by Titus. Titus kicks the leg in the corner. He tries to remove the brace, but gets kicked in the mouth. Jacobs gets stomped in the side. Scoop slam by Titus. Jet Ski leg drop fails to connect. Jacobs fires away with forearm shots on the ropes. Titus kicks his leg out from under him. Titus misses a charge and is hung in the tree of woe. Jacobs charges and kicks him. He tests the leg by going to the top and nails a back senton. He finishes the match with a DDT into a guillotine choke.
Your winner, Jimmy Jacobs!
Post match, Jacobs says that one was for Lacey. He says his knee is 100% and he is feelin' good.
Four Corner Survival: Adam Pearce (w/ Shane Hagadorn) vs. BJ Whitmer vs. Delirious vs. Nigel McGuinness
Nigel and Whitmer really get the match started with some wristlocks. Lots of running and leapfrogs. The two then trade near falls. Pearce tags Whitmer out. He wants Delirious. Nigel complies and tags him in. Delirious with a collar and elbow then asks who has the power. Pearce says "This is where the power lies". That never gets old. Delirious powers out of a waistlock. Comedy spot. Inverted atomic drop by Delirious, but Pearce hits a spinebuster. Scoop slam and Whitmer is tagged in by Pearce. Snap suplex by BJ for two. Delirious hits a flying crossbody off the top and tags Nigel in. Nigel with strikes and a running European Uppercut into the corner. Lariat to BJ and then Pearce. Nigel hits the Tower of London, but Pearce breaks up the pin. Delirious sends Pearce to the floor then hits a somersault off the top to Pearce and Hagadorn. Nigel misses a lariat and gets caught in a German Suplex pin, but Delirious breaks it up. Pearce dumps Delirious. Nigel with a judo throw and he works the arm. Whitmer breaks it up. Delirious off the top with a headscissors takedown to Whitmer. Pearce with a rack bomb to Delirious. Nigel with a Lariat to Pearce. Whitmer catches him with a boot and pins Nigel, but Pearce breaks it up and dumps Nigel. Pearce pounds BJ in the corner. He tells Hagadorn to get a table. Hagadorn sets it up between the apron and ring. Delirious blocks the attempted powerbomb. Headstand dropkick in the corner by Nigel to Whitmer. Pearce clotheslines Nigel. Delirious and Pearce cancel each other out as Nigel wins with the jawbreaker lariat on Whitmer.
Your winner, Nigel McGuinness!
Pearce and Delirious fight in the ring after the match. Hagadorn tries to interfere, but he gets hit with a Panic Attack. Brent Albright runs in and nails Delirious with a Half Nelson suplex. Pearce tells him to do it again as they establish a connection between Albright and Pearce. Pearce talks about Delirious' mask and tells him to wear it forever as he prepares to staple it on. Whitmer gets in the ring. Pearce turns his back on Whitmer and gets shoved. BJ powerbombs Hagadorn. Pearce tells him to make his choice. He appears to side with Delirious, but turns and gives him a piledriver. BJ and Albright hold Delirious as Pearce staples the mask.
Resilience (Austin Aries, Matt Cross, & Erick Stevens) vs. Jason Blade, Pelle Primeau, & Eddie Edwards
The ring announcer says that if either Cross or Stevens get pinned, they will be replaced in Resilience by whoever pins them. If Aries is pinned, he will break up the stable. Pelle is taken out by Davey Richards, who takes his place in the match. The story here is that Aries thinks Resilience needs to be shaken up and Richards wants to be the one to break the stable apart. Cross and Blade start slow, but get going when Blade hits a couple of dropkicks. He goes for the headscissors, but Cross plants him on the mat. Edwards and Stevens tag in. Edwards with a waistlock, but Stevens reverses. Stevens doesn't budge to the shoulderblocks. The two trade chops. Stevens with a forearm. Dropkick by Edwards. Shoulder tackle by Stevens. Richards tags in. The fans want Aries to come in. Stevens tags him in. Aries and Richards brawl with each other. Dropkick by Davey. Aries blocks a kick and hits a dragon screw. STO by Aries. Boot to Richards' forehead. Richards is pushed into the corner. Stevens tags back in and stomps away. Scoop slam and elbow drop for two by Stevens. Cross tags in and chops Richards in the corner. Big dropkick by Cross for two. Aries tags in with a slingshot senton. Cross and Stevens then hit them as Aries covers for two. Stevens tags back in. Aries and Stevens double team him in the corner then Cross runs over and hits a leap frog double stomp. Stevens covers but the pin is broken up. Double team backbreaker by Stevens and Aries for two. Richards tags Blade in, but Aries hits the Stroke. Aries gets a scoop slam and climbs to the top, but Richards shoves him off. Edwards tags in and double teams Aries with Blade. Blade tags back in and hits the arm of Aries. Backbreaker for two. Edwards tags in. Reverse elbow to Aries for two. Davey tags in and kicks Aries. Clothesline by Richards for two. Richards drives Aries into the corner and charges with a dropkick. Blade tags in and teams with Edwards for a gutbuster, then gordbuster. They sandwich Aries with low dropkicks. Stevens breaks up the cover. Aries with a low blow while the ref's back is turned. He DDTs Richards.
Aries tags in both Stevens and Cross. Blade and Edwards run in. Stevens knocks blade down. Cross with a split legged corkscrew senton to Edwards for two. Stevens and Cross charge Blade in the corner. Stevens and Cross get sent to the floor. Edwards with a suicide dive to Stevens. Aries connects with a clothesline on Blade but gets tossed by Richards. Cross flies off the top with a missile dropkick to Richards then dives over the top to the crowd on the floor. Cross and Blade get in the ring. Double team superkick/German suplex combination by Edwards and Blade to Cross gets two when Stevens breaks the pin up. Stevens no sells a superkick as he lariats Blade and Edwards. Aries and Richards come in and brawl again. Both men jockey for position on the apron. Richards ends up getting caught on the top rope. Richards tries to get the pin with the ropes, but the ref catches him. Cross with a 619 to Richards. Davey with a backslide for two. Richards tags out Blade and Edwards try to double team Aries, but he fights them off. Hi/Low maneuver by Aries and Cross to Edwards. Blade fights Stevens and Aries, but he gets caught in a triple team as Cross comes off the top with a double stomp as Stevens and Aries hold him up in the TKO position. The wrestlers not named Davey Richards show respect to each other afterwards.
Your winners, Resilience!
Post match promo has Aries calling out No Remorse Corps.
Pac vs. Bryan Danielson
AmDrag ties up Pac on the mat to keep the high flyer grounded. The announcers put over that Danielson asked for this match since he wants to take on the best in the world. Danielson goes for a triangle choke. He moves over to working the shoulder. Pac makes the ropes. Danielson goes to work on the legs, specifically the achilles tendon. Pac makes the ropes again. Danielson forces Pac to the mat once more. Pac reverses out and arm drags Danielson. Pac fakes out Danielson on a dive attempt. Hard kicks by Danielson. Then he kicks the side of Pac's head and powers him to the mat. European Uppercut to Pac. Surfboard by Danielson and he literally bends him in half as he grabs the head. Pac goes for the eyes to get out. Snap Suplex by Dragon into another head and shoulder trap. Single leg crab by Danielson, who bends him even more. Ouch. Dragon covers for two. Kicks to Pac's chest. Danielson with a sleeper. Pac gets out, but is quickly knocked down with a back elbow. Pac sweeps Danielson and nails a standing corkscrew moonsault (yes, from the standing position on the mat). I had to rewind to see that again. Sunset flip by Pac for two. Pac with a baseball slide and a variation on the Asai Moonsault. He ends up hitting Danielson, but also himself on the rails. Dropkick off the top to Danielson. Dragon with a knee to the gut. Pac blocks a charge and hits an enziguri. Northern Lights Suplex by Pac for two. Danielson blocks Pac on the top and goes for the superplex. Pac tosses him off and hits a shooting star splash onto Danielson's back. German Suplex by Pac gets two. Pac goes for a corkscrew shooting star, but Danielson gets the knees up. Roaring elbow by Dragon and he stomps Pac in the head. Triangle choke with the legs and Pac taps.
Your winner, Bryan Danielson!
ROH World Title Match: Takeshi Morishima (c) vs. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Brent Albright
There is a Danielson promo in between the entrances of Albright and Morishima. Dragon says he is going to watch the match. Albright and Claudio try to work over Morishima at the start. Morishima clotheslines both to the mat. Cartwheel by Morishima into a splash in the corner to Albright and Claudio. He tries to suplex both men, but the take him down. Mori gets up with Fighting Spirit but they dropkick him to the floor. Albright and Claudio go at it. Claudio ducks an elbow and dives through the ropes onto Morishima. Albright somersaults onto both of them from the apron. He tosses Morishima into the ring for a two count. Albright pounds Morishima in the corner. Scoop slam to Castagnoli, and then a scoop slam to Morishima onto Castagnoli for two. Albright chops Morishima, but he is put down with a butt bump. Morishima clotheslines CC in the corner. Castagnoli with a European Elbow off the turnbuckles. He goes for the Ricola Bomb, but Morishima back drops out. Claudio blocks a Back Drop Driver attempt. Albright goes for a sunset flip on Morishima. Claudio with a European Uppercut that puts Morishima on Albright for two. Claudio with a big swing on the champion (!) and he goes for the Ricola Bomb again. Albright clotheslines Claudio and catches Morishima with a German Suplex. Castagnoli with a bicycle kick to Albright, but is knocked down by a Morishima lariat and all three men are down. Albright is first up and he attacks both men. Albright with an exploder suplex to Claudio. Over the head belly to bellys to both Claudio and Morishima. TBone suplex by Albright on Morishima for two. Lou Thesz Press by Morishima gets two on Albright. Morishima goes to the top, but Albright meets him. Albright gets dumped on his head and Morishima nails a missile dropkick on Claudio. Claudio with a diving European to the back of Morishima. He slams the champion down for two. Albright with a half nelson suplex, but Claudio gets his foot on the bottom rope. Albright and Morishima trade forearms. Albright no sells a boot and gets Morishima on his shoulders for a Samoan Drop that gets two. Powerslam by Albright for two. Albright sets up Morishima for the Half Nelson Suplex. Claudio helps with a European Uppercut. Morishima smartly rolls to the floor. Giant Swing by Claudio to Albright. He goes for the Ricola Bomb, but is driven into the corner. Claudio flies off the top, but goes into the Crowbar. He makes the ropes, but Albright drags him to the middle of the ring. Claudio rolls him up to eliminate Albright.
Brent Albright is eliminated by Claudio Castagnoli
Morishima is still knocked out on the floor. Claudio rolls him in the ring. He goes for the Ricola Bomb but ends up with a Sunset Flip pin for two. Uppercuts by Claudio. He hits the Ricola Bomb for a near fall. Claudio goes for the German Suplex, but Morishima falls on him for two. The champ stomps Claudio. Claudio floats out of a Back Drop Driver and gets a Saito Suplex for two. European Uppercut, but Morishima counters with a side slam and another double stomp. Scoop slam by Morishima and a double stomp off the second rope for two. Back Drop Driver ends the match.
Your winner, Takeshi Morishima!
Becky Bayless is in the back with Steenerico. Steen talks about how long the feud has been going on as Generico massages his back. Steen and Generico want the belts and to kill the Briscoes.
Steel Cage Match: Roderick Strong vs. Jack Evans
Evens with a cartwheel kick and chop in the corner. Springboard moonsault press by Evans. Strong chops him on the ropes. Evans with a kick off the ropes for two. Dropkick to Strong's back. Strong clubs Evans in the back of the neck. Chop to Evans' chest. Strong throws Evans into the cage from the crucifix position. He drives Evans into the cage face first for two. Evans kicks back, but is quickly grounded. Backbreakers by Strong. Delayed vertical suplex and Strong drives him into the cage before dropping Evans into the mat. Evans fights back, but is knocked down with an elbow. Military press to Evans, who is thrown into the cage again. Strong bends Evans on his shoulders. Evans is able to get Strong in a tree of woe, but Roderick throws Evans off the top and dives off the ropes with a stomp. Evans kicks out of another submission, but is driven to the mat for two. Evans and Strong fight on the top rope. Evans crotches Strong on the top rope and springboards off the top of the cage with a kick. Evans with a splash in the corner knee before a twisting bodypress for two. Evans throws Strong into the steel, but eventually gets back dropped into the steel by Strong. Roderick with a fall away slam into the steel and running big boot for two. The two fight on the top again. Evans jumps down to the mat and leaps up with a reverse rana to Strong's midsection for two. Evans climbs to the top, but Strong follows. Strong gets caught in the Tree of Woe and Evans leaps off the top rope and drives his knees into Roderick's chest. Evans goes to the top again, but is caught with a low blow. Strong powerbombs Evans off the top and nails a diving elbow for the win.
Your winner, Roderick Strong!
ROH Tag Team Title Steel Cage match: The Briscoe Brothers (c) vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico
Jay Briscoe gets the door kicked into his head before the brothers can get in the ring. Steen and Generico beat up Mark and roll him in. The go to hit Jay with the cage door again, but Mark dives onto them. Mark stomps Steen and suplexes him on the floor then gets a standing moonsault. He climbs up the cage, but Steen grabs him and throws him into the crowd. Steen then dumps Jay Briscoe. Steen climbs the cage and dives into the crowd onto the Briscoes. Generico and Jay trade chops in the crowd. They trade pinches on the floor. Jay kicks Steen in the head. Mark with a chair across the back to Generico after slamming Steen into the cage. Chair tossed to Steen's head. Jay and Mark pound Generico. Steen goes into the ring and the Briscoes meet him there. Steen and Jay trade punches. Mark joins in and the stomp Steen. Generico climbs in. Jay punches Generico down. Steen with a DDT to Jay. Generico kicks Mark and then the two trade punches. Jay helps his brother and punches Generico. Steen knocks Mark down. Steenerico suplex Jay into the cage. Mark fires back on Steen, but Steen ducks a kick and slingshots him into the cage with a shove from Generico. Michinoku Driver by Generico for two on Jay. Generico punches Jay. Mark punches Steen in the corner. The Briscoes toss Generico into the cage. Generico backdrops Mark into the cage as Steen hits Jay Briscoe in the back. Generico punches Mark's cut on the head. Generico slabs Mark as Steen kicks Jay in the head. Generico punches and chops Jay as Steen holds him. The two then reverse roles. Generico tosses Mark into the cage. Steen tosses Jay into the steel. Steen walks the hopes and connects on Jay for two. Generico grates Mark's face onto the steel. Jay punches back, but Steen hits a German Suplex.
Jay fights back and the Briscoes work on Generico. Jay with a boot and Mark with a clothesline for two. The Briscoes charge Steen in the corner. Jay blocks the Brainbuster from Generico and the Briscoes toss him high into the air. They chop Steen and get a doubleteam shoulderblock. Neckbreaker to Generico and Jay covers for two. Steen blocks a charge by Jay and dumps him to the floor. Powerbomb to Mark Briscoe for two. Generico charges with his big boot in the corner. Steen puts Mark on his shoulder and Generico kicks him again. Steen drops Mark's neck on his knee for two. Jay takes Steen out of the ring and throws him into the rail. The Briscoes team up on El Generico. Military Press into a DVD by Jay gets two. Mark climbs to the top of the cage. Generico fights off Jay and goes to meet him. Generico goes for the brainbuster. Mark gets ready to go off, but Steen climbs the outside and stops him. Jay and Mark knock Steen off the cage and through a table on the floor. Generico rams Jay into the cage and climbs to meet Mark Briscoe. Mark blocks him and the Briscoes hit a Doomsday Device followed by a Spike J Driller for the win.
Your winners, El Generico!
Post match, Steen attacks the Briscoes and gives Jay a package piledriver. He plants Mark onto a chair. Steen holds up one of the tag belts then throws it down to end the DVD.
Overall, a fun show. It wasn't spectacular top to bottom since there were a couple of average openers that really only highlighted the winners. The second cage match was excellent. Along with the six man tag and the World Title match, it makes this card worth seeing. If you're on the fence, it's definitely worth getting during one of the many DVD sales ROH holds. Commentary is average at best, but they did a solid job during the main event. Hartford crowd was pretty hot all show, though some of the chants leave something to be desired and I can't stand idiots who get in the face of wrestlers like they are tough.
Extras: ROH Video Wire and a bonus match with Mitch Franklin taking on Pelle Primeau for the Top of the Class trophy.
Match thoughts:
Hero-Wicked was a solid opener. Nothing to special, and those two could have that match in their sleep. Sweeney probably has the best laugh in wrestling since Ted Dibiase.
Jacobs and Titus also had a kind of paint by numbers match to showcase Jimmy's return. The booking is smart...no need to do anything crazy, just establish that he's back in fighting shape.
Four Corner started slow, but everyone got their spots in at the end and looked strong. I couldn't help but think that the post match beatdown and stable formation would have been better with another team. Pearce was so blah on the mic.
The Six Man Tag was a good showcase for Resilience, but you never thought that any of them were in danger of losing despite the stipulations set up by Aries. It probably was a little too long, but the last 5-7 minutes was very entertaining.
Those submissions that Dragon had on Pac were almost too painful to watch. Problem was that Pac didn't sell them at all when he was getting in his offense. Pac has a lot of potential and can do some amazing moves, but I'd like to see more psychology.
The ROH Title match was very good, but lost some steam when Albright was eliminated. Some of those moves on the champion were very impressive.
TNA could take a page out of ROH's book. On a show called Caged Rage, only the top two matches were in the cage. Matches that had a lot of history behind them.
Strong and Evans was solid. It teased moving to spectacular, but lacked something and ended rather abruptly. Still worth seeing.
Fantastic main event. I loved the brawling in the crowd to start. Just brutal tag team warfare with both teams pulling out all the stops. Best match of the show.
This is my first ROH review and I'd love to have some feedback, so if you have any questions or comments, please email me at edsh007@hotmail.com.
