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Ring of Honor returned to Manhattan Center for their fifth straight sellout in the building with Manhattan Mayhem II. It took place on August 25, 2007 and follows Caged Rage. The show features two amazing title matches at the top of the card.
Adam Pearce, Brent Albright, and BJ Whitmer are in the back, with BJ shaving Shane Hagadorn's head. Pearce cuts a brief promo setting up the six man tag later in the night.
Jigsaw & Mike Quackenbush vs. Resilience (Matt Cross & Erick Stevens)
For the second straight show, two top CHIKARA stars are part of the opening match. It's very cool to see such a large crowd cheer for Quack. Stevens powers Quack to the mat at the start. Quack with a side headlock, but Stevens tosses Quack off. Stevens with the side headlock. Stevens with a shoulderblock. Quack bails for a moment. Quack goes to the reversals and sweeps Stevens down. Octopus Stretch by Quack in the center of the ring. Stevens powers himself over to the corner. Cross and Jigsaw tag in. The two trade wristlocks. Roll up by Jigsaw for two. Cross shows off his acrobat skills and blocks Jigsaw's satellite headscissors takedown attempt. Stevens tags in and prevents a Jigsaw tag. He pounds and chops Jig before stomping him in the corner. Back elbow to Jigsaw for two. Cross tags back in. Resilience double team Jigsaw in the corner. Leapfrog double stomp by Cross. MDogg pounds Jig in the back and hits a dropkick for two. Jigsaw with an inside cradle for two, but he is quickly put back down. Stevens in again. Big suplex by Stevens gets two. Double team dropkick/side slam for two as Cross comes back in. Jig blocks a split legged moonsault by getting the knees up. Quack and Stevens tag in. Quack with a flying elbow. Cross and Stevens go for a double team but Quack blocks it and gets Cross to chop Stevens. He and Jig hit elbows in the corners. Palm strike to Stevens and Jig hits the Leap of Faith. Quack follows with a Senton Bomb for two. Back breaker to Stevens and Jig tags in, but misses a leg drop from the top. Jigsaw blocks a Cross springboard. Jigsaw goes for the Jig n Tonic, but Stevens clotheslines him and Cross turns it into a sunset flip powerbomb pin for two. Cross and Stevens charge Jigsaw in the corner. Cross hits a corkscrew moonsault for two. Jigsaw floats out of a double team suplex. Quack tags in and gets a reverse DDT to Cross while giving Stevens a regular DDT. BTS by Quack for two. He ties up Cross, who makes the ropes. Stevens tags in and knocks Quack down. Jig tags in and hits an enziguri. Stevens blocks a superkick and gets slammed to the mat. Dr. Bomb ends the match.
Your winners, Matt Cross and Erick Stevens!
Mitch Franklin vs. Jimmy Jacobs
For the second straight night, Jacobs is taking on a student. Jacobs is the new Top of the Class trophy holder. The crowd is excited to see him back. Franklin with a side headlock takedown. Arm drags by Mitch force Jimmy to bail. European Uppercut on the ropes by Jacobs. Franklin dropkicks the left knee that has a brace on it. Jacobs chops Franklin in the corner. Franklin dodges a charge and comes off the top, but Jacobs counters with a clothesline in mid air. Jacobs sandwiches Franklin with a dropkick against the ringpost. He then drives Franklin to the mat multiple times. Franklin avoids an elbow and gets two with a crucifix pin. A ran sends Jacobs into the corner. Franklin rolls him up for two. He sends Jacobs to the mat and gets another near fall with a roll up. Side headlock by Franklin. Jacobs puts him on the top rope. Franklin is hung in the tree of woe and Jimmy follows up with a charge and dropkick. Jacobs climbs to the top and hits a back senton before going into the guillotine choke for the win.
Jack Evans talks in the back about the three members of the defunct Generation Next stable being in a match. He then says he has brought with him a person that can help him take the next step. Off screen, someone crows. It's no secret who that is.
Adam Pearce, Brent Albright, & BJ Whitmer vs. Delirious, Nigel McGuinness, & Pelle Primeau
Pearce, Albright, and Whitmer formed a stable the previous night at Caged Rage. The story is Pearce wants Delirious, Albright wants Nigel, and BJ wants Pelle. Pearce cuts a trademark blah promo before the match. Their opponents run out and there is a brawl to start. Delirious and Pearce start. Delirious with some clotheslines and a leaping lariat. Nigel tags in and teams with Delirious for a double back elbow. Nigel goes after Pearce on the floor and hits a European Uppercut against the rail. Pelle jumps off the apron with a dropkick to Pearce. Nigel covers in the ring for two. Pelle tags in and kicks Pearce. He hits a DDT for two. Delirious tags in and kicks Pearce in the gut, followed by some elbows. Pearce blocks a cobra clutch and chokeslams Delirious. Whitmer tags in and chops Delirious in the corner, followed by a snap suplex. Albright tags in and punches Delirious. Suplex by Albright and Whitmer tags in. Headbutt by BJ. Chinlock on the mat by BJ. Delirious escapes a side headlock, but Whitmer takes him down by grabbing the tassels. Delirious gets worked over in the corner as his opponents continue to make frequent tags. Albright prevents Delirious from making a tag and hits a belly to belly. The ref misses a tag from Delirious and he continues to get beaten. Delirious finally gets a tag to Nigel who cleans house. He suplexes Pearce onto Whitmer. Shane Hagadorn sneaks in, but gets a big Lariat. Albright attacks Whitmer and Albright in the corner. Lariat to BJ gets two. Delirious clotheslines Pearce from the ring. Nigel throws Primeau into BJ and then nails the Tower of London with help from Pelle. Albright breaks the pin up and knocks Primeau's head off. Half Nelson suplex to Nigel. Delirious hits Albright with the Panic Attack, but gets caught in a Rack Bomb. Primeau comes in, but Whitmer catches him with a big boot and piledriver for the win.
Your winners, BJ Whitmer, Brent Albright, & Adam Pearce!
The winners continue to beat on their opponents after the match. Whitmer pounds Pelle on the mat. The announcers play up that Whitmer is doing whatever Pearce tells him to do. Pelle gets busted open and powerbombed multiple times. Albright puts him on his head with a Half Nelson Suplex. Nigel clears the ring when he grabs a chair.
Cary Silkin and Pro Wrestling NOAH's Ryo Nakata come to the ring. It is announced officially that Glory By Honor weekend will feature KENTA, Marifuji, Morishima, and Misawa. The crowd goes wild for the last name.
Delirious cuts one of his non sensical promos in the back.
Pac vs. Davey Richards
Richards spits in Pac's hand when it is offered for a shake. Richards pushes Pac to the ropes. Richards with a hammerlock, and then a headscissors on the mat. Pac gets a side headlock. Fireman's carry by Richards and he pounds Pac in the head. Richards takes Pac to the mat and they do some brief chain wrestling. Davey bails. Another side headlock, and this is getting boring, which is sad with a guy like Pac in the ring. Pac gets some headscissors. Dropsault by Pac. The two trade chops. Back body drop by Pac. Clothesline by Pac in the corner and then a dropkick to Richards' chest for two. Snapmare and leg drop for two. Pac dumps Richards and then hits a beautiful SSP off the top rope to the floor. Pac with some forearms. Richards kicks him and hits backflip knees to the chest for two. Richards kicks him in the chest but is caught with a roll up for two. Richards charges Pac into the corner and tees off on him. Clothesline by Davey. German Suplex for two. He gets a straitjacket suplex for two. Some idiots chant Benoit. Richards puts Pac on the top rope. Pac fights him off and hits a SSP to the back of the head as Davey is getting up. Pac gets two with a German Suplex. Davey goes right into a submission but is rolled up for two. Pac blocks a gutwrench and gets an enziguri, then spikes Richards with an inverted rana. Pac with another rana for two. Pac goes to the top, but takes too long. Richards gets knocked off a couple times. Pac charges the ringpost, and Richards gets a tombstone piledriver into the Kimura for the win.
Your winner, Davey Richards!
Jack Evans brings out the first member of his crew, Julius Smokes. Smokes gets a Welcome Back chant. Smokes christens their group The Vulture Squad.
Jack Evans vs. Roderick Strong vs. Austin Aries
Generation Next explodes! Strong kicks Evans and throws Aries out. He then goes after Evans in the corner and chops him on the ropes. Aries trips Evans and hits a slingshot senton, then pounds Strong. Evans and Aries take turns beating on Strong. Double team hip toss to Strong. They team up and knock Strong to the floor. Evans dance kicks Aries in the head. Stroke by Aries. He goes for a Figure Four, but is kicked off. He falls to the floor when Strong pulls the ropes down. Evans follows and goes for a rana off the apron, but gets powerbombed to the floor by Strong. Strong sets up a table across the apron and guardrail. He gets Aries and they fight for position. Roll up by Aries for two. He kicks Strong in the chest for two. Fireman's Carry into flapjack by Strong. Evans breaks the pin up. Evans with a bicycle kick to Roderick. Evans springboards off the top rope and kicks Strong and Aries. A corkscrew press onto both gets two. DVD by Aries to Evans onto Strong. Aries puts Evans on the top. Strong sneaks up with a belly to back suplex to Aries. Evans crotches Strong and kicks him in the back of the neck. Aries dives and hits a Lariat on Evans before he can leap from the ring for two. Suplex by Strong to Aries for two. Strong chops Evans and goes to the apron with him. He gets him in a crucifix, but Aries blocks it. Aries and Strong then try to suplex each other. Gutbuster by Strong followed by a Stronghold. Evans breaks the submission with an inverted rana to Strong for two. Aries clotheslines the referee. Evans with a spin kick, but there is no one to count the pin. Aries hits a Brainbuster off the top rope. He goes for the 450 splash, but Strong pushes him off the top through the table.
Strong calls out Davey Richards and they work over Evans. Smokes yells TRANSFORM and Ruckus from CZW comes out. Razzle Dazzle to Richards and a backflip moonsault onto Strong. Evans with a 450 Splash to the floor on the NRC. The Vulture Squad celebrates their formation. Aries gets in the ring and wants to know what's going on. Smokes tells Ruckus and Evans to kick his ass. The rest of the Resilience hit the ring. Stevens powerslams Evans. Ruckus and Stevens brawl on the floor. Cross dives over the top to wipe them out. Strong goes to hit Aries with a chair, but Aries sees it and punches him. Low blow by Strong and he attacks with the chair, followed by a running boot. Stevens gets the chair and hits Strong. Aries kicks him in the head, hits a Brainbuster, and then a 450 Splash off the top. Paul Turner is back up and makes the count.
Your winner, Austin Aries!
Rebecca Bayless is in the back with Jimmy Jacobs and wants to know how he is doing. Jacobs says it has been a good day and good weekend. He says there haven't been many good days, but he got through it with Lacey. He says he has a new purpose and the fans will find out pretty soon just what that is. Foreshadowing!
Resilience are in the back. Aries says all bets are off. He says the rules of the game have changed and they are now in Resilience' favor.
Eddie Edwards vs. Ruckus
Rucks goes for some more trademarks and makes Edwards bail. He leaps to the floor and kicks Edwards. Shooting star press of the apron. Ruckus misses a handspring elbow. Chinbreaker by Edwards for two. Edwards knocks Ruckus down for two. Delayed vertical suplex by Edwards for two. Chinlock to Ruckus on the mat. Ruckus gets out and kicks Edwards in the head. The two get up and trade forearms. Double stomp and corkscrew body press by Ruckus. Back rake and scoop slam. Ruckus climbs to the match and goes for a moonsault leg drop, but it is countered into a pin. Enziguri by Edwards and a sitout gordbuster for two. Ruckus charges with knees in the corner and gets two with a rolling Fisherman's Suplex. Ruckus goes to the top again, but Edwards meets him. Ruckus pushes him to the mat and nails a corkscrew senton to get the pin.
Your winner, Ruckus!
Chris Hero (w/ Sweet n Sour, Inc.) vs. Claudio Castagnoli
Kings of Wrestling explode! Hero chops and kicks Claudio to start, but gets chased from the ring. Castagnoli picks him up and pulls him into the ring. Forearm to Hero's head. Hero shows off in the ring. Castagnoli gets behind him and hits a couple of European Uppercuts. Elbow drop off the middle rope for two. Claudio goes for the Ricola Bomb early on. Hero bails, but Claudio follows and chops him on the floor. Hero is tossed into the human cushion, Bobby Dempsey. He tosses Claudio into the rail, then gets a big boot that puts Claudio into the seats. Sweeney pulls Castagnoli off the apron and Sara Del Ray kicks him in the chest. This brings out Daizee Haze. Claudio chops Hero on the floor. Hero punches back. In the ring, Hero gets a standing senton for two. Chop and kicks to Claudio's chest. More chops from Hero. Hero with a roaring elbow and boot to Castagnoli's neck. Hero chokes Claudio on the mat. Hero dumps his opponent from the ring. Hero scoops up Claudio and drops him onto the barricade. Back in the ring, Hero considers to kick Claudio. Hero has Claudio straddle the ropes in the corner before delivering a big boot. Claudio fires back with some forearms and he dropkicks Hero to the floor. Castagnoli dives to the floor, knocking Hero into the barricade. Hero is on the apron and Castagnoli gives him some forearms. Claudio goes off the ropes but Hero gets the boot up. Giant Swing by Claudio. European Uppercut gets two. Backfist and kicks by Hero. Front flip neckbreaker and cravate neckbreaker by Hero for two. Claudio comes back with a springboard European Uppercut and Alpamare Waterslide for two. Roaring Elbow from Hero and release German Suplex. Release suplex for two. Claudio with a step up headscissors off the top and bicycle kick for two. Ricola Bomb is attempted, but Hero escapes. The two trade forearms. They fight for position on a back slide. Big European Uppercut, but Hero blocks a charge and hits a neckbreaker. He goes to the top and connects with a double stomp for two. Claudio shoves off a Hero's Welcome attempt then hits a top rope European Uppercut. A Ricola Bomb seals the deal.
Your winner, Claudio Castagnoli!
In the back, Claudio says that he proved he was the better wrestler.
ROH World Title Match: Takeshi Morishima (c) vs. Bryan Danielson
Right from the entrances, this feels epic. Final Countdown is a good theme, but I'll always think of GOB performing tric...illusions when I hear it. No hand shake for Morishima before the bell. Danielson immediately goes for the legs with some kicks. Danielson kicks some more when the champion forces him to the corner. Morishima gets frustrated at the kicks. Knuckle lock puts Danielson on the ropes and Morishima gets some shots in. More thigh kicks. Morishima pounds the back, but is kicked away. Another knuckle lock and Morishima misses a punch, which subjects him to more thigh shots. Danielson floats like a butterfly to taunt Mori. Danielson tees off on the left leg in the corner. Morishima aggressively charges and punches Danielson in the corner. I believe that is where Danielson suffered the injury to the eye that kept him out of action for a few weeks.
Hard kicks to the chest in the corner. Stiff boot to the face and Morishima stands on Dragon's throat. Danielson lands a couple of kicks, but eats a forearm and some more kicks to the face. Morishima connects on a big boot in the corner. Morishima throws his weight on to Danielson. He kicks Danielson on the mat. The action spills to the floor and Morishima connects with another big boot as Danielson is sat against the barricade. Morishima hits a butt bump against the guardrail this time. Danielson dodges a second attempt and dumps Morishima in the crowd. Dragon goes back to the ring and dives onto him in the crowd.
Danielson with European Uppercuts and more kicks to the thigh. Danielson smacks the leg with a chair. Morishima no sells a missile dropkick, but Dragon fires back with more kicks. He goes off the ropes, but is caught with a lariat. Back drop driver reversed into a pin for two. Fighting Spirit allows Danielson to come back. He avoids a butt bump with a kick. He kicks the left thigh on the mat, then goes for an achilles hold, getting some two counts when Morishima lies down. Morishima powers out and launches Danielson with a release German Suplex. Uranage by the champ gets two. Morishima climbs to the top, but is met by Dragon. Dragon gets tossed to the mat, but he avoids the missile dropkick and gets an ankle lock cinched in. Morishima reaches the ropes. Danielson goes for a German Suplex, but can't left Morishima up. Morishima with a Lou Thesz press and punches, but it is reversed into a single leg crab on the left leg.
Morishima kicks at the injured eye to escape and both men are down. Danielson floats over a Back Drop Driver and gets two with a small package. A couple of roaring elbows and another two count after a roll up. Dragon stays on the leg, but gets caught on the sunset flip attempt. German Suplex pin by Danielson for two. He elbows Morishima in the head. Danielson downs Morishima with the kicks and he stomps the champ's head in for two. Cattle Mutilation is locked in. The snowflakes keep adding up! The ref lifts up Morishima's arm, but it stays up on the third try. The champion forces himself to the ropes.
Both men are down again. Danielson is first up and he puts Morishima on the top rope. He goes for a top rope belly to back, but Morishima falls on him. Hard kick to the chest, but more fighting spirit from Danielson. Forearms and a BIG Lariato for two. Back Drop Drive connects and Morishima finally wins the match to retain the championship.
Your winner, Takeshi Morishima!
The crowd chants 'best in the world' at Danielson after the match. Dragon says the best in the world is whoever holds the ROH World Championship.
Larry Sweeney has some brief words for Claudio Castagnoli and promises that it is not over.
Best 2 of 3 Falls ROH Tag Title Match: Mark & Jay Briscoe (c) vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico
The 2 out of 3 falls match is the Briscoes specialty. These two teams are meeting a night after a brutal cage match in Hartford. There is a brawl to start. Mark and Generico fight in the ring and all 4 go to the floor. Mark suplexes Generico onto a set up chair. Jay throws Steen into the guardrail and Mark tosses a chair at Generico. He then kicks him in the head. Generico with a belly to belly into the rail to Mark. Jay is tossed to the rails by Steen, who then dives onto him. Mark fires back on Generico. Body slam on the floor and then Jay dives off the apron and knees Steen in the back. Generico is put in the ring by the Briscoes. They plant him with a double team sitout slam. Jay hammers Generico with rights. He chops Generico in the corner and tags Mark in. In another corner, Mark hits some shoulderblocks. Vertical suplex by Mark Briscoe only gets one. Gutwrench suplex and knee drop to Generico. Jay tags back in. Jay with a forearm to the face and a beautiful dropkick. Leg drop by Jay for two.
Mark tags back in with a belly to back suplex for two. Headscissors to Generico on the mat. Generico rolls over to the ropes. Mark with a forearm and Jay tags back in. He knocks Steen to the floor and hits a backbreaker. Before the Briscoes can double team Generico, Steen interferes. Generico makes the tag and Steen brawls with Jay. Mr. Wrestling claws the eyes. Steen chops him in the corner and then pokes Jay in the eye. Generico puts the boot up and tags back in. Generico with some chops and a cover for two. Steen tags back in. Drop toe hold/front flip leg drop combo to Jay. It only gets two since Steen was showing off. Steen works the arm and fights with Mark on the apron. Steen gets an overhand chop in the corner then enjoys the blood of Jay Briscoe. Jay with a neckbreaker and Mark tags in. He flies off the top with an elbow and unloads on Steen. Springboard knee to the top of the head, followed by a springboard corkscrew press to Steen for two. The Briscoes team up for a side slam/top rope leg drop combo for two.
Mark with a chop and Jay tags back in. Steen spinebusters Jay onto Mark Briscoe and tags Generico in. Generico hits a cross body off the top on Jay for two. Swinging DDT off the turnbuckle to Jay, and then Steen drops Jay's neck on his knee for two. Mark comes in and pounds Generico. Steen tosses Mark into the corner. Generico hits a big boot, but Jay catches him with a DVD. Mark with a moonsault to Generico and then he dives over the top onto Steen. Jay hits a Frog Splash.
The Briscoe Brothers take fall number one.
The crowd chants two straight. As soon as the second fall starts, the Briscoes pound Generico and then throw him over the top rope onto Steen on the floor. Steen is rolled into the ring. The Briscoes face off with him. Steen blows snot on Jay and slaps Mark. The Briscoes pound him viciously in the corner. Steen is whipped into the other corner. He blocks their charges, but goes down to a double team shoulderblock for two. Mark grinds his forearm on Steen's face. Mark punches him in the corner and tags Jay back in. The Briscoes continue the assault in the corner. Steen and Mark exchange forearms. Big boot by Mark and Jay is back in. Boot to the back of Steen's head. Mark tags in with a slingshot double stomp for two. Mark with some forearms. Generico pulls the ropes down and Mark spills to the floor. Steen soars over the top and wipes out Mark. Jay kicks Generico off the apron, then gives Steen a DVD on the apron. Generico dives through the ropes on the floor with a DVD. Love that spot. Generico stand on the apron and Mark runs and leaps over the top with a rana to the floor. This is awesome!
All four men go down. Mark and Steen are in the ring and trade forearms. Mark with some rights. He gets caught with a knee, but Mark takes down Steen with a leg lariat. Jay and Generico tag in. The trade shots to the head. Jay blocks a brainbuster and hits a sitout gordbuster. Jay climbs to the top rope, but Generico meets him. Mark with a springboard Ace Crusher to get Generico off the ropes. Jay with a Diving Leg Drop for two. The Briscoes go for the Doomsday Device, but Steen takes down Mark. Generico gets a near fall with a Victory Roll on Jay. Generico gets another near fall after a big boot in the corner. Steen tags in and climbs to the top. Jay gets the knees up. Mark pulls Steen to the floor, but gets caught on a rana attempt and is powerbombed on the apron. Jay is powerbombed against the guardrail. Generico with a top rope splash to Mark, and Steen with a Swanton, but they can only get two. Mark blocks a charge, but gets caught with the boot. Generico then wipes out Jay on the floor. Steen with a Lariat. He goes to the top, but misses a moonsault. Suplex by Mark. Fighting spirit by Steen. Mark with a superkick. The Briscoes sandwich Steen with clotheslines, then they both superkick him. Springboard Doomsday Device, but Steen kicks out. Generico knocks the Briscoes down. Steen gets Mark in the tree of woe, and Generico flies across the ring onto him. Package piledriver, but Jay pulls Generico out. Jay Driller to Steen and Mark hits the Cutthroat Driver for the win, and their eighth straight fall.
Your winners, The Briscoes!
Post match, Generico shakes the Briscoes hands. Steen wants to know what he is doing. Generico tries to get Steen to shake, as well. Steen complies, but then delivers low blows to both Briscoes. He goes for a ladder under the mat and attacks the Briscoes some more. He tells Generico to grab it or he'll kill him. The knock the Briscoes down and pose with the straps to end the DVD.
This show attains MUST SEE status due to the two title matches. Both are off the charts and feature some amazing wrestling. The undercard has some good stuff, but over one hour is dedicated to the last two matches. That hour alone is worth the price of the DVD. They are two of the best matches of 2007 and feature wrestling that you won't see anywhere else, especially the tag match. I can't recommend the highly enough. It's just that good. The crowd had some lame chants, but they deserve a lot of credit for staying hot all night long.
Extras: A video wire.
Match thoughts:
Solid opener...both teams looked good and it really got the crowd going. The Jig n Tonic spot was very cool. My one complaint is that Quack didn't get enough in ring time to really show off. He hit his trademarks, but he really shines in singles matches.
Jacobs' match was almost exactly the same as the return match he had on Caged Rage. I suppose that makes sense when they are reintroducing him to the crowds, but seeing it again was dull as far as DVD collectors might be concerned.
The six man tag was kind of eh. Not horrible, but nothing new here, either. The post match angle was more interesting.
Pac and Richards started slowly, too slowly, but it evolved into a decent bout. It never got going for an extended period of time, though.
Three way was a lot of fun and had good faction wars action. I love the addition of Ruckus to ROH, though it would have been cooler to see the rest of BLK OUT with him. Still, it was great to see a large crowd really pop for him again. The smaller CZW crowds don't cheer the moves like that anymore.
The Ruckus match did a good job at showcasing the new member of the Vulture Squad, but he's capable of doing a lot more in the ring.
Claudio and Hero can always put together a good match. A bit too many European Uppercuts, even for Claudio, but they told a good story.
I'd heard that the ROH Title match was one of the best in the company's history. I haven't seen enough ROH to say, but it was certainly very good. For Danielson to continue to take shots to that eye is nothing short of incredible. I have no idea how he was able to see effectively. What a warrior, but one can't help but worry about the long term effects of his style.
I can't do the tag title match justice with my words. It must be seen with your own eyes, that's all I can say. They topped the cage match from the night before, and I thought this was slightly better than Danielson and Morishima. They pulled out all the stops and the crowd ate everything up. Incredible performances by both teams.
For questions or comments, feel free to email me at edsh007@hotmail.com
