I should note how surprisingly professional the building looks. ROH actually has a ramp and video screens for the entrance structure. This is Bryan Danielson’s entrance at this show for an idea of how the stage is set up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNwfN_mL8gM&e
Lynn vs. King
I was really into this. This was Lynn’s first match as a member of the official roster, and for it to be in the ECW Arena was pretty cool. If I could use one word to describe this, it’s be “Refreshing.” They went in there with a clear objective of old vs. new and for Lynn to beat King while making King look good. Nothing super flashy that you haven’t seen before, but the way the match was laid out made this all the more investing. Lynn is twice as old as King btw, just thought I’d throw that out. I’m really digging what I’ve seen from Jerry so fan in his ROH run. I’ll admit that hasn’t been much, but it’s always serving a purpose. Nice promo from Lynn a few matches later in the back where he says he has one last run in him and just downs a Miller Lite.
***
Albright vs. Pearce (NWA Title)
Their DBD match from 2 months prior is one of the best matches I’ve ever seen, so my hopes were a little high for this. It doesn’t even touch that match, but for what this was it was really good. Pearce and Albright have such great chemistry and they match up so well. Pearce is a classic 80s NWA heel and Albright is a Magnum TA type of bad ass face. Albright was legit injured here and the flow and crispness of what they were going for suffered a little, but this was still another great effort from the two.
***1/2
Shiozaki vs. Steen (FIP Title)
Fun back and forth match that really fits the mold of what ROH does well.
***
Danielson vs. Nakajima (GHC JR Title)
Yeah, like this could suck. I marked for the NOAH title music before the match. Anyway, Danielson is all “Who is this douche?” and Naka’s like, “Let me show you.” And he throws a kick at Dragons’ head and Danielson’s like, “The fuck was that?!?!?” Naka targets the leg and Danielson sells like…..a salesman? I don’t know. Anyway, I can’t remember who said this but when I saw this spot I thought the same thing. They go into FIGHTING SPIRIT~ mode and start with some headdrops, but as Naka tries to German Danielson, Dragon lands on his feet and SELLS THE LEG. That’s why he’s the best in the Milky Way, folks. Amazing match and the reason to get this show.
****
Stevens vs. Titus
Right after intermission so this is squash city. It’s a great squash though as Rhett uses his cock as a weapon and Stevens gets his nose busted, so he goes STIFF on Titus. About as entertaining as a 3 minute squash can be.
*1/2
Hero/Hagadorn/Edwards vs. Strong/Ruckus/Jigsaw
Standard stuff here. Probably could have been a little shorter too.
**1/4
Claudio vs. Sasaki
Very underwhelming. Claudio works best with guys under 6 foot and Sasaki was pretty much here for the check and his student, Nakajima. Had no real personality to it and the less said the better.
**
Nigel vs. Generico (ROH Title)
This was pretty much a squash for the first part of the match. Then it kicked into high gear where you almost felt Generico could win the title before Nigel Lariats his head off. Not as solid as their first match in August (****) but still really good, which was like bare minimum for Nigel matches in 2008.
***1/2
Briscoes/Aries vs. AOTF vs. Necro (Steel Cage Warfare)
Necro is by himself here, btw. Not sure what to think about this. It never bored me, but a lot of it was meaningless weapon shots that really went no where. Crowd was dead for pretty much the whole thing, in fact they were for most of the entire night bar the opener. Still not really worthy of main eventing arguably the biggest show of the year
**1/2
Overall, this show was strange. On paper it looked like it could be in the class of SOH III, Northern Naviation or DBD VI, but it was really a dissapointment. I've heard McQueen refer to this as one of the worst ROH shows ever, and while I certainly wouldn't go that far, it did leave a bitter taste in my mouth. There's still a lot of quality here, along with important matches, which is something that I look for in my ROH purchases now. I wouldn't go out of my way to see this, though.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
TNA Slammiversary 2009 Review
Lethal/Creed/Young vs. MCMG/Bashir
This was pretty damn good. The MCMG may be my favorite team on the planet atm. Just nonstop fun in their matches. Everyone else was pretty good too, including my least favorite wrestler in the world, Consequences Creed. Went a tad too long for what they were shooting for, but it was still damn good.
***1/4
Daffney vs. Taylor (Monster's Ball)
Meh. 4 minutes of mediocre weapon shots.
1/2*
Suicide vs. Daniels (X-Division Title)
Could have been better actually. I mean, overall this was solid, but it had the potential to be great. Crowd was pretty flat, and that didn't help.
**1/2
Love vs. Kong (Knockouts Title)
Pretty much what you would expect. Kong kills, then Love takes over for a little before Kong gets back on the rampage, and then Love finds a way to retain via SHEENANIGANS~! Entertaining enough.
*1/4
Joe vs. Nash
Definitely not as good as their awesome match at Turning Point last year, but Joe's gimmick doesn't seem to be about putting on ***+ matches anymore. This was still pretty good for a Nash match with the right guy going over.
**1/2
British Invasion vs. Beer Money (Team 3D Tag Tourney Finals)
More greatness from Beer Money. It's pretty hard to hate on this team as they constantly give strong performances every time they're out there. Hopefully their match with Team 3D is as good as it could be.
***
Styles vs. Booker T (I Quit match for the Legends Title)
One of Booker's best matches in TNA, which isn't saying much. He seemed more motivated than normal tonight, so that's probably the reason. Stupid finish but what you gonna do?
***
Angle vs. Sting vs. Foley vs. Jarrett (Ultimate Sacrifice Match)
This shocked the Hell out of me. I was expecting something OK and this ended up being MOTN. The stipulation really got me more into the match than if just the World title was on the line only. I had no clue who was taking the fall. Kind of a strange choice for a finish, but I guess I see where they go with it.
***1/4
Overall, this was probably the best TNA PPV of this year so far. No MOTYC, but they haven't had any since Genesis and that was fine for tonight. Looking forward to Slammiversary next month.
This was pretty damn good. The MCMG may be my favorite team on the planet atm. Just nonstop fun in their matches. Everyone else was pretty good too, including my least favorite wrestler in the world, Consequences Creed. Went a tad too long for what they were shooting for, but it was still damn good.
***1/4
Daffney vs. Taylor (Monster's Ball)
Meh. 4 minutes of mediocre weapon shots.
1/2*
Suicide vs. Daniels (X-Division Title)
Could have been better actually. I mean, overall this was solid, but it had the potential to be great. Crowd was pretty flat, and that didn't help.
**1/2
Love vs. Kong (Knockouts Title)
Pretty much what you would expect. Kong kills, then Love takes over for a little before Kong gets back on the rampage, and then Love finds a way to retain via SHEENANIGANS~! Entertaining enough.
*1/4
Joe vs. Nash
Definitely not as good as their awesome match at Turning Point last year, but Joe's gimmick doesn't seem to be about putting on ***+ matches anymore. This was still pretty good for a Nash match with the right guy going over.
**1/2
British Invasion vs. Beer Money (Team 3D Tag Tourney Finals)
More greatness from Beer Money. It's pretty hard to hate on this team as they constantly give strong performances every time they're out there. Hopefully their match with Team 3D is as good as it could be.
***
Styles vs. Booker T (I Quit match for the Legends Title)
One of Booker's best matches in TNA, which isn't saying much. He seemed more motivated than normal tonight, so that's probably the reason. Stupid finish but what you gonna do?
***
Angle vs. Sting vs. Foley vs. Jarrett (Ultimate Sacrifice Match)
This shocked the Hell out of me. I was expecting something OK and this ended up being MOTN. The stipulation really got me more into the match than if just the World title was on the line only. I had no clue who was taking the fall. Kind of a strange choice for a finish, but I guess I see where they go with it.
***1/4
Overall, this was probably the best TNA PPV of this year so far. No MOTYC, but they haven't had any since Genesis and that was fine for tonight. Looking forward to Slammiversary next month.
Extreme Rules 2009 Review
Kofi vs. MVP vs. Matt Hardy vs. Regal
Just a bunch of spots that you’ve seen a million times. Not bad per se but not anything that I’d want to watch again.
**
Jericho vs. Rey
A little better than last month’s match. Really fast paced with a nice ending. I think just saw this particular ending somewhere not too long ago but for the life of me I can’t remember where. I’m all for another match between these two.
***1/2
Punk vs. Umaga
Standard strap match. These guys have enough chemistry to where even their “standard” stuff is at least watchable…and this was.
**1/2
Dreamer vs. Christian vs. Swagger
The term “fun match” gets thrown around a lot, but I thought this was exactly that. They played with the hardcore elements well and the finish was satisfying, even for me, someone who has never been a fan of Dreamer. The smart mark fans in attendance on camera were, in general, annoying as shit, but here they made the moment a little more cool because when Dreamer left I thought that no one would really care, but those guys did.
***
Santina vs. Vickie
Fast forwarded and never saw it. Really couldn’t care less because Santino has never been that funny to me. I’d assume this was negative a billion stars or something.
Batista vs. Orton
Wow. Hope these guys never have another match. Both guys need someone great to carry them, of that I have finally come around on. Going 6 minutes or how ever long it was didn’t help, but I’d rather see that then them going 20 in a kid friendly WWE. No idea where Orton goes but his reign was just strange and forgettable. I’d assume we get the same from Batista. Just put the title back on Cena at Summerslam and be done with it I say. Cena/Batista II would interest me more than anything Raw can pump out. This show is starting to spiral.
*1/2
Cena vs. Big Show
I’m basically the only person alive that liked their match last month. I think Invincible and Bo Bo both thought it was good, but I loved it. I was actually really looking forward to this, although having only submissions hinder the match I think, especially since neither guy is known for that style. You could pretty much guess the formula they were going to use before the match even started, but I’m homo for that formula so this still was interesting to me. Not even close to being as good as last month’s match for me, but it was still solid. Really dull middle portion with one of the deadest Cena crowds I can remember. Finish would have been cool if Show’s foot didn’t slip out. Again, solid but I could have lived without seeing it and not cared.
**1/2
Edge vs. Jeff Hardy
Again, what you’d expect from these two. Not a huge story but it worked well enough. That TOF counter of the super ladder spear was swank as Hell I must admit. Edge losing the title again boggles my mind. I thought he should have at least gone until Survivor Series.
***1/4
Punk vs. Hardy
2 for 2! That being that I saw what happened before I saw the match. When Punk cashed in the first time I was FF through Raw and saw Punk run down and cash in in just seconds. Still marked out though. I’m pretty solid at keeping away from spoilers now, but sometimes I go to a site with usually no spoiler match ratings, and this time it had the Punk/Hardy rating as – BOW DOWN TO HEEL PUNK~! I was not pleased at seeing a spoiler but fuck it, Punk is the champ. Not sure he’s even heel either, but needless to say I hope he does. No matter what, I’m glad he’s getting a push.
Overall, I'd say the ending pushed this PPV into "good" territory, but for some reason I still feel a little dissapointed with it. Not awful, but lackluster.
Just a bunch of spots that you’ve seen a million times. Not bad per se but not anything that I’d want to watch again.
**
Jericho vs. Rey
A little better than last month’s match. Really fast paced with a nice ending. I think just saw this particular ending somewhere not too long ago but for the life of me I can’t remember where. I’m all for another match between these two.
***1/2
Punk vs. Umaga
Standard strap match. These guys have enough chemistry to where even their “standard” stuff is at least watchable…and this was.
**1/2
Dreamer vs. Christian vs. Swagger
The term “fun match” gets thrown around a lot, but I thought this was exactly that. They played with the hardcore elements well and the finish was satisfying, even for me, someone who has never been a fan of Dreamer. The smart mark fans in attendance on camera were, in general, annoying as shit, but here they made the moment a little more cool because when Dreamer left I thought that no one would really care, but those guys did.
***
Santina vs. Vickie
Fast forwarded and never saw it. Really couldn’t care less because Santino has never been that funny to me. I’d assume this was negative a billion stars or something.
Batista vs. Orton
Wow. Hope these guys never have another match. Both guys need someone great to carry them, of that I have finally come around on. Going 6 minutes or how ever long it was didn’t help, but I’d rather see that then them going 20 in a kid friendly WWE. No idea where Orton goes but his reign was just strange and forgettable. I’d assume we get the same from Batista. Just put the title back on Cena at Summerslam and be done with it I say. Cena/Batista II would interest me more than anything Raw can pump out. This show is starting to spiral.
*1/2
Cena vs. Big Show
I’m basically the only person alive that liked their match last month. I think Invincible and Bo Bo both thought it was good, but I loved it. I was actually really looking forward to this, although having only submissions hinder the match I think, especially since neither guy is known for that style. You could pretty much guess the formula they were going to use before the match even started, but I’m homo for that formula so this still was interesting to me. Not even close to being as good as last month’s match for me, but it was still solid. Really dull middle portion with one of the deadest Cena crowds I can remember. Finish would have been cool if Show’s foot didn’t slip out. Again, solid but I could have lived without seeing it and not cared.
**1/2
Edge vs. Jeff Hardy
Again, what you’d expect from these two. Not a huge story but it worked well enough. That TOF counter of the super ladder spear was swank as Hell I must admit. Edge losing the title again boggles my mind. I thought he should have at least gone until Survivor Series.
***1/4
Punk vs. Hardy
2 for 2! That being that I saw what happened before I saw the match. When Punk cashed in the first time I was FF through Raw and saw Punk run down and cash in in just seconds. Still marked out though. I’m pretty solid at keeping away from spoilers now, but sometimes I go to a site with usually no spoiler match ratings, and this time it had the Punk/Hardy rating as – BOW DOWN TO HEEL PUNK~! I was not pleased at seeing a spoiler but fuck it, Punk is the champ. Not sure he’s even heel either, but needless to say I hope he does. No matter what, I’m glad he’s getting a push.
Overall, I'd say the ending pushed this PPV into "good" territory, but for some reason I still feel a little dissapointed with it. Not awful, but lackluster.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Bryan Danielson vs. Takeshi Morishima: The Feud Review
Takeshi Morishima vs. Bryan Danielson (ROH World Title; Manhattan Mayhem II)
8 months prior, a Homicide Lariat put an end to one of the best title reigns this country had seen in years. On that night, December 23, 2006, Bryan Danielson’s 15 months ROH World Title reign finally fell. Danielson took some much needed time off and repaired a shoulder that was barely hanging on. When he returned 5 months later, things were not as he had left. The man who had defeated him had fallen to a monster named Takeshi Morishima from Pro Wrestling NOAH. Morishima, known for his bear like strength and incredible agility has run through every challenger that ROH had placed before him in his 6 months as champion. Morishima had never faced a challenge like this before though. On August 25, 2007, he defended the title against a man who was getting his first shot at redemption and regaining the title that defined his life for over a year. The match takes place in New York City in the same building where Danielson lost the title. It is the 2007 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Match of the Year.
Danielson is the overwhelming crowd favorite here. His brilliant gameplan is shown within seconds of the opening bell. Morishima had run through the ROH locker room like Kurt Angle runs through prescription meds. No one wanted to admit it, but at full force, no one can take down this behemoth. Danielson is Einstein in between the ropes so he obviously knows this more than anyone. Morishima is like the Titanic, but you know what? The Titanic sunk, and it was all because of a small hole. That’s all Dragon needs…a small hole. That leg is as good a place to start as any.
Danielson starts kicking at the left leg of Morishima. He plays it off as an attempt to get Shima off his game early as he smiles like a dick after it pisses off the monster, and while it could be construed as that, it’s a long term work in progress to chip away at the opposition’s defense. It’s like a Chess master making a move at the beginning of the match while thinking 10 moves ahead. Man, I’m just full of metaphors here. Anyhoo, this works to perfection as Morishima is already showing signs of a chink in the armor. Nothing can go wrong for Dragon early…until Morishima connects with his strikes…
Something is wrong with Danielson. As we all know by now, the huge haymakers from Morishima connected and detached Danielson’s retina. He scrambles on the ground and tries to continue his gameplan, but his kicks have nothing now and Shima smells blood. It almost starts to get out of hand soon after. If it were a boxing match or an MMA fight, the ref would have stopped it by now. Danielson knows that he has no time and as soon as he’s able to get the upper hand, he pushes Morishima into the crowd and connects with his dive. Reminiscent of Joe/Punk III where Punk had a clear objective but became injured and had to go full force. Danielson turns up the legwork by using a chair on said leg of Morishima. He doesn’t have 40 minutes to work over the leg, he has to end it soon. The sympathy Danielson is drawing is amazing. You almost have to root for him. The champion hits the first half of his finishing sequence but Danielson has it scouted. Danielson continues to get manhandled but FIGHTING SPIRIT~! leads to Morishima’s leg morphing into a mass of goo. They trade offense with Danielson attacking the leg like a pitbull and Morishima using his pure strength. Morishima again tries to hit the Backdrop Driver, but he leg buckles. An opening for Danielson! He doesn’t hesitate because he can’t against Morishima. Rapid fire kicks and Morishima crumbles to the ground. A hole in the ship! ICEBERG DEAD AHEAD!!!!!!!!
The crowd is on their feet as Danielson kicks Morishima’s face in and locks Cattle Mutilation. A rope break leads to heartbreak for the New York faithful. A backdrop suplex from the top rope might be the move that wins Dragon the title, but Morishima uses what advantage he has left and shifts his massive weight onto Danielson on the way down. Good God. Danielson still has FIGHTING SPIRIT~!, but Morishima has a lariat that sends reverberations throughout the planet. Danielson is all but dead after that and the Backdrop Driver puts him down for the three.
Standing ovation from the crowd for Danielson. They chant “Best in the World.”, but Danielson takes the mic and proclaims the man with the ROH Title the best in the world. He apologizes for letting them down. He could pretty much piss on Babe Ruth’s grave and he would still get a huge ovation after all of that.
What an emotional rollercoaster. Arguably Danielson’s best performance ever all things considered. I still found myself rooting for Danielson to pull it out even after multiple viewings. I fully expect it to happen the next time I sit down to watch it. The match made Morishima legit and cemented Danielson as the grandest wrestler in ROH history. I’d still “only” put this as my #2 MOTY for 2007 behind Danielson’s match in Philadelphia against Nigel McGuinness for what that’s worth. Classic none the less and a match I’d be proud to show anybody that doesn’t understand why I’m going to watch wrestling for life.
****3/4
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Takeshi Morishima vs. Bryan Danielson (ROH World Title; Man Up)
Danielson cuts a promo about the first encounter from 3 weeks ago while wearing an eye patch. He speaks of his mom taking him to the doctor for surgery and crying the whole time. He also tells us about his sister calling him and screaming that he can’t do this to them anymore. He also speaks about his dad and him discussing his future. Maybe he could go back to school. Maybe he could go back home and work at the mill. But they both knew that this was what Bryan was passionate about. That same passion will guide Bryan to the title tonight. He may not be the best, but tonight, on his night, he will prove that he has more heart than anyone else. Probably the best promo he’s ever done right here.
This is Danielson’s shot at the title that he won by defeating Nigel McGuinness at the last ROH PPV, Driven. In their previous encounter, Morishima injured the retina of Danielson. Morishima promises to not attack the eye in this match out of respect for the title.
Danielson knows he has to end this quickly so he attacks right off the bat. A fight is Morishima’s game though, so the champion dominates to start. But much like their first match, Danielson takes to the air as soon as there’s an opening. This time it’s the Suicide Dive that turns the tide. Danielson is all about learning from his mistakes so he’s able to avoid the butt drop that Shima connected with in New York. Danielson is able to get in some of his token offense on the heavyweight. This is the quickest amount of trouble Morishima has been in so far as champion. Dragon’s really feeling it tonight. That eye has been surgically corrected and as long as Morishima keeps his promise, the title will be his. Morishima is already a little frustrated so he starts trying to throw bombs. Danielson reverses the Backdrop Driver with a small package attempt just like the first match, but Morishima has also learned from his mistakes so he able to counter out of that. Danielson eventually gets the move that cost him the match in Manhattan, the Super Backdrop from the top. The reversal at Manhatten Mayhem II lead to Morishima winning, but now it appears it may lead to a new champion as he locks in the Cattle Mutilation. Morishima is too big though, so he powers out of multiple submission attempts. Morishima gets the Lariat ---> Backdrop Driver combo that has put so many away, Dragon included, but Danielson gets the foot on the rope to save his opportunity. Morishima gets PISSED and starts attacking the eye. The crowd pretty much assumes him to be Satan. Danielson knows this is his last chance so he gets the small package for a huge nearfall. Morishima isn’t phased and he connects again with the Backdrop Driver. He is still pissed the first one connected and didn't lead to a pinfall, so instead of going for a pin, he targets the eye and destroys what’s left of it. This is a message to anyone tha thinks the can beat him. Ref has to stop it to save Danielson’s vision and Morishima leaves to chants of “Bullshit.”
Another damn great match, although not on the level of the first one (not much is). It’s still 13 minutes of a captivating story. Morishima is put over as being a new student of puro. It’s not about respect and honor, it’s just about winning the match by any means necessary. Danielson becomes a martyr for not only the title, but for the true nature of the company. He may not have the belt, but he’s a different kind of champion in many of the fans’ eyes.
****
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bryan Danielson vs. Takeshi Morishima (Glory by Honor VI Night 2)
So in the first match, Morishima injured Danielson’s retina and orbital bone. In the second match, Shima again attacked the eye to save his title. Things have changed a little bit since these two were last in the ring together. Morishima is no longer the ROH champion, falling to Nigel McGuinness a month prior. Another change since then is the hatred that these two men now share for one another. The attack on the eye has lead Danielson to not care about the title for the time being. It’s time to escalate the violence. This takes place in the Manhattan Center, the same building where the first match between these two took place.
Danielson comes out with no eye patch this time, signifying that Morishima tried to get the job done and failed. His super focused entrance is a little touch that I like. Remember in the first 2 matches where Danielson connected with a dive early to take control? Well, he does it before the match even starts. He fucking MURDERS him on the outside before they eventually make it back into the ring. Morishima gets in control, but Dragon screams, “C’mon you mother fucker!” He’s challenging Morishima to finish a job that Dragon knows he can’t finish. Morishima is more than happy to oblige and clubs Dragon like a baby seal. This continues until Dragon capitalizes on a mistake and takes to the air. He’s not as strong as Morishima, but 200 pounds landing on anybody will do some damage. Speaking of doing some damage, Danielson looks to inflict damage of the permanent kind as he takes the ring bell hammer and stabs Morishima in the eye, but Shima hits a desperation Backdrop Driver on the floor. Damn. Danielson is knocked stupid after that. Every time he tries to climb back into the ring, Morishima hits him off and taunts him and the crowd. Danielson is busted open. He eventually gets back into the ring with the first successful Sunset Flip on Shima, but no time to celebrate as Shima quickly decapitates him with a Lariat. You know what’s next, but for the 4th time in the series, Danielson counter out of the Backdrop Driver. A vast array or Rolling Elbows, dropkicks to the knee, kicks to the chest and MMA Elbows are able to take down the monster. Danielson is throwing everything in his arsenal at Morishima tonight. Morishima is on the ropes so he desperately goes for Danielson’s eye again. Dragon is now the one in trouble, so he uppercuts Shima’s nuts to save himself from blindness. He then stomps Morshima’s balls to jelly and gets DQ’ed. Dragon couldn’t care less.
After they scrape what’s left of Morishima’s nuts off the mat, Nigel McGuinness comes out and questions Danielson’s motives. He points at the word “Honor” on the ring mat and asks Danielson if he has any left. Danielson is as amped as a guy who just snorted an eight ball and had 10 Red Bulls, so he kicks Nigel’s injured arm and mocks the Jawbreaker Lariat. New York LOVES that. This Bryan Danielson is a different guy who doesn’t care anymore.
Danielson cuts a promo in the back just moments after he walks through the curtain. Danielson says it wasn’t ‘eye for an eye’, it was eye ball for a different kind of ball tonight. Morishima may be a bad ass, but he can’t do what he did to Danielson without repercussions. And if Nigel wants to get in Dragon’s business, then Danielson can get into his by taking the World Title when the time comes.
Another insane match. This one was all about the violence and hate and I’m all for it. Hard to believe they squeezed all of this into 13 minutes as it never slowed down from before the match even started. They made me feel like this was a fight between two guys who want to legit hurt each other. The finish to me is perfect. Danielson wanted revenge and he got it all right. You knew there was going to be another match, and this only threw gas on the fire. Epic in ever sense of the word.
****1/2
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bryan Danielson vs. Takeshi Morishima (Relaxed Rules; Rising Above)
We all know the story by now. In match one, Danielson had his retina detached. In match two, Morishima again attacked the eye even though he said he wouldn’t. Match three was all about Danielson gaining revenge, which he did to a degree via nut-stomping. Now here we are again, a month after the 3rd match, again in the Manhattan Center for another ROH PPV. This time it’s under “Relaxed Rules,” which means the referee will be less inclined to stop the match for DQ unless it goes too far. Morishima has publicly stated that he’s here to injure Bryan Danielson for good. Be afraid clam digger.
They brawl before the bell can ring to no one’s surprise. Danielson gets opened up within the first minute. Crowd is rabid for Dragon, but Morishima is dominating so far. Morishima tells the referee to count Danielson down, but Dragon is up at 4. Morishima takes that as an insult and proceeds to ravage Dragon like an animal. Danielson tries to fight back but a Morishima Lariat leads to the Backdrop Driver, which Danielson is unable to counter like he has multiple times so far in the series. He’s basically knocked loopy and he staggers right back up into another soul shattering Lariat for a 2 count. Morishima shows signs of frustration towards the ref. Danielson tries to capitalize by attacking Morishima’s eye, but Shima simply attacks the eye right back. He then plays off the last match by kicking Danielson in the ball and stomps them into dust. Ref doesn’t think that’s a good idea, but Morishima is out of control so he pushes the ref down for the DQ.
After the match, Morishima goes bananas and kills a ref. This got him suspended from ROH PPV forever. In the mayhem, Danielson has been revived and now has the ring bell hammer. He takes the end and drives it into Morishima’s eye in a fit of blind rage. Danielson walks out on his own power while Morishima is attended to in the corner.
More insanity from these two. Easily their worst match together but as it only went 8 minutes that’s no surprise. The structure of the match almost made it look like a squash with Danielson taking a massive shitkicking for the majority of it. The match from Final Battle 2008 probably should have been the match that took place here, but NOAH might have squashed that considering Morishima would win the GHC Title a couple months later and they didn't want him to lose to a junior before. There was really no advancement of story in this one, but it's still a fun inclusion to the feud.
***1/4
8 months prior, a Homicide Lariat put an end to one of the best title reigns this country had seen in years. On that night, December 23, 2006, Bryan Danielson’s 15 months ROH World Title reign finally fell. Danielson took some much needed time off and repaired a shoulder that was barely hanging on. When he returned 5 months later, things were not as he had left. The man who had defeated him had fallen to a monster named Takeshi Morishima from Pro Wrestling NOAH. Morishima, known for his bear like strength and incredible agility has run through every challenger that ROH had placed before him in his 6 months as champion. Morishima had never faced a challenge like this before though. On August 25, 2007, he defended the title against a man who was getting his first shot at redemption and regaining the title that defined his life for over a year. The match takes place in New York City in the same building where Danielson lost the title. It is the 2007 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Match of the Year.
Danielson is the overwhelming crowd favorite here. His brilliant gameplan is shown within seconds of the opening bell. Morishima had run through the ROH locker room like Kurt Angle runs through prescription meds. No one wanted to admit it, but at full force, no one can take down this behemoth. Danielson is Einstein in between the ropes so he obviously knows this more than anyone. Morishima is like the Titanic, but you know what? The Titanic sunk, and it was all because of a small hole. That’s all Dragon needs…a small hole. That leg is as good a place to start as any.
Danielson starts kicking at the left leg of Morishima. He plays it off as an attempt to get Shima off his game early as he smiles like a dick after it pisses off the monster, and while it could be construed as that, it’s a long term work in progress to chip away at the opposition’s defense. It’s like a Chess master making a move at the beginning of the match while thinking 10 moves ahead. Man, I’m just full of metaphors here. Anyhoo, this works to perfection as Morishima is already showing signs of a chink in the armor. Nothing can go wrong for Dragon early…until Morishima connects with his strikes…
Something is wrong with Danielson. As we all know by now, the huge haymakers from Morishima connected and detached Danielson’s retina. He scrambles on the ground and tries to continue his gameplan, but his kicks have nothing now and Shima smells blood. It almost starts to get out of hand soon after. If it were a boxing match or an MMA fight, the ref would have stopped it by now. Danielson knows that he has no time and as soon as he’s able to get the upper hand, he pushes Morishima into the crowd and connects with his dive. Reminiscent of Joe/Punk III where Punk had a clear objective but became injured and had to go full force. Danielson turns up the legwork by using a chair on said leg of Morishima. He doesn’t have 40 minutes to work over the leg, he has to end it soon. The sympathy Danielson is drawing is amazing. You almost have to root for him. The champion hits the first half of his finishing sequence but Danielson has it scouted. Danielson continues to get manhandled but FIGHTING SPIRIT~! leads to Morishima’s leg morphing into a mass of goo. They trade offense with Danielson attacking the leg like a pitbull and Morishima using his pure strength. Morishima again tries to hit the Backdrop Driver, but he leg buckles. An opening for Danielson! He doesn’t hesitate because he can’t against Morishima. Rapid fire kicks and Morishima crumbles to the ground. A hole in the ship! ICEBERG DEAD AHEAD!!!!!!!!
The crowd is on their feet as Danielson kicks Morishima’s face in and locks Cattle Mutilation. A rope break leads to heartbreak for the New York faithful. A backdrop suplex from the top rope might be the move that wins Dragon the title, but Morishima uses what advantage he has left and shifts his massive weight onto Danielson on the way down. Good God. Danielson still has FIGHTING SPIRIT~!, but Morishima has a lariat that sends reverberations throughout the planet. Danielson is all but dead after that and the Backdrop Driver puts him down for the three.
Standing ovation from the crowd for Danielson. They chant “Best in the World.”, but Danielson takes the mic and proclaims the man with the ROH Title the best in the world. He apologizes for letting them down. He could pretty much piss on Babe Ruth’s grave and he would still get a huge ovation after all of that.
What an emotional rollercoaster. Arguably Danielson’s best performance ever all things considered. I still found myself rooting for Danielson to pull it out even after multiple viewings. I fully expect it to happen the next time I sit down to watch it. The match made Morishima legit and cemented Danielson as the grandest wrestler in ROH history. I’d still “only” put this as my #2 MOTY for 2007 behind Danielson’s match in Philadelphia against Nigel McGuinness for what that’s worth. Classic none the less and a match I’d be proud to show anybody that doesn’t understand why I’m going to watch wrestling for life.
****3/4
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Takeshi Morishima vs. Bryan Danielson (ROH World Title; Man Up)
Danielson cuts a promo about the first encounter from 3 weeks ago while wearing an eye patch. He speaks of his mom taking him to the doctor for surgery and crying the whole time. He also tells us about his sister calling him and screaming that he can’t do this to them anymore. He also speaks about his dad and him discussing his future. Maybe he could go back to school. Maybe he could go back home and work at the mill. But they both knew that this was what Bryan was passionate about. That same passion will guide Bryan to the title tonight. He may not be the best, but tonight, on his night, he will prove that he has more heart than anyone else. Probably the best promo he’s ever done right here.
This is Danielson’s shot at the title that he won by defeating Nigel McGuinness at the last ROH PPV, Driven. In their previous encounter, Morishima injured the retina of Danielson. Morishima promises to not attack the eye in this match out of respect for the title.
Danielson knows he has to end this quickly so he attacks right off the bat. A fight is Morishima’s game though, so the champion dominates to start. But much like their first match, Danielson takes to the air as soon as there’s an opening. This time it’s the Suicide Dive that turns the tide. Danielson is all about learning from his mistakes so he’s able to avoid the butt drop that Shima connected with in New York. Danielson is able to get in some of his token offense on the heavyweight. This is the quickest amount of trouble Morishima has been in so far as champion. Dragon’s really feeling it tonight. That eye has been surgically corrected and as long as Morishima keeps his promise, the title will be his. Morishima is already a little frustrated so he starts trying to throw bombs. Danielson reverses the Backdrop Driver with a small package attempt just like the first match, but Morishima has also learned from his mistakes so he able to counter out of that. Danielson eventually gets the move that cost him the match in Manhattan, the Super Backdrop from the top. The reversal at Manhatten Mayhem II lead to Morishima winning, but now it appears it may lead to a new champion as he locks in the Cattle Mutilation. Morishima is too big though, so he powers out of multiple submission attempts. Morishima gets the Lariat ---> Backdrop Driver combo that has put so many away, Dragon included, but Danielson gets the foot on the rope to save his opportunity. Morishima gets PISSED and starts attacking the eye. The crowd pretty much assumes him to be Satan. Danielson knows this is his last chance so he gets the small package for a huge nearfall. Morishima isn’t phased and he connects again with the Backdrop Driver. He is still pissed the first one connected and didn't lead to a pinfall, so instead of going for a pin, he targets the eye and destroys what’s left of it. This is a message to anyone tha thinks the can beat him. Ref has to stop it to save Danielson’s vision and Morishima leaves to chants of “Bullshit.”
Another damn great match, although not on the level of the first one (not much is). It’s still 13 minutes of a captivating story. Morishima is put over as being a new student of puro. It’s not about respect and honor, it’s just about winning the match by any means necessary. Danielson becomes a martyr for not only the title, but for the true nature of the company. He may not have the belt, but he’s a different kind of champion in many of the fans’ eyes.
****
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Bryan Danielson vs. Takeshi Morishima (Glory by Honor VI Night 2)
So in the first match, Morishima injured Danielson’s retina and orbital bone. In the second match, Shima again attacked the eye to save his title. Things have changed a little bit since these two were last in the ring together. Morishima is no longer the ROH champion, falling to Nigel McGuinness a month prior. Another change since then is the hatred that these two men now share for one another. The attack on the eye has lead Danielson to not care about the title for the time being. It’s time to escalate the violence. This takes place in the Manhattan Center, the same building where the first match between these two took place.
Danielson comes out with no eye patch this time, signifying that Morishima tried to get the job done and failed. His super focused entrance is a little touch that I like. Remember in the first 2 matches where Danielson connected with a dive early to take control? Well, he does it before the match even starts. He fucking MURDERS him on the outside before they eventually make it back into the ring. Morishima gets in control, but Dragon screams, “C’mon you mother fucker!” He’s challenging Morishima to finish a job that Dragon knows he can’t finish. Morishima is more than happy to oblige and clubs Dragon like a baby seal. This continues until Dragon capitalizes on a mistake and takes to the air. He’s not as strong as Morishima, but 200 pounds landing on anybody will do some damage. Speaking of doing some damage, Danielson looks to inflict damage of the permanent kind as he takes the ring bell hammer and stabs Morishima in the eye, but Shima hits a desperation Backdrop Driver on the floor. Damn. Danielson is knocked stupid after that. Every time he tries to climb back into the ring, Morishima hits him off and taunts him and the crowd. Danielson is busted open. He eventually gets back into the ring with the first successful Sunset Flip on Shima, but no time to celebrate as Shima quickly decapitates him with a Lariat. You know what’s next, but for the 4th time in the series, Danielson counter out of the Backdrop Driver. A vast array or Rolling Elbows, dropkicks to the knee, kicks to the chest and MMA Elbows are able to take down the monster. Danielson is throwing everything in his arsenal at Morishima tonight. Morishima is on the ropes so he desperately goes for Danielson’s eye again. Dragon is now the one in trouble, so he uppercuts Shima’s nuts to save himself from blindness. He then stomps Morshima’s balls to jelly and gets DQ’ed. Dragon couldn’t care less.
After they scrape what’s left of Morishima’s nuts off the mat, Nigel McGuinness comes out and questions Danielson’s motives. He points at the word “Honor” on the ring mat and asks Danielson if he has any left. Danielson is as amped as a guy who just snorted an eight ball and had 10 Red Bulls, so he kicks Nigel’s injured arm and mocks the Jawbreaker Lariat. New York LOVES that. This Bryan Danielson is a different guy who doesn’t care anymore.
Danielson cuts a promo in the back just moments after he walks through the curtain. Danielson says it wasn’t ‘eye for an eye’, it was eye ball for a different kind of ball tonight. Morishima may be a bad ass, but he can’t do what he did to Danielson without repercussions. And if Nigel wants to get in Dragon’s business, then Danielson can get into his by taking the World Title when the time comes.
Another insane match. This one was all about the violence and hate and I’m all for it. Hard to believe they squeezed all of this into 13 minutes as it never slowed down from before the match even started. They made me feel like this was a fight between two guys who want to legit hurt each other. The finish to me is perfect. Danielson wanted revenge and he got it all right. You knew there was going to be another match, and this only threw gas on the fire. Epic in ever sense of the word.
****1/2
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Bryan Danielson vs. Takeshi Morishima (Relaxed Rules; Rising Above)
We all know the story by now. In match one, Danielson had his retina detached. In match two, Morishima again attacked the eye even though he said he wouldn’t. Match three was all about Danielson gaining revenge, which he did to a degree via nut-stomping. Now here we are again, a month after the 3rd match, again in the Manhattan Center for another ROH PPV. This time it’s under “Relaxed Rules,” which means the referee will be less inclined to stop the match for DQ unless it goes too far. Morishima has publicly stated that he’s here to injure Bryan Danielson for good. Be afraid clam digger.
They brawl before the bell can ring to no one’s surprise. Danielson gets opened up within the first minute. Crowd is rabid for Dragon, but Morishima is dominating so far. Morishima tells the referee to count Danielson down, but Dragon is up at 4. Morishima takes that as an insult and proceeds to ravage Dragon like an animal. Danielson tries to fight back but a Morishima Lariat leads to the Backdrop Driver, which Danielson is unable to counter like he has multiple times so far in the series. He’s basically knocked loopy and he staggers right back up into another soul shattering Lariat for a 2 count. Morishima shows signs of frustration towards the ref. Danielson tries to capitalize by attacking Morishima’s eye, but Shima simply attacks the eye right back. He then plays off the last match by kicking Danielson in the ball and stomps them into dust. Ref doesn’t think that’s a good idea, but Morishima is out of control so he pushes the ref down for the DQ.
After the match, Morishima goes bananas and kills a ref. This got him suspended from ROH PPV forever. In the mayhem, Danielson has been revived and now has the ring bell hammer. He takes the end and drives it into Morishima’s eye in a fit of blind rage. Danielson walks out on his own power while Morishima is attended to in the corner.
More insanity from these two. Easily their worst match together but as it only went 8 minutes that’s no surprise. The structure of the match almost made it look like a squash with Danielson taking a massive shitkicking for the majority of it. The match from Final Battle 2008 probably should have been the match that took place here, but NOAH might have squashed that considering Morishima would win the GHC Title a couple months later and they didn't want him to lose to a junior before. There was really no advancement of story in this one, but it's still a fun inclusion to the feud.
***1/4
WWE Judgment Day 2009 Review
Punk vs. Umaga
Pretty great stuff, but that doesn't surprise me anymore because Punk has become one of the best at adapting to other guys styles.
***
Swagger vs. Christian
On par with their other match from last month but not as good as the 2nd ECW TV match imo. Just well played matches. Hopefully they have another at ONS in a 2/3 falls match, although they might add Dreamer and make it some triple threat garbage or something.
***1/4
Morrison vs. Benjamin
What you'd expect I guess. This is my first time seeing Morrison as a face, and I gotta say, I'm not a huge fan. I'll give him some time though to work on it, but he's just a natural heel in my eyes.
**1/2
Rey vs. Jericho
I'm not as high on this as most are. It was really good though. Jericho avoiding the 619 and Rey avoiding the Walls was really cool. MOTN so far.
***1/4
Orton vs. Batista
Not feeling this at all. Worst MOTN to me. I really have no confidence in either guy anymore to go out there and entertain me in a match with one another. Orton being a pussy and trying to weasel his way out of the match was the saving grace for me.
**1/4
Cena vs. Big Show
Prepare to been blown away. I LOVED this. So simple with Show working over the injury, but I'm a mark for simplicity like that in wrestling. I'm all for guys like Morrison going out there and doing 625's off the top rope and whatever, but things like this hold my attention more in this stage of my life than anything like that. Show destroyed Cena's midsection and I think Cena sold really well. The multiple attempts at the STFU were great because Cena was too hurt and Show was too tall for it t be locked in. The finish with the FU even after the beating to the ribs didn't really bother me because Cena sold them after he pinned Show. I know everyone thought it was slow and my rating blows any other rating I've seen for it out of the water, but I feel what they did justifies it. I'd bet no one ever comes close to my rating, but I'm cool with being the minority.
***3/4
Hardy vs. Edge
This kind of exceeded my expectations a little. I was expecting a typical Smackdown match and they turned up the volume a little more. It felt like they knew they were the main event and they thought they had to deliver. I love top rope finishes so that was nice. Overall, the match wasn't revolutionary, but that's still fine.
***1/4
I thought this was another good show from the WWE. I see no signs of that stopping
Pretty great stuff, but that doesn't surprise me anymore because Punk has become one of the best at adapting to other guys styles.
***
Swagger vs. Christian
On par with their other match from last month but not as good as the 2nd ECW TV match imo. Just well played matches. Hopefully they have another at ONS in a 2/3 falls match, although they might add Dreamer and make it some triple threat garbage or something.
***1/4
Morrison vs. Benjamin
What you'd expect I guess. This is my first time seeing Morrison as a face, and I gotta say, I'm not a huge fan. I'll give him some time though to work on it, but he's just a natural heel in my eyes.
**1/2
Rey vs. Jericho
I'm not as high on this as most are. It was really good though. Jericho avoiding the 619 and Rey avoiding the Walls was really cool. MOTN so far.
***1/4
Orton vs. Batista
Not feeling this at all. Worst MOTN to me. I really have no confidence in either guy anymore to go out there and entertain me in a match with one another. Orton being a pussy and trying to weasel his way out of the match was the saving grace for me.
**1/4
Cena vs. Big Show
Prepare to been blown away. I LOVED this. So simple with Show working over the injury, but I'm a mark for simplicity like that in wrestling. I'm all for guys like Morrison going out there and doing 625's off the top rope and whatever, but things like this hold my attention more in this stage of my life than anything like that. Show destroyed Cena's midsection and I think Cena sold really well. The multiple attempts at the STFU were great because Cena was too hurt and Show was too tall for it t be locked in. The finish with the FU even after the beating to the ribs didn't really bother me because Cena sold them after he pinned Show. I know everyone thought it was slow and my rating blows any other rating I've seen for it out of the water, but I feel what they did justifies it. I'd bet no one ever comes close to my rating, but I'm cool with being the minority.
***3/4
Hardy vs. Edge
This kind of exceeded my expectations a little. I was expecting a typical Smackdown match and they turned up the volume a little more. It felt like they knew they were the main event and they thought they had to deliver. I love top rope finishes so that was nice. Overall, the match wasn't revolutionary, but that's still fine.
***1/4
I thought this was another good show from the WWE. I see no signs of that stopping
Monday, May 4, 2009
Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk: The Trilogy Review
Samoa Joe © vs. CM Punk (ROH World Title; World Title Classic)
Punk says before the match that his win-loss record isn’t the best, but when it comes to big matches, no one is better. Joe says that there have been many men step before him as challenger, and every one of them has left the same. What makes Punk think he’s gonna be any different? This is Joe’s 20th defense and Punk’s 1st shot at the title.
Punk acts cocky at the beginning before Joe uses the tree trunks he calls legs to send a message to him. He then dominates Punk on the mat with ease. This is gonna be another quick defense for Joe, at least that’s how it seems in the beginning for everyone in the building…everyone except for CM Punk. You see, every one of Joe’s title defenses had been less than 20 minutes up to this point. Punk knows this and his main mission is to stretch out this match as long as possible to take away the stamina of Samoa Joe. Punk has no problems with going 30 minutes or even an hour. He had done it multiple times all over the Indy scene. He just needs to take Joe’s offense long enough to wear him down. Only problem is…well….Samoa Joe is 270 pounds and hits like a linebacker, so that’s not always going to be easy.
Punk is more than game to get physical, and that pretty much pisses Joe off. He’s pretty much falling right into Punk’s hands here as they then start going all 90’s NJPW super juniors on it. Joe has never had to be too cerebral in his matches. He just uses his God given talent and strength to usually come out victorious. He annihilates Punk with elbows and kicks against the rope, but Punk covered up and took it all without hesitation. Joe is already a little winded and Punk is mocking him. Joe even gets his patented offense (face wash, sitting kick, knee drop) avoided by Punk. For one of the first times in his reign as Champion, Joe is forced to take a breather on the outside of the ring. That’s a big deal. Cool moment as Joe owns a fan on the outside, then Punk goes out and owns the same fan, then they go back in the ring and Joe extends his hand for the high five, but Punk jumps at him and gets the headlock again. In another cool spot, Joe goes for his patented knee drop which Punk has already avoided. Punk avoids it once more, but this time Joe saw it coming and gets it anyway. Joe is slowly learning, and that’s a scary thing. He gets a super cocky cover to reemphasize the point that he’s back in control. His ego gets the best of him as he goes for a stalling suplex, but it takes so much out of him that he can barely go for the cover. Punk gets right back into control because of this. Joe is huffing and puffing for air now, while Punk is just hitting his stride. This is unlike anything Joe has ever been apart of.
Punk even goes for Joe’s Ole kick on the outside. Joe gets up before he can connect, but the psychological damage has been done. Joe takes that as an insult, and proceeds to KILL Punk. Enough of this headlock shit, it’s time to die little boy. Joe gets all his offense in this time with ease. Joe is tired though, so he’s forced to catch his breath while applying a headlock with his legs. Joe’s lack of stamina is the only reason Punk’s still alive right now. If he had connected with this at the 10 minute mark, it’d only be a matter of time. The two men trade offense and Punk is the one left standing. Joe is dead tired now, and CM Punk is the cockroach that survived the nuclear attack. Punk knows it’s time to end it. He uses the sleeper and it’s bought as a legit end. All of the headlocks have paid off and come down to this. Joe fights out a couple times but damn, he so tired he can’t keep escaping. Joe destroys Punk with a desperation kick to escape. That might be all he has left though. Punk gets the biggest offensive move of the match with the top rope back drop suplex, but you can already guess that he’s too tired to get a quick cover. They’re doing a great job of selling the length of the match, while also keeping the match going at a high pace. The most important move of the match happens as Joe reverses a Shining Wizard into a kneed breaker that injures Punk’s already shot knees. About a minute later, Punk hits the Pepsi Fucking Plunge…but alas his knees are too hurt and he can’t even get a cover as he falls out of the ring. Crowd has been on their feet since about 30 minutes in, and they totally bought that as the finish. Punk gets back in and realizes he has almost no time left, so he gets a quick amount of offense, before Joe Dragon Screws him. Pretty brilliant as Joe knows that there is relatively no time left, so he’s just trying to take out Punk long enough to retain. They trade desperate offense before the time limit expires.
After the match, Punk puts over the ROH title as something worth fighting an hour over, and proclaims it the most important belt in North America.
Only real drawbacks were that it kind of felt like they were trying to go an hour at the end of the match and there were some miscommunications. Having an hour match is certainly not easy though so something simple like Joe not ducking Punk’s missed clothesline when he was supposed to doesn’t really affect the match that much. Still brilliantly put together and not really something that you see every day in post 1990s North America. The headlocks worked perfectly in relation to the story of the match where Punk tried to wear down Joe enough to win. BTW, If anyone reading this had not seen this series, be sure to watch them in order. This is the first one in case your mother dropped you on you head.
****1/2
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Samoa Joe © vs. CM Punk (ROH World Title; Joe vs. Punk II)
Punk cuts a promo before the show in the ring. Joe couldn’t beat him and now they’re in Chicago, Punk’s hometown, and that’s gonna be the difference. You see, Punk’s taken many beatings before, particularly in this city when he was younger. Some kids came to his house once when he was eating dinner, and he scraped and clawed, and he didn’t look pretty after it was over, but he won…he won because they CAME TO HIS HOUSE, just like Joe’s doing tonight. Mick Foley and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat are going to be in attendance (Foley in particular called this the greatest match he’s ever seen live). Punk DARES Joe to ring his doorbell tonight. He says there’s no way he’s gonna be beat in Chicago. A fucking masterpiece of a promo that I completely forgot ever existed.
Punk has “Home” written on his wrist tape. For what it’s worth, this is Dave Meltzer’s 1st “***** match” in 7 years. The original main event of this show was Samoa Joe vs. Steve Corino, but Corino had a prioir commitment he had to fufill in Japan. Punk is the overwhelming crowd favorite here, but Joe still has his supporters.
Handshake to start, which is something that Joe tried to have in the first match before Punk blew him off a bit. This shows that Joe earned Punk’s respect by lasting an hour in Dayton 4 months prior. Joe shoves Punk down on a lockup. He knows he’s in Punk’s backyard, and that was his way of marking his turf. They may be in Chicago, but this ring is where Joe is King. He shoves Punk again, and even tries a third time, but Punk crisply counters into a sleek pinfall attempt. “Almost had ya Joe.” Announcers do a great job in here I should say. They say that Punk’s tag partner and best friend, Colt Cabana beat Joe with a similar rollup type maneuver. They also say that Joe beat Cabana not that long a go IN CHICAGO, so Joe is not intimidated by the home town guy. They mat wrestle, but this time unlike their first match, Punk gets the upper hand with a take down. Things are clearly going his way tonight, and that frustrates Joe who doesn’t give a clean break moments later. More mat stuff, but this time Punk gets Joe into the corner…and gives him a clean break unlike Joe did for him. Punk is all about the head games tonight.
Punk knows that the headlock worked to near perfection in their previous match, so he smartly goes back to it here. Joe is able to counter out of it quicker than he did in the last match. He knows that Punk’s strategy is to wear him down, but this time Joe is prepared for it. Punk is too quick so he’s able to grad the headlocks right after there’s an opening in Joe’s defense. I should really note how crisp everything looks here. That’s not normally something that Punk is great at. I’ve called him “The least crisp great wrestler ever,” but on this night he is making me eat my words. Joe is getting super frustrated that this match is going the way the last one went, which is in Punk’s favor, so he plays heel by not breaking in the ropes again. He even tries to give Punk a taste of his own medicine via chin lock, but Punk reverses it to another front headlock. Punk is wrestling Joe perfectly, and that’s the only way to end Joe’s title run. Joe refuses to break in the corner again, but Punk’s quickness gives him the advantage to ground Joe once more. Punk has changed up his style from the first match great here. He used the rope-a-dope style there, and even though it wore down Joe, it still took a lot out of Punk, which lead to him not being able to capitalize on the offense so much towards the end of the match. Punk is not using the rope-a-dope here, but he’s staying with what he thinks will win him the title tonight, the headlock. Joe will be worn down and Punk will still be fresh towards the end. All Punk wants is 45 minutes of Hell, then he has 15 minutes left to win the title against a tired monster.
Joe is a smart monster though, so he challenges Punk to a shoulder block clash in the middle of the ring. This will wear down Punk a little and give Joe the offensive opening that he needs. Plus, there’s no way that Punk won’t bite at a chance to one up Joe in front of his friends and family. Punk tries to trick Joe like he did in their first match where he faked running off the ropes and got another headlock, but this time Joe has it scouted and gets his first burst of offensive fury on Punk. Punk is unstoppable tonight though, and he gets the best of Joe AGAIN before Joe can string together more offense. Joe goes to the floor out of frustration just like in their first match. Maybe Joe can’t beat Punk? Maybe pure strength and impressive agility won’t get him by so easily tonight? Joe shows more frustration than he ever has before as he kicks the guardrail at a fan. Chicago is getting to him. In Dayton, he just mocked a Punk fan, but here it’s…different. He isn’t king of this environment, and that scares the behemoth. Joe is super hesitant to lock up with Punk again. He’s not himself and Punk knows it. Punk, sending a message to prove that he’s in control, actually gets a lifting takedown on Joe from behind him. It took a little out of Punk to do that, but getting in Joe’s head is the main key here. Whether it’s because Punk used a little energy there or not, Joe is able to finally counter Punk’s counters and ends up on top of Punk. Instead of hitting him, he gets up and slaps Punk on the back. Joe is saying he’s back in control with that. Punk is smart, so he bangs on the turnbuckle pad to try and get the crowd back into it. He knows that the crowd is getting to Joe, so he’s gonna try to turn the tide back in his favor. Joe is un-phased and gets another burst of offense. Punks tries to answer that but Joe simply kicks him in the face. Punk tried to change his strategy and it cost him a bruise there. Joe gets his first control segment of the match, but Punk knows that Joe being in control in a death sentence, so he smartly targets Joe’s arm. They get into a striking battle, which PUNK WINS. Punk knows how rare that is so he quickly goes back to working the arm. He even hits the rope-walk legdrop to the arm, which the announcer notes that he hasn’t done in 2 years. This match is just perfect, and we haven’t even gotten to the best part yet.
You just knew that Joe was gonna connect with a huge strike sooner or later and he finally does here. He goes for his patented offense, but again Punk has that scouted. It’s like he read the “How to Beat Samoa Joe” handbook. Now when Joe tries to escape the headlock, Punk just holds on to the lion’s injured paw and stays in control. Joe knows he’s in trouble, so in probably the smartest move of his career, he falls through the ropes to the outside. Punk still has the headlock even after that, but all Joe wanted was an opening as he KILLS Punk with a backdrop suplex on the foor. This is officially the turning point of the match.
Punk’s quickness has been taken away. His back is now shot. Punk realizes that he has to go for broke now. He needs to get back into Joe’s head, so after he counters the facewash, he gets one of his own. He’s lost a step though so Joe counters his offense with some of his own. Punk is desperate so he goes for a springboard cross body, but he hit that in their first match and Joe remembers it and moves with ease. He even gets the stalling suplex he got in the first match, but unlike in Dayton, he is more conditioned and it doesn’t take much out of him, while it just destroys Punk’s back. To show how much he’s in control, he connects with the leg sweep even after Punk had just countered it seconds before hand. All the counters in Punk’s arsenal aren’t going to save him now. Joe works over the back some more. Literally everything they’re doing makes sense here. Joe just kills Punk now. Just a massacre. Joe knows he can’t be beaten…ever. He emphasizes his dominance with an insulting cover on Punk. It’s all but over. But wait! Desperation Hurricanrana! Punk knows it’s now or never and connects with a Suicide Dive. The crowd is back in his corner. He even connects with Joe’s Ole Kick. Blasphemy! Joe is gonna murder bitches now. First attempt at the Ole Kick is blocked, but Joe eventually gets it. The match then goes into full nonstop badass-ness. The announcers are marking out so even they have to leave to booth to go into the crowd to watch. The crowd is full in to it too. They’re banging Punk’s entrance music on the guardrail. They can feel a title change.
It’s really hard to describe how great it gets so I won’t even try. Punk getting the Anaconda Vice on Joe’s hurt arm forcing Joe to go the ropes for like the first time ever is pretty fabulous. As is the look on Punk’s face when he gets the Devil’s Lock DDT and thinks it’s over. One of my favorite nearfalls happens as well when Punk hits the Shining Wizard out of no where and Joe drapes his hand across the rope to save the title. Punk tries everything to get the win, but Joe can’t be beat with just anything. Punk is running out of offense and time. It has to be now. Pepsi…Plunge. Joe’s weakness. The confrontation on the tope turnbuckle is the stuff legends are made of. The crowd is begging for Punk to connect with the Plunge. It doesn’t happen. Time Limit Draw. FUCK.
Crowd wants more time, but alas it was not to be. Punk gives the title to Joe and shakes his hand. Joe walks away still the champion, still unbeatable in title matches. Punk walks out to a standing ovation. A hometown hero.
Punk claims neither man can beat the other in 60 minutes. He knows for a fact that the Pepsi Plunge can beat Joe, but he’s not sure the Muscle Buster can beat him. He wants Joe with no time limit. Joe says that Punk’s 2nd chance was his last. He did his job and Punk didn’t do his. No more opportunities.
What can I say that I haven’t already? This is one of the greatest matches I’ve ever seen. Everything came together and everything made sense. The drama was off the charts, it had an epic atmosphere and it had every intangible that you could think of. If that isn’t a five star rating, I don’t know what is.
*****
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Samoa Joe © vs. CM Punk (ROH World Title; No Time Limit, there must be a winner; All Star Extravaganza II)
No prematch promos here. The time for talk is over. Ricky Steamboat is at the ringside table. This is Punk’s last shot at Joe and the title.
Crowd is HUGELY behind Joe here, although Punk has his vocal supporters. This is in New Jersey, not the friendly confines of Chicago. Mat wrestling is met with strikes from Joe. It’s all business tonight. Punk of course goes for the headlock early, but we’ve more than established that Joe is smarter than he looks. He avoids them with ease and chops down Punk forcing him to take an early break for the 1st time in their series. Punk’s got to play this one on the fly. Joe is as confident as ever so he asks Punk to chop him, fearing nothing that Punk can do. Punk obliges, but barely pats him on the chest. He then challenges Joe to chop him again. Joe doesn’t give a shit about mind games so he’s more than happy to. Punk smarty ducks and gets a backslide for an early nearfall which takes Joe off his game for a split second for Punk to lock in the headlock. Punk’s ring awareness will be his greatest strength tonight. He keeps his control segment ever-changing by dropkicking Joe in the head and then jumping right back on a headlock, followed by more head dropkicks. Punk has all the time in the world, so he’s gonna move at his pace. They both counter the other’s offense, after over 2 hours of time in the ring together, they know everything that the other man has up their sleeve. But unlike the 1st two matches, Joe is able to capitalize on his strikes. He capitalizes so much, that Punk gets busted open from a stiff knee. Punk is in the greatest trouble he’s been in so far in the series.
Joe knows what’s on the line, so he attacks the wound with animalistic precision. He’s literally trying to rip open Punk’s face here. The tides have turned a full 180. Now Joe is the one that is going to be able to last a long amount of time, and now Punk is going to have to be the one that has to end it as early as possible. Joe now uses Punk’s greatest weapon against him and uses the headlock to wear him down. There’s no way Punk can go over an hour tonight, if he’s got a shot, he’ll have to end it early. That cut is a target for the baddest motherfucker alive. Punk also doesn’t have the Chicago crowd to get him back into it. Joe just murders him for a long period of time. Punk takes a massive shitkicking, and it’s incredible to witness. He blocks a second attempt at the Ole Kick, and goes on the apron. Now, twice he’s had his jumping hurricanrana from the apron reversed into a face full of guardrail from Joe, so now he takes out the champion with a dropkick. Punk gets some chants, so he plays to that portion of the crowd to keep him in it. He even hits a Ricky Steamboat-like crossbody for a nearfall in a cool callback to that series. Another cool spot as Punk reverses the armbar that Joe had been using so effectively in the series to a School Boy. They fight on the top in a spot very reminiscent to the ending of the 2nd match, but Punk knows that a Pepsi Plunge is out of the question so early in this match, so he drops down and goes for a Powerbomb (which Joe had been using so well in the series) and Joe reverses that with a hurricanrana (which Punk had been using so well in the series). What’s better than a Joe hurricanrana? A Joe lariat that nearly decapitates Punk of course, which only gets a two count to everyone’s surprise. Moments later Joe FINALLY gets the choke for the first time in the series, which is amazing when you think about how much time these two had in the ring. Punk’s hand falls three times and it’s oer. Joe has retained the title…
BUT WAIT! Ricky Steamboat is stopping the time keeper from ringing the bell! He’s pointing to Punk, whose fingers were moving, he’s back in it as the ref calls off the timekeeper from stopping the match. Punk tries to fight out but Joe’s a Pitbull that won’t let go. Punk uses that to his advantage and gets the reversal that Bret got on Piper at Mania VIII and Austin at Survivor Series 96…it’s only two this time though as Joe was forced to let go. Crowd is really into it right now. Quick pinfall variations from Punk and Joe now. They’re going balls to the wall. It’s like they never even went 60 minutes. Huge moment of not only the match but Joe’s reign as he is so desperate to keep the title that he uses the ropes to try and pin Punk. Crowd is pissed at that. These two talked about these matches in their shoot together, and they said that Steamboat came up with that. They thought it was stupid at first, but eventually realized it was brilliant in relation to the match. Plunge is again reversed by Joe. Punk now realizes that the Plunge, although the one weapon in his arsenal that can beat Joe, can’t be hit, especially not after the beating that Punk has taken. He goes for a rollup, hoping that will be his saving grace, but Joe counters into the choke. Punk knows that he only has a few seconds to escape, but Joe realizes that too, and drops him on his head to keep him in it with huge trapped suplexes. Crowd begs for Punk to hold on, but he has already given everything. He has nothing left. Joe retains via pass out.
Joe gets on the mic and proclaims the ROH title the most important belt in the world. He shakes Punk’s hand and declares that he’s unstoppable as ROH champion. No one in any locker room in the world can beat him when it matters. Long live the King.
Phenomenal match that made both guys even bigger after it was over. One of the best of this decade. It didn’t have enough to push it into ***** territory, but it left an imprint on me anyway. I love how they “only” went 31 minutes as opposed to over an hour like everyone thought they would because of Punk’s injury. Psychology was great too. If you’re a fan of matches that have call backs to other matches, then this is defiantly right up you alley. A true classic.
****3/4
Punk says before the match that his win-loss record isn’t the best, but when it comes to big matches, no one is better. Joe says that there have been many men step before him as challenger, and every one of them has left the same. What makes Punk think he’s gonna be any different? This is Joe’s 20th defense and Punk’s 1st shot at the title.
Punk acts cocky at the beginning before Joe uses the tree trunks he calls legs to send a message to him. He then dominates Punk on the mat with ease. This is gonna be another quick defense for Joe, at least that’s how it seems in the beginning for everyone in the building…everyone except for CM Punk. You see, every one of Joe’s title defenses had been less than 20 minutes up to this point. Punk knows this and his main mission is to stretch out this match as long as possible to take away the stamina of Samoa Joe. Punk has no problems with going 30 minutes or even an hour. He had done it multiple times all over the Indy scene. He just needs to take Joe’s offense long enough to wear him down. Only problem is…well….Samoa Joe is 270 pounds and hits like a linebacker, so that’s not always going to be easy.
Punk is more than game to get physical, and that pretty much pisses Joe off. He’s pretty much falling right into Punk’s hands here as they then start going all 90’s NJPW super juniors on it. Joe has never had to be too cerebral in his matches. He just uses his God given talent and strength to usually come out victorious. He annihilates Punk with elbows and kicks against the rope, but Punk covered up and took it all without hesitation. Joe is already a little winded and Punk is mocking him. Joe even gets his patented offense (face wash, sitting kick, knee drop) avoided by Punk. For one of the first times in his reign as Champion, Joe is forced to take a breather on the outside of the ring. That’s a big deal. Cool moment as Joe owns a fan on the outside, then Punk goes out and owns the same fan, then they go back in the ring and Joe extends his hand for the high five, but Punk jumps at him and gets the headlock again. In another cool spot, Joe goes for his patented knee drop which Punk has already avoided. Punk avoids it once more, but this time Joe saw it coming and gets it anyway. Joe is slowly learning, and that’s a scary thing. He gets a super cocky cover to reemphasize the point that he’s back in control. His ego gets the best of him as he goes for a stalling suplex, but it takes so much out of him that he can barely go for the cover. Punk gets right back into control because of this. Joe is huffing and puffing for air now, while Punk is just hitting his stride. This is unlike anything Joe has ever been apart of.
Punk even goes for Joe’s Ole kick on the outside. Joe gets up before he can connect, but the psychological damage has been done. Joe takes that as an insult, and proceeds to KILL Punk. Enough of this headlock shit, it’s time to die little boy. Joe gets all his offense in this time with ease. Joe is tired though, so he’s forced to catch his breath while applying a headlock with his legs. Joe’s lack of stamina is the only reason Punk’s still alive right now. If he had connected with this at the 10 minute mark, it’d only be a matter of time. The two men trade offense and Punk is the one left standing. Joe is dead tired now, and CM Punk is the cockroach that survived the nuclear attack. Punk knows it’s time to end it. He uses the sleeper and it’s bought as a legit end. All of the headlocks have paid off and come down to this. Joe fights out a couple times but damn, he so tired he can’t keep escaping. Joe destroys Punk with a desperation kick to escape. That might be all he has left though. Punk gets the biggest offensive move of the match with the top rope back drop suplex, but you can already guess that he’s too tired to get a quick cover. They’re doing a great job of selling the length of the match, while also keeping the match going at a high pace. The most important move of the match happens as Joe reverses a Shining Wizard into a kneed breaker that injures Punk’s already shot knees. About a minute later, Punk hits the Pepsi Fucking Plunge…but alas his knees are too hurt and he can’t even get a cover as he falls out of the ring. Crowd has been on their feet since about 30 minutes in, and they totally bought that as the finish. Punk gets back in and realizes he has almost no time left, so he gets a quick amount of offense, before Joe Dragon Screws him. Pretty brilliant as Joe knows that there is relatively no time left, so he’s just trying to take out Punk long enough to retain. They trade desperate offense before the time limit expires.
After the match, Punk puts over the ROH title as something worth fighting an hour over, and proclaims it the most important belt in North America.
Only real drawbacks were that it kind of felt like they were trying to go an hour at the end of the match and there were some miscommunications. Having an hour match is certainly not easy though so something simple like Joe not ducking Punk’s missed clothesline when he was supposed to doesn’t really affect the match that much. Still brilliantly put together and not really something that you see every day in post 1990s North America. The headlocks worked perfectly in relation to the story of the match where Punk tried to wear down Joe enough to win. BTW, If anyone reading this had not seen this series, be sure to watch them in order. This is the first one in case your mother dropped you on you head.
****1/2
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Samoa Joe © vs. CM Punk (ROH World Title; Joe vs. Punk II)
Punk cuts a promo before the show in the ring. Joe couldn’t beat him and now they’re in Chicago, Punk’s hometown, and that’s gonna be the difference. You see, Punk’s taken many beatings before, particularly in this city when he was younger. Some kids came to his house once when he was eating dinner, and he scraped and clawed, and he didn’t look pretty after it was over, but he won…he won because they CAME TO HIS HOUSE, just like Joe’s doing tonight. Mick Foley and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat are going to be in attendance (Foley in particular called this the greatest match he’s ever seen live). Punk DARES Joe to ring his doorbell tonight. He says there’s no way he’s gonna be beat in Chicago. A fucking masterpiece of a promo that I completely forgot ever existed.
Punk has “Home” written on his wrist tape. For what it’s worth, this is Dave Meltzer’s 1st “***** match” in 7 years. The original main event of this show was Samoa Joe vs. Steve Corino, but Corino had a prioir commitment he had to fufill in Japan. Punk is the overwhelming crowd favorite here, but Joe still has his supporters.
Handshake to start, which is something that Joe tried to have in the first match before Punk blew him off a bit. This shows that Joe earned Punk’s respect by lasting an hour in Dayton 4 months prior. Joe shoves Punk down on a lockup. He knows he’s in Punk’s backyard, and that was his way of marking his turf. They may be in Chicago, but this ring is where Joe is King. He shoves Punk again, and even tries a third time, but Punk crisply counters into a sleek pinfall attempt. “Almost had ya Joe.” Announcers do a great job in here I should say. They say that Punk’s tag partner and best friend, Colt Cabana beat Joe with a similar rollup type maneuver. They also say that Joe beat Cabana not that long a go IN CHICAGO, so Joe is not intimidated by the home town guy. They mat wrestle, but this time unlike their first match, Punk gets the upper hand with a take down. Things are clearly going his way tonight, and that frustrates Joe who doesn’t give a clean break moments later. More mat stuff, but this time Punk gets Joe into the corner…and gives him a clean break unlike Joe did for him. Punk is all about the head games tonight.
Punk knows that the headlock worked to near perfection in their previous match, so he smartly goes back to it here. Joe is able to counter out of it quicker than he did in the last match. He knows that Punk’s strategy is to wear him down, but this time Joe is prepared for it. Punk is too quick so he’s able to grad the headlocks right after there’s an opening in Joe’s defense. I should really note how crisp everything looks here. That’s not normally something that Punk is great at. I’ve called him “The least crisp great wrestler ever,” but on this night he is making me eat my words. Joe is getting super frustrated that this match is going the way the last one went, which is in Punk’s favor, so he plays heel by not breaking in the ropes again. He even tries to give Punk a taste of his own medicine via chin lock, but Punk reverses it to another front headlock. Punk is wrestling Joe perfectly, and that’s the only way to end Joe’s title run. Joe refuses to break in the corner again, but Punk’s quickness gives him the advantage to ground Joe once more. Punk has changed up his style from the first match great here. He used the rope-a-dope style there, and even though it wore down Joe, it still took a lot out of Punk, which lead to him not being able to capitalize on the offense so much towards the end of the match. Punk is not using the rope-a-dope here, but he’s staying with what he thinks will win him the title tonight, the headlock. Joe will be worn down and Punk will still be fresh towards the end. All Punk wants is 45 minutes of Hell, then he has 15 minutes left to win the title against a tired monster.
Joe is a smart monster though, so he challenges Punk to a shoulder block clash in the middle of the ring. This will wear down Punk a little and give Joe the offensive opening that he needs. Plus, there’s no way that Punk won’t bite at a chance to one up Joe in front of his friends and family. Punk tries to trick Joe like he did in their first match where he faked running off the ropes and got another headlock, but this time Joe has it scouted and gets his first burst of offensive fury on Punk. Punk is unstoppable tonight though, and he gets the best of Joe AGAIN before Joe can string together more offense. Joe goes to the floor out of frustration just like in their first match. Maybe Joe can’t beat Punk? Maybe pure strength and impressive agility won’t get him by so easily tonight? Joe shows more frustration than he ever has before as he kicks the guardrail at a fan. Chicago is getting to him. In Dayton, he just mocked a Punk fan, but here it’s…different. He isn’t king of this environment, and that scares the behemoth. Joe is super hesitant to lock up with Punk again. He’s not himself and Punk knows it. Punk, sending a message to prove that he’s in control, actually gets a lifting takedown on Joe from behind him. It took a little out of Punk to do that, but getting in Joe’s head is the main key here. Whether it’s because Punk used a little energy there or not, Joe is able to finally counter Punk’s counters and ends up on top of Punk. Instead of hitting him, he gets up and slaps Punk on the back. Joe is saying he’s back in control with that. Punk is smart, so he bangs on the turnbuckle pad to try and get the crowd back into it. He knows that the crowd is getting to Joe, so he’s gonna try to turn the tide back in his favor. Joe is un-phased and gets another burst of offense. Punks tries to answer that but Joe simply kicks him in the face. Punk tried to change his strategy and it cost him a bruise there. Joe gets his first control segment of the match, but Punk knows that Joe being in control in a death sentence, so he smartly targets Joe’s arm. They get into a striking battle, which PUNK WINS. Punk knows how rare that is so he quickly goes back to working the arm. He even hits the rope-walk legdrop to the arm, which the announcer notes that he hasn’t done in 2 years. This match is just perfect, and we haven’t even gotten to the best part yet.
You just knew that Joe was gonna connect with a huge strike sooner or later and he finally does here. He goes for his patented offense, but again Punk has that scouted. It’s like he read the “How to Beat Samoa Joe” handbook. Now when Joe tries to escape the headlock, Punk just holds on to the lion’s injured paw and stays in control. Joe knows he’s in trouble, so in probably the smartest move of his career, he falls through the ropes to the outside. Punk still has the headlock even after that, but all Joe wanted was an opening as he KILLS Punk with a backdrop suplex on the foor. This is officially the turning point of the match.
Punk’s quickness has been taken away. His back is now shot. Punk realizes that he has to go for broke now. He needs to get back into Joe’s head, so after he counters the facewash, he gets one of his own. He’s lost a step though so Joe counters his offense with some of his own. Punk is desperate so he goes for a springboard cross body, but he hit that in their first match and Joe remembers it and moves with ease. He even gets the stalling suplex he got in the first match, but unlike in Dayton, he is more conditioned and it doesn’t take much out of him, while it just destroys Punk’s back. To show how much he’s in control, he connects with the leg sweep even after Punk had just countered it seconds before hand. All the counters in Punk’s arsenal aren’t going to save him now. Joe works over the back some more. Literally everything they’re doing makes sense here. Joe just kills Punk now. Just a massacre. Joe knows he can’t be beaten…ever. He emphasizes his dominance with an insulting cover on Punk. It’s all but over. But wait! Desperation Hurricanrana! Punk knows it’s now or never and connects with a Suicide Dive. The crowd is back in his corner. He even connects with Joe’s Ole Kick. Blasphemy! Joe is gonna murder bitches now. First attempt at the Ole Kick is blocked, but Joe eventually gets it. The match then goes into full nonstop badass-ness. The announcers are marking out so even they have to leave to booth to go into the crowd to watch. The crowd is full in to it too. They’re banging Punk’s entrance music on the guardrail. They can feel a title change.
It’s really hard to describe how great it gets so I won’t even try. Punk getting the Anaconda Vice on Joe’s hurt arm forcing Joe to go the ropes for like the first time ever is pretty fabulous. As is the look on Punk’s face when he gets the Devil’s Lock DDT and thinks it’s over. One of my favorite nearfalls happens as well when Punk hits the Shining Wizard out of no where and Joe drapes his hand across the rope to save the title. Punk tries everything to get the win, but Joe can’t be beat with just anything. Punk is running out of offense and time. It has to be now. Pepsi…Plunge. Joe’s weakness. The confrontation on the tope turnbuckle is the stuff legends are made of. The crowd is begging for Punk to connect with the Plunge. It doesn’t happen. Time Limit Draw. FUCK.
Crowd wants more time, but alas it was not to be. Punk gives the title to Joe and shakes his hand. Joe walks away still the champion, still unbeatable in title matches. Punk walks out to a standing ovation. A hometown hero.
Punk claims neither man can beat the other in 60 minutes. He knows for a fact that the Pepsi Plunge can beat Joe, but he’s not sure the Muscle Buster can beat him. He wants Joe with no time limit. Joe says that Punk’s 2nd chance was his last. He did his job and Punk didn’t do his. No more opportunities.
What can I say that I haven’t already? This is one of the greatest matches I’ve ever seen. Everything came together and everything made sense. The drama was off the charts, it had an epic atmosphere and it had every intangible that you could think of. If that isn’t a five star rating, I don’t know what is.
*****
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Samoa Joe © vs. CM Punk (ROH World Title; No Time Limit, there must be a winner; All Star Extravaganza II)
It is the wrestling trilogy of the 21st century, CM Punk/Samoa Joe. In the 50’s it was Buddy Rogers and Lou Thesz. In the 60’s it was Gorilla Monsoon and Bruno Sammartino . In the 70’s it was Jack Briscoe and Dory Funk Jr. In the 80’s it was Ric Flair and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat. And now, it is CM Punk and Samoa Joe. There’s the bell and it…is…on!
- Mark Nulty
No prematch promos here. The time for talk is over. Ricky Steamboat is at the ringside table. This is Punk’s last shot at Joe and the title.
Crowd is HUGELY behind Joe here, although Punk has his vocal supporters. This is in New Jersey, not the friendly confines of Chicago. Mat wrestling is met with strikes from Joe. It’s all business tonight. Punk of course goes for the headlock early, but we’ve more than established that Joe is smarter than he looks. He avoids them with ease and chops down Punk forcing him to take an early break for the 1st time in their series. Punk’s got to play this one on the fly. Joe is as confident as ever so he asks Punk to chop him, fearing nothing that Punk can do. Punk obliges, but barely pats him on the chest. He then challenges Joe to chop him again. Joe doesn’t give a shit about mind games so he’s more than happy to. Punk smarty ducks and gets a backslide for an early nearfall which takes Joe off his game for a split second for Punk to lock in the headlock. Punk’s ring awareness will be his greatest strength tonight. He keeps his control segment ever-changing by dropkicking Joe in the head and then jumping right back on a headlock, followed by more head dropkicks. Punk has all the time in the world, so he’s gonna move at his pace. They both counter the other’s offense, after over 2 hours of time in the ring together, they know everything that the other man has up their sleeve. But unlike the 1st two matches, Joe is able to capitalize on his strikes. He capitalizes so much, that Punk gets busted open from a stiff knee. Punk is in the greatest trouble he’s been in so far in the series.
Joe knows what’s on the line, so he attacks the wound with animalistic precision. He’s literally trying to rip open Punk’s face here. The tides have turned a full 180. Now Joe is the one that is going to be able to last a long amount of time, and now Punk is going to have to be the one that has to end it as early as possible. Joe now uses Punk’s greatest weapon against him and uses the headlock to wear him down. There’s no way Punk can go over an hour tonight, if he’s got a shot, he’ll have to end it early. That cut is a target for the baddest motherfucker alive. Punk also doesn’t have the Chicago crowd to get him back into it. Joe just murders him for a long period of time. Punk takes a massive shitkicking, and it’s incredible to witness. He blocks a second attempt at the Ole Kick, and goes on the apron. Now, twice he’s had his jumping hurricanrana from the apron reversed into a face full of guardrail from Joe, so now he takes out the champion with a dropkick. Punk gets some chants, so he plays to that portion of the crowd to keep him in it. He even hits a Ricky Steamboat-like crossbody for a nearfall in a cool callback to that series. Another cool spot as Punk reverses the armbar that Joe had been using so effectively in the series to a School Boy. They fight on the top in a spot very reminiscent to the ending of the 2nd match, but Punk knows that a Pepsi Plunge is out of the question so early in this match, so he drops down and goes for a Powerbomb (which Joe had been using so well in the series) and Joe reverses that with a hurricanrana (which Punk had been using so well in the series). What’s better than a Joe hurricanrana? A Joe lariat that nearly decapitates Punk of course, which only gets a two count to everyone’s surprise. Moments later Joe FINALLY gets the choke for the first time in the series, which is amazing when you think about how much time these two had in the ring. Punk’s hand falls three times and it’s oer. Joe has retained the title…
BUT WAIT! Ricky Steamboat is stopping the time keeper from ringing the bell! He’s pointing to Punk, whose fingers were moving, he’s back in it as the ref calls off the timekeeper from stopping the match. Punk tries to fight out but Joe’s a Pitbull that won’t let go. Punk uses that to his advantage and gets the reversal that Bret got on Piper at Mania VIII and Austin at Survivor Series 96…it’s only two this time though as Joe was forced to let go. Crowd is really into it right now. Quick pinfall variations from Punk and Joe now. They’re going balls to the wall. It’s like they never even went 60 minutes. Huge moment of not only the match but Joe’s reign as he is so desperate to keep the title that he uses the ropes to try and pin Punk. Crowd is pissed at that. These two talked about these matches in their shoot together, and they said that Steamboat came up with that. They thought it was stupid at first, but eventually realized it was brilliant in relation to the match. Plunge is again reversed by Joe. Punk now realizes that the Plunge, although the one weapon in his arsenal that can beat Joe, can’t be hit, especially not after the beating that Punk has taken. He goes for a rollup, hoping that will be his saving grace, but Joe counters into the choke. Punk knows that he only has a few seconds to escape, but Joe realizes that too, and drops him on his head to keep him in it with huge trapped suplexes. Crowd begs for Punk to hold on, but he has already given everything. He has nothing left. Joe retains via pass out.
Joe gets on the mic and proclaims the ROH title the most important belt in the world. He shakes Punk’s hand and declares that he’s unstoppable as ROH champion. No one in any locker room in the world can beat him when it matters. Long live the King.
Phenomenal match that made both guys even bigger after it was over. One of the best of this decade. It didn’t have enough to push it into ***** territory, but it left an imprint on me anyway. I love how they “only” went 31 minutes as opposed to over an hour like everyone thought they would because of Punk’s injury. Psychology was great too. If you’re a fan of matches that have call backs to other matches, then this is defiantly right up you alley. A true classic.
****3/4
My 2008 TNA Match of the Year: Jeff Jarrett vs. Kurt Angle (Bound for Glory)
One man, fueled by two years of pain, two years of agony, two years of tears, Jeff Jarrett is able to defeat Kurt Angle. And I’ve got to send this shout out to Nashville, Tennessee: Jocelyn, Jaclyn, Jaryn, this one was dedicated to you.
- Mike Tenay
This was Jarrett’s first match in 17 months. To call it emotional would be an understatement. Mick Foley is the special enforcer.
The buildup to this match was intense to say the least. Angle had become very personal in the weeks leading up to the match. Jarrett’s counter attack was clear. How do you get personal with Kurt Angle? You beat him at his own game. Mat wrestling. But, while Jarrett had the right idea, he was totally overmatched in the beginning of the match. Angle dominates on the ground and paint brushes Jarrett’s head to let him know that he’s in a different world now. He’s not wrestling Raven, or AJ or Sting…he’s wrestling a machine. The “paint brushing” might as well have been Angle brushing what rust Jarrett had off, because at this point Jarrett takes control on the mat. He’s able to hang with everything Kurt throws at him until Jarrett takes Angle over the top. Jarrett even vaults himself over the top rope. You can tell he’s feeling it. He starts to string together his patented offense and even gets in a classic “Jarrett Strut” in, but he forgot one thing…he’s in the ring with Kurt Angle.
Angle hits a huge clothesline and takes back control. Kurt dominates Jeff with a sleeper, the very move that Jeff is known for using so effectively. Jeff starts to wear down. He hasn’t been in the ring in well over a year and he’s going up against the best in the world. Perhaps this is too soon. Perhaps he should have gone up against a lower caliber of opponent. Perhaps…but he’s not falling…not tonight.
Jarrett uses the one advantage he has over Kurt, his veteran instincts. Kurt gets too aggressive and runs into the post. Jarrett capitalizes with a DDT. Jeff gets desperate and hits a move I’ve never seen him use, the Blue Thunder Bomb. It’s not enough to put Angle away though as Angle recovers with some patented Angle offense, The belly to belly suplex. Angle’s had more than enough of Jarrett so he goes for his Angle Slam, but Jarrett has it scouted. They battle on the top rope and Jarrett gets his biggest move of the match with a Superplex. He knows he doesn’t have much time so he locks in the Figure Four. Angle sells it like it’s the end, but just manages to reach the ropes. Ankle lock out of no where and Jarrett’s in trouble. He thinks about tapping but he just can’t…not tonight. Not after 17 months of Hell. He barely manages to escape, but by that time he’s too worn down emotionally and psychically to recover. Angle Slam and it’s all but over. At least on any other night…but not tonight. Angle is more than frustrated so he gets desperate. Very desperate. He goes up for a Moonsault and gets nothing on the way down. It’s anyone’s match now.
Jarrett sits up and starts talking to himself. He knows that this is his last chance. The ref gets knocked out but Jarrett doesn’t hesitate. He can’t against Kurt Angle. Stroke from JJ but there’s no ref. At that moment, outside enforcer Mick Foley slides into the ring to make the pin attempt but only gets 2. Angle knows he was nearly beat, so he gets even more desperate and hits a low blow behind Foley’s back. It’s time to end this. He grabs a chair but Foley won’t have that. Angle has lost it and annihilates Foley with the chair. He’ll do anything to win and destroy whatever lies in his path to do it. Chair shot on Jarrrett. He’s done. He has nothing left to give. Perhaps Jeff deserves it. After all, he’s made a living doing what ever it takes to win. Maybe tonight was never his night to begin with…
But it was. Mick Foley has stopped the pinfall from taking place. As Foley gains vengeance on Angle, Jarrett knows that it’s now or never. One final bullet in the chamber. He grabs the guitar that has been by his side for years, and with all his might he destroys Angle with it. Even the best in the world can’t rise from that.
Redemption…
WWE Backlash 2009 Review
Swagger vs. Christian
Loved it. Swagger is growing on me in all honesty. Not as good as their second match, but not a lot is. I’d assume match IV takes place at Judgment Day, and I’m more than game for that.
***1/4
Steamboat vs. Jericho
Yikes, apparently I liked this a lot more than most. Pretty epic imo. Even better than their Mania encounter, much better in fact for me. I loved the callback to Mania 3 with the reversal of the body slam. Basically, I was marking out non stop for this.
***1/2
Punk vs. Kane
And I guess I liked this a little less than most. Solid structure but the dead crowd killed it for me (I actually thought the crowd was generally bleh excluding high spots and the final 45 minutes of the PPV). I still enjoyed this for a Raw match.
**1/4
Jeff vs. Matt
Solid if unspectacular. I’m not really a fan of either guy anymore so this was what it was. I actually liked the finish.
**1/2
Orton/Legacy vs. HHH/Shane/Batista
OK, I thought the first part of this match sucked when Batista was taking a beating. I was questioning why they would do that with Shane on the damn ring apron and a guy like Batista who’s offense would be great for a hot tag. Then they go a similar route and it’s pretty damn great. Shane took a really nice beat down. Ending sequence was fabulous, too. I could probably go higher, but the early portion really brought down the match to me. Still really good, albeit a tad too long for what they wanted imo.
***
Edge vs. Cena
Woah. Big match feel here. I loved pretty much everything they did. I wasn’t a huge fan of the crowd brawling because the entire match had been built up on hate and escalating violence, and then Edge runs away. Whatever though, the finishing stuff made up for it more than enough. I also wasn’t a fan of Show interfering in what should be the final blowoff to a big rivalry. Cena/Show on PPV interests me greatly though, so that can be considered a win.
****1/4
WWE has got the hang of this now. They’re really on a roll when it comes to putting on what can be considered, “watchable - great” PPVs. This one was really good, and I’m starting to see that they might not put on a bad one again for a while. Great sign for everyone.
Loved it. Swagger is growing on me in all honesty. Not as good as their second match, but not a lot is. I’d assume match IV takes place at Judgment Day, and I’m more than game for that.
***1/4
Steamboat vs. Jericho
Yikes, apparently I liked this a lot more than most. Pretty epic imo. Even better than their Mania encounter, much better in fact for me. I loved the callback to Mania 3 with the reversal of the body slam. Basically, I was marking out non stop for this.
***1/2
Punk vs. Kane
And I guess I liked this a little less than most. Solid structure but the dead crowd killed it for me (I actually thought the crowd was generally bleh excluding high spots and the final 45 minutes of the PPV). I still enjoyed this for a Raw match.
**1/4
Jeff vs. Matt
Solid if unspectacular. I’m not really a fan of either guy anymore so this was what it was. I actually liked the finish.
**1/2
Orton/Legacy vs. HHH/Shane/Batista
OK, I thought the first part of this match sucked when Batista was taking a beating. I was questioning why they would do that with Shane on the damn ring apron and a guy like Batista who’s offense would be great for a hot tag. Then they go a similar route and it’s pretty damn great. Shane took a really nice beat down. Ending sequence was fabulous, too. I could probably go higher, but the early portion really brought down the match to me. Still really good, albeit a tad too long for what they wanted imo.
***
Edge vs. Cena
Woah. Big match feel here. I loved pretty much everything they did. I wasn’t a huge fan of the crowd brawling because the entire match had been built up on hate and escalating violence, and then Edge runs away. Whatever though, the finishing stuff made up for it more than enough. I also wasn’t a fan of Show interfering in what should be the final blowoff to a big rivalry. Cena/Show on PPV interests me greatly though, so that can be considered a win.
****1/4
WWE has got the hang of this now. They’re really on a roll when it comes to putting on what can be considered, “watchable - great” PPVs. This one was really good, and I’m starting to see that they might not put on a bad one again for a while. Great sign for everyone.
TNA Lockdown 2009 Review
X-Division Title Xcape Match: Suicide © vs. Kiyoshi vs. Jay Lethal vs. Sheik Abdul Bashir vs. Consequences Creed
Pretty much what was to be expected. Spotty and it was fine for being that. Nice finish as well that got a dead crowd out of their seats for one of the few times in the night. Anyone know who Suicide was in this match? Kaz I'd assume?
**3/4
TNA Knockouts Queen of the Cage Match: ODB vs. Madison Rayne vs. Daffney vs. Sojo Bolt
I pretty much have no interest in any of these people so I really didn’t care for this match. Just kind of there to fill time and ODB winning was a forgone conclusion.
*
IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title Match: The Motor City Machine Guns © vs. No Limit vs. LAX
Hernandez kills X Division guys in a cage. What more could you ask for? Fuck it, give the big man the title too while we’re at it. Went on a little too long for what they were going for but it was still super enjoyable. If they don't take my advice for Hernadez as the next champ, please give us a MCMG/LAX match on PPV. Dream match from me.
***1/4
Doomsday Chamber of Blood Match: Abyss vs. Matt Morgan
I was expecting something pretty bad here. It wasn’t great by any means, but it was a tad better than what I thought it would be. I’m still apathetic towards Abyss and his garbage matches though.
**
TNA Knockouts Title Match: Awesome Kong © vs. Angelina Love vs. Taylor Wilde
The right girl won so now Kong can take a well deserved break. I’m looking forward to Love’s title run as I think she is perfect for what the Knockouts division needs. I’m sure her and Wilde will be feuding over the title for the next few months and that works for me as well. Finish was really bad but Love got knocked out and they had to rush it like that. Match wasn’t what the KO division used to be known for, but I don’t think we’ll be seeing anything like Kong/Gail Kim ever again in TNA. Still the best KO match I've seen in a while.
**1/2
Winner Takes All – TNA World Tag Team Titles vs. IWGP Tag Team Titles Philadelphia Street Fight: Beer Money © vs. Team 3D ©
It seems I liked this a lot more than most people, but everything worked beautifully towards the feud and I for one can appreciate that. I’m not a fan of typical TNA crowd brawls, but having one in this match made tons of sense because the whole match had been built around the fact that Philly fans are violent creatures and being in that environment would be the test for Beer Money. I can say that for the first time since the MCMG match at Turning Point 2007 (I think that was the show.), I was never bored during a Team 3D match. They we’re really entertaining here. Beer Money continues to be one of the best tag teams on Earth. They play their role to perfection here. Not a fan of 3D winning, but it was probably the only outcome considering Beer Money probably wasn’t going to be a staple in the NJPW tag division anytime soon. I really hope they don’t break up BM like it seems the rumors have been saying for months. MOTN no doubt and not a drop of disspointment from me.
***3/4
Lethal Lockdown: Team Jarrett (Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, Jeff Jarrett and Christopher Daniels) vs. Team Angle (Kurt Angle, Scott Steiner, Booker T and Kevin Nash)
I’m glad Angle started the match for the MEM. I thought AJ should have started for Team Jarrett, but that’s a minor gripe. AJ and Daniels were really good here. I hope they resume being a tag team soon, as they showed that they still have it. Steiner suprised the shit out of me here. He fit nicely as the thrid entrant for the MEM. Props to Nash for even being out there. Overall, the match was kind of slow. Nothing of event really happened and then AJ nearly dies to wake the crowd up. Then they just kind of went into finisher mode before Jarrett used the guitar to maybe the quitest pop there’s ever been. Still pretty good, but for the length it went it could have been better. Worst LL match I’ve ever seen probably, but I enjoyed it. Probably won't ever see it again, but not every match can be like that. I'm curious to see where this feud goes from here.
***
Lashley debuts to one of the loudest pops of the night. That makes me sad.
TNA World Title Match: Sting © vs. Mick Foley
I hate to be that guy, but I new this would disappoint. Really slow and really plodding with nothing in particular going on. They used the bat nicely, but the crowd was too dead to care. Mediocre best describes this I’d say. Foley as TNA champ at least interest me more than Sting as champion, which was none at all. I have no clue who he faces at Sacrifice other than Jarrett, but I can’t see him holding on to the title to be in King of the Mountain at Slammiversary.
**
Overall, disappointing to many, but my expectations weren’t incredibly high to begin with. I really hope the excellent build for PPVs continues with Sacrifice next month, but I’m skeptic on that since TNA usually only caters a lot of effort to the big 4.
Pretty much what was to be expected. Spotty and it was fine for being that. Nice finish as well that got a dead crowd out of their seats for one of the few times in the night. Anyone know who Suicide was in this match? Kaz I'd assume?
**3/4
TNA Knockouts Queen of the Cage Match: ODB vs. Madison Rayne vs. Daffney vs. Sojo Bolt
I pretty much have no interest in any of these people so I really didn’t care for this match. Just kind of there to fill time and ODB winning was a forgone conclusion.
*
IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title Match: The Motor City Machine Guns © vs. No Limit vs. LAX
Hernandez kills X Division guys in a cage. What more could you ask for? Fuck it, give the big man the title too while we’re at it. Went on a little too long for what they were going for but it was still super enjoyable. If they don't take my advice for Hernadez as the next champ, please give us a MCMG/LAX match on PPV. Dream match from me.
***1/4
Doomsday Chamber of Blood Match: Abyss vs. Matt Morgan
I was expecting something pretty bad here. It wasn’t great by any means, but it was a tad better than what I thought it would be. I’m still apathetic towards Abyss and his garbage matches though.
**
TNA Knockouts Title Match: Awesome Kong © vs. Angelina Love vs. Taylor Wilde
The right girl won so now Kong can take a well deserved break. I’m looking forward to Love’s title run as I think she is perfect for what the Knockouts division needs. I’m sure her and Wilde will be feuding over the title for the next few months and that works for me as well. Finish was really bad but Love got knocked out and they had to rush it like that. Match wasn’t what the KO division used to be known for, but I don’t think we’ll be seeing anything like Kong/Gail Kim ever again in TNA. Still the best KO match I've seen in a while.
**1/2
Winner Takes All – TNA World Tag Team Titles vs. IWGP Tag Team Titles Philadelphia Street Fight: Beer Money © vs. Team 3D ©
It seems I liked this a lot more than most people, but everything worked beautifully towards the feud and I for one can appreciate that. I’m not a fan of typical TNA crowd brawls, but having one in this match made tons of sense because the whole match had been built around the fact that Philly fans are violent creatures and being in that environment would be the test for Beer Money. I can say that for the first time since the MCMG match at Turning Point 2007 (I think that was the show.), I was never bored during a Team 3D match. They we’re really entertaining here. Beer Money continues to be one of the best tag teams on Earth. They play their role to perfection here. Not a fan of 3D winning, but it was probably the only outcome considering Beer Money probably wasn’t going to be a staple in the NJPW tag division anytime soon. I really hope they don’t break up BM like it seems the rumors have been saying for months. MOTN no doubt and not a drop of disspointment from me.
***3/4
Lethal Lockdown: Team Jarrett (Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, Jeff Jarrett and Christopher Daniels) vs. Team Angle (Kurt Angle, Scott Steiner, Booker T and Kevin Nash)
I’m glad Angle started the match for the MEM. I thought AJ should have started for Team Jarrett, but that’s a minor gripe. AJ and Daniels were really good here. I hope they resume being a tag team soon, as they showed that they still have it. Steiner suprised the shit out of me here. He fit nicely as the thrid entrant for the MEM. Props to Nash for even being out there. Overall, the match was kind of slow. Nothing of event really happened and then AJ nearly dies to wake the crowd up. Then they just kind of went into finisher mode before Jarrett used the guitar to maybe the quitest pop there’s ever been. Still pretty good, but for the length it went it could have been better. Worst LL match I’ve ever seen probably, but I enjoyed it. Probably won't ever see it again, but not every match can be like that. I'm curious to see where this feud goes from here.
***
Lashley debuts to one of the loudest pops of the night. That makes me sad.
TNA World Title Match: Sting © vs. Mick Foley
I hate to be that guy, but I new this would disappoint. Really slow and really plodding with nothing in particular going on. They used the bat nicely, but the crowd was too dead to care. Mediocre best describes this I’d say. Foley as TNA champ at least interest me more than Sting as champion, which was none at all. I have no clue who he faces at Sacrifice other than Jarrett, but I can’t see him holding on to the title to be in King of the Mountain at Slammiversary.
**
Overall, disappointing to many, but my expectations weren’t incredibly high to begin with. I really hope the excellent build for PPVs continues with Sacrifice next month, but I’m skeptic on that since TNA usually only caters a lot of effort to the big 4.
Friday, April 17, 2009
ROH Driven 2008 Review
DVD Bonus Matches
Grizzley Redwood vs. Chasyn Rance – ¾*
Just there to get Franklin’s new gimmick over. Crowd shit on it at first and then ate it up.
Daizee Haze vs. Madison Eagles – ½*
2 minutes. The ROH women’s division is the worst out of the “big 3.”
Rhett Titus vs. Josh Daniels - *1/4
And so concludes the worst bonus matches on ROH PPV history.
PPV
Austin Aries vs. Delirious - **3/4
Really good for 7 minutes. Pretty much a storyline advancer with Jacobs hurting his back before the main event here via murder death kill on Aries, but it was really, really strong.
Sara Del Rey vs. Jessie McKay – DUD
Squash.
Brent Albright & Erick Stevens vs. Adam Pearce & Eddie Edwards – ** 1/4
Again, really good, but really short. 6 minutes in fact. Fairly hot crowd so far as they were even hot for the the usually apathetic-drawing Stevens and Albright.
Chris Hero vs. Jerry Lynn – **3/4
More goodness. This is the first I’ve seen of Lynn in ROH (excluding the match in Houston) and I really forgot how good he is. The first word that comes to mind is professional. Hero lays the beatdown on old man Lynn before Jerry makes a nice comeback. Nothing you haven’t seen a million times, but it’s been used a million times for a reason and Lynn can pull it off better than most of those that have tried, even at 45 years old.
Bryan Danielson vs. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Go Shiozaki (Three Way Elimination Match) – ***1/4
MOTN so far. Claudio’s elimination is hilarious. After he’s gone, he literally just throws students in to each other and chunks them over his shoulder into the 2nd row with ease. The meat of the match is Danielson taking a beating, but he’s one of the best at that so this rules fairly hard.
Jay & Mark Briscoe vs. The Vulture Squad vs. The YRR vs. The Necro Butcher (Scramble Match) - **1/2
Short ans sweet spotfest. Noting to note really.
Nigel McGuinness vs. Roderick Strong (ROH World Title Match) - ***3/4
Wow. Great match as you’d come to expect from Nigel’s epic reign. Just Nigel beating Roderick to a pulp throughout with Strong refusing to fall in a title match again. Nigel’s really mastered the style that he uses. I’m gonna miss him. Strong comes oh so close as per with the guy, but once again Nigel is too strong and murders him with multiple offense for the pinfall. Not as good as Nigel’s defense against Claudio from the last PPV, but not far off.
Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico (World Tag Team Title Match) - ****1/2
Jimmy still has an injured back from the table spot earlier. Tyler is still pissed that Jimmy did such a selfish thing. Got a point tbh. Steenerico’s last shot at the belts. Generico plays the perfect face in peril here. You just feel he wants to make the tag more than anything. Generico does finally get the tag once the crowd gets behind him and becomes molten. Then it kicks into high gear. When the “worst” part of the match is El Generico taking a beating, you know the match is sweet. Monster nearfalls that the crowd buys non stop. The Swanton Bomb/Splash nearfall is one of the best in the company’s history. Total speed freak mode then erupts. Tons of emotion from the crowd and all four guys do a great job of playing off of it. Jacobs taking the pinfall makes sense with his injury, and Steenerico take the gold for the first time in ROH. Great stuff. I’d say it’s probably the 2nd best 2 on 2 tag match of the year. Too bad Steenerico’s reign never lived up to the chase.
Overall, one of their weakest PPV efforts at this point totally saved by the final 2 matches. The main event you should totally go out of your way for as it was truly a memorably moment in ROH history.
Grizzley Redwood vs. Chasyn Rance – ¾*
Just there to get Franklin’s new gimmick over. Crowd shit on it at first and then ate it up.
Daizee Haze vs. Madison Eagles – ½*
2 minutes. The ROH women’s division is the worst out of the “big 3.”
Rhett Titus vs. Josh Daniels - *1/4
And so concludes the worst bonus matches on ROH PPV history.
PPV
Austin Aries vs. Delirious - **3/4
Really good for 7 minutes. Pretty much a storyline advancer with Jacobs hurting his back before the main event here via murder death kill on Aries, but it was really, really strong.
Sara Del Rey vs. Jessie McKay – DUD
Squash.
Brent Albright & Erick Stevens vs. Adam Pearce & Eddie Edwards – ** 1/4
Again, really good, but really short. 6 minutes in fact. Fairly hot crowd so far as they were even hot for the the usually apathetic-drawing Stevens and Albright.
Chris Hero vs. Jerry Lynn – **3/4
More goodness. This is the first I’ve seen of Lynn in ROH (excluding the match in Houston) and I really forgot how good he is. The first word that comes to mind is professional. Hero lays the beatdown on old man Lynn before Jerry makes a nice comeback. Nothing you haven’t seen a million times, but it’s been used a million times for a reason and Lynn can pull it off better than most of those that have tried, even at 45 years old.
Bryan Danielson vs. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Go Shiozaki (Three Way Elimination Match) – ***1/4
MOTN so far. Claudio’s elimination is hilarious. After he’s gone, he literally just throws students in to each other and chunks them over his shoulder into the 2nd row with ease. The meat of the match is Danielson taking a beating, but he’s one of the best at that so this rules fairly hard.
Jay & Mark Briscoe vs. The Vulture Squad vs. The YRR vs. The Necro Butcher (Scramble Match) - **1/2
Short ans sweet spotfest. Noting to note really.
Nigel McGuinness vs. Roderick Strong (ROH World Title Match) - ***3/4
Wow. Great match as you’d come to expect from Nigel’s epic reign. Just Nigel beating Roderick to a pulp throughout with Strong refusing to fall in a title match again. Nigel’s really mastered the style that he uses. I’m gonna miss him. Strong comes oh so close as per with the guy, but once again Nigel is too strong and murders him with multiple offense for the pinfall. Not as good as Nigel’s defense against Claudio from the last PPV, but not far off.
Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico (World Tag Team Title Match) - ****1/2
Jimmy still has an injured back from the table spot earlier. Tyler is still pissed that Jimmy did such a selfish thing. Got a point tbh. Steenerico’s last shot at the belts. Generico plays the perfect face in peril here. You just feel he wants to make the tag more than anything. Generico does finally get the tag once the crowd gets behind him and becomes molten. Then it kicks into high gear. When the “worst” part of the match is El Generico taking a beating, you know the match is sweet. Monster nearfalls that the crowd buys non stop. The Swanton Bomb/Splash nearfall is one of the best in the company’s history. Total speed freak mode then erupts. Tons of emotion from the crowd and all four guys do a great job of playing off of it. Jacobs taking the pinfall makes sense with his injury, and Steenerico take the gold for the first time in ROH. Great stuff. I’d say it’s probably the 2nd best 2 on 2 tag match of the year. Too bad Steenerico’s reign never lived up to the chase.
Overall, one of their weakest PPV efforts at this point totally saved by the final 2 matches. The main event you should totally go out of your way for as it was truly a memorably moment in ROH history.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Wrestlemania 25 Live Review
Colons vs. M&M - **3/4
Really fun match. Great way to kick off the show. I was surprised to see it on the preshow, but whatever. If you’ve seen one of their matches, you’ve seen this one. Still really good for time given.
MITB - ****
I could go ***3/4 but my blind markiness for Punk pushes this into that territory. Really enjoyed it as the rating shows. Kofi is a freak. He really stood out in the match. There was also a part of me, albeit small, that thought maybe Orton wins the title and HHH kills him. Then Punk cashes in and poetically gets revenge on Orton for taking his title in September. I know, I know.
Apparently, I’m the only one who didn’t mind Kid Rock. I mean I had that damn CD with these songs 10 years ago, so maybe that’s why. Way too long though.
Divas - N/R
Too much shit going on for me to care. I looked in the ring from my seats and saw a sea of blonde hair, so it was tough to pick them apart. Santino was pretty over. I don’t rate battle royales.
Jericho vs. Legends - **1/2
Holy mother. Blew me away. Give Steamboat a contract now. Glad Jericho went over. Speaking of over, Flair very much is. I heard ‘woo’ing all day and he got a great pop when his face showed on screen or when he was in the match.
Matt vs. Jeff - ***1/4
Pretty much what I expected. Fun hardcore garbage match. Loved the finish too, just a sick TOF.
Rey vs. JBL – ¼*
Um, yeah. Thanks for the memories, John. Entertaining segment.
Michaels vs. Taker - *****
All right. First off, I’m pleased to see ratings like this from a ton of people for the match. When it was over and the first “rating” to pass through my mind (I swear it didn't cross my mind until after the 3 way was over. I was like, “Oh yeah, STARZ~! What was I thinking? This is clearly the most important thing about wrestling. I should probably get on that if I want some sweet IWC credibility.”) was *****, I figured I’d have to explain myself. Looks like I’m not alone, but I’ll go ahead and try to anyway even though I’m dead tired as I type this. I remember people saying that everyone was rating this match ***** before it even happened like Flair/Michaels last year. I’m sure in some instances it’s true, but not on my end. I’m a low expectation kind of person. I keep them there and I’m rarely let down (especially when it comes to wrestling, where even if I’m let down by something, I can turn around and find another match or whatever to pick me up).
Anyways, I’m gonna go ahead and cheat with my rating and use an old fashioned cop out. My reasoning? You just…had..to be there. OK, judging by all the five stars I see coming from posters I see that isn’t necessarily true. The whole fucking feel of this moment (not match…moment. From the screenshot that flashed on the big screen before the match took place, to the pop THAT got, to Shawn’s (I’m sure super cheesy to some but not to me) grand entrance to clearly the match itself, everything about this screamed perfect to me. I’ve had a feeling very close to this before, at Mania X-7 when I saw Rock and Austin tear that dome down.
I thought they put the match together so well. These guys are truly 2 of the best on Earth. No doubt. I swear to you, when Taker missed the suicide dive, I thought he was legit knocked out and I thought Shawn would win via countout. They got me. What a fucking tease that Mark Callaway is. Throughout the rest of the match I was on the edge of my seat. I remember looking up around the stadium. I just wanted to take in what I was apart of; Truly one of the most epic matches ever, imo. I seriously felt like this was one of the greatest moments IN MY LIFE. Man, I take wrestling too seriously. None the less, this match had me jumping up and down in the aisles…literally. When Shawn started stomping his foot to “tune up the band” I stomped along with him. I’m 25 years old and I was stomping on the ground to the beat of a balding man child (™Andy). I just didn’t give a fuck about looking cool in front of the people in the crowd. I just let myself go. I’d like to say I embarrassed my friends…but they were doing the exact…same…thing. This is all real, btw. Take the rest of the actual match into account, and you have more than enough to justify 5 asterisks. I swear to God I’m not trying to rub in the fact that I was there and you guys weren’t, but if you were there, you’d know what I’m saying.
This is all on one watch, though. Who knows, I could fall out of love with it. Probably will. But for now I’ll stand proud with ***** next to the match. I can already see this called the most OVERRATED MATCH IN EVERZ~.
Cena vs. Edge vs. Show - ***1/4
Oh hey guys, good luck following THAT. I’d say hundreds left after Taker/HBK was over, but the place was still pretty full. Anyway, really good match here, which is what you expect from the WWE main event style triple threat. Glad Cena won. There were so many smarks in my are who jeered his very existence, my friends included. I can say that I totally embarrassed them when he won and I acted like a fucking dork for the guy. Good times.
HOF stuff was cool. When Austin left about 5 seconds after he was announced, everyone in my are both laughed and booed. When he came out he got their hearts right back. Generic Beer party thing he does but I loved it.
Orton vs. HHH – N/R
OK, reason it’s N/R is because I wasn’t giving my utmost attention to the match. There were unsupervised kids sitting in front of us all night who were jumping up and down on seats and stuff, and in this match it really annoyed me. They were losing their shit, it didn’t help they had like 23 funnel cakes throughout the night. They might as well have snorted an eight ball in the bathroom. Plus, my friends were pretty burnt out and I was just chatting with them through some parts of the match. Add to that the camera men were being douches by taking the boom cam all around the arena. This led to everyone’s interest going to the camera, as opposed to, you know, the match. Plus the crowd was pretty dead after HBK/Taker anyway. That clearly should have main evented. The crowd was trying so hard to get into this but they just fell flat. Finish didn’t help things. I drove home hoping that maybe it came across better on TV. I mean, I didn’t like last year’s main event as much as most, so maybe this is the same. Apparently not, judging by these ratings. I’ll take a peak at it fairly soon because I want to have an honest opinion, but if you forced me to put a rating next to it with doubt in my mind about the match (What are you? A MONSTER?!) I’d probably say about **3/4 or so. However you look at it, I’m sure it’s a match that no one will ever say anything positive of for years to come.
EDIT: On a rewatch, I'll probably go **1/2. There was a good match in there somewhere, but it got lost in the fucked up structure of the match, which was a little off as well. Both guys hitting their finishers in the first 2 minutes didn't help things as it really took the crowd out of it, who had witnessed 2 spotfests, Steamboat owning Father Time, Taker/Shawn, Cena winning the title, and Steve Austin's possible last appearance already and were pretty dead. There's a reason they're called finishers, you should build up to them and not use them as momentum shifters so soon. Probably could have shaved off 6 or 7 minutes as well. The finish was also pretty embarrassing but coming from HHH, you just grow to expect it. Again, the match was solid but unspectacular. Certainly not what a Wrestlemania main event should resemble. Quite the sour taste in your mouth.
Overall, I had the time of my life, and quite frankly I’m a selfish person and I’m all I care about.
Really fun match. Great way to kick off the show. I was surprised to see it on the preshow, but whatever. If you’ve seen one of their matches, you’ve seen this one. Still really good for time given.
MITB - ****
I could go ***3/4 but my blind markiness for Punk pushes this into that territory. Really enjoyed it as the rating shows. Kofi is a freak. He really stood out in the match. There was also a part of me, albeit small, that thought maybe Orton wins the title and HHH kills him. Then Punk cashes in and poetically gets revenge on Orton for taking his title in September. I know, I know.
Apparently, I’m the only one who didn’t mind Kid Rock. I mean I had that damn CD with these songs 10 years ago, so maybe that’s why. Way too long though.
Divas - N/R
Too much shit going on for me to care. I looked in the ring from my seats and saw a sea of blonde hair, so it was tough to pick them apart. Santino was pretty over. I don’t rate battle royales.
Jericho vs. Legends - **1/2
Holy mother. Blew me away. Give Steamboat a contract now. Glad Jericho went over. Speaking of over, Flair very much is. I heard ‘woo’ing all day and he got a great pop when his face showed on screen or when he was in the match.
Matt vs. Jeff - ***1/4
Pretty much what I expected. Fun hardcore garbage match. Loved the finish too, just a sick TOF.
Rey vs. JBL – ¼*
Um, yeah. Thanks for the memories, John. Entertaining segment.
Michaels vs. Taker - *****
All right. First off, I’m pleased to see ratings like this from a ton of people for the match. When it was over and the first “rating” to pass through my mind (I swear it didn't cross my mind until after the 3 way was over. I was like, “Oh yeah, STARZ~! What was I thinking? This is clearly the most important thing about wrestling. I should probably get on that if I want some sweet IWC credibility.”) was *****, I figured I’d have to explain myself. Looks like I’m not alone, but I’ll go ahead and try to anyway even though I’m dead tired as I type this. I remember people saying that everyone was rating this match ***** before it even happened like Flair/Michaels last year. I’m sure in some instances it’s true, but not on my end. I’m a low expectation kind of person. I keep them there and I’m rarely let down (especially when it comes to wrestling, where even if I’m let down by something, I can turn around and find another match or whatever to pick me up).
Anyways, I’m gonna go ahead and cheat with my rating and use an old fashioned cop out. My reasoning? You just…had..to be there. OK, judging by all the five stars I see coming from posters I see that isn’t necessarily true. The whole fucking feel of this moment (not match…moment. From the screenshot that flashed on the big screen before the match took place, to the pop THAT got, to Shawn’s (I’m sure super cheesy to some but not to me) grand entrance to clearly the match itself, everything about this screamed perfect to me. I’ve had a feeling very close to this before, at Mania X-7 when I saw Rock and Austin tear that dome down.
I thought they put the match together so well. These guys are truly 2 of the best on Earth. No doubt. I swear to you, when Taker missed the suicide dive, I thought he was legit knocked out and I thought Shawn would win via countout. They got me. What a fucking tease that Mark Callaway is. Throughout the rest of the match I was on the edge of my seat. I remember looking up around the stadium. I just wanted to take in what I was apart of; Truly one of the most epic matches ever, imo. I seriously felt like this was one of the greatest moments IN MY LIFE. Man, I take wrestling too seriously. None the less, this match had me jumping up and down in the aisles…literally. When Shawn started stomping his foot to “tune up the band” I stomped along with him. I’m 25 years old and I was stomping on the ground to the beat of a balding man child (™Andy). I just didn’t give a fuck about looking cool in front of the people in the crowd. I just let myself go. I’d like to say I embarrassed my friends…but they were doing the exact…same…thing. This is all real, btw. Take the rest of the actual match into account, and you have more than enough to justify 5 asterisks. I swear to God I’m not trying to rub in the fact that I was there and you guys weren’t, but if you were there, you’d know what I’m saying.
This is all on one watch, though. Who knows, I could fall out of love with it. Probably will. But for now I’ll stand proud with ***** next to the match. I can already see this called the most OVERRATED MATCH IN EVERZ~.
Cena vs. Edge vs. Show - ***1/4
Oh hey guys, good luck following THAT. I’d say hundreds left after Taker/HBK was over, but the place was still pretty full. Anyway, really good match here, which is what you expect from the WWE main event style triple threat. Glad Cena won. There were so many smarks in my are who jeered his very existence, my friends included. I can say that I totally embarrassed them when he won and I acted like a fucking dork for the guy. Good times.
HOF stuff was cool. When Austin left about 5 seconds after he was announced, everyone in my are both laughed and booed. When he came out he got their hearts right back. Generic Beer party thing he does but I loved it.
Orton vs. HHH – N/R
OK, reason it’s N/R is because I wasn’t giving my utmost attention to the match. There were unsupervised kids sitting in front of us all night who were jumping up and down on seats and stuff, and in this match it really annoyed me. They were losing their shit, it didn’t help they had like 23 funnel cakes throughout the night. They might as well have snorted an eight ball in the bathroom. Plus, my friends were pretty burnt out and I was just chatting with them through some parts of the match. Add to that the camera men were being douches by taking the boom cam all around the arena. This led to everyone’s interest going to the camera, as opposed to, you know, the match. Plus the crowd was pretty dead after HBK/Taker anyway. That clearly should have main evented. The crowd was trying so hard to get into this but they just fell flat. Finish didn’t help things. I drove home hoping that maybe it came across better on TV. I mean, I didn’t like last year’s main event as much as most, so maybe this is the same. Apparently not, judging by these ratings. I’ll take a peak at it fairly soon because I want to have an honest opinion, but if you forced me to put a rating next to it with doubt in my mind about the match (What are you? A MONSTER?!) I’d probably say about **3/4 or so. However you look at it, I’m sure it’s a match that no one will ever say anything positive of for years to come.
EDIT: On a rewatch, I'll probably go **1/2. There was a good match in there somewhere, but it got lost in the fucked up structure of the match, which was a little off as well. Both guys hitting their finishers in the first 2 minutes didn't help things as it really took the crowd out of it, who had witnessed 2 spotfests, Steamboat owning Father Time, Taker/Shawn, Cena winning the title, and Steve Austin's possible last appearance already and were pretty dead. There's a reason they're called finishers, you should build up to them and not use them as momentum shifters so soon. Probably could have shaved off 6 or 7 minutes as well. The finish was also pretty embarrassing but coming from HHH, you just grow to expect it. Again, the match was solid but unspectacular. Certainly not what a Wrestlemania main event should resemble. Quite the sour taste in your mouth.
Overall, I had the time of my life, and quite frankly I’m a selfish person and I’m all I care about.
Monday, March 23, 2009
TNA Destination X 2009 Review
Knockouts tag - *3/4
Enjoyable for what it was. Love needs the title ASAP. Only went 5 minutes but it was fine. Why is Daffney still in the Palin gimmick? Jesus TNA that shit jumped the shark months ago.
Magnus vs. Eric Young - *1/2
Never thought I'd say Eric Young totally carried a match, but here you go. This new guy is so green it's not even funny. Can't believe they gave this PPV time.
Bashir stuff. No thank you. Fast forward.
Abyss vs. Morgan (10,000 Tacks match) - *1/2
Not a fan of these matches. Abyss has singlehandedly killed them for me on the mainstream. Morgan has tons of potential, but he needs a feud with someone of Angle's caliber, not Abyss'. The in ring stuff meant nothing, as I knew that Abyss would get thrown off the stage since he put it up there about 2 minutes in. I take that back, because the can you top this stuff with pooring more tacks and then glass onto the pile was cool. Not a lot else.
ODB. This looked like Michale Cole commentary sounds. Fast forward.
Kong vs. Sojo (Knockouts Title) - 1/2*
Nothing really stood out so I'm just going with a rating here.
Joe vs. Steiner - 1/4*
Here's the thing about TNA, when they do something right, they do something wrong. Totally 2 steps forward and 3 steps back on their part. Joe kills Steiner? Fuck yes. Joe kills Steiner on PPV? No. Joe disfigures Steiner with knife later? Jesus, WTF TNA? I'll give em credit, this was entertaining, but do it on iMPACT and do us all a favor, K? Joe's pants fail, btw.
Booker vs. AJ Styles(Legends Title) - **1/2
This went by quick. 2nd Best Booker T match in TNA imo behind his 1st Joe match, but that's not saying much. I'm with Cal, I've never been a fan of Booker's. They tried ans I'll give em that.
3D vs. Beer Money (Tag Titles) - ***
Beer Money continues to leave their imprint on every match they're apart of. Fans can't help but love them. That's why the ending made sense to me. Their supposed to be heels and TNA reminded us of that. Sometimes you need a no finish and this was one of those times. Cage match next month is fine on my end.
Lethal vs. Creed vs, Sabin vs. Suicide vs. Sheley (X Division Title; Ulitmate X) - ***1/4
Spotfest, but we've seen it before. I enjoyed it but I'm not gonna whore out TEH STARZ~! for it.
Angle vs. Sting (TNA World Title) - **3/4
Sting continues to look lost out there. Saved by the epicness of Angle. A lot of hoopla but it was to be expected. I wasn't a fan of their 1st match and this wasn't as good as that one. Still solid, but if Angle can't hit *** with you, then somethings wrong.
Bleh PPV. 1st half was pretty atrocious with nothing above ** and those stupid segments. The 2nd half was pretty good, but I don't think it saves this from being mediocre at best. Hopefully they blow us away with Lockdown, but with 3 of the last 4 PPVs being below average, I'm not 100% sure they'll do it. I'm rooting for them though.
Enjoyable for what it was. Love needs the title ASAP. Only went 5 minutes but it was fine. Why is Daffney still in the Palin gimmick? Jesus TNA that shit jumped the shark months ago.
Magnus vs. Eric Young - *1/2
Never thought I'd say Eric Young totally carried a match, but here you go. This new guy is so green it's not even funny. Can't believe they gave this PPV time.
Bashir stuff. No thank you. Fast forward.
Abyss vs. Morgan (10,000 Tacks match) - *1/2
Not a fan of these matches. Abyss has singlehandedly killed them for me on the mainstream. Morgan has tons of potential, but he needs a feud with someone of Angle's caliber, not Abyss'. The in ring stuff meant nothing, as I knew that Abyss would get thrown off the stage since he put it up there about 2 minutes in. I take that back, because the can you top this stuff with pooring more tacks and then glass onto the pile was cool. Not a lot else.
ODB. This looked like Michale Cole commentary sounds. Fast forward.
Kong vs. Sojo (Knockouts Title) - 1/2*
Nothing really stood out so I'm just going with a rating here.
Joe vs. Steiner - 1/4*
Here's the thing about TNA, when they do something right, they do something wrong. Totally 2 steps forward and 3 steps back on their part. Joe kills Steiner? Fuck yes. Joe kills Steiner on PPV? No. Joe disfigures Steiner with knife later? Jesus, WTF TNA? I'll give em credit, this was entertaining, but do it on iMPACT and do us all a favor, K? Joe's pants fail, btw.
Booker vs. AJ Styles(Legends Title) - **1/2
This went by quick. 2nd Best Booker T match in TNA imo behind his 1st Joe match, but that's not saying much. I'm with Cal, I've never been a fan of Booker's. They tried ans I'll give em that.
3D vs. Beer Money (Tag Titles) - ***
Beer Money continues to leave their imprint on every match they're apart of. Fans can't help but love them. That's why the ending made sense to me. Their supposed to be heels and TNA reminded us of that. Sometimes you need a no finish and this was one of those times. Cage match next month is fine on my end.
Lethal vs. Creed vs, Sabin vs. Suicide vs. Sheley (X Division Title; Ulitmate X) - ***1/4
Spotfest, but we've seen it before. I enjoyed it but I'm not gonna whore out TEH STARZ~! for it.
Angle vs. Sting (TNA World Title) - **3/4
Sting continues to look lost out there. Saved by the epicness of Angle. A lot of hoopla but it was to be expected. I wasn't a fan of their 1st match and this wasn't as good as that one. Still solid, but if Angle can't hit *** with you, then somethings wrong.
Bleh PPV. 1st half was pretty atrocious with nothing above ** and those stupid segments. The 2nd half was pretty good, but I don't think it saves this from being mediocre at best. Hopefully they blow us away with Lockdown, but with 3 of the last 4 PPVs being below average, I'm not 100% sure they'll do it. I'm rooting for them though.
PWG The Musical
Top Gun Talwar & Charles Mercury vs. Human Tornado & Supa Badd - *1/4
Apolo Kahn vs. Ricky Reyes - *
Disco Machine vs. Scorpio Sky - **
The Thomaselli Bro. vs. X-Foundation - **1/4
B-Boy vs. Christopher Daniels - **1/2
Lit & Deranged vs. Hardkore Kidd - DUD
Chris Bosh & Quicksilver vs. S.B.S. (Excalibur & Super Dragon) - ***
American Dragon vs. Samoa Joe - ****
Apolo Kahn vs. Ricky Reyes - *
Disco Machine vs. Scorpio Sky - **
The Thomaselli Bro. vs. X-Foundation - **1/4
B-Boy vs. Christopher Daniels - **1/2
Lit & Deranged vs. Hardkore Kidd - DUD
Chris Bosh & Quicksilver vs. S.B.S. (Excalibur & Super Dragon) - ***
American Dragon vs. Samoa Joe - ****
Thursday, March 5, 2009
No Way Out 2009 Review
Edge vs. J. Hardy vs. HHH vs. Kozlov vs. Undertaker vs. Big Show (WWE Title; Elimination Chamber) - ***1/2
Shane vs. Orton (No Holds Barred) - **3/4
Finlay vs. Swagger (ECW Title) - *3/4
JBL vs. HBK (All or Nothing Match)- **1/2
Edge vs. Cena vs. Rey vs. Knox vs. Kane vs. Jericho (World Title; Elimination Chamber) - ****
Much like the Rumble PPV, how good a show was sometimes depends on how good the main attraction was. The chambers were both really strong, so I'll say this was an enjoyabe show no doubt.
Shane vs. Orton (No Holds Barred) - **3/4
Finlay vs. Swagger (ECW Title) - *3/4
JBL vs. HBK (All or Nothing Match)- **1/2
Edge vs. Cena vs. Rey vs. Knox vs. Kane vs. Jericho (World Title; Elimination Chamber) - ****
Much like the Rumble PPV, how good a show was sometimes depends on how good the main attraction was. The chambers were both really strong, so I'll say this was an enjoyabe show no doubt.
TNA Against All Odds 2009 Review
Shelley vs. Young (X-Division Title)- ***
Steiner vs. Williams - **1/4
Magnus vs. Sabin - *
Booker vs. Sewell (Legends Title) - 3/4*
Kong vs. ODB (Knockouts Title) - *
Abyss vs. Morgan - **1/4
Beer Money vs. Lethal Consequences (Tag Titles) - ***
Sting vs. Angle vs. Brother Ray vs. Brother D-von (TNA World Title) - **
Pretty bad show. If you have that match as the main event, you need a strong undercard. This show did not have that whatsoever. The middle of the show was December to Dismember bad. A couple of good matches save it from all time stink, but it's still probably the most difficult TNA show to sit through for me since Hard Justice 07. Next month's show looks a little more promising, but I'm growing tired of the MeM/FL feud. Ugh, just so dissapointed in TNA. More fuel for the hater fire, and TNA deserves it for this.
Steiner vs. Williams - **1/4
Magnus vs. Sabin - *
Booker vs. Sewell (Legends Title) - 3/4*
Kong vs. ODB (Knockouts Title) - *
Abyss vs. Morgan - **1/4
Beer Money vs. Lethal Consequences (Tag Titles) - ***
Sting vs. Angle vs. Brother Ray vs. Brother D-von (TNA World Title) - **
Pretty bad show. If you have that match as the main event, you need a strong undercard. This show did not have that whatsoever. The middle of the show was December to Dismember bad. A couple of good matches save it from all time stink, but it's still probably the most difficult TNA show to sit through for me since Hard Justice 07. Next month's show looks a little more promising, but I'm growing tired of the MeM/FL feud. Ugh, just so dissapointed in TNA. More fuel for the hater fire, and TNA deserves it for this.
PWG 88 Miles Per Hour Review
Puma vs. Black Tigers – **
Tigers' Mask vs. Bobby Quance - **
Havana Pitbulls (Ricky Reyes & Rocky Romero) vs. GURENTAI (NOSAWA & MASADA) - **1/4
Brad Bradley vs. American Dragon - ***
Adam Pearce & Hardkore Kidd vs. Frankie Kazarian & Babi Slymm - *
Ebessan vs. Kuishinbo Kamen - **
Joey Ryan, Scott Lost, Disco Machine, Excalibur, & Super Dragon vs. Scorpio Sky, Chris Bosh, Quicksilver, Charles Mercury, & Topgun Talwar - ***1/2
Tigers' Mask vs. Bobby Quance - **
Havana Pitbulls (Ricky Reyes & Rocky Romero) vs. GURENTAI (NOSAWA & MASADA) - **1/4
Brad Bradley vs. American Dragon - ***
Adam Pearce & Hardkore Kidd vs. Frankie Kazarian & Babi Slymm - *
Ebessan vs. Kuishinbo Kamen - **
Joey Ryan, Scott Lost, Disco Machine, Excalibur, & Super Dragon vs. Scorpio Sky, Chris Bosh, Quicksilver, Charles Mercury, & Topgun Talwar - ***1/2
PWG Taste the Radness Review
Puma vs. Charles Mercury - *
Hardkore Kidd vs. Babi Slymm - ¾*
Havana Pitbulls (Ricky Reyes & Rocky Romero) vs. Sal & Vito Thomaselli - *1/2
Shannon Ballard vs. Samoa Joe - *3/4
Chris Bosh, Scorpio Sky, & Quicksilver vs. Super Dragon, Excalibur, & Disco Machine - **1/4
American Dragon vs. Bobby Quance - ***1/4
PWG Tag Titles: B-Boy & Homicide (C) vs. Joey Ryan & Scott Lost - **3/4
PWG Title Match: Frankie Kazarian (C) vs. Adam Pearce - ***
Hardkore Kidd vs. Babi Slymm - ¾*
Havana Pitbulls (Ricky Reyes & Rocky Romero) vs. Sal & Vito Thomaselli - *1/2
Shannon Ballard vs. Samoa Joe - *3/4
Chris Bosh, Scorpio Sky, & Quicksilver vs. Super Dragon, Excalibur, & Disco Machine - **1/4
American Dragon vs. Bobby Quance - ***1/4
PWG Tag Titles: B-Boy & Homicide (C) vs. Joey Ryan & Scott Lost - **3/4
PWG Title Match: Frankie Kazarian (C) vs. Adam Pearce - ***
Monday, February 9, 2009
ROH Nothern Navigation Review
Chris Hero vs. Ruckus
Fun enough opener. Hero is still a great wrestler, as his PWG work shows. He’s just never gotten in the hang of having great matches in ROH. Not that he has a great worker in the ring with him in this match. Ruckus flips around and Hero gets his knock out gimmick a little more credible.
**
Kenny Omega vs. Delirious
Omega’s ROH debut. He definitely has potential to be a main stay in the company. I really like Omega’s selling here. Probably the most I’ve been entertained by a Delirious match since March 2007.
**3/4
Sara Del Rey vs. Jennifer Blake
Squash match. Blake does manage to get in some botched offense before Del Rey proceeds to cave her head in soon after.
½*
Erick Stevens vs. Go Shiozaki
Neither of these guys is great at being a ring general, so they make up for it by beating the shit out of each other. Works for me. Go isn’t a very good heel here. I mean, refusing to shake hands and then hi-fiveing a fan on the outside doesn’t really work. Canada is not a fan of Stevens, but they still go out there and put on a fun match.
***1/2
Bryan Danielson vs. Claudio Castagnoli
Incredible match. The more and more I see of Danielson, the more I convinced that he is an all time talent. Literally everything he does is gold. Only Michaels is even close to where he is now. His selling here is especially top notch. They play off their Chicago match nicely as well, mixing in some fun “top this if you can” stuff, before it becomes all about who is a better wrestler. Claudio is more than game to hang with Dragon here. The finish plays off the first match perfectly. A top 10 match of 2008.
****1/2
Roderick Strong vs. Naomichi Marufuji
Starts off a little slow with no real identity but then kicks into high gear towards the end. Really great stuff, but the slow build keeps it out of **** range.
***3/4
Nigel McGuinness vs. Kevin Steen (ROH World Title)
Another fantastic match. Steen takes a sick bump into the side of the ring and that becomes the story of the match for Nigel. He proceeds to work a great methodical WWE style and works over the back of Steen for the majority of the match. Steen puts in a great performance throughout. Easily his best singles match that I’ve come across. Great nearfalls from Steen as he clearly has Nigel scouted and the crowd in his pocket. In the end, Nigel is just better and Steen leaves his country a broken man. Should have main evented, but I guess I understand why with the whole “Fans go home happy” feel that ROH likes to have.
****1/4
Jacobs/Black w/Necro vs. Jay Briscoe/Aries w/Mark Briscoe (No DQ)
Typical Briscoes brawl for the most part. Mark and Necro come out to interfere, leaving the match to be 3 on 3, but then they both end up going to the back and the match finishes the way in began. Some storyline advancing helps make this stand out. Still fun, but if you’ve seen a brawl in ROH then you’ve seen this.
***1/4
Definitely top show of the year along side 6th Anniversary Show, Supercard of Honor III, Death Before Dishonor V and (apparently, even though I’ve yet to see it) Final Battle.
Fun enough opener. Hero is still a great wrestler, as his PWG work shows. He’s just never gotten in the hang of having great matches in ROH. Not that he has a great worker in the ring with him in this match. Ruckus flips around and Hero gets his knock out gimmick a little more credible.
**
Kenny Omega vs. Delirious
Omega’s ROH debut. He definitely has potential to be a main stay in the company. I really like Omega’s selling here. Probably the most I’ve been entertained by a Delirious match since March 2007.
**3/4
Sara Del Rey vs. Jennifer Blake
Squash match. Blake does manage to get in some botched offense before Del Rey proceeds to cave her head in soon after.
½*
Erick Stevens vs. Go Shiozaki
Neither of these guys is great at being a ring general, so they make up for it by beating the shit out of each other. Works for me. Go isn’t a very good heel here. I mean, refusing to shake hands and then hi-fiveing a fan on the outside doesn’t really work. Canada is not a fan of Stevens, but they still go out there and put on a fun match.
***1/2
Bryan Danielson vs. Claudio Castagnoli
Incredible match. The more and more I see of Danielson, the more I convinced that he is an all time talent. Literally everything he does is gold. Only Michaels is even close to where he is now. His selling here is especially top notch. They play off their Chicago match nicely as well, mixing in some fun “top this if you can” stuff, before it becomes all about who is a better wrestler. Claudio is more than game to hang with Dragon here. The finish plays off the first match perfectly. A top 10 match of 2008.
****1/2
Roderick Strong vs. Naomichi Marufuji
Starts off a little slow with no real identity but then kicks into high gear towards the end. Really great stuff, but the slow build keeps it out of **** range.
***3/4
Nigel McGuinness vs. Kevin Steen (ROH World Title)
Another fantastic match. Steen takes a sick bump into the side of the ring and that becomes the story of the match for Nigel. He proceeds to work a great methodical WWE style and works over the back of Steen for the majority of the match. Steen puts in a great performance throughout. Easily his best singles match that I’ve come across. Great nearfalls from Steen as he clearly has Nigel scouted and the crowd in his pocket. In the end, Nigel is just better and Steen leaves his country a broken man. Should have main evented, but I guess I understand why with the whole “Fans go home happy” feel that ROH likes to have.
****1/4
Jacobs/Black w/Necro vs. Jay Briscoe/Aries w/Mark Briscoe (No DQ)
Typical Briscoes brawl for the most part. Mark and Necro come out to interfere, leaving the match to be 3 on 3, but then they both end up going to the back and the match finishes the way in began. Some storyline advancing helps make this stand out. Still fun, but if you’ve seen a brawl in ROH then you’ve seen this.
***1/4
Definitely top show of the year along side 6th Anniversary Show, Supercard of Honor III, Death Before Dishonor V and (apparently, even though I’ve yet to see it) Final Battle.
2009 Royal Rumble Review
Swagger vs. M. Hardy (ECW Title)
I think I like this more than anyone I've seen. Matt did a great job selling the arm in this one. Swagger continues to impress me in the 2nd match I've seen of his. Not feeling the opie haircut and attire but that can be changed. He's really solid in the ring and he's in there with a great wrestler so that lead to a really fun match. Perfect opener style which is important, imo. Got the crowd pumped but not deflated.
***1/4
Phoenix vs. Melina (Women's Title)
Solid stuff from these two. That spot where Melina kicked herself in the head had everyone I was watching with in tears. Good stuff. Can't believe Beth lost the title, though. I figured it would be around her waist til at least Mania. I'm not sure I buy Melina as the plucky babyface but that's a small complaint.
*3/4
Cena vs. JBL w/HBK (World Title)
I was watching with the peeps I'm going with to Mania and we exploded when Taker confronted Shawn backstage. I'm a pessimistic person and I still think JBL/HBK happens in Houston, but this got my hopes up. Match was really fun for the most part. I usually like these guys' matches more than most (WM 21 - **, JD 08 - **1/4, ONS 08 - **3/4) so I was looking forward to this more than pretty much everyone. I loved the spot where they played off the Cena/HBK match where JBL moved the ropes closer. Shawn SK'ing both guys was pretty awesome. Can't wait for Raw to see how this continues as I'm really interested in the story. If this was happening at any other event than Mania I'd be loving the ride there.
**3/4
J. Hardy vs. Edge (WWE Title)
Another really fun match. When Jeff started climbing the ladder on the outside, I began wondering where the ref or camera guy was to hold the bottom so he wouldn't...you know...die. Pretty bad move on whosever job that was as I'm sure Vince was throwing shit against the wall backstage. I loved the Spear counter into the Twist of Fate. Once Matt came out the fate of Jeff's title reign was obvious, but that doesn't mean I didn't mark when Matt killed him dead with the chair. I know a lot of people are pissed that it looks like we aren't getting Hardy/Christian at Mania, but I like this better anyway. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm more of a Christian guy but this feels like a Mania type blood feud match. I fully expect them to jump off high stuff at Mania. Should be fun to watch.
***1/4
Royal Rumble
WWE has figured out that near eliminations are as big a pop as a near fall in a regular match and they went all out with them here. Mysterio was awesome here. I adored the Miz --> Morrisson --> steel steps hop scotch spot. The Punk elimination was truly great too. Just Punk refusing to go down until Big Show said "fuck off" with his fist. The right guys started this match too. Just good workers coming in and building up until HHH and Orton's time came. I had no idea MVP was so over. Do something with him Vince. I hadn't read the spoilers that were surfacing yesterday, but RVD returning had me marking out the hardest I had in a while. The Legacy was built as a true threat to anybody in this match. In less than an hour they were built as more important than the Main Event Mafia has been in TNA, who had been killing people for months. Undertaker tripping Hornswoggle as he ran out of the ring was damn soothing. Ending was obvious but it worked I guess. I always like the final 2 guys doing battle to determine who goes to Mania, but you can;t do that every year.
***1/2
Overall more goodness from the WWE as the "watchable - great" PPV trends continues.
I think I like this more than anyone I've seen. Matt did a great job selling the arm in this one. Swagger continues to impress me in the 2nd match I've seen of his. Not feeling the opie haircut and attire but that can be changed. He's really solid in the ring and he's in there with a great wrestler so that lead to a really fun match. Perfect opener style which is important, imo. Got the crowd pumped but not deflated.
***1/4
Phoenix vs. Melina (Women's Title)
Solid stuff from these two. That spot where Melina kicked herself in the head had everyone I was watching with in tears. Good stuff. Can't believe Beth lost the title, though. I figured it would be around her waist til at least Mania. I'm not sure I buy Melina as the plucky babyface but that's a small complaint.
*3/4
Cena vs. JBL w/HBK (World Title)
I was watching with the peeps I'm going with to Mania and we exploded when Taker confronted Shawn backstage. I'm a pessimistic person and I still think JBL/HBK happens in Houston, but this got my hopes up. Match was really fun for the most part. I usually like these guys' matches more than most (WM 21 - **, JD 08 - **1/4, ONS 08 - **3/4) so I was looking forward to this more than pretty much everyone. I loved the spot where they played off the Cena/HBK match where JBL moved the ropes closer. Shawn SK'ing both guys was pretty awesome. Can't wait for Raw to see how this continues as I'm really interested in the story. If this was happening at any other event than Mania I'd be loving the ride there.
**3/4
J. Hardy vs. Edge (WWE Title)
Another really fun match. When Jeff started climbing the ladder on the outside, I began wondering where the ref or camera guy was to hold the bottom so he wouldn't...you know...die. Pretty bad move on whosever job that was as I'm sure Vince was throwing shit against the wall backstage. I loved the Spear counter into the Twist of Fate. Once Matt came out the fate of Jeff's title reign was obvious, but that doesn't mean I didn't mark when Matt killed him dead with the chair. I know a lot of people are pissed that it looks like we aren't getting Hardy/Christian at Mania, but I like this better anyway. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm more of a Christian guy but this feels like a Mania type blood feud match. I fully expect them to jump off high stuff at Mania. Should be fun to watch.
***1/4
Royal Rumble
WWE has figured out that near eliminations are as big a pop as a near fall in a regular match and they went all out with them here. Mysterio was awesome here. I adored the Miz --> Morrisson --> steel steps hop scotch spot. The Punk elimination was truly great too. Just Punk refusing to go down until Big Show said "fuck off" with his fist. The right guys started this match too. Just good workers coming in and building up until HHH and Orton's time came. I had no idea MVP was so over. Do something with him Vince. I hadn't read the spoilers that were surfacing yesterday, but RVD returning had me marking out the hardest I had in a while. The Legacy was built as a true threat to anybody in this match. In less than an hour they were built as more important than the Main Event Mafia has been in TNA, who had been killing people for months. Undertaker tripping Hornswoggle as he ran out of the ring was damn soothing. Ending was obvious but it worked I guess. I always like the final 2 guys doing battle to determine who goes to Mania, but you can;t do that every year.
***1/2
Overall more goodness from the WWE as the "watchable - great" PPV trends continues.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
2008 Year End Awards
I will put the winner, then I will put the winner for the other 2 promotions after.
Promotion Of The Year - WWE (just ahead of ROH)
ROH, TNA
Overall Wrestler of the Year - Nigel McGuinness/Bryan Danielson
WWE - Shawn Michaels
TNA - Kurt Angle
Match Of The Year - Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness (6th Anniversary Show)
WWE - Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels (Wrestlemania 24)
TNA - Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett (Bound for Glory)
PWG - Bryan Danielson vs. Low-Ki (All Star Weekend VI Night 1)
Kensuke Office - Kenta Kobashi, KENTA, Atsushi Aoki & Akihiko Ito vs. Kensuke Sasaki, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Takashi Okita & Kento Miyahara
WxW - Bryan Danielson vs. Chris Hero (3/9)
NOAH - KENTA vs. Naomchi Marufuji (10/25)
FIP - Roderick Strong vs. Erick Stevens (Redifined)
BJW - Daisuke Sekimoto & Yoshihito Sasaki vs. Takashi Sasaki & Yuko Miyamoto (1/2)
NJPW - Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (1/4)
Dragon Gate - Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino vs. Shingo Takagi & BxB Hulk (1/15)
ZERO1-MAX - Masato Tanaka vs. Daisuke Sekimoto 1/1
Show/Card Of The Year - ROH 6th Anniversary Show
PWG All Star Weekend VI Night 1
Neither WWE or TNA are able to win this category.
PPV Of The year - WWE Wrestlemania 24
TNA - Bound for Glory
ROH - Take No Prisoners
Babyface Of The Year - Danielson
WWE - Cena
TNA - Styles
Heel Of The Year - Nigel McGuinness
WWE - Jericho
TNA - Angle
Diva Of The Year - Amesome Kong
WWE - Beth Phoenix
ROH - MsChif
Tag Team Of The Year - Age of the Fall
WWE - Miz & Morrison
TNA - Motor City Machine Guns
Announcer Of The Year - Jim Ross
ROH - only 1 choice
TNA - only 1 choice
Colour Commentator Of The Year - Striker
ROH - only 1 choice
TNA - only 1 choice
Most Improved Wrestler Of The Year - Miz
ROH - Edwards
TNA - Roode
Promo Of The Year - HBK/Flair (Old Yeller)
ROH - Danielson and Nigel at 6YA.
TNA - Christian ("The Road Home" before No Surrender)
Best Workrate Of The Year - Bryan Danielson
WWE - Shawn Michaels
TNA - Kurt Angle
Storyline Of The Year - The Curse of Ric Flair (Michaels retres Flair and it leads to feuds with Batista and in particular Jericho)
ROH - Nigel McGuinness - Screw the Fans
TNA - The Build of Joe/Angle in the Cage.
Feud Of The Year - Michaels vs. Jericho
Indy's - Hero vs. Tornado (PWG)
TNA - Angle vs. Jarrett
Best Wrestling Move Of The Year - KENTA's Go 2 Sleep
WWE - Evan Bourne's SSP
TNA - Kaz's Legdrop off the Scaffold at Victory Road
Most Improved Promotion Of The Year - WWE
TNA
ROH
Title Of The Year - ROH World Title
WWE Title
World Title
TNA Title
Return/Debut/Breakout Performer Of The Year - Tyler Black
WWE - Evan Bourne
TNA - Beer Money
Suprise of the Year - Gabe is Fired as ROH Booker
WWE - CM Punk wins the World Title
TNA - Jarrett's return
Worst Promotion Of The Year - IWA:MS
Worst Match Of The Year - Mickie Knuckles vs. Mike Levy
Worst Show/Card Of The Year - TNA Final Resoltion 2
ROH - Transform
WWE Great American Bash
Worst Announcer Of The Year - Michael Cole
Worst Colour Commentator Of The Year - Don West
Worst Performer Of The Year - Hornswoggle
ROH - Ruckus
TNA - Consequences Creed
Worst Feud Of The Year - Lethal vs. Dutt
WWE - Mysterio vs. Kane
ROH - Adam Pearce vs. Delirious
Worst Wrestling Move Of The Year - Tadpole Splash
TNA - Creed's Flipping Clothesline
ROH - Ruckus' Cratwheel into the corner
Biggest Disappointment Of The Year - Samoa Joe's whiny attitude
WWE - Jeff Hardy gets suspended before Mania for Wellness Policy violation.
ROH - So many uninteresting shows.
Promotion Of The Year - WWE (just ahead of ROH)
ROH, TNA
Overall Wrestler of the Year - Nigel McGuinness/Bryan Danielson
WWE - Shawn Michaels
TNA - Kurt Angle
Match Of The Year - Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness (6th Anniversary Show)
WWE - Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels (Wrestlemania 24)
TNA - Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett (Bound for Glory)
PWG - Bryan Danielson vs. Low-Ki (All Star Weekend VI Night 1)
Kensuke Office - Kenta Kobashi, KENTA, Atsushi Aoki & Akihiko Ito vs. Kensuke Sasaki, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Takashi Okita & Kento Miyahara
WxW - Bryan Danielson vs. Chris Hero (3/9)
NOAH - KENTA vs. Naomchi Marufuji (10/25)
FIP - Roderick Strong vs. Erick Stevens (Redifined)
BJW - Daisuke Sekimoto & Yoshihito Sasaki vs. Takashi Sasaki & Yuko Miyamoto (1/2)
NJPW - Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (1/4)
Dragon Gate - Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino vs. Shingo Takagi & BxB Hulk (1/15)
ZERO1-MAX - Masato Tanaka vs. Daisuke Sekimoto 1/1
Show/Card Of The Year - ROH 6th Anniversary Show
PWG All Star Weekend VI Night 1
Neither WWE or TNA are able to win this category.
PPV Of The year - WWE Wrestlemania 24
TNA - Bound for Glory
ROH - Take No Prisoners
Babyface Of The Year - Danielson
WWE - Cena
TNA - Styles
Heel Of The Year - Nigel McGuinness
WWE - Jericho
TNA - Angle
Diva Of The Year - Amesome Kong
WWE - Beth Phoenix
ROH - MsChif
Tag Team Of The Year - Age of the Fall
WWE - Miz & Morrison
TNA - Motor City Machine Guns
Announcer Of The Year - Jim Ross
ROH - only 1 choice
TNA - only 1 choice
Colour Commentator Of The Year - Striker
ROH - only 1 choice
TNA - only 1 choice
Most Improved Wrestler Of The Year - Miz
ROH - Edwards
TNA - Roode
Promo Of The Year - HBK/Flair (Old Yeller)
ROH - Danielson and Nigel at 6YA.
TNA - Christian ("The Road Home" before No Surrender)
Best Workrate Of The Year - Bryan Danielson
WWE - Shawn Michaels
TNA - Kurt Angle
Storyline Of The Year - The Curse of Ric Flair (Michaels retres Flair and it leads to feuds with Batista and in particular Jericho)
ROH - Nigel McGuinness - Screw the Fans
TNA - The Build of Joe/Angle in the Cage.
Feud Of The Year - Michaels vs. Jericho
Indy's - Hero vs. Tornado (PWG)
TNA - Angle vs. Jarrett
Best Wrestling Move Of The Year - KENTA's Go 2 Sleep
WWE - Evan Bourne's SSP
TNA - Kaz's Legdrop off the Scaffold at Victory Road
Most Improved Promotion Of The Year - WWE
TNA
ROH
Title Of The Year - ROH World Title
WWE Title
World Title
TNA Title
Return/Debut/Breakout Performer Of The Year - Tyler Black
WWE - Evan Bourne
TNA - Beer Money
Suprise of the Year - Gabe is Fired as ROH Booker
WWE - CM Punk wins the World Title
TNA - Jarrett's return
Worst Promotion Of The Year - IWA:MS
Worst Match Of The Year - Mickie Knuckles vs. Mike Levy
Worst Show/Card Of The Year - TNA Final Resoltion 2
ROH - Transform
WWE Great American Bash
Worst Announcer Of The Year - Michael Cole
Worst Colour Commentator Of The Year - Don West
Worst Performer Of The Year - Hornswoggle
ROH - Ruckus
TNA - Consequences Creed
Worst Feud Of The Year - Lethal vs. Dutt
WWE - Mysterio vs. Kane
ROH - Adam Pearce vs. Delirious
Worst Wrestling Move Of The Year - Tadpole Splash
TNA - Creed's Flipping Clothesline
ROH - Ruckus' Cratwheel into the corner
Biggest Disappointment Of The Year - Samoa Joe's whiny attitude
WWE - Jeff Hardy gets suspended before Mania for Wellness Policy violation.
ROH - So many uninteresting shows.
2008 Match of the Year
Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness ROH 2/23 ****3/4
Kenta Kobashi, KENTA, Atsushi Aoki & Akihiko Ito vs. Kensuke Sasaki, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Takashi Okita & Kento Miyahara KO 8/17 ****1/2
Bryan Danielson vs. Chris Hero WXW 3/9 ****1/2
Adam Pearce vs. Brent Albright ROH 8/2 ****1/2
KENTA vs. Naomichi Marufuji NOAH 10/25 ****1/2
Nigel McGuinness vs. Tyler Black ROH 3/16 ****1/2
The Murder City Machine Gunns vs. Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black ROH 4/18 ****1/2
Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels WWE 3/30 ****1/2
Bryan Danielson vs. KENTA NOAH 10/13 ****1/2
Nigel McGuinness vs. Tyler Black vs. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Bryan Danielson ROH 8/2 ****1/2
Erick Stevens vs. Roderick Strong FIP 2/16 ****1/2
Austin Aries vs. Bryan Danielson ROH 3/16 ****1/2
Kenta Kobashi & KENTA vs. Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima NOAH 6/14 ****1/2
Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico ROH 9/19 ****1/2
Bryan Danielson & Austin Aries vs. Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black ROH 6/7 ****1/2
Bryan Danielson vs. Low Ki PWG 1/5 ****1/4
Nigel McGuinness vs. Austin Aries ROH 3/29 ****1/4
KENTA & Kota Ibushi vs. Naomichi Marufuji & Katsuhiko Nakajima ROH 9/14 ****1/4
Daisuke Sekimoto & Yoshihito Sasaki vs. Takashi Sasaki & Yuko Miyamoto BJW 1/2 ****1/4
Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Takeshi Morishima NOAH 3/2 ****1/4
Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett TNA 10/12 ****1/4
The Murder City Machine Gunns vs. The Briscoes ROH 4/19 ****1/4
Takeshi Morishima, Naomichi Marufuji & Takashi Sugiura vs. Kenta Kobashi, Tamon Honda & Shuhei Taniguchi NOAH 2/21 ****1/4
Austin Aries vs. Go Shiozaki ROH 2/23 ****1/4
Kurt Angle vs. AJ Styles TNA 8/10 ****1/4
Edge vs. Undertaker WWE 8/17 ****1/4
Nigel McGuinness vs. Claudio Castagnoli ROH 7/26 ****1/4
Curry Man/Sabin/Shelley vs. Doi/Milano Collection AT/Puma vs. Williams/Koslov/Dux vs. Guerrero/Bucanero/Averno TNA 7/13 ****1/4
The Undertaker vs. Edge WWE 8/17 ****1/4
Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino vs. Shingo Takagi & BxB Hulk DG 1/15 ****1/4
HHH vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho vs. JBL vs. Umaga WWE 2/17 ****1/4
Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho WWE 10/5 ****1/4
Bryan Danielson vs. Tyler Black ROH 7/26 ****1/4
Jimmy Jacobs vs. BJ Whitmer IWA:MS 3/1 ****1/4
Bryan Danielson & Eddie Edwards vs. KENTA & Taiji Ishimori NOAH 6/21 ****1/4
Muscle Outlawz vs. Typhoon ROH 3/29 ****1/4
Triple H vs. Jeff Hardy WWE 10/26 ****1/4
Masato Tanaka vs. Daisuke Sekimoto ZERO1-MAX 1/1 ****1/4
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shinsuke Nakamura NJPW 1/4 ****1/4
Bryan Danielson vs. CIMA PWG 1/6 ****1/4
Nigel McGuinness vs. El Generico ROH 8/15 ****
Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness ROH 9/13 ****
Bryan Danielson vs. Tyler Black ROH 5/9 ****
The Briscoes vs. Naomichi Marufuji & Takashi Sugiura NOAH 3/2 ****
Chris Hero, Candice LeRae & Necro Butcher vs. Human Tornado Claudio Castagnoli Eddie Kingston PWG 1/5 ****
Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle TNA 4/13 ****
No Remorse Corps vs. Takeshi Morishima, Go Shiozaki & Naomichi Marufuji ROH 5/9 ****
El Generico & Kevin Steen vs. The Murder City Machine Guns ROH 8/2 ****
The Motor City Machine Guns vs. Beer Money TNA 11/9 ****
Erick Stevens vs. Roderick Strong ROH 6/7 ****
Erick Stevens vs. Austin Aries ROH 1/11 ****
Triple H vs. John Cena WWE 6/29 ****
Bryan Danielson & Austin Aries vs. The Murder City Machine Guns ROH 8/1 ****
Jimmy Jacobs vs. BJ Whitmer IWA:MS 4/12 ****
CM Punk vs. MVP vs. Y2J vs. Morrison vs. Kennedy vs. Carlito vs. Benjamin WWE 3/30 ****
Jeff Hardy vs. HHH WWE 10/5 ****
Bryan Danielson vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru ROH 9/14 ****
Angle/Team 3D vs. Styles/Rhino/Christian TNA 7/13 ****
BxB Hulk/Shingo vs. KENTA/Ishimori DG 3/20 ****
Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels WWE 5/18 ****
AJ Styles vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi NJPW 2/17 ****
Kurt Angle vs. Christian Cage TNA 1/6 ****
Jacobs/Black vs. Danielson/Aries vs. Whitmer/Albright vs. Romero/Richards ROH 1/26 ****
Naomichi Marufuji vs. Go Shiozaki ROH 8/2 ****
Kurt Angle vs. Christian Cage TNA 2/10 ****
Bryan Danielson vs. Mike Quackenbush WXW 3/7 ****
Bryan Danielson vs. Tyler Black ROH 1/25 ****
Erick Stevens vs. Roderick Strong FIP 7/19 ****
Kurt Angle vs. Abyss TNA 11/9 ****
Nigel McGuinness vs. Roderick Strong ROH 1/26 ****
BxB Hulk & Shingo vs. El Generico & Kevin Steen ROH 3/29 ****
Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black vs. Go Shiozaki & Naomichi Marufuji ROH 8/1 ****
Erick Stevens vs. Roderick Strong ROH 3/29 ****
Roderick Strong vs. Davey Richards ROH 9/13 ****
John Cena vs. Chris Jericho WWE 11/23 ****
Motor City Machine Guns vs. Dick Togo & Hidaka Ikuto ZERO1-MAX 1/1 ****
Edge vs. Undertaker WWE 4/27 ****
Kenta Kobashi, KENTA, Atsushi Aoki & Akihiko Ito vs. Kensuke Sasaki, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Takashi Okita & Kento Miyahara KO 8/17 ****1/2
Bryan Danielson vs. Chris Hero WXW 3/9 ****1/2
Adam Pearce vs. Brent Albright ROH 8/2 ****1/2
KENTA vs. Naomichi Marufuji NOAH 10/25 ****1/2
Nigel McGuinness vs. Tyler Black ROH 3/16 ****1/2
The Murder City Machine Gunns vs. Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black ROH 4/18 ****1/2
Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels WWE 3/30 ****1/2
Bryan Danielson vs. KENTA NOAH 10/13 ****1/2
Nigel McGuinness vs. Tyler Black vs. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Bryan Danielson ROH 8/2 ****1/2
Erick Stevens vs. Roderick Strong FIP 2/16 ****1/2
Austin Aries vs. Bryan Danielson ROH 3/16 ****1/2
Kenta Kobashi & KENTA vs. Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima NOAH 6/14 ****1/2
Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico ROH 9/19 ****1/2
Bryan Danielson & Austin Aries vs. Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black ROH 6/7 ****1/2
Bryan Danielson vs. Low Ki PWG 1/5 ****1/4
Nigel McGuinness vs. Austin Aries ROH 3/29 ****1/4
KENTA & Kota Ibushi vs. Naomichi Marufuji & Katsuhiko Nakajima ROH 9/14 ****1/4
Daisuke Sekimoto & Yoshihito Sasaki vs. Takashi Sasaki & Yuko Miyamoto BJW 1/2 ****1/4
Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Takeshi Morishima NOAH 3/2 ****1/4
Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett TNA 10/12 ****1/4
The Murder City Machine Gunns vs. The Briscoes ROH 4/19 ****1/4
Takeshi Morishima, Naomichi Marufuji & Takashi Sugiura vs. Kenta Kobashi, Tamon Honda & Shuhei Taniguchi NOAH 2/21 ****1/4
Austin Aries vs. Go Shiozaki ROH 2/23 ****1/4
Kurt Angle vs. AJ Styles TNA 8/10 ****1/4
Edge vs. Undertaker WWE 8/17 ****1/4
Nigel McGuinness vs. Claudio Castagnoli ROH 7/26 ****1/4
Curry Man/Sabin/Shelley vs. Doi/Milano Collection AT/Puma vs. Williams/Koslov/Dux vs. Guerrero/Bucanero/Averno TNA 7/13 ****1/4
The Undertaker vs. Edge WWE 8/17 ****1/4
Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino vs. Shingo Takagi & BxB Hulk DG 1/15 ****1/4
HHH vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho vs. JBL vs. Umaga WWE 2/17 ****1/4
Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho WWE 10/5 ****1/4
Bryan Danielson vs. Tyler Black ROH 7/26 ****1/4
Jimmy Jacobs vs. BJ Whitmer IWA:MS 3/1 ****1/4
Bryan Danielson & Eddie Edwards vs. KENTA & Taiji Ishimori NOAH 6/21 ****1/4
Muscle Outlawz vs. Typhoon ROH 3/29 ****1/4
Triple H vs. Jeff Hardy WWE 10/26 ****1/4
Masato Tanaka vs. Daisuke Sekimoto ZERO1-MAX 1/1 ****1/4
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shinsuke Nakamura NJPW 1/4 ****1/4
Bryan Danielson vs. CIMA PWG 1/6 ****1/4
Nigel McGuinness vs. El Generico ROH 8/15 ****
Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness ROH 9/13 ****
Bryan Danielson vs. Tyler Black ROH 5/9 ****
The Briscoes vs. Naomichi Marufuji & Takashi Sugiura NOAH 3/2 ****
Chris Hero, Candice LeRae & Necro Butcher vs. Human Tornado Claudio Castagnoli Eddie Kingston PWG 1/5 ****
Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle TNA 4/13 ****
No Remorse Corps vs. Takeshi Morishima, Go Shiozaki & Naomichi Marufuji ROH 5/9 ****
El Generico & Kevin Steen vs. The Murder City Machine Guns ROH 8/2 ****
The Motor City Machine Guns vs. Beer Money TNA 11/9 ****
Erick Stevens vs. Roderick Strong ROH 6/7 ****
Erick Stevens vs. Austin Aries ROH 1/11 ****
Triple H vs. John Cena WWE 6/29 ****
Bryan Danielson & Austin Aries vs. The Murder City Machine Guns ROH 8/1 ****
Jimmy Jacobs vs. BJ Whitmer IWA:MS 4/12 ****
CM Punk vs. MVP vs. Y2J vs. Morrison vs. Kennedy vs. Carlito vs. Benjamin WWE 3/30 ****
Jeff Hardy vs. HHH WWE 10/5 ****
Bryan Danielson vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru ROH 9/14 ****
Angle/Team 3D vs. Styles/Rhino/Christian TNA 7/13 ****
BxB Hulk/Shingo vs. KENTA/Ishimori DG 3/20 ****
Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels WWE 5/18 ****
AJ Styles vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi NJPW 2/17 ****
Kurt Angle vs. Christian Cage TNA 1/6 ****
Jacobs/Black vs. Danielson/Aries vs. Whitmer/Albright vs. Romero/Richards ROH 1/26 ****
Naomichi Marufuji vs. Go Shiozaki ROH 8/2 ****
Kurt Angle vs. Christian Cage TNA 2/10 ****
Bryan Danielson vs. Mike Quackenbush WXW 3/7 ****
Bryan Danielson vs. Tyler Black ROH 1/25 ****
Erick Stevens vs. Roderick Strong FIP 7/19 ****
Kurt Angle vs. Abyss TNA 11/9 ****
Nigel McGuinness vs. Roderick Strong ROH 1/26 ****
BxB Hulk & Shingo vs. El Generico & Kevin Steen ROH 3/29 ****
Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black vs. Go Shiozaki & Naomichi Marufuji ROH 8/1 ****
Erick Stevens vs. Roderick Strong ROH 3/29 ****
Roderick Strong vs. Davey Richards ROH 9/13 ****
John Cena vs. Chris Jericho WWE 11/23 ****
Motor City Machine Guns vs. Dick Togo & Hidaka Ikuto ZERO1-MAX 1/1 ****
Edge vs. Undertaker WWE 4/27 ****
TNA Genesis 2009 Review
Rave/Dutt/Kiyoshi vs. LAX/Young - **3/4
Fun opener. Always entertaining to see Hernandez kill jobbers. A nice way to build him up for his eventual title shot.
Shelley vs. Sabin - ****
Best X-Division match in about 3 years imo. Just great stuff. I like how they were countering every little move because they knew each other so well. I'm not big on the finish though.
Sewell vs. Bashir - *1/4
Ugh. I was hoping that this wasn't where this feud was gonna go. Match wasn't awful but I couldn't care less about either guy.
Lethal/Creed vs. Beer Money vs. Abyss/Morgan - **1/2
More fun from Beer Money as they are starting to leave their stamp on every match their in. Lethal looked pretty good here too. I guess we'll see him and Creed get their rematch at AAO while Abyss and Morgan have a 1 on 1 match.
Kahn/Saeed/Bolt vs. ODB/Whilde/Roxxi - 1/2*
Definition of filler. Not a thing stood out so I'll just move on instead of trying to force interest in it.
Angle vs. Jarrett - ****1/4
This was NOT filler. Just a hair behind their BFG match in October for me, although it is sooooo close. None the less this is a true evolution of the 1st match. They certainly did not start out with chain wrestling here. Pure blood feud and a perfect sequel for these guys. I can't wait for the 3rd match. I loved how Angle countered the things that Jarrett got in the 1st match (the superplex, the enzuiguri). Note to Kurt Angle: You're gonna die in the ring. Please calm the fuck down. There's no reason for you to be falling on your neck on the concrete from the stage. Thank you. Finish was kinda meh but I guess it worked setting up Angle as a machine. MORE PLEASE.
Sting vs. Rhino - *1/2
At least the parking lot beating gave them a story to work off of. That said, it was too simple of a match for me to enjoy that much. Just a throwaway defense against a paper challenger for Sting. Hopefully he drops the title soon.
Foley/Styles/Devon vs. Booker/Steiner/Kip - **
Match was doomed form the get go with Cute Kip in there. They turned it into a fun brawl towards the end so I'll reward them for that. Foley looked awkward but that's to be expected. I'd bet Angle could still get ***3/4 out of him.
Overall a fun little show with 2 great matches. The final 2 matches were disappointing but I didn't have high hopes anyway.
Fun opener. Always entertaining to see Hernandez kill jobbers. A nice way to build him up for his eventual title shot.
Shelley vs. Sabin - ****
Best X-Division match in about 3 years imo. Just great stuff. I like how they were countering every little move because they knew each other so well. I'm not big on the finish though.
Sewell vs. Bashir - *1/4
Ugh. I was hoping that this wasn't where this feud was gonna go. Match wasn't awful but I couldn't care less about either guy.
Lethal/Creed vs. Beer Money vs. Abyss/Morgan - **1/2
More fun from Beer Money as they are starting to leave their stamp on every match their in. Lethal looked pretty good here too. I guess we'll see him and Creed get their rematch at AAO while Abyss and Morgan have a 1 on 1 match.
Kahn/Saeed/Bolt vs. ODB/Whilde/Roxxi - 1/2*
Definition of filler. Not a thing stood out so I'll just move on instead of trying to force interest in it.
Angle vs. Jarrett - ****1/4
This was NOT filler. Just a hair behind their BFG match in October for me, although it is sooooo close. None the less this is a true evolution of the 1st match. They certainly did not start out with chain wrestling here. Pure blood feud and a perfect sequel for these guys. I can't wait for the 3rd match. I loved how Angle countered the things that Jarrett got in the 1st match (the superplex, the enzuiguri). Note to Kurt Angle: You're gonna die in the ring. Please calm the fuck down. There's no reason for you to be falling on your neck on the concrete from the stage. Thank you. Finish was kinda meh but I guess it worked setting up Angle as a machine. MORE PLEASE.
Sting vs. Rhino - *1/2
At least the parking lot beating gave them a story to work off of. That said, it was too simple of a match for me to enjoy that much. Just a throwaway defense against a paper challenger for Sting. Hopefully he drops the title soon.
Foley/Styles/Devon vs. Booker/Steiner/Kip - **
Match was doomed form the get go with Cute Kip in there. They turned it into a fun brawl towards the end so I'll reward them for that. Foley looked awkward but that's to be expected. I'd bet Angle could still get ***3/4 out of him.
Overall a fun little show with 2 great matches. The final 2 matches were disappointing but I didn't have high hopes anyway.
Friday, January 2, 2009
ROH New Horizons Review
The Briscoes vs. Young/Franklin - 1/2*
Delirious vs. Erick Stevens vs. Ruckus vs. Shane Hagadorn (4CS) - **
Kevin Steen vs. Necro Butcher (No DQ) - **1/2
Hero/Shiozaki vs. Strong/Marufuji - ***1/2
Nigel McGuinness vs. Claudio Castganoli (ROH World Title) - ****1/4
Bryan Danielson vs. Tyler Black - ****1/4
DVD Bonus Matches:
Kenny Omega vs. Silas Young - *3/4
The Honor Rumble - **1/2
Delirious vs. Erick Stevens vs. Ruckus vs. Shane Hagadorn (4CS) - **
Kevin Steen vs. Necro Butcher (No DQ) - **1/2
Hero/Shiozaki vs. Strong/Marufuji - ***1/2
Nigel McGuinness vs. Claudio Castganoli (ROH World Title) - ****1/4
Bryan Danielson vs. Tyler Black - ****1/4
DVD Bonus Matches:
Kenny Omega vs. Silas Young - *3/4
The Honor Rumble - **1/2
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