Rolling Germans Review: Ring Of Honor – Glory By Honor

RING OF HONOR 10/05/2002: GLORY BY HONOR

Yes I know many of you probably sat down and read Scott’s review of this show. In fact I know many of you did because I got a lot of emails that went something like this: “I just read SK’s review of Glory By Honor. Are you going to review it? Scott’s was good but he doesn’t watch US Indies.” Well I’m thankful that so many of you think I have a strong grasp of US Indies but truth be told I’m learning just like the rest of you. In fact I’d probably be dead in the water without reading a lot of the material over at THE DVDVR. But hey, you’ve got to start somewhere right? Anyway, my understanding of ROH is pretty sound so that’s one area you never have to worry about. But in future if you see me review anything else out of the US Indies then don’t take it as the final word because I could be SOOOOOO WRONG!

I’ve recently a few emails talking about my review style and how much people enjoy the “review” format I used for the main event of “Crowning A Champion” rather than the “recap” format that I generally use. It’s been suggested I make the switch and that’s actually something I’ve considered on more than one occasion but have always elected to pass on in the end. Personally I prefer the recap style when dealing with an entire show. It makes my voice notes a lot easier (I record on microcassette and then transcribe it onto the screen in case you were wondering) and I’m able to churn out reviews/recaps a lot easier. However, in future I’m going to be making a small change to my review style. Basically if the match hits the **** mark (in my opinion of course) I’ll adjust the review to the more review style rather than recap style. They won’t have the indepth backstory that I gave the main event on “Crowning A Champion” but will be different. If you as the readers appreciate one style over the other then I’d like to hear what you have to say and I’ll go from there.

Before we get down to business, I wanted to address something that’s been coming up as of late. I’ve been getting a few emails with people explaining displeasure with the service they got from my ROH supplier. In the first few cases I tried to help out with their situation but I later realized (and I don’t want to sound like an ass here but there’s no other way to put it) that this isn’t my problem. As far as I have experienced, my supplier is a reputable tape dealer/tape trader. He has a tendency to be very bad with email and IM’s but in the end he always delivers on the product. I can’t tell him when and where to send tapes. Everyone has their own lives to deal with whether it be with work, school, significant other, friends, etc. To those that are worried, he won’t rip you off. He’s got a lot of orders since I started reviewing ROH on top of his other orders for various Independents. Just be patient or if you’re going to re-send email, do it without a negative spin on it. You’d be surprised as to the results.

This review is brought to you by the aftertaste of my breakfast. I sat down with this show after a boiled egg and a bowl of Cheerios (DEAR… GOD… NO!). Not even I’m so obsessed with snacks that I’d eat a bunch of deep fried, carbo heavy crap at 9:30am.

WE’RE BACK AT THE DAY CARE CENTRE FOR TODDLERS

SPECIAL K vs DIVINE STORM vs THE SPANISH ANNOUNCE TEAM vs HOMICIDE
This is under “Tag Scramble” rules, which is a fancy way of saying everyone can do whatever the fuck they feeling like. I used to think this was “bastard Lucha” but it’s not even remotely close, as the participants decide at random when tag rules should be in effect and then totally blow them off by the same token. Anyway, Izzy (Insane Dragon out of JAPW) and Dixie are representing Special K on this one. The Natural Born Sinners are dead thanks to Boogalou no showing (did he work Japan or something? I never found out the reason behind this) and being fired from ROH. We get a few billion variations on flip flop until The SAT’s lock in The Tapping Machine (the move is too complicated to explain, you really have to see it to understand) on Special K while Homicide slaps on a Wakigatame on Divine only to have Storm apply a Crippler Crossface on Homicide while still in the armbar. AWESOME! We settle it down (is that an oxymoron in a match like this?) with Joel hitting a No Look Reverse Tombstone on Izzy for 2 and Ѕ. We get more madness with a bunch of shit hitting the fan until THE TRAAAAAAIIIIIINWREEEEEEECK! Homicide hits an INSANE SOMERSAULT TOPE SUICIDA! Divine and Jose hit Tope Suicidas, Storm hits a Somersault Plancha, Dixie hits a Tope Con Hilo and Izzy hits a SWANDIVE CORKSCREW PLANCHA! AWESOME! We’re back in with Dixie heading up but gets cut off by Divine who hits a NO LOOK FULL NELSON FACEPLANT! YIKES! Jose saves and hits a TWISTING BACKDROP but now Storm saves and hits an ELECTRIC CHAIR DRIVER (HOLY FUCK!). He looks for THE SPINAL SHOCK but Joel saves and hits a YOU ARE SO FUCKING DEAD BLUE THUNDER! 1… 2… 2 AND 9/10! Izzy pairs off with Homicide and looks for a Headscissors but Homicide comes back with SPINE ON THE PAVEMENT (because there is no pine on the mean streets of wherever the hell Homicide is from) followed up with THE MOTHERFUCKING COP KILLA! Dixie tries to get in there but Homicide smokes him with an STF for the tap out and the victory. Well that was quite the insane mess. This was one of the first Scramble Matches I’ve come across where they hit more stuff than they botched and that’s always a big plus. The pace was very fast and everyone busted out one crazy move after another with barely a stop in the action. The crowd ate it up with a shovel and I can’t say as I blame them. **3/4

The Backseat Boyz (Johnny Cashmere and Trent Acid, who work out of Combat Zone Wrestling) hit the ring and are all “Nigga please, we bad ass boy band mofo’s gone whoop yo sorry ass” but Homicide is all “FUCK THAT SHIT! I’D SMOKE Y’ALL… if I had a partner.” So who should hit the ring but Steve Corino.

THE BACKSEAT BOYZ vs HOMICIDE/STEVE CORINO
This is Corino’s ROH in ring debut. He used to work as their colour commentator but gave up that job and worked Japan for a while. We get the crazy brawling to start until BSB gain the advantage and go on the attack with a Double Lariat into a Double Bulldog on Corino for 2 and Ѕ. The match breaks down (was it ever together?) until Acid FUCKING CLOCKS Corino with a Yakuza Kick for 2 and ѕ. Homicide looks for The Cop Killa on Acid but he slips out and hits Blue Thunder for 2 and ѕ. The Cosmic Atomic (classic KDX double team combination) gets 2 and ѕ. Miscommunication leads to Homicide nailing Corino with an elbow and so course Corino turns on him with a Superkick leading to BSB hitting THE T GIMMICK (Double Crucifix Powerbomb) for the victory. UGH, too much scramble madness for a match that was supposed to be (or at least I thought) a straight up tag. *1/2

THE CHRISTOPHER STREET CONNECTION/ALISON DANGER (w/Japanese Pool Boy) vs YORK & MATTHEWS/ALEXIS LAREE
Man, if there’s ever a team that could use a “tag name” it’s York & Matthews. These guys have been teaming for like seven years and they can’t burn half a brain cell to come up with a catchy name? Anyway, this feud goes back to Danger wanting to mow down some Laree pussy but she won’t have that shit so CSC punked her out. The match is pretty disorganized until York fires off a Gutbuster on Buff E for 2 and Ѕ. Double teaming leads to YM (OK so that’s a terrible name but they’re pretty boys and YM is a pretty boy magazine. What do you mean how do I know that? SHUT THE FUCK UP!) hitting a Tilt A Whirl DDT on Mace for 2 and Ѕ. CSC make the comeback as Buff E hits a Spinebuster and a low blow for 2 and Ѕ. Matthews blocks a Suplex and hits an Inverted DDT before making the tag. Alexis is in and hits a Tornado DDT on Buff E but now the match breaks down (what a surprise) and after a bunch of tomfoolery, CSC hit The Gay Basher on Laree for the victory. This… was… um… not… terrible? The match was standard fare with a bit more disorganization that I’d like but at least Danger got the pin on Laree so that story keeps progressing. We’ll go * for the whole deal.

James Maritato runs down his career and how much the FBI gimmick used to mean to him. He talks about the match a bit and it appears the stipulations have changed in that if Mamaluke wins then the FBI gimmick belongs to him but if Maritato wins then he gets the rights to it and can do what he wants. When this all came down last show, it was billed as Maritato would have to team with Mamaluke as an FBI forever if he lost and Mamaluke couldn’t use the gimmick anymore if he lost.

JAMES MARITATO vs TONY MAMALUKE
WORK THE MAT… Version 1. Mamaluke breaks it open with a Kneebreaker – Dragon Screw – Half Crab but Maritato makes the ropes. Mamaluke looks for a Swinging Slam but that’s reversed into a Wakigatame but that’s reversed into a Double Underhook DDT segued into a Butterfly Lock but Maritato again makes the ropes. Mamaluke charges but he’s met with a Hotshot and he follows up with The Sicillian Slice for 2 and ѕ. He looks for The Kiss of Death but Mamaluke manages to deflect a lot of it and it only gets 2 and 9/10. Maritato heads up but he’s cut off as Mamaluke hits a Superplex rolled over into a Guillotine Choke for the victory. This was a lot of fun. Both guys know how to tear it up on the mat and it showed in spades here. It blows me away how much I can enjoy Mamaluke if he’s got someone good enough to reign him in from getting overly stupid with his spots. Great counter wrestling, solid build and a hot crowd make for a nice package. **3/4

IKUTO HIDAKA vs THE AMAZING RED
Now this ought to prove very interesting. Hidaka was at the tail end of his two week tour of the US. He had come over with Dick Togo for the 9/21 show but from what I understand Togo was injured between that point and this one. You should note that this also changes the line up for tonight as Togo was supposed to face Doug Williams for a shot at Christopher Daniels later on but that’s obviously not happening now. The first portion of the match is dominated by a bunch of flip flop and mirror stuff. You know I used to get a kick out of this but after a while it really does get stale. Anyway, we get the first meaningful move as Red fires off a Satellite DDT sending Hidaka out. He looks for a Pescado but takes a DROPKICK TO THE GUT (EEEWWW) for his trouble. Back in the ring and Hidada looks for a Handspring Elbow but no dice as Red hits a Hurricane Kick and looks for a Rana only to have Hidaka throw him off and hit a Tornado DDT. He looks for a Springboard but that’s cut off with another Hurricane Kick sending Hidaka out. Red looks to follow up with a Tope Con Hilo but IT MISSES BY A FUCKING MILE! CRASH AND BURN THAT SHIT DOWN! If you could hear my voice recording on tape it goes a little something like this (remember my voice is about three or four seconds behind what I see) “and Red hits a Hurricane Ki OOOOOHHHHH SHIT!” Back in the ring and Red actually manages to go on the attack with yet another Hurricane Kick for 2 and ѕ. Red looks for another Satellite DDT but that’s reversed into a DIRTY SEATED GUTBUSTER and follows up with The Hidaka Special (German Suplex rolled into a Jujigatame) but Red makes the ropes. An insane reversal sequence leads to Hidaka hitting THE SASUKE TRAP! 1… 2… 2 AND 9/10! INVERTED TORTURE RACK INTO AN ACE CRUSHER! 1… 2… 2 AND 9/10! Red comes back with a Mortale (did I spell that right? It’s a 619 for those of you who are like me and haven’t got a fucking clue about Lucha moves) and hits THE CODE RED! 1… 2… 2 AND 9/10! Red heads up but Hidaka cuts him off. SLINGSHOT POWERBOMB! BLOCKED! ACE CRUSHER II BY RED! INFRARED (which broke Hidaka’s left Orbital Bone when the legdrop hit his face)! RED STAR PRESS! GOOOOOOD NIGHT! Well this was quite the insane spot a thon. The crowd was NUKED for most of this thing. My only bitch comes with the overly elaborate sequences. I mean this is shit right out of martial arts movies and that has no place in a wrestling match, whether it’s spotty or not. But still, this was a hell of a match and worth going out of your way to watch. ***1/2

DON JUAN vs FAST EDDIE (Extreme Texas Wrestling Television Title)
If I understand this right, ETW is now what used to be called Texas Wrestling Academy. I’ve only seen Juan once before in ROH and he didn’t really impress me. Eddie I’ve never seen so I can’t really give you a back story. Obviously both guys are students of Rudy Boy though. Lots of flip flop to start until Eddie hits a High Angle German Suplex for 2 and Ѕ. He looks for a Springboard but Juan cuts him off and hits a PULL OUT ACE CRUSHER! YIKES! It gets 2 and ѕ. He heads up but Eddie cuts him off and hits a Springboard Moonsault Kick and puts it away with a SUPER BLOCKBUSTER SUPLEX! WOW! Too contrived to be overly enjoyable and too short to be anything meaningful but they tried hard. *

Michael Shane distracts Monkey Boy Jackass giving Biohazard the chance to put the boots to the ETW punks. Corino makes his way down the aisle and challenges Rudy Boy for a Texas Death Match. Oh man… this will not be pleasant.

RUDY BOY GONZALEZ vs STEVE CORINO (Texas Death Match)
There’s actually a backstory to this match. Corino used to do the colour commentary for ROH and would always take the opportunity to run down Rudy Boy for various reasons (weight, look, skimming his students pay, etc…). Of course Rudy Boy took exception to this but couldn’t really do much about it. Then Corino took it a step further bringing the cock n balls to Rudy Boy’s student Simply Luscious (Corino and Luscious are a couple in real life and they sort of spun it here). Now Corino is an active wrestler on the roster and he hates Rudy Boy (the feeling is obviously mutual) so IT’S FUCKING ON! Rudy Boy beats the shit out of him and CORINO HITS A GUSHER! He misses a charge and Corino BRINGS THE ASS STOMP! Corino slaps on The Cobra Clutch and Rudy Boy drops to sleep and can’t make the ten count either. Heh… the backstory was more interesting than the payoff. *

THAT BASTARD Michael Shane and his flunky Biohazard bring the boots to Gorilla Boy Moron but Paul London makes the save and FUCKING KILLS HIMSELF doing that INSAAAAAANE Somersault Dive off a ladder but this time he FUCKS UP ROYAL and smashes into the railing with Michael Shane. Ugly doesn’t even properly describe that.

SAMOA JOE vs LOW KI
There are days when you look at a card. You see a match listed and it brings a smile to your face. That smile comes because you know the two wrestlers facing off are going to bring the goods. Not just their usual fare but that which is taken to the next level. They take it up a notch for one reason or another. They’re best friends. They have a history. They may never get another shot at each other again. It could be any number of variables, but the end result is that smile on your face because you know deep down the match will be great.

Anyone that follows Ring Of Honor or the east coast Indies will be familiar with Low Ki. Many of you may not know Samoa Joe though. He gained his fair share of notoriety working on the west coast in Ultimate Pro Wrestling. He’s a far heavier set than the commonplace US Independent junior wrestler coming in around 275lbs or so. His home is out of UPW but he’s mainly worked out of Zero One in Japan. He works a very stiff style with heavy forearms and kicks. He’s very agile for a man his size and can move with the best of them.

As for this match, it basically comes down to the Ki vs Prophecy storyline that began at ROH’s inception. Ki is still chasing after Daniels and is now after him more than ever with Xavier taking the ROH Title from him at the last show. Daniels has employed a “hired gun” in Samoa Joe to take out Ki if possible or at least soften him up for any future encounter with Daniels.

They elected to work a shoot style match to start and while I enjoy this kind of work, I don’t enjoy exploiting the negative elements of the style. Joe’s ability to take Ki down at will due to his size was a smart element to employ but why is Ki,, being of such smaller size the one to Ground and Pound? At one point Ki even takes a full mount and “tees off” on Joe. If this were an actual MMA match then this would probably have been over by this point. Like I said, MMA incorporated into wrestling is fun but if you’re going to do it then at least do it right. The match progresses into a more comfortable area as both men exchange heavy strikes with some pro style submission work being thrown in. This is the element they should have ran with from the get go. Ki and Joe are both known for their stiff strikes. It only makes sense to have them play off that fact and lay into each other. They layer the match nicely as Joe elects to work over Ki’s legs, always a smart move considering it breaks down his primary offensive weapon. Ki on the other hand works over Joe’s arms, again the best route considering he throws heavy forearms along with stiff lariats. As the match progresses, each man continues with the stiff onslaught of strikes. It’s brutal to watch but you enjoy every minute of it. There are rare occasions when you’ll have two men that are willing to take in as much as they dish out. As the match comes down the stretch, each man breaks out his heavier moveset with Ki electing to wear out his much larger foe with The Dragon Clutch and Joe responding with his heavy hitting offense such as his trademark Island Driver (Emerald Frosion). In an interesting twist, the match doesn’t end on a major spot. It instead comes full circle as they return to the basic striking that started everything in motion. Each man lays in a stiff strike; one after another until one man falls in a heap and the other falls on top. There’s nothing left in the tank but at least he’s victorious. ****

ELAX vs PRINCE NANA
Squash City with Nana going over with a Double Underhook Implant DDT (sorry I don’t know the trademark name). DUD

Marcos & Dunn hit the ring and lay the verbal beating on Nana but the big black guy from the crowd hits the ring and lays them both out. OK look, this has been going on WAAAAAAY TOO LONG! JUST INTRODUCE THE GUY FOR FUCK’S SAKE!

JAY BRISCOE vs XAVIER
This is non-title as stipulated by Christopher Daniels at the end of “Unscripted” where he basically said “FUCK YOU ROH! WE’RE THE CHAMPS AND WE’RE NOT DEFENDING SHIT!” Mark Briscoe volunteered his brother as the proverbial sacrifice to The Prophecy and we’ve got this match. Back and forth with some solid chain wrestling for the first few minutes. Jay goes on the attack with a Mafia Kick but Xavier comes back with some knee shots and an Overhead Belly to Belly for 2 and Ѕ. Inverted Samoan Drop gets 2 and ѕ. Blind charge leads to Briscoe hitting a DVD. Xavier heads out but Briscoe FUCKING KILLS HIMSELF on the Plancha. Man, what is with everyone trying to commit suicide with planchas tonight? Back in the ring where Xavier FUCKING GORES him and hits a SUPER REVERSE DDT! 1… 2… 2 AND 9/10! Briscoe reverses a charge into a German Suplex for 2 and ѕ. Top Rope Legdrop gets 2 and 9/10. He looks for The Jay Driller but no dice and Xavier comes back with a Cobra Clutch turned into a FUCKING GARGOYLE SUPLEX! WOW! 1… 2… 2 AND 9/10! We get the mad flip flop reversal sequence leading to Xavier hitting Locomotion Powerbombs but Jay slips out of the second one and hits THE MOTHERFUCKING JAY DRILLER! IT’S OVER! HOLY SHIT! Well I’ll be damned, Xavier holds his end up for once and we get an enjoyable match. This was very well worked with a consistent build from start to finish. The crowd was totally behind Jay right from the get go as they disliked Xavier when he was a face but FUCKING HATE HIM now that he’s a heel. Good work, nice build and big moves down the stretch are always a strong formula for success. **3/4

Daniels and Joe hit the ring and destroy what’s left of Xavier but Ki and Williams make the same. Hmm… methinks a six man is in the future.

THE CARNAGE CREW vs DA HIT SQUAD (Falls Count Anywhere)
Oh man… these two FUCKING HATE EACH OTHER! This goes WAAAAAAY back to the first show where The Natural Born Sinners beat the shit out of HC Loc when he was a referee. He obviously wasn’t pleased so he hooked up with wack job Devito to form TCC. Well they smoked out the NHB only to have DHS make the save. They had a no holds barred match with DHS going over. Then TCC smoked out both NBS and DHS at the show previous to this one as they were pissed at not getting a slot in the tag title tournament so they figured they would take it out on those teams. So two weeks later we’ve got this match and fuck if it isn’t off the wall. DHS FUCK THEM UP GOOD! TCC make the comeback and LAY DOWN THE FUCKING HUBCAPS! Three guys end up on the floor and Mafia hits THE MOTHERFUCKING FAT ASS TOPE! HO… LY… SHIT! DHS FUCKING SLAUGHTER Devito and THIS MATCH OWNS! They throw Devito through like six rows of chairs and it’s like a Big Japan match in the US. Everyone gets the high holy shit beat out of them for a few minutes until DHS set up a table and look to Powerbomb Devito through it from an elevated ramp but no dice and TCC BRING THE PAIN leading to a FUCKING SPIKE PILEDRIVER ON MAFIA FROM THE ELEVATION THROUGH THE TABLE! OH MY GOD! OF COURSE IT’S OVER! Mafia is SOOOOOO FUCKED! This was just a notch below that awesome NBS vs TCC match from a few months back. Super intense brawl with mega stiff shots with all kinds of weapons. It went all over the building and the blood flows like wine (or at least it does from Devito). Brawlerific. ***

Backstage Joey Matthews looks like he’s about to die while Special K get a good laugh at his expense. This goes back to a quick comment during YM’s match where they said he was partying with Special K the night before.

SPANKY vs PAUL LONDON vs MICHAEL SHANE (w/Biohazard) (3 Way Dance)
This story has taken second billing only to the Ki vs Prophecy storyline. I recapped the majority of this feud in the “Unscripted” review so I’ll cut to the chase here. Spanky won a Gauntlet Match with a bunch of TWA guys back in April and gave himself the name of “Showstopper.” Shane took exception to this being a blood relative of Michaels and so Spanky & Shane hate each other. London hates Shane but has nothing against Spanky. This is 3 Way Dance rules so it’s elimination. OK let’s get down to business as Spanky and London punk out Shane for a couple of minutes. Of course they turn on each other and bring the flip flop until Shane comes back with an Enzugiri on London and chucks Spanky. Locomotion Lariats into a Flapjack gets 2 and Ѕ. London comes back with Locomotion Northern Lights into a Bridged Blockbuster Suplex (NICE!) for 2 and Ѕ. Spanky distracts London giving Shane the chance to hit a Fireman’s Facebuster into a Hangman’s Neckbreaker for 2 and Ѕ. Nice 3 way move as Spanky dropkicks Shane and London literally pommels off Spanky’s back right into a Shooting Star Press for 2 and Ѕ. It breaks down with everyone on the floor until we get back in with London heading up but Spanky cuts him off only to have Shane nail him with a Powerbomb. London tries to come off with the SSP on Spanky but he moves and Spanky hits SLICED BREAD #2 OFF SHANE’S BACK (AWESOME) but Shane meets him with Sweet Shane Music and covers the prone London for the first elimination. OOOOHHH… THE CROWD HATES THAT! Spanky goes on the attack with a Flying Lariat but Shane meets him with a dropkick to the gut for 2 and ѕ. Spanky tries to come back with Sliced Break #2 but Shane CLOCKS HIM with a BIG TIME Lariat in the back of the head followed up with a Second Rope Elbow for 2 and ѕ. He looks for a German Suplex but Spanky flips out and hits SLICED BREAD #2! 1… 2… 2 AND 9/10! Twisting Facebuster leads to an Enzugiri for 2 and 9/10! NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB! FROG SPLASH! 1… 2… 2.999999! He looks for another Sliced Bread #2 but Shane throws him off and hits a LEAPING… SWINGING… D D T! 1… 2… 2.999999! SWEET SHANE MUSIC! PICTURE PERFECT ELBOW! GOODNIGHT! The first half was fun but the second half was a lot slower than I would have liked. The crowd was DEAD after London was eliminated and it really took away that special aura that many ROH matches receive with the extra heat. Still it was solid but I was expecting a lot more. **3/4

DOUG WILLIAMS vs CHRISTOPHER DANIELS (w/Simply Luscious)
Pretty simple stipulation here. If Williams wins then Daniels has to shake hands with his opponents from that point forward. If Daniels wins then Williams can’t shake hands in the ring ever again. We get a bit of flip flop and we WORK THE MAT… Version 2 as Daniels works the arm and Williams works the leg. Daniels goes on the attack after NEFARIOUS CHEATING and hits a Suplex for 2 and Ѕ. Williams comes right back with a Heel Hook turned into an Inverted Indian Deathlock COUPLED with a Butterfly Lock. THAT IS FUCKING SICK! He opens it up looking for The Chaos Theory but no dice as Daniels hits a Neckbreaker into a Chancery into another Neckbreaker for 2 and Ѕ. He looks for yet another but that’s reversed into a Backslide for 2 and Ѕ. Williams again looks for The Chaos Theory but Daniels reverses into THE STUNNER! STUNNER! BY GAWD THE STUNNER! 2 and Ѕ? WTF? Williams reverses an Irish whip and tries a Tornado DDT but no dice and it’s ANOTHER Neckbreaker followed up with a Side Russian Leg Sweep for 2 and ѕ. Man, Daniels is really softening him up for one of his big moves. Williams counters another Irish Whip and AGAIN tries The Chaos Theory but AGAIN no dice as Daniels pushes him off only to have Williams rebound with a Swinging DDT for 2 and ѕ. SPINNING FISHERMAN’S BUSTER for 2 and ѕ. AGAIN with The Chaos Theory and AGAIN Daniels elbows out and hits The STO for a Double KO. Daniels with a SICK RELEASED BLUE THUNDERBOMB! 1… 2… 2 AND 9/10! SOVIET SLAM! TRIPLE JUMP MOONSAULT! 1… 2… 2 AND 9/10! German Suplex is blocked by Williams and IT’S THE MOTHERFUCKING CHAOS THEORY! 1… 2… 2. HAND ON THE ROPE! DAMN IT! Williams looks to pick him up but Daniels CHEATS 2 WIN (trademark Grandma Guerrero 2003, all rights reserved) with a Double Leg Cradle and feet on the ropes for the victory. This was really good. It had a strong build with great heat and lots of big moves coming down the stretch. I loved how they put over The Chaos Theory as a really big deal with Daniels escaping time and time again and then using the ropes to escape rather than kicking out when it actually hit. Then Daniels tops it off with cheating off a surprise roll up for the victory. This was really enjoyable. ***

Final Analysis: Unlike the vast majority of ROH shows to this point, there wasn’t anything here that was outright blow away great or a viable MOTYC. However, (and I appreciate this far more) the ring work was far more consistent from start to finish. They didn’t have a situation where the action was poor for a while and then the usual suspects came in to save the day. Everyone worked hard and there was solid wrestling right from the get go. Six matches between **3/4 – *** is nothing to scoff at and I’m sure some of you may get a bigger kick out of those matches than I did. All in all a very enjoyable card and I highly recommend picking up Ring Of Honor: Glory By Honor.

Justin Baisden
Rolling Germans Wrestling