Column of Honor: 08.09.08: Part One: Respect is Earned II and Death Before Dishonor VI

Welcome to the Column. Wipe your feet when you come in young whippersnapper!

Ring Toss
-Respect Earned Again
-Honor and Dishonor the Focus at Death Before Dishonor VI
-ROH Call
-ROH News
-My Fave Five
-Honorarium
-My Two Cents
-ROH Preview: Cleveland, OH August 15th, 2008
-Honor System
-Ringtones
-Independent Buy In
-Get with the pROHgram
-ROH @ 411
-Honor Bound Links

Respect Earned Again

I had thought that my cable box had died around 9:55p.m. Friday evening, just minutes before the debut of ROH’s “Respect is Earned II” Pay Per View. Turns out, the cable company was just working on some stuff in the neighborhood and basically put the zapper on us for the evening. So I sat down to write the rest of my column while my cable box was rebooting and then had a quasi-decent night’s rest. In the morning the cable was fixed and I scrambled to find the next showing of the PPV before I left for the “Death Before Dishonor VI” in Manhattan. As fortune would turn out, there was an 11:00a.m. showing, which was cool by me. I can remember back in the day when I would be at home on Saturday mornings to watch cartoons and then an hour of WWF Superstars or WWF Challenge. Watching ROH on Saturday morning brought me back to that feeling of childhood enjoyment. Call it a happy accident of a cable company’s infuriating ridiculousness.

By now both Larry Csonka and J.D. Dunn have registered their reviews, analysis and, rants and recaps of the show for 411. I’ve been doing some close call of the action and then a bit of analysis at the end for my reviews but this time I’m going to forsake my play by play notes and try to switch it up to fill in the blanks of the other reviews. I’ll give you my thoughts on what ROH has improved this time around, which matches and moments I was impressed with and some of the little things you might have missed the first time around.

Improvements & Honorable Mentions:

-Better Production Throughout the Entire Show: A huge complaint that I had for the last PPV, Take No Prisoners, was the video, audio and lighting of the show was sub par to what ROH had been producing on previous programs. I really felt when putting a number rating to the show that while there were two awesome main event matches filled with spectacular wrestling, the very poor production values lowered the score of the overall show.

This time around, ROH went back to work on improving their production and the changes they made not only show but they make a different in actually IMPROVING the wrestling content on screen. That is a huge and important difference that was missing from the last show. First off all, the shot of Dave Prazak and Lenny Leonard comes from the backstage area and is perfectly lighted, unlike last time when they were in the crowd and looked like two white blank faces. There was no audio distortion in what they were saying either, which is a huge help to making a good first impression on the PPV fan base. Thank you to ROH on this one.

Video quality as a whole was improved, with more well produced vignettes to set up important matches, the use of fade ins and outs to better transition between segments and the more thorough incorporation of instant replays during the match. Previously ROH only did sporadic replays and usually after the match, but this time around there were more replays and even better, provided to us in instant replay so that we could see the brutal impact of such moves as Erick Stevens’ chops and Nigel McGuinness’s lariats. These are the sorts of improvements that take a decent production layout and start to turn it into something more.

In addition, ROH went with more highlight packages on this show, including video of the better of ROH’s first year on PPV as their way of doing the intro title package, a look at The Briscoes in preparation of their return to PPV and look backs at the Stevens-Strong feud and Aries-Jacobs feud. ROH also revamped their “trademark moves” quickie videos they have been trying to do, this time focusing on one move. The video is sharp, the font for the captions is right on and even though less moves are shown its actually better because it works as a “video trading card” of sorts.

-Lenny Leonard: The commentary on ROH shows is hit or miss for newer fans who sample the product. I, being someone who has watched the shows for many years, know about the different commentary teams and have sat through some awfully brutal ones in the past. Prazak and Leonard are good together and while they stay more towards straight play by play than color, there are plenty of moments when they not only interject humor, but also important and dramatic calls for the matches. On “Respect Is Earned II” Lenny Leonard was on top of his game, giving one of his better calls on PPV. This is especially true for the Stevens vs. Strong match. Among the many highlights, he stated the following: “these two bring out the absolute worst in each”—referring to Stevens and Strong chopping and punching the hell out of each other during their Fight Without Honor match. Later on in the same match: “You are watching the most violent match in combat sports.” Note that Leonard said “combat sports” not wrestling, in order to really put over the top the brutality and over the top environment of that fight. Also: “Both men are going to the hospital—it’s just a matter of whose gonna be a little less worse for wear.” Kudos to Leonard for getting in some great dramatic calls during the show.

-Stronger Ties to Non-PPV events: I’ve wanted Ring of Honor to make stronger connections to the DVD events for a while now and that meant first and foremost showing clips of DVDs on the PPV in order to explain angles. They have slowly but surely done this on the past two or three shows, but this time around they got it perfect. The breaking news feed about the tag team titles once again caught the fans up on that division as well as showing the end of the Tag Team Title tournament at “Up For Grabs” where Jacobs and Black were showered with garbage (getting them over even more as one of the most hated factions in the division (Black’s popularity aside). The best inclusion of clips from the DVD was Albright’s face turn on Sweet & Sour Incorporated from “A New Level”. The explosive pop Albright received surely impressed viewers at home, as did his destruction of Shane Hagadorn. Speaking of whom…

-Sweet & Sour Inc. and Brent Albright Promos: Larry Sweeney had one of the highlight promos from the first ROH PPV and here was again, one year later, with a Sweet & Sour Inc. piled high with his talent…and Bobby Dempsey (well that’s how he said it in the promo!). Sweeney’s ripping on Albright was great, and flowed right into their entrance in the ring (this whole segment of transitions between backstage, front stage, flashbacks and more was one of ROH’s most complicated production attempts to date and it worked tremendously). but even better was that Albright was able to have a retort. It was actually one of the best promos he’s done in ROH. First off all, he didn’t start with the “my name is” line, which always makes me happy. He showed great fire in explaining his leaving The Inc. and why he was fighting them–“I do things my way.” ROH seamlessly transitioned into the highlights from ” A New Level” and then back to Albright to bring in his partners as he geared up for “war”. Pelle was a strange choice until Albright very clearly explained that he was impressed with Pelle’s heart. He then brings in and puts over Delirious and Daizee Haze. ROH even subtly included a bit of the Delirious and Haze angle by Delirious’ momentary distraction as he tried to get Daizee’s attention. Albright closed on a fine line to hype the viewer up for the match: “This is the army I’m taking to war with you.” Great job in making me excited to see a match I wasn’t all that thrilled to watch when it was announced. They then had a fantastic six man tag with a really good and definitive heat segment and gave Albright the opportunity in the end to make a comeback and get the win on The Inc.

What Was Missing:

-Davey Richards Turning on Roderick Strong: The segment right after Roderick Strong defeated Erick Stevens involved Davey Richards changing allegiances from the No Remorse Corps to Sweet & Sour Incorporated. This became Roderick Strong’s face turn and created the bridge in storyline to where we are now, with Strong fighting any and everybody in The Inc. in order to get his hands on Richards, who is fighting in Japan (and hiding from Strong at the same time). This was some good storyline progression as both the NRC and Sweet & Sour Inc. have been very visible on ROH’s last six PPVs. Yet ROH did not show the Richards turn, which may turn out to bite them a bit as Strong was full on face for the eight PPV in Detroit. ROH is going to have to show at least some of the betrayal on that show in order to maintain PPV continuity. They could have saved themselves a bit of trouble by including the full turn and beat down on this PPV instead.

-The Lacey Video in Full / Recap of Aries Sit down Interview: ROH did bring the fans up to speed on the Austin Aries / Jimmy Jacobs feud through a highlight vide. They included clips of the infamous Lacey video and audio drops of Aries’ sit down interview. I would have loved for ROH to show more of the Lacey video, perhaps in full, or more of the Aries sit down interview (not in full since that was a long one) in order to help to cement in the viewers’ mind exactly why Aries and Jacobs were fighting. The montage may have been too quick for a casual fan to take in and process before the main event match began.

Matches & Promos

Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. Jigsaw & Ruckus ***1/4: This was a incredibly fun opening match that focused on Steen & Generico’s tag team cohesion as opposed to Jigsaw & Ruckus’ high flying acrobatics. Ruckus demonstrated some impressive athleticism with cartwheels and flip evasions. This is why I like him as a part of ROH, because he can contribute these moments of breathtaking flowing action. He works well with Jigsaw as a tag team. Steen and Generico for their part really let their personalities hang loose and be known on PPV. Steen was hysterical here, as always with his comments during the match. He directed Jigsaw at one point to go to the ropes for a shoulder block sequence, saying “please” When Jigsaw went the other direction that Steen wanted, Mr. Wrestling’s reply was “Ok, that’s fine” and blasted him with a shoulder block. Well, he did say please. Later on Steen encouraged his teammate by screaming at him “Do something flippy! Hurry up!” Classic Steen and good fun.

Favorite moves of the match: Steen & Generico’s double team backpack Senton; Jigsaw gets an inadvertent assisted dropkick off of Steen’s back; Steen & Generico rolling on Jig and Ruck with their Swanton / Big Splash combination for three.

Claudio Castagnoli vs. Davey Richards **3/4: This was a decent and solid wrestling match that wasn’t as good as their fight during the Double Feature weekend. I liked that Castagnoli had a close variant of his theme song for his entrance, which is a bit of a sign that ROH wants to focus on him for this and upcoming PPVs. Nigel is also two for two on commentary during PPVs, ranking on both Castagnoli and Richards in hilarious fashion. I wonder if the ROH fans can start heckling Richards with a “Daizee” chant upon his return to the states?

Favorite moves of the match: Claudio’s springboard European being blocked by pushing him over the ropes, leading into Richards’ rope flip plancha into the INTO the crowd (love when he does that) that freaks out a woman right by the action; Richard’s missile dropkick to the arm and shoulders which helped to sell the arm work in the match; Claudio’s waistlock carry over into a German Suplex.

Chris Hero, Eddie Edwards and Adam Pearce (With Larry Sweeney, Sara Del Rey & Bobby Dempsey) vs. Brent Albright, Pelle Primeau and Delirious (with Daizee Haze) ***1/4: I really liked the build to the hot tag in this one, with Delirious being isolated and worked over by The Inc. and getting very close at times to making the tag but being stopped every time until he finally winds his way through the S&S minefield to get to Albright. An early clear out by Albright and the faces reinforces his position against The Inc. and got the crowd popping loud. I also loved when a fan tried to listen into Sweeney & company’s pow-wow. Terrific little moment by the fans there. Eddie Edwards was smart to knock down Albright when the fans chanted for him as that fed right into some heat. Pelle had a few impressive moments here, but the clear benefactor of this match was Albright, who demolished the heels and won the match, then took a blow to the back of the head with Pearce’s briefcase (with the NWA Title revealed to be inside).

Favorite moves of the match: Del Rey attacks Delirious to stop the hot tag and feeds directly into a rack DVD by Pearce; Pelle’s headscissors hurricanrana to the floor; Albright’s Air Raid Crash.

Fight Without Honor, non-title: Roderick Strong vs. Erick Stevens ***3/4: While this was a match fitting of the “Fight Without Honor” moniker, I felt that this one was too slow in parts of the match and took a bit too long to set up the weapons spots. That is especially true during the last several minutes of the match when they were setting up the ladder and tables for the final and climactic spot of the match. I enjoyed these two chopping and forearming the hell out of each other and trading blows in the brawl around ringside, I can’t go as far as others have in giving this four stars or above.

Favorite moves of the match: Strong sent headfirst into the ladder propped up horizontally on the top turnbuckle, busting him open; Strong kicking a chair onto Stevens face 9the replay of this was especially brutal); Strong accidentally sending the chair into Stevens’ jaw (that one had to be a legit bitch to suck it up and continue onwards); Stevens’ release German; Stevens with the chair-assisted choo choo running splash; Stevens’ TKO on the ladder; Strong chopping Stevens right in the face and rotating right into a closeline; The final superplex off the super ladder through two tables.

ROH World Title: Nigel McGuinness (c) vs. Go Shiozaki ***1/2: This was a very slow start but it picked up a lot by the end. It was surprisingly all Shiozaki early on but Nigel got back control with his headstand and mule kick combo and pretty much dominated from there with Shiozaki making comeback flurries. Nigel focused on his arm offense, which is solid psychology but methodical and thus slower in pace compared to his high impact offense. He also no sold a lot of Go’s strikes, which is his prerogative as a champion but also had the effect of making Go’s chances of winning slim as opposed to getting the crowd to believe he had a chance to win. Danielson’s interruption of the post-match to demand a title shot was effective and when he said that McGuinness was ducking him, it as a statement hard to disprove.

Favorite moves of the match: Shiozaki’s belly to back suplex that sent McGuinness spiraling to the outside; Nigel’s slapping Shiozaki with the utmost of disrespect; a single leg take down from Nigel to stop Shiozaki’s chop. Shiozaki’s Go Flasher blocked into the London Dungeon into a roll up for two (fans pop huge for that cont), leading into Go hitting the Go Flasher for a 2.9 count; Cross body from Nigel rolled over into an Orange Crush by Shiozaki; Go’s superkick rebounded into Nigel’s Jawbreaker Lariat into the London Dungeon for the tap out.

ROH World Tag Team Titles: The Age of the Fall of Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black vs. Bryan Danielson & Austin Aries ****1/4: This was a fantastic main event match that put over the tag champions but especially Tyler Black by the end of the match. I like that there was a heated opening minute which resulted in a disqualification, but unlike the Glory By Honor VI Night Two match between Age and The Briscoes, this one was immediately restarted! I like that the referee was willing to let everyone calm down and get things to a respectable level—this is the first time I think I’ve seen this occur anywhere, so hurrah for booking originality. Danielson and Black, the two having the least personal rivalry at this point, were the level headed wrestlers in this situation. Even better, we could actually make out what each was saying to their partners!

The tag match itself was electric in it’s back and forth nature—with all four men able to take their turns coming in and dishing out the pain. A win over Bryan Danielson is no joke and this one made Black look like a serious bad ass and a major contender in the company. Danielson took two small package drivers and then the Phoenix Splash to go down, but he went down and Black reveled in the victory afterwards. Nigel McGuinness explains that and I quote “until you’ve beaten every single person I’ve beaten you’re never getting a title shot on Pay Per View.” Well, that should clear up all the confusion…maybe…not really. The PPV ends with the entire crowd cheering for Black, and that’s quite a last impression.

Favorite moves of the match: Danielson’s spinning heel kick in the corner to Black; Aries distracting Jacobs to get him off the attack on Danielson, allowing some recovery time, and then Black doing the same by attacking Aries and allowing Jacobs to get back to offense; Dragon & Aries double team back suples and stereo soccer kicks; A Black springboard lariat countered by Danielson into a dropkick; Aries’ forearm with the momentum changing right into a Black pele kick; Jacobs’ spear out of nowhere onto Aries on the floor; Danielson barely kicking out of the small package driver.

Overall Thoughts: Ring of Honor’s seventh Pay Per View is one of its most consistent in quality in terms of production and presentation. I’m really happy to see them take the steps necessary to improve upon the weak spots of the previous show. “Take No Prisoners” had two amazing main event feature attractions in Aries vs. Danielson and McGuinness vs. Black, but this show is not lacking in great wrestling. The main event tag team title match, the Fight Without Honor and the ROH World Title match all make for a hard to beat one-two-three combination. The under card and vignettes on this show are a fun and entertaining supporting card. As always, it’s hard to beat the price of admission at fifteen dollars and once again ROH justifies every cent of it.

Rating (Out of 10): 8.5

Honor and Dishonor the Focus at Death Before Dishonor VI

ROH had a lot to live up to going into Death Before Dishonor VI based on the quality of wrestling matches and the crazy, unexpected events that had occurred in previous iterations of this event. There have been championship changes, crazy character turns and unexpected appearances. Death Before Dishonor I gave us the surprise appearance of Tommy Dreamer and one of the most well-remembered moments of the CM Punk vs. Raven feud. It was also the last show for Paul London, who gave an emotional goodbye. Death Before Dishonor II featured a fantastically violent Samoa Joe vs. Homicide blow off and a Chicago Street Fight between the Second City Saints (CM Punk & Colt Cabana) against The Prophecy (BJ Whitmer & Dan Maff) that ranks among one of the best hardcore matches done in ROH. The most famous moment in Death Before Dishonor history may have occurred in 2005 when CM Punk defeated Austin Aries to win the ROH World Title when it seemed to have been his last appearance for the company. At the same time Punk turned heel and Christopher Daniels wow’ed the New Jersey crowd by returning to Ring of Honor to confront Punk after an eighteen months absence. The CZW vs. ROH feud came to a close on the fourth annual show thanks to Homicide choosing to fight for Ring of Honor. The show also featured the unexpected appearance of Eddie Kingston as well as the red hot heel turn (at least initially) of Jim Cornette, who locked the Cage of Death and strapped Homicide because he was embarrassed by his demand to reinstate Low Ki. The fifth Death Before Dishonor did not feature any shocking turns and instead focused on presenting grudge matches as the main events of each night of the two show event. The Briscoes duked it out in a arena-wide street fight with the team of Kevin Steen & El Generico (one of their best matches against each other), meanwhile the No Remorse Corps and The Resilience had their most important fight of their rivalry in a Philadelphia Street Fight.

As you can see, ROH had a history of bringing important moments to the fore within these shows. They did it again with this year’s edition of the show, with major newsworthy events occurring up and down the card, as well as the real crowning of the next big thing in Ring of Honor according to the fans, Tyler Black.

Honor and dishonor were at the forefront in this show. It may have been called “Death Before Dishonor” but this year, it was more like death AFTER dishonor. Fans in attendance last weekend at the Hammerstein ballroom witnessed the destruction of Bryan Danielson at the hands of Claudio Castagnoli in one of the most brutal attacks in Ring of Honor history. It came down during the middle of what is currently in my opinion the match of the year, a thirty minute imbroglio between Castagnoli, Danielson, Black and ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness. The story was that the week earlier, Claudio stated that he would walk out of ROH if he lost his title match against McGuinness in Detroit. That is exactly what happened and he left the show immediately afterwards, missing his chance to enter the Honor Rumble and earn another title shot for Manassas, Virginia. Instead Ring of Honor officials wanted to give Castagnoli one more opportunity to win the title and placed him in the main event four corner elimination match at the Hammerstein Ballroom.

What was surprising to me was the winter cold reception Castagnoli received from the New York City crowd. I did not expect that at all, but once again the Ring of Honor fans proved to be ahead of me, seemingly anticipating just what Castagnoli had in mind that night and figuring they would get their hate in early. The frosty reaction turned into very clear boos during the introductions and first half of the match. I don’t know whether or not this was the Hammerstein Ballroom crowd’s reaction to Claudio after what was a less than spectacular (but still pretty good) main event match the last time between he and McGuinness (and Claudio had been riding a pretty good wave of popularity up until then), or whether or not that many people kept up with the storyline of Claudio vowing to leave the company and being upset that he was not a man of his word, or whether they just plain didn’t like him, period. Either way it fit in perfectly with what was about to go down during that match.

Claudio didn’t put up much of a fight and was eliminated first by Danielson, whom the crowd was very much behind in the early part of the match. Danielson and Castagnoli fought in a pair of matches and split the series, so there was history between the two. Danielson wanted to shake Claudio’s hand to acknowledge his effort. They shook hands and Castagnoli looked to leave, but before he did, he called to Danielson, who turned around and was met with a devastating bicycle kick. Castagnoli continued the attack with relentless and brutal punches to Danielson’s head, concentrating on his eye, which in ROH storyline is now a weak spot due to his legitimate orbital bone break back in August of 2007 fighting Takeshi Morishima. Claudio was booed unmercifully during this but the crowd grew even more heated when Claudio took a chair and “Pillmanized” Danielson’s head, which is to take a chair and smash it down on your opponent with your boot. The crowd hated that, hated Claudio as he left the ring and hated when Nigel McGuinness, who was watching from outside the ring, swooped in with a evil grin and a shrug. He loaded up his arm and devastated an already injured Danielson with a lariat for the easy three count. McGuinness not only had got one over on his long time rival Danielson, but it was also the first pinfall victory he had achieved against him, and what a villainous, dishonorable way to go about doing it.

At this point, the crowd was in a frenzy and began to throw all sorts of garbage like paper and beverage cups (empty and filled) into the ring…not the first time ROH fans in different venues have done this in the past several months. However it was the first time that garbage and litter was thrown in the middle of a match! This was done not because they disliked the wrestling action, but because they were so mad at what Castagnoli and McGuinness had done!

Emotion mixed with physicality and the symbolic representation of never-say-die will power to create a powder keg match that had just about every fan in attendance up on their feet for the final act. Tyler Black was the one man left who could possibly win the ROH World Title. He looked to fight hard but took a massive beating from McGuiinness. Black just would not lose the match. Nigel leveled him plenty, with brutal looking lariats from all sorts of positions and locations. Each time it seemed the end was there for Black, but each time he kicked out and each time the crowd roared back in support. Black saved his heaviest offense for the end of the match so that when he combined two Small Package Drivers and a Phoenix Splash, it most truly seemed like he was going to win the match and the ROH World Title. He didn’t, but by the end of the night the one comment I heard from so many people as I walked out of the building was that Black should be the next ROH World champion and that he was absolutely, positively ready for it. I could hardly disagree.

I’ll admit that I didn’t fully “get” why the crowd has embraced Tyler Black so quickly and so passionately. Even though he is technically a heel and is best friends with one of the most hated heel wrestlers right now in the company, the fans just can’t get enough of him in that ring. I had my doubts as to whether or not Black’s push was organic or if it was a purposefully and carefully planned and executed, but regardless it is true that the fans have picked him as their people’s champion. Therefore Ring of Honor may just have to go with Black in the future as the next Ring of Honor champion. They would probably need to get him away from Jimmy Jacobs to put the finishing touches on the fans embracing him as their chosen one, but that may be very easy to do very soon because it seems that The Age of the Fall is crumbling around Jacobs. The storyline was that Lacey left him for Aries and Necro left him because of Aries. Joey Matthews and Zack Gowen have been conspicuous by their absence. Tyler Black and Jacobs could have a falling out similar to Necro, or maybe fight over a title opportunity and that could bring down their whole revolution, cradle and all.

The crowd was desperate by the end of the match for Black to win the ROH World Title. It’s a word I really don’t think of using when it comes to the crowd reactions at wrestling shows, but it certainly exemplifies their feeling this time. Everyone, including this writer, was losing their minds at every near fall. When Black tried a springboard and was met on the way down with a massive lariat that seemed for sure to be the end. Black kicked out in the closest of close two-counts on the night, to the thrill and adulation of the crowd.. Black came roaring back, but would fall short of winning the title when Nigel threw two massive jawbreaker lariats, with extra momentum, and Black went down and out for good.

Claudio’s heel act was the second of two turns during the show, the other being Necro Butcher’s face turn after he wasted Jimmy Jacobs in a triple threat match also involving Austin Aries. The latter was the instigator for Necro finally deciding to ditch Jimmy Jacobs and The Age of the Fall for good. Necro had come out with Jacobs at the beginning of this match alongside Jacobs, even though he had pushed both Aries and Jacobs off a super tall ladder and through tables at the end of the Ring of Honor pay per view taping in Detroit. It seemed as though Necro and Jacobs had patched things up and were on the same page, looking to take out their frustrations on Aries. However, in-match frustrations and arguments between the two were exacerbated when Aries pulled an “Eddie Guerrero” and faked being unconscious after he hit Necro with a chair. Jacobs had been demanding that Necro follow his lead and do what he said in order to finish off Aries, for the good of The Age. Then Aries knocked Necro from behind and threw the chair at Jacobs, who caught the chair just as Necro turned around in the nick of time to catch him red handed and Aries faking being out of it on the canvas. Necro’s reaction was not a friendly one, bashing Jacobs with the chair and leaving him for dead. The Age of the Fall leader was easy pickings for Aries, who used his trademark brainbuster to 450 splash combo just to throw insult to injury on the way to picking up another win against his hated enemy.

Two turns, two wrestlers picking up wins thanks to the actions of another wrestler…these were almost perfectly reciprocal actions in what started out as a slow night but by the end become one of the best shows of the year, rivaling the efforts of the ROH wrestlers and booking from Supercard of Honor III, Return Engagement and the Sixth Anniversary Show.

The show began, fifteen minutes late as always for a New York City card, with The Briscoes vs. Jigsaw & Ruckus in a very good and attention keeping opening contest. This was The Briscoes’ return to full force as a tag team in New York City and they seemed refreshed as a duo. They didn’t even do their full repertoire of offense (and that was smart since they were the first match) but did enough trademark moves to keep the match going. Jigsaw and Ruckus continue to prove they work well as a tandem, with their acrobatics getting the crowd pumped up. Where they go from here is anyone’s guess, but they definitely have a good role within the company right now. The Briscoes picked up the win with the Springboard Doomsday Device and we were off and running.

Then began the Sweet & Sour Power Hour, as the next three matches featured Sweeney and the cast of thousands from Sweet & Sour Incorporated. First Sweeney came out to interrupt The Briscoes’ victory celebration to try to hustle up some business. Sweeney is awesome with his agent-rap, pandering to The Briscoes and looking pathetically sleazy while doing so. The Briscoes’ rejected the offer by walking out in the middle of Sweeney’s pitch. Sweeney turned to his business at hand and turned over the mic to Chris Hero. Hero is billing himself as the “Young Knock Out Kid” and ended his short promo by referencing Mike Tyson’s infamous quote of “my style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable”. I thought that was a bloody brilliant turn.

Delirious vs. Chris Hero was a slow and sluggish match that the crowd really didn’t feel like getting into and thus it felt like the whole segment dragged. It started out well enough with a clever comedic moment as Bobby Dempsey, who had been thrown under the ring when the crowd chanted for him, rushed out of the apron to inform Sweeney and company that Delirious had crawled under the ring. Everyone went out to look for him, but Delirious popped out the other end, scaled the turnbuckles and did his trademark flip dive onto everyone. From there the match slowed down and was unremarkable. There was a close nearfall after Hero clocked Delirious with one of his KO forearms, but the real knockout finish for Hero was soon after.

Sweeney, Dempsey and Hero stuck around for the next match, which was Roderick Strong vs. Eddie Edwards. This match also started out slow, with the crowd a bit restless. This was the first time that Strong was playing face in over a year in New York City, so it took a while for the crowd to warm up to him. They did so when Strong unleashed his barrage of thunderously loud chops. From then on the crowd was into what Strong was doing, but they were still a bit off put by the blandness of Edwards (as well as Strong who has a similar look). There were some cool moments like the backpack stunner Edwards does and when Strong blasted Edwards with his sick looking kick. The finish came when the referee was distracted by Sweeney, allowing Hero to attack and knock out Strong from the ring apron. “Mr. Entertainment” Eddie Edwards then used a quebrada (lionsault) to pull off the shocking upset. The crowd didn’t like that one bit. Sweeney took no time at all to crow about going 2 and 0 but Sweneey brought out Adam Pearce, carrying the new red version of the NWA Heavyweight Title and Sara Del Rey. Brent Albright ran out to clear out the ring, sending Hero and Edwards running off to the back. He then challenged Pearce then and there to their title match and it was on.

This match has ended up receiving some rave reviews across the internet from those in attendance and deservingly so by the end of it. However the match did start out slow and even a bit sloppy and ugly (a developing trend on the night). The match picked up all the way to eleven when Pearce and Albright began to brawl and both men shed the other’s blood outside the ring. A few moments later Pearce sent Albright from the top turnbuckle through the announcer’s table on the outside. Maybe this should have been a disqualification under NWA rules, but technically it was not over the ropes but rather over the top turnbuckle. Later in the match, Strong ran back out and smashed Sweeney with a chair, which the crowd loved.

The NYC fan base revved up at the sight of both men fighting it out while wearing crimson red. I don’t know what it is about the NYC crowd in the Hammerstein other than maybe it takes a while for them to get warmed up for each match. Maybe they have a “prove something to me” attitude and lose that more and more as they get involved in the goings on of each match. For this fight, the crowd found their love for Albright and began to have the loudest reactions to the match and for his offense as the minutes progressed. They hated Pearce and his cheating antics and they loved Albright suplexing the hell out of Pearce for his comebacks. For what it’s worth Pearce put everything into his offense, including a fantastic looking piledriver. Albright kicked out of that to the shock and delight of the crowd who thought it was all over there. Albright stormed back with two half-nelson suplexes, but took too long to get the cover and Pearce kicked out at two. Albright followed it up by unleashing a chain of five German suplexes, which isn’t something I had seen from him since his OVW days. That also got him a two count, and a crowbar attempt was reversed. The finish of the match saw Albright uncharacteristically go up to the top, trying for a top rope sunset flip. Pearce rolled out and looked to hook on a standing spinning toe hold, but Albright stopped him and maneuvered into a small package for two. He kept control of Pearce’s body, grabbing his ankle, and rolling across Pearce’s body back into the crowbar arm submission. After about fifteen seconds Pearce submitted and the crowd once again exploded for Albright and the title win.

Albright received some major celebration time and this was treated as a major event. I don’t know whether or not the crowd popping so large for the match and the title switch will have any ramifications on the NWA’s position in the independent world, but it certainly ends up looking good for them when they show the video of the programming (more on that below). I think the level of crowd popping was remarkable and I am at a loss to explain it other than a) the crowd’s love of Albright and b) the quality of drama that both Pearce and Albright were able to put into their slugfest style match. Apparently there is some historical relevance to what happened with the presentation of the red belt back in 1973 where Harley Race was presented the belt only to lose it to Jack Brisco on the same night. Had I known that I would have changed my predictions on this match in a heartbeat!

The first half finished with the Aries vs. Jacobs vs. Necro Butcher triple threat match, which couldn’t match the crowd response level of the previous match, although the crowd was plenty into Necro’s face turn and how Aries maneuvered his way into the victory.

The second half of the show began like the first Hammerstein Ballroom show in May. Delirious came out and asked Daizee Haze to join him in the ring. Haze came out and Delirious FINALLY (and in clearly audible English) asked Daizee Haze out for a date. This once again brought out “Addicted to Love” Rhett Titus. The crowd absolutely loved Tutus’ entrance and theme song, laughing to the absurdity of the voice in the song saying “Rhett Titus”. To be fair, whoever did that voiceover actually comes pretty close to approximating Robert Palmer’s voice. Titus registered mock relief and approval that Delirious actually grew a sack and asked Haze out. Then he told Delirious not to get upset at him, but he was there to tell Delirious not to go out with Haze because she was no good for him and “used goods”. The crowd went crazy for that line, but they just absolutely lost it when Titus took off his ring jacket to reveal tights with Haze’s image on the back, ala Rick Rude had done with Cheryl Roberts. Delirious for his part was confused and uncertain how to take this. Titus left and Haze remained to give her response to the green guy. The crowd was absolutely aching for Haze to say yes, but instead she gave the “let’s just be friends” line, which the crowd absolutely balked at. Then, if the “F” word wasn’t enough, she let out the “its not you, its me” line. Oh man did the crowd ever riot at that one, booing Haze unmercifully. She shrugged her shoulders as if to indicate it wasn’t her bad, but man the only thing worse that was left for her to say was to tell him that she was too busy showering or that she had to take care of her sick mother. Poor form Daizee, poor form.

Naomichi Marufuji and Go Shiozaki absolutely tore it up in a one on one contest that got the crowd into a similar “I gotta see this” frenzy that they felt during Albright-Pearce. Go Shiozaki may have solid out to Larry Sweeney’s agency, but there was very little sign of it in this match. He did not act like a heel and Sweeney or other Incorporated members were not at ringside. Aside from Sweeney laugh being inserted into the beginning of his entrance theme you wouldn’t even know that he was a part of The Inc. That said, I don’t know if that will last as perhaps this was just meant to be an athletic and back and forth NOAH wrestler vs. NOAH wrestler type of match.

Aside from the main event this may have been my personal favorite, for its physical nature—these two were stiff in their strikes and impact moves. While Marufuji used a lot of the awesome trademark offense he has become known for—the leg prop into the turnbuckles, the running elbow drop into the corner, the single foot stomp of his opponent’s head down to the canvas—it was all done swift, smooth and with impressive visual effect. That doesn’t mean that Marufuji was droping the same old same old—he threw in a few new ones, at least as far as inside an ROH ring. He did this fantastic snapmare driver that was more like an Olympic Slam or Judo throw in that he carried his opponent over his body and down to the mat in one smooth and clean motion. It. Looked. Awesome. My move of the night in a night full of huge moves. Shiozaki was good but a step or two behind Marufuji—he had some great moments of sharp strikes, like his excellent superkick volley—but at some times it looked like his chops and rotating slaps were a bit loose and slightly off the intended mark. It should be noted that for a big man Shiozaki sure can fly—a jumping knee drop that he did from the top turnbuckle cleared major height in the air before he dropped down. I didn’t know he had that in him! After Marufuji threw every huge move in his arsenal to no avail, the match ended when Marufuji used the Pole Shift (don’t get your minds dirty, it’s a variation of the Ki Krusher into a Michinoku Driver) for what I believe is the first time inside an ROH ring. It was finally enough for the three-count. Both men received a well deserved standing ovation from the crowd for their efforts. I have had issues sometimes with Marufuji and KENTA going over in a large number of matches wrestled here for Ring of Honor, but after watching this match, Marufuji can go over anyone for as long as he wants and I wouldn’t mind.

While The Motor City Machine Guns vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico was the first match billed for this Hammerstein Ballroom show, it turned out to be a bit of a victim of the other matches overachieving and receiving hugely passionate responses from the crowd. This was a dream match that had been requested of Ring of Honor fans ever since the news was known that The Machine Guns were slated to make a return to ROH. Unfortunately, I believe that was both a blessing and a curse for this match, which was really good but did not live up to my (and I’m sure others) immense hopes that this would be the be-all match of matches featuring The Machine Guns in Ring of Honor.

The treatment of The Machine Guns by the fans of NYC should be chalked up to the paradoxical nature of our inner fan hood. The Machine Guns have been treated as returning heroes by a large majority of fans in attendance during previous appearances in Chicago (site of their return in April 2007), Detroit (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin’s hometown) and in Manassas (where they tore down the house against Danielson and Aries). While the New York Crowd initially popped huge for The Machine Guns and welcomed them into the Hammerstein Ballroom, the subconscious collective choice of the fans was soon made clear. The cheers and support of the fans shifted definitively over to Steen & Generico, the current “home promotion heroes” of Ring of Honor in comparison to Shelley and Sabin, visitors from another TNA planet. Chants of “Fuck TNA” were soon heard once again during a Ring of Honor event, and while at first Shelley tried to pass it off with a shrug and a smile, soon he and Sabin were doing subtle things like eye rakes to turn themselves more towards the heel side of the equation. Then they just outright said “to hell with it” and out came spiting and snot blowing contests against Kevin Steen (pretty damned disgusting and unhygienic if you ask me) and doing other not so nice things to Generico and Steen.

(A funny side note is that there was one older, more rotund man on the far side of first balcony who wore a Hulkamania shirt and seemed to want nothing more than to boo Steen all show. He was particularly magnificent for this match).

Generico and Steen took a beating but eventually came back from behind to win the match. Generico blasted Shelley with a turnbuckle brainbuster, maybe only the third time he’s used that move in ROH. Meanwhile, Steen tapped Chris Sabin to the STEENshooter for the win. And that was it–a very good match and certainly worthy viewing, but not the match of the year many of us thought it would be—no, that designation was clearly reserved for another match this past Saturday (at least for now—there are several months left to go in the year, after all). Shelley sold the brainbuster like it was utter and complete death—the man didn’t move for what was at least two minutes or so. He and Sabin received a great ovation for their efforts and for their appearance. They didn’t say anything pre or post match, but you could tell they were very touched and happy to be there performing for the Ring of Honor fans. Humbled and honored, even.

Matches
-The Briscoes defeated Jigsaw & Ruckus via pinfall with the Springboard Doomsday Device.onto Jigsaw.
-Chris Hero defeated Delirious via pinfall with the roaring knockout forearm.
-Eddie Edwards defeated Roderick Strong via pinfall with a quebrada after Hero knocked out Strong behind the referee’s back.
-Brent Albright became the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion by defeating Adam Pearce via submission with the crowbar.
-Austin Aries defeated Jimmy Jacobs and Necro Butcher in a triple threat match. Aries pinned Jacobs after a brainbuster / 450 Splash after Necro smashed Jacobs with a chair and left him for dead.
-Naomichi Marufuji defeated Go Shiozaki via pinfall with the Pole Shift.
-Kevin Steen & El Generico defeated the Motor City Machine Guns of Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin via submission when Steen submitted Sabin with the Steenshooter.
-ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness retained his title by defeating Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli and Tyler Black in a four-way elimination match. First Elimination: Claudio Castagnoli pinned by Danielson. Second Elimination: Danielson pinned by McGuinness after a lariat after being demolished by Castagnoli. Third Elimination: Tyler Black eliminated by McGuinness by pinfall after several brutal variations of the jawbreaker lariat.

Return Date: December 27th 2008

We’ll be back with Part TWO of the Column of Honor in just a moment!