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From The Shelf – DGUSA Enter the Dragon: First Anniversary Celebration
Loading...DGUSA Enter the Dragon: First Anniversary Celebration
7-24-10
Philadelphia, PA
Your host is Lenny Leonard and Leonard F. Chikarason.
Pre Show
Lince Dorado vs. Super Sheng Long
Feeling out process and Dorado sweeps the legs of Sheng Long. More chain wrestling and we reach a stalemate. Dropkick by Sheng Long knocks Dorado to the floor. Back in, Dorado hits a springboard twisting cross body. Spin kick by Dorado and he goes to the surf board. Slam by Dorado and he hits a back senton for 1. Nerve hold by Dorado but Sheng Long goes to the ropes to break. Dropkick by Dorado and he drops an elbow for 2. Rear abdominal stretch by Dorado and they trade counters until Sheng Long catches him with a tilt-a-whirl head scissors. Sheng Long goes up and hits a missile dropkick for 2. Full Nelson Slam by Sheng Long gets 2. High kick by Dorado and he hits a springboard cross body for 2. Basement knee strike by Dorado and he hits the Lionsault for 2. Dorado puts Sheng Long on top and takes him off with the standing Frankensteiner for 2. Sheng Long drop toe holds Dorado into the corner and hits an enzugirii to the back. Corner dropkick by Sheng Long and he hits a Tornado DDT for 2. Slam by Sheng Long and he goes up. Shooting Star Press misses and Dorado goes up. Shooting Star Press by Dorado gets 2!!! They trade blows as the ten minute time limit runs out!!!
Match ends in a Draw **1/2 ( Decent little showcase match to get things going. There were some awkward moments where both guys stood around and obviously set each other up for spots but the final few minutes were pretty good so it was a nice little exhibition overall. )
Rex Reed and Tomasso Ciampa vs. Up in Smoke (Cheech and Cloudy)
Reed and Ciampa attack to start but Up in Smoek double team Ciampa to come back. Electric Chair gord buster by Ciampa to Cloudy gets 2. Tag to Reed and he hits the Sliding D for 2. Suplex by Reed and he hits a back senton for 2. Tag to Ciampa and he catches Cloudy with a lariat for 2. Knee strike by Ciampa and Reed covers for 2. Slam by Reed and he goes up. Back senton off the top misses and Cheech tags in. He cleans house and catches Ciampa with a moonsault press off the top. Suicide dive to Reed on the floor!!! Basement dropkick in the corner by Cheech and Cloudy hits a double knee strike. 619 from the floor by Cheech gets 2. Hurricanrana by Cloudy and they hit Cloudy with a Chance of Cheech. Tidal Wave gets 3.
Winners- Cheech and Cloudy **1/4 ( This match was designed to highlight Cheech and Cloudy and it worked, as they got to showcase their flashy tandem offense and showed they can thrive against workers much bigger than them. Ciampa was really impressive here and it comes to no surprise he made the biggest impact long term in pro wrestling than everyone else in this match. )
After the match, Brodie Lee comes out and attacks Up in Smoke. They actually mount a comeback but Lee eventually destroys them.
Sami Callihan vs. Jimmy Jacobs
Callihan fires away to start and Jacobs comes back with a spinning tilt-a-whirl head scissors. Jacobs stomps away in the corner and Callihan comes back with a lariat for 2. Callihan grabs a sitting chin lock and he works over Jacobs in the corner when he begins to fight out. Jacobs comes back with a lariat of his own and he hits a running chop into the corner. Drop toe hold into the corner by Jacobs and he hits a basement lariat. Slingshot double stomp by Jacobs but Callihan comes back with the Zig Zag for 2. Lariats by Callihan but Jacobs comes back with a Spear for 2. Jacobs catches Callihan in the End Time but Callihan powers out into an exploder suplex. Dead lift power bomb by Callihan gets 2 and he grabs the Stretch Muffler. Jacobs makes the ropes to break. High kick by Callihan and he knocks Jacobs off the apron with a springboard clothesline. Callihan sets up two chairs on the floor but Jacobs catches him with the Contra Code onto the chairs!!!! Back in, Jacobs covers for 2. Jacobs goes for a Spear but Callihan blocks with a knee. He goes up and misses a diving head butt off the top. Springboard Ace Crusher by Jacobs and he goes up. Callihan crotches him and follows up. Jacobs catches him with the Impailer DDT off the top and he locks in the End Time. Callihan taps!!!
Winner- Jimmy Jacobs ***1/4 ( This was a really good close to the pre-show. Callihan held nothing back, as he worked his ass off and took some punishment to make a great first impression. He looked like a warrior in defeat and Jacobs blended perfectly with his stiff style of offense. This could have been a show stealer on the main show with more time. )
Main Show
CIMA comes out and warms up the crowd with a pre-show speech but Johnny Gargano interrupts. He challenges CIMA to a match right now and CIMA questions what Gargano’s thinking. Gargano slaps him so CIMA accepts the match.
CIMA vs. Johnny Gargano
Gargano fires away but CIMA answers right back with chops. Enzuigiri by Gargano knocks CIMA to the apron and he hits a Capo kick to take him to the floor. Suicide dive by Gargano and back in, he hits a drop kick to the back for 2. Neck breaker by Gargano gets 2. CIMA rolls through a sunset flip into a double stomp and he follows up with a summersault senton. CIMA works the leg of Gargano and he grabs a Rowboat but Gargano pulls the hair to break. CIMA puts Gargano in the corner and hits a shot gun dropkick to the ass. Gargano goes up but CIMA catches him with Venus, knocking Gargano back to the apron. Gargano catches CIMA with the slingshot Spear. Gargano throws some strikes and he catches CIMA with a spin kick. Gargano mocks CIMA and he grabs the O’Connor roll for 2. Sitting surfboard by Gargano and he converts it into a cover for 2. Side Russian leg sweep by Gargano gets 2. CIMA catches Gargano with a lung blower and both men are down. Slingshot double stomp by CIMA gets 2. CIMA gets a sunset flip from off the top for 2. Double knees in the corner but Gargano comes back with a knee strike of his own. Lawn Dart by Gargano and he hits a super kick for 2. Super kick by CIMA and they trade counters until CIMA catches him with the Perfect Driver for 2!!! CIMA puts Gargano in the tree of woe and hits a basement dropkick before going up. He hits Coast to Coast on Gargano and follows up with Scweinn. CIMA goes up and he hits Meteora for 3.
Winner- CIMA ***1/4 ( Good opener. It was cool to see Gargano who was in the first FRAY! at the debut show go to opening the one year anniversary against Dragon Gate’s legend. CIMA picked up a strong victory and Gargano put on a good showing as he hung with CIMA the whole way and showed signs that he was going to a player for them down the line.)
Drake Younger says his scars show the mark of a warrior and tonight, regardless of the results against Naruki Doi, he’ll prove that he’s here to stay.
Adam Cole vs. Arik Cannon vs. Chuck Taylor vs. Ricochet
Ricochet and Cannon start. Feeling out process and Ricochet catches Cannon with an arm drag bringing him to the floor. Taylor dropkicks Ricochet and Cole dropkicks him to the floor. Suicide dive to the floor by Cole. Cannon catches Ricochet with a back elbow and Ricochet comes back with a tilt-a-whirl hurricanrana. Ricochet looks to dive but Cole catches him with an enzuigiri. Taylor catches him with a summersault plancha to the floor!!! CORKSCREW TWISTING PLANCHA TO THE FLOOR BY RICOCHET!!!! Back in, Ricochet goes up but Taylor crotches him and follows up. Cannon brings them both down with the TOWER OF DOOM~!!!! Exploder suplex into the corner by Cannon to Cole. Northern lights suplex by Cole to Cannon gets 2. Super kick by Cole but Cannon answers back with a lariat for 2. Sole Food by Taylor and he hits a big boot for 2. Hurricanrana by Ricochet and he follows it up with a standing SSP for 2. DVD back breaker by Cole to Ricochet gets 2. Backslide Driver by Ricochet to Cole. HE USES COLE TO LAUNCH HIMSELF INTO A DDT ON TAYLOR!!!! Second rope leg lariat by Cole to Ricochet and Cannon catches Cole with Total Anarchy for 2!!! Ricochet looks to baseball slide but Cole catches him and hits a wheelbarrow suplex onto the apron!!! Cole catches Cannon with a crossbody off the top for 2. Collateral by Cole gets 2. Cannon counters a Guillotine into the Brainbuster for 2. Cannon puts Cole on top and follows up. He misses a Lionsault on Ricochet and Cole catches him with Panama Sunrise. Springboard dropkick to the back by Taylor to Cole. Standing Meteora by Ricochet and he MISSES A DOUBLE ROTATION MOONSAULT OFF THE TOP!!!! Awful Waffle by Taylor gets 3!!!
Winner- Chuck Taylor ***3/4 ( Man, watch this match and look at Cole and Ricochet from 2010 and look at them now. It was like looking at two totally different people. This match was a blast, as you had four hungry wrestlers going balls to the walls in order to impress. It worked, as Ricochet, Cannon, and Taylor became featured stars in DGUSA in 2011 coming out of this performance and I’m sure Cole would have gotten the same treatment had he not sign with ROH later in the year. )
Jon Moxley promises to help Gran Akuma finish what he started a year ago by destroying CHIKARA Sekigun.
Drake Younger vs. Naruki Doi
Younger overpowers Doi to start and he dumps Doi to the floor. Younger misses a cannonball off the apron and he crashes on the floor!!! Back in, Doi stomps on the leg of Younger and he hits a shotgun dropkick on the leg. A dropkick to the good leg by Doi and he continues to work over the bad leg of Younger. Dragon screw leg sweep by Doi and he hits a knee breaker into a back suplex for 2. Another drop kick to the leg by Doi and he goes for the corner back elbow but Younger catches him and hits a half nelson suplex. Younger cleans house and Doi catches him with a back elbow. Younger blocks Doi 555 and hits a basement lariat for 2. Doi ties Younger in the ropes and hits the shot gun dropkick. He goes up and hits the guillotine summersault senton. Younger rolls Doi up for 2. DVD Driver by Younger gets 2. Doi counters Drake’s Landing with the Unprettier and he hits the Cannonball in the corner. Doi 555 and he throws some slaps at Younger. Bakatare Sliding Kick gets 3.
Winner- Naruki Doi *** (This was original going to be Kid vs. Doi but Kid was injured and Doi himself was suffering from a rib or abdominal injury, so considering the circumstances this turned out really well. Doi came across as being in a higher class than Younger but this simultaneously put over Younger’s toughnest and his ability to hang with some of best DG talent. )
After the match, Drake Younger says he proved he could hang with the best in DGUSA and offers his services to any stable looking for a US rep. Johnny Gargano attacks him and sends him into the post, busting him open.
CHIKARA Sekigun says they looked for someone who hates YAMATO as much as they do, and they recruited Masato Yoshino who has some words for Kamikazee USA.
DGUSA Open the Freedom Gate Championship- BxB Hulk © vs. Masaaki Mochizuki
Dropkick by Hulk and they both evade kicks before reaching a stalemate. They trade kicks to the chest and Hulk backdrops Mochizuki to the floor. Mochizuki misses a knee strike and his knee crashes into the post. Back in, Hulk dropkicks the leg of Mochizuki and he bails again. Hulk continues to work over the leg of Mochizuki and Mochizuki makes the ropes to get a small break. Hulk throws a spin kick to the bad leg and he grabs the Texas Cloverleaf. Mochizuki makes the ropes to break. Mochizuki comes back with a kick to the chest and he hits a springboard enzuigiri knocking Hulk to the apron. Kick to the back knocks Hulk off and he hits a knee breaker onto the apron. Running kick to the leg by Mochizuki and he now works the leg of Hulk. Indian Deathlock by Mochizuki but Hulk makes the ropes to break. Mochizuki kicks the leg of Hulk and catches him in the Figure-4. Hulk makes the ropes to break. Hulk throws some kicks to the chest but Mochizuki DRILLS HIM with one of his own!!! Mochizuki catches Hulk in the Ankle Lock but Hulk makes the ropes to break!!! Mochizuki throws more kicks to the leg and they throw knee strikes at each other. They catch each other with high kicks and Hulk catches Mochizuki with a springboard dropkick. Hulk catches Mochizuki with a springboard moonsault to the floor!!! Back in, Hulk sweeps the legs and hits a standing corkscrew senton for 2. Axe kick by Hulk and he hits a Urinage. Hulk misses a drop kick and Mochizuki catches him with a Yakuza kick. He puts Hulk in the tree of woe and throws some kicks at Hulk. Hulk throws some strikes and hits First Flash for 2. Lariat by Hulk but Mochizuki sweeps the legs to avoid First Flash. Basement high kick by Mochizuki gets 2. Twister by Mochizuki gets 2. Mochizuki goes up but Hulk stops him and follows up. Mochizuki fights him off but Hulk catches him with a spinning heel kick to bring him down. Hulk goes up but Mochizuki runs up and catches him with a superplex. He places Hulk on the second turnbuckle and hits a running spin kick to the midsection for 2. Hulk catches Mochizuki with EVO. Yakuza kick by Hulk and he puts Mochizuki on top. He follows up and catches Mochizuki with Avalanche EVO for 2!!! Slam by Hulk and he goes up. Phoenix Splash by Hulk gets 2. First Flash by Hulk gets 3.
Winner and Still DGUSA Open the Freedom Gate Champion- BxB Hulk ***1/2 ( I really liked this match but my god the irrelevance of the leg work was infuriating here. They work on each other’s legs for so long that the fact that they were throwing kicks and hitting flashy offense like nothing happened really killed the drama of the finishing stretch. They worked hard and had a very good competitive match but ignoring half the stuff they did involving the leg prevent me from truly enjoying this as much as I wanted to. )
After the match, one of Hulk’s dancers from the DGUSA shows in Phoenix distracts him, allowing Kamikazee USA to attack him. Jon Moxley says Hulk doesn’t have much left to lose, so he promises to finally take his championship. Shingo lays him out with a DVD and YAMATO looks for Gallarea on the belt but Bryan Danielson comes out!!! He confronts Shingo and YAMATO but Moxley tells them to hold off until they could make some money off facing Danielson.
Scott Reed w/Nicole vs. Rich Swann
Belly to belly suplex by Reed gets 2. Stunner by Swann and Reed comes back with a release German suplex for 2. Swann rolls Reed up for 2 and he hits a spinning enzuigiri. Rolling Fireman’s carry into a standing moonsault by Swann. Standing 450 splash by Swann gets 3.
Winner- Rich Swann * ( They did as much as they were going to do in two minutes and again, you saw a ton of promise in Swann here. )
After the match, Brodie lee comes out and nails the ref. He catches Swann with the Truck Stop and he drills him with a big boot. Yakuza kick to Reed and he hits a half nelson suplex. YAKUZA KICK TO NICOLE!!!! Brodie Lee says it doesn’t matter who you are, he’ll mow you over. Brodie Lee issues the challenge to a Japanese man on the next DGUSA show.
Elimination Match- Kamikaze USA (Jon Moxley, YAMATO, Akira Tozawa, and Gran Akuma) vs. CHIKARA Sekigun (Mike Quackenbush, Jigsaw, and Hallowicked) and Masato Yoshino
Everyone brawls to start and Moxley officially starts with Quack. Back elbow by Quack knocks him to the floor and he goes up for an Asai moonsault to the floor!!!! Yoshino catches Tozawa with a shot gun dropkick, forcing Tozawa to bail. Hallowicked tosses Akuma off the top and catches him with a crucifix for 2. Tag to Jigsaw and he hits a double stomp to the back of Akuma. Michinoku Driver by Jigsaw gets 2. Tozawa catches Jigsaw with a hip check and Kamikaze USA works him over in the corner. Release suplex by Moxley gets 2. Tag to YAMATO and he catches Jigsaw with a corner forearm. Octopus by Akuma to Jigsaw and he converts it into a roll-up for 2. Akuma goes up and he misses a moonsault off the top. Jigsaw goes up but Akuma catches him with an enzuigiri and follows up. Jigsaw catches him with a Frankensteiner and Hallowicked tags in. He cleans house and catches Tozawa with the Rydeen Bomb for 2. Big boot by Hallowicked gets 2. Saito suplex by Tozawa and Kamikaze USA all charge at Hallowicked in the corner. Gallarea by YAMATO gets 3. Hallowicked is eliminated.
Jigsaw hits a double stomp to the back of Tozawa into a swinging DDT on Akuma!!! Wheelbarrow gut buster into a basement dropkick combo by Quack and Jigsaw to Moxley. Everyone charges at Moxley in the corner and Yoshino goes up. Missile dropkick/back senton combo onto YAMATO and Moxley!!! Jigsaw hits a Brainbuster on Moxley for 2!!! Chickenwing suplex by Moxley to Jigsaw gets 1. Super kick by Jigsaw but Moxley comes back with a lariat for 2. Moxley nails Jigsaw with a chair and Moxley gets DQ!!! Jon Moxley is eliminated. Jacobs catches Moxley with a Spear and they brawl in the crowd.
Gallarea on Jigsaw by YAMATO gets 3. Jigsaw is eliminated.
Quack rolls YAMATO up for 2. Inside cradle gets 2. Sling Blade by Yoshino to Tozawa gets 2. Tozawa knocks Yoshino down and misses two diving head butts before finally catching him with a back senton. Tozawa counters the tilt-a-whirl into a gordbuster for 2. Akuma catches Quack with a gut buster for 2. Falcon Arrow by Akuma and he goes up. Frog Splash by Akuma gets 2. Quack counters the Yoshi Tonic into a sit-out powerbomb for 3!!! Gran Akuma is eliminated.
Big boot by YAMATO to Yoshino and he hits a Gordbuster. Ude Yoshino by Yoshino gets 2. Lightning Spiral by Yoshino gets 2 as Tozawa saves. Quack charges but misses and he nails Yoshino by mistake. Standing Meteora by Tozawa gets 2. ETX by Quack to YAMATO gets 2. Brainbuster by YAMATO gets 2. Sleeper Suplex by YAMATO and Tozawa follows up with the German suplex for 2 as Yoshino saves!!! YAMATO catches Yoshino with Gallarea for 2!!! YAMATO goes low on Yoshino and Quack returns the favor!!! Torbellino by Yoshino and he grabs Sol Naciente on YAMATO while Quack grabs the CHIKARA Special on Tozawa!!!! Both men tap!!!!
Winners- Mike Quackenbush and Masato Yoshino ***3/4 ( This was a worthy blow off to a year long feud, as you felt the hatred between the two units while this having a flashy and exciting style of match. YAMATO and Tozawa in particular were outstand and my only big knock on the match was that the finish was going to be predictable since Yoshino was not losing as the Open the Dream Gate Champion at the time. Still, the eliminations were spread out well and Kamikaze USA still came out of this looking like a dangerous and threatening unit even in defeat. )
Jon Moxley freaks out backstage about Jimmy Jacobs interfering in his business. He gives Jacobs one last warning otherwise he’ll have to go down a road he doesn’t want to go down.
Shingo vs. Bryan Danielson
They trade blows and Shingo goes to the ropes before Danielson catches him with Cattle Mutilation. Test of strength and they eventually break. Dropkick by Danielson and he begins to work the arm of Shingo. Danielson rakes the face of Shingo and he grabs the Mexican surfboard before converting it into a Dragon Sleeper. He releases and hits a butterfly suplex into a cross arm breaker. Shingo rolls to the ropes to break. Kicks to the chest by Danielson and Shingo counters a sunset flip into a suplex, forcing Danielson to bail. Shingo sends Danielson into the barricade and back in, he hits a double stomp. Fist drop by Shingo and he grabs a chin lock. Knee drop by Shingo gets 2. Knee to the midsection by Shingo and he hits a gut buster into a DDT. Back senton by Shingo gets 2. He grabs a body scissors but Danielson rolls out of it. Danielson throws some uppercuts and he hits Shingo with a flying knee strike. Corner forearm by Danielson and he hits a flying elbow strike, forcing Shingo to bail. Baseball slide by Danielson knocks Shingo into the front row and Danielson SPRINGBOARDS INTO THE CROWD ONTO SHINGO!!!!! Back in, Danielson goes up and hits a missile dropkick. Running kick to the chest by Danielson gets 1. Northern lariat by Shingo and he hits a Saito suplex. Another Saito suplex by Shingo gets 2. Powerslam by Shingo gets 2 and he grabs the Anaconda Vice. Danielson makes the ropes to break. Exploder suplex by Shingo and Danielson catches him with an O’Connor roll with a bridge for 2. Flatliner by Shingo and Danielson blocks Blood Fall before catching Shingo with a basement spin kick. Kicks to the chest by Danielson and he throws some forearms. Shingo catches Danielson with the DVD and both men are down. Corner lariat by Shingo and they go up. Danielson escapes Shingo’s clutch and hangs him in the tree of woe for a basement dropkick. Danielson follows up and takes Shingo off with the back superplex for 2!!! Danielson with rapid stomps to the head and he catches Shingo in the Triangle Choke!!! Shingo powers out so Danielson catches him in the crucifix for 2. Rapid elbows by Danielson and he crucifixes Shingo again for 2. More elbows from Danielson but SHINGO POWERS UP AND BRINGS DRAGON UP TOP FOR STAY DREAM!!!!!! Shingo covers for 2!!! They trade head butts, forearms, and slaps. Knee to the mid section by Shingo and he hits Made in Japan for 2!!!! Pumping Bomber by Shingo gets 2!!!! Small package by Danielson gets 2!!! Cattle Mutilation by Danielson but Shingo starts to fight out so Danielson hits the Dragon Suplex for 2. Rapid elbows again by Danielson and he grabs Cattle Mutilation again. Shingo rolls into a cover for 2 and Danielson throws a high kick. Regal Plex by Danielson gets 2. He grabs the Triangle Choke but Shingo tries to power out. Danielson throws elbows to bring him back down and he catches Shingo with the LeBell Lock!!! Shingo taps!!!!
Winner- Bryan Danielson ****1/2 ( An incredible main event and one last notch on the belt of Bryan Danielson for his epic independent wrestling career. It was very methodical early on but after the crowd dive they went to another level, having an epic back and forth battle featuring incredible striking sequences and the dram where they trying to escape or counter their variety of holds and strikes was off the charts. One of the best matches in DGUSA history. )
YAMATO goes face to face with Dragon after the match but BxB Hulk comes out and helps Dragon clear the ring of Kamikaze USA. Danielson offers BxB Hulk his services to World-1 which Hulk accepts.
Bonus
Homicide and Austin Aries vs. Bryan Danielson and Rocky Romero from FIP New Dawn Rising 2-11-05
Danielson and Homicide start. Danielson tries to work the leg of Homicide but he grabs the beard of Danielson to block. Romero and Aries tag in. Cravat by Aries but Romero counters into a head scissors. Aries escapes and goes after the legs but Romero goes to the ropes to force a break. Tag to Danielson and he slams Aries. Danielson throws a few more slams and Aries returns the favor. Danielson sends Aries hard into the corner and Homicide tags in. Homicide works the arm of Danielson but Danielson catches him with a dropkick, forcing Homicide to bail. Back in, Romero tags in and he controls Homicide with a side headlock. Head scissors by Romero but Homicide rolls to the ropes to break. Tilt-a-whirl head scissors by Romero and he goes for the Rings of Saturn but Aries breaks. Crucifix by Homicide gets 2 and Aries tags in. Back rake into the big boot by Aries and Homicide gets 2. Sidewalk slam by Aries gets 2. Elbow drop by Aries gets 2. Delayed suplex by Homicide and Aries tags in. Romero blocks the Brainbuster for 2 and Romero throws some kicks. Stereo kicks to the chest by Danielson and Romero gets 2. Danielson grabs a wrist lock but Homicide breaks it up. Tag to Romero and he hits a suplex. Overhead belly to belly suplex by Homicide gets 2. They go up but Romero fights him off and catches Homicide with a missile dropkick. Butterfly suplex by Homicide gets 2. Back suplex by Homicide gets 2. Homicide grabs an abdominal stretch but Romero counters into the Octopus. Homicide breaks with a side walk slam and Aries and Danielson tag in. Airplane Spin by Danielson to Aries and he delivers one to Homicide as well. He swings Homicide into Aries and Danielson is so dizzy he gives one to Romero as well!!!! He dropkicks Romero to the floor by mistake and Homicide and Aries struggle to make the tag. They finally do so and Danielson catches Homicide with a butterfly suplex. They clothesline each other and both men are down. Tag to Aries and he hits a back suplex. Aries goes up but Danielson crotches him and follows up. Superplex by Danielson gets 2. Hard forearm by Aries gets 2. Brainbuster by Aries gets 2 as Romero saves. Romero missile dropkicks Aries into a German suplex by Danielson gets 2. Cattle Mutilation by Danielson and Aries taps!!!
Winners- Bryan Danielson and Rocky Romero ***1/4 ( The majority of this match just felt like one long feeling out process. They did a ton of slow methodical wrestling and I’m all for trying something different but it caused the match to drag. I’ll praise the hard work of everyone involved and the work itself was good but with these four, I wanted something with more juice to it and I came away disappointed. )
Bryan Danielson w/Dave Prazak vs. Roderick Strong from FIP Attack of the Masked Flippers
Strong overpowers Danielson and he bails to regroup. Test of strength and Danielson catches Strong with an uppercut. He grabs the chin lock but Strong escapes. He chases Danielson around ring side but Danielson stomps him as he comes back in. Atomic drop by Strong and he knocks Danielson down with a chop, forcing Danielson to bail again. Back in, Strong throws some forearms and he hip tosses Danielson for 2. Strong grabs a side head lock but Danielson escapes and catches Strong with a backslide for 2. Strong goes back to the side headlock but Danielson escapes and catches him with a back elbow. Standing summersault senton by Danielson and he drives Strong’s knees into the mat. Knee drop by Danielson gets 2. Sitting chin lock by Danielson but Strong goes to the ropes to break. Prazak gets a cheap shot in as Danielson distracts the ref and Danielson jumps on Strong in the ropes. Danielson goes to do it again but Strong moves, causing Danielson to get crotched in the ropes. Strong shakes the ropes into the groin of Danielson and he hits a springboard crossbody for 2. Clothesline by Danielson and he hits a suplex for 2. Chin lock by Danielson but Strong fights out. Monkey flip by Strong and Danielson pulls him to the floor. Danielson sends Strong into the post and back in, he hits a face buster. Brainbuster by Strong and both men are down. Slingshot splash eats knees and Danielson hits a butterfly suplex for 2. Another summersault senton by Danielson gets 2. Slam by Danielson and he goes up. Diving head butt by Danielson misses and Strong fires back. He cleans house and catches Danielson with a dropkick for 2. Clothesline by Strong and he hits a Urinage back breaker for 2. Slam by Strong and he goes up. Flying elbow drop misses and Danielson grabs the Figure-4. Prazak provides an assist but Strong is able to turn it over, forcing Danielson to make the ropes to break. They trade roll-ups for near falls and Danielson goes up. Strong stops him and follows up with a superplex for 2. Gutbuster by Strong but Prazak grabs the leg, allowing Danielson to catch him with a forearm. Release German suplex by Danielson gets 3.
Winner- Bryan Danielson ***1/4 ( Danielson working in an old school heel fashion was awesome here, throwing terrible insults at the crowd and using cheap tactics. It was cool to watch him work that style and highlights the range he had as a performer. Danielson was probably in control for far too long here and again, they worked a solid match but just never kicked it to the next level plus the finish was pretty flat. I’m fine with these guys toning it down in FIP compared with what they would do in ROH, but I still think they could have put a little more energy into the final stretch and gave Strong some hot near falls. )
