ROH Back To Basics: March 12, 2005, Woodbridge, Connecticut

ROH … Back to Basics … March 12, 2005 … Woodbridge, Connecticut

Review by Brad Garoon and Jacob Ziegler

Top 5

JZ says: Just the Trios Tournament to take into account this time, so there shouldn’t be too many changes, although we did have a title change.

ROH WORLD CHAMPION: Austin Aries (since 12.26.04)
ROH PURE CHAMPION: Jay Lethal (since 03.05.05)
1) Homicide
2) Samoa Joe
3) John Walters
4) Jimmy Rave
5) James Gibson

Intro

BG says: First things first. I set up a little website for people to check out some of my reviews before they get up on 411. If you care about my feelings at all check out http://hometown.aol.com/jobbeforlife and shoot me an email to let me know what you think. I keep pretty up to date over there.

Colt Cabana kicks things off with Good Times Great Memories. He’s going to beat Delirious tonight, and then he’s going to win the tag team titles with Nigel McGuinness. Special guests Dunn & Marcos join and say they want the tag titles too. Nigel interrupts and asks Cabana to focus more on the title match.

Lacey wants evil Special K to win their match tonight against good Special K because the winner gets to keep the Special K name, and that name equals money. She’s also going to get back at Daizee Haze for pinning her in Dayton.

JZ says: Dunn & Marcos are the special guests this week, as Cabana is in an especially jovial mood. I would be too if I got to work with Delirious and Nigel McGuinness in one night.

Lacey’s new gimmick is that she’s the top business woman in Ring of Honor and that she yells at the idiot Special K group a lot. Good for her.

MATCH #1: Colt Cabana vs. Delirious

BG says: Delirious goes nuts and bails when the opening bell rings. He gets back in the ring and complains that Cabana pulled on his mask and tights, before they even lock up. Cabana shoves him down and Delirious takes cover. Cabana sets him on the top rope but Delirious scares him off. He grabs a knucklelock and then puts on a body vice. Delirious licks his face to escape. They criss cross and Cabana gets a roll up for 2. He gets a sunset flip for 2 and a crucifix pin for 2. Delirious gets a roll up for 2. He comes off the top with a hurricanrana for 2. Cabana hits a spinning neckbreaker for 2. He puts on a spinning toehold and then goes to work on the leg. Delirious hits Shadows Over Hell for 2. He goes for In Vitro Fertilization but Cabana blocks and hits the Twirly-bird for the win. This was pretty fun, and I like the addition of comedy matches to the shows.
Rating: **

JZ says: I got to referee for Delirious back in April, and it was one of the best experiences I have ever had in a ring. Delirious has some very clever tactics early on in the match. Cabana practices his European style and Delirious is keeping up with him pretty well. Delirious has the coolest names for his moves, but Bower and Nulty never call them by name. Cabana gets the win at 7:48 to give him momentum going into the tag team title match later on tonight. That was an opener of good clean fun.
Rating: **1/4

MATCH #2: Alex Law & Ricky Landell vs. Dunn & Marcos

BG says: It’s funny that Corino’s students got a match on this show considering what happens in the main event. Law and Landell attack from behind. Dunn and Marcos take over and hit the high five double bulldog. Dunn and Law get things organized as Law hits a knee lift and tags to Landell. Landell hits a double underhook suplex for 2. He hits a vertical suplex for 2. Law tags in and hits a really ugly clothesline. They hit a Kaientai dropkick for 2. Law hits a backbreaker and tags in Landell. He hits a mule kick for 2. He hits a dropkick to the knee but Dunn catches him with a Gory bomb. Marcos and Law tag in and Marcos hits a swinging neckbreaker. He hits Landell with a falcon arrow. The RCE double-team Law for 2. Law and Landell star double-teaming Marcos and get 2. Dunn hits a side suplex on Landell. He hits a cutthroat powerbomb on Law. Marcos hits the super duper senton for the win. This was really bad.
Rating: 1/2*

JZ says: I don’t really know much about Corino’s students, but I know that Dunn & Marcos are on a bit of a roll since scoring a victory in the Scramble Cage match on 02.19.05 and beating Delirious & Golden Vampire on 02.26.05. Law and Landell look pretty nervous and skittish. The resulting match is not very good. They end this cruel game at 5:45 with the super senton. It had a few neat moves but that was mostly very bad.
Rating: 3/4*

World Champion Update

BG says: A clip is shown of Austin Aries defending the ROH title against Vordell Walker in FIP. Sorry guys, but a clip of an undeserving challenger getting a title shot that he never earned on an outside show doesn’t really make up for no champion on an ROH show for the first time since 2002.

JZ says: Commentator Jimmy Bower says that Aries is overseas defending against the best Switzerland and Austria have to offer. That’s all well and good, but I think it’s more prestigious to defend the title in ROH against people who have actually earned title shots rather than against nobodies that just happen to be from another country.

MATCH #3: Jack Evans vs. Spanky

BG says: Who is the real Washington Warrior? Evans actually uses dancing to his advantage here, catching Spanky off guard when he tries to dance himself. He hits a dropkick and a vertical suplex for 2. He hits a spin kick for 2. Spanky monkey flips Evans out of the ring and does a jig. Evans gets launched into and over the guardrail. He gets tossed into it again and we get a shot of a giant cut on his back. Back in the ring Spanky hits a back bodydrop. He hits a vertical suplex and a second rope kneedrop for 2. He hits a back suplex and puts on a Boston crab. Evans makes me smile by simultaneously going for the ropes and trying to push Spanky away. Spanky hits a leg lariat which Evans oversells a bit too much. It gets 2. He goes for Sliced Bread #2 but Evans slips out and kicks Spanky out of the ring. Evans hits the Space Flying Tiger Driver and rolls Spanky back into the ring. He hits another spin kick and then a handspring elbow. He hits a springboard kneedrop and a senton/corkscrew combo for 2. He hits a bodyslam and goes to the top. Spanky tries to crotch him but Evans jumps up at the last moment. Awesome. Spanky catches him with a superkick for 2. Evans kicks Spanky to the corner but gets crotched on the top rope. Spanky catches him with a quick Sliced Bread #2 for the win. There was some really cool stuff in this match that I’d never seen before, and that’s something that I can rarely say.
Rating: ***1/4

The Scoopstah gets in the ring and tells Spanky that as a result of him winning, he gets an ROH world title shot at Austin Aries the next time ROH rolls through Boston. That is, as long as James Gibson loses his match later on in the evening. Roderick Strong hits the ring and tells Spanky that he’ll have to get through Generation Next to get to Austin Aries. Evans attacks him from behind and they beat him down. And you know this, man.

JZ says: I nominate Spanky for best entrance music. The monkey flip to the outside early on is a really neat spot. Evans gets a nasty cut on his back from the guard rail. Evans cart wheeling out of the Sliced Bread #2 is awesome. So is the dive he hits right afterwards. Man, Evans has such a babyface repertoire, but he is still able to maintain his heel heat. The super Sliced Bread #2 finishes at 7:26. That match had some more legs in it and could have gone a little longer. Damn it was fun while it lasted.
Rating: ***1/4

Spanky gets a title shot if James Gibson loses. Why can’t they both have title shots? And shouldn’t Spanky be awarded a title shot on his own merits, rather than the failures of others? Apparently Roderick Strong agrees with me as he is out to confront Spanky. Evans joins in the fun and they lay Spanky out.

MATCH #4: Izzy & Deranged vs. Dixie & Azrieal

BG says: Dixie and Azrieal come out to no music, which doesn’t make sense considering Azrieal got a pin fall win on the last show. Maybe it’s sympathy silence for Dixie. The heels say they want to get the band back together and then attack from behind. Izzy gets dumped but Deranged hits a springboard dropkick onto both opponents. He puts on a sleeper and turns it into a wristlock. Dixie reverses and puts Deranged on the mat with a hammerlock. He puts on a front facelock and Azrieal tags in. Deranged goes to the eyes and forearms him down. Izzy tags in and works the arm. Azrieal comes back with an Octopus stretch and rolls him up for 1. Izzy comes back with a Mexican surfboard variation and an elbow drop. Azrieal comes back with an armbar. He dodges the moonsault kick and wrenches the neck. Dixie tags in and hits a vertical suplex and an elbow drop. Azrieal tags in and hits an elevated legdrop for 2. Dixie tags in and hits a leg lariat. Cheech trips him up and Izzy hangs him on the top rope. He hits a springboard kneedrop for 2. Deranged tags in and they hit a double brainbuster for 2. Deranged distracts the ref and Evil K choke Dixie out. Izzy tags in and hits a knee lift and a boot to the face for 2. Dixie comes back with an enziguiri. Azrieal gets the tag but the ref misses it and sends him out. Evil K double-team Dixie for 2. Dixie gets a snap German suplex. Azrieal gets the tag and cleans house. He catches Izzy with a Demon Driver for 2. Deranged pulls Izzy to the corner and makes the tag. Evil K hit a double-team Code Red for 2. Izzy powerbombs Dixie out of the ring and then dives onto him on the floor. Deranged hits a springboard double stomp on Azrieal and sets him on the top rope. Azrieal reverses the hurricanrana to a top rope Demon Driver for the win. Cheech and Izzy reluctantly remove their Special K T-shirts. Best match in a while from these four.
Rating: **3/4

JZ says: Winners get the Special K name. Lacey has totally Yoko Ono’d the group here, since most of their troubles started when she came in as Izzy’s girlfriend. Now she is also the top businesswoman in ROH. The competition for that is fierce to be sure. This is a little odd to see these four in just a regular tag match, they did so many gimmick matches and scramble matches over the years. They’re doing a damn fine job of having a regular match too, with tags and everything. Azrieal gets the pin at 12:39 with the Super Demon Driver. I guess hitting your finisher from the top rope is the way to get victories tonight. Azrieal and Dixie now own the Special K name and all its subsidiary rights. That was a good tag team match that showcased what all four guys can do.
Rating: ***

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MATCH #5: Roderick Strong vs. Homicide

BG says: Strong requests that Evans and Smokes both go to the back to make it strictly one-on-one. Homicide obliges. They lock up as I realize how nice it was not to have Mark Nulty on commentary during the last show. They work the mat where Homicide grabs a front facelock. He gets into it with the fans, but the camera doesn’t show any of it. Strong puts on a hammerlock so Homicide bites his hand to escape. They trade wristlocks and Homicide gets a roll up for 1. He hits the chinlock and fishhooks Strong but the ref calls for the break. Homicide dropkicks Strong out of the ring and hits a baseball slide. He jabs Strong with a chair on the floor. He sends him into the guardrail and hits a running forearm. Strong rams Homicide’s back into the post and then tosses him into the guardrail. Back in the ring Strong hits a delayed vertical suplex for 2. Homicide hits a jawbreaker but Strong comes back with a belly-to-belly suplex for 2. Homicide hits a neckbreaker and a tornado DDT. He puts on a hammerlock submission but Strong makes the ropes. Strong comes back with a sunset flip for 2. Homicide kicks him hard on the back and steps on his face. They clothesline each other and both men are down. Homicide reverses a backbreaker and dumps Strong. He hits the tope square on. Back in the ring Strong hits a backbreaker for 2. He goes to the top but gets crotched. Homicide hits a supercanrana and a piledriver for 2. Strong hits another backbreaker and puts on a Boston crab but Homicide makes the ropes. Homicide hits a double underhook superplex for 2. Homicide hits a T-bone suplex for 2. He hits the Ace Crusher from the second rope and the Clothesline from Hell for 2. He hits another for the win. The commentary was beyond annoying during this match, with Nulty saying everything was “Back to Basics” and that by jawing with the fans Homicide was inciting riots. The match itself was nothing special either.
Rating: **1/4

JZ says: Roderick wants to prove himself completely one-on-one with Homicide, which is commendable. These two were involved in the main event of last week’s “Trios Tournament 2005” show. Homicide will face Aries for the World Title on the next show in Asbury Park, New Jersey on April 2. Strong also has a big match on the next show, as he is part of the “how could it possibly go wrong” Super Juniors tournament. The Rottweilers have dominated Generation Next in in-ring competition, so take that for what it’s worth. Homicide currently leads the Best of Five Series against Bryan Danielson 2-1. Wow, this match just kinda keeps going doesn’t it? It’s not a bad match at all, but it just feels like they’re doing stuff and that’s it – just stuff. Maybe it’s got something to do with being BACK TO BASICS, who knows? Two lariats get the win for Homicide at 18:26. Meh, I just don’t think they jelled together all that well, but I’d be willing to see what they could do with another chance.
Rating: **1/2

Intermission

BG says: Dixie and Azrieal tell GMC backstage that even though they won the Special K name, they are ashamed of it and therefore are going to bury it. The oldest gimmick in ROH officially dies here.

JZ says: No more Special K?! Cue the single tear from my eye.

MATCH #6: Four Corner Survival – Lacey vs. Cindy Rogers vs. Allison Danger vs. Daizee Haze

BG says: Danger and Rogers start. They work the mat and Rogers gets a roll up for 2. She gets another 2 count and Danger tags out to Lacey. Lacey gets a front facelock but a suplex attempt is blocked. They roll around the ring looking for pin falls but just end up dizzy. Haze tags Lacey out. She gets a backslide for 2. She flushes the toilet for 2. Lacey attacks her from behind, allowing Rogers to get a Russian legsweep for 2. She hits a vertical suplex for 2. She hits a side slam for 2. She tags out to Lacey who comes in with a backbreaker for 2. She hits a short arm clothesline and tags Danger in. She whips Haze into the bottom rope and stomps the back of her head for 2. She blocks a monkey flip and sets Haze on the top rope. Haze hits a dropkick off the top and both women are down. Lacey and Rogers tag in. Rogers cleans house and hits a clothesline for 2. Haze sunset flips both Lacey and Rogers. Rogers hits Haze with a superkick as Danger pulls Haze out of the ring. Haze hits Rogers with a TKO for 2. Something big happens on the outside between Danger and Haze but the camera misses it. Danger blind tags Lacey out and dumps her from the ring. She hits an STO on Rogers for the win. Lame finish aside, this was slightly better than the women’s four-way from Dayton.
Rating: *3/4

JZ says: This is Cindy Rogers’ first match in ROH, and it would turn out to be Allison Danger’s last. It’s not a bad idea to put a women’s match on right after intermission, since the crowd is usually not nice to post-intermission matches, but they will always pop for boobs, and it gives the wrestlers a chance to work in front of a big crowd. Lacey and Daizee Haze really can work, Danger isn’t horrible, and Rogers seems to know her way around, so this match is just fine. Danger gets the win at 8:47. It was a little goofy at the end there, but the effort was there and the commentators pretty much treated it like a real match, so that’s solid enough.
Rating: **

MATCH #7: ROH Tag Team Title Match – Colt Cabana & Nigel McGuinness vs. ROH Tag Team Champions Dan Maff & BJ Whitmer

BG says: This would end up being Dan Maff’s last match in ROH. Maff and Whitmer dump Cabana and attack Nigel from behind before the bell. Nigel gets a roll up for 2. Whitmer grabs an ankle lock but Nigel slips out. He gets another roll up for 2. Cabana tags in with a fist drop. He goes after the arm and stomps the elbow. Whitmer goes to the eyes and tags to Maff. Cabana goes after his arm but gets dropped. Whitmer tags in as Bower notes that Corino isn’t in the building yet, even though he doesn’t live far from it. Maff tags in and whips Cabana into the corner. Nigel blocks for him and tags in. He hits a pair of shoulder blocks but gets knocked down. They trade forearms and Nigel hits a superkick for 2. Cabana and Whitmer come in and the challengers take over. Cabana hits a hurricanrana on Whitmer for 2. Maff comes in and attacks Cabana from behind. Whitmer goes after the neck with a dropkick and tags Maff in. He rips at Cabana’s ears and cuts off the tag. Maff distracts the ref long enough for him to miss Nigel making a tag. Whitmer tags in illegally and gets a neckbreaker for 2. Maff tags in and rakes the back. Whitmer tags in and hits a snap suplex. He hits a northern lights suplex for 2. Maff tags in and hits a bodyslam and an elbow drop. Whitmer tags in as Cabana finally gets to his own corner but Nigel is on the floor dealing with Maff. Maff tags in and chokes Cabana out on the ropes. Whitmer tags in and they try a double clothesline. Cabana hits an Asai moonsault onto both of them and tags to Nigel. He cleans house and kills Maff with a clothesline for 2. He hits a hammerlock DDT for 2. Whitmer tags in and hits a brainbuster for 2. Cabana tags in and hits a missile dropkick for 2. Maff trips Cabana up but he still reverses an exploder to a roll up for 2. That was ugly. Nigel and Maff fight on the floor as Whitmer pins Cabana in the ring after the wrist-clutch exploder. It felt more like they were imitating a good tag team match rather than actually having one.
Rating: **

JZ says: This is Cabana’s second match of the night, Cabana & Nigel’s second match as a tag team, and Maff & Whitmer’s second title defense since winning the titles. How about that for symmetry, or something. Apparently this was originally going to be the main event, but Corino’s absence has pushed the #1 Contenders match up to that spot instead. I think that’s a wise move. Cabana gets hosed though, since he thought he was going to get more time to recuperate between his matches. The work here all around is pretty sloppy and uninspired. Whitmer pins Cabana at 13:58 after the wrist-clutch exploder. That wasn’t even as good as their match in Chicago, which wasn’t that great to begin with. The tag titles continue to be defended in boring, boring matches.
Rating: **

MATCH #8: Rocky Romero vs. James Gibson

BG says: Since I’ve already seen the rematch from Manhattan Mayhem, this has me pretty excited. Gibson grabs a leg to start but Romero gets to the ropes. They lock up and try to throw one another to the mat but end up in the corner. Gibson gets a single leg takedown and then dominates on the mat. Romero gets up and slaps him. Gibson returns the favor. Romero hits a flying mare sending Gibson to the floor. Back in the ring Gibson gets a front facelock and a slam. He puts on a crossface on the mat but Romero makes the ropes. Gibson grabs a knucklelock and then stomps Romero’s hands. Romero attacks with side kicks and they lock up intensely. Gibson hits a strong shoulder block sending Romero to the floor. Back in the ring Romero grabs a headlock. Gibson powers out and shoulder blocks Romero out of the ring again. He follows him out with a suicide dive. Back in the ring Gibson hits a pair of bodyslams for 1. Romero blocks a blind charge with a boot and kicks the back. We are told that Corino has still not arrived, and his match is up next. Romero hits a rope walk hurricanrana and kicks the head. They both look for abdominal stretches and Romero finds it. Gibson hits a gutbuster to escape. Romero puts on an octopus stretch and rolls him up for 2. He hits a series of side kicks to the chest and puts on a surfboard stretch. Gibson reverses it and they collide on crossbody attempts. They trade forearms and Gibson gets the first knockdown. Romero blocks another with a boot to the arm and a knee lift but Gibson comes back with a clothesline. Gibson goes for the tiger driver but Romero blocks. Romero hits a hurricanrana and puts on the triangle choke. Gibson powerbombs out. He hits a running suplex for 2. They wind up on the top rope where Romero hits a sunset flip powerbomb for 2. He goes for a springboard dropkick but Gibson dodges it and gets La Magistral for 2. He goes for a backslide but Romero reverses to a cross arm breaker. Gibson makes the ropes. Gibson hits a DDT and puts on the Trailer Hitch but Romero gets to the ropes. He goes for a dragon suplex but Romero reverses to a hammerlock. Gibson turns it over into an awesome pin attempt for 2. Romero hits a knee to the face but Gibson reverses a suplex to a neckbreaker. He puts on the Trailer Hitch and Romero taps out. The rematch would go on to be completely different, largely because of Romero changing his style up under the Black Tiger mask. They would go on to prove that they could do better, but this is still very good.
Rating: ***3/4

The Scoopster comes out and tells Gibson that he will receive a title shot on 4/16/05. Gibson says he’s going to win the title for himself, his family and all his fans. Evans and Strong attack him, presumably to send a message from Austin Aries. Spanky makes the save, avenging the beat-down he took earlier. He may not get a title shot due to Gibson’s win but he hopes Gibson wins the title allows him to be the first challenger. Spanky may not be gold on the microphone, but he can make something as small as goofing on how to address Gibson funny.

JZ says: I’ve always preferred Romero to Ricky Reyes as far as Pitbulls go, so I’m glad he’s getting a shot as a singles star. Gibson is going to get a shot at Austin Aries if he can win this match tonight. Jimmy Bower says that Spanky is watching the match in the back on the monitors. I’m sure he is. Spanky would be watching because if Gibson loses the title match goes to Spanky. I think I mentioned it earlier, but that just seems weird to me. Here’s a novel idea – have Gibson and Spanky wrestle in a #1 Contenders match. This match is cruising along nicely though, with some really good mat wrestling. Steve Corino has still not arrived yet for the main event. Damn, Romero kicks really, really hard. The commentators keep harping on the “Back to Basics” premise and it’s really annoying. Gibson gets the win with the front guillotine choke out of nowhere at 16:54. That was pretty good, but not as good as they would do later.
Rating: ***1/2

Spanky and Gibson have this really bizarre friendship going. It kind of reminds me of Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar in the summer of 2003. That’s not really a compliment either.

Backstage

BG says: Backstage Lacey says she is okay with the fact that the Special K name is dead. She renames her group Lacey’s Angels. You know, like Charlie’s Angels.

JZ says: Lacey wants to create a new merchandising franchise in ROH – “Lacey’s Angels.” Well it’s a step up from Special K.

MATCH #9: CM Punk & Steve Corino Spanky vs. Samoa Joe & Jay Lethal

BG says: CM Punk comes out and grabs the microphone. Steve Corino still hasn’t arrived and Colt Cabana has already wrestled twice and is in no condition to go a third time. He’s going up against the greatest ROH champion ever and the Pure champion and needs a tag partner. Spanky answers the call and says that even though we’re probably sick seeing him tonight, he’s in ROH to get titles. And since the winner of this match gets a tag title shot, he’ll be Punk’s partner.

Punk and Lethal start things off. Punk gets a fireman’s carry but Lethal grabs a headlock. Punk grabs his own and takes Lethal to the mat. Lethal comes up with a crevat but Punk reverses back to the headlock. He blocks a leapfrog and an enziguiri and gets a roll up for 1. Lethal turns it over for 1. They block each others signature moves and Spanky tags in. They work the mat where Spanky works the leg. The commentators bury Corino for not showing up. Spanky gets a hurricanrana and a forearm. Joe tags in, pleasing the crowd. Spanky tries to dodge Joe’s attacks but catches a glancing kick. He stomps Joe’s toes but a shoulder block gets him nowhere. Joe blocks a shoulder block and knocks Spanky down. Punk tags in but the crowd is solidly behind Joe. Punk goes for a headlock but Joe quickly blocks. Awesome. Joe reverses another and slaps him. Punk goes for the headlock again and again but Joe won’t let it happen. Joe hits the Honda slaps but misses a big one and Punk finally gets him down with the headlock. Spanky makes the blind tag and they hit a double shoulder block. They turn their backs on him and he shoulder blocks both of them down. Lethal tags in and grabs a knucklelock. He pins Spanky for a pair of 2 counts. Spanky hits a dropkick but falls victim to a nasty backbreaker. It gets 2 for Lethal. He hits a snap suplex for 2. Joe tags in hits a Tree of Woe face wash with Lethal’s help for 1 when Punk saves. He hits a backbreaker and puts on a Boston crab. Spanky makes the ropes. Lethal tags in and goes to work on the back. He hits a scary back suplex for 2. There’s nothing Greco-Roman about that one Mr. Nulty. He hits a backbreaker for 2. Joe tags in and Lethal knocks Punk off the apron. Joe hits a stalling vertical suplex for 2. He drops Spanky on his face and hits a senton for 2. Lethal tags in and puts on a Cobra Clutch across his leg. Punk makes the save. Spanky hits a leg lariat sending Lethal to the outside into Punk’s arms. Punk tosses him on the guardrail and rolls him back in the ring. Spanky tags out and Punk stomps away. He hits a knee to the ribs for 2. He hangs Lethal on the top rope and stands on his chest. He puts on a leglock and slugs away at Lethal’s ribs. Joe breaks it up. Spanky comes in and hits a pair of knee drops on the ribs. He tags in and spears Lethal in the corner. He stomps at the chest and blocks the tag. He tosses Lethal chest first into his corner and tags out. Punk hits a back breaker and a rib breaker for 2. He headbutts the ribs until Lethal reverses one with a sunset flip for 2. Punk does it again and puts on an abdominal stretch. Spanky pulls his arm for added leverage while the ref is distracted with Joe. Lethal hiptosses out but Punk blocks the tag. Spanky tags in and hits an elbow drop. He goes for Sliced Bread #2 but Lethal blocks. He hits a back elbow on Spanky and a leg lariat on Punk and makes the tag.

Joe cleans house with a belly to belly suplex on Punk. He hits a powerslam on Spanky for 2 and puts on the cross arm breaker. Punk breaks it up so Lethal takes him out of the ring. Joe hits a powerbomb for 2 and puts on the STF off the kickout. He pulls Spanky from the ropes and puts it back on. Spanky bites the hand to escape. A lot of people are biting to escape lately. That’s not very honorable. Lethal tags in and hits a bodyslam. He hits the diving headbutt for 2. BOO on the lack of selling. Spanky hits a neckbreaker and a tornado DDT off Joe’s chest. Punk tags in and hits the mule kick. They double team Lethal with an enziguiri/flatliner combo for 2. Punk goes for Welcome to Chicago but Lethal blocks. Spanky comes in and they pound him down. He kicks Spanky to the floor. Punk reverses the dragon suplex to a German suplex for 2 when Joe saves. Joe and Punk trade forearms. Joe hits the suicide dive on Spanky as Punk catches Lethal coming off the top rope with a dropkick. He goes for the Pepsi Plunge but gets distracted when none other than Stevie Richards gets on the apron. Stevie gets in the ring and hits Punk with a Stevie Kick. Lethal hits him with the dragon suplex for the win shortly after. He and Joe get a tag title shot at the next show. I don’t get why a crowd for a work rate based promotion went so crazy for a guy partly responsible for the worst WWE match of 2004. Anyway, the match was really cool and overcame last minute changes and a mostly dead crowd. However, Lethal’s lack of selling after taking most of the punishment in the match was really annoying.
Rating: ***3/4

JZ says: Punk needs a partner, any partner. Spanky answers the call. These two had a pretty good match back in Elizabeth on 02.19.05. This is the first time Punk and Joe have been on opposite sides of the ring since 12.04.04, when Joe finally defeated CM Punk in a no-time-limit ROH World Title match. Jay Lethal’s Pure Title reign here is just a week old. The commentators are taking great joy in knocking Steve Corino, calling him unprofessional and what not. Joe gets tagged in about five minutes in, and it becomes clear that Lethal was just keeping the crowd warm for him. The winners of this match will face Maff & Whitmer at the next show in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Meanwhile, Spanky will take on Bryan Danielson in the first-round match. It really is too bad Corino no-showed, because it looked like he and Punk were going to feud, and that would have been good fun. Although knowing what I know now I’m not sure when there would have been time for it. I’d really like to see Joe and Spanky have a one-one-one match, I bet it’d be very good. The action in this one is fast and furious, with lots of offense for both sides. Stevie Richards is out and commentator Jimmy Bower is all “he doesn’t work here.” I love that the ROH fans cheer for a guy who arguably has never had a good one-on-one match in his entire career. Stevie sucks, did you get the memo? Anyway, he helps Joe and Lethal pick up the victory when Lethal pins Punk at 25:57 to become the #1 Contenders to the tag team titles. I really wanted to give this four stars, but with Lethal’s shitty selling and the lame finish (Richards), I just can’t do it. Joe has gotten the better of Punk once again.
Rating: ***3/4

Aftermath

BG says: Colt Cabana is back to finish his GTGM interview with Dunn and Marcos, despite his horribly sore neck. Dunn and Marcos barely get a sentence out before Nigel interrupts. He’s upset that Cabana diluted his focus with the Delirious match and GTGM, because he thought he had a tag team partner that was all about the tag team titles. That’s pretty crappy on Nigel’s part considering it was him who dropped the ball in their match for the most part. Cabana gets upset and cuts the show short.

Since Special K died on this show we get a video package of the rise and fall of the group. I have to say I’ve seen better music video packages from wrestling fans on the Internet. RIP Special K, 2002-2005.

A video of Dan Maff v. Samoa Joe from Wrestlerave ’03 is played under the announcement that Maff is done with the wrestling business and the tag team titles are vacant. New champions will be crowned at the next show. Anyone who cares why Dan Maff had to leave the company probably knows why it happened.

JZ says: There’s nothing more uncomfortable than an angry British man. Why can’t Nigel and Cabana just get along?

The Rise and Fall of Special K includes a lot of Joey Matthews, better known now as Joey Mercury in the WWE. This gimmick certainly had its time and place, but I’m glad everyone has finally moved on.

Dan Maff was in a car accident that will force him to retire from the wrestling business. Jimmy Bower says nice things about him and notes that the Tag Team Titles are vacant.

MVP

BG says: Rocky Romero, for proving without a doubt that he can really go places without Ricky Reyes weighing him down.

JZ says: Spanky, for being all over the show and I never got tired of him.
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The 411: BG says: Back to Basics is a fitting title for the show. This was exactly like a 2002 ROH show, with one solid undercard match and a good pair of main event matches. I'd recommend it mildly for most and more strongly if you want to see the end of Special K or Dan Maff in ROH. Oh, and if you want to see Richards' nonsensical, one-time-only appearance in ROH then this is for you. JZ says: There are three matches out of 9 that are very good, so that’s enough for a recommendation. Plus as Brad said, it is the last show for both Special K and Dan Maff, so that gives it a historical value that not all shows have.

Final Score:  7.5   [ Good ]