Rolling Germans Review: Ring Of Honor 04.27.02

RING OF HONOR 04/27/2002

Before I get down to the review, I wanted to get something off my chest. After the 3/30 ROH review, I got a TON of email asking me where they could get the show. Now I was good enough to plug the hell out of RF Video in that review and via email despite the fact I didn’t get the show from them. Hell I even went so far as to say (and I quote) “Pay whatever the fuck RF wants for it because it’s worth every single cent.” Now obviously I don’t know 100% for sure if people plunked down the dough for 3/30 from RF but I got more than enough emails from people saying “I bought the tape from RF after reading your review” to make me realize my word on the subject was worth something. I sent a letter to RF Video with a proposition. I’d review their shows and plug their site exclusively in return for a discount on their tapes. Now most folks would ask for a free tape but hey, my only beef with them was because of their prices and I don’t mind supporting the product if it’s economically feasible (remember I have to deal with Canada – US conversion rates). So I sent the proposition knowing full well that they already got some extra business from the people that paid for their 3/30 show. Do you know what I got for a reply? Nothing. FUCKING NOTHING! Not a “sure we’d love to work with you.” Not a “I’m sorry but we wouldn’t be interested.” Hell I didn’t even get a “fuck off.” So you know what I say to RF Video. FUCK YOU; YOU COCK JOCKEY SONS OF BITCHES! YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE THE SIMPLE COURTESY OF RETURNING AN EMAIL?! FUCK YOU RIGHT UP YOUR ASS! So now I’m going to do something I never thought I would do because of a past disagreement with this dealer. I’m going to plug the hell out of MARK OUT VIDEO. They get ROH masters AND they’re the cheapest out of any dealer for ROH on the net. Every one of you that was wondering where to get ROH and other great independents, GET IT FROM MARK OUT VIDEO! FUCK RF OVER BECAUSE THOSE FUCKERS DESERVE IT! OVERPRICED COCKSUCKERS! To those of you that already bought from RF on 3/30, while I apologize for sending you to RF directly and thus having to pay a large amount of money. However, it’s like I said, you got a master of the show and 3/30 was well worth every cent. I stand by that opinion 100% and if conversion wasn’t so shitty I’d have bought it from them as well. But mark my words and remember from this point forward, NEVER GO BACK TO RF FOR RING OF HONOR OR ANY OTHER TAPE BECAUSE IT’S ALWAYS CHEAPER SOMEWHERE ELSE!

Aaaaahhh… much better. I’ve been wanting to vent that one for a while. Props to my boy Scott for hooking up the phrase “Cock Jockey” as that’s a true piece of brilliance. Speaking of brilliance, if you have the movie in your area, please check out “Bowling For Columbine.” I got a chance to see it last night and it’s one of the best movies I’ve seen this year. It scares the hell out of me to know how easy it is to get firearms in the US (more so than I first realized) to the point where you can even get a gun for opening up a bank account (do I even need to point out how fucked up it is for a bank to literally hand you a gun on the premises?) but hey… I’m just a non violent Canadian right?

I’ve been receiving a lot of emails that go a little something like this. “What does (fill in the name of the move here) look like? I’m new to (fill in either Puro or US indies here) and could use some help.” Now as any of you that have emailed me know, I always try to hook up descriptions as best I can. Also, in most cases, I describe the move in question the first time I see it. So odds are if you’ve read 3/30 ROH but not 2/17 ROH, then you wouldn’t know some move names. However, all these emails gave me an idea. How would you all feel about a new section of Rolling Germans that acted sort of like a database for trademark moves? As new moves come up, I’d edit the list and throw in a description of the new move. That way whenever you have a problem identifying a move, you can just look it up and move on. Now it should be noted that I’m still getting used to US Indies myself so I could use everyone’s help. What I’d like is for you to drop me an email with the trademark moves of your favourite US Indy wrestlers with a relatively simple description. That way I could add your knowledge to mine and create a suitable foundation for the list. This includes trademark tag moves as well. Obviously there are going to be a lot of duplicate emails but I’m willing to do it so everyone can benefit from other readers knowledge and enjoy the reviews all the more.

This review is brought to you by Ruffles Sour Cream & Bacon Chips. I can’t believe every person on the planet decides to buy Lays Sour Cream & Onion chips from our store as soon as the sale starts and I’m thus kicked in the balls yet again. Man, I NEVER GET SOUR CREAM & ONION! NEVER! FUCKERS!

The Christopher Street Connection come out to warm up the crowd outside the building and manage to make me puke up my chips by making out in a disgusting close up. GOD, WHY DO I NEED THIS SHIT ON MY TV?! Well eventually our saviours Da Hit Squad hit the scene and run CSC off. They do their usual yelling and swearing and we’re all set for another night of kick ass action.

DA HIT SQUAD vs THE CHRISTOPHER STREET CONNECTION (w/Alison Danger) vs PRINCE NANA/ELAX (w/Simply Luscious) (Triple Threat Match)

Why does Nana keep getting stuck with waste of time jobber partners? First he’s got Towel Boy and now it’s Elax. CSC and Nana/Elax attack right off the bat and your heroes are in trouble. Mace Mendoza does a DISGUSTING version of The Bronco Buster basically grinding his crotch into Monsta Mack’s face. OOOHHH… IT’S FUCKING ON NOW! Danger the supreme lesbo hottie tries to lure Luscious to the side of hot female tongue on your clit, which causes issues between the CSC and Nana. If you don’t know how it all turns out by now then you haven’t been watching wrestling enough. OF COURSE DHS COME BACK! Mack hits a Stacker German Suplex on Elax and Mendoza. DHS hit a DOUBLE GORE GORE GORE! Everyone takes a well deserved ass kicking and Luscious ends up on the wrong end of THE FUCKING BURNING HAMMER! Now while I enjoy seeing DHS destroy folks, they’d be much more effective destroying people in REAL MATCHES! This sort of falls into a TNA issue where you’re putting on squashes on a show people are paying for. I buy a video for wrestling, not for an opening squash. Ah well… hopefully they get it right in the next month. ј*

JAY BRISCOE (w/Mark Briscoe) vs TONY MAMALUKE

They had a nice video package showing Briscoe lose his first two matches and how he needs this win BADLY! I’ve never been a big fan of Mamaluke to be honest. Every time I see him wrestle he’s either really sloppy or he’s managed to hurt himself. We get some nice chain wrestling leading to some flip flop. Jay goes on the attack with a Flying Heel Kick. Snap Suplex gets 2 and Ѕ. Briscoe looks for a Backdrop Suplex but Mamaluke slips out and slaps on a Wakigatame, forcing Briscoe to the ropes. Mamaluke gets pretty fancy with a released Hammerlock Suplex and segues that into a Juji Gatame but Briscoe again makes the ropes. Mamaluke looks for a Superplex but that’s reversed into a SUPER SPLIT LEGGED FACEJAM! NICE! Flying Schoolboy gets 2 and Ѕ. Mamaluke comes back with a Victory Roll for 2 and ѕ. He looks for a Backslide but Briscoe flips out right into the FUCKING JAY DRILLER for the victory. Well I’ll be damned, Mamaluke managed to come away without a sprain, break or bloody nose. Good work from both guys and the ever faithful ROH crowd did their part. Briscoe is really coming along as a rock solid wrestler and he’s becoming one of those guys whose matches I look forward to. **

DIVINE STORM (w/Brian XL) vs CHRISTIAN YORK/JOEY MATTHEWS

Well it’s about time Divine Storm got to work a straight tag match. I was beginning to think they were only going to work against Mikey Whipwreck students for the rest of their lives. York & Matthews are coming along nicely. To say I haven’t been impressed with them over the last few years would be an engrossing understatement but I’ve seen their work over the last year and it’s improved greatly. Storm and Matthews bring the chain wrestling to start. York gets in a blind tag and hits a Missile Dropkick for 2 and Ѕ. Storm comes back with a headscissors and a Rana before a tag. Divine looks for a flip out of the corner but York SMOKES HIM with a 270 Powerbomb and turns that into a Pendulum Stretch (NICE!). Storm distracts York and Divine capitalizes with a Spinebuster. Storm tags and they hit a sweet looking Dropkick – STO combo for 2 and Ѕ. More double teaming as Divine Storm looks for a Pommel Lariat but Storm work the crowd too long and York uses Divine as the pommel to lariat Storm. York looks for a German Suplex but Divine throws him out of the ring. The ref gets distracted and XL comes out of nowhere with a STANDING MOONSAULT HILO! HOLY SHIT! He basically hit a Moonsault from the inside of the ring to the floor with barely a running start and no rope help. AMAZING! Back in the ring and York looks for a Rana but that’s reversed into a Sit Out Powerbomb for 2 and ѕ. York looks for a Top Rope Rana but Divine reverses into a SUPER INVERTED ATOMIC DROP! Double tag and Matthews cleans house, sending Divine outside and Y&M hit THE FULL EFFECT (Double Torture Rack turned into a Facebuster). York and Divine end up outside leaving Storm and Matthews in the ring as Storm comes back with a few elbow shots and looks for The Storm Cradle Driver (Half Nelson folding forward into a cradle) but Matthews has none of it and looks for a Fisherman’s Buster but that’s blocked and Storm pulls out a ROLLING REVERSE INDIAN DEATHLOCK! WOW! With York tied up there’s no one to save Matthews and he taps out. INSANE SUBMISSION! I LOVE IT! This was rock solid stuff and both teams worked very well. I’m a sucker for innovative double teaming and this had more than it’s fair share. No sloppy = me happy. **1/2

XAVIER vs JAMES MARITATO vs SCOTT ANDREWS (Triple Threat Match)

Pretty simple story going into this one. Xavier went over Andrews and Maritato respectively over the last two shows and they want revenge. We get a few 3 way comedy spots to start. Andrews goes on the attack with a Tilt A Whirl Facebuster on Xavier for 2 and Ѕ. We get the first WOW spot as Xavier looks for a Hangman’s Neckbreaker on Andrews but Maritato picks up Xavier’s leg and literally backflips him right into a DDT for 2 and Ѕ. How in the blue hell did they ever come up with something like that? Irish whip but Maritato dropkicks Xavier and looks for a Tomikaze only to have Xavier elevate him and look for a Blockbuster off the top but Andrews gets under Xavier (are you getting all this?) and we end up with a POWERBOMB – SUPER BLOCKBUSTER! Triple KO leads to Maritato looking for a Slingshot Suplex but Andrews grabs Xavier on the rebound and hits THE FORCE OF NATURE but Maritato saves. Maritato looks for a Sunset Flip but Andrews pulls him up by the hands right into a Reverse DDT for 2 and ѕ. Xavier heads up but Andrews cuts him off only to have Maritato come from behind on Andrews with a SUPER RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Xavier dives at Maritato for a Flying Lariat but that’s turned into a Wakigatame for the tap out? HUH? Well that was certainly anticlimactic. This was your usual overly contrived three way mess. As per usual, we got some innovative spots and hard work from all three guys but this was hardly anything to write home about. **

AJ STYLES vs LOW KI

Not much of a story here. Um… both guys kick hard? Yeah, we’ll run with that. Nice mat work to start. We move into a Grecko Roman Knuckle Lock but that de-generates into kicks and we move back to the mat. Ki brings the kicks but Styles comes back with The Kip Rana and a Lariat for 2 and Ѕ. Styles trademark Vertical Neckbreacker gets 2 and Ѕ. Irish whip into the corner but Ki sends him to the Dentist with a Crescent Kick (God bless Gorilla Monsoon) and a Power Drive Elbow for 2 and Ѕ. Styles comes back with an Enzugiri. Brainbuster gets 2 and ѕ. Irish whip is reversed into a Koppo Kick and followed up with a Yakuza Kick (YOU FUCKING LOVE CHONO!). Styles heads out and Ki looks for an Apron Ki Krusher but that’s blocked and Styles looks to throw him into the ring but Ki rebounds into a Dragon Stranglehold (think Tarantula). Back in the ring and Ki looks for a Running Ki Krusher but that’s reversed into a SICK DDT! Styles looks for The Backdrop Facejam but Ki rolls through into a Dragon Sleeper but Styles breaks that and looks for a Reverse Cradle but that’s blocked so Styles hits a FUCKING SWEET QUEBRADA DDT! 1… 2… 2 AND 9/10! Irish whip and Styles looks for a Rana but Ki hits a SIT OUT JACKNIFE POWERBOMB! THE MAN’S ASS BOUNCED HIGH ENOUGH OFF THE MAT TO JACKNIFE HIM! WOW! Ki hulks up and FUCKING BRUTALIZES STYLES WITH KICKS! 1… 2… 2 AND 9/10! Irish whip by Ki is reversed but Ki rebounds into a TILT A WHIRL TIGER SUPLEX! WOW! 1… 2… 2.999999! Styles hits a BIG TIME lariat and that’s followed up with STYLES SPECIAL #1 (German Suplex rolled into The Backdrop Facejam). 1… 2… 2.999999! Styles looks for another suplex but that’s blocked and Ki hits a Split Legged Facebuster for 2 and 9/10. Uh oh… that was pretty lazy. I think they’re running out of gas. Ki hits THE FUCKING TIDAL CRUSH and looks for The Stardust Press but Styles gets the knees up. EEEWWW! Styles looks for The Styles Clash but Ki flips up so Styles hits a THUNDER FIRE DRIVER! HOLY FUCKING SHIT! 1… 2… 2.999999! BOOOOOO! That honestly should have been it. That move was beyond neckbreaking dangerous and if you’re not going to end it with that then don’t use it at all. Styles heads up and looks for The Spiral Tap but that MISSES! KI KRUSHER! BLOCKED! THUNDER FIRE…. NO! ROLLED THROUGH! CRADLE! 1… 2… 3! KI WINS IT! THIS FUCKING ROCKED! Both guys worked extraordinarily hard. This match DESTROYS any of their encounters in NWA TNA. The crowed was on fire through the last half and I give mega props to both guys for pulling out all sorts of sick shit coming down the stretch. The only big flaw I saw was the outright insulting idea of kicking out of that Thunder Fire Driver. Ah well… so it’s got a blemish, the rest ruled it. ****

MARCOS/DUNN vs THE CARNAGE CREW

The only person in here that I know of is Loc and that’s only because the FUCKING AWESOME Natural Born Sinners beat the high holy shit out of him at the first show (he’s the ref they bloodied up and smoked out with The Cop Killah). The rest I’ve never seen before. Marcos & Dunn have “we’re skinny enough that you KNOW we’re getting our ass kicked” written all over them. Of course The Carnage Crew just obliterate these guys, leading to a Crucifix Powerbomb – Neckbreaker combo for the victory. Whatever. Ѕ*

CHRISTOPHER DANIELS vs DONOVAN MORGAN

Daniels rants and raves about not shaking hands. Blah blah blah. Then we finally get to the story of the match as he respects Morgan’s abilities and yaps about working with him on the West Cost. I say fuck all that shit. Morgan is FUCKING PRO WRESTLING NOAH! STIFF THAT SHIT DOWN! We play the mat game for the first few minutes of the match. Morgan works the headlock like a madman and I’m forced to think of Benoit vs Tiger from BOSJ 1996. Finally Daniels stops the pain with a Backdrop Suplex. Daniels charges but he’s met with a kick in the gut and Morgan looks for a Fisherman’s Buster but that’s turned around into a Northern Lights Suplex but that’s blocked and Morgan hits a Swinging Neckbreaker. Snap Suplex gets 2 and Ѕ. We get some counter wrestling leading to a BIG TIME lariat by Daniels. The Malenko/Guerrero Sequence leads to a Morgan Leg Bar but Daniels makes the ropes. Soviet Suplex gets 2 and Ѕ. Daniels ducks a Lariat and hits a Released German Suplex. Double KO and the crowd is getting juiced. Daniels hits what I’m sadly forced to call “The Eye Of The Hurricane” because I don’t know the proper name for the move. The STO leads to THE DOUBLE JUMP MOONSAULT! 1… 2… 2 AND 9/10! Daniels looks for The Cross Arm Iconoclasm but Morgan throws him off and hits A LEAPING DDT! 1… 2… 2.999999! Morgan looks for a Schoolboy but that’s reversed into THE CRIPPLER CROSSFACE! TAAAAAA NO! Daniels charges but it’s THE LARIATOOOOOO! 1… 2… 2 AND 9/10! Daniels blocks a Sunset Flip and looks for The Last Rites but that’s blocked and turned into THE GOLDEN GATE SPIN! (Swinging Fisherman’s Buster) 1… 2… 2.999999! MORGAN IS FUCKING SHOCKED! Morgan looks for a lariat, blocked by Daniels who looks for a slam but Morgan floats over and looks for a German Suplex but it’s a standing switch, only to have Morgan elbow out but Daniels ducks and looks for a Northern Lights Suplex but that’s blocked and turned into THE GOLDEN GATE SPIN! IT’S OVER! This was really great stuff. There were a few points where it was a little more disjointed than I would have liked and both guys looked a little gassed by the end but this was still really good. ***1/2

JOHN HOPE vs PAUL LONDON vs MICHAEL SHANE vs SPANKY vs AMERICAN DRAGON (Texas Wrestling Academy Gauntlet Match)

As a general rule, I HATE Gauntlet matches. The vast majority of the time you can take a look at the participants and automatically determine the outcome(s) (at least until the finals, which is always up in the air). Aside from that, once you get passed the first match, the winner is already fatigued and makes the subsequent match look a lot worse than it should.

John Hope vs Paul London

They highlight package the match and that’s not very inspiring. No rating.

Paul London vs Michael Shane

Really fast pace to start. Shane hits a beautiful Powerbomb into a Facefam and follows up with a gorgeous Enzuigiri to the face for 2 and Ѕ. Shane charges but he’s caught in a Rana and a Backflip Dropkick for 2 and 1/2. Wow… that is SOOOOOO Hayabusa style. Northern Lights Suplex for 2 and Ѕ. Schoolboy for 2 and Ѕ. London looks for a Sunset Flip but that’s blocked and turned into a Bridged Indian Deathlock but London makes the ropes. Shane looks for a Backdrop Suplex but that’s reversed into a Double Underhook Facebuster. He looks for The Shooting Star Press but that misses and Shane hits the HBK Elbow for the victory. Well this was about as good as five minutes is going to take you. *3/4

Michael Shane vs Spanky

They chop the hell out of each other to start. Shane goes to work with a Fireman’s Carry Kneebuster and a Neckbreacker for 2 and Ѕ. We end up brawling outside and Shane is busted open with a pretty pussyfoot juice job. Back in the ring, where Spanky goes on the attack with a Snap Suplex Cradle for 2 and Ѕ. Spanky eats boot off a charge and takes a Corkscrew Bodyblock. Funny spot as Spanky tries to skin the cat but Shane just dropkicks him in the face on the way up. HA HA! Why don’t more people do that? Shane follows up with a Somersault Plancha. Back in the ring and an Oklahoma Roll gets 2 and ѕ. Shane eats boot on a charge and Spanky hits an Inverted Tornado Ace Crusher for 2 and ѕ. He looks for a Superplex but Shane throws him off but he can’t execute because of the blood loss (wow, now that’s something you never see) and just falls off the top. That’s cool on video but I’m betting the folks in the back rows didn’t have a clue what just happened considering how small a juice Shane did. Spanky looks for Sliced Bread #2 but gets thrown off and it’s SWEET SHANE MUSIC! 1… 2… 2.FOOT ON THE ROPE! Shane looks for a Full Nelson but that’s slipped out of and Spanky tries a Half Nelson Suplex but Shane slips out and looks for a lariat only to have Spanky reverse that into SLICED BREAD #2! 1… 2… 3. This was a pretty sweet match. Both guys have fought each other a few hundred times so their working well together came as no surprise. I’m a sucker for counter wrestling and this had it in spades. I’m impressed with the whole “blood loss = can’t do high risk moves” part at the end. Good heat makes it all the better. **1/2

Spanky vs American Dragon

Lots of chain wrestling on the ground to start. Dragon goes to work with a slam – elbow for 2 and Ѕ. He looks for a German Suplex but Spanky slips out and Hotshots him. Spanky looks for a Springboard but slips (see what fatigue does to the match?) and Dragon has to recover with stiff kicks. Spanky comes back and hits a Slingshot Elbowdrop followed up with a Lariat for 2 and Ѕ. He works a neck crank but Dragon comes back with one of his own and hits that SICK Neck Crank Suplex. UGH! You think after you’ve seen it once that it isn’t as gross to watch but suplexing someone BY their neck rather than ON their neck is still brutal to watch. Backdrop Suplex gets 2 and Ѕ. Dragon eats boot on a charge and Spanky looks for that Tornado Ace Crusher but no dice so he settles for a heel kick. They both a Snap Suplex… TWICE! Yeesh, Spanky is beyond tired. END THIS MATCH! Dragon isn’t looking great either but come on, fatigue is obviously killing this thing. Sliced Bread #2 is blocked and Dragon hits a HUUUUUUGE Released German Suplex for 2 and ѕ. YAKUZA KICK (LONG LIVE CHONO!) for 2 and ѕ. THUNDERFIRE POWERBOMB! 1… 2… 2 AND 9/10! Dragon looks for The Dragon Suplex but that’s blocked and Spanky hits SLICED BREAD #2! IT’S OVER! 1… 2… 2.999999! WOW! Dragon reels back and Spanky charges but takes a forearm and ROLLING ELBOOOOOOW! DRAGON SUPLEX! 1… 2… 2.FOOT ON THE ROPE! Dragon looks for a Super Backdrop Suplex but that’s blocked and Spanky hits SUPER SLICED BREAD #2! HOLY SHIT! NOW IT’S OVER! Well there’s two sides to this. When they weren’t sucking wind, this match kicked ass. However, it’s obvious that Spanky was spent half way through this match and Dragon didn’t seem on his game either. The match itself is above solid and the crowd did what they could to make it better than it was but I was expecting more from these guys. **3/4

After the match, Spanky nominated himself into the ROH Title Tournament. This of course started a chain of wrestlers coming down to the ring and running their mouth about why they’re going to win it. So as of the time of this airing, the participants were Spanky, American Dragon, Low Ki, Christopher Daniels, Scoot Andrews, Prince Nana, Xavier, and Jay Briscoe. The announcers tell the viewers that Jerry Lynn, Doug Williams, Jody Fleish and Johnny Storm (the final three coming from FWA in England) are also entered. So now they’ve got 12 participants. I forget who the other four ended up being but hey, that’s why we have the 6/22 show to review.

THE SPANISH ANNOUNCE TEAM vs RED/EDDIE GUERRERO

This was Eddie Guerrero’s final Indy booking before staying in the WWE and making Smackdown worthwhile to watch week in and week out. He’s Intercontinental Champion at this point, going over Rob Van Dam the week prior at Backlash 2002. The setup for this match is based around Red wanting to get revenge on The Maximos as they’ve each pinned him but he’s never been able to return the favour. Brian XL was thrown out of Whipwreck’s camp and Divine Storm already wrestled so Red needed a partner. Of course it’s also “Night Of Appreciation” for Eddie Guerrero and he hasn’t been on the card yet so you can do the math. Jose and Red pull out the flip flop. Eddie tags and smokes everyone out. Eddie reigns in the nutty sloppy flip flop of The Maximos and slaps on a Sasurigatame but Joel makes the ropes. Backdrop Suplex leads to the Slingshot Senton for 2 and Ѕ. Joel comes back off a dropkick and tags Jose. Double teaming ensues as The Maximos hits a double drop toe hold segued into a Tapatia – Dragon Sleeper Combo. BEAUTIFUL! Jose German Suplex for 2 and Ѕ. Northern Lights Suplex gets 2 and Ѕ. Jose heads up but gets cut off and Eddie hits a Superplex. Both teams tag and Red hits a Leaping Swinging DDT on Joel for 2 and ѕ. Red Star Press gets 2 and ѕ. Rana is reversed into a Sit Out Powerbomb and Jose tags back in. Vaulted Wheel borough Suplex gets 2 and ѕ. Joel tags and it’s more Double Teaming as Joel gets in a Spinebuster – Pedulum Swing while Jose hits a Slingshot Legdrop for 2 and ѕ. Joel comes off the top but he’s met with a Hurricane Kick. Another Double KO. “EDDIE! EDDIE! EDDIE!” Both teams tag and Eddie goes to work with a Brainbuster on Jose for 2 and ѕ. He looks for The Black Tiger Bomb but that’s reversed into a Rana for 2 and ѕ. Eddie rebounds with a BIG TIME lariat and looks for The Frog Splash but Joel cuts him off and The Maximos look for THE SPANISH FLY but Red saves the day sending Joel outside with a dropkick. Eddie looks for a Top Rope Frankensteiner but Jose holds the ropes (tap the head my friend) and looks for a Tornado DDT but Eddie manages to block and put him back on the top so Red can come flying in with a VAULTING HURACANRANA! Red makes sure Joel isn’t going anywhere with a Tope Con Hilo and Eddie goes back up for The Frog Splash but rolls through into The Senton. Jose charges but he takes a kick in the gut and it’s THE BLACK TIGER BOMB! Done and done. Guerrero kept the whole match together. It’s amazing what the SAT’s and Red were capable of when they had an experienced wrestler making sure they didn’t get screwball crazy with the flip flop and throwing the flow of the match out the window. Great work from all the guys involved and a mega hot crowd to boot made this a nice way to finish up the show. ***1/2

Brian XL runs his mouth after the match so Eddie FUCKING SMOKES HIM! FROG SPLASH THAT SHIT DOWN! Eddie has a long speech that sends him into tears and the entire ROH roster is there to applaud him and his efforts… except Spanky.

We get a backstage segment where Spanky is just jamming to his music, inciting Low Ki and American Dragon to throw hissy fits over his lack of respect for Eddie Guerrero. Daniels and Morgan show up and we end up in a pull apart brawl. Spanky runs his mouth on Daniels and Morgan and they basically threaten to beat him up so Spanky (ever the brilliant nutcase) walks away. I guess Daniels and Morgan are the top heels now?

Final Analysis: Can this fed possibly have a bad show? While this wasn’t on the level of the 3/30 show, it was more consistent from top to bottom than the previous two shows. The tag division is a royal mess, as they’re misusing the talent throwing them into meaningless squashes. The rest of the card is booked very well with logical choices for matches based on the result of the previous month. Throw away the two tag squashes and you’re left with every other match at ** – ****. That’s more than enough for me to give ROH 4/27 a High Recommendation. The ROH Title Tournament is said to be the best card of the bunch (I’ve got to see it considering 3/30 is my pick for card of the year right now) so keep an eye out for it. Remember to pick up this show from the MEGA CHEAP and HIGH QUALITY site that is MARK OUT VIDEO and put the screws to companies that overcharge you for the money you work hard for (or handed to you if you get an allowance).

Justin Baisden

Rolling Germans Wrestling