Views from the Hawke’s Nest: Kevin Steen – Hell Rising – Disc 1

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The Interview

Hell Rising was a rather infamous release for Ring of Honor because of the two-and-a-half hour interview with Kevin Steen (conducted by an unseen Shane Hagadorn, long regarded as one of the unsung backstage heroes of the company). The interview covers just about every important topic that happened on and off screen from Final Battle 2010 until Supercard of Honor 2013. This was a roller coaster of a time period for Ring of Honor, and Steen’s story is the perfect vehicle to convey the ups and downs of the company. Steen tells his story with his trademarked unforgiving honesty and charm that have helped to endear him to so many during the last decade. Jim Cornette obviously becomes the main target of his scrutiny, but Steen always makes an effort put over his Corny’s (on-screen) abilities whenever possible. This is easily one of the most compelling “shoot interviews” that I have ever seen, and it is a treasure for fans of Ring of Honor. This gets two big thumbs up.

 

Final Battle
New York City, New York
New York

Kevin Steen vs. Steve Corino

Steen got his spot in ROH back if he won. Jim Cornette was forced to watch from ringside. Jimmy Jacobs was the referee.

Ring of Honor desperately missed Kevin Steen in 2011, and it became obvious that he would win back his job at Final Battle when the match was announced. As a result, there was not much drama here. On top of that, Corino was kind of/sort of the babyface here…fighting for Jim Cornette’s cause…against Kevin Steen’s return. That is just not the recipe for a successful dynamic. As a result, this was just a heatless brawl that felt perfunctory in every sense of the word. I remember enjoying this a good bit at the time, and the effort was there without question. It just does not mean much now. It would have benefited from being worked with a greater sense of urgency and wildness. (**1/2)

Steen attacked Jacobs after the match. El Generico showed up in time to save Cornette, but Steen ended up putting him a table with a package piledriver. It led to the following adorable moment.

 

Anniversary Show
New York City, New York
March 4, 2012

Kevin Steen vs. Jimmy Jacobs (w/ Steve Corino) [No Disqualification]

Before the match started, Corino tried to cancel it. Jacobs revealed some Age of the Fall gear and attacked Steen from behind to start the match though.

Much like the Corino match, the dynamic for this was just all wrong. Jacobs was working like a babyface, and Steen controlled the match like a heel. Of course, Steen was the biggest babyface in the company because he had been voicing the complaints about ROH that every fan had been feeling since the SBG takeover. As a result, this just felt like a somewhat awkward brawl instead of a match between two men who hated each other. The finish was nice at least, as Jacobs got really scared by how much he enjoyed using a spike on Steen. Steen took advantage of the distraction and stabbed Jacobs in the crotch with the spike. An F-Cinq on a few chairs finished Jacobs. I expected more from this one, but they really did not stand a chance. (**1/2)

 

Watch some Steen for free!

Kevin Steen vs. Alex Shelley

Kevin Steen vs. Kyle O’Reilly

KENTA, Kevin Steen, & El Generico vs. Chris Hero & The American Wolves

Kevin Steen vs. Chris Hero

Kevin Steen vs. Homicide [ROH World Championship Match]

Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. The Young Bucks

Kevin Steen vs. PAC vs. Takeshi Morishima vs. Ashley Reed

Kevin Steen vs. Player Uno

Kevin Steen in a Royal Rumble match with Johnny Gargano, Tommy Dreamer, & many others.

Kevin Steen vs. Brodie Lee vs. Slyck Wagner Brown vs. Jay Freddie

Kevin Steen vs. Sami Callihan III

9.0

The final score: review Amazing

The 411

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