1. Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly vs. The Bravado Brothers
***
I think that 2011 might be the year for the new breed of tag teams in ROH. With ANX really stepping up their game this means there's a spot lower down the card to be had and quite frankly both teams in this match deserve it. I've been pretty keen on Cole & O'Reilly from the beginning but The Bravados just didn't seem to really click for me straight away. They seemed to have the right style but not the personality and even the night before at Champions vs. All Stars I reiterated that sentiment. Here, once again, it's another baby step forward as Harlem and Lancelot have fun with a few crowd members plus the matches finish did well for their cause. Cole & O'Reilly on the other hand are just an awesome team that seemingly have good matches with everyone. I think the only reason I can label this as being just "good" is that it didn't get much time - about 8 minutes. I can't wait to see a rematch sometime!
2. Rhett Titus vs. Caprice Coleman
**3/4
Prematch, Rhett Titus informs the crowd, who are chanting HEPATITIS, that he gave hepatitis to each one of their mothers...ZING! He gets a little bit of cheap heat which leads to a quiet moment where one fan blurts out the line "I hate you" in such a funny tone as if to say "I actually don't want to see you wrestle". Caprice Coleman enters the ring and cuts a really nice little promo about this being his home town and how he's going to make a name for himself.
Caprice Coleman got a much better opportunity to show us what he can do in this match, as opposed to the previous nights encounter against Colt Cabana, and this time I can actually form some kind of opinion. He's pretty good in the ring, has some unique abilities (such as his leap up top rope hurricarana) but most importantly of all he had a good connection with the fans who are loud for him. This show is in his hometown though so I guess time will tell if that connection carries through to all of ROHs markets but I have to say he's certainly loaded with potential. The match wasn't perfect though and there were a few moments of awkwardness between Coleman and Titus which even with ROHs shrewd video editing was still detectable. Titus at this point has just shed any opinions I had on him and he once again steps up to the plate and plays his role as the regular roster guy who gets his shit in but still makes the other guy look great very well indeed. Decent match right here.
Backstage Colt Cabana and Grizzly Redwood have a friendly chat about their upcoming match. It's the most unintense hype for match I've ever seen but was pretty tongue cheek so that's fine.
3. Colt Cabana vs. Grizzly Redwood
***1/4
Whoa the fans in North Carolina love both of these guys and we got duelling chants to start! They told a nice little story in this match about how much Colt Cabana underestimates his opponent Grizzly Redwood and there's some really fun exchanges between the two of them as each man is on fine form in terms of their in ring work as well as their comedy. Probably one of the best comedy matches I have seen in ROH for quite some time.
In the gents toilets somewhere in the building The Bravados are super happy about their victory tonight. Weird promo right there.
4. "The Prodigy" Mike Bennett vs. Cedric Alexander
*3/4
Another match showcasing a local talent only this time Alexander get's neither much time nor offense to really show us what he can do properly. What we do get to see seems solid, if not unspectacular. Bennet on the other hand is the star of this match, or at least supposed to be but what really can you do with 5 minutes?
Post match Bennett sits down on a chair at ringside as Claudio Castagnoli comes to the ring with Hagadorn and Del Ray. Christopher Daniels then makes his way to the ring and it looks like we're having a match that's not advertised on the DVD...WTF?
4.A ROH World TV Title Match: Claudio Castagnoli vs. "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels
****
This was a fantastic TV title match! Claudio worked the strong man gimmick so Daniels picked off his arm to restrain some of his offense and it worked well. I actually think that Claudio, as well as Chris Hero, seem to have better matches nowadays with their scaled back offense than they did in their earlier days. Of course Daniels continues his immense run of quality matches and even manages to show us a couple of new tricks. The crowd were super into both men and added a nice atmosphere to the proceedings. This for me is one of those hidden undercard gems that people will no doubt forget about. A very solidly worked contest with a hot finish.
5. Steve Corino vs. Andy "Right Leg" Ridge
*1/2
Before we start the match Corino cuts a promo about not wanting to fight Ridge and wanting to team with him instead. He reiterates the points he raised the night before about wanting to change and be a good person before calling out a local tag team called Alabama Attitude consisting of Mike Posey & Corey Hollis.
So instead we get a pretty short tag match that puts over Ridge & Corino and local boys do a decent job of selling and bumping around. Ultimately this match accomplished what it set out to achieve.
6. Chris Hero vs. Davey Richards
****1/4
When you put a match together like this one, it's difficult to give the fans what they want without going down the obvious route. Here that would have been two stiff wrestlers battering each other however this match had a fairly slow pace and was more an all out war of attrition. The stiff strikes did come into play here and there throughout the first two thirds of the match but once we reach the finishing stretch it's just brutal strike after brutal exchange. Such a lot of good wrestling for the first 20 minutes, nice psychology with Hero trying to KO Richards after his concussion from Final Battle and of course the many well done false finishes. It's nearly 30 minutes long and with a long portion of the match being at a slower pace than your typical ROH match this will undoubtedly be one of those matches many will either love or hate. I personally think this is the first must see ROH match of 2011!
7. Four Corner Survival Match: Homicide vs. El Generico vs. Kenny King vs. Mark Briscoe
***1/2
This was a decent four corner survival match that didn't go into that usual thing of basically being a tag match between the faces & heels involved. Each individual got plenty of opportunities to showcase what they can do with El Generico looking the best of the four. Kenny King belonged in this one despite probably not technically being on the same level as the other three. Mark Briscoe, as with his brother Jay, are just so versatile and here is no exception as Mark shows he can go singles just as well as tag. Even Homicide, despite his slightly ropey run up until this point looks good. Overall this was simply a good multi-man match.
Post match Homicide cop killas El Generico because he can!
8. ROH World Title Match: Roderick Strong vs. Jay Briscoe
****1/2
On paper this match looked like a bit of a foregone conclusion. It seems every ROH World champion passes the Jay Briscoe test at some point but I feel this maybe the best of the lot. Both Jay Briscoe and Roderick Strong do so well at making Jay look like an extremely credible challenger and that the title could genuinely change hands at any moment. This match didn't have the slow technical start I was expecting; instead it was just straight into the all out war that this match would turn out to be. Jay Briscoes blade job is just ridiculous; I'm talking nearly At Our Best here. A lot of the action in this one was hard hitting chops and forearms mixed with high impact moves that included a Jay Driller through a table (!) and a back breaker on the top rope! They carried a tremendous amount of intensity throughout the bout and when it came to the final hurdles it was just drama after drama. In short, this was an excellent must see ROH World Title match and will probably be a low end match of the year candidate.
Only The Strong survive has its ups and downs but on the whole it comes out swinging. The two title matches plus Davey vs. Hero make this an easy recommendation plus there's some interesting undercard action to boot. What's not so great on this show is at least kept short and the best matches got the most time. One criticism of this release is the lack of backstage promos. I'd have liked 1 or 2 more maybe one with hyping the main event and one hyping the Davey vs. Hero match but that's just minor quibbling.
8/10
Thursday, 15 September 2011
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
ROH Champions Vs. All Stars - Disc 2: The Best of the American Wolves
1. Wolves attack Steen and Generico at 7th Anniversary Show 3/21/09
Essentially this is how the one of the most interesting angles of 2009 began. The Wolves batter Steen with chair shots til he bleeds, Ace crusher Generico from the top rope through a table and then go to work on Steen’s’ knees. It's a nice little inclusion as it shows how the Wolves began to really get themselves over in 2009 plus half of the matches on this disc include either Steen or Generico and were part of this feud.
2. Tables Are Legal: American Wolves vs. Kevin Steen and El Generico...ROH on HDNet 4/10/09
****
This match was one of the best on ROH on HDnet at the time and still is good now. The notoriously quiet crowds from HDNet taping couldn't help but get right into the match as both teams brawled all over the ringside area and teased several table spots. This was almost reminiscent of the Steenerico/Briscoes matches from 2007 where you knew it was all about the craziness with both teams pulling out all their best offense before using the match’s gimmick. There's some really brutal table spots including Steen being pushed off the top through two tables, Generico doing a top rope splash from the top to the outside and a German suplex to Generico that has Generico literally bounce of his head as the table refuses to give! A smartly wrestled gimmick match if ever there was one.
3. American Wolves vs. Bryan Danielson and Tyler Black...Tag Title Classic 4/18/09
****1/2
Love the wolves’ attitude in the early going. They just irritate and get in the head of both their opponents and we know they're real tag team unit whereas Black and Dragon are teaming temporarily for this match. It's this little fact that is SO well built on in the early stages. Black and Dragon don't have any double team moves so they resort to taking turns body slamming Eddie Edwards and eventually this builds to a nice spot where they double slam both Wolves. It's simple but really effective and totally enthralling to watch to boot. From there both teams use nearly every trick in the book as far as classic tag team wrestling goes. We get the heels cowardly threatening to walk away, double face high spots and as much action as you could possibly want. No long rest holds in this one! As a whole the match flow is interesting as the opening section is a feeling out process and then the faces take control for a while. The second section is where the heels get some heat on the babyface but when the hot tag is made it seems they wanted to go for another section of getting heat on the other babyface yet the crowd were so into it as they thought it was the finish that it ends up being a 15-20 minute long finishing stretch. They were so hot towards the end that when Tyler Black's up top going for the Phoenix Splash they're on their feet only to see Eddie Edwards kick him off the top through a table! A really great out of nowhere spot. The ending is timed to perfect too as the Black & Danielson have both their opponents in Cattle Mutilation and Black hits Gods Last Gift as exactly the right time.
In a year when ROH significantly took a step backwards regarding the overall product this was one of the shining lights and to me is a true ROH classic.
4. American Wolves vs. Bryan Danielson and Kevin Steen...Validation 5/9/09
****1/4
A lot of brawling to start this one that leads to Steen getting back dropped through a table. This allows the Wolves to get some heat on Danielson via some nice strikes and a couple of double team moves. Of course Danielson makes the hot tag to Steen who is eventually overwhelmed by the immense teamwork of the Wolves. I loved the spot where Davey was trapped in Danielson’s triangle choke and Edwards was locked into Steen’s sharpshooter. It just kept on going though at such a terrific pace yet the crowd seem to actually become quieter as the tension heats up towards the finish. I must say that despite not being a regular team, Steen and Danielson worked well together and the spot where Danielson had Davey in fishooked in an arm submission only for Steen to swanton Davey from the top was really innovative. From there it's just 10 minutes of dramatic twists and turns.
The match as a whole is an intense, hard hitting affair that is just jam packed with action. The Wolves not only looked great but managed to look great whilst in extreme danger of losing which is an art in itself.
5. American Wolves vs. Kevin Steen and El Generico...Manhattan Mayhem III 6/13/09
****
Compared to the other matches of this disc so far this one came across a more traditionally formulaic tag match. The Wolves manage to zone in one the returning El Generico's rehabbed knee but it's that great fighting spirit of the Steenerico team that really makes this one above the average tag team encounter. The crowd are really into this one and very much behind Steen and Generico. The double sharpshooter spot is really hot as is the finish involving a cheeky ring bell shot behind the refs back. Both teams continued to bring the tremendously high level of intensity and put on a very good match that differs from others in their series. With two teams as good as these two it's no wonder they can keep the feud going by giving us the fans so many different matches.
6. American Wolves vs. KENTA and Roderick Strong...Violent Tendencies 6/26/09
****1/2
This is probably as a stiff and hard hitting tag team match as you'll ever see anywhere. You've got two extremely hard choppers in Edwards & Strong and of course two of the world’s best strikers in KENTA and Davey Richards. But it isn't all about the striking, there's actually a lot of fluid and crisply executed moves and once again, like many other matches on this disc, it's bell to bell nonstop action! The strike exchanges are really what everybody paid to see with this one and both teams quite happily oblige with several throughout the contents. I love the Wolves old school heel mentality of being great wrestlers yet still resorting to cheap tactics and cowardess to gain an advantage. The Wolves work over KENTA twice in this one before the hot tags to Strong and I have to say that the decision to do this probably helped elevate Strong in the eyes of the fans. There was also some really nice little spots such as KENTA & Strong going for GTS's only to have them reversed into a cloverleaf and achilles lock respectively. The crowd did NOT see that one coming at all! KENTA & Strong also bust out a gnarly looking doomsday busaiku knee that for sure could have been the end of the American Wolves title reign. The last couple of false finishes had everybody on their feet. Another classic ROH tag match!
7. American Wolves vs. Jay and Mark Briscoe...Final Countdown Tour: Chicago 9/19/09
****1/4
Another exceedingly solid tag match! This was another more straight forward tag team match that was worked at a fast pace and really showed that even with The Briscoes more toned down style they still put on great matches. The Wolves are very good once again but to me neither team really managed to pull out that special something to take the match to the next higher level. I'm also torn on the finish too...on the one hand it favoured the Wolves quite well character wise and possibly gave the feud some longevity but then again after such a strong match it just felt plain wrong. Several of the rematches in 2010 would surpass this match but this was still a worthy inclusion on this disc.
8. American Wolves vs. Kevin Steen and El Generico (Ladder War II)...Glory By Honor VIII 9/26/09
****1/4
For some reason the crowd were very subdued at the start which is odd for a match of this magnitude. It could be because the opening minutes feel pretty off for some reason. All four men are in a high pressure situation as it is - they can't aim to go out there and out do the original ladder war because that match was just too ridiculous and if that wasn't enough Eddie Edwards has a broken right elbow. There's a nice twist when the Wolves handcuff Steen and then they pick off Generico until the comeback and that's when the real crazy stuff beings. Spots include a front flip leg drop by Steen onto a ladder on Edwards face, a superkick/German suplex combo through a table on Generico and Kawada kicks with a chain wrapped around Davey’s foot but the crowd really come alive for the first time when Generico sunset bombs Davey off the top of the ladder through a table. A perfectly executed spot that was ridiculously dangerous and could have gone so, so wrong! From there it gets even crazier with Generico getting back dropped off the ladder through a table, Generico hitting a tope con helo through the big ladder to the outside and Steen falling from the very top of the big ladder through two tables on the outside plus more! It's a shame the beginning didn't really have the intensity I thought it should have had because the majority of the match was what I expected. Still it's no doubt an ROH classic.
What’s good about this compilation is that it really shows the versatility of the American Wolves. They can brawl, they can grapple, they can tell a good story and they have a great chemistry between them. The disc doesn't delve into any of the 2010 stuff which is a shame but completely understandable as all those shows are still available whereas all of this 2009 material is, as of writing this review, currently on sale and never to be reprinted.
Tag Title Classic, Validation and have the ace little inclusion of Nigel McGuinness on commentary.
Overall it's a fantastic compilation of American Wolves 2009 matches but I find it a shame that ROH didn't give that title to this disc as really this is just the first period of MANY great matches they've had and so therefore it's not akin to the Tyler Black best of which is pretty much a fuller and more comprehensive compilation.
9/10
Essentially this is how the one of the most interesting angles of 2009 began. The Wolves batter Steen with chair shots til he bleeds, Ace crusher Generico from the top rope through a table and then go to work on Steen’s’ knees. It's a nice little inclusion as it shows how the Wolves began to really get themselves over in 2009 plus half of the matches on this disc include either Steen or Generico and were part of this feud.
2. Tables Are Legal: American Wolves vs. Kevin Steen and El Generico...ROH on HDNet 4/10/09
****
This match was one of the best on ROH on HDnet at the time and still is good now. The notoriously quiet crowds from HDNet taping couldn't help but get right into the match as both teams brawled all over the ringside area and teased several table spots. This was almost reminiscent of the Steenerico/Briscoes matches from 2007 where you knew it was all about the craziness with both teams pulling out all their best offense before using the match’s gimmick. There's some really brutal table spots including Steen being pushed off the top through two tables, Generico doing a top rope splash from the top to the outside and a German suplex to Generico that has Generico literally bounce of his head as the table refuses to give! A smartly wrestled gimmick match if ever there was one.
3. American Wolves vs. Bryan Danielson and Tyler Black...Tag Title Classic 4/18/09
****1/2
Love the wolves’ attitude in the early going. They just irritate and get in the head of both their opponents and we know they're real tag team unit whereas Black and Dragon are teaming temporarily for this match. It's this little fact that is SO well built on in the early stages. Black and Dragon don't have any double team moves so they resort to taking turns body slamming Eddie Edwards and eventually this builds to a nice spot where they double slam both Wolves. It's simple but really effective and totally enthralling to watch to boot. From there both teams use nearly every trick in the book as far as classic tag team wrestling goes. We get the heels cowardly threatening to walk away, double face high spots and as much action as you could possibly want. No long rest holds in this one! As a whole the match flow is interesting as the opening section is a feeling out process and then the faces take control for a while. The second section is where the heels get some heat on the babyface but when the hot tag is made it seems they wanted to go for another section of getting heat on the other babyface yet the crowd were so into it as they thought it was the finish that it ends up being a 15-20 minute long finishing stretch. They were so hot towards the end that when Tyler Black's up top going for the Phoenix Splash they're on their feet only to see Eddie Edwards kick him off the top through a table! A really great out of nowhere spot. The ending is timed to perfect too as the Black & Danielson have both their opponents in Cattle Mutilation and Black hits Gods Last Gift as exactly the right time.
In a year when ROH significantly took a step backwards regarding the overall product this was one of the shining lights and to me is a true ROH classic.
4. American Wolves vs. Bryan Danielson and Kevin Steen...Validation 5/9/09
****1/4
A lot of brawling to start this one that leads to Steen getting back dropped through a table. This allows the Wolves to get some heat on Danielson via some nice strikes and a couple of double team moves. Of course Danielson makes the hot tag to Steen who is eventually overwhelmed by the immense teamwork of the Wolves. I loved the spot where Davey was trapped in Danielson’s triangle choke and Edwards was locked into Steen’s sharpshooter. It just kept on going though at such a terrific pace yet the crowd seem to actually become quieter as the tension heats up towards the finish. I must say that despite not being a regular team, Steen and Danielson worked well together and the spot where Danielson had Davey in fishooked in an arm submission only for Steen to swanton Davey from the top was really innovative. From there it's just 10 minutes of dramatic twists and turns.
The match as a whole is an intense, hard hitting affair that is just jam packed with action. The Wolves not only looked great but managed to look great whilst in extreme danger of losing which is an art in itself.
5. American Wolves vs. Kevin Steen and El Generico...Manhattan Mayhem III 6/13/09
****
Compared to the other matches of this disc so far this one came across a more traditionally formulaic tag match. The Wolves manage to zone in one the returning El Generico's rehabbed knee but it's that great fighting spirit of the Steenerico team that really makes this one above the average tag team encounter. The crowd are really into this one and very much behind Steen and Generico. The double sharpshooter spot is really hot as is the finish involving a cheeky ring bell shot behind the refs back. Both teams continued to bring the tremendously high level of intensity and put on a very good match that differs from others in their series. With two teams as good as these two it's no wonder they can keep the feud going by giving us the fans so many different matches.
6. American Wolves vs. KENTA and Roderick Strong...Violent Tendencies 6/26/09
****1/2
This is probably as a stiff and hard hitting tag team match as you'll ever see anywhere. You've got two extremely hard choppers in Edwards & Strong and of course two of the world’s best strikers in KENTA and Davey Richards. But it isn't all about the striking, there's actually a lot of fluid and crisply executed moves and once again, like many other matches on this disc, it's bell to bell nonstop action! The strike exchanges are really what everybody paid to see with this one and both teams quite happily oblige with several throughout the contents. I love the Wolves old school heel mentality of being great wrestlers yet still resorting to cheap tactics and cowardess to gain an advantage. The Wolves work over KENTA twice in this one before the hot tags to Strong and I have to say that the decision to do this probably helped elevate Strong in the eyes of the fans. There was also some really nice little spots such as KENTA & Strong going for GTS's only to have them reversed into a cloverleaf and achilles lock respectively. The crowd did NOT see that one coming at all! KENTA & Strong also bust out a gnarly looking doomsday busaiku knee that for sure could have been the end of the American Wolves title reign. The last couple of false finishes had everybody on their feet. Another classic ROH tag match!
7. American Wolves vs. Jay and Mark Briscoe...Final Countdown Tour: Chicago 9/19/09
****1/4
Another exceedingly solid tag match! This was another more straight forward tag team match that was worked at a fast pace and really showed that even with The Briscoes more toned down style they still put on great matches. The Wolves are very good once again but to me neither team really managed to pull out that special something to take the match to the next higher level. I'm also torn on the finish too...on the one hand it favoured the Wolves quite well character wise and possibly gave the feud some longevity but then again after such a strong match it just felt plain wrong. Several of the rematches in 2010 would surpass this match but this was still a worthy inclusion on this disc.
8. American Wolves vs. Kevin Steen and El Generico (Ladder War II)...Glory By Honor VIII 9/26/09
****1/4
For some reason the crowd were very subdued at the start which is odd for a match of this magnitude. It could be because the opening minutes feel pretty off for some reason. All four men are in a high pressure situation as it is - they can't aim to go out there and out do the original ladder war because that match was just too ridiculous and if that wasn't enough Eddie Edwards has a broken right elbow. There's a nice twist when the Wolves handcuff Steen and then they pick off Generico until the comeback and that's when the real crazy stuff beings. Spots include a front flip leg drop by Steen onto a ladder on Edwards face, a superkick/German suplex combo through a table on Generico and Kawada kicks with a chain wrapped around Davey’s foot but the crowd really come alive for the first time when Generico sunset bombs Davey off the top of the ladder through a table. A perfectly executed spot that was ridiculously dangerous and could have gone so, so wrong! From there it gets even crazier with Generico getting back dropped off the ladder through a table, Generico hitting a tope con helo through the big ladder to the outside and Steen falling from the very top of the big ladder through two tables on the outside plus more! It's a shame the beginning didn't really have the intensity I thought it should have had because the majority of the match was what I expected. Still it's no doubt an ROH classic.
What’s good about this compilation is that it really shows the versatility of the American Wolves. They can brawl, they can grapple, they can tell a good story and they have a great chemistry between them. The disc doesn't delve into any of the 2010 stuff which is a shame but completely understandable as all those shows are still available whereas all of this 2009 material is, as of writing this review, currently on sale and never to be reprinted.
Tag Title Classic, Validation and have the ace little inclusion of Nigel McGuinness on commentary.
Overall it's a fantastic compilation of American Wolves 2009 matches but I find it a shame that ROH didn't give that title to this disc as really this is just the first period of MANY great matches they've had and so therefore it's not akin to the Tyler Black best of which is pretty much a fuller and more comprehensive compilation.
9/10
Thursday, 28 July 2011
ROH Champions Vs. All Stars- Richmond, VA 1/14/11
We begin the very first ROH show of 2011 with a tasty little promo from Christopher Daniels. See tonight he's teaming with a load of guys he's got nothing in common with other than BEEF! This was the usual high standard promo from Daniels.
In the ring Roderick Strong is extremely chuffed with himself for pissing on Davey Richards’s chips by beating him at Final Battle and tonight the Champs will reign supreme despite the weak link - Christopher Daniels! Daniels of course comes out tells Roderick that if he has something to say to him he should say it to his face and this brings us to...
1. Non Title Champion vs. Champion- World Champion Roderick Strong vs. TV Champion Christopher Daniels
**3/4
These guys had a difficult job but ultimately do well enough by putting on a solid match without giving us or the fans in attendance any of their usual offense whatsoever and I think they deserve a pat on the back for wrestling smart. After 7 minutes or so of action the Kings are out to break it all up and we get a nice out of nowhere finish just to really add some intrigue to the main event which of course was the whole point of this little match/segment whatever you wanna call it.
2. Grizzly Redwood and Andy "Right Leg" Ridge vs. The Bravado Brothers
**1/2
Not a bad tag match at all, just fairly unremarkable. The Bravados look better and better every time I see them, although still a little devoid of characteristics in regards to their mannerisms, but so do Grizzly and Ridge albeit on more of an individual basis as opposed to being a team. I have to question the decision of who went over though...
Backstage Mike Bennett informs us of the whereabouts of Brutal Bob Evans and then has a few words for Adam Cole. Decent enough promo without all the shouting and screaming a lot of heels feel the need to do in front of the camera to get over.
3. Adam Cole vs. "The Prodigy" Mike Bennett
***
Great little match between these two that really showcased each competitor in their own way. Cole has such a lot of potential and here you can see he just gets "it". A lot of times you see young guys who can do crazy head drops or high spots but their basics are just horrific to watch. Coles completely the opposite, he's almost like another coming of Spanky in the sense that he's got a great all round style but knows where to pick his spots. As for Bennett, well his style is certainly tailor made for WWE but it works so well at riling the crowd up. There's some nice action from both guys and ultimately after going out and putting on a good undercard match the winner's almost inconsequential.
Outcome the Kings of Wrestling! They complain that since their team is now less than 100% that Davey Richards should wrestle El Generico so even things up for the main event. Clever! Davey gets on the stick and tells the crowd that it's not gunna happen so the Kings attack them both anyway which brings out The Briscoes to make the save! ROH is doing a great job of hyping this shows main event so far.
4. Homicide vs. Rhett Titus
**
If you think the rating I gave this is way too low then you probably don't wanna know what I had in mind before the ending sequence! Somehow between the skills of both men and having some decent time to play with this match manages to just never kick into a higher gear and is just disjointed at times. Stuff happens and then it ends but at least they had some goals to achieve and I guess they did successfully to a degree. Titus gets the rub whilst Homicide also looks strong going into his title match at the 9th Anniversary show. The hard way cut from the head butt is pretty sick and gave the finish an edge it was definitely lacking.
Backstage Rhett Titus is on his arse thanks to Homicides head butt and he cuts a good little promo about unleashing his killer instinct. Titus continues to improve and grow right before our eyes.
5. Steve Corino vs. Kaleb Conley
**3/4
Before the match Steve Corino cuts a really great promo about how he's trying to change. How Kevin Steen’s departure from ROH was his own fault and that it's going to take time but he's going to prove to everyone that he's a better person and of course he drops the immortal line "My name is Steve Corino and I'm an evil person - but I'm going to change that". This angle is interesting and of course Corino's promo skills will only make this story more and more compelling.
As for the match, well it really served its purpose with Steve Corino totally playing by the book only to keep finding that it leads to his undoing. It's a nicely told little story and not only does this launch the Steve Corino recovery angle but I think Kaleb Conley looked pretty impressive too. This one killed two birds with one stone and did it in an entertaining manor.
Backstage Caprice Coleman cuts a little promo about his upcoming match against Colt Cabana. This kid has definitely got his own unique style but is still a little rough around the edges. OK promo.
6. Colt Cabana vs. Caprice Coleman
**1/4
What can I say without being too harsh...this is just another comedy Colt Cabana match. It is entertaining and of course Cabana does a great job but I feel Coleman didn't get much chance to really show everyone what he can do. There is one very funny spot where Cabana goes to the crowd and asks a group of kids for some tactical advice and I can't help but think that if ROH ever went to a bigger stage Cabana would definitely be a draw for the younger audience.
7. Kenny King vs. Kyle O'Reilly
***1/2
MOTN so far and a good back and forth encounter that really helped showcase both men’s talents and skills. O'Reilly looked every bit on the same level as Kenny King and that's saying something bearing in mind Kings been in ROH on and off since 2007. I loved the fact that both guys used their feet and kicks against each other and because that was one of their big assets they each knew how to counteract. It's not too ridiculous to say that this match could be main eventing an ROH in the future at some point!
8. Champions Vs. All Stars: World Champion Roderick Strong, TV Champion Christopher Daniels, and World Tag Team Champions The Kings of Wrestling vs. Davey Richards, El Generico, and The Briscoe Brothers
****
Very long feeling out process that is pretty interesting to watch as one by one each member of each team gets a turn in the ring for a minute or two. They play up nicely that nobody wants to start off against Davey Richards, especially Roderick Strong, and all the heels bail from the apron leaving Davey & Daniels to start off with a little sequence that literally picks up where their classic match from last year left off.
The heels eventually pick off Jay Briscoe, which makes sense as he's Roderick next challenger for the night after and boy do they work over him! They tease some very good hot tags to Generico and Mark Briscoe but of course it's when everybody's down apart from Roderick on the Champions team and Davey on the All Star team that the hot tag really comes. They even get their own one on one sequence and for a while I thought to myself "If it ends now I guess its ok but what about the other guys? They didn't get too much chance to shine". Turns out that's just the tip of the iceberg! There was a LOAD more action after that including stereo dives, shooting stars to the outside and of course the finish. Even after all that, nobody really delved into their bag of tricks too deep. Nevertheless, a really good main event match that delivered.
Post match Davey puts over everybody and thanks the fans for their attendance as Mark Briscoe tries to jump over his own leg...
Backstage Harlem Bravado is ranting about their loss. Lance simply reminds him that it's "not happening in Charlotte". WOW! BIG MONEY PROMO TO END THE SHOW!
So as a standalone show it's a very average affair. Nothing apart from the main event is really worth going out of your way to see however this show was an absolute breeze to sit through and it was a nice change of pace compared to previous regarding the influx of promos. Pretty much everything is kept fairly short apart from the main event which obviously required time given the participants plus I feel that ROH did well to to add a new angle with Steve Corino's redemption, hype the main event and then also give some spotlight to a lot of newer faces. All in all an ok show that won't be for everyone and as a standalone show it's probably skippable however with the addition of the Best of American Wolves bonus disc I imagine as a whole package this will be a worthy purchase.
6.5/10
In the ring Roderick Strong is extremely chuffed with himself for pissing on Davey Richards’s chips by beating him at Final Battle and tonight the Champs will reign supreme despite the weak link - Christopher Daniels! Daniels of course comes out tells Roderick that if he has something to say to him he should say it to his face and this brings us to...
1. Non Title Champion vs. Champion- World Champion Roderick Strong vs. TV Champion Christopher Daniels
**3/4
These guys had a difficult job but ultimately do well enough by putting on a solid match without giving us or the fans in attendance any of their usual offense whatsoever and I think they deserve a pat on the back for wrestling smart. After 7 minutes or so of action the Kings are out to break it all up and we get a nice out of nowhere finish just to really add some intrigue to the main event which of course was the whole point of this little match/segment whatever you wanna call it.
2. Grizzly Redwood and Andy "Right Leg" Ridge vs. The Bravado Brothers
**1/2
Not a bad tag match at all, just fairly unremarkable. The Bravados look better and better every time I see them, although still a little devoid of characteristics in regards to their mannerisms, but so do Grizzly and Ridge albeit on more of an individual basis as opposed to being a team. I have to question the decision of who went over though...
Backstage Mike Bennett informs us of the whereabouts of Brutal Bob Evans and then has a few words for Adam Cole. Decent enough promo without all the shouting and screaming a lot of heels feel the need to do in front of the camera to get over.
3. Adam Cole vs. "The Prodigy" Mike Bennett
***
Great little match between these two that really showcased each competitor in their own way. Cole has such a lot of potential and here you can see he just gets "it". A lot of times you see young guys who can do crazy head drops or high spots but their basics are just horrific to watch. Coles completely the opposite, he's almost like another coming of Spanky in the sense that he's got a great all round style but knows where to pick his spots. As for Bennett, well his style is certainly tailor made for WWE but it works so well at riling the crowd up. There's some nice action from both guys and ultimately after going out and putting on a good undercard match the winner's almost inconsequential.
Outcome the Kings of Wrestling! They complain that since their team is now less than 100% that Davey Richards should wrestle El Generico so even things up for the main event. Clever! Davey gets on the stick and tells the crowd that it's not gunna happen so the Kings attack them both anyway which brings out The Briscoes to make the save! ROH is doing a great job of hyping this shows main event so far.
4. Homicide vs. Rhett Titus
**
If you think the rating I gave this is way too low then you probably don't wanna know what I had in mind before the ending sequence! Somehow between the skills of both men and having some decent time to play with this match manages to just never kick into a higher gear and is just disjointed at times. Stuff happens and then it ends but at least they had some goals to achieve and I guess they did successfully to a degree. Titus gets the rub whilst Homicide also looks strong going into his title match at the 9th Anniversary show. The hard way cut from the head butt is pretty sick and gave the finish an edge it was definitely lacking.
Backstage Rhett Titus is on his arse thanks to Homicides head butt and he cuts a good little promo about unleashing his killer instinct. Titus continues to improve and grow right before our eyes.
5. Steve Corino vs. Kaleb Conley
**3/4
Before the match Steve Corino cuts a really great promo about how he's trying to change. How Kevin Steen’s departure from ROH was his own fault and that it's going to take time but he's going to prove to everyone that he's a better person and of course he drops the immortal line "My name is Steve Corino and I'm an evil person - but I'm going to change that". This angle is interesting and of course Corino's promo skills will only make this story more and more compelling.
As for the match, well it really served its purpose with Steve Corino totally playing by the book only to keep finding that it leads to his undoing. It's a nicely told little story and not only does this launch the Steve Corino recovery angle but I think Kaleb Conley looked pretty impressive too. This one killed two birds with one stone and did it in an entertaining manor.
Backstage Caprice Coleman cuts a little promo about his upcoming match against Colt Cabana. This kid has definitely got his own unique style but is still a little rough around the edges. OK promo.
6. Colt Cabana vs. Caprice Coleman
**1/4
What can I say without being too harsh...this is just another comedy Colt Cabana match. It is entertaining and of course Cabana does a great job but I feel Coleman didn't get much chance to really show everyone what he can do. There is one very funny spot where Cabana goes to the crowd and asks a group of kids for some tactical advice and I can't help but think that if ROH ever went to a bigger stage Cabana would definitely be a draw for the younger audience.
7. Kenny King vs. Kyle O'Reilly
***1/2
MOTN so far and a good back and forth encounter that really helped showcase both men’s talents and skills. O'Reilly looked every bit on the same level as Kenny King and that's saying something bearing in mind Kings been in ROH on and off since 2007. I loved the fact that both guys used their feet and kicks against each other and because that was one of their big assets they each knew how to counteract. It's not too ridiculous to say that this match could be main eventing an ROH in the future at some point!
8. Champions Vs. All Stars: World Champion Roderick Strong, TV Champion Christopher Daniels, and World Tag Team Champions The Kings of Wrestling vs. Davey Richards, El Generico, and The Briscoe Brothers
****
Very long feeling out process that is pretty interesting to watch as one by one each member of each team gets a turn in the ring for a minute or two. They play up nicely that nobody wants to start off against Davey Richards, especially Roderick Strong, and all the heels bail from the apron leaving Davey & Daniels to start off with a little sequence that literally picks up where their classic match from last year left off.
The heels eventually pick off Jay Briscoe, which makes sense as he's Roderick next challenger for the night after and boy do they work over him! They tease some very good hot tags to Generico and Mark Briscoe but of course it's when everybody's down apart from Roderick on the Champions team and Davey on the All Star team that the hot tag really comes. They even get their own one on one sequence and for a while I thought to myself "If it ends now I guess its ok but what about the other guys? They didn't get too much chance to shine". Turns out that's just the tip of the iceberg! There was a LOAD more action after that including stereo dives, shooting stars to the outside and of course the finish. Even after all that, nobody really delved into their bag of tricks too deep. Nevertheless, a really good main event match that delivered.
Post match Davey puts over everybody and thanks the fans for their attendance as Mark Briscoe tries to jump over his own leg...
Backstage Harlem Bravado is ranting about their loss. Lance simply reminds him that it's "not happening in Charlotte". WOW! BIG MONEY PROMO TO END THE SHOW!
So as a standalone show it's a very average affair. Nothing apart from the main event is really worth going out of your way to see however this show was an absolute breeze to sit through and it was a nice change of pace compared to previous regarding the influx of promos. Pretty much everything is kept fairly short apart from the main event which obviously required time given the participants plus I feel that ROH did well to to add a new angle with Steve Corino's redemption, hype the main event and then also give some spotlight to a lot of newer faces. All in all an ok show that won't be for everyone and as a standalone show it's probably skippable however with the addition of the Best of American Wolves bonus disc I imagine as a whole package this will be a worthy purchase.
6.5/10
Highspots Top 20 Japanese Matches of the 90's 5 DVD Set
Throughout my life as a wrestling fan I have long heard of the folklore of Puroresu and along my travels I've only ever checked out the odd current show or match here and there. That has mostly been Pro Wrestling NOAH or Dragon Gate but I've never really delved into the wealthy vault of classic Japanese wrestling. Whilst on my trip in Atlanta I came across a 5 disc set entitled "Top 20 Japanese Matches of the 90's" made by Highspots and figured I'd give it a go.
DISC 1
20. El Samurai vs. Shinjiro Ohtani (1/29/96 - UWA Title)
****1/2
Whoa what a way to start off the DVD set! This was a very stiff technical submission style match that contained some superb execution and told a fantastic story. Ohtani worked the leg whilst El Samurai worked the arm and back and forth they went trading submissions and counter submissions. But that's not all they have to give us though, oh no! There's the odd springboard move and some really tight false finishes. Ohtani's performance in particular is noteworthy. His selling of exhaustion, suffering during submission holds and his fighting spirit facial expressions are at times exemplary. The moment where he thinks he has El Samurai beaten but he kicks out is really what this match is all about - two top competitors going in there and giving it their all.
19. Vader vs. Stan Hansen (2/10/90 - Super Fight)
****1/4
This one is just so difficult to rate. Why? Because for me this style of match doesn't appeal too much but I could certainly appreciate it on its own merits. Why? Because it's everything it should be...two huge monsters battering each other...a lot! This is also the infamous match where there's a crossing of the wires so to speak as Hansen believes Vader to be working overly stiff so as retaliation he thumbs Vader right in the eye and his eye ball pops right out of the socket. Yes I'm being serious! Apparently if it wasn't for Vader’s eye being so swollen his eyelids would not have been able to stop the eye ball from popping right out of his skull! They really do batter each other and Vader shows some cool stuff I hadn't seen from him before (all I've seen is his WWF run and various WCW matches) such as a dropkicks and martial arts kicks etc. I was disappointed with the finish but then again even as an uneducated fan it seems both guys are so over that they both needed to be protected, especially if a rematch was already planned and the match was just so even nobody looked bad for it.
18. Hiroshi Hase vs. Great Muta (12/14/92)
****
Ah yes the infamous match where the Muta Scale is born! I was thinking for the first half of this match "people must treat this as a classic because of the hepatitis inducing mega blade job" but honestly once it happens it just takes the match beyond being just good. Everything just seems to mean more with the immense amount crimson going everywhere. Several times towards the end I thought it was over and they kept going. Now I have watched it, I understand.
17. Keiji Mutoh & Masa Chono vs. Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki (11/1/90 - IWGP Tag Titles)
****3/4
What a way to cap off Disc 1! A great tag match to be found here - no doubt! What I enjoyed a lot about this was the little exchanges all four of them had at one point or another and I honestly thought it was over when Chono had an STF locked onto Sasaki (which turned out to be only half way through the match) largely due to the crowd which is just RED HOT for this. Their loud reaction / rumble to the false finishes remind me a lot of present day ROH fans only they stomp their feet instead of bash a guard rail.
On a random note this is the first time I've ever seen Chono wrestle and my god is his little laugh sounding pant he does every 5 seconds irritating.
DISC 2
16. Vader vs. Antonio Inoki (1/4/96)
***1/2
Before the match even starts I'm sure Vader arses over on the ramp where it meets the ring apron. It's pretty amusing to see this behemoth of a man square up to Anoki then the camera changes and next time you see him, he's trying to pick himself up.
As for the match itself, it's quite clear from the get go Vader's taking no shit. I popped huge for the big right hand he gives Inoki right on the button and even more so for a sick looking high angle German suplex. Poor Inoki just doesn't need that shit at his age. As they go on Vader just batters Inoki and then Inoki makes a comeback. Sound familiar? What they gave us here was a good simple match that had loads of good atmosphere thanks to Inoki's mega star power and a returning Vader who was between WCW and WWF runs at the time.
15. Great Sasuke vs. Ultimo Dragon (8/5/96 - J-Crown Finals)
****1/2
First of all I'd just like to say...fuck that's a LOT of title belts! This match is just everything I expected it to be - awesome 90's junior style with both guys pushing each other to the limit. Sasuke is clearly bananas as demonstrated by a couple of dives to the outside, one of which he basically nerfs the majority of his body of the floor and catches Ultimo with his legs. Turns out he broke his skull and yes you did read that right. As for Ultimo, he's really on his game here with his style complimenting Sasukes so well. This is a match I'd watch over and over and not stop enjoying. It's not perfect however, the finish just seems kind of odd - almost out of nowhere like maybe somebody was meant to kick out but didn't. Still an absolute classic!
14. Jushin Liger vs. Shinjiro Ohtani (3/17/96 - IWGP Jr. Title)
****1/4
This match right here was a great showcase of the more technical NJPW junior style. Ohtani works Liger's arm mercilessly throughout this match with some consistent selling from Liger. Oddly though, Ligers work on Ohtani's leg seems to count for nothing as Ohtani neither sells it nor does it matter towards the finish. What's key about Ohtani's performance here is, much like his match vs. El Samurai on Disc 1, his facial expressions and mannerisms really add to the drama of every move and hold in the latter stages of the match. Whether its desperation or fighting spirit he's clearly giving us his all. Liger on the other hand is in fine form and it was good to see him without the flashy Highspots with him getting down and grappling with Ohtani serving a reminder why he's one of the best ever in any style.
13. Shinya Hashimoto vs. Genichiro Tenryu (8/1/98 - G1-Climax)
***3/4
All I can really say is this; it's two hard-hitting badass heavyweights having a 15 minute match which consists of about 4 or 5 actual moves. The rest of the match is just STIFFNESS!
12. Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki vs. The Steiner Brothers (3/21/91 - IWGP Tag Titles)
*****
This match got Wrestling Observers Match of the Year for 1991 and was truly WAY ahead of its time back then. Of course watching it now doesn't quite have the same impact but you have to look at it for what it is - two of the worlds best tag teams colliding in a jam packed Tokyo Dome with an electric carnival like atmosphere. It's really bizarre for me because I have only been exposed to the Steiners odd classic WCW, WWF run and then later WCW stuff so whilst I've seen a few great matches from them (vs. Sting & Luger!) I'm most familiar with that later WCW run before they split into singles. Back then they weren't so good so it's a real treat to see them tear it up here. It's also strange to see Sasaki being so quick and mobile...these days he's more a brick shithouse.
DISC 3
11. Jushin Liger vs. Owen Hart (4/27/91 - TOSJ '91)
****1/2
All I can say is...OWEN HART USED TO BE AMAZING! This is the first non WWF match I've seen from Owen Hart and I was extremely impressed with how well the stuff I remember him doing in his WWF run worked so well with the New Japan junior style. There was a tonne of great action (too much to call!) in this one with several very close near falls and one of the sickest top rope finishes I have ever seen ANYWHERE. A must see match!
10. Jushin Liger vs. Shinjiro Ohtani (2/9/97 - J-Crown Title)
****3/4
This was a real epic 25 min plus match. Ohtani is just merciless in his attack on Liger. He won't break when the ref wants him to, he's stiff as hell at times with Liger in the corners and he won't let Liger even get anywhere near his left knee, which Liger keeps trying to attack, for a lot of the match as he's concentrating on Ligers arm. Up until Ligers comeback it's all very solid technical wrestling and I was wondering if the drama of the previous encounter between these two on Disc 2 was not going to be repeated. I was right as well...it wasn't just repeated - it was annihilated! The last 10 minutes of this match are EVERYTHING pro wrestling is about. The desperation of Ohtani, the fighting spirit of Liger - this truly is an all time classic that holds up even today. So many dramatic near falls, sick moves and, as I now have been accustomed to, the Ohtani facial expressions. Another must see match!
9. Keiji Mutoh vs. Masa Chono (8/11/91 - G-1 Climax Finals)
****
Going into this I expected some great things and I feel this match, whilst very good didn't live to the hype I had bestowed upon it. It's a 30 minute knockdown, drag out affair and I honestly think the first 10 or 12 minutes are meaningless. They fight over a few submissions but ultimately none of it leads anywhere because after watching the whole match I kind of came to the conclusion nobody really sells anything. After the initial period though the match really picks up and before you know it Mutoh's pile driving Chono on the floor in the crowd somewhere and Chono's doing these highspots like he's a junior! They built really well to the finish which I felt kind of came out of nowhere, although that powerbomb looked pretty gnarly! I'm sure this is a top rated classic match purely because of the atmosphere from the fans in the audience. They literally make this match! They love Chono and at the end of the match they throw pillows into the ring, something I've never seen anywhere so I'm guessing that's some kind of ultimate respect from the fans.
DISC 4
8. El Samurai vs. Koji Kanemoto (6/5/97 - TOSJ '97 Finals)
*****
First of all...WHAT A JOURNEY!! This match took a twist I was not expecting! Kanemoto is one bad mother trucker whilst El Samurai is a crowd favourite and for a good portion of this match they have the very good typical NJPW 90's Junior style match. Kanemoto works over the leg of El Samurai for a while which leads to some exciting submissions attempts whilst El Samurais tactic after a while appears to try to be to try and just knock out Kanemoto out by kicking him in the face as a receipt for Kanemoto laying in some STIFF kicks. They seemingly build towards a finish whilst trading several high impact moves but The match transforms into a higher gear when Kanemoto rips off El Samurais mask. The crowd is hot as hell at the time anyway due to them being at what the crowd assumed would be the finish...BUT OH NO! The mask gets ripped and then shits REALLY on! As far as epic story telling goes, you're not going to find too much of that here nor will you find a tremendous amount of psychology however, take yourself out of that over analytical mood and you will find this highly satisfying. As back and forth action packed (almost spot fest like if you really want to call it that) matches go this is WAY WAY up there.
Editors note...this match also received ***** from Dave Meltzer.
7. Great Sasuke vs. Jushin Liger (4/16/94 - J-Cup Semi-Finals)
****
Whilst on paper this certainly appears to be a real clash of the titans between the top indy junior (Sasuke) and one of the top big league juniors (Liger) the actual match didn't quite live up to expectations. That really is down to the structure of the match for me. If we are to believe Sasuke is every bit as good as Liger then it's probably a good idea for him to get some strong offense in and unfortunately a lot of the match was just Liger squashing Sasuke. It was still entertaining as hell though and Sasukes comebacks were great. Of course there is a THAT moment where Sasuke botches a springboard move into the ring and Liger just claps to the crowd.
6. Great Sasuke & Black Tiger vs. Wild Pegasus & Shinjiro Ohtani (10/16/94 - Jr. Tag League Finals)
***3/4
Over the many matches I have seen on this set far I have come to appreciate a lot of the stars of the 90's and style they wrestled however this match came across to me as a total exhibition. There was no real emphasis on anything other than back and forth action with not much of a rhyme nor reason. Don't get wrong there's still some fun stuff here but it's just happenings for happenings sake. Perhaps there was some sort of epic back-story to this match and I'm unaware of it but as it stands this one has to be considered a step lower than my expectations given the names involved.
5. Pegasus Kid vs. El Samurai (6/15/93 - TOSJ 93 Finals)
****1/4
Despite my thought that these two generally didn't have that much chemistry, this was still a fantastic match! A lot of submission moves were fought over for about 2/3s of this one and it was quite clearly where each man felt at his best. It took a while for the crowd to get into the match also, which was surprising to me. Still there's plenty of good and exciting near fall action towards the end. A pretty good match but not quite as good as I thought it would have been.
DISC 5
4. Jushin Liger vs. Naoki Sano (1/31/90 - IWGP Jr. Title)
****1/2
This was a completely different match to most in this set as this one was ALL about the apparent blood feud between these two. Liger attacks from the bell which is quite a different strategy compared to all his other appearances in this compilation and from there it's an intense ride. Sano is merciless as he rips Ligers mask basically off altogether and bloodies him which makes for some really good shots. The crowd are SO behind Liger in this one and every comeback he makes is so desperate it could be his last. What transpires after the match also adds to the whole thing as Liger is so mad he turns around and beats up everyone in the ring, throws the IWGP Jr title to the floor a few times and if anything kicks what I assume as already a hot feud into a higher gear.
3. Jushin Liger vs. El Samurai (4/30/92 - TOSJ '92 Finals)
***3/4
I'm willing to bet there's a fair few Puro fans out there that think I'm underrating this one but for me this match was quite good at best, not great and most definitely not worthy of its high place on this list of matches. I think what really put this one into context for me was the previous bout (Liger vs. Sano) which had a very similar story to this match only it was told much better plus the action was more exciting and the hate really came across. There may be a great back-story that I'm unaware of so I'm only reviewing this as a standalone match. Don't let what I just wrote put you off checking this match out though. To begin with El Samurai really brings the hate brawling all over the place with Liger and even hitting him over the head with a bottle after tombstoning him on the floor! It's just a shame that the intense level brought in the first 5 minutes wasn't kept up! They do tell a nice story though with Samurai going for Ligers mask which in turn makes Liger MAD. So much so that he tears Samurai's mask clean off and hands him a serious beating! It's a fun match that started off great but ultimately lost steam during the middle portion and as exciting as the finish was its still not enough to really raise the match back to its starting level. In short, to me it came across as a poor twist on the previous match.
2. Ultimo Dragon vs. Shinjiro Ohtani (8/4/96 J-Crown Semi-Finals)
****1/2
Even if these two just phoned it in you know it would still be a very good match and I'm pleased to say in this one they each brought something big to the table. You know it's going to be good when right from the start they tease Ohtani knowing how to escape the La Magistral cradle from Dragon and from there it becomes a tale of the stiff high flyer versus the technical submissions expert. The match is a very back and forth affair until out of nowhere the crowd become unglued and then it's homeward bound down the finishing stretch. The last 5 minutes or so it just pure GOLD 90's NJPW Jnr goodness with Ohtani doing what he's done throughout this compilation - showing the desperation and fighting spirit of wanting to win and it's something that really connects well with the fans. A really great little gem that's really only hindered by the fact that you know this match could have gone 5 more minutes and really been an all time classic!
1. Great Sasuke vs. Wild Pegasus (4/16/94 J-Cup Finals)
*****
Probably the most famous match of the whole top 20 and really no surprise that it's number 1, it's an all time classic after all! I had previously seen this on the Chris Benoit Hard Knocks DVD that WWE produced way back in 2004 and therefore it's been years since I last saw this. It surprised me how much this match holds up after my first impression of it 7 years ago and that's an example of just how good this match is. It's Jnr wrestling at its finest and it's literally mesmerising from bell to bell. There's just no wasted motion from either man and it's a complete showcase of each person’s style so you know you're getting the best performance they could put on. So much good action to talk about that it's easier if you go out and just watch this match. Must see stuff right here!
BONUS MATCH: Great Sasuke vs. Jushin Liger (7/8/94)
****1/2
This was very much a similar match as number 7 in the 20 only this time it's Sasuke that gets the bulk of the match in control as opposed to Liger. But this time round something clicked really well between these two and it's that magic that was missing in their previous encounter. This match has more pace and is crammed with more intense action plus the finishing 5 minutes or so are just full of edge of your seat near falls. How this was only a bonus match yet the match from disc 4 made the top 20 is beyond me. In my opinion they should have been the other way round!
To cap off the review all I can really say is this: if you're even slightly tempted by anything on this DVD set GO AND BUY IT! It's an incredible set of matches and varies well enough that nothing’s tedious or boring. Each disc clocked in at around 90 - 105 minutes and none of the matches are super long so if you’re a fan who gets a little bit of time to watch DVDs here and there this is perfect for you! I gave 17 of the 21 matches **** or above and even the lowest scoring match still clocked in at a cool ***1/2 meaning as a set it ranges from quite good to freaking' amazing. Enough of the hype though, just get on over to Highspots right now and buy it. YOU WONT REGRET IT!
DISC 1
20. El Samurai vs. Shinjiro Ohtani (1/29/96 - UWA Title)
****1/2
Whoa what a way to start off the DVD set! This was a very stiff technical submission style match that contained some superb execution and told a fantastic story. Ohtani worked the leg whilst El Samurai worked the arm and back and forth they went trading submissions and counter submissions. But that's not all they have to give us though, oh no! There's the odd springboard move and some really tight false finishes. Ohtani's performance in particular is noteworthy. His selling of exhaustion, suffering during submission holds and his fighting spirit facial expressions are at times exemplary. The moment where he thinks he has El Samurai beaten but he kicks out is really what this match is all about - two top competitors going in there and giving it their all.
19. Vader vs. Stan Hansen (2/10/90 - Super Fight)
****1/4
This one is just so difficult to rate. Why? Because for me this style of match doesn't appeal too much but I could certainly appreciate it on its own merits. Why? Because it's everything it should be...two huge monsters battering each other...a lot! This is also the infamous match where there's a crossing of the wires so to speak as Hansen believes Vader to be working overly stiff so as retaliation he thumbs Vader right in the eye and his eye ball pops right out of the socket. Yes I'm being serious! Apparently if it wasn't for Vader’s eye being so swollen his eyelids would not have been able to stop the eye ball from popping right out of his skull! They really do batter each other and Vader shows some cool stuff I hadn't seen from him before (all I've seen is his WWF run and various WCW matches) such as a dropkicks and martial arts kicks etc. I was disappointed with the finish but then again even as an uneducated fan it seems both guys are so over that they both needed to be protected, especially if a rematch was already planned and the match was just so even nobody looked bad for it.
18. Hiroshi Hase vs. Great Muta (12/14/92)
****
Ah yes the infamous match where the Muta Scale is born! I was thinking for the first half of this match "people must treat this as a classic because of the hepatitis inducing mega blade job" but honestly once it happens it just takes the match beyond being just good. Everything just seems to mean more with the immense amount crimson going everywhere. Several times towards the end I thought it was over and they kept going. Now I have watched it, I understand.
17. Keiji Mutoh & Masa Chono vs. Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki (11/1/90 - IWGP Tag Titles)
****3/4
What a way to cap off Disc 1! A great tag match to be found here - no doubt! What I enjoyed a lot about this was the little exchanges all four of them had at one point or another and I honestly thought it was over when Chono had an STF locked onto Sasaki (which turned out to be only half way through the match) largely due to the crowd which is just RED HOT for this. Their loud reaction / rumble to the false finishes remind me a lot of present day ROH fans only they stomp their feet instead of bash a guard rail.
On a random note this is the first time I've ever seen Chono wrestle and my god is his little laugh sounding pant he does every 5 seconds irritating.
DISC 2
16. Vader vs. Antonio Inoki (1/4/96)
***1/2
Before the match even starts I'm sure Vader arses over on the ramp where it meets the ring apron. It's pretty amusing to see this behemoth of a man square up to Anoki then the camera changes and next time you see him, he's trying to pick himself up.
As for the match itself, it's quite clear from the get go Vader's taking no shit. I popped huge for the big right hand he gives Inoki right on the button and even more so for a sick looking high angle German suplex. Poor Inoki just doesn't need that shit at his age. As they go on Vader just batters Inoki and then Inoki makes a comeback. Sound familiar? What they gave us here was a good simple match that had loads of good atmosphere thanks to Inoki's mega star power and a returning Vader who was between WCW and WWF runs at the time.
15. Great Sasuke vs. Ultimo Dragon (8/5/96 - J-Crown Finals)
****1/2
First of all I'd just like to say...fuck that's a LOT of title belts! This match is just everything I expected it to be - awesome 90's junior style with both guys pushing each other to the limit. Sasuke is clearly bananas as demonstrated by a couple of dives to the outside, one of which he basically nerfs the majority of his body of the floor and catches Ultimo with his legs. Turns out he broke his skull and yes you did read that right. As for Ultimo, he's really on his game here with his style complimenting Sasukes so well. This is a match I'd watch over and over and not stop enjoying. It's not perfect however, the finish just seems kind of odd - almost out of nowhere like maybe somebody was meant to kick out but didn't. Still an absolute classic!
14. Jushin Liger vs. Shinjiro Ohtani (3/17/96 - IWGP Jr. Title)
****1/4
This match right here was a great showcase of the more technical NJPW junior style. Ohtani works Liger's arm mercilessly throughout this match with some consistent selling from Liger. Oddly though, Ligers work on Ohtani's leg seems to count for nothing as Ohtani neither sells it nor does it matter towards the finish. What's key about Ohtani's performance here is, much like his match vs. El Samurai on Disc 1, his facial expressions and mannerisms really add to the drama of every move and hold in the latter stages of the match. Whether its desperation or fighting spirit he's clearly giving us his all. Liger on the other hand is in fine form and it was good to see him without the flashy Highspots with him getting down and grappling with Ohtani serving a reminder why he's one of the best ever in any style.
13. Shinya Hashimoto vs. Genichiro Tenryu (8/1/98 - G1-Climax)
***3/4
All I can really say is this; it's two hard-hitting badass heavyweights having a 15 minute match which consists of about 4 or 5 actual moves. The rest of the match is just STIFFNESS!
12. Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki vs. The Steiner Brothers (3/21/91 - IWGP Tag Titles)
*****
This match got Wrestling Observers Match of the Year for 1991 and was truly WAY ahead of its time back then. Of course watching it now doesn't quite have the same impact but you have to look at it for what it is - two of the worlds best tag teams colliding in a jam packed Tokyo Dome with an electric carnival like atmosphere. It's really bizarre for me because I have only been exposed to the Steiners odd classic WCW, WWF run and then later WCW stuff so whilst I've seen a few great matches from them (vs. Sting & Luger!) I'm most familiar with that later WCW run before they split into singles. Back then they weren't so good so it's a real treat to see them tear it up here. It's also strange to see Sasaki being so quick and mobile...these days he's more a brick shithouse.
DISC 3
11. Jushin Liger vs. Owen Hart (4/27/91 - TOSJ '91)
****1/2
All I can say is...OWEN HART USED TO BE AMAZING! This is the first non WWF match I've seen from Owen Hart and I was extremely impressed with how well the stuff I remember him doing in his WWF run worked so well with the New Japan junior style. There was a tonne of great action (too much to call!) in this one with several very close near falls and one of the sickest top rope finishes I have ever seen ANYWHERE. A must see match!
10. Jushin Liger vs. Shinjiro Ohtani (2/9/97 - J-Crown Title)
****3/4
This was a real epic 25 min plus match. Ohtani is just merciless in his attack on Liger. He won't break when the ref wants him to, he's stiff as hell at times with Liger in the corners and he won't let Liger even get anywhere near his left knee, which Liger keeps trying to attack, for a lot of the match as he's concentrating on Ligers arm. Up until Ligers comeback it's all very solid technical wrestling and I was wondering if the drama of the previous encounter between these two on Disc 2 was not going to be repeated. I was right as well...it wasn't just repeated - it was annihilated! The last 10 minutes of this match are EVERYTHING pro wrestling is about. The desperation of Ohtani, the fighting spirit of Liger - this truly is an all time classic that holds up even today. So many dramatic near falls, sick moves and, as I now have been accustomed to, the Ohtani facial expressions. Another must see match!
9. Keiji Mutoh vs. Masa Chono (8/11/91 - G-1 Climax Finals)
****
Going into this I expected some great things and I feel this match, whilst very good didn't live to the hype I had bestowed upon it. It's a 30 minute knockdown, drag out affair and I honestly think the first 10 or 12 minutes are meaningless. They fight over a few submissions but ultimately none of it leads anywhere because after watching the whole match I kind of came to the conclusion nobody really sells anything. After the initial period though the match really picks up and before you know it Mutoh's pile driving Chono on the floor in the crowd somewhere and Chono's doing these highspots like he's a junior! They built really well to the finish which I felt kind of came out of nowhere, although that powerbomb looked pretty gnarly! I'm sure this is a top rated classic match purely because of the atmosphere from the fans in the audience. They literally make this match! They love Chono and at the end of the match they throw pillows into the ring, something I've never seen anywhere so I'm guessing that's some kind of ultimate respect from the fans.
DISC 4
8. El Samurai vs. Koji Kanemoto (6/5/97 - TOSJ '97 Finals)
*****
First of all...WHAT A JOURNEY!! This match took a twist I was not expecting! Kanemoto is one bad mother trucker whilst El Samurai is a crowd favourite and for a good portion of this match they have the very good typical NJPW 90's Junior style match. Kanemoto works over the leg of El Samurai for a while which leads to some exciting submissions attempts whilst El Samurais tactic after a while appears to try to be to try and just knock out Kanemoto out by kicking him in the face as a receipt for Kanemoto laying in some STIFF kicks. They seemingly build towards a finish whilst trading several high impact moves but The match transforms into a higher gear when Kanemoto rips off El Samurais mask. The crowd is hot as hell at the time anyway due to them being at what the crowd assumed would be the finish...BUT OH NO! The mask gets ripped and then shits REALLY on! As far as epic story telling goes, you're not going to find too much of that here nor will you find a tremendous amount of psychology however, take yourself out of that over analytical mood and you will find this highly satisfying. As back and forth action packed (almost spot fest like if you really want to call it that) matches go this is WAY WAY up there.
Editors note...this match also received ***** from Dave Meltzer.
7. Great Sasuke vs. Jushin Liger (4/16/94 - J-Cup Semi-Finals)
****
Whilst on paper this certainly appears to be a real clash of the titans between the top indy junior (Sasuke) and one of the top big league juniors (Liger) the actual match didn't quite live up to expectations. That really is down to the structure of the match for me. If we are to believe Sasuke is every bit as good as Liger then it's probably a good idea for him to get some strong offense in and unfortunately a lot of the match was just Liger squashing Sasuke. It was still entertaining as hell though and Sasukes comebacks were great. Of course there is a THAT moment where Sasuke botches a springboard move into the ring and Liger just claps to the crowd.
6. Great Sasuke & Black Tiger vs. Wild Pegasus & Shinjiro Ohtani (10/16/94 - Jr. Tag League Finals)
***3/4
Over the many matches I have seen on this set far I have come to appreciate a lot of the stars of the 90's and style they wrestled however this match came across to me as a total exhibition. There was no real emphasis on anything other than back and forth action with not much of a rhyme nor reason. Don't get wrong there's still some fun stuff here but it's just happenings for happenings sake. Perhaps there was some sort of epic back-story to this match and I'm unaware of it but as it stands this one has to be considered a step lower than my expectations given the names involved.
5. Pegasus Kid vs. El Samurai (6/15/93 - TOSJ 93 Finals)
****1/4
Despite my thought that these two generally didn't have that much chemistry, this was still a fantastic match! A lot of submission moves were fought over for about 2/3s of this one and it was quite clearly where each man felt at his best. It took a while for the crowd to get into the match also, which was surprising to me. Still there's plenty of good and exciting near fall action towards the end. A pretty good match but not quite as good as I thought it would have been.
DISC 5
4. Jushin Liger vs. Naoki Sano (1/31/90 - IWGP Jr. Title)
****1/2
This was a completely different match to most in this set as this one was ALL about the apparent blood feud between these two. Liger attacks from the bell which is quite a different strategy compared to all his other appearances in this compilation and from there it's an intense ride. Sano is merciless as he rips Ligers mask basically off altogether and bloodies him which makes for some really good shots. The crowd are SO behind Liger in this one and every comeback he makes is so desperate it could be his last. What transpires after the match also adds to the whole thing as Liger is so mad he turns around and beats up everyone in the ring, throws the IWGP Jr title to the floor a few times and if anything kicks what I assume as already a hot feud into a higher gear.
3. Jushin Liger vs. El Samurai (4/30/92 - TOSJ '92 Finals)
***3/4
I'm willing to bet there's a fair few Puro fans out there that think I'm underrating this one but for me this match was quite good at best, not great and most definitely not worthy of its high place on this list of matches. I think what really put this one into context for me was the previous bout (Liger vs. Sano) which had a very similar story to this match only it was told much better plus the action was more exciting and the hate really came across. There may be a great back-story that I'm unaware of so I'm only reviewing this as a standalone match. Don't let what I just wrote put you off checking this match out though. To begin with El Samurai really brings the hate brawling all over the place with Liger and even hitting him over the head with a bottle after tombstoning him on the floor! It's just a shame that the intense level brought in the first 5 minutes wasn't kept up! They do tell a nice story though with Samurai going for Ligers mask which in turn makes Liger MAD. So much so that he tears Samurai's mask clean off and hands him a serious beating! It's a fun match that started off great but ultimately lost steam during the middle portion and as exciting as the finish was its still not enough to really raise the match back to its starting level. In short, to me it came across as a poor twist on the previous match.
2. Ultimo Dragon vs. Shinjiro Ohtani (8/4/96 J-Crown Semi-Finals)
****1/2
Even if these two just phoned it in you know it would still be a very good match and I'm pleased to say in this one they each brought something big to the table. You know it's going to be good when right from the start they tease Ohtani knowing how to escape the La Magistral cradle from Dragon and from there it becomes a tale of the stiff high flyer versus the technical submissions expert. The match is a very back and forth affair until out of nowhere the crowd become unglued and then it's homeward bound down the finishing stretch. The last 5 minutes or so it just pure GOLD 90's NJPW Jnr goodness with Ohtani doing what he's done throughout this compilation - showing the desperation and fighting spirit of wanting to win and it's something that really connects well with the fans. A really great little gem that's really only hindered by the fact that you know this match could have gone 5 more minutes and really been an all time classic!
1. Great Sasuke vs. Wild Pegasus (4/16/94 J-Cup Finals)
*****
Probably the most famous match of the whole top 20 and really no surprise that it's number 1, it's an all time classic after all! I had previously seen this on the Chris Benoit Hard Knocks DVD that WWE produced way back in 2004 and therefore it's been years since I last saw this. It surprised me how much this match holds up after my first impression of it 7 years ago and that's an example of just how good this match is. It's Jnr wrestling at its finest and it's literally mesmerising from bell to bell. There's just no wasted motion from either man and it's a complete showcase of each person’s style so you know you're getting the best performance they could put on. So much good action to talk about that it's easier if you go out and just watch this match. Must see stuff right here!
BONUS MATCH: Great Sasuke vs. Jushin Liger (7/8/94)
****1/2
This was very much a similar match as number 7 in the 20 only this time it's Sasuke that gets the bulk of the match in control as opposed to Liger. But this time round something clicked really well between these two and it's that magic that was missing in their previous encounter. This match has more pace and is crammed with more intense action plus the finishing 5 minutes or so are just full of edge of your seat near falls. How this was only a bonus match yet the match from disc 4 made the top 20 is beyond me. In my opinion they should have been the other way round!
To cap off the review all I can really say is this: if you're even slightly tempted by anything on this DVD set GO AND BUY IT! It's an incredible set of matches and varies well enough that nothing’s tedious or boring. Each disc clocked in at around 90 - 105 minutes and none of the matches are super long so if you’re a fan who gets a little bit of time to watch DVDs here and there this is perfect for you! I gave 17 of the 21 matches **** or above and even the lowest scoring match still clocked in at a cool ***1/2 meaning as a set it ranges from quite good to freaking' amazing. Enough of the hype though, just get on over to Highspots right now and buy it. YOU WONT REGRET IT!
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
ROH Final Battle 2010- New York, NY 12/18/10
1. The All Night Express vs. Kyle O'Reilly and Adam Cole
***3/4
When it comes to opening matches in 2010 this has to be pretty damn high on the list of the best! They cram a fuck load of action into the 10 or so minutes they have. Cole & O'Reilly shine real big in this one with King & Titus being more than complimentary at putting them over. The spike DDT on the ring apron to Kenny King by Kyle O'Reilly is one of the sickest apron bumps I think I've ever seen and both teams show us incredible double team combos. The pickier amongst us would probably complain about the lack of a clear cut legal man and too many guys being in the ring at the same time but honestly, if you weren't completely carried away by the action then matches like this in general are probably not for you.
2. TJ Perkins vs. Colt Cabana
***
Whilst very technically sound and no doubt a fine exhibition of both mans skill this match just didn't get enough time to really get things going. It finally starts to get hot and then bang! Its over! Still for the 10 or so minutes they had they sure as hell made the best of it with hold for hold exchanges that at times were crisp and masterful. With an extra 5 minutes this could have REALLY gone somewhere great.
3. Amazing Kong and Daizee Haze vs. Sara Del Rey and Serena Deeb
***
Credit where credit is due - this was a good match. I'm not really into womens wrestling but they put on a pretty decent match built around the hot tag to Kong. All of them were on their game in this one and there several good false finishes. The crowd was once again hot and into this one.
4. Eddie Edwards vs. Sonjay Dutt
***1/2
As I said in my review of Tag Title Classic II (the show the night before Final Battle 2010) I mentioned how fresh and motivated Sonjay Dutt appeared and in this match he gives us another good performance. Eddie Edwards however is on a serious roll and I mean career high kind of stuff here. The NY crowd pops HUGE for him and he gets the biggest response of anybody or anything from the show so far. As for the match itself, well it was packed with good back and forth action and I have to say I was glued to it throughout. The length was about right for its place on the card and I for one would like to see a rematch with some more time in the future.
A promo video for Haas & Benjamin airs which includes a short interview conducted by Jim Cornette in which Wrestlings Greatest Tag Team announce that they will call ROH home in 2011. This was the usual slick production job by HD NET.
5. Christopher Daniels vs. Homicide
***
Mike Bennett is out with Brutal Bob to observe this one. This will be the second IPPV in a row that Chris Daniels has had the dubious honour of being involved in a "disappointing" match that "didn't meet expectations" (remember his match against an unmotivated Austin Aries from Glory By Honor IX?). Those phrases are in quotes because of course opinions are subjective and therefore for what some find disappointing other may love or may just think is ok. The latter is pretty much what I think of Homicides ROH run at this point. He's still getting over an injury but is quite clearly working to the best of physical limitations out there. It's Daniels though that makes the match more than just average as he continues his incredible run of quality matches in ROH. The action in this one is at a bit of a slower pace which seemed to lose the crowd after the initial buzz from the entrances. The finish I thought was a bit out of nowhere but I guess it suits who went over.
Post match Bennett grabs the TV title and tells Daniels "that was a real impressive win bud". What a nob...
6. The Kings of Wrestling and Shane Hagadorn vs. Jay, Mark, and Mike "Papa" Briscoe
***1/2
I remember watching this live and going in with the presumption that Papa Briscoe would only be a bit player and that it would be a small bit at that. For some reason the NY crowd boo the Briscoes, maybe it's because Papa Briscoe has no record of 5 star classics in his back catalogue or maybe it's because they're expecting a lame and gimmicky match. And then 5 minutes into the match Papa Briscoe hits Claudio with a hurricarana to a massive pop and big "holy shit!" which seems to change the fans opinions (at least vocally anyway). They build well to Papa Briscoe getting his hands on Shane Hagadorn for the hot tag in a very old school way and being as 2/3rds of the participants in this match are The Briscoes & The Kings of Wrestling of course it still a good match. I loved the fact that, because he's a redneck, Papa Briscoe uses the stunner. Fun match and nowhere near as gimmicky as one would expect.
A promo video for Davey Richards path to the title airs. Damn good stuff right there!
7. ROH World Title Match: Roderick Strong vs. Davey Richards
****1/2
There is no doubting that this is as hard hitting and technically sound as any ROH World Title match in history however in my opinion it's just that little bit away from being a true classic. Why you might ask? Well it is largely to do with the matches structure - there's just too many false finishes. I don't normally get bothered by this kind of thing as I'm more than happy to look past it and be swept away and wowed by it all however even I was beginning to think it was silly how much of a superman Davey Richards was turning out to be. It could be though that the half dozen or so false finishes in the second third of the match weren't supposed to be edge of your seat near falls and it's merely the crowds reactions by being so sucked in that added more emphasis to them. If that's the case then fair enough, it wasn't overkill after all.
As for the action itself, well it’s the standard Davey vs. Strong affair but this time round it's more about the submission holds and less about the strikes. I don't know about you but I loved how strike orientated their match from Pick Your Poison was and I was little disappointed they didn't go too much down that route again but hey I'm sure people would complain if they put on the same match again so that's fine. Davey works over Strongs arm enabling the cross armbreaker & kimura to be potential finishers. Half way through the match though Davey abandons that tactic and they basically knock the crap out of each other with stiff strikes and power impact moves. The last 5 minutes were so absolutely classic with Davey being suplexed through the ringside table then Gibson driven (or drivered?) on the floor before being tossed right on the laps of some people on the front row in order to gain Strong the count out victory. That was a great scene! The Davey having the concussion thing was either unfortunate or a really convincing work as he just gives up the ankle lock he has on Strong and collapses. Post match Davey had blood coming out his right ear and it's really hard to tell if it's a work or a shoot. Sign of a good angle I guess! Anyways, regardless of all my criticisms earlier this is still a great match and well worthy of your hard earned cash. If the following didn't sell the DVD for you then this match will!
8. Unsanctioned Fight Without Honor: Kevin Steen vs. El Generico
****3/4
When it comes to wrestlings top feuds in 2010, at the very top of that list has to be this one - Kevin Steen vs. El Generico. Whether its promos, matches or angles this feud, which also encompassed Steve Corino and Colt Cabana respectively, just built and built and built to this point. As with all the important ROH matches, it really could have gone either way despite Steens vow to leave ROH if he lost as he was arguably the most must see part of ROH in 2010. This match was very brutal including blood, ladders, tables and of course chair shots. I do think that this probably wasn't as violent as the Bitter Friends, Stiffer Enemies 2 tag match or maybe even the Double Dog Collar Match from Glory By Honor IX however this was ALL about the story. They used the ladder because it represented their participation as a team in both Ladder Wars, they both went for each other’s finishers and they even pulled out the chair from Glory By Honor. There's some extremely good false finishes in this one because, unlike the previous match where moves had been kicked out of before in many matches, these moves had been very protected in ROH. Of course the real story telling is in the actual finish itself. An undoubted ROH classic match that should be seen by all!
Post match Steen tells the fans to fuck off before leaving the ring despite them chanting "THANK YOU STEEN".
Roderick Strong is arguing backstage with Truth Martini because he finally realised Truth was interfering in his matches. "Now I look like a fuckin' idiot" - Roderick Strong 2010.
*SUPER DUPER BONUS CONTENT*
Kenny King Raps - Really he does! About ANX and stuff too!
Final Battle Teaser - This is from HDNET and a nice little 30 second snippet
Final Battle 2010 will be remembered for many reasons. The conclusion to the Kevin Steen vs. El Generico feud, the brutal ROH World Title match where the question was asked if Davey Richards would finally step up to the next level and fulfil his dream, The NY crowd actually turning on The Briscoes - a team notoriously well supported. But it doesn't end there, Final Battle 2010 is right up there with the very best shows of the year. It's just solid top to bottom with nothing getting less than a "good" rating from me. The main events are phenomenal and are worth going out of your way to watch but those aside, every match has its own strong merits. Highly recommended!
9.5/10
Sunday, 26 June 2011
ROH Tag Title Classic II- Plymouth, MA 12/17/10
1. Kenny King vs. Adam Cole
***
What a fine opener we have here from two of ROHs best young talents! This is balls to the wall action for 10 minutes with both Cole and King showing us some pretty nifty manoeuvres. They go at a pace too and the crowd's into it too which is always a plus. Good opening match.
2. Colt Cabana vs. “The Prodigy” Mike Bennett
**3/4
First of all I'd just like to say that if Mike Bennetts shtick is intentional then he's probably got one of the best gimmicks ROH has seen in a long time. Imagine this, a guy who's not bothered about flashy moves to please the fans so much so that the fans hate him for it. It's great it really is, and to see him in the ring with a guy such as Colt Cabana, who is such a good performer that he can get anybody over, makes for something entertaining to watch. The match was perhaps a little too short but they accomplished what needed to be done and the finish made total sense. Expect big things from Bennett in the future.
Earlier, Andy "Right Leg" Ridge cuts a promo on the Trial Series and his upcoming match against Christopher Daniels. He's going to prove to everyone that he belongs in ROH. Kid, you might just do that yet!
3. Ring of Honor Trial Series Match #5: Andy “Right Leg” Ridge vs. World TV Champion Christopher Daniels
***
Finally, a Trial Series match which wasn't just basically a squash! This is the kind of match I was expecting all of the Trial Series matches to be - the vet outwits the newcomer but the newcomer has plenty of tricks in his bag to even it up (the crowd actually are shocked when Daniels goes for the BME and Ridge grabs his foot out of nowhere to stop him!). Daniels didn't treat Ridge as anything but his equal and that came across in their exchanges. Despite the Trial Series being a failure (in my eyes anyway), this match on its own merits proved that Ridge could indeed fit into the ROH roster.
Post match Daniels gets on the stick and puts over Andy Ridge. He's a class act that Daniels feller.
4. Jay and Mark Briscoe vs. Kevin Steen and Steve Corino
***1/2
A very different match from the one they had back at Pick Your Poison but good nonetheless. It's great to see The Briscoes and Steen/Corino put on a dramatic tag match without doing too many signature moves or finishers. Everybody played their role well and realistically it didn't matter who won so long as Steen was protected. Job well done all round.
Earlier, Grizzly Redwood cut a promo backstage stating how worried he is about getting in the ring with Rhett Titus, Ricky Reyes and the man he's most worried about...Dark Generico!
5. Four Corner Survival Match: El Generico vs. Rhett Titus vs. Grizzly Redwood vs. Ricky Reyes
**
For the most part, this was a kind of breather for the crowd. The match built around everybody avoiding Generico and was pedestrian at best up until the point Generico was involved. It kicked into higher gear once he got involved.
Post match Steve Corino stops Generico from package piledriving Grizzly Redwood. He gets on the mic and offers Generico another chance to get out of Final Battle as long as he unmasks. Corino says the people want to see Generico get murdered and it's their fault Steen did what he did. Generico teases unmasking before yakuza kicking Corino and then battering the crap out of him. ROH students are out to break it up and then Corino walks away repeating "I tried to help you" over and over again. REALLY good segment and yet even more awesome build to THE definitive ROH feud in 2010.
6. Kyle O'Reilly vs. TJ Perkins
***1/2
A completely different match to pretty much anything I've seen in ROH in 2010. This was a mix of MMA, amateur wrestling and pro wrestling and was just impossible to not be glued to. TJP has come a long way since his days as PUMA and his earlier visits to ROH and here he's against a youngster with a very complimentary style. This match is worth going out of your way to see just because of how different it is.
7. Non-Title Challenge Match: ROH World Champion Roderick Strong vs. Sonjay Dutt
***1/2
This show has been ridiculously solid so far and this match adds to that fact. I was not a fan on Sonjay Dutts previous ROH run but here as a face he seemed refreshed and revitalised and at times was a joy to watch. Strong looked really good in this match and they had an even contest without losing any of Strong’s credibility for the night afters IPPV. Fun match.
8. World Tag Team Title Match: The Kings of Wrestling (Chris Hero & Claudio Castagnoli) vs. The American Wolves (Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards)
****3/4
Sometimes matches can suffer from too much hype. Now given this shows title is Tag Title Classic II, you will have a certain expectation level for this match before it even begins. I kept it out of mind throughout and was delighted by what a great match this was. There's literally so many good moments in this match that I can't really recap and do the rest of the match justice, it's just a great tag match filled with drama and loads of edge of your seat near falls. They pull out pretty much every trick in both their arsenals and the crowd eat up every second of it. An absolute must see match and big reminder of two things... 1) When it comes to the top three US promotions - ROH does tag team wrestling in ways the other two could only dream of and 2) The Kings of Wrestling may have been the most consistently good tag team in all of wrestling in the year 2010.
*SUPER DUPER BONUS CONTENT*
Steven Corino and Kevin Steen talk Final Battle - A 3 and a half minute conversation between these two which adds yet EVEN MORE intrigue to the Final Battle Fight Without Honor between Kevin Steen and El Generico. Nice little bonus feature.
Tag Title Classic II is an easy show to rate. There's not one bad match on this show and the majority of it ranges between good - excellent plus there's a tonne of build towards the following nights IPPV which is all really good. It's a must buy for the main event but the whole card is worth checking out and it's a total breeze to sit through. One of ROHs most consistent cards of 2010 that has not broken the tier of top shows just because there was only 1 real big standout match on the show but that's by no means a bad thing. Buy the DVD!
8.5
Thursday, 16 June 2011
ROH Fate Of An Angel II- Mississauga, Ontario 11/13/10
1. Bobby Dempsey & Grizzly Redwood vs. The House of Truth (Michael Elgin & Zach Gowen)
*1/2
Oh this is not a good way to start a show! This was heatless for the most part and awkward feeling with no real rhythm. The only parts the crowd were really bothered by were the first confrontation between Elgin & Dempsey and the odd moment where Elgin threw Grizz around. Nobody was done any favours by this one and even more puzzling was the decision on who went over.
Post match Michael Elgin has had enough of Zach Gowen so he takes him out with an UMAGE-esque butt bump in the corner. I guess that's bye bye Gowen from the House of Truth.
2. Trial Series #4: Andy "Right Leg" Ridge vs. Mark Briscoe
**
Essentially this was an elongated squash but unlike the Reyes match, at least Mark Briscoe made this one entertaining. There's a fun sequence where Ridge gets dragged round all 4 sides of the ring and receives some of the loudest chops I've heard in quite a while! His chest begins to bleed and after some more chops in the corner, it goes all Joe vs. Kobashi. Yikes! Ridge did get some offense in and Mark Briscoe was more than complimentary, trying to make each one look as good as possible. Ultimately, much like the other trial series matches this did little to "make" Andy Ridge but the snippets of offense he gave looked impressive and it appears on the surface that his style would fit nicely with the ROH style.
3. Sara Del Rey vs. Jamilia Craft
*1/2
This was a shorter match than I was expecting and almost a squash. Craft shows glimpses of being interesting while Del Ray continues to prove why she's one of the top female wrestlers on the US indies. Ultimately there's not much to say about this one, stuff happened and then it ended. At least it was short.
4. World Tag Title Shot On The Line: Colt Cabana and El Generico vs. The All Night Express
***1/2
Interesting dynamic with the Cabana/Generico team in this match as El Generico has metamorphized into dark Generico and is nothing like what we're used to. He's overly aggressive and doesn't pander to the crowd which is great to show how focused he is on Kevin Steen and Final Battle. I'd like to say at this point that the ANX were a treat in this match. They both can have fun with Cabana, know how to get some good heat on a guy and pulled out some nice moves and combos towards the finish.
5. Kyle O'Reilly & Adam Cole vs. The Bravado Brothers
***1/4
This was quite the showcase for Cole & O'Reilly. Sure, The Bravados were not bad at all, even getting some great heat from the fans at times, but I don’t feel they got enough chance to really show us what they can do. It must be said that Paul Turner did a horrendous job keeping the match from losing track of who was legal, so much so that Kevin Kelly was shouting at him on the DVD. There's something to be said for just sitting back, being a fan and just getting lost on the match but at times this match was on the verge of becoming a bit of a clusterfuck. As it stands though, Cole & O'Reilly once again proved why they are one of if not THE hottest prospect in ROH.
6. Grudge Match: Homicide vs. Jay Briscoe
***1/2
The crowd is into Homicide HUGE! It has to be said that whilst that was still a good match, when you look at this on paper perhaps this could be considered slightly under par. The match has a good pace and is largely all about the back and forth action without much resting. The finish was a nice homage to the late Eddie Guerrero.
7. ROH World Tag Team Title Match: The Kings of Wrestling (Chris Hero & Claudio Castagnoli) vs. Kevin Steen & Steve Corino
***3/4
This was everything I expected it to be - a darn hard fought contest in a match that's incredibly simple but worked so well. Steen does a good job of crapping all over the crowd who would probably have partly been on his side due to his Canadian origins. It's Steen & Corino who take control over Hero early on and then later on in the match the Kings work over Corino but the match only really kicks into a higher gear when they begin building to the finish with several very close nearfalls. Credit where credit is due, Steve Corino belonged in this match just as much as the other guys. I know a lot of people don't think he's got it anymore, but here he shows that he can still go!
Of course, after the match Dark Generico runs out to attack Steen only to be held back security goons (or ROH students - whatever you wanna call them). He finally breaks free but then gets restrained again as Bobby Cruise announces that both men cannot engage in any physical contact before Final Battle or be within 50 feet of one another....oh and that their match at Final Battle will be a FIGHT WITHOUT HONOUR!
Backstage Roderick Strong is with Truth Martini where together they cut a promo stating tonight Christopher Daniels will discover what he's got left in the tank - it's running on E! An ok promo.
8. ROH World Title Match: Roderick Strong vs. Christopher Daniels
***3/4
This was a really difficult match to rate. Why? Well I appreciate that they wanted to go out there and give an epic main event title match (and in some regards they did that) but the first 10 minutes or so were not paced well and as a result they lost the crowd. So much so that later on they're kicking out of each others finishers and rather than the rumble and cheering the ROH faithful usually provide, instead we get a mild "meh" from the crowd. The biggest pop from the crowd during the entire match is when Strong shouts at some loud woman in the crowd "SHUT UP SLUT" and for that he's met with a "that was awesome!" chant. It honestly seems at times though that the crowd like Chris Daniels, but don't want him to win the title in fact they really don't support either man particularly. However it's not all doom and gloom and actually, after the initial 10-15 minutes are out of the way the match tells a fairly good story and there are some awesome moves from both guys being pulled out of the bag for this one. They tried so hard to get the crowd back but unfortunately, short of actually killing each other nothing would have sufficed. A good match nevertheless.
*SUPER DUPER BONUS CONTENT*
10 Questions with Steve Corino - A great little addition to the DVD. Corino with Kevin Steen answer a whole bunch of random questions such as
- who's your favourite ROH wrestler?
- who's the best wrestler you've defeated?
- who's the hottest lady in pro wrestling?
- what's your least favourite city?
- would you ever wrestle a bear?
What an odd show to put a score on this one is. On the one hand nothing jumps out as spectacular or must see and there's a few matches not even worth watching however all that is outweighed by the large portion of the show that's solidly entertaining and moves storylines along well. For some reason both Paul Turner and Todd Sinclair had issues keeping an eye on who the legal man was which is made even more odd by their usual high levels of competency. In conclusion I'm still bumping this release up by .5 just for the bonus content which was such a cool little inclusion that I hope they do it more often.
7/10
*1/2
Oh this is not a good way to start a show! This was heatless for the most part and awkward feeling with no real rhythm. The only parts the crowd were really bothered by were the first confrontation between Elgin & Dempsey and the odd moment where Elgin threw Grizz around. Nobody was done any favours by this one and even more puzzling was the decision on who went over.
Post match Michael Elgin has had enough of Zach Gowen so he takes him out with an UMAGE-esque butt bump in the corner. I guess that's bye bye Gowen from the House of Truth.
2. Trial Series #4: Andy "Right Leg" Ridge vs. Mark Briscoe
**
Essentially this was an elongated squash but unlike the Reyes match, at least Mark Briscoe made this one entertaining. There's a fun sequence where Ridge gets dragged round all 4 sides of the ring and receives some of the loudest chops I've heard in quite a while! His chest begins to bleed and after some more chops in the corner, it goes all Joe vs. Kobashi. Yikes! Ridge did get some offense in and Mark Briscoe was more than complimentary, trying to make each one look as good as possible. Ultimately, much like the other trial series matches this did little to "make" Andy Ridge but the snippets of offense he gave looked impressive and it appears on the surface that his style would fit nicely with the ROH style.
3. Sara Del Rey vs. Jamilia Craft
*1/2
This was a shorter match than I was expecting and almost a squash. Craft shows glimpses of being interesting while Del Ray continues to prove why she's one of the top female wrestlers on the US indies. Ultimately there's not much to say about this one, stuff happened and then it ended. At least it was short.
4. World Tag Title Shot On The Line: Colt Cabana and El Generico vs. The All Night Express
***1/2
Interesting dynamic with the Cabana/Generico team in this match as El Generico has metamorphized into dark Generico and is nothing like what we're used to. He's overly aggressive and doesn't pander to the crowd which is great to show how focused he is on Kevin Steen and Final Battle. I'd like to say at this point that the ANX were a treat in this match. They both can have fun with Cabana, know how to get some good heat on a guy and pulled out some nice moves and combos towards the finish.
5. Kyle O'Reilly & Adam Cole vs. The Bravado Brothers
***1/4
This was quite the showcase for Cole & O'Reilly. Sure, The Bravados were not bad at all, even getting some great heat from the fans at times, but I don’t feel they got enough chance to really show us what they can do. It must be said that Paul Turner did a horrendous job keeping the match from losing track of who was legal, so much so that Kevin Kelly was shouting at him on the DVD. There's something to be said for just sitting back, being a fan and just getting lost on the match but at times this match was on the verge of becoming a bit of a clusterfuck. As it stands though, Cole & O'Reilly once again proved why they are one of if not THE hottest prospect in ROH.
6. Grudge Match: Homicide vs. Jay Briscoe
***1/2
The crowd is into Homicide HUGE! It has to be said that whilst that was still a good match, when you look at this on paper perhaps this could be considered slightly under par. The match has a good pace and is largely all about the back and forth action without much resting. The finish was a nice homage to the late Eddie Guerrero.
7. ROH World Tag Team Title Match: The Kings of Wrestling (Chris Hero & Claudio Castagnoli) vs. Kevin Steen & Steve Corino
***3/4
This was everything I expected it to be - a darn hard fought contest in a match that's incredibly simple but worked so well. Steen does a good job of crapping all over the crowd who would probably have partly been on his side due to his Canadian origins. It's Steen & Corino who take control over Hero early on and then later on in the match the Kings work over Corino but the match only really kicks into a higher gear when they begin building to the finish with several very close nearfalls. Credit where credit is due, Steve Corino belonged in this match just as much as the other guys. I know a lot of people don't think he's got it anymore, but here he shows that he can still go!
Of course, after the match Dark Generico runs out to attack Steen only to be held back security goons (or ROH students - whatever you wanna call them). He finally breaks free but then gets restrained again as Bobby Cruise announces that both men cannot engage in any physical contact before Final Battle or be within 50 feet of one another....oh and that their match at Final Battle will be a FIGHT WITHOUT HONOUR!
Backstage Roderick Strong is with Truth Martini where together they cut a promo stating tonight Christopher Daniels will discover what he's got left in the tank - it's running on E! An ok promo.
8. ROH World Title Match: Roderick Strong vs. Christopher Daniels
***3/4
This was a really difficult match to rate. Why? Well I appreciate that they wanted to go out there and give an epic main event title match (and in some regards they did that) but the first 10 minutes or so were not paced well and as a result they lost the crowd. So much so that later on they're kicking out of each others finishers and rather than the rumble and cheering the ROH faithful usually provide, instead we get a mild "meh" from the crowd. The biggest pop from the crowd during the entire match is when Strong shouts at some loud woman in the crowd "SHUT UP SLUT" and for that he's met with a "that was awesome!" chant. It honestly seems at times though that the crowd like Chris Daniels, but don't want him to win the title in fact they really don't support either man particularly. However it's not all doom and gloom and actually, after the initial 10-15 minutes are out of the way the match tells a fairly good story and there are some awesome moves from both guys being pulled out of the bag for this one. They tried so hard to get the crowd back but unfortunately, short of actually killing each other nothing would have sufficed. A good match nevertheless.
*SUPER DUPER BONUS CONTENT*
10 Questions with Steve Corino - A great little addition to the DVD. Corino with Kevin Steen answer a whole bunch of random questions such as
- who's your favourite ROH wrestler?
- who's the best wrestler you've defeated?
- who's the hottest lady in pro wrestling?
- what's your least favourite city?
- would you ever wrestle a bear?
What an odd show to put a score on this one is. On the one hand nothing jumps out as spectacular or must see and there's a few matches not even worth watching however all that is outweighed by the large portion of the show that's solidly entertaining and moves storylines along well. For some reason both Paul Turner and Todd Sinclair had issues keeping an eye on who the legal man was which is made even more odd by their usual high levels of competency. In conclusion I'm still bumping this release up by .5 just for the bonus content which was such a cool little inclusion that I hope they do it more often.
7/10
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