Hawk 34

I will say it's Dave Hebner, and TNA will try to imitate montreal in their quest to be innovative.

Brown will likely get involved in the main event.

It's not like WWE and TNA are great at delivering on "mystery" men in wrestling. In fact, it's a requirement in pro wrestling that all mystery men fail to surprise you in a positive way, be a idiotic mystery man or be the guy everyone predicted right away.

I guess TNA found out Gen Next won't make it to Orlando or are just preparing for them not to get to Orlando. I really hope this decision doesn't hurt Gen Next.

While the surprise was a disapointment, you have to give Gabe credit because he managed to salvage the night despite losing 3/4 of his usual roster, not to mention 3 of his stars just hours before the show started. By many accounts, the fans still enjoyed the show to an extent, although a handful admited they would have taken the refund knowing that was the card. ROH always falls back on it's reliable consistancy to deliver good-great matches and that's what saved them from a really disapointed crowd. I think the majority of the fans realize the short-comings Gabe had to work with and that will give him a pass for right now. A bad show is a bad show, it's rare for ROH to disapoint its fans but a bad show sometimes doesn't hurt because the momentum was going strong before last night. ROH heads into a major stretch of shows and it's perhaps best for them to shake off a bad show before going into it.

At least she dropped out early enough so that Hughes had proper time to prepare.

He is an great heel, and can really play to the crowd. I haven't seen enough of his work to really properly say how good he is. He is a big guy for an ROH talent (I'd say 6'3 with some bulk). He is a good brawler as well. The confusing aspect of using Pearce is, two weeks ago, he was pro-ROH and anti-CZW and played Cornette's savior. Tonight, he turned on ROH's golden boy and teamed with Prince Nana, a thorn in ROH management's side. Awkward booking pattern likely caused by Shelley's absence. He was basically the best heel on the card to use with Rave.

CM Punk, did show up after the first match. The idea was, "stick around because Punk will be doing something later tonight". Besides, if you braved the atrocious weather just to leave in less then 30 minutes that doesn't make much sense anyways. In all my ROH shows I have been to, I don't think I ever saw anyone leave after the first 3 matches.

Considering that's a stretch of 17 shows, that's a good run. At least ROH has an excuse with the mass loss of talent for tonight's show. It's likely good that the first bad show since NOTG2 occured before a incredible stretch of major shows 2/25-4YA 3/11-CWZ/ROH double header @ ECW arena 3/25-KENTA and Marufuji Vs Joe/Dragon 3/30, 3/31 and 4/1-WrestleMania weekend 4/22-100th show. In all honestly, Gabe did a good job with the circumstances of the night. It's the hypejob he gave the show that will taint the show. The hype could have been toned down a notch and it would have a better reception. When you hype something so hard, that the return of one of the biggest stars of your promotion's history makes a one night only return, is a disapointment, then you over-hyped it.

They wanted to set up the main event and Shelley wasn't there for his match, so Xavier with his Embassy connections was a logical move without blowing the 2/25 main event with Dragon/Rave.

"Even Janet Jones is betting on Big Show to win the Road to WrestleMania Tournament" "Shelton's dropping faster than momma at ringside." Cute.

I think it's safe to say, WWE gave him the okay to make a one night return as a favor to ROH.

Something I want to know is this, what was Punk thinking agreeing to work a ONO with ROH? He's getting heat from the wrong people in the company for being KING OF THE INDIES, so he goes back to ROH for one more time? I am not sure if Gabe made the request, but if he had the choice of one wwe contracted worker appearing and going over ROH talent... Paul London would have been the right move considering he hasn't been in ROH for 2+ years. Punk left 7 months ago. ROH hasn't had time to miss Punk. Also, Maria was there (for the obvious reasons)

I am hoping for the sake of Gabe's credibility, that the surprise was canceled because of the weather. That being said, not living up to a promise isn't going to hurt ROH. It's rather commonplace in wrestling to fail to live up to the hype. Gabe just has to not become consistant at disapointing. It should be noted that Gabe is a mark for CM Punk, so in his mind this was a major event.

He has an out with the weather, so he can say "the surprise couldn't fly in due to the weather". BS, but it can be an out.

so unless it's Heyman cutting a promo to end all promos and some mass brawl erupting leading to an impromptu title match with Danielson/Strong with Danielson tapping out to lose the title... yeah nothing else will live up.

Let's hope the new CEO considers Dutt, dead weight.

Maybe he was paying homage to his mentor, by hyping it so hard only to disapoint?

Not really fair when you lose a huge chunk of your main roster due to other bookings or weather chaos. You have to consider that Gabe likely had to completely re-book this show yet again after finding out 3 of his big names were going to be MIA. Even so, Shelley/Lethal/Cide being there wouldn't change it. He promised a MAJOR surprise and it hasn't lived up...yet. I am also hearing reports that the show is very low with attendence because of the weather.

The last match ended around 10:20, leaving a good 90+ minutes left in the show with just one match left. I am guessing Shelley/Rave Vs Punk/Danielson was the intended main event until the weather situation changed it. While I am sure Nigel/Aries and Strong/Whitmer delivered in giving good matches, so far not even a Punk and Xavier return lives up to the hype. If they didn't hype this so much, Punk and Xavier would be better received. A lesson learned for ROH? Don't book a show the night before TNA's ppv on the east during winter season.

Thoughts: Losing Joe, Styles, Daniels, Shelley, Ki, Lethal and Homicide really hurt and so far Xavier and Punk isn't enough to justify the hype. On a regular night, fans would consider this an understandable throwaway show with the circumstances but they hyped it to the extremes. Punk is very much appreciated but it's hardly a surprise when 90% of the fans instantly predicted Punk to return. X is a mild surprise, only because he was gone for so long and seemingly forgotten but not neccesarily a major name anyways. Strong/Whitmer and the tag match might deliver and I'm sure Nigel/Aries was solid as well. Hardly "changing the face of wrestling" or anything.

Gibson/Whitmer had a very good match together, I wouldn't put it out of question that Strong/Whitmer could bring the goods.

Its 20 minutes into the show, we dont know what else has or will happen.

a) Smash Bradley & Bobby Dempsey over Rick Titus & Keenan Quinn b) Derek Dempsey defended the Top of the Class Trophey over Shane Hagadorn 1) ADAM PEARCE over PELLE PRIMEAU & MITCH FRANKLIN...Pelle and Franklin were set to square off, but Pearce interrupted and took on and beat both men. He then declared that he'd be sitting at ringside...right in front of GLF! -JULIUS SMOKES and THE GRIM REEFER came out. COLT CABANA'S theme soon followed, but turned into MISERIA CANTARE over the audio system and.... CM PUNK returns to ROH tonight!!!! (The crowd went absolutely APE!) Punk started his promo by saying that he does not have a lot of friends...because some people think he's cocky and he even said he went so far as to try and rub off his tattoos last week. He was then attacked by Adam Pearce, only to be saved by COLT CABANA. Punk then asked Cabana why he changed. Punk said that Cabana's mom had even called and asked where she could find Colt. Cabana told Punk he doesn't need his Dad to be a father-figure and he doesn't need Punk to be a father-figure. Punk left the ring and Cabana was jumped by GRIM REEFER. 2) COLT CABANA over GRIM REEFER with a lariat 3) RICKY REYES over KID MIKAZE 4) NIGEL MCGUINNESS retained the PURE TITLE over AUSTIN ARIES in a reportedly "really good" match *RETURN DATE TO LAKE GROVE, NY is FRIDAY, MAY 12th* -RODERICK STRONG hit the ring and called out BRYAN DANIELSON. He stated that since he is the #1 contender to the title, he should get his shot tonight. BJ WHITMER came out and told Strong he was tired of being passed over and challenged him for the #1 contendership. BRYAN DANIELSON made his way out and told Strong that he was going to give him the title shot tonight, but.....Strong doesn't deserve it. PRINCE NANA made his way out and stated that since he could not secure Alex Shelley's flight from Ghana that he was bringing out one of the first members of The Embassy and the 2nd ever ROH Champion, XAVIER!!! -DANIELSON v. XAVIER for the title is on...NOW! 5) BRYAN DANIELSON over XAVIER via DQ to retain the ROH WORLD TITLE due to interference from JIMMY RAVE Rave attacked Danielson and CM PUNK made the save, only to be attacked again by ADAM PEARCE. It appears the main event will be DANIELSON/PUNK v. RAVE/PEARCE. 6) JIMMY YANG over JERRELLE CLARK, AZRIEAL, & JASON BLADE in a 4CS 7) RODERICK STRONG over BJ WHITMER...following the match, Whitmer would not shake hands. 8) CM PUNK & BRYAN DANIELSON over JIMMY RAVE & ADAM PEARCE when PUNK made RAVE submit. Punk gave a speech following the match.

just a reminder, Once results come, I will post them in the other thread.