Live Report for ROH 8/16 show

[LucharesuFan619 0]

RING OF HONOR LIVE REPORT (8/16/03; Fairfield, CT)

 

Written: 8/17/03, by LucharesuFan619

 

Ring of Honor debuted at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT on August 16, 2003. The doors opened at 6:30 PM and I arrived at 6:45. One of the downsides of the show was the long wait to enter the building. The line was very long and I didn’t get to enter until around 7:05 or 7:10, even though I was one of the very few who had bought a ticket in advance and wasn’t planning on buying one at the door, like so many others were. I saw ROH owner Rob Feinstein pop his head out of a door and talk to a few fans while I was online.

 

Once I finally was allowed in, I entered the gymnasium and walked to the side where the show was taking place. There were some RF Video merchandise table with several “Best of” tapes, “Shoot Interviews,” and ROH event tapes, DVDs, and t-shirts. The prices for the tapes and DVDs were as high as about $25 in some cases, and no lower than $15, so I didn’t bother buying any. The t-shirts were also pretty expensive. There was pizza and some other refreshments being sold right next to the merchandise tables. I found my seat in the second row and the show luckily started at about 7:30, which was the planned belltime.

 

Unfortunately, I forgot stuff in the car and had to run back twice, so I missed the first couple of minutes of the show. When I arrived back, Homicide was in the ring with the returning Prince Nana. After some words back and forth between them, a match began.

 

Homicide vs. Prince Nana

 

Nana fought off the STF a few times, but Homicide eventually locked it in strong and forced him to tap out.

 

The match was decent for what it was meant to be, but nothing much more than that. The two did perform a couple of reversals and Irish whip sequences, but they certainly didn’t go out of their way to steal the show (nor should they have), considering that Homicide still had to work a match later in the night. ½*.

 

After the bout, Homicide cut a solid promo about Steve Corino. Feinstein came out and Homicide ordered him to bring out Corino, but another backstage crew member grabbed the mic and said that Corino will be out later. Homicide then left the ring after saying that Corino is a “dead man” later on.

 

The Ring Crew Express (Dunn & Marcos) vs. The Purists (John Walters & Tony Mamaluke)

 

The Purists played their heel roles up well. Mamaluke looked decent in his return to ROH and Walters looked good. Dunn/Walters start and then it becomes Tony vs. Marcos. Early in, Dunn lifts Marcos into a sitting position on his shoulders (electric chair-style) and then catapults him off so that he lands on Tony with a senton. Soon after, Walters hit a Canadian Backbreaker (shoulder powerbomb hold) into a DDT. He applies a sharpshooter and when the ref isn’t looking, Tony hits a catapult leg drop onto his opponent, who’s still in Walter’s submission hold. Tony enters and hits a rolling suplex into a bridging northern lights suplex for 2 and a few moments later, Dunn his his signature Gory Special. He tags in Marcos, who does a huracanrana and a Shining Enziguri, but Marcos eventually taps out to a double submission by the Purists.

 

*. Better than the first match, but still nothing exceptional. I really did enjoy the shoulder mount into senton move that Dunn & Marcos did. It’s amazing how they’ve gone from a comedy-based team to some legitimate wrestlers.

 

For a spot in the Field of Honor Tournament: BJ Whitmer vs. Matt Stryker

 

This was a very good match. A very good technical exchange began it and after that ceased, BJ unloaded with a northern lights suplex and then traded pinfall combos and armdrags with Stryker. A “Let’s Go, Stryker!” chant begins. There were a few “pause and applause” sequences in this bout after some of the great wrestling exchanges. BJ hiptossed Stryker out of the ring, but was pulled over the rope to the outside, as well. A short brawl on the outside occurred for awhile before they re-entered the ring. Stryker works on BJ’s left leg with some dragonscrews and various submission holds. The two ended back out at ringside shortly thereafter. BJ fought back by applying a sugar hold (grounded bodyscissors/front facelock hold) and then hit a hangman’s neckbreaker. Stryker mounted a comeback with a Super Sunset Flip Powerbomb and then an exchange of chops ensued. Stryker hit a modified neckbreaker where the back of BJ’s head landed on his knee and then ran off of the ropes with a Yakuza Kick. BJ fought back with a t-bone suplex (one of his finishers) for 2. Stryker ducked a roaring elbow attempt and delivered a head drop cobra clutch-style suplex for 2. BJ blocked Styrker’s attempted roaring elbow and hit another finisher of his, the Brainbuster Suplex, for 2. One of the highlights of the show occurred after this, as Stryker hit a friggin’ Kryptonic Krunch/Reality Check off of the middle buckle, but BJ surprisingly kicked out at 2 again. BJ then fought back with a superplex for 2 and then exchanged forearms with Stryker. BJ downed his foe with a super kick and then tries another t-bone, but Stryker fought out of it and delivered two straight roaring elbows. Both men dropped down to the mat as a time limit draw was announced (even though it was announced as having a 15 minute limit, the bout was more like 10 or 12 minutes, I think).

 

- Afterwards, a “Five More Minutes!” chant was followed by coming into the ring and said – after some other blah blah blah stuff – that since each man was so impressive, they’d both be entered into the Field of Honor tournament. BJ then cut a promo, saying that they’ll wrestle again sometime. The two shake hands and embrace and all of that lovey-dovey type stuff. This was one of the best matches of the night and the two got in a lot for the time alotted. I liked how Stryker tried to weaken BJ’s left leg, as that added some solid psychology to the bout. There were also some cool spots here and several nice reversals. **1/2

 

Tag Team Scramble Match: The Backseat Boyz vs. The S.A.T. vs. The Carnage Crew vs. Special K (Dixie & Izzy)

 

Special K comes to the ring with a bunch of girls and act like they’re on drugs, as usual. They dance around and the smell of Special K cereal fills the building, as they throw that at some of their opponents. After the pre-match stuff, the bout begins. One of the Special K guys (not sure which; sorry) start off with Kashmere. Shortly thereafter, one of the S.A.T. members were tagged in (I still can’t tell the difference between them) and hit a huracanrana and tilt-a-whirl headscissors on DeVito, but the big man soon fought back with a powerslam. Acid and Loc enter and they exchange armdrags and hiptosses. Loc ducks a Yakuza Kick and hits a side suplex. A member of the S.A.T. and a member of Special K enter and perform some fast-paced, innovative action that was too fast for me to keep track of. The S.A.T. did some cool double-team moves, including a double hiptoss into a double bulldog. The BSB entered and performed the Comic Atomic sequence, and shortly thereafter, the C.C. hit a cool swinging backdrop-type suplex/swinging neckbreaker combo. The S.A.T. enter again and hit some cool moves. One of the C.C. members (I forgot to note which) receives the Yakuza kick from Acid a few moments later, but DeVito fights back with a northern lights suplex into the turnbuckle on Acid. Kashmere entered and hit a bulldog. The S.A.T. tried the Spanish Fly, but the K member who were they were trying to perform it on knocked them off of the buckle and hit a Tornado DDT. The C.C. delivered their Super Spike Piledriver a few minutes later(!), but the match continued. An S.A.T. member hit an Asai Moonsault to the outside and Acid then somewhat botches a superplex on an opponent all the way to the outside, where the other participants catch them. Kashmere hits the Cradlebreaker back in the ring, but Dixie (I think) runs into the ring and takes him down with a schoolboy rollup for a surprise pinfall win.

 

This match had some very cool spots in it and I think everybody who saw it enjoyed it, but I would’ve liked to have seen it go a little bit longer. **1/2.

 

- Afterwards, The BSB are really pissed at their loss and they humiliate Special K, while they (Special K) party at ringside. The BSB eventually leave and Alexis Laree comes out. A match between her and Becky of Special K eventually begins.

 

Women’s Match: Becky Bayless (of Special K) vs. Alexis Laree

 

There was an altercation between two fans sitting right next to me at the start of this bout. A woman said that a guy sitting in front of her said something that she didn’t like and they ended up getting into an argument. A security guy came over and told them to be quiet, which they did…for awhile. In the ring, the early part of the bout saw another girl of Special K distract the ref while Becky beat on Laree. Becky suplexes Laree, but Laree fights back with a low Japanese dropkick to Becky’s face, and then some kicks. The other Special K girl continued to try to distract the ref, but during that time, Laree fought off some members of Speical K and eventually hit a Swinging DDT into an Inverted DDT for the win.

 

This bout wasn’t much, not was it supposed to be. Both women tried, so I will give them points for that, but they’re not going to receive many more kudos than that because the match was pretty “blah.” ¼*.

 

- Right after this match, some fans (including myself) see Tony Mamaluke leaving through the crowd with a girl (probably his girlfriend or wife).

 

- The former-ROH champion, Xavier, got some pops in his return to ROH, but it was Daniels who was the crowd favorite…and by a long shot. The fans went insane for Daniels as he came to the ring in his black preacher suit. When he entered the ring, Xavier described his story of how the Prophecy was disbanded and he blamed it on Daniels, saying that Daniels knew that Xavier was always better than him and so did the fans, a contention that he backed up by saying that he in fact is the better man, since he won the ROH World Heavyweight Title from Low Ki. He then says that the easiest way for them to do this is for Daniels to lay down for Xavier to pin him and win the trophy, and that way he can “bring the Prophecy back to greatness.” Daniels, though, has some other thoughts. He says that Xavier was the champion because he let him win the title, for it was his plan – he says – that allowed for him to win the title. He says that he’s the leader of the Prophecy and that he’s not going to ask for Xavier to lay down because if he wants him to lay down, he’ll beat him until he lays down. Daniels is quite over with the fans.

 

#1 Contenders Trophy Match (for the ROH World Heavyweight Title): Xavier vs. Christopher Daniels (w/ Simply Luscious)

 

A very solid mat/technical exchange begins the match. After this, a fan says something to Daniels that he doesn’t like and he plays it out for awhile, making it into an altercation full of words that were exchanged. The match continues then and Daniels gains control early. An awesome sequence featuring the two bridging out of snapmares into ¾ facelock bulldog (stunner) holds, and back into stunners ensues, and they then transition into an exchange featuring side headlock takeovers. After a pause in the action, a slugfest ensues and Daniels uses a lot of different knee lifts and knee smashes. Soon thereafter, Daniels ends up on the apron and Xavier sends him bouncing down to ringside with a jawbreaker using the top ring rope. Xavier then hits an insane Flying Arabian Press, where he leaps off of the top buckle, lands in a sitting position on the top ring rope, and bounces off of that into a backflip, which he catches Daniels with at ringside! This gets a big pop. Xavier uses a slingshot move into the ring mat when they re-enter the ring and he then backs Daniels into a sitting position in the corner and hits a tipup knee smash to his face off of the middle buckle. Another technical exchange occurs and Daniels hits a low running dropkick and then a t-bone lift into a gutbuster. Xavier escapes a suplex and does a side Russian leg sweep into a grounded headscissors hold and – after a short while – into a crucifix-style pin for 2. Xavier runs toward Daniels (who’s in the corner) and dropkicks him and then runs off of the ring ropes, but Daniels – out of nowhere – surprises him with a stiff knee lift that sends him somersaulting forward over Daniels’ knee and landing on the mat. Daniels hits a knee drop and then delivers a hard Irish whip into the corner. He follows with a gutwrench lift into a gutbuster and then applies an abdominal stretch. Xavier eventually tries to escape with a hiptoss. Daniels lands on his feet, but Xavier immediately hits an inverted DDT then. Xavier follows with a fireman’s carry into a gutbuster and then a dropkick for 2. Daniels fights back with a jawbreaker that sees Xavier’s face land on his foe’s knee. Daniels follows with an inverted Russian leg sweep (Downward Spiral) for 2. Xavier pulls Daniels off of the middle buckle a few moments later and lariats him hard when he’s in midair. He then applies a front full nelson and drives Daniels backwards (so that he lands on his back; Xavier, meanwhile, falls forward) into the mat. Daniels pushes him into the ringpost and delivers some headbutts to the midsection before hitting a modified t-bone suplex. He misses his Double-Hop Moonsault Splash, though, and Xavier then gains a lot of applause by performing a 450° Splash. Luscious puts Daniels’ foot on the rope at 2 and Daniels counters an attempted X-Breaker (Cross-Arm Hangman’s Neckbreaker) with an inside cradle for 2. He then applies a cool modified Gannosuke Clutch-type pin for 2. Xavier tries a floatover pin out of nowhere, but gets 2. Both men hit a lariat and they end up lying on the mat for awhile while the ref begins counting. They eventually struggle back up to their feet and Xavier tries a backslide, but Daniels hooks the ropes with his foot. Daniels then applies a back waistlock and rolls Xavier – along with himself – backwards so that he ends up with a rolling back pin-type manuever for the surprise win!

 

This featured some very good stuff. Xavier looked very good in his return to ROH and Daniels – as usual – proved why he’s one of (if not the) best wrestler in the U.S. not to be signed by WWE. This was a good blowoff match to the long-running feud between these two and it also served as an excellent wrestling match. There were some great technical sequences, creative pinning combos, and very cool highspots. I definitely enjoyed it and it was probably the best match on the card at the time. ***.

 

- It’s now time for intermission. I see The S.A.T. talking to some fans and end up meeting up with the Carnage Crew’s HC Loc (a former-ECW ref and wrestler) who agrees to grant an interview with me after the show.

 

After intermission ends, the show continues.

 

Four-Way Match: Hydro vs. Deranged vs. Slyk Wagner Brown (w/ April Hunter) vs. Jonny Storm

 

Storm has traveled all the way from the UK to make his return to ROH. On the other hand, Deranged and Hydro have both wrestled in ROH before, but Hydro needs to solidify himself as a legitimate singles wrestler outside of the Special K faction that he’s also a part of, while Hydro needs to continue his streak of impressive matches to continue his break out year. Deranged and Hydro start, but Slyk is quickly tagged in and hits a double back body drop on both men at the same time. He acts like he wants to ally with Storm for the match, but he surprises him with a stiff lariat for 2. Deranged comes back in and hits a tilt-a-whirl headscissors takeover and then ends up on one of his foe’s shoulder (I didn’t note whose) in a British Bulldog-style powerslam position, but counters by turning it into a DDT. Slyk hits a backflip splash (!) a few moments later and tags in Storm, who hits a huge lariat and then a spinning heelkick on Deranged. Hydro is tagged in by Deranged. He and Deranged each hit several running splashes and running Shining Wizards on Storm, who is standing in the corner. Jonny hits his signature Corner Springboard into a Somersault Body Attack Suicida (!) on I believe Hydro (although I may be wrong). Hydro then hits a Quebrada over the top ring rope (!) and takes out some of his foes at ringside, but then comes Slyk, who takes all three of his opponents out with a massive Running Catapult Somersault Attack! Back in the ring, Deranged is tagged in to fight Storm and does so hesitantly, but not before shouting to the guy who tagged him in (I didn’t note who; sorry), “Are you kidding?! I’m not fighting him!” Deranged is sent into the ropes and leaps into a bodyscissors. Storm catapults him up onto his shoulder so that he’s in a shoulder mount, but then turns that into a huracanrana (it may’ve been an inverted huracanrana, so don’t get mad if I’m wrong)! Deranged runs off of the ropes again and hits a Sunset Flip Powerbomb on Storm, but the UK standout fights back with a t-bone suplex lift into a sitout facebuster-style move. Next, Storm comes off of the ropes and leaps into a bodyscissors. Deranged catapults him back up into the air and Storm comes down by delivering a DDT. Slyk comes in and hits a Crucifix Powerbomb into a DDT. Slyk climbs up top, but Storm catches him and tries a Super Huracanrana. Slyk, though, catches him and adjusts his position so that he is holding Storm in a fallaway slam position. He then leaps off of the middle buckle and slams Storm on his back with a move where he turns the fallaway slam hold into a Sitdown Side Uranage (Sitdown Rock Bottom), like D’Lo Brown used to use and Chris Harris uses in NWA-TNA (Harris calls it the Catatonic)! Slyk then catapults himself up onto the top buckle like RVD does, but ends up partially slipping, causing a “You F*cked Up!” chant to begin. He ignores it and tries a friggin’ SHOOTING STAR PRESS, but Deranged rolls out of the way. Deranged then gains the surprise pinfall win by leaping onto the middle buckle in the corner, springing backwards onto Storm’s shoulders, and delivering an Inverted Huracanrana! After the bout, Jonny and Slyk are left alone in the ring and they shake hands and embrace before heading backstage together.

 

This bout was definitely better than I expected it to be. Going in, it did look good on paper, but it turned out to be a very fun spotfest, maybe even more so than the Scramble Match earlier in the night. Slyk also looked very good. I must say, though, that Storm didn’t impress me as much as I thought he did. It was mainly the other three that were holding the match together, for the most part. I’m not trying to say that Storm didn’t work hard, but he just wasn’t involved in the match as much as I would’ve liked to see of him.

 

Anyway, this MVP of this match was Deranged. Man, he had a lot to prove going into this match (as I mentioned) and he definitely made a believer out of me. He may only be somewhere like 18-24, but he is very athletic and is a great spot wrestler. Slyk’s Uranage move off of the top buckle was very impressive and even more so was his Shooting Star Press, which I had no idea that he could do. Hyrdro also looked solid in this match and participated in some creative sequences. I enjoyed the bout and I think most of the other fans did. It’s certainly not up to part of some of the previous Scramble-style matches in ROH, but it was still very entertaining and I look forward to seeing Hydro and especially Deranged and Slyk back in ROH. If Storm is willing to do a few more spots per match (like he does in FWA and the other promotions he works in), I’d like to see him return, too. **.

 

- C.M. Punk come to the ring and a chant for him begins. He cuts a promo where he attempts to persuade the crowd to turn straight edge (drug and alcohol free) and hypes his 9/6 match vs. Raven. Punk is quite over with the fans. Samoa Joe then comes out wearing his ROH title belt and a “Joe!” chant begins.

 

Non-Title Match: C.M. Punk vs. ROH World Heavyewight Champion Samoa Joe

 

The fans yell some “you’re fat”-style jokes at Joe during the bout. After a handshake, they start off with a decent technical exchange that shows that Punk can hang with some of the best ROH can offer. Joe applies a grounded crossface hold and shows off his power with a fierce Greco-Roman lockup that features Punk screaming for him to release the hold. Punk eventually escapes the move with a Huracanrana and then tries to apply a Crippler Crossface, but Punk reaches the ropes. Joe t-bone suplexes Punk soon thereafter and does some Otani boot scrapes in the corner. Joe tries the same thing on the outside, but Punk drop toeholds him on a chair as he charges. Joe regains control and succeeds in hitting two more Otani boot scrapes that see him kick Punk off of a chair and into the guardrail. Punk retreats and lures Joe back into the ring before attacking him. Joe fights back with a sitdown inverted atomic drop that sees him sit down and thereby drop Punk chest-first on his shoulder. Joe sets Punk up in a tree of woe position and hits a running crotch kick. Punk fights back with a single-arm DDT and then a catapult somersault senton. An “Alcoholic!” chant begins. Punk hits a ropewalk high Lou Thesz Press and then uses an armbar-style takedown. Punk attempts the Pepsi Plunge off of the middle buckle, but Joe fights out of it and dragon screw leg whips Punk off of the middle buckle and down to the mat below. Punk fights back with some stiff face kicks and then hits a Shining Wizard for 2. An exchange of kicks occurs and Punk tries another ropewalk, but Joe dragon screws him again. Joe applies a stiff single-leg crab hold for the win. After the bout, Daniels runs in and delivers a Shining Wizard and then hits the Angels Wings on Joe. Punk smiles at him in a show of thanks before Daniels heads backstage. Punk limps backstage a few minutes later.

 

- I enjoyed this match. Joe’s offense was very stiff, but as everybody seems to say about him, he is really a pretty good worker for his size. He did surprise me at how big he was and he really does need to lose some weight, but nonetheless, he can definitely work well. This bout also helped to continue the push of Punk and his pre-match promo continued the war of words between himself and Raven. I can’t wait for the 9/6 match between the two. I question the number of Otani boot scrapes that Joe used, as it kind of got repetitive at a point, but I still enjoyed the bout a lot. **1/2.

 

- Homicide comes to the ring with Julius Smokes, and then out comes Steve Corino, who is wearing a towel over his head like Taz used to do (only it is white and not black) and three title belts around his body. Corino’s yellow suit is really, really, formal-looking and definitely serves to put him over as someone very, very special, which he no doubt is. He’s very over with the fans, who are basically split between whether to cheer him or boo him. Corino is accompanied by his PWF buddy, Guillotine LeGrande.

 

Corino is introduced first and his introduction literally lasts a total of about five minutes. The ring announcer reads off every single title that he’s won in the business. The fans are literally in awe during this intro and some – including myself – realize how unique it is to be in the prescence of such a great competitor and begin bowing down to him. It literally seems as if his intro goes on forever. About halfway through the intro, the ring announcer has to take a break and drink a water bottle due to how much effort it took to read off all of Corino’s accomplishments. The crowd cracks up at this. The ring announcer finishes his intro of Corino by saying that he’s “the exteme legend,” “the king of old school,” and the “f*cking God of pro wrestling.” Some ringside crew members even shoot yellow streamers into the ring after Corino’s name is read aloud, and they then scramble to grab them out of the ring.

 

After this, he announces Homicide, whose intro lasts approximately seven seconds or so. Classic stuff.

 

Code of Honor Waived (No Holds Barred, anotherwards) Grudge Match: Homicide vs. Steve Corino (w/ Guillotine LeGrande)

 

Tieup. After a wrestling sequence, a slugfest ensues. Homicide applies a leg lock. Another wrestling exchange follows before another slugfest begins. The two exchange chops for awhile, before Homicide resorts to an eye poke, which the fans aren’t too happy about. Corino dares Homicide to slap him and he receives just that. Corino walks right back up to the face of Homicide and receives another slap. He then rolls out of the ring and heads toward the locker room, apparently not wanting to deal with Homicide anymore. Homicide chases after him, though, and the two brawl at ringside. Homcide whips him into the guardrail and then hits a running corner forearm smash back in the ring. Corino ends up in a sitting position in the corner and Homicide hits some Otani boot scrapes, only with knee smashes to Corino’s face instead of boot scrapes. Homicide rips at Corino’s face and then delivers a huge headbutt that knocks Corino down. Corino rolls out of the way of a Diving Headbutt off of the top buckle and then hits an awesome and pretty stiff running leaping heelkick out of the corner. Corino abuses Homicide on the outside with eyerakes and crossface-type punches. Homicide gaines control and uses the guardrail to his advantage, while Julius chases security around. The stiff brawl on the outside continues. Homicide ends up bleeding from the mouth. At this time, another confrontation right next to me occurs, with a young girl sitting in the second row trying to convince some dude who actually has seats in a row several rows back to move out of the way because she can’t see. They exchange some words for awhile and the girl ends up missing most of the ringside brawl between the two participants because of this guy. The dude finally heads back to his seat after having a few more words with the girl. Back to the match - Corino delivers a stiff lariat back in the ring and it looks as if Corino’s arm may be bleeding, although the blood may have come from Homicide’s face, which continues to bleed. Corino has a confrontation with a ringside fan before cutting Homicide open even more at ringside by using barbed-wire. Back in the ring, Corino piledrives Homicide for 2 and then Piledrives him through a ringside table, which begins a “Holy Sh*t!” chant. A “Corino Sucks!” chant begins. Homicide gets a boot up in the corner when Corino charges toward him and the then delivers a wacky-looking, yet cool Tornado DDT. He follows with the Shining Wizard, but doesn’t make the cover. Homicide is really bleeding by now. He misses an insane diving somersault attack through the middle ring ropes and lands back-first on the guardrail, before dropping off of it and into the crowd. The fans go insane for this move and begin another “Holy Sh*t!” chant. That’s followed by a “Steve Corino!” vs. “Corino Sucks” chant, with some fans chanting one thing and others chanting the opposite thing. Back in the ring, Corino gets 2, which angers him enough to apply an legscissors/STF type of move with a sleeper applied, too. A “Tap!” chant begins, but Homicide reaches the ropes. The crowd is eating this match up. Corino applies a Taz(z)mission, but Homicide escapes with a low blow kick and hits a running Yakuza Kick. Julius does a hilarious dance at ringside as the ref begins a 10 count when both men drop down to the mat. Homicide climbs up top, but Corino catches him and uses a Superplex. Next, Corino hits a running forearm smash in the corner and then – get this – blows some of his snot into the crowd! EWWW! Corino gets caught climbing up top and Homicide hits a friggin’ Stunner out of a standing position on the top buckle! Holy crap! He obtains a very dramatic 2 count. He follows with a Northern Lights Bomb-style move for another 2 count. Next, Corino escapes an attempted t-bone suplex, but receives a headbutt and then a fireman’s carry into forward-type-of slam (it wasn’t completely clear what Homicide was trying to do because I don’t think he nailed it completely correctly). One of the participants (I didn’t note which; sorry) hits a body slam into a tombtsone piledriver-type move. The fans are really loving this match. A few moments later, Homicide delivers a big lariat for 2. Corino uses a forearm smash, but then receives a drop toehold. Homicide then applies an STF. Corino starts to crawl towards the ropes, but he pulls Corino back into the center of the ring and then applies an STF/Inverted Armlock-type submission. Suddenly, Guillotine LeGrande tosses a white towel into the ring, signaling that Corino wants to tap out (about 30:00). The fans are confused and so am I, but Homicide is announced as the winner.

 

After the winner, some medics run out and check on Corino. Homicide soaks himself with a water bottle and drops of blood fall like rain off of his head. He pushes everyone away from him and Corino and then stands over Corino before pouring some water on the veteran. Homicide leaves with Julius, while the medics continue to tend to Corino, who plays out an injury for awhile before finally sitting back up. The medics continue to help him and he eventually stands partially back up on his feet. A bunch of guys help hold him up and bring him back to the locker room. A “Steve Corino!” chant occurs as he leaves.

 

This match was really enjoyable. The heat of the feud between them exploded in a brutal match with a little bit of wrestling. The ring announcer did a good job before the bout of portraying Corino has a worldwide legend and building Homicide up as the underdog. Homicide – working his second match of the night – worked very hard (as did Corino) and bled quite a lot. There were a lot of near falls in this bout and the fans ate up every moment of it. There was a lot of drama in this match and each participant showed lots of heart. The weird finish causes me to deduct a few points from the overall rating, but other than that, the match was quite solid. Homicide proved to the fans and myself that he really is a very talented performer and can both take and dish out a lot of abuse. I decided after the show that he deserves MVP of the Night Honors, for working two matches and for putting on such a great performance with Corino. I was kind of surprised at how much Homicide bled during the match and how little Corino bled, but I do understand that they wanted to convey Homicide’s ability to absorb a lot of punishment and still continue to fight hard. This was a very important win for Homicide, but I really wish that there was more clarity in regard to the finish and why it occurred. That confused me, along with some other fans, from what I gathered. Otherwise, this was a very fun blowoff match to the heated feud between these two. This was the MOTN, in my opinion. ***

 

- After this bout, some guys enter the ring and mop up all of the blood that covers the mat.

 

Danny Maff (formerly Mafia) vs. Low Ki

 

Maff came out first and throughout the match, a few morons in back of me were shouting “Muff” and crap like that towards him. It was funny for the most part, but I still could’ve done without it. Anyway, Maff hid near the entrance aisleway and attacked Ki from behind when he made his entrance. It must be said that Ki receives a massive pop, probably the second (and arguably the biggest) of the night, behind Daniels. The two brawl at ringside for a short while before they re-enter the ring. There, Maff bites into the head of Ki before falling down to his knees and absorbing two stiff buzzsaw-type kicks from Ki. He blocks a third, but Ki quickly resorts to some Mongolian chops and then a stiff Japanese dropkick, a snapmare, and his signature “craz” elbow drop off of the ropes. Kie uses some stiff chops and a running forearm smash in the corner, but Mafia fights back and applies the bodyscissors cradle/front facelock submission hold that Chocoball Mukai once used in FMW. Ki escapes the hold and delivers an armbar-style takedown. The two go face-to-face and exchange chops before Ki delivers a Mongolian chop. Maff comes right back with a lariat, but then receives a stiff kick. Ki tries a crucifix pin, but that’s blocked and Maff hits a tiger-style suplex. A “Low Ki!” chant begins as Maff delivers a shoulderbreaker and then mocks Ki by delivering the “crazy” elbow drop he did earlier in the match. Maff hits a standing leaping senton and then a snapmare and some back chops. These strikes look to have little effect on Ki, who absorbs and no-sells some more forearms and chops to his back from a sitting position before nailing a stiff head kick. Ki does a leap frog over Maff and then hits the Tidal Wave (Slingshot Corkscrew Enziguri). A “Low Ki!” chant begins as he attempts the pin, but Maff kicks out at 2. Suddenly, though, the bell rings (about 6:00) and it looks like Maff is hurt. It was later announced that he was knocked unconscious via the move. A ref and some other people enter the ring and check on him as the ring announcer tells the fans to leave the building immediately and that the show is over. I stay for awhile since I have to talk to some people. Over the next 10 minutes or so, RF, Daniels, and Gabe come out and by the time about 20 or 30 minutes have passed, Samoa Joe, Xavier, The S.A.T., and some others come out to the ring and check on Maff.

 

Up until the injury, the match was very solid. The two used some stiff strikes and sold well (besides Ki’s “hulking up”). I’m unhappy about the “Muff!” chants and that type of stuff, but the wrestlers can’t control that and the part that they could control – the quality of the match – was very good. It’s hard to give any conclusive observations because the match didn’t come to an end, so I guess I’ll rate it about *3/4 up until the injury. It’s too bad it ended so abruptly because the bout was just beginning to really get to be good.

 

After the show, I learned that the injury (which I can assure everyone was legitimate) came when Ki hit the Tidal Wave. Maff was unable to continue after that move and that’s why the bout was ended. I find it weird that he was able to kick out right after taking the move, but I guess that was out of adrenaline and once he did that, he lost all of the adrenaline that so many retain during matches.

 

I talked to CM Punk for awhile about his feud with Raven and then got a photo with him and an autograph. Punk was noticeably limping, just like he was when he exited the ring area after his match with Joe.

 

Following the conversation with Punk, I got autographs from Slyk Wagner Brown, April Hunter and Dunn. Most of the other wrestlers who weren’t walking around the gym alone were in the ring with Maff. It took 30 minutes or more for Maff to finally be helped backstage.

 

Around this time, I found HC Loc and he gave me an autograph before we sat down for about 15 minutes and conducted a brief interview about his career. A summary of the interview will be available on NoHoldBarredWrestling.com sometime in the next few days. During the interview, DeVito came around and started teasing me, asking me why the hell I had a ton of pieces of paper with sloppily printed letters covering them (I took notes during the show, which is why I was able to write such a detailed summary of the show). DeVito really wanted to go out and have a beer with DeVito and some other guys, but they were cool and waited around until we were finished with the interview. Loc is a really nice guy and is very well spoken. I want to thank him for taking the time to grant this interview.

 

After the interview, I thanked Loc and he went off with DeVito and some other guys, while I headed back to the ring area. By this time, Maff was just leaving the ring area and being helped backstage. I took a look at the merchandise tables again and then asked for an autograph from Low Ki, but he understandably didn’t want to sign one right now. He seemed pretty pre-occupied about something, most likely the injury of Maff that he played a part in. I also saw Xavier leaving.

 

I left the show at about the time that the ring crew and some wrestlers (I believe Marcos was helping out, but I may be wrong and it may not have been him) were disassembling the ring. It was later announced over the Internet that Maff went to a nearby hopsital, but was released after having a “precautionary x-ray.”

 

Overall, this show was quite fun. It wasn’t quite at the level that I expected it, judging by the reviews of the last few shows, but – quite honestly – that’s because I think that I was excessively pumped (more so than normal) because I had yet to see an ROH show live. I was especially looking forward to the Tag Team Scramble Match and I think that the shorter than I expected length of that played a considerable part in my critiques of the show.

 

Otherwise, it was pretty solid, and even the “blah” matches (Homicide/Nana and Becky/Laree) kept to a miniumum. The highlight of the show was the Homicide/Corino match and BJ/Stryker, Xavier/Daniels, and the four-way singles match were also very fun. The Dunn & Marcos/Purists match and Tag Team Scramble Match were average, but – like I said – I would’ve liked to have seen the scramble match last a bit longer.

 

Anybody who calls themselves a wrestling fan should check out ROH if they haven’t seen it yet. People can talk about promotions like CZW, IWA-MS, MLW, NWA-TNA, and XPW being the second coming of ECW, but if there ever can be a promotion that will follow in the steps of ECW (which it’s quite possible that there never will be), that promotion is ROH. ECW’s legacy is changing the way that pro wrestling was executed and out of all of the aforementioned promotions (along with other various companies throughout the U.S. and the world), ROH is the closest to succeeding in that regard. Check out RFVideo.com for more info on the video tapes and other pro wrestling merchandise of RF Video and/or ROHWrestling.com for more info on Ring of Honor.

[Guest Miss Indy Queen]

You mean Allison Danger NOT Simply Luscious.

[LucharesuFan619 0]

You mean Allison Danger NOT Simply Luscious.

Yeah, i realized i made that mistake afte rposting it,.

[LucharesuFan619 0]

Bump.

[Detective Comics 0]

The fans yell some “you’re fat”-style jokes at Joe during the bout.

 

 

Maff came out first and throughout the match, a few morons in back of me were shouting “Muff” and crap like that towards him. It was funny for the most part, but I still could’ve done without it.

Hey quad tear, I was the moron sitting behind you. You are a fool for going to a wrestling show (with your daddy, Crazy Alan Jay Cody) and writing a fucking move by move review rather then enjoying it. I hope you had a shittier time because of me. The guys sitting next to me from CWA laughed their balls off the entire night.

 

Oh, yeah, Samoa Joe is FAT

 

Matt Stryker is a good wrestler, BUT, he does not entertain me

 

Who the fuck would put a title on Corino, never mind 3

 

Xavier should go kill himself

 

Becky Bayless cannot work for shit

 

AND

 

I did not yell "Muff," because I was too busy yelling "MAFF," ya know, the name of the guy who was wrestling the match....

 

Christ, I hope I get a seat next to you at 9/6 just so I can laugh in your face for writing down what happened move by move for a few marks who didn't have the time to go down and see it themselves.

[LucharesuFan619 0]

The fans yell some “you’re fat”-style jokes at Joe during the bout.

 

 

Maff came out first and throughout the match, a few morons in back of me were shouting “Muff” and crap like that towards him. It was funny for the most part, but I still could’ve done without it.

Hey quad tear, I was the moron sitting behind you. You are a fool for going to a wrestling show (with your daddy, Crazy Alan Jay Cody) and writing a fucking move by move review rather then enjoying it. I hope you had a shittier time because of me. The guys sitting next to me from CWA laughed their balls off the entire night.

 

Oh, yeah, Samoa Joe is FAT

 

Matt Stryker is a good wrestler, BUT, he does not entertain me

 

Who the fuck would put a title on Corino, never mind 3

 

Xavier should go kill himself

 

Becky Bayless cannot work for shit

 

AND

 

I did not yell "Muff," because I was too busy yelling "MAFF," ya know, the name of the guy who was wrestling the match....

 

Christ, I hope I get a seat next to you at 9/6 just so I can laugh in your face for writing down what happened move by move for a few marks who didn't have the time to go down and see it themselves.

Now lookee lookee here...I spy a moron.

 

"I did not yell "Muff," because I was too busy yelling "MAFF," ya know, the name of the guy who was wrestling the match...."

 

I never said that it was you who was shouting it. I said "the fans." There are more fans than just u that attended the show, you prepubescent fat ass.

 

"I hope you had a shittier time because of me. The guys sitting next to me from CWA laughed their balls off the entire night."

 

Why would I give a shit because of you, seeing as how 1. I didn't even know you attended the show 2. I didn't even know that there is such a person as u that posts on this board and 3. I wouldn't give a shit if you died tomorrow.

 

"Oh, yeah, Samoa Joe is FAT"

 

Never said he wasn't.

 

"Matt Stryker is a good wrestler, BUT, he does not entertain me"

 

That's because u wouldn't know good wrestling if it was right before ur eyes.

 

"Who the fuck would put a title on Corino, never mind 3"

 

Maybe b/c he's charismatic and talented as can be.

 

"Xavier should go kill himself"

 

Nah, I'd rather see him continue to put out great matches.

[Guest JustinCredible2k]

Sounds like it was a great show. One of these days im gonna go to a RoH show. One of these days....