ROH: 5 Year Festival/Samoa Joe Farewell Tour Night 3 (Dayton)

[Hawk 34 0]

The first two nights of the festival tour has seen surprising results from the betrayal of Roderick Strong against long time tag team partner, Austin Aries with his new stable-mate Davey Richards which led to Austin and other long time partner of Strong, Jack Evans to vow revenge with their own collective stables. Homicide's long awaited title reign came to a end when NOAH superstar Takeshi Morishima captured the title, making him the first international ROH World Champion. His one and only currently scheduled title defense on American soil comes in Dayton against the hometown hero, BJ Whitmer whom is notorious for his ability to take a beating.

 

This show is being held on the 5 year anniversary to the day of ROH's inception in 2002 which was headlined by a special appearence by Eddie Guerrero and a legendary main event that was crucial to putting the promotion on the map and in tribute to that main event, this event will revive the Three Way Dance concept to involve the three men whom were on the very first show in 2002 at the Murphy Rec Center including one of the participates of that original match, Christopher Daniels whom will face Jay Briscoe and the former world champion, Homicide.

 

This is a loaded card for a market that ROH has been trying to keep strong despite a series of weak shows.

 

ROH World Title

BJ Whitmer Vs Takeshi Morishima

 

Samoa Joe Vs Davey Richards

 

Open The Brave Gate Title

Matt Sydal Vs Austin Aries

 

Three Way Dance

Christopher Daniels Vs Homicide Vs Jay Briscoe

 

Nigel McGuiness and Colt Cabana Vs Jimmy Jacobs and Brent Albright

 

Grudge Match

Lacey Vs Daizee Haze

 

Sterling James Vs Jimmy Rave

 

SIX MAN MAYHEM

Mark Briscoe Vs Roderick Strong Vs Shingo Vs Claudio Castagnoli Vs Matt Cross Vs ??? (Delirious was named but has been taken off the card via injury but will be appearing on the show)

 

 

-

 

We know Morishima is leaving Dayton and the states with the title especially with the title defense against KENTA next month but it should be a very physical match but alot of these matches could easily steal the show.

[Corkscrew_Senton 0]

Do these Dragon Gate belts with strange titles have different rules, ie is there something specific defining the Open the Brave Gate title vs. the Open the Dragon Gate title?

[Mecha Mummy 0]

Do these Dragon Gate belts with strange titles have different rules, ie is there something specific defining the Open the Brave Gate title vs. the Open the Dragon Gate title?

 

Open the Brave Gate is supposed to have a weight limit and it's more of a lowercard title.

 

Of course, Austin Aries exceeds that weight limit but nobody really cares about the Brave Gate anyway, so.

[King Cucaracha 0]

Eh, I called them doing BJ vs. Morishima for the Title. Wasn't interested then either.

 

Joe versus Davey on the other hand I'm interested in. Hopefully Davey holds his own and gets a career making performance out of it.

[SamoaRowe 0]

He might be good in the ring, but I usually have trouble being interested in whatever BJ Whitmer is doing.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

He might be good in the ring, but I usually have trouble being interested in whatever BJ Whitmer is doing.

I don't get it either. I don't see why Gabe keeps pushing BJ. There's nothing really bad about BJ's work, but he has no charisma or personality at all and his work isn't outstanding enough to warrant a top spot.

[Corkscrew_Senton 0]

He might be good in the ring, but I usually have trouble being interested in whatever BJ Whitmer is doing.

I don't get it either. I don't see why Gabe keeps pushing BJ. There's nothing really bad about BJ's work, but he has no charisma or personality at all and his work isn't outstanding enough to warrant a top spot.

 

Could be because BJ's been around for a very long time. He's dedicated to the company, and as unsensational as he is, he's improved by leaps and bounds since '03. Not that that makes him worthy of being the promotion's top guy, but just sayin'.

[Hawk 34 0]

Got back from the show not too long ago, here's the results and some brief thoughts

 

 

*Nigel McGuinness came out and cut a promo on behalf of Morishima but was interupted by The Irish Airborne, whom challenged Nigel and Morishima. Morishima quietly walked out and took them out and walked away in a flash. Lacey with Jimmy and Brent Albright walked out to confront Nigel. Jimmy Rave snuck in and locked Nigel in a heel-lock before running off as Cabana arrived to start the opening match*

 

1). Nigel McGuinness and Colt Cabana D. Jimmy Jacobs and Brent Albright (Ok match. Nigel in complete Morton mode)

2. Jimmy Rave D. Sterling James via submission (Short but bland match)

3. Lacey D. Daizee Haze via Jacobs' spear (typical woman's match, nothing special)

4. Homicide D. Chris Daniels and Jay Briscoe via top rope ace crusher (pretty solid match here with good stuff between Daniels and 'Cide)

5. Matt Sydal D. Austin Aries (Surprisingly ground based match with a few high spots peppered in.)

6. Claudio Castagnoli D. Shingo, Strong, Mark Briscoe, Pelle Primeau and Matt Cross (INSANE match with a bunch of high spots and a complete Spike Dudley beatdown from the heels on Pelle whom has big balls for taking so many backbreakers and chops from Strong and Shingo)

7. Samoa Joe D. Davey Richards via Muscle Buster on apron (Match of the night. Joe on his game here)

8. Morishima D. BJ Whitmer (Bombed. Crowd wasn't into this at all and alot left during the match. These two just didn't click. The work was fine but there was nothing at all to build off. It's possible Joe drained the energy out of the fans with a hot match and primo promo but that didn't excuse it. This match had two objectives. Put Morishima over as a VADER heel and for BJ to get the holy shit kicked outta him. It barely got each sides covered. Should have been either a fantastic stiff fight or a total mutilation and it wasn't either.)

 

All in all, pretty good show with a hot crowd (that was larger then usual). Worth checking out Joe/Davey and if you like highspots, the six man.

[bob_barron 0]

He might be good in the ring, but I usually have trouble being interested in whatever BJ Whitmer is doing.

I don't get it either. I don't see why Gabe keeps pushing BJ. There's nothing really bad about BJ's work, but he has no charisma or personality at all and his work isn't outstanding enough to warrant a top spot.

 

It also seems like every show BJ takes some insane bump and almost dies.

[The Buzz 0]

Maybe it's just me but even after the czw feud I could see a new spark of charisma in Bj Whitmer. He's not charismatic like a Shawn Michaels, but he's shown me a lot more in the last year.

[Hawk 34 0]

I'm still in shock that Pelle Primeau made Morishima look like a second act.

 

 

BJ has a certain quality that is great for long term mid-card babyfaces. In the vein of Chris Benoit, really. He is great for a good brawl and maybe even a technical match with the right person but he isn't going to get a big pop right out of the gate but with the right match and crowd, BJ really shines.