Ring of Honor 5/14 “Nowhere to Run”
Special Challenge Match
James Gibson defeated B. J. Whitmer
This match was really good. Both guys looked really good here with some nice counters. The match ended when Gibson countered an exploder off the top slamming BJ’s head into the matt. He went for a pin and only got a 2 count, but immediately went for his submission finisher (forgot what it was called) to get the win.
Four Corner Survival
Matt Sydel defeated Matt Stryker, Ace Steel, and Masked Wisconsin Superstar
This match was good, but started off a little slow. About half way through the match, the one ring post broke from one of its supports and started to lean in to the center of the ring. Match ended when Stryker hit a fisherman’s suplex on Masked Superstar and when the ref was counting Sydel hit a splash from the top onto Stryker and pinned him for the 3 count. To help pass the time while they were fixing the ring after the match, Prince Nana and Jimmy Rave came out with Nana cutting a promo. I didn’t get much of it other than that Nana was saying that he didn’t think that Jimmy should have to fight in a cage match tonight.
Special Bonus Match
Chad Collyer defeated Jimmy Jacobs
This was decent. I thought Jimmy looked really good out there and got some good offense in, more so than I remember him getting for his other stuff that I’ve seen. Collyer won with the Texas cloverleaf.
Bonus Main Event
Homicide defeated Doug Williams
I thought that this was one of the best matches of the night. It started out with some good chain wrestling with Doug getting the upper hand, and Homicide leaving the ring and throwing a chair around first, and another time, knocking over the announce table. I really liked being right next to where homicide did his tope con helo (sp??). After that I’m not sure if it was the same time they were on the floor or not, but around the corner from where I was Doug got a suplex on the floor. Doug also did a flying cross body from the top rope to Homicide on the floor. Finish came when Homicide tried a cop killa, but it got countered. I can’t remember how, but he knocked Doug onto the mat and folded him in half for the pin.
Tag Team Grudge Match
Jack Evans and Roderick Strong defeated Alex Shelley and Delirious
Delirious was Shelley’s mystery partner for their tag match and I thought he did better than I expected. The match started out with Shelley/Delirious working over Jack. I was a little surprised with Jack as he didn’t do as many high flying moves. End came when Shelley was knocked out on the outside and Roderick got Delirious to tap.
Special Challenge Match: Winner gets Pure title shot
Nigel McGuinness defeated Colt Cabana
I was a little disappointed with the Nigel/Colt match as they have been 2 guys that I usually enjoy. The match started out really slow with lots of taunts to each other after one countered the other. Colt got busted open on his forehead and things picked up after that cause that pissed Colt off. End came when the ref got bumped and Nigel kicked Colt in the balls and then covered him to get the pin.
World Title Match
Austin Aries defeated American Dragon Brian Danielson
Aries/Danielson was a very good match. I thought Danielson looked really good. They also did some brawling on the ground with Aries hitting a tope right in front of me. The end for this came when Danielson was doing airplane spins and after about 25(crowd chant got to 30, but they were just chanting and getting ahead of Dragon) Aries countered into the crucifix driver. He then climbed the ropes and landed the 450 for the 1-2-3. After the match Joe came out giving half-hearted props for Aries being able to hold onto the title after all those defenses, but said that Aries has only lived up to what Joe already has done and not surpassed him. He also went on about making the Pure title the top title, just like how he made the ROH title mean something. Aries took the mic and said he wants to shake his hand and even hold open the ropes for Joe when he leaves. They shake hands, but when Joe is stepping out through the ropes, Aries uses them to crotch Joe. Joe is stunned and Aries gets a couple shots in, but Joe makes a comeback and gets Aries on the top rope and puts him on his shoulder and hits him with a muscle buster, leaving Aries on the floor outside the ring.
Steel Cage Match: Winner gets World Title Shot
CM Punk defeats Jimmy Rave
The cage match was really good, but I was expecting it to be more brutal. Punk started off hot, but once Rave took control, he was choking out Punk with the shoe strap again. Punk made his comeback again and was using the shoestring on Rave with him on the top rope trying to hang him, and I could he say die Jimmy. Punk also got a chair in the cage and got a few good shots on Rave. Punk was trying to leave the cage via the door and Nana got him with the powder. Also Nana’s valet also got into the cage to keep punk from climbing out the opposite corner from the door. Nana also made his way into the ring and took off his shirt to show that he meant business I guess, but Punk was able to take care of him. Both men also were bleeding from getting rammed into the cage. Finish came when Rave was climbing the cage in the corner and Punk caught him and hooked him for a superplex and hit it from the top of the cage and got the 3 count. Ace and Colt came out to celebrate with Punk for a few minutes with Punk giving both guys hugs and posing.
Overall a very entertaining show and highly recommended to buy when it comes out on either VHS or DVD.
Credit, thank you: Jason Pawlow
