The Intro
Fresh off The Final Showdown from Dayton Ohio, which saw Austin Aries retain his ROH World Title and American Dragon win his Best of Five series against Homicide, Ring of Honor travels to Chicago Ridge, IL, for night two of its double-shot weekend.
The big money match tonight is CM Punk and Jimmy Rave inside a Steel Cage. Punk hopes to get the last laugh in his feud against the cocky, arrogant Rave. Also on the card is Austin Aires defending his title against American Dragon and Doug Williams vs. Homicide.
First, we begin backstage with Bryan Danielson. Dragon is proud because he was the victor in his feud against Homicide. But that was yesterday and this is today. His sights are now set on Aries. Danielson admits that he is more focused on this than any of his prior matches, including his Epic Encounter with Paul London back in April 2003. Before he can continue with his promo, though, Alex Shelley interrupts and lets him and the audience at home know that he is a big fan of beards and Airplane Spins. Shelley says he has Dragon’s back if Dragon will return the favor. Here’s a tip Shelley. Don’t interrupt the bearded one or he will blow you off.
Backstage with James Gibson
Gibson isn’t going to cry over spilt milk (or his loss last night to Aries). He’s ready to contend for all the titles. But before he can do that he must face off against one-half of the ROH Tag Team Champions, BJ Whitmer. Alex Shelley again interrupts a promo and tells Gibson he likes Bud Light and John Deer tractors. Shelley is in dire need of a tag team partner, but again Gibson just blows him off. For those keeping track, Shelley is now 0-2.
Backstage with Generation Next
Austin Aries will prove to the world why he is a fighting champion as he takes on a grueling schedule. Sorry, no one title defense in 30 days for this champion. Speaking for the rest of Generation Next, Aries tells us that Roderick Strong and Jack Evans will finish the job of taking out Shelley for good.
Match #1: James Gibson vs. BJ Whitmer – Battle of the Hillbillies
No collar and elbow tie up to feel each other out for these two competitors. Whitmer instead prefers the body slam and running forearm approach. But he makes the mistake of letting Gibson get his bearings as he takes a break to the outside. Well pacing ringside Gibson grabs Whitmer’s legs and rams the left knee into the ring post. Back in the ring Gibson goes to work on the knee. Nice sequence as Whitmer throws Gibson through the second rope and Gibson quickly races to the top turnbuckle to attempt a flying cross body. Unfortunately, Whitmer rolls over and hangs on to Gibson. He picks him up for a brainbuster attempt and nails it! It’s not enough to get the win, however. When the pacing of the match slows down to a crawl (okay, maybe not a crawl), announcers Dave Prazak and CM Punk take the opportunity to acknowledge Gibson’s “fashionable” John Deer trunks.
At 08:45 Gibson mounts a comeback after taking a beating from Whitmer for several minutes. After a dropkick, Gibson delivers a neckbreaker while holding onto Whitmer’s Hillbilly ponytail. Only a count of 2. Gibson continues to beating down Whitmer. Hillbilly Jesus counters with a Northern Lights Suplex. One…two…Gibson reverses a clamps on the TRAILER HITCH!!! But Whitmer gets to the ropes. Referee breaks it up and Gibson goes for the choke again in the center of the ring! Whitmer grabs a hold of Gibson, rises up and rams him into the turnbuckles. This allows Whitmer to hit his patented Exploder Suplex. One…two…only two. The finale comes after Whitmer and Gibson are up on the top rope. Hillbilly Jesus tries for a Super Exploder, maybe, but it ends up being a reverse neckbreaker by Gibson onto Whitmer. One…two…no! Whitmer kicks out. No worries though, as Gibson locks on the Trailer Hitch and all the Jesus can do is submit.
Winner: James Gibson at 13:06.
Verdict: *** ¼ (Good opening bout. James Gibson may be the King of the Hillbillies, but BJ Whitmer is no slouch. With the victory all Gibson needs now is a tag team partner so that he can contend for the tag titles.)
Inside the ring with Prince Nana and Jimmy Rave
Perhaps it would have been wise for Prince Nana to do this promo in the back. The crowd is Super Hot for The Embassy, telling Nana to “Shut the F-up!” Rave tells the crowd they don’t deserve to see a cage match tonight. That’s too bad. This is but another way to infuriate CM Punk even further.
Match #2: Chad Collyer vs. Jimmy Jacobs (ROH Tag Champion)
In the opening match-up Gibson successfully defeated one-half of the ROH Tag Team Champions. Can Chad Collyer follow suit?
Collar-and-elbow tie up to begin. Hussman vs. a Technical Wrestler with a Unibrow. What a combination. Back-and-forth action for the first few minutes to get a feeling out between both men. Then, Jacobs goes to work on Collyer in the corner and follows it up with a Vertical Suplex. With Collyer dazed near the ropes, Jacobs nails him with shoulder thrusts to the abdomen. When Collyer goes down to the mat its time for some Huss Stomps and the crowd keeps count. As Jacobs gets Collyer to a vertical position, the Unibrow is able to reverse an Irish Whip to the ropes and counters with a Tilt-a-Whirl backbreaker. Collyer keeps the advantage working over the Hussman. About 08:00 in, Jacobs gets his second wind and mounts a comeback. He is successful until he goes for a flying cross body off the top rope. But Collyer moves out of the way. Known for his ground-based attacks, Collyer does something out of character and goes to the top. He too tries a flying cross body. No good. He is able to recover and locks on the Deano Machino Texas Cloverleaf! Reserve by Jacobs for a pinfall attempt. 1…2…no. Only a count of 2. But Collyer is able to lock it on again and all Jacobs can do is tap out.
Winner: Chad Collyer at 10:45.
Verdict: ** ¾ (Yikes. It’s one thing to have your tag champs lose in singles matches. But to have both champions lose back-to-back, and by submission no less, makes me think The HussJesus Experience won’t be holding the gold much longer. About the match: Collyer and Jacobs gave the crowd some okay back-and-forth action, but they didn’t gel to my liking.)
Backstage with Alex Shelley
Humorous segment with Shelley admitting that he’s going stag into his match against Roderick Strong and Jack Evans of Generation Next. After the promo is over and the man behind the camera tells him good luck, Shelley opens up a bathroom stall to see none other than Delirious with his mouth agape. Delirious doesn’t move or talk so Shelley asks, “If you want to be my tag team partner, don’t respond.” Delirious is still frozen so it looks like it will be Alex Shelley and Delirious taking on Gen Next tonight!!
Match #3: Doug Williams vs. Homicide
Forget AJ Styles, as this match is a real Styles Clash. A British grappler taking on the Notorious 187 Homicide. Let’s see how this turns out.
It’s all Doug Williams from the get go. Total domination on the New York brawler. Grabbing and stretching Homicide to no end in all sorts of directions. Homicide retreats to the outside to cool off by flipping a ringside table over. For this match-up CM Punk asks Prazak a question, “Who would win in a fight: Malcolm X or Winston Churchill?” Looks like somebody’s watched Fight Club too many times. Punk believes Malcolm would destroy Winston “by any means necessary.”
When Homicide can’t get an advantage in the match, he turns to mind games. Homicide turns a test of strength challenge into a kick to Williams’ mid-section. But the advantage is non-existent. Williams continues to punish Homicide with chokeholds and knee-to-face drops. 07:45 into the match, everything changes. Williams sets up Homicide for his finisher The Chaos Theory. He goes for it, but the Notorious 187 lands on his feet and hits a dropkick. With Homicide in control he brings a brawling element into the match, fighting with Williams on the outside, and incorporating some power moves (i.e., a Belly-to-Back Suplex) inside the squared circle.
It’s pretty obvious that with ground-based attacks Doug Williams is the better of the two, but when the competitors are vertical Homicide is able to thwart Williams’ offense with a thumb to the eye or a rake to the face. With both men staggered on the mat, Williams gets his bearings back and hits two running high knees on a dazed Homicide. He is unable to capitalize, though. After an unsuccessful Bomb Scare attempt from the top, Williams gets Homicide in position and hits it. 1…2…NO!! Still, Williams can’t take advantage of the situation. Homicide recovers and hits an Ace Crusher and nails Williams with a running Lariat. This is surely the final straw as not many opponents have survived Homicide’s running Lariat finisher. 1…2…NO! Close but Williams barely gets a shoulder up. The damage the Crusher and Lariat the Notorious one delivered to Williams’ neck is a crucial point in this contest.
A dejected Homicide is disappointed he didn’t get the pinfall victory. So Doug Williams recovers and surprises him with The Chaos Theory. Yet when Williams had Homicide in a bridge-pinning attempt, his neck could not support the weight. Then, when he delivered a Tiger Suplex onto Homicide, he couldn’t bridge the hold. So when Williams has Homicide in the corner and considers The Chaos Theory again, he goes for it, but that sneaky Homicide reverses the hold into a small package for the 1…2…3. With that bad neck of his, there was no way Doug Williams could kick out or free a shoulder.
Winner: Homicide at 19:00.
Verdict: *** ½ (Very good match. These two styles clashed very well. Doug Williams was uber cool selling that neck injury of his. This wasn’t like watching “Sports Entertainment” where wrestlers no sell damage to knees or arms or other extremities. Also, I enjoyed how Williams was so in control of the match at the beginning. Everything Homicide tried to do backfired.)
Match #4: Alex Shelley & Delirious vs. Roderick Strong & Jack Evans
You know the team of Shelley and Delirious is off to a bad start when the opening bell rings. Delirious leaves the squared circle and begins running around like a crazy person. This gets the crowd pumped for the match and causes them to yell “Holy Shit!” Tonight’s match is a continuation of a grudge that started at Final Battle 2004; Generation Next kicked its leader, Alex Shelley, out of the group. Since then, Shelley has been hell-bent on taking out each member.
Delirious and Evans kick off the match. Delirious is one crazy S.O.B. Just the way he acts is disturbing. After he and Evans collide off the ropes. Delirious yells at Evans and motions for him to come off the ropes again. As Evans considers the request, Delirious hits him in the mid-section. This begins an early advantage for Shelley’s team. The two exchange tags while working over Evans. 07:15 in Evans tags Strong and he is all about brute force. Minutes later, Strong is wearing down Delirious with a bearhug and a Belly-to-Belly suplex. Tagging in Evans, Generation Next continues the assault. Strong, as the legal man, delivers a vicious back suplex; Delirious landed on his head and his body folded in half. It should be over as Delirious is senseless, but no. Somehow he is able to make a tag to Shelley. Being on the outside for such a long time, Shelley is a house of fire laying into the opposing team. Strong rolls to the outside and Delirious does a Suicide Flip. Shelley works over Evans in the ring as Strong recuperates. When Strong gets back in the ring, Shelley tries his Shellshock finisher, but Strong reverses it into a backbreaker. Four-man mayhem as Delirious tags in and hits a Panic Attack on Strong. Delirious attempts a top turnbuckle maneuver, but as he comes off, Strong grabs hold and plants his knee into him. The action is so intense now it’s hard to type. Shelley’s Boarder City Stretch is broken up by Eminem’s stunt double. With Shelley going to the outside it gives Generation next enough time to wear Delirious down some more, tag-team style. Strong wraps up Delirious in a Liontamer-esque Boston Crab and the power is so great, Delirious submits.
Winners: Generation Next (Roderick Strong & Jack Evans) at 16:34.
Verdict: *** ¼ (Fun tag team match, if a little bit formulaic. The team of Alex Shelley and Delirious were an odd pairing, but they played the babyface roles to a tee. Generation Next work Delirious over for most of the match so you know the crowd is hot when he finally is able to tag Shelley. For the heels, Roderick Strong shows why he’s the next big thing in ROH with his in-ring presence and his arsenal of backbreakers.)
Match #5: Nigel McGuinness vs. Colt Cabana
It’s that time in the event where we take a break from the routine and become amused at watching Mr. Entertainment, Colt Cabana. This guy is awesome at implanting comedy into his matches. During his match with Nigel at ROH’s Manhattan Mayhem there is a moment where Cabana is standing on his hand after he lifts Nigel up from a pin attempt. The look on Cabana’s face will crack you up. But the match’s ending was not a laughing matter for Cabana. He suffered the loss after McGuinness gave him a low blow and rolled him up. Now it’s time for retribution.
Looks like McGuinness is a bit unnerved by the catcalls he’s receiving by the Chicago Ridge crowd. One-time tag team partners, these two men are much better as opponents. The two spend the first few minutes exchanging holds. It gets to the point where Cabana counters everything by Nigel and makes a mockery of his British chain-style wrestling prowess. Cabana is shear entertainment value. When he loses control of the match in a test of strength tie-up, Cabana motions like he’s going to bite Nigel’s left hand. Much to the delight of the crowd, of course. Eight minutes into the match Nigel is focused on Cabana’s left shoulder as he works it over in a half choke-half chicken wing hold. Following a strong lariat by Nigel, he goes for the pin but only gets a count of two. Cabana fights back surprising McGuinness with a backslide for two and series of small packages.
A friendly contest turns to blood warfare when a kindhearted gesture by Cabana – him waiting for Nigel to get off the canvas to his feet – ends up with Nigel head butting Colt. The head butt busted up Cabana and blood started to trickle out. So much for Mr. Nice Guy. The two exchange forearms totally forgetting about matt wrestling. This is a brawl, baby. The ending echoes that of Manhattan Mayhem. Whereas Nigel’s first low blow was accidental, his low blow tonight is surely not. After the blow, McGuinness cradles him in a small package and gets the 1-2-3.
Winner: Nigel McGuinness at 13:31.
Verdict: *** ¼ (Not quite as good as their encounter in Manhattan; the offense and pacing by both men didn’t match the entertainment or tenacity of their previous bout. While some will scoff at the shoddy ending, I think it works because it makes it seem that Nigel McGuinness is learning to love that cheating to win is a good idea.)
Match #7: ROH World Title Match – American Dragon vs. Austin Aries III
Just in time for the Summer movie season, “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson drops The Offspring intro music, and instead plays the Darth Vader theme from Star Wars. It fits because that wrestling robe of his makes him look like one of the sand people. And that beard of his looks like Danielson is modeling himself after Roadkill, the Amish Chicken Farmer back in ECW.
This is the third meeting between Austin Aries and Bryan Danielson. So far they are tied 1-1. So their third encounter is the rubber match. But unlike those two first encounters there’s more at stake, namely the ROH World Title.
The two competitors have a feeling out process to start things off. Dragon goes to work on Aries’ left leg, while Aries counters working on Dragon’s left arm. It is during this time that Samoa Joe joins the commentary team of Jimmy Bower and Dave Prazak for a few minutes. Here he makes comments about Austin Aries and about “how he is filling shoes, I’ve already created.”
Back to the match. The challenger and champion start to chain wrestle and it’s getting the crowd heated up. The culmination comes when Aries pops out of a Dragon sitting head scissors and delivers a standing dropkick to the face. Danielson fights through the pain and tangles the champion up in a neck choke with his own arms. Dragon takes the upper hand wearing the champion down with body slams and an Earthquake-like sit down. Dragon seems focused on working the torso of Aries. First he attacks the chest, and then he delivers two vicious Irish Whips that sees Aries’ back hit hard. But Danielson missteps and Aries drops Dragon to the floor. This is the turning point in the match – much like Dragon’s missed Tope at Testing the Limit. Back in the ring, Aries looks like he’s going to deliver the Airplane Spin, but he instead drops Dragon hard on his left arm. Danielson tries to protect his damaged arm, but Aries kicks and kicks. He then picks Dragon up and body slams him on his left arm. Danielson attempts a surprise Cattle Mutilation but the champion is able to bridge out and thrust his legs down on Dragon’s chest. Aries goes for a pinfall attempt but only get 2.
When Dragon hits an Insiguri on the champ he is able to buy some time. So much so, he gets Aries in a corner and nails him with kicks. He follows it with a Butterfly Suplex. More offense by Dragon as he nails Aries with a chop in the corner. After Aries counters an Irish Whip and delivers a reverse elbow strike from the 2nd turnbuckle, it isn’t enough offense to take hold of the match.
While explosive as the move may have been, Dragon continues to show his killer instinct as he becomes Chris Benoit and nails a diving head butt on a prone Austin Aries. At 18:50 Dragon attempts the Airplane Spin, Aries reverses and rolls him up for a 2 count. Dragon surprised, sends the champ to the outside and follows with a Baseball Slide and a diving back elbow to a standing Aries from the ring apron. Back in the ring, Dragon plants Aries on a corner turnbuckle. Aries fights Dragon and knocks him to the mat. He goes for this 450 splash, but see s Danielson is stirring. So he comes off the top turnbuckle over Dragon to the middle of the ring. Then he delivers a vicious hit that dazes the Dragon. A side suplex with a bridge follows. 1…2…NO!! Danielson still ahs some fight left. Picking Dragon up, Aries tries for a brainbuster. No, Dragon kicks his head to break up the hold. Another attempt is reversed. Danielson hits an Atomic Drop then he sets Aries on a top turnbuckle. Super back suplex!! Cattle Mutilation!! But Aries won’t submit. Bridge pinfall attempt by Dragon. 1…2…NO!! Airplane Spin time. After twenty-three-or-so revolutions Aries is able to deliver a modified Crucifix Bomb. It wasn’t pretty, but it served its purpose – getting Aries out of the hold. As Aries wobbles up and grabs Dragon by the head, he has enough sense to set him up and deliver a brainbuster. What’s next? Well, it elementary at this point…a 40 splash. He connects and goes for the pin. 1…2…3.
Winner and still ROH World Champion: Austin Aries at 24:24.
Verdict: *** ¾ (Excellent…excellent match. While some will argue that their 2/3 falls-75-minute match at Testing the Limit is better because it was such a looong match, these two proved that they don’t need 75 minutes. This is the first time these two have met where there wasn’t a stipulation in place – that is if you don’t count their Survival of the Fittest encounter. Both competitors brought their A-game, but “Personal Jesus” Austin Aries proved the victor. It should be known that in the span of eight days – May 7, 2005 to May 15, 2005 – Aries defended the ROH title on four different occasions. Aries, the true definition of a fighting champion. Nevertheless, he’s no Samoa Joe.)
After the match American Dragon refuses to shake Aries and heads on to the back. Samoa Joe’s theme hits and he makes his way to the ring. And if you know Joe, this isn’t about a pat on the back. The two have a powwow in the middle of the ring. They talk about the prestige of the ROH World Title. When Austin Aries offers his hand for a handshake of respect, Joe takes it. Then Aries goes to the ropes and props them open for Samoa Joe. As Joe is half out and half in, Aries lifts the second rope up, thus hurting Joe’s private parts. Big mistake! Joe gets up off the mat and delivers a Muscle Buster on the champ!! Ouch. I think Joe made his point clear this evening. “Don’t miss with a Samoan.” As Joe leaves, referees attend to the fallen ROH champ.
Intermission Time
It’s time to set up the cage for the main event, so we get to see James Gibson cut a promo in the back with ROH announcer Dave Prazak. Since Gibson defeated one-half of the tag team champions, he’s throwing his and Spanky’s name in the hat for a potential tag team title shot. Thus, Chad Collyer pops in saying that since he beat Jimmy Jacobs tonight, he and his good friends Nigel McGuinness should get the title shot.
Up next is Alex Shelley. He’s despondent with the loss tonight, but his war with Generation Next needs to come to a close. But when, and how?
For the last promo we have Dave Prazak running to meet American Dragon before he leaves the building. Prazak asks him why he didn’t shake Austin Aries hand after losing? Danielson tells him that since he was unsuccessful in his ROH World Title match that he is quitting Ring of Honor!!!
Match #8: CM Punk vs. Jimmy Rave – Steel Cage Grudge Match
The crowd is super hot for this match tonight. With catcalls like “Die Rave Die!!!” and “This will be your Waterloo!!!” why wouldn’t they? As Gorilla Monsoon would say, “you can feel the electricity, you can cut it with a knife.”
The war to settle the score is on. How wonderful. CM Punk gets a colorful array of streamers thrown his way after his in-ring introduction.
CM Punk knows he has Rave right where he wants him, so he doesn’t rush and attack him as the two stand inside the steel cage. He makes a “let’s go” motion with his left hand and it is on. Following a Punk-to-Rave choke, the match heats up. Punk hits a Spinebuster and starts nailing Rave with bare fists to the face. Punk toys with Rave ramming his head in all four walls of the steel cage. And Rave is busted open. In the corner, Punks sets Rave up and delivers 10 haymakers to Rave’s face. Once again Rave’s head is driven into the cage when Punk picks him up and rams him in a dart-like fashion. Rave’s head is raked into the steel again and his face is starting to resemble hamburger meat. Punk gets a chair and hits Rave in the mid-section and face. Punk stands tall in his hometown of Chicago, having totally annihilated Jimmy Rave.
And Punk’s night is over. He heads to the cage door, making his way outside. But Prince Nana throws blinding powder into his eyes. Punk now dazed, Rave uses the chair and tries to crawl outside. Not enough. Rave gets Punk in a Camel Clutch and rips at his face. Then he picks him up and grinds Punk’s face into the side of the cage. The crowd starts chants of “Die Rave Die” to inspire Punk to fight back. Under the bottom rope, Prince Nana grabs Punk’s hair while Rave presses his boot on Punk’s throat. Trying to escape, Rave climbs the ropes, but Punk fights him up on the ropes. Both men lose footing and fall to the mat.
They’re scrounging, trying to get to a standing position. When they get up the two deliver a series of fisticuffs and Punk gets his second wind. Rave tries to escape, but Punk catches him again. The two fight on the top rope. Russian leg sweep by Rave from the top!!! Rave follows with choking Punk’s neck with a shoelace. Punk has fight and won’t submit. He fights out of the hold and keeps going. Softening Rave up with some blows, Punk runs the ropes and hits the Shining Wizard. 1…2…NO!!! Rave kicks out.
Jade Chung interferes on behalf of The Embassy, but Punk quickly takes care of her. This gives Rave enough time to recover and hit the Rave Clash! But instead of going for a pin or out the door, Rave heads to a top turnbuckle to escape. Punk is dazed but he follows Rave. The two fight on the top and Rave attempts a Rave Clash from the top rope! No, Punk fights out of it. The two drop and Rave tries crawling to the cage door. Punk hangs on to him. The cage door closes again and Punk takes control by trying to choke Rave with the loose shoelace. Punk brings him to a corner to attempt a Pepsi Plunge, but Nana comes in to interfere. Punk hits an Insiguri – while Rave tries to protect Nana – and follows with a Superkick to Rave. Punk makes the mistake of focusing his attention on Prince Nana instead of his opponent. This gives Rave a chance to recover. But as Punk knocks out Nana and sees Rave try to sneak to the top of the cage, he goes over and wraps up a still lackadaisical Rave. Both men are on the top of the cage and Punk hooks Rave and nails a SUPERPLEX ONTO A STEEL CHAIR IN THE RING!! Punk is sore as hell but goes for the cover, 1…2…3!!! Punk wins!!
Winner: CM Punk at 24:52.
Verdict: **** (Whew! That was brutality personified. Not quite as bloody as the Samoa Joe-Jay Briscoe match from At Our Best, but both Punk and Rave did the blade job, so I’m happy. The ending was perfect with the Superplex onto the steel chair. Heck, even the cheating – Prince Nana with the powder and Jade Chung entering the ring – worked. The crowd was incensed. Anytime you can invoke that and get the crowd pumped, you know your product will be top notch.)
The Aftermath
Following the match the Second City Saints (Colt Cabana and Ace Steel) congratulate with CM Punk. The crowd chants his name, and tells him “Thank You!” As Punk makes his way out of the cage he makes a declaration to the camera, “I’m coming for you Austin Aries.” So as one feud ends, another begins.
There you go folks.
Let me know if the review works for you. I’m always open to suggestions.
Send me an e-mail at Rltleamons@netzero.net
For news, views, and ROH merchandise visit ROHwrestling.com.
The Inside Pulse
Ring of Honor finishes the month of May with three of their best booked shows, ever. With Nowhere to Run you get the odd combination of Alex Shelley and Delirious, a surprisingly good clash of styles between Doug Williams and Homicide, Dragon/Aries III, and the culmination of CM Punk’s feud with Jimmy Rave and The Embassy. The steel cage match is a 4-star affair, but the title match comes close, and everything else is worth watching.
