Live Review – Ring of Honor’s 100th Show
This was certainly an interesting show for Ring of Honor. The CZW fans had their own section of bleachers and made up about 10% of the crowd, although they were very vocal with their CZW chants and chants against RoH wrestlers, but they were drowned out on every occasion by the rest of the building being passionately supporting RoH.
Opening Match: “The Fallen Angle” Christopher Daniels vs. “the Most Money Making Man” Claudio Castagnoli:
This was a very solid opener; Claudio came out with RoH written on his ring jacket in one of the finest uses of the Bedazzler ever, cementing his status as on the good guy’s side in the war with CZW. The match was very back and forth, and Daniels ended up winning with a roll-up. Afterwards Daniels got on the mic and talked about milestones. He said that the 100th show was a milestone and this was going to be a milestone for him. He then shook Claudio’s hand and called him the future of RoH.
After the match Chris Hero came walking through the crowd and talked about how he is a Hero to the CZW fans. Decent promo, and put more heat on the main event, if that was needed.
Four Corner Survival: Jimmy Jacobs (with a poster of Lacey) vs. Jimmy Yang (with Bruce Leroy from Berry Gordy’s the last dragon) vs. Jimmy Rave (with Prince Nana and Daizee Haze of the Embassy) vs. Delirious
This was a fun match. Jimmy Yang humped the poster of Lacey that Jacobs brought to the ring with him, and this brought out the fire from Jumpin’ Jimmy. The match was very entertaining and Jacobs seemingly had the match won with the Contra Code on Yang, but got off of him at two. Delirious then snuck in and hooked a bridge cobra clutch for the submission victory.
Ring of Honor Tag Team Title Match: Generation Next of Roderick Strong and Austin Aries (champions) vs. The Rottweilers of Homicide and Ricky Reyes
The matches keep getting better with another great tag title match from Gen Next. Reyes and Homicide seemed to have the match won on several occasions, especially when Reyes had Strong locked into his version of the Dragon Sleeper. Strong was able to wriggle out of the hold and Aries hit the 450 splash for the win despite having an injured leg from earlier in the match.
Ring of Honor World Championship Match: The American Dragon Bryan Danielson and the least overrated wrestler in the world (champion) vs. “Classic” Colt Cabana the voice of America
This match lasted about six minutes as Dragon won with a quick rollup much to the surprise of everyone in attendance. During the brief match CZW fans chanted overrated at Danielson, and Dragon unshaken by the rude chants responded with a very tasteful mooning of the CZW faithful. Colt was visibly upset by his surprise loss, and according to www.rohwrestling.com he now wants to start back at the bottom of the card and work his way up to the top again.
Intermission
Top of the Class Trophy Match: Derek Dempsey (trophy holder) vs. Pelle Primeau
This was a decent short contest. Dempsey won after a jackknife hold pinning combination.
American Dragon, the new trainer of the RoH wrestling school, the came out and congratulated the students on their match saying there was more technical wrestling in that match than in the entire history of CZW. He proceeded to say that since he was champ and head trainer he could make his own rules and offered to challenge a winner from the first half of the show. He said that since he had already beaten Christopher Daniels, Austin Aries, and Roderick Strong, the only person left was Delirious. Delirious then proceeded to cut the best promo in the history of professional wrestling which I will transcribe here:
“ababadabbehababehabebaheb d gabehjabemdyebamdubddegaebbdmaendba jubbahebbaeindngeannea, ibeadaoklaueamdameamoquetrya Cattle Mutilation abbbeamdla iohulkjymandlymeoababbaheddertyan,a 1-2-3 aggehabbendma, (to the tune of Europe’s Final Countdown) baba bah bah baba bah bah bah baba bah bah baba bah bah bah bah bah baba bah baba bah bah bah bop bah…
Which brought us to
Ring of Honor World Championship Match: American Dragon Bryan Danielson vs. Delirious
Danielson dominated most of this match he even tore Delirious’s mask and busted him open. Delirious did get a few flurries of offense in, and it seemed Delirious may have stolen a win after he hit his Shadows over Hell top rope splash to the bent over Danielson and locked his Bridging Cobra Clutch. It was not to be as Danielson grabbed the ropes. The finish came when Danielson set Delirious up for his patented Backdrop Superplex. When he pushed Delirious into the ring post Delirious deeply lacerated his right hand on the open metal. It was the most blood I have ever seen, and Delirious seemed to almost go into shock open seeing the blood flow. After the Backdrop Superplex, Danielson locked in a crucifix and began elbowing Delirious in the face. Referee Todd Sinclair mercifully stopped the match and Delirious was rushed to the back.
Tag Team Grudge Match: Jay and Mark Briscoe vs. AJ Styles and Matt Sydal
I think this was my favorite match of the night. Some of the many impressive spots included Matt Sydal doing a jump up Rana to Mark Briscoe perched on the top turnbuckle. The Briscoes hist a springboard Doomsday device onto Sydal as well which saw Mark Briscoe jumping to the top rope from inside the ring and turning in midair to connect with the clothesline. The finish came when Matt Sydal was subjected to a spike J-Driller.
The Great Debate: Ring of Honor Commissioner James E. Cornette accompanied by “Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce vs. Combat Zone Wrestling Owner John Zandig
Zandig is an idiot all he did was curse up a storm. Cornette however made many eloquent points about Philadelphia wrestling fans being on the cutting edge and the most discerning wrestling fans in the world. Zandig swore some more and brought out his CZW team of Chris Hero, Necro Butcher, and Super Dragon.
Which led to…
Six Man War: Team CZW: Chris Hero, Necro Butcher, and Super Dragon vs. Team RoH: Samoa Joe, BJ Whitmer, and “Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce
The crowd was red hot and on their feet for the duration of this match. The match was a wild brawl throughout the entire building. CZW also brought their own referee to ensure that RoH did not screw over the CZW wrestlers, and I use that term in the loosest sense of the word. Adam Pearce was bleeding heavily as a result of several Necro Butcher chair shots, Necro Butcher was bleeding because I guess that’s what he does. BJ Whitmer was almost killed by a Psycho Driver (Burning Hammer) from Super Dragon to the outside through a table. The finish came when Claudio Castagnoli came to try and even the score after John Zandig’s interference. But it was not to be as Claudio turned his back on Ring of Honor and attacked Samoa Joe. Adam Pearce was eventually hit with a double team move by Hero and Castignoli for the victory. CZW’s team then celebrated with the 50 or 60 CZW fans in attendance and it was a dark day for Ring of Honor. CZW may have won the battle, but not the war.
Any questions, comments or concerns can be sent to bigandymac@yahoo.com
I’ll see you next time
