Fifth Year Festival Night Two: Thoughts and Opinions from Big Andy Mac
Night One was a spectacular show and I got to see a lot of old friends. Night One also delivered with a Dream Match between Samoa Joe and Takeshi Morishima and a much better than expected World Title Match with Jimmy Rave and Homicide. Night two on paper probably wasn’t as stellar of a card, but there is an old saying in sports, “That’s why they play the game,†in this case, this is why they put on the show. Only time and my review will tell as to whether or not Night Two was able to outdo Night One
Onto the Review
For The RoH Video Wire: Nigel McGuinness vs. T.J. Perkins
While this was only taped for the Video Wire I think there is a strong possibility that it will also make the DVD, as it was that good of a match. All RoH fans of course know McGuinness, and while some may argue that he should have had a more high profile match; I think he did a good job of working with a newer talent and getting the crowd into the show early. Fans might also know T.J. Perkins as the Pinoi Boy or even more likely as Puma. He was without his hood tonight, but still put on a great performance. The match was entertaining and of course Nigel won with a lariat. I think the lariat has won more Ring of Honor matches than any other maneuver.
Winner:Nigel McGuinness
A good opener, Perkins may have won more dates, but I would prefer him as Puma, either way the show kicked off right. ***
Austin Aries vs. Claudio Castagnoli
Claudio still makes his entrance through the crowd. It is amazing that it works so well for a heel like Claudio. Aries continues to get some of the best crowd reactions of anyone in Ring of Honor. The match was very solid, Aries knee was clearly tweaked from the previous night and he was favoring it. I hope it is not the sign of something serious. Claudio was great and the match wasn’t as heated as it maybe could have been given the Kings of Wrestling history. Claudio is still pretty directionless, but maybe he could play into some of the developments that happen later in the show. Either way, Aries wins with the 450 splash.
Winner: Austin Aries
A solid match, and perfect for its place on the card, this match-up could easily be a main event if they wanted to, but as the second match it was perfect another ***
Richards and Strong made another appearance after this match. Richards made a flub by pronouncing every letter in “corps†while describing his No Remorse Corps the stable he and Roddy are starting. Aries called him on it and said that the only corpse that we will see will be Richards, or Austin Aries light, and Roderick Strong at the end of all this.
Evans came out once again to make peace, but again, no peace could be made. Strong also informed Evans that if you are not with the No Remorse Corps then you are against them.
Six Person Street Fight: Adam Pearce, Jimmy Jacobs and Lacey vs. BJ Whitmer, Colt Cabana, and Daizee Haze
Everyone was wearing their “street clothes†for this one, that is if street clothes include knee pads and rasslin’ boots. Jacobs was full on emo, Pearce, Whitmer, and Colt all had jeans and t-shirts. Lacey was looking lovely in jeans and a wife beater, and Daizee was looking a bit like a redneck bar slut in her specially “tailored†BJ Whitmer T-shirt, which has the slogan “This Bumps for You†on it (awesome).
The match was violent and in typical Philadelphia fashion the fight ranged all over the National Guard Armory. Things were tough to see, and similar to the six man match at the 100th show people paired off and fought making it tough to follow, it will be interesting to see how it pays off on DVD. The big spot in the match for me was when Whitmer was hanging Jacobs over the top rope using his belt as a noose and Jacobs responded by attacking with THE SPIKE. Whitmer was obviously a bloody mess after that. As near as I can tell Daizee Haze also was bleeding, but it could have been some of Whitmer’s blood. Colt was also incapacitated by having his hands duct taped behind his back. Whitmer ended up winning with the Top Rope Exploiter, this feud is far from over, but I think that they might be running out of new ground to cover.
Winners: BJ Whitmer, Colt Cabana, and Daizee Haze
A solid match that sated all of the fans of hardcore wrestling in the crowd, I am sure there were many as RoH must have won over some CZW fans since both sides of the bleachers were open. Still though I wonder where the feud goes from here. ***1/2
Jay and Mark Briscoe vs. Kevin Steen and El Generico
I think pretty much everyone in attendance assumed that this would be a squash for the Briscoes, as Steen and Generico despite overness elsewhere have not really gotten a big shot in RoH. I have always liked what they did in the ring, but after tonight I should say that they have earned full time spots. Generico made my night by wearing the classic Tito Santana T-shirt, usually someone wrestling in a T-shirt is dumb, but here it worked.
This match was off the charts good. It is my easy pick for match of the night on a stellar show. There were several points where it seemed like Steen and Generico were going to win and Steen with his combination of power, finesse, and high flying really won over the Philadelphia crowd. The Briscoes were there usual awesome selves and hit great double team moves. My only complaint is that I did not get to see Generico’s turnbuckle Brain Buster live, but that is purely selfish. Despite easily their best efforts, Steen and Generico were not able to top the Briscoes and they won with a combo Shooting Star Press/Legdrop.
Winners: Jay and Mark Briscoe
This was easily match of the night, and I would go as far to say that it is a Match of the Year candidate, and perhaps the biggest out of nowhere surprise match in Ring of Honor history. Never has a match exceeded expectations for me as this one has. It won’t win match of the year, but it is the best match of 2007 so far, in my opinion. ****1/2
Samoa Joe vs. Jimmy Rave
In what probably made the evening for me Samoa Joe came out to “Another Body Murdered†by the Boo-ya Tribe with Mike Patton, I love the song, and love that Joe used it one last time. After that, Joe and Rave didn’t even need to wrestle, but they did and put on a very good match. Rave was supposed to have been suspended for using the Rave Clash the previous night, but Joe said that he would deliver the punishment in the ring.
Reports indicate that Jimmy Rave got hurt at some point during the match which may have hurt things, but watching it I did not notice. They had a great sequence where Joe reversed the Heel Hook into one of his own and Rave escaped almost instantly. It kept the move over and made Rave look a lot better. Rave is proving that he is one of the most valuable wrestlers in the company at this point. Samoa Joe ended up winning after the island driver, and then in a very heartfelt speech he thanked Philadelphia and said his farewell to the city that truly put him on a map as a force in professional wrestling.
Winner: Samoa Joe
Joe is sure looking dominant in his final run. It sucks that this is his final run too. I will not get to see Joe live again in the foreseeable future. BOOOOOOO!!! Either way, Joe rules, I will miss him, and he put on another good match. ***
Intermission
Full Impact Pro Title Match: Roderick Strong (champion) vs. Delirious
Aries tried to attack Strong before the match started but he was held back by students. Roderick may be part of the most effective heel turn in Ring of Honor history. I did not hear a single cheer for him. Even Homicide and Punk who had very well executed heel turns still could not get the whole crowd against them. That is not to discredit ‘Cide or Punk because they were just so awesome that they would not get booed by everyone. Strong got legitimate heat from everyone in the crowd. To his credit he did not throw one chop or do one backbreaker in the match. Those moves always pop the crowd when Roderick hits them, and he did not give the audience a chance to cheer for him.
The rest of the match just never got going and was further hampered by reports that Delirious suffered a concussion after taking a fall from the top rope which led to the count out finish because there are count outs in FIP but not RoH.
Winner and Still FIP Champion: Roderick Strong
X factors working against it not withstanding, I was not in love with this match, *. That being said, when WWE puts on a bad match it helps nobody. Roderick was certainly more over as a heel after this match than he was before, so it did get something accomplished.
RoH World Tag Team Championship Match: Matt Sydal and Christopher Daniels (champions) vs. Jack Evans and Shingo
This was a very solid tag team effort from both men. Evans and Shingo are on pace to become a very good team. In a wise decision they took many of the double team maneuvers used by Evans and Strong and put them to use against the champs including the Suplex 450 splash and the Ode to the Bulldogs. The tag champs made another successful defense and debuted a new finish. Sydal gave an inspired assist to the Angel’s Wings and the Lords of the Ring are still atop their throne.
Winners and Still RoH World Tag Team Champions: Matt Sydal and Christopher Daniels
Some things didn’t click as well as they could have in this match, but it was still entertaining and the crowd was into it. I guess I will go **1/2.
After the match Aries came out to talk to Jack Evans. Aries put over making Generation Next the top faction in Ring of Honor history, and said that if Jack is not going to get in the middle, that is fine. Aries said if he could lead a group of young, hungry diamonds in the rough once then he would do it again. Aries left and Evans decided that if Strong has a new set of running buddies, and Aries was going to find a group of his own, then maybe he should get himself a crew.
This is all sorts of awesome as stable wars, to me, always seem to make for good stories, compelling match ups and a great new direction to take Ring of Honor. The question is who will be coming in. Logic would say that Steen and Generico will be involved after how impressive they were earlier. Claudio could finally find some direction, and maybe even some PWG or Chikara guys could come in and make an impact. I, for one, am excited.
Ring of Honor World Championship Match: “The Notorious 187†Homicide (Champion) vs. Takeshi Morishima
Morishima comes to the ring in a fur coat and a pimp hat thus making him one of the coolest men on the planet. Morishima did not let Homicide into the ring to start the match in an unprecedented action in Ring of Honor world title history. Morishima was all business and although Homicide was able to get control early he was not able to keep it. Morishima’s size and agility was more than Homicide could handle. Homicide’s lariat although it put the Japanese Man Mountain down could not get more than a two count. Eventually Morishima attacked with a lariat of his own and two devastating Back Drop Drivers which put Homicide down for the count and ended his title reign before it could even get going. Homicide will no doubt want revenge, but the question is, “Will he be able to get it?â€Â
Winner and NEW Ring of Honor World Heavyweight Champion: Takeshi Morishima
This was a very good match, not a classic, but damn entertaining. I don’t know if it is to Morishima’s credit or to his discredit, but I did not buy Homicide defeating him. This was ***3/4 star match, and it is always cool to see a title change, especially one as largely unexpected as this one was to most, but not to me.
After the match the locker room emptied to congratulate Morishima, but he responded by attacking the students who were first in the ring and the BJ Whitmer who coincidentally is also his first title defense. Morishima is now the MONSTER HEEL in Ring of Honor. His reign is completely new ground for Ring of Honor, and I cannot wait to see where it goes. If he gets past Whitmer the Ring of Honor title will not be defended in American again until April meaning that Liverpool and Detroit, for Wrestlemania weekend, will be without the Ring of Honor champion very interesting indeed.
Final Thoughts: This was the best Ring of Honor show thus far this year. Almost all the matches reached above the 3 star range. It had a title change, and many new exciting things have been set in motion for the next few months.
The stable war that seems to be building is perhaps the most intriguing. New talent is what keeps a wrestling exciting, and this seems like a chance for new talent to really make their mark in a big way in Ring of Honor. Aries, Strong, Evans, and Richards can all bring it and it will be interesting to see who joins with them and the matches that they produce. In my column this week I will make some predictions about who will show up.
We have a new Ring of Honor champion. Usually a title change signals the end of an era, but Homicide’s reign can hardly be called an era. I think that when history looks back on it, the previous chapter will not end with Final Battle and start with Homicide’s first defense, but will end when Homicide dropped the title to Morishima. Morishima as champion takes Ring of Honor in yet another unforeseen direction, and I think every RoH fan is anxiously awaiting what will happen next on several levels.
The Fifth Year Festival Night Two has set the bar really high for the rest of the Fifth Year Festival and the rest of 2007
I’ll see you next time
