Ring of Honor has posted the latest episode of its Video Wire on ROHVideos.com and YouTube.com, featuring footage from their recent “Race To The Top†tournament, and promos from the winner of that tournament, Claudio Castagnoli. He talks about his matches in the tournament and his upcoming ROH world title match with Takeshi Morishima.
Past ROH videos on YouTube.com are available by clicking here and of course the latest reviews, news and commentary on all things ROH from Big Andy Mac, me and the rest of the Pulse Wrestling staff is here.
The video wire starts with Claudio Castagnoli holding up the Race to the Top winners trophy while his entrance music plays in the background. An on-screen graphic comes up, with a logo for the Race to the Top tournament, with text saying “Winner: Claudio Castagnoliâ€Â.
Next the usual “ROH video wire†graphic appears, this time it’s the 8/1/07 edition. Some cool clips are shown from Jack Evans vs Kevin Steen from Night 1 of the Race to the Top tournament.
After that we’re taken to inside the ROH wrestling school where Claudio Castagnoli is shown working out. He than comes up to the camera, and thanks the fans for supporting him on his journey to the top, then talks about his tough first round match with Hallowicked. Clips are then shown of Claudio’s match with Hallowicked, which looks to be a fine match.
The customary “new at ROHwrestling.com†video is shown, advertising the recent ROH shows “This means War II†and “Fighting Spiritâ€Â.
Claudio is shown training again. He says that he’s training the hardest he’s ever trained for his ROH world title match against Takeshi Morishima. He says he really excited for the match, just like every time he steps in the ring with Mike Quackenbush. Highlights are shown from Claudio’s second round match in the tournament, vs Mike Quackenbush. The match looks very heavily influenced by lucha libre, as all of Quack and Claudio’s matches together are.
The Briscoe Brothers are then shown exchanging forearm strikes, in the $10,000 Tag Team Challenge (8 man tag) match from night 2 of the Race to the Top tournament. Some text appears on screen, saying “Family means more than moneyâ€Â. The Briscoes then stop exchanging forearms, and question why they’re fighting each other. They stop fighting (even though they are on separate teams), as Bryan Danielson comes in the ring, telling them to start fighting again, as $10,000 is on the line. He then slaps Jay in the face! The Briscoes proceed to double team him, taking him out with a double Uranage slam. Other competitors in the match enter the ring, but they all get destroyed by the Briscoes’ double teams. The Briscoes then make a hand gesture of drinking (beer) and leave. That was an awesome segment making the Briscoes look like the most dangerous force in ROH today.
A few clips from ROH’s first PPV, Respect is Earned (which I reviewed here) are shown, with the logo for the PPV on screen, and text saying “catch Respect is Earned anytime on Demand in Augustâ€Â.
Claudio is shown training again. He cuts a promo on his strengths as a wrestler and his advantages (wrestling wise) over Morishima. “I’m going to make history, come August 10th†he says. Footage is then shown from Claudio’s semi final match in the Race to the Top tournament, vs Jack Evans.
Claudio is shown training again, lifting weights. He says that the match he had vs El Generico in the tournament finals was a match that he will never forget. He says that he knew if he got past the Race to the Top tournament he would be ready for his title match (he won the title shot back in June, by the way) with Takeshi Morishima on August 10th, and he’s already preparing for his first title defence vs Brent Albright come August 11th.
Highlights are then shown from the tournament finals, the match between Claudio and El Generico. The match looks amazing. Claudio is shown holding the Race to the Top winners trophy as Takeshi Morishima is shown with his own trophy (in Japan), as the usual “To be Continued†graphic appears on screen to close out this week’s video wire.
