When I was first hired to Pulse Wrestling, I did ROH DVD reviews from the start. Server and my own computer issues put that on halt. I think I’d like to get back into the swing of things with these reviews, but I’ll be skipping a specific show that apparently causes technical failure since I’ve managed to totally lose the review three separate times. That show is Crowning a Champion, Ring of Honor’s fifth ever show. Well, the show is terrible but the main event is important. We’ll get to that soon, but first let’s catch up on what we’ve witnessed thus far.
The Era of Honor Begins is ROH’s first show.
The second show is Round Robin Challenge.
A Night of Appreciation is the third Ring of Honor show.
The fourth show is a big tournament, Road to the Title.
The fifth show is Crowning a Champion; I’ll see if anyone else is willing to review that to my computer’s benefit.
Ollie Sutherland reviewed the sixth show, Honor Invades Boston.
Since I was keeping track of show quality in order, I’ll add the missing shows in as well as the star ratings for any matches that are worthy within. Here they are updated with the fifth and sixth shows. I’ll only be keeping track of four stars and up for the matches.
Matches of 2002 so far:
1. Danielson vs. Low Ki(*****) Round Robin Challenge
2. Danielson vs. Daniels vs. Low Ki(**** ½) Era of Honor Begins
3. Low Ki vs. AJ Styles (**** ¼) A Night of Appreciation
4. Jay Briscoe vs. Mark Briscoe (**** ¼) Honor Invades Boston
5. Low Ki vs. Brian Kendrick vs. Doug Williams vs. Chris Daniels (****) Crowning a Champion
6. Low Ki vs. AJ Styles (****) Honor Invades Boston
Show Ranking:
1. Honor Invades Boston 8/24/02
2. The Round Robin Challenge 3/30/02
3. The Era of Honor Begins 2/23/02
4. A Night of Appreciation 4/27/02
5. Road to the Title 6/22/02
6. Crowning a Champion 7/27/02
Now that all of that is out of the way, we can go to ROH’s seventh show, Unscripted, a show named for the up in the air nature of the match ups to take place on the show.
If you would like a spoiler free review of the show, just scroll down to the Summary section at the bottom where from now on you will be able to find these spoiler-free reviews.
Ring of Honor: Unscripted
September 21, 2002
Philadelphia, PA
This opens with Paul London being interviewed in the ring and he calls out Danielson who will be his partner for tonight’s tag team tournament for the first ever ROH tag champions.
Michael Shane walks out and asks Dragon to step aside. Shane says he’s mad that he isn’t London’s partner, but since he’s beaten London’s ass so many times, that London should just join him and then slaps London, so London beats him up and hits a sick shooting star to the floor on Shane.
London pulls out of the tag tournament and says that he will take on Shane in a street fight tonight and pulls out a ladder, which he says he’ll use tonight.
Danielson is out a partner, but says he has an idea for who it will be.
Unscripted intro is now.
Match 1: Tag Title Tournament Round 1: The SAT vs. Chris Daniels and Donovan Morgan with Simply Luscious
The Spanish Announce Team are spot monkeys who were big in early ROH and TNA. Daniels we all know and Morgan is a major indy presence from the pre-ROH days. He split time between early ROH and Japan, being exclusively Japan now where he forms a great team with Michael Modest. Daniels, Morgan, Modest, Quackenbush, and Wreckless Youth practically were the indies before today’s crop of ROH and TNA stars.
The Prophecy attack before the bell, but the SAT stop them with some sharp double teams. The SAT control early due to speed and double teams. Through shady means, however, Donovan Morgan manages to take out Joel Maximo outside the ring, leading to a heat segment.
A botched tilt-a-whirl DDT and botched clothesline over the ropes by Maximo but Morgan goes outside to held Daniels for no reason and Luscious stops the dive. Daniels tries to charge the Maximo facing the wrong way, but he pulls the ropes down and Daniels takes a spill to the floor. A woman emerges from the crowd and hits a moonsault on Daniels and Luscious. She takes Luscious to the back.
The SAT hit a Doomsday DDT, but Daniels barely breaks it up. Daniels gets stuck up top and the SAT go for the Spanish Fly (double top rope belly-to-belly-), but Morgan stops it. Daniels takes a one man Spanish Fly, but Morgan is still there to break it up. A fisherman’s neckbreaker, enziguiri, and Jay Driller by Morgan finish off the SAT thankfully.
Morgan and Daniels defeat the SAT (Pin, Jay Driller by Morgan, *)
That was a sloppy mess and when two pros like Daniels and Morgan can’t get anything workable out of you, you really aren’t good at all.
Japanese wrestlers talk in the back, but are interrupted by The Christopher Street Connection in a remarkably unfunny segment.
The FBI have the sound guy request their music. They argue over what it will be with Mamaluke wanting their old FBI music and James Maritato wanting to break away from that.
Match 2: Tag Title Tournament Round 1: Ikuto Hidaka and Dick Togo vs. James Maritato and Tony Mamaluke
Mat wrestling with some random flips give us a fun opening as they go back and forth between Maritato and Hidaka.
Dick and Mamaluke mat wrestle some now. This isn’t deep or anything, but it’s really fun.
Maritato gets back in but is taken out by a double team and they begin working him over with big kicks. A cheap shot by Mamaluke stops the beating, but Maritato doesn’t approve of the tactics. Mamaluke tags himself in anyway.
Mamaluke when in the ring is pretty smart, attacking Hidaka’s legs and head, aiming at slowing down the faster athlete. Maritato gets in and begins working the arm of Hidaka. This isn’t very good strategy but highlights that these guys aren’t on the same page. Mamaluke kicks Hidaka out of a counter and Maritato is again mad at the cheap shot.
Hidaka now has time to counter, but doesn’t quite get the tag and Hidaka is worked over some more. Hidaka now has time to powerbomb Maritato and make the hot tag.
Togo takes out both members and all four men battle. Maritato is deposited outside the ring and a Dick Togo senton ends the match.
Hidaka and Togo defeat the FBI (Pin, Togo Senton on Maritato, ** ½)
Good tag formula. Hidaka is worked over, heel miscommunication leads to the hot tag and the faces clean house for the win.
Gary Michael Capetta comes out to talk to Mamaluke and Maritato. Maritato says he wants to drop comedy, but Mamaluke says he made Maritato a world champion in ECW. Mamaluke challenges Maritato right now, while Capetta tries to convince them not to fight. Mamaluke offers a handshake and then attacks Maritato, starting their “unscripted†match.
Match 3: Tony Mamaluke vs. James Maritato
Maritato eats the guard rail from the ring apron early as they brawl back and forth evenly. Maritato takes a drop toe hold onto the ring bell and guard rail, letting Mamaluke take control of the bleeding Maritato.
Maritato attempts a comeback, but Mamaluke continues to play heel and goes to the eyes. Maritato has an answer with a front dropkick from the middle rope, but a low blow by Mamaluke followed by a roll up gets the win, even though Maritato had the rope.
Tony Mamaluke defeats James Maritato (Pin, Roll up, 1/2*)
They did nothing here. An unclean finish after a minor brawl is nothing but disappointing from two guys who could probably have a very good match together.
Maritato complains about the finish post match and demands a re-match on October 5, the next show, with the stipulation that if he wins the FBI gimmick is no more.
Gary Michael Capetta talks to Danielson who points out his partner, Michael Modest.
Match 4: Tag Title Tournament Round 1: Quiet Storm and Chris Devine vs. Bryan Danielson and Michael Modest
Devine Storm are another team similar to the SAT without the undeserved success.
The less skilled team takes it to Danielson early. Good wrestling, if a bit tentative. Early ROH let a lot of guys mat wrestle with Danielson to prove they could go.
Tag out to Modest and he makes Devine mush with forearms and elbows. Quick tags by Danielson and Modest and Devine is being destroyed.
Devine makes the comeback but doesn’t wait for the tag and back-fists Danielson and hits the spinal shock. Storm and Dragon battle on the floor, but Danielson gets angry and beats down Storm on the floor with strikes.
In the ring modest hits a super fisherman’s suplex and gets three.
Danielson and Modest defeat Devine Storm (Pin, Modest Super Fisherman’s Suplex on Devine, * )
That was basically a squash, but it was a fun one at least.
Loc and Devito beat up the ring crew pre show because they’re mad they aren’t in the tag tournament.
Match 5: Tag Title Tournament Round 1: Da Hit Squad of Mafia and Monsta Mack vs. The Natural Born Sinners
Loc and Devito attack both the Sinners in the back and Mafia and Mack in the ring. Bugaloo’s injured and never seen in ROH again (he really singed with XPW). Loc and Devito make sure the match never happens.
Modest and Dragon go straight to the finals.
Match 5: Tag Title Tournament Round 2: Ikuto Hidaka and Dick Togo vs. Chris Daniels and Donovan Morgan
Daniels and Togo start off immediately and Togo hits a nice DDT and they immediately both tag out.
Hidaka and Morgan are in and they go strike battle early, and Hidaka uses chicanery to take control. Morgan fakes a handshake and Daniels uses the opportunity to cheap shot Hidaka. A brawl ends with Daniels beating on Hidaka, but he manages a spinning heel kick and tag quickly to Togo.
Togo takes it to Daniels and he is being worked over. Why are the faces working over the heel? Oh well, Daniels has his head worked on. A counter by Daniels leads Hidaka to being worked over. Okay then
A hot tag and Togo takes out Morgan, but he can’t keep him down. Daniels breaks up a crossface, but Hidaka eliminates Daniels with a twisting Asai to the floor. Morgan uses the distraction for a fisherman’s buster into a fisherman’s neckbreaker, but the pin is interrupted. Togo manages the big senton, but Daniels breaks it up.
Togo is thrown out, Daniels tags in, Angel’s Wings by Daniels and Hidaka kicks out just as we’re told no one ever does. A urinage, the Best Moonsault Ever, but Togo is now back to make the save. Hidaka is now making a comeback and hits a missile dropkick and a German suplex for two. There’s no way Hidaka should have this much offense left in him without a tag. He hits a big powerbomb on Daniels but Morgan get sthe save. Morgan dumps Togo outside the ring, an STO by Daniels and Morgan holds Hidaka’s leg down so Daniels gets the pin.
Daniels and Morgan defeat Hidaka and Togo (Pin, Daniels STO on Hidaka, ** ¼)
That was weird. No real heat sequence on the faces, but Hidaka got to kick out of an insane amount of Daniels offense and then come back from it without a hot tag. I don’t know what that was meant to be, but the heels cheated well and stole a victory so at least that works.
Match 6: The Ring Crew Express of Dunn and Marcos vs. Prince Nana and Alex Arion
Unscripted-ness strikes again. Nana gives an interview on a bad mic and says he can’t compete because of a concussion Low Ki gave him three months ago.
Match 6: Alex Arion vs. Dunn
Arion beats down Dunn who uses his speed to try and compete, but he’s outmatched. A top rope splash finishes for Arion.
Alex Arion defeats Dunn (Pin, Top Rope Splash, Dud)
The Next AA in ROH worked out way better, Austin Aries.
Nana beats up on Marcos after the match and tells Alex Arion he can be his servant. Arion superkicks him.
The Christopher Street Connection with Allison Danger and The Japanese Pool Boy come out for more gay antics on the downed Nana who runs away. They fake a wedding and kiss in the middle of the ring. Alexis Laree shows up to beat them all up.
Match 7: ROH World Title Match: Low Ki © vs. Xavier
Uh oh. This is infamous. Xavier continually challenged Low Ki in order to get this match.
Xavier spends the early portion showing that he can hang with Low Ki’s strength and mat wrestling, but when he strikes Low Ki just kills him. Xavier manages to fight back, but really is getting the piss beat out of him. They separate having learned that Xavier can hang on the mat and is stronger, but Ki is too much of a striker, so Ki the better and smarter worker, uses his strikes to control the match to the crowds delight.
Xavier keeps the match mildly competitive with power, but Low Ki constantly has a kick waiting to knock him back down. In a nice touch, the ref is actually flinching at Low Ki’s strikes.
Xavier’s power finally gains him an advantage and a seated Cattle Mutilation gets him control. That doesn’t last. You’ll never guess what Low Ki did to make his comeback. The match continues with this pattern repeating until Chris Daniels comes out as Xavier controls. Xavier finally attacks Low Ki’s knee so he can’t be kicked anymore. Low Ki gets the advantage the usual way, kicking even with his hurt leg, but Ki collapses in exhaustion, holding his knee.
Ki signals for the Ki Crusher, but sees Daniels and goes to confront him. Xavier clips the knee on the outside and they hold up the Prophecy signal to each other. Xavier uses a concrete slap to crush Low Ki. He slams a chair on top of it, further crushing Low Ki’s ribs and making a hole in the chair. Low Ki begins coughing up blood.
Back in Xavier hits the 450 and we have a new champion.
Xavier defeats Low Ki to become the 2nd ever ROH Champion (Pin, 450 Splash, ***)
It was a lot of Xavier being beaten down, but he kept fighting back and instead of making a babyface comeback based on strength, made a heel comeback by surprise cheating and changed the course of ROH history. The idea that he isn’t nearly as good as Low Ki kept the match from being anything special, but it was a hell of a moment.
The Prophecy buries Low Ki in the Ring of Honor banner.
Match 8: Takao Omori vs. Sonny Siaki
Way to not give Omori a major opponent Gabe. Siaki is a Flying Elvises at this point.
Omori beats on Siaki, having an answer for everything Siaki tries. Siaki eventually manages some offense with running strikes and by continually moving he has some offense, but again, shortly after, Omori has an advantage. Reverse piledriver thing finishes for Omori.
Takao Omori defeats Sonny Siaki (Pin, * ½)
Basically an extended squash here.
CM Punk comes out, looking really young and skinny, getting a big CM Punk chant. He cuts a promo about wrestling being back in Philadelphia. He says he’s coming to the ring of ROH for the sport. Cabana comes out and says he wants a piece of Punk. Colt says he’s coming to ROH soon too. Well, they certainly were honest.
Jay Briscoe gets a backstage promo talking about how frustrating ROH has been for him, but when he finally won Mark Briscoe took that from him and then beat him in Boston. Jay says he will not lose in ROH again.
Match 9: Jay Briscoe vs. The Amazing Red
Mark asks to manage Red who refuses and kicks Mark through a door.
Red won the first match in ROH history over Jay. They do a lot of knowing each other reversals to start at high speed. On the floor and they continue countering everything. Back in they shake hands.
Red finally gets a few moves in with his speed, but runs into a lariat and Jay uses his power to keep Red down and attacks the legs of Red to take away some of his offense.
Red’s speed regains the advantage and he won’t let Jay work the legs for long , but his speed only works until Jay manages one big strike, this time a big boot. Jay goes up, a mistake and Red stops him with a super sunset flip bomb and a red star press, but those only get two! Great sequence.
Red gets caught again, a powerbomb and Jay Driller get a win for Jay Briscoe.
Jay Briscoe defeats the Amazing Red (Pin, Jay Driller, ***)
That was a lot of fun. They had some good counters, but Jay learned a lot from their first match up and made the times he could catch Red count. His resilience allowed him to survive Red’s assault and escape with the win.
Dixie and Elax attack Red post match, but the SAT stop Special K with some high spots, including the Spanish Fly. A giant black man comes in from the crowd and slams the ref.
Match 9: Street Fight: Michael Shane vs. Paul London
London take it straight to Shane right away showing great intensity (wit a flip or two for fun). London tries to skin the cat, but Shane spears him to the floor getting his first advantage of the match. Shane begins taking it to London, who gets a chair but Shane plancha’s right on his head busting open London. Shane is vicious in a way London isn’t and throws a chair at London’s head and so is able to control the match. London is fantastic at hope spots, never letting too much time pass before he goes for one, but Shane continually cuts him off. They’re going stiff as London reverses Shane’s head into a chair and now he’s a bloody mess.
Shane gets control and goes for the ladder, but London dodges it twice and manages to kick the ladder in his face. London only manages a hope spot off that and Shane controls again as London misses from the top. Shane belly-to-belly supelxes London onto the ladder. Shane controls for a bit, but when he goes after London he hits a headscissors and sends him through a table on the floor. London is getting the big impact moves to keep the crowd behind him, but Shane is controlling most of the match.
London goes to get a bigger ladder. Back and forth they go battling with the ladder until Shane gets sick of it and tries to leave. London runs up the ladder (the first time I’ve seen it happen) and dives onto Shane head first on the floor. That’s just beyond ridiculous. London gets Shane back in and dumps him in the ring. London leapfrogs the ladder from the top rope and hits a powerbomb giving him control again. Both men are just decimated. Shane manages the picture perfect elbow, but London kicks out. London manages a shooting star press, but Shane kicks out of that. That’s both finishers! London climbs the bent huge ladder, but Shane stops him and hits the picture perfect elbow off the ladder.
Shane goes up again but London stops him with a moonsault. He climbs the big ladder as the fans debut the “Please Don’t Die†Chant. Paul London hits a shooting star off the ladder and gets three. Wow.
Paul London defeats Michael Shane (Pin, Shooting Star Off the Ladder, **** ½)
That was sick spots with a great story. Shane was more vicious at first, but London had the counters and stepped it up, hitting more big moves and stopping at nothing, not even his own well being to the point that the crowd chanted “Please Don’t Die†at the London. The selling was very good, it’s innovative with the ladder run, just brilliant.
Post match handshake, Shane clotheslines London to major heel heat as the crowd chanted Match of the Year.
A video is shown of Modest and Morgan discussing the Code of Honor and Daniels. Modest determines to find his own way in ROH and wishes Morgan and Daniels well.
Match 11: Tournament Finals: Chris Daniels and Donovan Morgan vs. Michael Modest and Bryan Danielson
Why would they have the heels wrestle one time more than the faces?
They do some even work to start before a heat segment on Danielson, focusing on the leg. Modest gets the tag and cleans house with some interesting offense. They wrestle like crazy and all four men go at it and it becomes a big spotfest where Modest has an answer for the heels, but they destroy the less experienced Danielson.
After Modest weakens the heels Danielson hits a Regalplex and goes Cattle Muttilation, but his leg is too hurt to synch in properly. He goes up top with Morgan but gets killed with a powerbomb and BME. Danielson kicks out and we have another heat segment on Dragon.
Dragon finally gets a comeback and goes for a big back suplex from the top, but Morgan holds his leg and Daniels ends up on top. Danielson kicks out and the Last Rites for three.
Morgan and Daniels defeat Danielson and Modest to become the ROH Tag Champions (Pin, Daniels Last Rites on Danielson, *** ½)
That was good, with Danielson of all people the weak link and his inexperience allowing the heels to cheap shot and grab a win.
Modest and Danielson destroy the Tag Title Trophy.
Xavier meets the rest of the Prophecy backstage and they’re all very proud of themselves.
That was a long show, but historically hugely important with a new World Champion and new Tag Champions. Daniels promises to feed Xavier a big loser at the next show and Mark Briscoe nominates Jay and its agree for next show, the very first Glory by Honor
Matches of 2002 so far:
1. Danielson vs. Low Ki(*****) Round Robin Challenge
2. Danielson vs. Daniels vs. Low Ki(**** ½) Era of Honor Begins
3. Paul London vs, Michael Shane (**** ½) Unscripted
4. Low Ki vs. AJ Styles (**** ¼) A Night of Appreciation
5. Jay Briscoe vs. Mark Briscoe (**** ¼) Honor Invades Boston
6. Low Ki vs. Brian Kendrick vs. Doug Williams vs. Chris Daniels (****) Crowning a Champion
7. Low Ki vs. AJ Styles (****) Honor Invades Boston
Show Ranking:
1. Honor Invades Boston 8/24/02
2. The Round Robin Challenge 3/30/02
3. Unscripted 9/21/02
4. The Era of Honor Begins 2/23/02
5. A Night of Appreciation 4/27/02
6. Road to the Title 6/22/02
7. Crowning a Champion 7/27/02
The Inside Pulse
The show has an Unscripted theme where made matches will be broken.
1. Tournament Match: Chris Daniels and Donovan Morgan vs. The SAT (*) – This was botch-tacular and not a good place to look if you want to see the big deal about Morgan, a major indy star before the current crop came up.
2. Tournament Match: Ikuto Hidaka and Dick Togo vs. James Maritato and Tony Mamaluke (** 1/2) – Hidaka and Togo are Michinoku Pro workers a-la Kaientai and work a similar style. Maritato and Mamaluke are the former FBI of ECW Fame and are arguing about whether to drop the gimmick or not. The match is fast paced and mat based with a lot of storyline implications, but ultimately feels more like angle advancement despite some good wrestling.
3. Devine Storm vs. Bryan Danielson and Michael Modest (*) – A solid, if a bit one sided match that served as a showcase as much as a match.
4. Alex Arion w. Prince Nana vs. Dunn w. Marcos (dud) – Squash.
5. ROH Title Match: Low Ki (c) vs. Xavier (***) – Ki is the unbeatable face champion here and Xavier a mid-carder trying to step up. The match is solid, but one sided. There is huge historical signifigance here, so it’s worth seeing if just for that.
6. Takao Omori vs. Sonny Siaki (*1/2) – Omori is a upper midcarder in NOAH and Siaki is, at this point, a Flying Elvis. Really now.
7. Jay Briscoe vs. The Amazing Red (***) – This was fast and really good fun, establishing that they’ve both learned a lot since their match at the first ROH show.
8. Street Fight: Michael Shane vs. Paul London (**** 1/2) – This is a classic that’s often overlooked and a star making performance that caused the debut of “Please Don’t Die.” It doesn’t spoil much to say ladders get involved and are used in innovative manner for the time. This is the biggest non-historical reason to get this show.
Plus all the rest of the tournament matches, including a ***1/2 star final that tells a nice generational story. There’s also the promo debut of two future ROH mainstays to sweeten the pot.
This isn’t ROH’s best show, but it’s hugely historically signifigant, has 3 *** matches and one ****+ classic, so it’s definately worth checking out, but you’d better check ebay, this one’s out of print.
