The Fifth Year Festival was one of the most successful runs of shows in the history of Ring of Honor. Almost every single DVD has a must see match on it. It is significant for a few other reasons as well. The Japanese have succeeded where CZW failed and captured every single Ring of Honor title. Takeshi Morishima won the Ring of Honor World Title in shocking fashion from Homicide in Philadelphia and Naruki Doi and Shingo of Dragon Gate won the tag team titles from the Briscoes in their very first defense.
Ring of Honor officials were very afraid that all of their titles would go over to Japan and not come back. This was also the one year anniversary of Jimmy Jacobs and BJ Whitmer almost destroying each other at “Dragon Gate Challenge†which featured a devastating top rope powerbomb that nearly killed poor Jimmy, but the victory of love soldiered on.
This review is the first in a series of Ring of Honor reviews by the Pulse Staff recapping the current chapter of RoH history starting with the Wrestlemania weekend of shows and ending with Colt Cabana’s departure from Ring of Honor for the greener (in a strictly monetary sense) pastures of the WWE. So without further ado here is my review of All Star Extravaganza III.
The Show begins with Becky Bayless interviewing some fans while wrestling legend Bruno Sammartino signs autographs followed by a very well executed video montage of the Dragon Gate superstars competing on tonights show, which I always felt would be better called Dragon Gate Challenge 2 than its actual title of All Star Extravaganza 3.
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.
Four Corner Survival: Colt Cabana vs. Chris Hero vs. Matt Sydal vs. Adam Pearce
The match started with Chris Hero showing off his wrestling and athletic prowess only to be countered by Colt Cabana’s tomfoolery and antics. Even more than most Four Corner Survivals this one degenerated into a very near tag team match. Chris Hero and Adam Pearce isolated Sydal and picked him apart while Cabana waited helplessly on the outside. Eventually Cabana received the hot tag but was taken asunder by a brass knuckle shot from Adam Pearce.
Adam Pearce wins via a brass knuckle shot on Cabana; **3/4
This was a fun and entertaining match. Cabana is typically a good way to start a show as he hypes the crowd. The dirty finish did not take away from the match and Hero was complaining about the Busch League behavior of Pearce on his way out while Pearce insisted that he was the smartest man in wrestling.
Erick Stevens vs. Alex Sugarfoot Payne
Handshake, Press powerslam, “Choo Choo†Avalanche in the corner, Doctor Bomb, three count, winner Erick Stevens.
Stevens over Payne via Doctor Bomb, SQUASH
This was fun short and made Stevens a monster.
The Briscoes are on next in an interview and their unintelligible redneck charisma is something to behold. They talked about their match against each other from “Fifth Year Festival: Finale†and how the “Manned Up!†against each other. They then staked their claim on the RoH World Tag Team Titles currently held by Shingo and Naruki Doi, and called 2007 the “Year of the Briscoes.†I am not one to argue with that toothless logic.
Dragon Gate vs. RoH: Davey Richards vs. Masaaki Mochizuki
Mochizuki is a veteran of the squared circle and wrestlers in a similar kick heavy style to Richards, but I would say that Mochizuki does it better. Mochizuki dominates early and does not lose control until Davey dodges a kick on the outside and Masaaki connects with the ring post. Richards is able to counteract many of Mochizuki’s kicks via an intricate leg submission. The rest of the match is Richards attacking the legs and Mochizuki showing his “fighting spirit†and wrecking Davey Richards with his kicks. Several times throughout the match Mochizuki tells Richards to kick him even harder. Richard throws his best stuff at Mochizuki even locking in the stretch muffler, but is unable to put the more experienced Japanese star away. A vicious roundhouse kick to the head later and Mochizuki has the win.
Masaaki Mochizuki over Davey Richards via roundhouse kick; ***1/4
This was a fun match, and would have been more highly rated by me, but it lacked a lot of passion. It seems to be a common thread in many Davey Richards matches that lack the raw emotion that other wrestlers have mastered. Davey is still new to the game, and this skill will come with time. At its bare bones it is a story of veteran skill vs. youthful exuberance which is a pretty standard story in wrestling and it was executed to good effect.
Dave Prazak is then introduced to bring out Bruno Sammartino who puts over Ring of Honor in much the same fashion as he did in his first appearance in New York. Larry Sweeney then comes out and puts over the accomplishments of Bruno before introducing his fitness expert Tank Tolland and his charge Chris Hero. He begins to put over Chris Hero before being interrupted by Nigel McGuinness who cleans house on Sweet and Sour Inc. Bruno even gets a shot in on Larry Sweeney much to the delight of the Detroit crowd.
We then go to the back with “The Fallen Angel†Christopher Daniels in his beard and face paint. He hypes up his match with Homicide.
Grudge Mixed Tag Team Match: Jimmy Jacobs and Lacey vs. BJ Whitmer and Daizee Haze
This match is basically an all out brawl the sets the table for the brutal cage match to come the next night. Jacobs gets HUSS chants as he enters which makes sense since he first used that gimmick in Michigan in the early days of his career. BJ and Daizee make their entrance and the match gets going right away. It takes less than a minute for The Spike to makes its appearance. Whitmer gets a hold of it and in a missed attempt at ending the life of Jimmy Jacobs, BJ drives the spike into the top turnbuckle.
A suplex takes Whitmer and Jacobs to the floor while the ladies take the ring and we get a little split screen action showing the in ring action between Lacey and Daizee and the violent brawl between the two men on the floor. Lacey is dominating Haze in the ring using a series of chokes to subdue her opponent, while Whitmer and Jacobs brawl throughout the arena. The former tag team champions eventually brawl their way back to the ring after Jacobs hit a hurricanrana from the top of the bleachers to the floor.
Whitmer places Jacobs on the top rope in an attempt to relive the powerbomb gone awry from a year ago, but Lacey intervenes. With BJ incapacitated Jacobs spears Daizee Haze out of her shoes! I am going to type that again. Jacobs spears Daizee Haze out of her shoes, Lacey hits the implant DDT and that ends the match.
Lacey over Daizee Haze via implant DDT; ***
This match really felt like a preview for the next night, but it was still a fun brawl.
After the match Lacey decides to give Jimmy Jacobs a reward and gives him a hug. BJ Whitmer then storms the ring and chases off Lacey and Jimmy with a barbed wire baseball bat.
Jack Evans is backstage wearing a Dragon Gate sport coat and a gold watch. He talks about Roderick Strong and hypes up their match.
Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship: Naruki Doi and Shingo © vs. Jay and Mark Briscoe
This match was off to a really great pace, and then Mark Briscoe ascended to the top rope and misfires on a shooting star press to the floor. He busted his head open and was severely concussed. The match continued but all of the men involved had their thoughts elsewhere, and with good reason. Eventually Jay is able to overcome both Shingo and Doi and win the titles with a Jay Driller on Shingo.
Jay Briscoe over Shingo via Jay Driller; No Rating
It is unfair to rate this match since it got overshadowed by the risk taken by Mark Briscoe.
After the match Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, collectively the Murder City Machine Guns, make their way to the ring to challenge Jay Briscoe to a match citing that they are the two top gaijin teams in wrestling right now. Jay accepts and receives a beat down for his troubles.
Backstage Becky Bayless gives a report on Mark Briscoe only to be interrupted by Larry Sweeney getting heated about Nigel McGuinness.
Dragon Gate vs. RoH: Pelle Primeau vs. YAMATO
This is a battle of students, Pelle is of course a top graduate of the RoH wrestling school and YAMATO is a pupil at the Dragon Gate Gym. The match is pretty basic and YAMATO wins with a bridging German suplex.
YAMATO over Pelle via bridging German Suplex; *
This was a good showcase, nothing more, nothing less.
Brent Albright vs. Nigel McGuinness
Before the previous match can even end Larry Sweeney comes out with “The Hired Gun†and says that he paid for Albright’s services to take out Nigel. They exchange strikes early and Nigel busts out some of his big guns like the corner kick/fist strike combo and the shininamake short arm lariat, but it is not enough to put away the former Gunner Scott.
Albright gains control and tries to wear down McGuinness with a series of chinlocks and head scissors. Nigel attempts the Tower of London, but is blocked. Albright then hits a top rope crossbody which Nigel rolls through for a two count. Albright goes up again, but is caught by Nigel. McGuinness tries another Tower of London, but yet again Albright blocks it and locks in the crowbar.
They start exchanging strikes which inevitable sets up the rebound lariat which Albright reverses into another crowbar. Nigel just barely makes the ropes, and Albright responds by going back to the arm with full force. Nigel pulls a Tower of London out of nowhere, but Sweeney gets up on the apron to distract Todd Sinclair. Albright takes control again and hits the 6-1-Knee. Nigel regains control and tries to set Brent on the top rope for the pendulum Lariat. Chris Hero distracts Nigel, and Albright is able to hit the half nelson suplex for the victory.
Brent Albright over Nigel McGuinnes via half nelson suplex; ***1/2
This was a decent match, if unremarkable. Albright and Nigel have good chemistry, but the main story in this match was Larry Sweeney trying to gain revenge on Nigel McGuinness. It was a fun match, but nothing stellar. This is one of Albright’s first major singles wins in Ring of Honor.
Battle of RoH Icons: Homicide vs. “The Fallen Angel†Christopher Daniels
Not surprisingly since this is a TNA match-up the dueling chants are out in full force from the get go. Daniels attacks Homicide before the bell and is wrestling with a new violent attitude than he has recently. Homicide takes control with a headscissors and the brawl goes to the floor. Daniels backdrops Homicide out of a piledriver which causes Homicide’s legs to go through the ringside table, but it doesn’t phase him as he is quickly back up putting the hurt on the Fallen Angel.
Homicide tries to throw chairs into the ring, but Paul Turner doing his official duty does not let him repeatedly throwing the chairs outside of the ring as fast as ‘Cide can throw them in. The match is very brawl heavy despite no real storyline hatred between the two. Daniels spends most of the match playing up his heel antics and using his veteran smarts to stay a step ahead of Homicide. He even taunts the crowd by denying them the “Best Moonsault Ever†which prompts announcer Dave Prazak to say, “Best Moonsault Never.†Hilarious kind of.
Daniels roguish tactics have essentially turned the crowd against him, but we all know a one-sided crowd never lasts long in RoH and a dueling chant starts yet again. Homicide gains control after a t-bone suplex and a tope con hilo, before paying homage to Eddy Guerrero. Daniels is able to stop the frog splash, however, but gets thrown off the top while attempting a superplex so Homicide can hit the top rope elbow. Daniels regains control and after a blue thunder driver locks in the Koji-clutch. Homicide will not tap though.
Homicide regains control and hits a top rope ace crusher for two, then a lariat for two. He tries a Cop Killa, but it gets reversed into the Angel’s Wings, but Homicide will not stay down. Daniels attempts to bust out the Last Rites, but Homicide reverses it into a jackknife pin for the victory.
Homicide over Daniels via Jackknife pin; ***1/4
This match was sound and told a good story. The veteran Daniels was throwing the rule book out to stay ahead of Homicide who was too tough to stay down. The flash pin finish really made it feel like it was happening in 2002 or 2003.
After the match Adam Pearce, Shane Hagadorn, and Brent Albright run into the ring to attack Homicide. They are followed by the one and only James E. Cornette. Before Cornette can spend too much time on the mic running down Homicide, Colt Cabana, Delirious and Pelle Primeau come out to make the save. That would have been a fun 8-man match if it happened: Colt, Pelle, Delirious and Homicide vs. Pearce, Alrbight, Hagadorn, and uh someone else.
Grudge Match: Jack Evans vs. Roderick Strong
Jack gets the better of Roderick to start, much to the chagrin of Mr. Strong as he spends quite a while on the outside pouting. Strong also reacts negatively to the taunting jeers of “Rooooooderrrrriiick†from the Detroit fans. Roderick uses his power and deliberate style to slow down Evans. This was early in Roderick’s heel turn so he left a lot of his big crowd popping spots out or kept them to a minimum teasing chops and back breakers before hitting them around five minutes in.
Now it is time for the stretch the heck out of Jack Evans, which like cheesy one liners in action films, have become a staple of Jack Evans matches. Evans regains control and hits a running 450 splash, but his lead does not last for long as Roderick Strong gets Jack on the ring apron and drops him onto the floor with a sickening thud. Jack recovers all to quickly and engages in an acrobatic dodge sequence on the ring apron before connecting with a headscissor takedown to the outside. Roderick regains control and throws Evans back first into the ring post.
Roderick then locks in a sickening submission which was basically a modified camel clutch with a Texas cloverleaf in the ring ropes. Jack is all bendy. Roderick locks in another entanglement submission. Evans does not tap, but Roderick continues his piecemeal destruction of Evans.
Despite of this, Jack is able to set Roderick up lying across the middle turnbuckle to hit a handspring double stop and a Sasuke special to the outside. Gumby LIVES!!! Evans sets himself up on the top only to be pulled off into a clothesline back breaker by Strong. Still Evans is able to come back and go all flippy. Jack is able to hit a series of kicks, a flying knee strike, and a reverse rana, but only gets two. They exchange near falls, and Roderick comes out better on the exchange. More flipping from Jack, and more violence from Roderick, leads to Jack fighting out of a superplex only to miss the 630. Roderick hits the Gibson driver and locks in an extra stretchy version of the Stronghold to force the tap out from Evans.
Strong over Evans via tap out with the Stronghold; ***1/2
It is a fun match but psychology, selling, and logic were thrown completely out of the window in favor of dramatic comebacks and huge moves. I did find the match very entertaining though, as these guys do have an excellent chemistry together.
In the back we have Becky Bayless giving a report on Mark Briscoe’s condition. She informs us that he is regaining feeling and movement in his extremities but will miss tomorrow’s show.
Dragon Gate vs. Ring of Honor: Austin Aries, Delirious, Claudio Castagnoli, and Rocky Romero vs. CIMA, Dragon Kid, Susumu Yokosuka, and Ryo Saito
I originally said of this match:
“So One on one, Flippy, big moves, armdrags, ‘ranas, flippy some more, big moves again, finisher sequence, a crossfire bomb on Delirious, and CIMA wins. (****).”
Let’s go a little more in depth.
The match starts with the Dragon Gate announcer doing the intros for the Dragon Gate team, and Bobby Cruise doing the honors for team RoH. The RoH team has a few interesting dynamics, as this was the official redemption of Claudio Castagnoli, and team member Rocky Romero would be one day away from joining the No Remorse Corps and starting a bitter feud with his teammates Delirious and Austin Aries.
Delirious does his usual bout of insanity at the bell, but it is Rocky Romero who starts off against Ryo Saito. Like my other review, the early goings of the match are alternating pair offs with the two teams. The second pairing is Claudio Castagnoli and Dragon Kid. Claudio is one of the best big men against high flyers in wrestling today and it shows in his sequence with Dragon Kid. Pairing number three is CIMA and Delirious. This pairing is more focused on comedy which is obvious given Delirious’ involvement. Aries vs. Susumu Yokosuka is more technically based than the others.
Aries is the first victim of a true heat segment as CIMA goes to work on him in the corner. The Dragon Gate team takes turns beating down Aries using an array of double teams. Eventually team RoH gets control and starts working over the smallest member of team: Dragon Kid. Ring of Honor’s teamwork is not as crisp as the Dragon Gate team, which makes sense since all four DG wrestlers are a part of the Typhoon faction.
At this point the match degenerates into a spotfest, but an awesome spotfest at that. It also goes back to some different pairings from the beginning of the match. Since it is contested under Dragon Gate (read: Lucha rules) the transitions in and out are fast and furious. Dragon engages in an awesome triple team sequence that features a palm strike by CIMA onto Delirious who was mounted on Saito’s shoulders on the top rope, Delirious was then Frankensteinered off by Dragon Kid and then hit with a frog splash by Saito. The pin was broken up and the match went into the finisher sequence I mentioned before. CIMA then hits the crossfire bomb, which is a powerbomb with the opponents’ arms crossed between his legs into a pinning combination for the victory.
CIMA over Delirious via Crossfire Bomb; ****1/4
I know I went a little higher, but watching the match under the closer scrutiny of a review made me appreciate a lot of the little things that went on and the roles that were played to near perfection by everyone involved. This is a flawlessly executed spotfest, which is what the Dragon Gate wrestlers do best. The eight athletes finish the match with a curtain call.
Jimmy Jacobs Promo!!!!!
“My favorite movies have always been romantic comedies, teen ones, so predictable you always knew how they were gonna end. Whatever conflict they had, on prom night it was all resolved. Always, on prom night. I’ve kind of always thought of my life as a romantic comedy, but this past year romance has given way to violence and there hasn’t been anything comedic about it.
“I kind of wonder how we got here. It wasn’t much longer than a year and a half ago that you and I BJ, we were like this, tag team champions. Before every match, behind the curtain, before our music played, you’d give me a hug and say, ‘I love you, little brother.’
“What does that even mean?!? When I found Lacey, a woman that I love, instead of being a big brother, you walked out on me. You turned your back on me. What, I wasn’t paying enough attention to you? My priorities shifted? So you walk out on me. Is that love? Is that brotherly love?
“So a year ago, here in Detroit, you almost killed me. I came six inches away from my head splattering all over the concrete floor. And from there, over the past year the violence only escalated. You took pints of blood out of my body; years off of my life. And most of all you took my innocence you miserable son of a bitch. I used to be a happy kid, happy-go-lucky, in love with the world, in love with Lacey, me attack the world Carpe Diem, seize the day.
“Now, there’s days I don’t get out of bed. I lay in bed at night and I can’t sleep. I don’t count sheep. I count the number of ways I can hurt you. The number of ways, I can end this. I visualize in my head so maybe; just maybe, I can go back to how I was; happy and innocent. I don’t think that’s a possibility. How’d we get here BJ? You brought us here! Locked inside of a steel cage; like a zoo animal! Like a sideshow freak! Like a caged bitch!
“You brought us down here, but I swear to god I’ll bring us the rest of the way. Sure, the match will end when the ref counts three, but its not over until one of us cant get up of their own volition. Its over until one of us can’t stand up. I’m not gonna shake your hand. I’m not gonna hug you as a sign of mutual respect, a sign of closure somehow. BJ, its Prom Night. It always ends the same. The villain gets what’s coming to him, and the hero gets the girl. I’m coming big brother â€Â
Just an awesome promo
In Conclusion
This was a very good if a bit unremarkable show. The main event is super entertaining and there is nothing actively bad on the show. It succeeded in debuting Erick Stevens, putting heat on a few feuds, and putting on a stellar main event. All in all it is a good show, and worth your hard earned dollar.
The Inside Pulse
1. Four Corner Survival: Colt Cabana vs. Chris Hero vs. Matt Sydal vs. Adam Pearce (**3/4) – This was a fun opener and all four men put their best foot forward.
2. Erick Stevens vs. Alex Sugarfoot Payne (SQUASH) – The participants in this match are almost as good as a spoiler.
3. Dragon Gate vs. RoH: Davey Richards vs. Masaaki Mochizuki (***1/4) – If you like kicks, then this is the match for. A fun story of veteran vs. young lion.
4. Bruno Sammartino addresses the crowd.
5. Grudge Mixed Tag Team Match: Jimmy Jacobs and Lacey vs. BJ Whitmer and Daizee Haze (***) – This was the penultimate match in the feud between Whitmer and Jacobs. They put on a good show, but were in a holding pattern for the classic to come the next night.
6. Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship: Naruki Doi and Shingo © vs. Jay and Mark Briscoe (No Rating) – If you follow RoH, you have heard about this match. Morbid curiosity may entice you to seek out why I did not rate it.
7. Dragon Gate vs. RoH: Pelle Primeau vs. YAMATO (*) – This is a battle of students and a fun short match.
8. Brent Albright vs. Nigel McGuinness (***1/2) – This is a solid match that proved Albright could hang at or near the top of the card.
9. Battle of RoH Icons: Homicide vs. “The Fallen Angel†Christopher Daniels (***1/4) – A solid match, which is unsurprising considering the talent involved.
10. Grudge Match: Jack Evans vs. Roderick Strong (***1/2) – Thin on story, but thick on big moves. It is fun, but will probably annoy wrestling purists.
11. Dragon Gate vs. Ring of Honor: Austin Aries, Delirious, Claudio Castagnoli, and Rocky Romero vs. CIMA, Dragon Kid, Susumu Yokosuka, and Ryo Saito (****1/4) – This is for spotfest fans the world over. Everybody does their job and does it very, very well.
Overall: A solid show, and worth checking out.
