ROH Review: Survival of the Fittest 2007

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST 2007

This is the 4th iteration of Survival of the Fittest in ROH. It is a tournament, with 6 singles matches comprising the first round, and then a 6-way elimination match as the final. All first round matches have a 20 minute time limit, and if it expires, both competitors are eliminated. The winner is given an ROH Title Shot. It is October 19th, 2007, and this show is coming to you from, for the first time ever in ROH, Las Vegas, NV. Be sure to check out Pulse’s review of the last DVD, Honor Nation, right here.

We open the show with a promo from the No Remorse Corps, from the streets of Vegas. Roderick and Rocky are having fun, but Davey is mad. He can’t go out tonight, because he has to “watch the bags”. Also, Rocky has been charging things to Davey’s room. We pan over to the Empire Ballroom, where tonight’s show takes place. Currently getting top billing at the Ballroom is the “Fatburger”.

We then go to a Survival of the Fittest Retrospective. The first was in 2004, and was won by Bryan Danielson, who pinned then newcomer Austin Aries to win. The next year, Aries was already a former ROH World Champion, but fell in the finals to 2005 winner Roderick Strong. Last year, Aries again made the finals, but was eliminated first. It cam down to frequent rivals Delirious and Matt Sydal, who had an awesome match before Sydal tapped, making Delirious the winner. All three former winners are in the bracket tonight.

We are back in Vegas, and Davey Richards is hitting on some girls. He offers high fives, but is turned down, due to his lame plans for the night, watching bags. They do think Rocky is cute, however. Davey leaves, dejected. Davey’s awesome.

Now, we head to the ring. As is tradition, being that it’s the first show of Nigel McGuinness’ ROH Title Reign (though, due to the PPV system, his win STILL hasn’t aired), Nigel opens the show with an interview. He gives the standard new champ stuff, “It’s a dream realized”, “I am so proud”, etc., until Roderick Strong, the FIP Heavyweight Champion, interrupts. He feels his belt is more important, and rattles off a semi-impressive list of men he’d beaten. This includes Brent Albright, who comes down to face-off with Strong. Albright challenges Nigel for a title match, then tells Strong to have their match now. Nigel leaves, and it’s on!

Brent Albright vs. Roderick Strong
This is a first round matchup in the tournament. They tie-up, and we go to some matwork. They trade holds, and Albright takes control. He takes him down, and works the arm, presumably for the Crowbar. Strong powers up, and they trade chops. Albright throws a few forearms, and takes control again. He tosses Strong, and hits a dropkick for two. Then, a delayed suplex for two. Strong fights back with some chops, and is now in control. Albright attempts a comeback, but is caught with a sick dropkick. He recovers, and gains momentum with some strikes and a suplex. Strong catches him with an enziguri, and a Falcon Arrow for two. Strong hits the big boot, a gutbuster, and a schoolboy rollup for 3. Nothing wrong here, but there was really no build to anything, such as the armwork not even leading to a Crowbar attempt, and Albright is quite bland, while Strong needs a personality in his opponent to be really great, in my opinion. Still, not a bad match at all. **1/4

Next up, we have a promo from Delirious from the streets of Vegas. Obviously, I do not understand enough to recap, but with his new beard, Delirious may, in fact, be Chris Jericho.

Chris Hero vs. Karl Anderson
Anderson is known as the “Machine Gun”, and imitates firing one off in his entrance. They tie up, and trade holds. Hero does a number of flips to escape a wristlock. For those not in the know, Hero’s character is basically a parody of 2002 ROH spot monkeys, with ridiculous setups to every move. He slaps Anderson, but gets caught with a leg lariat. Karl hits a powerslam, and a kneedrop for 2. Hero regains control with a wristlock, then does a Machine Gun pose of his own. He then hits a senton for 2. Twisting senton, again for two. He chops Anderson, but Anderson has FIGHTING SPIRIT~! And will not be hurt, but instead unleashes a scream! He hits a spinebuster for 2. He then hits a gordbuster, and a headkick for a nearfall. Hero catches him with a roaring elbow, then hits the Hero’s Welcome! Hangmen’s Clutch submission (it’s an STF with a Cravate)! Karl taps! Basic point of the match was to introduce Hero to the crowd, methinks. **

Hero is out back with Larry Sweeney, and they make Vegas jokes. Good stuff.

Rocky Romero vs. TJ Perkins
These two know and each other quite well, and have quite the rivalry in the SoCal scene. I believe they both have ties to the old NJPW Dojo. TJ makes his entrance with a water bottle in his mouth, Minoru-style. They do some lucha and have a standoff. TJ is quite crisp, but very bland. TJ hits a shoulderblock to a cornered Romero. TJ misses a knee, and catches a boot from Rocky. Rocky hits a gordbuster, and a springboard kneedrop. Snap suplex, for 2. He locks in an Octopus Stretch, and rolls it into a pin for 2. TJ flips his way out, and hits a neckbreaker. He then hits an enziguri, and a Michinoku Driver, for 2. He goes up top, but Romero dodges. TJ dodges a knee, and they trade slaps, and block kicks. Romero with a sick headkick, it sends TJ to a knee. Romero hits another, and that gets him the win. Smooth stuff, but again, just wrestling with no real story. I’ve seen much better out of these two, as well. **1/2

Austin Aries vs. Delirious
Aries has never missed the finals, and Delirious is the defending champion, so something has to give here. Delirious goes crazy at the bell, straight into a headlock. They trade armdrags, and then chops. Delirious with a snapmare, and a kick to the back. He then hits his corner clotheslines, but Aries fights back with elbows. Aries hits a Stroke (~!) and the Powerdrive Elbow for 2. Aries hits a Finlay Roll, and heads up top. Delirious catches him with a headbutt on the way down, however. Back suplex from Delirious. Delirious with an abdominal stretch, and a senton for 2. He then declares that, “Cha-Ching Cha-Ching Delirious WINNER!!!” Aries recovers, and they trade a multitude of strikes, with Aries winning. He hits a twisting press, and a quebrada for two. Delirious blocks the brainbuster with clotheslines. Aries hits a back suplex, and a dropkick for 2. Delirious recovers and busts out Matt Sydal’s Here it Is Driver, for 2. I’d like to see him use that more often. He goes for the Cobra Stretch, but it’s blocked. He hits a Panic Attack. Shadows over Hell misses, Brianbuster attempt! Blocked, Cobra Stretch, Cobra Stretch Suplex!! BIG Nearfall. Cobra Stretch, Aries rolls on top, kick to the head! Brainbuster! Rolls through, Horns of Aries! Delirious taps!!! Very exciting match between two crowd favorites. By far the most even, exciting match of the night so far. ***1/4

Aries explains that he has been practicing working on countering submissions in preparation for Danielson, and thus, Delirious’ Cobra Stretch never stood a chance.

Claudio Castagnoli vs. Davey Richards
Davey spits on Claudio, and attacks before the bell. Claudio blocks his kicks, and delivers a European Uppercut. He hits a Giant Swing for two. Richards regains control with some kicks, and works the leg. He hits a Dragon Screw and whips Claudio, but Double C hits a springboard Uppercut. Claudio delivers some moves, but the leg is preventing him from bridging and moving well. Really great selling from Claudio here. He goes for the Ricola Bomb, but Davey hits a Rana. He hits another Dragon Screw, and locks in the Stretch Muffler (Brock Lock)! Claudio gets the ropes, and goes for the Alpamare Waterslide. Davey armdrags out of it, and goes for his handspring kick, but CC hits an Uppercut! Waterslide for two. They hit the corner, and Davey fights out with a Super Sunset Bomb! Running kick…nearfall! Claudio’s neck is hurt badly. They block European Uppercuts and kicks, but Claudio hits a running one, and the Ricola Bomb for the win! More good stuff. Both guys played their roles quite well and the match was damn exciting down the stretch. I look for both of these guys to really break out soon. ***

Claudio admits that he almost tapped to the Stretch Muffler, but promises that even with a hurt neck, he will win. I really like these short, to-the-point, no-catchphrase promos. Very puro, in a good way.

Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness
This is the 6th meeting between the two in ROH, they have had one draw, three pinfall wins for Dragon, and one countout win for Nigel. They trade holds, and Dragon hits a dropkick. He locks in a Dragon Sleeper. Nigel escapes, and we have a standoff. They trade submissions, and it’s really intense. They are making a point of only going to the ropes when necessary, and it’s seen as an act of weakness, cool seeing as two of their best matches featured the limited rope breaks rules. Dragon goes after the knee, and pulls off the kneepad. He stomps and slams on it. Nigel escapes, no-sells the knee, and goes after Dragon’s arm. Dragon takes some armwork, then rolls into a crab on Nigel, no-selling his arm. That makes this all rather pointless. He continues to work the leg, and gets a Muta Lock. Nigel hooks his injured arm, but Dragon goes to the ropes. They standoff, and are selling more and more. Dragon trips up Nigel and gets a Figure 4, but Nigel turns it into the ropes. They trade European Uppercuts, it’s really intense now. Nigel with a lariat to the back of the head, for 2. Divorce Court on the injured arm. They trade forearms, Roaring Elbow from Dragon (with the injured arm…), Rebound Lariat! Blocked with a low kick, on the hurt leg! Half Crab! Continues to work the leg with strikes, but Nigel fights out. Back suplex. Headstand, but Dragon kicks him out! Euro Uppercut battle! Cattle Mutilation! Elbows! Dragon up top…gets crotched! The time limit is up! Nigel wants more time, but Dragon won’t give it to him. I have mixed feelings on this match. I really liked the trading limb work, but when it came down to the final minutes, they just abandoned it and went to their big moves, making it pointless. Still, excellently wrestled, but probably their worst match yet. ***1/4

Human Tornado vs. Shane Hagadorn vs. Tony Kozina
To make up for the last round, this is now a first round qualifier. They do a 3-way tie up, and then some 3-way spots. All fun stuff. Tornado does his dance-stomp-low blow. Kozina with a lariat on Tornado. Shane backdrops Kozina, and Tornado pimpslaps Shane. Kozina hit a quebrada on both opponents. Shane is taken out by Kozina, but Tornado is up and hits a DND on Kozina for the win. Fun introduction to Tornado. **

Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe vs. Jimmy Jacobs and Necro Butcher
Necro Butcher is, of course, the greatest wrestler in the history of Earth. This is non-title, and a street fight. It’s a brawl form the start. Mark pairs up with Jimmy, Jay with Necro. Mark slides Jacobs up and down the bar in a fun spot. They make it up to the stage, and Mark puts Jimmy on a table, and goes to dive off the stage. Necro catches him, and then Jay catches Necro. Jacobs is up, and low blows Mark. Mark is chokeslammed through the table by Necro! He’s dead. They move back to the ring, and it’s 2-on-1. Chair body slam gets 2. Tiger Driver on the chair…2! Jay will not go down. Mark is back. Jay begins a comeback, and backdrops Necro. Mark catches Jacobs with a chairshot, and Necro does the same to Jay. Necro vs. Mark…chair war! Mark loses his, but he’s GONE NINJA! He chops Jay on accident! Necro up top, gets caught. TOSSED THROUGH AN OPEN CHAIR! Double Rock Bottom on Jacobs! 1…2…no! Redneck Boogie on a chair…2! Necro with chairshots! Endgame onto Mark on the chair…he taps! Very spirited, hateful brawl. Great lead-in to the NYC Title match. ***1/4

Austin Aries vs. Chris Hero vs. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Human Tornado vs. Rocky Romero vs. Roderick Strong
Roderick is a former champion, and Aries has made every final. Hero and Claudio are feuding, as are Strong and Aries. Ironically, last year Hero and Claudio defeated Strong and Aries for the tag titles. And, of course, Romero and Strong are teammates. With that, let’s go to the match. The NRC immediately team up on Aries while Hero bails to the stage. Aries fights back, and hits a dive onto the NRC! Hero is in, and gonna dive. Claudio is in and cuts him off, he slams him over and over! Tornado in, ranas and such on Claudio, he looks great! He sends CC out of the ring, and hits a HUGE Tope Con Hilo into the crowd! Back in, Hero sneaks up in Tornado! Hero’s Welcome for the 3! Down to 5 guys, and Hero bails again. Claudio and Strong in the ring, and it has broken down into Claudio/Aries vs. Strong/Romero. Giant Swing on Romero, and a press by Aries. Strong cuts off Aries, and they work him over. Aries hits a quebrada onto the NRC, and tags in Claudio! He’s runnin’ wild! Romero and Aries back in the ring. Kick…Brainbuster! 450! Blind tag by Hero, he covers Romero for the 3! Strong and Aries in ring, going to war. Hero with a blind tag on Strong, rolls up Aries from behind! Has the ropes, 1, 2, 3! Hero pinned Austin Aries! Sweeney pays off Strong, and they team up on Claudio. Strong hits a Gibson Driver, but Hero Welcomes Strong for 3! He takes the money back! Down to Hero vs. Claudio. He beats down Claudio, but he’s coming back with Uppercuts. Ricola…blocked. Headscissors by Claudio… for 2. Waterslide blocked, as is a Hero elbow. Deadlift German… for 2! Ricola Bomb blocked! Hero’s Welcome! Kickout! Hangmen’s Clutch… Claudio makes the ropes! Cravate neckbreaker! Double Stomp! Back to the Clutch, and Claudio is out! HERO IS THE FITTEST~! Great character work in the opening, and a super hot finish. Match of the night. ***1/2

We end the DVD with Larry Sweeney and Chris Hero out on the town, celebrating. Funny Stuff.

The Inside Pulse
Overall, this was very good stuff. Past the first few matches, it’s all very solid. While not to the level of most ROH shows, it was very enjoyable, especially if your a fan of Chris Hero. I suggest you pick it up as a free choice in a sale, but there are many other DVD’s to see first.