Live Coverage: ROH Undeniable PPV (1/18/2008)

PPVs

the Tonight, Inside Pulse will be bringing live coverage of Ring of Honor’s PPV, Undeniable, from Broken Dial HQ in lovely Astoria, Queens.

Just when I start to have a little faith in Time Warner Cable, they apparently, are experience “technical difficulties.” So, instead of the show starting 30 seconds ago, I am waiting. I think I will grab a beer.

Oh, wait, my cable decided to stop sucking.

Claudio is in the ring with Dave Prazak and Lenny Leonard. They call out Chris Hero for their scheduled match, but Sweet and Sour Incorporated’s music hits and Larry Sweeney is saying that Chris Hero will not be wrestling until his financial needs are set.

Negotiating?

Ugh.

We go to the open of the PPV. Highlights of Age of the Fall, Nigel’s win over Claudio, Morishima pounding on Bryan Danielson. No wonder this latest Smashing Pumpkins album didn’t do well, this “Doomsday Clock” song sucks.

We come back and Jimmy Jacobs is in the ring with his Age of the Fall cohorts, Lacey, Tyler Black and Necro Butcher. ROH Officials have told them that in order of AotF to begin their quest for the tag team titles, they have to have to win some tag team matches.Cue the Vulture Squad: Ruckus, Jack Evans, Jigsaw and mouthpiece/manager, Julius Smokes. It’s Evans and Ruckus vs. Tyler Black and Jimmy Jacobs.

Tyler Black & Jimmy Jacobs vs. Ruckus & Jack Evans

Evidently, the Briscoes and the Age of the Fall aren’t even allowed in the same building after their actions at the last PPV taping. Ruckus is being beat on by Jacobs and Black, tied up in the tree of woe, Jacobs charges in with a knee to the midsection and a double dropkick to boot. Ruckus is being pounded in the center of the ring. Black with a scoop slam, off the ropes into a knee drop, up and off the ropes with a leg drop, but Evans breaks it up.

Boots to the face from Black. Jacobs is tagged in, goes up top and hits a flying forearm. Tag to Black. Prazak lets us know that we just saw a “vicious boot in the corner.” Thank God he said that, because I missed it. Ruckus makes a tag to Jack. Evans uses Jacobs to drop kick Black, hits a dropkick into a moonsault on Black. Spear from Jacobs. Holy crap, I can’t keep up.

Jack dives out of the ring onto Tyler Black, who catches him and powerbombs him into the guardrail. That whole sequence was ridiculous, I love lucha-style offense and no one does it better than ROH.

Back in the ring, Black has Evans up in a torture rack, Jacobs comes off the top rope with a back senton, Jimmy then hits the ropes and kicks Jack in the face as Tyler drops him to the mat. Jimmy dives in for The End Time, to gain the win.

Winners: The Age of the Fall, Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black by submission

Since I don’t use star ratings, let me use something more familiar to me:

We head backstage to Morishima, but he doesn’t want to talk. We get kicked out. Bad ‘Shima!

Erick Stevens promo is shown. He has to maximize his talents and approach every obstacle without fear. Nice guy, that Stevens.

“My name is Erick Stevens. When you see me in the ring, you are looking at relentless determination.”

Rad. He’s getting a push.

Back to the ring, and Sweet and Sour Inc. are in the ring. ROH Officials still haven’t met Hero’s demands, so we get the first women’s wrestling match on ROH PPV: Sarah Del Rey vs. Daizee Haze.

Daizee Haze vs Sarah Del Rey

Quick take down after a collar-and-elbow, by Del Rey. Two quick pinfall attempts by Sarah. Hoists Daizee up over her head, Haze rolls through, headscissors takes Del Rey out of the ring. Daizee heads to the top rope and hits both Del Rey and Bobby Dempsey (of Sweet and Sour Inc). Chops by Daizee. Stomp by Sarah and a body block to take Daizee down. Big boot. Another big boot and a cocky cover gets 1.

Daizee fires back with forearms, hits the ropes for an axehandle. Heart punch, Daizee hits the ropes with a Yakuza kick to the head, gets two. German suplex from Del Rey gets two.

Claudio Castagnoli (who’s Ricola Bomb shirt I am wearing right now!) comes out to get a piece of Chris Hero. European uppercut on Dempsey. Del Rey goes for a powerbomb, Daizee rolls through and gets the roll-up for the win. Chris Hero hits the Hero’s Welcome outside the ring.

Winner: Daizee Haze by pinfall

Served its purpose. The lights go out and we get “Final Countdown,” the theme music of former ROH World Champion “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson Damn, they are moving too fast. Good thing I have a DVR. I like THAT about Time Warner, even if I missed the first two minutes of the show. Jerks.

AmDrag hits the ring and appears to be all business. The crowd is going nuts. He runs down Sweeney, telling them that they represent everything that is wrong with professional sports. He asks Hero to prove that he is the best thing in pro wrestling.

Bryan Danielson vs. Chris Hero

“You’re gonna get your fcuking head kicking in” is the best chant ever.

Good mat wrestling to start. Dragon takes advantage with a wristlock. Hero nips up, showboats with his lunges and plyometrics over the ropes and turnbuckle. I love this guy.

Hammerlock from Danielson takes momentum back his way. Into the corner, AmDrag releases for a clean break. Chain wrestling until Hero rolls Danielson for a two count. AmDrag up into a single leg, but Hero gets up and does a headstand and lunges, hits the second rope for a backflip. Single leg takedown by AmDrag, takes the Mexican surfboard and he elevates Hero. Back down to the knees, AmDrag pulls his head away and crawls toward the corner. Danielson stomps the knees, grabs the hands, pinning Hero’s shoulders to the mat for a two. Knucklelock, Dragon flips over, hits the ropes for a dropkick. Two count.

Danielson tries for the crossface chickenwing, but Hero gets to the ropes and gets the break. Danielson charges into a boot to the face. Another kick to the face for a two count. Hero pulls his headband over his right eye to mock the injury AmDrag suffered at the hands, erm, feet of Morishima. Hero hits a back senton for a two.

Running atomic drop, Danielson is sent headfirst into the turnbuckle. Chop in the corner on AmDrag. Danielson with the European uppercut. Chop from Hero. Two Euro uppercuts from Danielson, Dragon thrown the corner but walks and flips.

Danielson charges in with a running forearm, takes Hero down with a suplex. Danielson up to the top, Hero charges in for the cravate, which Dragon breaks, hits the dropkick, hits a German suplex with a bridge for two. Danielson catches the arms and flips into the Cattle Mutilation.

Hero gets out. Back up and hits a forearm. Danielson with the forearm. Elevates Dragon down into a release suplex. Two count for Hero. Hero fakes the Cattle Mutilation and flips through. Two count with the small package.

Dragon takes advantage, grabs the arms and curbstomps Hero’s face until the referee stops the match.

Winner: “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson by referee stoppage

A quick plug for the ROHWrestling.com site and video of all the superstars that have graced ROH’s ring. I miss you Punk and Joe. I can do without the rest of this “Doomsday Clock” promo if they just give me back Low Ki.

Adam Pearce is in the ring with the microphone. He requests the appearance of Kevin Steen, and “Mr. Wrestling” makes his way to the ring. Pearce instructs Steen to have a seat in the chair in the ring. He plugs his Hangmen Three; Brent Albright, BJ Whitmer and himself, “Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce. He reminds us all of their attack on Delirious in Hartford and mocks Steen’s tag partner, El Generico, for costing Steen the ROH World Tag Titles. He is trying to convince him to come “to the darkside” so to speak. He offers Steen a spot in the stable, presenting him an offering: El Generico is being dragged to the ring by the other members of Hangmen 3. I like it better with a number.

“This is the man who has cost you everything you have ever wanted…look at him and look at us. Strike him down, Kevin Steen, now is your opportunity!”

Steen has his fist cocked and he winds up and…strikes Pearce. A brawl breaks out in the ring and Steen tries to fight off the Hangmen Three on his own. Yeah, better with the number. Hangmen 3. Delirious hits the ring and he is out to get back at the 3 for stapling his mask to his face. Delirious clears the ring and asks for the mic:

“Hangmen 3. incoherent Baaaas, Blahs and Waaahs.

Steen: “I have no idea what that meant, but there is only one person in Ring of Honor that will be smacking around this guy (El Generico) and that person is me.”

Delirious dives off the top turnbuckle into the members of the Hangmen 3 and Steen announces that we have ourselves a 6-man tag.

Kevin Steen, El Generico & Delirious vs. Hangmen Three 3: Adam Pearce, BJ Whitmer & Brent Albright

Steen punching Pearce outside the ring. Whitmer rolls back in and catches a top rope splash from Generico. Chops from Generico, sends Whitmer to the ropes and catches him with a leg lariat. Right hands from Generico in the corner. Delirious charges in for a clothesline and brings Whitmer back out with a bulldog. He bites BJ’s face. Into the corner, chop from BJ. Irish whip to the turnbuckle, forearm shot, firearm carry, back senton from Del. That’s so much faster than it sounds.

Whitmer reverses the irish whip, Del catches a boot to the back from Pearce. Albright tagged in and pounds away with forearms. Pearce in and hits a big splash for a two count. Pearce charges into a boot in the corner, Del charges out into an elevated chokeslam. Whitmer is tagged in, but he only gets two.

Whitmer pounds away on Del in the corner. Albright and Pearce work on Delirious with the ref turned around. Albright tagged in and hits an elevated suplex and squats. Two count.

Whitmer back in and he chops Delirious into his corner. Slap to Del draws some offense out as Del back elbows the other members of the Hangmen 3. Whitmer throws him the corner, Del hits a rana, but can’t make the tag. He dives through Whitmer’s legs and tags Steen.

House of fire, Steen hits a leg lariat. He catches Pearce coming in, but is caught by Albright with a shoulder block. Generico takes down Albright, Steen hits the somersault legdrop. Hug from the Steenerico, and Steen hits the suicide dive.

Whitmer back in the ring. Big boot in the corner by Generico, senton by Steen for two. Steen moves as Pearce drops the elbow on Whitmer. Three clotheslines and a leaping lariat from Del on Pearce. Albright clears the ring. Whitmer back in, hits a powerbomb into the corner on Generico. Super kick from Steen. Spinebuster from Pearce on Steen. Delirious in and biting the ear on Pearce. Panic Attack in the corner. Delirious has lost his mind and continues to bite Pearce. Albright slips in and gets the Half Nelson Suplex for the three count.

Winners: Hangmen 3 by pinfall (Half Nelson Suplex)

Nigel McGuinness is backstage. “It’s not about being a TV star or having a million dollars, it’s having love for professional wrestling.” His match with Morishima will be awesome.

Footage is shown of Fifth Year Festival where Roderick Strong turns his back on longtime partner Austin Aries.

Roderick Strong vs. Austin Aries

These former Generation Next members collide in a grudge match. Gamesmanship to start as Roddy breaks the tie-up by ducking through the ropes. Takedown by Aries, slides and takes the back, then the front facelock, until Strong rolls out of the ring.

“ROD-ER-ICK” chants start. Strong shoulder tackles Aries and spits on him. Two Japanese armdrags and “paintbrushes” on Strong. Brutal chop by Strong. Side headlock by Aries. Aries takes Strong down, side takeover headlock. Roddy flips him clear over, but Aries lands on his feet and takes him down again. Head scissors on Aries, Strong blocks his handspring three times. Aries slips clear and slaps him hard. Irish whip to the turnbuckle and knee to the midsection by Strong. Irish whip, Aries holds the ropes and Roddy catches air.

Aries striking Strong outside the ring. Overhand chop from Aries and he rolls Strong back in the ring. Senton into the ring, hits the ropes and Aries catches his elbow drop. Elbows to the back of Strong’s head. Headbutt from Aries. Irish whip reversal, Strong picks Aries up and hits an over the shoulder gutbuster. Backbreaker from Strong. Another backbreaker gets two.

Camel clutch on Austin Aries. He’s showing “no remorse.”

That wasn’t witty at all. Sorry.

Aries hits the ropes and runs into the dropkick from Strong. Roddy pulls him the center and gets a two count. Boot to the midsection from Aries, Strong grabs the legs and pulls Austin in for a backbreaker. Two quick 2 counts.

Stomps from Roddy. Aries on the mat and Roddy gets a reverse bearhug. Aries rallies with elbows while in the bearhug. Forearm exchange in the center of the ring. Strong stops Austin with a knee to the midsection. Three clotheslines from Aries. Austin gets Rod into the corner and rains punches down but Roddy throws Aries over the top rope down to the floor.

Strong picks Austin up and sends him head over heels into the ringside barricade. Aries blocks the Gibson Driver and hits a backdrop. The two chase one another around the ring, Aries reverses an irish whip and hits a running dropkick on the outside. Aries charges in with a double knee strike. Roddy is thrown back in, Aries vaults into the twisted body press. Aries catches knees on the lionsault and there is another two count.

Rod blocks the brainbuster, a backbreaker into a half nelson backbreaker for a two count. Aries blocks another half nelson with elbows, Rod hits it anyway. Aries counters Gibson Driver with a rana. Shinbreaker into a back suplex by Austin Aries.

Both men struggle to their feet, Aries misses the corner dropkick. Up to the top rope, Roddy hits a backbreaker across the top turnbuckle. Both men are outside the ring, Roddy tosses him back in for a two count.

Roddy gets a table outside the ring and sets it up between the barricade and the apron. Rod gets him up in a running powerbomb, Aries reverses, clothes Rod over the top rope and charges out of the ring with a tope. Nice.

Rod tossed back in and he springs in with an elbow to the head that he keeps repeating. Running dropkick, brain buster combination for the two count.

Aries positions Rod for the 450…Rod stands up and hits the top rope. Rod tries for a superplex, but Austin fights him off. 450 from Aries, two count.

Aries back to his feet and he sees the table positioned on the outside. Rod was playing possum, small package by Strong for two. Backslide from Aries for two. Roaring elbow connects, Aries hits the ropes and eats a big boot. Gutbuster, Gibson Driver from Strong only gets two.

Strong tries to hit a Gibson Driver throught the table, Aries blocks and hits a brain buster through the table to the floor. The fans go nuts and rightfully so. Aries rolls Roddy back into the ring, hits the knees across the chest on the 450 and gets the three.

Winner: Austin Aries by pinfall (450 splash)

That was awesome.

We are headed now to Dayton, OH for The Briscoes vs. the No Remorse Corps Davey Richards/Rocky Romero.

The Briscoes vs. Davey Richards/Rocky Romero

Davey and Mark start. Crap. I never keep Mark and Jay straight, and here I am covering one of their matches. Also, I have been drinking, so I think this is just going to be fun.

Early chain wrestling results with Davey trying for a cross arm breaker. Mark escapes. After controlling the arms, Mark works for pin, two count. Fireman takeover into a side headlock by Davey Richards. Tag to Rocky.

Back heel kick by Rocky and he dances. Hits the ropes and Jay Briscoe takes him into his corner. Mark back in with slaps and shoulders to Romero’s midsection. Jay tags in and takes Romero off his feet. Chop in the corner by Jay. Forearm shot. Dropkick by Jay. Mark kneedrop off the top rope. Another two count.

Romero backs Mark into his corner and Davey is back in with a head butt. Clothesline from Richards. Two count. Mark marches Richards into his corner and tags Jay in. Forearm smash, and textbook doubleteam by the Briscoes. Romero tries to interfere and gets tossed to the apron for his efforts. Jay throws him and Romero lands on Mark Briscoe, Mark hits the ropes and suicide dives over the top on the No Remorse Corps.

A few moments later, when I awake from a momentary nap, Romero hits a running knee strike, Mark hits a springboard Ace Crusher-Dropkick combo. Richards off the top and eats a super kick. Romero is tagged back in after a missed springboard. Tilt a whirl backbreaker. Two on one on Mark Briscoe…gourdbuster. The NRC went for stereo kicks but Jay breaks it up. Briscoes hit a neckbreaker combo.

Jay Driller blocked by Rocky. Death Valley Driver by Jay for two. Rocky ducks the springboard Doomsday Device. Military Press is broken up by Davey. Leg cradle suplex into the corner by Davey on Mark. Handspring by Richards on Mark, Mark hits a clothesline off the ropes. All four men down in the ring.

Strike exchange among all four men. NRC hit the ropes, but the challengers are tackled by the Briscoes. Reversed into a tombstone by Davey, Diablo armbar from the top on Jay by Romero. Davey tagged back in. Kneestrike into a sitout powerbomb by the NRC. Davey puts Jay back up top, Jay fights back and hits a sitout gourdbuster for two.

Springboard Doomsday on Davey for the three. The Briscoes are 4-0 on PPV.

Winner: The Briscoes by pinfall (Springboard Doomsday Device)

The Age of the Fall cut in during the Briscoes celebration. Cool.

It’s Main Event time!

For the Ring of Honor World Championship:
Nigel McGuinness vs. Takeshi Morishima (c)

Nigel’s the only man to have a pinfall on Shima? Cool, I didn’t realize that he had that on his resume prior to this match.

The announcers are selling this title as the best in the world. I don’t disagree. The bell sounds and Shima circles Nigel to start. Shoulder tackle doesn’t budge. Jawbreaker lariat blocked, Backdrop Driver blocked.

Stalemate.

Nose to nose in the center of the ring. Forearm exchanges, Nigel goes for the jawbreak lariat again, but Shima counters with a slam. Shima and Nigel outside the ring on opposite sides. Shima tosses Nigel inside and McGuinness tries for the rebound lariat outside the ring.

Shima steps on Nigel’s arm. Back up and toss into the ringpost, Shima ties Nigel up to neutralize the lariat. Back inside, Morishima uses the ropes for leverage to work on the arm.

Arm breaker from Shima. Nigel tries to punch, but Shima takes him down. Fujiwara armbar from Shima, but Nigel breaks it with the ropes. Boots to the ribs in the corner. Shima continues to work the arm and shoulder of Nigel.

Nigel fights it off and slaps Shima, who responds with a major forearm that knocks Nigel on his ass. Shima charges into the corner and hits the big boot. Clubbing blows to the head of a seated Nigel. Nigel struggles to get up before the ten count, but backs into a backdrop driver. Nigel rolls through for a two.

Lariat from Nigel. Another lariat and it gets a two count. Charging European uppercut from Nigel. Another lariat from Nigel gets two.

Jawebreaker lariat is blocked by Morishima, and he counters with a lariat of his own. Morishima charges into the corner with a forearm. Nigel on his back and Shima hits a missile dropkick for two. Very agile for a 300 pounder. I love him.

Nigel tries for a sunset flip out of the backdrop driver, but Shima sits down and gets a two count. Morishima goes back up top and gets caught with another lariat…two count.

He’s chopping the champion down with lariats? Smart.

Irish whip reversed by Shima, Shima kicks Nigel during his top rope handstand. Back drop driver gets two! Awesome.

Shima back to the top, but Nigel catches him with a thrust. Tower of London blocked by Shima. Throat thrusts by Nigel. Nigel hits the superplex on the champ. Two count.

Two standing lariats by Nigel do nothing. Morishima just screams in his face. Third time does nothing. Two the back and Shima lariats Nigel after he hits the ropes. Back drop driver, but Nigel rolls through into the lariat for two…the fans thought they were getting a title change there.

Double count is being administered on both men. Nigel is up first and hits the top rope, Morishima is going for a super Backdrop Driver, it’s blocked. Nigel with a sunset powerbomb for two.

Clubbing blows from Shima are answered by Nigel. Lariat from Nigel kicked out at one. Butt bump from Morishima. Nigel hits the ropes…

JAWBREAKER LARIAT for the three!

Winner and NEW ROH World Champion: Nigel McGuinness by pinfall (Jawbreaker Lariat)

The locker room empties to celebrate with Nigel. The fans are going nuts. The announcement is being made and Bryan Danielson breaks it up. “Athletes wait their whole lives to hear their name announced as new champion, and he ruined that moment.”

Morishima grabs the belt from referee Paul Turner and presents it to Nigel with a bow. Classy act, that monster.

“Thank you, Shima” chants break out. Great title reign for a nice man that speaks so little English, I thought he was mute until a month ago.

So, we know that Aries is the number one contender for the ROH World Title. Now we know WHO he will be facing for the belt. It should be a fantastic match.