The Bricoes vs. Jigsaw and “M-Dogg†Matt Cross
No one was really sure why Ruckus wasn’t there. I certainly wasn’t. For some reason Cross was sporting an olive green military style hat and fatigue vest. That was almost the only thing interesting about the match, save for a couple innovative double teams by the makeshift pair (superkick into a sunset bomb for a nearfall). Being the Briscoes, the crowd was into it, but it was standard Briscoes formula. Not even a lot of offense for Cross & Jigsaw. Briscoes win at about 12:00 w/ Jay Driller on Cross. **1/2. Afterward, Jay challenged Age of the Fall, saying they’d be watching later
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Adam Pearce
Entertaining for what it was, but not much beyond that. About everything you expected going in, frankly. Claudio was crazy over, as per usual. Hagadorn came out wearing the torn green Delirious mask and dog collar to pimp Chicago tomorrow. That’s about all of note. Claudio wins it at 9:14 w/ Ricola Bomb. **
FIP World Title: Erick Stevens(c) vs. Austin Aries vs. Davey Richards (1 fall Triple threat)
Austin heeled it up at the start, then played the opportunist big time. Good stuff throughout, Stevens’ power showed through with a double German and a double TKO. Stevens wins at 13:59 with the Doctor Bomb on Davey. Aries again did NOT shake hands afterwards after teasing it. ***1/2
Hangm3n Three (Whitmer/Albright) vs. Delirious/El Generico
Great, intense brawl. Hangmen jumped them before the match with plenty of Hagadorn interference until Pelle Primeau ran interference, allowing Delirious to hit him with Black Mist. Hangmen then absolutely obliterated Pelle with multiple double teams. I can’t do justice to the beating he took. After a couple of tables, a whole lot of chairs, brawling all over the building. Pearce came down with the chain, took out Delirious, and left Generico alone. The Hangmen pick up the victory at 19:41 after ref stoppage, (Albright, knees to the head on Generico) ***
Intermission
Daizee Haze’s music starts up, stops and CUE THE SCREAMS! Age of the Fall (Jimmy, Lacey & Allison Wonderland) hit the ring. Jimmy cuts a short promo, inviting Austin Aries to join Age of the Fall, and Daizee interrupts. And it’s on.
Daizee Haze vs. Lacey
Average women’s match, Lacey eats boot on a corner charge and gets rolled up at 5:28. *3/4
After the match, Tyler Black comes down, Age of the Fall surrounds Daizee only to have the Briscoes try to run in for the save. The new Age of the Fall member runs in and it’s JOEY MATTHEWS! Matthews clears the ring with chairshots and a snap double arm DDT, before cutting a promo about working hard, getting “labeled†and now being clean and sober. Crowd was lukewarm, unsure why. I thought it was as well handled as it could have been given the widespread net guessing.
Age of the Fall (Jacobs/Matthews) vs. No Remorse Corps (Strong/Romero)
Solid formula tag. Jimmy and Joey hit a sick double backdrop into a double neckbreaker off the top rope on Romero. Try to envision AJ’s suplex into a neckbreaker and you’ve got the idea. Roderick counters the Endgame into the Gibson Driver for a solid nearfall, and Jimmy taps to the Stronghold at 17:39. **3/4 to ***, your mileage may vary.
Tyler Black gets on the mic, and cuts a promo talking about how Age of the Fall is about overcoming adversity and they were the outcasts that will overcome “…the best in the world.†The more astute of you can guess what happens next. Cue Danielson.
Tyler Black vs. Danielson
Great, great, great match. I have virtually no notes because I was so involved in the match. Black hits a great looking Phoenix Splash, nearly halfway across the ring, only for Mr. Small Package to strike again at 23:24. ****1/4
After the match, Black grabs the ring bell, goes after Danielson’s eye with the hammer, allowing the Briscoes to make the save. Jay cuts another “this isn’t over†style promo, and puts over the cage match before mentioning the autograph session at 2nd intermission (for the cage) and mentioning it’s his birthday. A “Happy Birthday†chant later, we’re at second Intermission.
ROH World Title Cage Match: Nigel McGuinness(c) vs. Chris Hero
Let me just say right away, I hate escape rules. Sometimes they work, but generally they just ruin the flow for me (end editorial). The usual Sweet & Sour antics are in full force, as they circle the cage. Hero tears up the knee of McGuinness while selling his own braced knee. Hero hits a cravate to great fanfare, and gets another one standing on a chair Toland threw into the ring. Nigel counters this into a facebuster for a Hero blade job, and he hit a good one. By the end of the match, his face is absolutely covered. Sweeney slams the door in Nigel’s face prompting an ejection for S&S Inc., who promptly sneak back out through the crowd. Bobby Dempsey slams the door in Hero’s face by accident as both men go for the door, and Nigel just makes it out over the cage seconds before Hero gets out the door to retain at 25:36. ***1/2. They tease Bobby finally turning face, but they just go back to the locker room after constant abuse from almost everyone.
