Ring of Honor Weekly: The Wrestlemania Weekend Edition

Welcome to Ring of Honor Weekly. It’s the biggest weekend of the year for wrestling, with Wrestlemania coming up. You know what that means ROH fans, ROH’s annual supercards! Well, to get you prepared for those, this week I’ll be bringing you a roundtable preview of the shows from myself, Chris Sicoli, Andy Mac, Jake Mulligan, and Ollie Sutherland. On top of that we have a list of guys with the most potential to break out, both in ring and in terms of opportunity, from around the indies. That list goes from 12-4 this week and includes over twenty brand new match reviews from around the indies. Be sure to check back Monday for A Modest Response where the top three will be revealed, as well as 15 more match reviews

”Dragon Gate Challenge II” March 28th
Friday, March 28, 2008Orlando Downtown Recreation Complex
March 28th, 2008- 8:00pm belltime
649 West Livingston Street
Orlando, FL 32801

Tickets will be available to purchase at the door on the night of the show.
ROH, Dragon Gate & NOAH vs. No Remorse Corps
Erick Stevens, CIMA & Go Shiozaki vs. FIP World Heavyweight Champion Roderick Strong & ROH World Tag Team Champions Davey Richards & Rocky Romero

Big Andy Mac’s Big Andy-Pinions: The last time they worked a similar match it was Marufuji, Danielson, and CIMA taking on the NRC with temporary member Masaaki Mochizuki. The match was very good. I would say that this match is a slight step down from that, mostly for the lack of Dragon-volvement. If this goes on last than the Dream Team wins, if it goes on earlier, the NRC wins. I think Erick Stevens will be involved in the fall regardless.

Prediction: StevensCimaZaki

Corporal Kirschner, Jr: Normally, I would say expect this match to be an all out brawl with no holds barred. But with this weekend being one of the most prestigious of the year’s, this is going to be a hard-hitting contest with neither team gaining the upperhand until the closing bell. The story of the match will be Strong avoiding Stevens by tagging in his lackeys. It won’t be until Romero and Richards will be brawling on the outside with Go and CIMA where Stevens gets to go absolute berserk (HUSS) on Strong.

No folly from Ollie: I see this main eventing. This will probably be like the NRC/Mochi vs Dragon/CIMA/Maru match from Live in Osaka, but stiffer as you have Go and Stevens in there instead of Maru and Danielson. I see Stevens pinning Strong here, to add to their match the next night. Winners: Stevens, CIMA and Go.

Sicoli’s Sick Side: Not sure what to expect of this match. There’s so many different styles and characters involved that it could really go either way as far as match quality. However, there’s one thing for sure; you’ll never see this match again. I’m giving the win to Team Random, ’cause Stevens needs some momentum going into his next match against Roddy on the following night…and plus, CIMA never loses.

Jake’s Take: This match should be pretty good. It’s a tough one to call, seeing as it’s the main event and presumably, you’ll have lots of new fans there, you’d wan to put the faces over. But, the NRC have jobbed way too much lately, to the point where the tag titles were instantly devalued by being placed on them. I suppose I’d have Strong pin Stevens after a decently long match, to set up the next nights match, and I wouldn’t have this go on last.

Glazer’s Glaze: Okay, so this is guaranteed awesome. Despite that Dragon and Marufuji are replaced with Stevens and Go, this will likely be a better match, not least because with the future aces and not the present aces in the match, there is far more question of who will win. Stevens and Go will also likely sell more for the heels because of their standing. I’ve been dying to see Go chop with Strong, so that should be awesome as well. I wish the Dragon Gate guy was an up and comer, not CIMA, to keep the theme, but, really, close enough. Strong’s team should win here to build the strength of the NRC and set them up as strong champions for a new audience.

Prediction: The NRC take it.

ROH vs. Dragon Gate Match #1
Jay & Mark Briscoe vs. Dragon Kid & Ryo Saito

Big Andy Mac’s Big Andy-Pinions: This should be high on action and thin on storytelling. I expect a lot of crazy movez, and the fans on their feet throughout. I am admittedly sick of the Briscoes, but they can still put on awesome matches, and this is exactly the scenario for them to do so. I am going to predict the Dragon Gate boys in this one, but I fully expect to be wrong.

Prediction: Dragon Kid and Ryo Saito

Corporal Kirschner, Jr: The Briscoe Brothers are no strangers to Dragon Gate tag teams. They have won and lost the ROH Tag Team Titles to Dragon Gate members and are looking to solidify their past accomplishments by putting away another pair of them. Dragon Kid would like to pick up a win here because the last time he squared off against an ROH Tag Team he lost. And again, this can be another one of those make or break matches for the ROH vs. DG series. Expect nothing less than fantastic from these two teams.

No folly from Ollie: This is the least promising of the 3 ROH/DG tags. I hope they don’t go very crazy here, because I’d like to have the fan’s energy saved for the really super awesome tags, Steenerico/Speed Muscle and AOTF/New Hazard. Briscoes going over, pinning Dragon Kid with a Spike Jay
Driller. Winners: The Briscoes.

Sicoli’s Sick Side: Not to sound like a broken record, but you have to expect some very innovative and fast paced offense from this match, although I’m not digging it as much as some of the other tags because the Briscoes are becoming stale and I’ve never been a big Dragon Kid or Ryo Saito fan. Either way, expect the Briscoes to pick up the win, meaning ROH gets to beat Dragon Gate in this year’s Dragon Gate Challenge!

Jake’s Take:The worst looking of the three tags, in my opinion. The series will, I assume, go 2-2, and due to my other results I have Typhoon going over here. I see the Briscoes entering a mini-losing streak in big matches, hopefully leading to an eventual heel turn.

Glazer’s Glaze: This looks like a pure spotfest and if there’s one guy who can outdo the Briscoes at pure spotfesting, it’s Dragon Kid. This will be the cotton candy of the three matches, and the DG team should win.

Prediction: Dragon Kid and Saito after some insane spot

ROH vs. Dragon Gate Match #2
Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino

Big Andy Mac’s Big Andy-Pinions: Of all of the DG vs. RoH matches, I think this one probably has the highest expectations. “Speed Muscle” of Doi and Yoshino are one of the premier teams in Dragon Gate. Fortunately, Steenerico are arguably the premier team in Ring of Honor. Steen and Generico are the most likely team to dethrone Richards and Romero when the time comes. I think they win here, and maybe set up a feud that could continue into Dragon Gate.

Prediction: Kevin Steen and the Generic Luchador

Corporal Kirschner, Jr: Kevin Steen and El Generico’s styles will mesh very well with Naruki Doi and Yoshino’s. Steen and Generico can work any style as a team and this match should look very nice and pretty. This will be the third ROH vs. DG match of the evening and will be pretty much make or break for both promotions. It’ll either be tied at one a piece or a shutout at two-nothing. Expect this match to be very intense and full of near falls with a flashy move ending it.

No folly from Ollie: This will be incredible, no doubt. Without any injuries or anything, I’ll be surprised if this doesn’t touch MOTYC level with this being the best 2 teams in the world today going at it. Steenerico going over, with a second Package Piledriver/Brainbuster on Yoshino. Winners: Kel Steenerico.

Sicoli’s Sick Side: Steen and Generico have possibly reached their apex in terms of match quality as a team, busting out great matches left and right with an awesome dynamic (Steen the prick powerhouse, and Generico the sympathetic flippy dude). That said, Doi and Yoshino are also damn great at tag wrestling and can match Steen & Generico in the fast-paced/sprint style of action. This is going to be balls-to-the-wall fun, and with all the recent hype for Steen, and to a lesser extent Generico, I say El Steenerico picks up the win.

Jake’s Take: I’d have this as the main event. Steenerico are well on their way to the tag titles, which they will inevitably claim, and they are making Steen a certified main eventer right now, so I see Steenerico taking this one down.

Glazer’s Glazer: This is THE match I’m most looking forward to this weekend. Speed Muscle are the premier DG team and Steenerico are the premier team in ROH and PWG. This should be a classic and with Steen’s monster push, they will win this one.

Prediction: Steenerico win in the match of the night.

ROH vs. Dragon Gate Match #3
Austin Aries vs. Genki Horiguchi

Big Andy Mac’s Big Andy-Pinions: Of the Dg vs. RoH matches, this one is probably the easiest to predict. Aries has a title match the next night and he is not going to lose to the weird looking bald guy from Japan. This match should be the best singles match of the show. Granted, it only has one competitor. Still this match should be fast, furious and fun.

Prediction: “The Sexiest Man Alive” Austin Aries

Corporal Kirschner, Jr: These two men match fairly equal in terms of size, but when it comes to high flying and more versatile moves, Horiguchi has got the one up on Ring of Honor Native Austin Aries. Aries has got to keep his mind set on breaking down Horiguchi from the start or he will never be able to keep up with him at all.

No folly from Ollie: Interesting match-up to say the least. Both men work a fairly similar style, but I’m not sure how the heel/face dynamic will go, because nowadays Genki is full heel and Aries has been showing signs of a turn, although it’s not actually happened yet. Aries going over with the combo to give him momentum into his world title match the next night. Winner: Austin Aries.

Sicoli’s Sick Side: If Genki is still in his crazy heel phase with the blue hair extensions and contacts, this match is already a MOTYC. Seriously, I expect this to be a well executed exhibition match and nothing more, as it’s simply here to get another unique ROH vs DG match-up on the card while feeding Aries someone to make him look strong going into the world title match the next night.

Jake’s Take: Not sure how this will be, Genki, as awesome as his character his, isn’t an awesome worker as a heel. This should be under ten minutes, and Aries should win handily.

Glazer’s Glazer: Genki is okay, but notable more for character than skill. Aries is a DG regular and should fairly handedly beat Horiguchi in a fun match. This should be Aries vs. CIMA.

Prediction: There is no reason for Aries to lose right before his title shot the next night.

ROH vs. Dragon Gate March #4
Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black with Lacey vs. BxB Hulk & Shingo

Big Andy Mac’s Big Andy-Pinions: It really seems like the Age of the Fall should win here, but I have a strong feeling that Ring of Honor and Dragon Gate will split their four matches. Ring of Honor could easily win all four, but no way is that happening. I think Shingo will win in his big return to Ring of Honor. He will also receive a hero’s welcome from the fans, and Chris Hero will be nowhere to be found. Shingo is going to take this one for his team.

Prediction: Shingo and BxB Hulk

Corporal Kirschner, Jr: Okay, completely disregard the fact that Jacobs and Black are trying to destroy Ring of Honor. Also disregard the fact that this is, technically, Ring of Honor vs. Dragon Gate. The Age of the Fall need to win this match for themselves, to prove to ROH and Society itself that this movement is no joke. There is nothing more that Hulk and Shingo would like to do than stop these two anarchists dead in their tracks. These four men will pull out all the slick moves from their arsenal and put on a hell of a match.

No folly from Ollie: This will be like Steenerico/Speed Muscle, but probably not as good. BxB and Shingo are f*cking great, and Tyler and Jimmy have been getting better and better recently. I have no idea who’s winning, but I’m going to go New Hazard here so it will be a true clash of the titans the next night. Winners: BxB and Shingo.

Sicoli’s Sick Side: In the few matches I’ve seen Jacobs & Black tag together, they’ve struck me as something different, and what sucks is that I can’t really explain it. They work so fluidly together in the ring and always seem to know what the other one wants to do, which is perfect for a tag team. Shingo and BxB Hulk are no slouches either, and after watching some of their recent tag work, they very well could be the best tag team in the world at the moment. Combining these two unique teams is sure to create some crazy sprint of awesomeness. This is definitely a match to look forward to. Shingo and Hulk pick up the win, most likely after Shingo kills Black dead with a lariat or Last Falconry.

Jake’s Take: I love both these teams, and I’m really happy Jacobs and Black were selected as New HAZARD’s other opponents. Hulk and Shingo should go over here, in Hulk’s debut, and also to keep tomorrow’s tag match as the premier match of the weekend.

Glazer’s Glaze: Shingo is the stiff mulleted monster familiar to ROH fans and BxB is his flashy, fun partner. They are being built as the future of Dragon Gate and are the former GHC (that’s NOAH) Junior tag champions. If you can find their match with Kenta and Ishimori, please, do so. Shingo is always treated well in ROH and should continue to be so here as his team takes the win in a potential show stealer.

Prediction: Shingo and BxB

Non-Title Match
ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness vs. Delirious

Big Andy Mac’s Big Andy-Pinions: I like that this is non-title, as Ring of Honor needs to do something to make their title matches slightly more special. Logic would say that Delirious wins here, but I don’t see that happening at all. I think Nigel is really going to start dominating the roster for awhile. Eventually, someone will be elevated to defeat him, and it will surprise everyone. Aries won’t do it the next night. Steen won’t do it in Edison. He will make it out of the Hammerstein with the belt as well. I would love to see Nigel go on a huge tear as champion all as a heel and resist turning him face when the fickle RoH fans come around on him. He decimates Delirious here, possibly in a way that Delirious will be out for revenge down the line.

Prediction: Nigel McGuinness

Corporal Kirschner, Jr: We’ve seen this before, and it was nothing special. So why place it on ‘Mania Weekend? Because Nigel’s heel turn will add a whole other dimension to this match. Delirious will hop around, all goofy and Nigel will do nothing put knock him down and toss him around like rag doll, bringing out the serious side of Delirious. This is going to look better on the mat, rather than paper.

No folly from Ollie: Filler-ish with Nigel going over cheaply. Winner: Nigel McGuinness.

Sicoli’s Sick Side: Obviously, Nigel is going over, because he’s the champ and he’s making a huge defense the next night. The match, though, could go one of two ways. Either Nigel kills Delirious, short and sweet, and looks dominant, which would be fun. OR, Delirious goes into insane-competitive mode like he’s done with Danielson, Aries, Strong, etc in the past, and really puts up a fight, which is also fun. Either way, this should be fun.

Jake’s Take: Easy one here, Delirious loses and becomes angry with Nigel leading to a Nigel vs. Red Delirious title match, or AOTF causes Delirious the match, continuing that feud. Either way, Nigel wins.

Glazer’s Glaze: Nigel has handled Delirious when he was pure champion and will again here. Del isn’t really feuding with AOTF, Jake, and the Hangmen no longer exist.

Prediction: Nigel smash puny green man.

Overall Big Andy-Pinion: This show should be awesome, but probably not as good as “Supercard of Honor 3.” This should, however, be the best Friday show that Ring of Honor has put on in a long time. I wish I was going to be there since Florida is nicer than where I am right now, but I hope everyone that gets to enjoy these shows does so.

“Supercard Of Honor II”
Orlando Downtown Recreation Complex
March 29th, 2008- 7:30pm belltime
649 West Livingston Street
Orlando, FL 32801

Tickets will be available at the door on the night of the show.

Main Event #1 – ROH World Title Match – Rematch From “Rising Above” PPV
Nigel McGuinness defends vs. Austin Aries

Big Andy Mac’s Big Andy-Pinions: This has as good a shot at anything as being the best match of the entire weekend. Their previous match at “Rising Above” was a classic and nearly got the full monty from Dave Meltzer. I would be really surprised if Aries won the title here, especially since they expressed a plan for what would happen if he did win. It seems when they present a plan for the title if a change happens; it never does. I have to go with Nigel here, but the big question is that if Aries loses, where does he go from there? He could join the Age of the Fall or side with Sunny, but all of this makes a lot more sense if he wins the title; which he won’t be doing.

Prediction: Nigel retains.

Corporal Kirschner, Jr: These guys are coming fresh off a MOTYC and the fans are going to expect something better. Now with Nigel in full-blown heel mode, expect the story of hatred between these two to grow. Aries is an angry man on the hunt for ROH Gold. Nigel is a stubborn jerk who will knock down anyone and anything just to make him feel like he is an ROH God. When the Angry Man and the ROH God collide this weekend, expect another MOTYC.

No folly from Ollie: Like their last match, this should be top notch stuff. I don’t know if it will go on before or after the DG 6 man, I’d rather see the DG 6 man main event because I love the match so much. As to who’s going over, Nigel’s heel turn has only just started (and has started well), so I don’t see him dropping the belt already. Winner: Nigel McGuinness.

Sicoli’s Sick Side: Nigel just opened the gate of possibilities with his recent character turn, so I honestly can’t buy Aries winning the title, as Nigel just has so much left to do. That being said, I have no doubt these two men draw the fans into thinking a title change is possible, because they’re just that damn good. Nigel goes over in a huge title match, where Aries comes just so close to winning.

>Jake’s Tale: Up to yesterday, I was feeling a title change here. Then, I read if Aries won, Aries vs. Ibushi became a three way with Steen, and that simply isn’t happening, so Nigel goes over here in what should be an incredible match. I see an Aries angle after the match, or maybe at the next show, where he will turn down both Tammy Sytch and the Age of the Fall, and align himself permanently with Dragon.

Glazer’s Glaze: Unlike my colleagues, I never saw a title change imminent here. This will be a classic, but it will be a classic won by Nigel. Aries will hopefully remember his newly awesome selling in this, as I’m sure Nigel’s workover period will draw huge heat if he does.

Prediction: Nigel

Main Event #2 – Dragon Gate Six Man Tag
CIMA, Dragon Kid & Ryo Saito vs. Naruki Doi, Masato Yoshino & Genki Horiguchi

Big Andy Mac’s Big Andy-Pinions: Does this match need any real hype? The first one is an all time classic. The second was awesome as well. This has the same participants as the original, except CIMA and Genki Horiguchi were on opposite teams. I won’t predict another five star outing, but there is no reason for this to steal the show, and again the whole weekend. It doesn’t really matter who wins, but I will predict CIMA, Dragon Kid, and Ryo Saito.

Prediction: CIMA, Dragon Kid, and Ryo Saito

Corporal Kirschner, Jr: I don’t know why, but these six man matches never really impressed me in any way. I mean, sure, the first time I saw these guys in Dragon Gate I was blown away. But seeing year after year of fast-paced nonstop move after move action, it just hurts my head to watch it. This’ll still have the special feeling it does every year, and these guys will try to pull off some new stuff the ROH Crowd has yet to see.

No folly from Ollie: This will be awesome, of course. Lots of people weren’t very high on last years DG 6 man because lack of a clear heel/face dynamic and pejorative treatment of Dragon Gate factions, but here we have a clear heel/face dynamic and clear factions with Typhoon (CIMA/Kid/Ryo) facing Muscle Outlaws (Doi/Yoshi/Genki). No idea who’s winning, but I’ll give the heels the duke. Winners: Doi, Yoshino and Genki.

Sicoli’s Sick Side: A re-re-match of the infamous 6 man Dragon Gate match from Supercard Of Honor. Not much to say; it’ll be the usual DG 6 man that we’ve experienced the past two years, but with different faces. It’s not bad, it’s just no longer fresh. CIMA’s team win, because, CIMA never loses.

Jake’s Take: Not much to predict here, should be incredible and Typhoon will likely go over, with Genki taking the fall from someone.

Glazer’s Glaze This is a rematch of the original ***** classic with CIMA and Genki flipped. That’s one hell of a flip, but since Doi and Yoshino are arguably the number two and three men in the company, it’s necessary. CIMA’s team will likely win, since Genki is a clear weak link and will take the fall.

Prediction: A fantastic match with a CIMA win.

World Tag Team Title Match – To Be Taped For ROH’s 6th PPV
Davey Richards & Rocky Romero defend vs. Ruckus & Jigsaw

Big Andy Mac’s Big Andy-Pinions: This match could be really good or could be kind of crappy. One thing is for sure. It will have lots of flips, kicks, and chops. I really, really don’t think the Vulture Squad has a shot, but they could be working an angle of “less mask=more wins” with Jigsaw. That is really the VS’s only shot. If the rumors are true, RoH does want the tag belts to be hot potatoed a bit, but I just don’t think this is the time. Kevin Steen and El Generico are the most likely heirs to the tag team throne.

Prediction: Romero and Richards retain…alliteration rules.

Corporal Kirschner, Jr: Normally, I’d say NRC are going squash. But this match is going to be taped for pay per view (or “paper yew” as Don West likes to call them) I’m calling a title change.

No folly from Ollie: Rematch from the 6th Anniversary show. With all the incredible tags this week I doubt many people will care about this, but then again the fans will be hot because it’s being taped for PPV. NRC retaining. Winners: Davey and Rocky.

Sicoli’s Sick Side: Fun, quick PPV tag match with a finishing sequence filled with flips and nearfalls, but the NRC win to retain. If that’s not how it happens, I’ll be shocked.

Jake’s Take: The time for RuckSaw is not here, seeing as there is a beef within the faction due to BLKOUT, and if the Vultures do win, Jack is getting a belt. I hope this is excellent, because matches like these are turning the tag belts into a low card attraction, seeing as these teams are, at best, the 4th and 5th ranked in the division right now.

Glazer’s Glaze: With this being taped for PPV, the match will at least be good, but is emblematic of the problem with ROH’s tag division. No one is teaming with who feels natural, whether it be the NRC, where Davey is more known for a team from another promotion, or Romero is for the Havana Pitbulls, or the Vultures, where Ruckus is Kingston’s regular partner and Jigsaw got his job in ROH through great work teaming with Quackenbush. Putting the guys with the partners people care about would be a huge step in the right direction. Getting the belts with a team people care about, Steen and Generico, coming at the Hammerstein, is the first step. No sense hotshotting the belt before then.

Prediction: NRC take another.

FIP World Heavyweight Title Match
Roderick Strong vs. Erick Stevens

Big Andy Mac’s Big Andy-Pinions: This match won’t steal the weekend by any stretch, but those are sometimes the matches that surprise the most. These two have excellent chemistry together and have torn the house down in previous efforts. The main thing I dislike about the FIP title is that a company’s world title should not be secondary in any other promotion, and really shouldn’t change hands elsewhere. The FIP strap has changed hands twice in Ring of Honor; that is twice too many. That being said, since this match is in fact in Florida, I think that Stevens gets the belt back here.

Prediction: Erick Stevens wins the belt back.

Corporal Kirschner, Jr: It’s going to be hard hitting. It’s going to be loud, and it’s going to look painful. ‘Nuff said.</i

No folly from Ollie: They could un-pause the Stevens push by giving him the belt here, which I’d like to see, as his matches with Aries and Danielson were both really good. I don’t know about Roderick’s future, he had a pretty average 2007 and lots of people want to see him turn face again. I think he’ll lose this. Winner: Erick Stevens

Sicoli’s Sick Side: I was really hoping for some sort of stipulation, even something small like “No Countouts” so Strong can’t take advantage of the ‘cheap’ victory that the FIP title lets him do. It’d make sense as well because Stevens as champion refused to take the countout victory, and the stip would make more people think Stevens had a chance of winning. Anyway, expect another hard-fought match between these two, and also expect Strong to walk out with gold. Not sure where they’re going with Stevens right now, but at the moment, it isn’t torwards gold again.

Jake Mulligan: This should be a really brutal match, but the feud isn’t over yet and a title change ain’t coming yet, so I expect some kind of bullshit finish, be it interference, DQ, or Countout, leading to some kind of blowoff at an FIP show.

Glazer’s Glazer: This will be the hardest hitting match of the weekend by far and hopefully the blowoff to this major feud. The lack of stipulation makes me think Gabe will drag this out some and Roderick will sneak a win. Stevens with the belt means more and it elevates him, so I’m predicting what I’d prefer rather than what’s likely.

Prediction: Stevens as new champion.

Relaxed Rules Grudge Tag Team Match
Jay & Mark Briscoe vs. Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black with Lacey

Big Andy Mac’s Big Andy-Pinions: I still have not seen their match from “Final Battle,” but reports are that it was awesome. The Briscoes shine in this type of match; so does Jimmy Jacobs. Tyler has been on an incredible roll this year. This match would have even more hype if it was for the tag belts, but this feud has gotten to the boiling point where it doesn’t need the titles. I think that this match ends in some sort of non finish, which will suck, but it will continue the feud before some crazy gimmick finishes it off. If pressed to pick a winner, I will take the Age of the Fall.

Predictions: The Age of the Fall

Corporal Kirschner, Jr: This is going to be a Relaxed Rules match, so expect this one to go all around the arena. From what I understand, these guys have some unsettled business to take care of. It’s going to be gruesome and bloody.

No folly from Ollie: When will this feud end? With everything else going on this weekend I don’t see much of a blow-off here, it should be another addition to the feud. AOTF winning. Winners: Jimmy and Tyler

Sicoli’s Sick Side: If all goes to plan, Briscoes win the night before and AOTF lose. Therefore, Briscoes seem to have the momentum in this match, right? Wrong. AOTF are going to take this match, even if they have to play the numbers game or escape with the win just barely. The way I see it, AOTF should be a thorn in the Briscoes’ side for a little bit longer, be the guys that the Briscoes just can’t beat, until they get so frustrated they request some ridiculous match (No-Roped Barbed Wire, anyone?) to prove who’s really the best (and craziest) team. However, aside from that little bit of armchair booking, the match doesn’t interest me too much. It could be great, sure, but how many Briscoes/AOTF brawls have we had already?

Jake’s Take: Briscoes beat the AOTF B-Team at the last show, and DIFH should avenge that loss here, probably with some Necroferance due to the relaxed rules. This feud is getting blown off soon, but not here, so I’d expect a really brutal beating by DIFH to set up the blowoff soon.

Glazer’s Glazer: This should be awesome. These teams tore down a tired Manhattan Center at Final Battle 07 and the Briscoes will look to avenge their loss here. This should quickly get too out of hand for merely “relaxed” rules to handle and be a non-finish. I think that’s why Stevens wins; to avoid two bad finishes on the card.

Prediction: The Briscoes are beat down as the AOTF show up with the numbers advantage.

ROH vs. Dragon Gate
Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. Shingo & BxB Hulk

Big Andy Mac’s Big Andy-Pinions: A lot of people are for sure looking forward to this match. Steen and Shingo in the same ring could quite possibly make people’s heads explode with awesomeness. BxB Hulk’s entrance will also be presented in its entirety. I am going to pick the Ring of Honor team in this one, since I think Steen’s undefeated streak will continue as Steenerico builds towards a title.

Prediction: Steen and Generico

Corporal Kirschner, Jr: Like I said before, Kevin Steen and El Generico can pull off any type of style when they are together. Though this is ROH vs. DG, none of these men have true beef against each other. Expect a fun match with a lot of sweet moves.

No folly from Ollie: This will be f*cking awesome to say the least. I’d say NH are on par with Speed Muscle, with Speed Muscle simply having more great matches under their belts so they’re ranked higher. These 2 teams fit with each other really well (and better than Steenerico/Speed Muscle) too, I predict lots of wild interactions here. Steenerico going over to further their push. Winners: Kel Steenerico.

Sicoli’s Sick Side: Match Of The Freaking Year. Oh, wait, too soon? Sorry, jumped the gun. It’s hard to stay contained when these two teams, either one arguably the current best tag team in the world, are going against each other. Both teams have the bigger guy/smaller guy dynamic, and move at lightning-fast speeds, so I expect them to gel very well. I can’t do justice trying to hype this; I’ll let Jake Mulligan do that. As far as a prediction goes, El Steenerico continues their rise to the very top by beating Shing and Hulk…barely.

Jake’s Take:This is the best looking match of the weekend in my opinion, and while it can’t rightfully main event, I’d give them all the time they want, put it on pre-intermission, and tell them to go all out. Steenerico goes over.

Glazer’s Glaze: Too awesome for words. Steen and Generico will come up just short, but Generico will take the fall to protect the uber-pushed Steen.

Prediction: Shingo and BxB win to take the series for Dragon Gate.

First Time Ever
Delirious vs. Go Shiozaki

Big Andy Mac’s Big Andy-Pinions: The last time Delirious got to wrestle a major star from Japan an often slept on match with KENTA was the result. I don’t know if the two of them match up quite as well, though. If their interactions from “Take No Prisoners” was any indication, it should be a good match, but not a great match. Go wins here.

Prediction: Go Shiozaki

Corporal Kirschner, Jr: This is going to be an interesting match. Two very different styles. Don’t expect anything great.

No folly from Ollie: Delirious vs. Go Shiozaki – Go will demolish the lizard man. Winner: Go.

Sicoli’s Sick Side: Too much of a styles clash for my taste, along with being too random. The match will be alright I’m sure, but it’s hard to care. Shiozaki wins via murdering Delirious.

Jake’s Take: I see Go winning here. My theory on Delirious is that Green Delirious will go on a losing streak, while Red Delirious will go on a win streak, leading to Delirious wrestling more than just brawls as Red, becoming addicted Venom-style. This will build to that.

Glazer’s Glaze: Go wins because I love Jake’s idea.

Prediction: Greenlirious takes the fall.

Overall Big Andy-Pinion: On paper this has every ingredient to be one of the best shows in a long time, if not ever. I sincerely hope that it delivers. I won’t be there, but it would give me a DVD that I am excited to purchase. I have not had that in a while. More importantly, Ring of Honor has delivered on Wrestlemania weekend since “At Our Best” in 2004, all signs point to that continuing here.

Cult of ROH WEEKLY: Things to Watch
By John Wiswell

Wiswell’s Well Wishes:
The Wrestlemania Weekend shows are stacked to attract attendance and hopefully create a couple of must-buy DVD’s. With the cards built as they are three or four matches on each show will probably get clearance to go as long and do as much as is necessary, rather than building to one spectacular main event. The Dragon Gate guys aren’t going to hold back to make Aries/McGuinness 3 shine. If one match can steal the weekend, what will it be?

Austin Aries Vs. Nigel McGuinness is a rematch from Rising Above, but is actually the third time they’ve wrestled in ROH. They locked up for the first time at Unscripted 2, having one of the finest Pure Title matches in the history of the belt. Their encounter at Rising Above blew that match out of the water. Aries is faster and more conscious about varying offense, and makes everything McGuinness does look lethal. McGuinness is now in a character renaissance, and has never been better at inciting a crowd or giving his opponent the opportunity to shine. They have the burden of following an amazing match, but also the benefit of being able to play off of that match. They can play off of the guardrail massacre, the Lariat off the top rope and Aries’s increasing aggression. It’s very unlikely they will top the Rising Above match (and you’ll hurt your expectations if you loved that and demand this be better), but even matching it could make it the best match of the weekend.

The other match on Saturday that everyone is waiting for is Typhoon Vs. Muscle Outlawz. The first Dragon Gate Trios Tag was the match of the year among most fans and most big critics. The second was pulse-pounding and in the top circle for a host more of critics. This one pits the original six men against each other, with the members shuffled: it’s CIMA, Dragon Kid & Ryo Saito Vs. Genki Horiguchi, Masato Yoshino & Naruki Doi. If I had to guess, I’d say to expect Doi and Yoshino to run wild over Kid and possibly Saito, but you can’t even predict that much accurately. This will be wild, and barring an unlikely injury or an even more unlikely no-show, it will be a ride worth the price of admission.

These two matches happen the same night as Roderick Strong Vs. Erick Stevens for the FIP Title, a rematch of what Florida fans called the best match in FIP history. It has a long story to draw on. Also that night you’ll see Kevin Steen & El Generico Vs. Shingo Takagi & BxB Hulk, two very dynamic and very quick teams that could just as easily steal the show. Both of these matches pale on paper to the bigger two Saturday matches, but don’t be surprised if people are arguing that one of these was the true best match of the night come Sunday morning. In truth, the four matches together were probably planned in the hopes of making this an absolute must-buy DVD, ala the previous Supercard of Honor shows.

Friday night features the big three tag team matches between Dragon Gate and Ring of Honor stars. You’re pretty much guaranteed to see this go 2-1 with the deciding match coming on last, and quite probably being the best with the added drama. If I had my way Kevin Steen & El Generico Vs. Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino would end it, as it’s the best pairing. Generico has worked with these guys, and Doi & Yoshino might be the best sprint team in Japan. The Dragon Gate team should take great advantage of Steen & Generico’s dynamic of one prickish powerhouse and one sympathetic flyer. If they really hit their stride they might completely steal Friday night and sway people’s hearts for the weekend, but I doubt their sprints will top whatever is done on Saturday night, and doubt even more that they’ll tell a deeper story than McGuinness Vs. Aries.

P.S.: Florida, you have no idea how good you have it that a show like Friday’s isn’t guaranteed to steal the weekend. Enjoy your wrestling.

The Fool in the Stands: The Breakout Talent

Every year at Wrestlemania, I try to do something special. This year, it’s a look at 12 potential breakout candidates, complete with a ton of match reviews. This is based on in ring skill, charisma, and opportunity and limited to the indies. I hope you enjoy, as this took a lot of time. Be sure to check back Monday for the top three, who have five matches reviewed each.

12. Lince Dorado – Lince is the Chikara based luchador who is the youngest man on the list. Having just completed his first year of wrestling, he reminds many of a young Rey Misterio thanks to his speed and unmatched charisma.

Chikara Showdown in Crisisland: Lince Dorado vs. Chris Hero

Lince is the young rookie trying to take it to his more evil trainer (the other trainer at the Chikara Wrestle Factory being Mike Quackenbush), Chris Hero, leader of the Kings of Wrestling, who, at the behest of Mitch Ryder, hate all luchadores.

Hero doesn’t take Lince seriously early and controls on the mat fairly easily, showing his experience advantage, but Lince is as quick as a hiccup (TM Gorilla Monsoon) and uses the speed to frustrate Hero… which just means Hero goes back to the mat. Lince shows some good chops here, actually hanging on the mat, but Hero’s just a lot stronger than the tiny Lince too and the underdog story is on, as the taunted Lince takes to running around and Hero is in trouble… until Dorado tries to chop him..oops. The speed remains Hero’s kryptonite.

That lasts until a big boot and Hero uses his size to take Lince out. Workover time. Hero’s focus is taking away the breath of Lince; if you can’t breathe, you can’t run being the operative theory. As Lince struggles to stay alive, Hero gets cockier and slower with his assault. This leads to a hope spot and near fall, but Hero catches Lince with a chokeslam and goes right back to work.

Lince makes a comeback with speed and hits an awesome diving armdrag to the floor. Hero tries to slow Lince down, but his momentum is too much and Lince gets a lionsault. Momentum only works when you aren’t caught and Hero tosses him! Hero makes the tactical error of throwing Lince, and eats several hurricanranas as payment. Hero learns his lesson and now goes for pure power, giving Lince no room to maneuver and counter, but then put Lince on top. A corkscrew splash leads Lince to the Chikara Special submission and…. Hero taps!

Lince Dorado defeats Chris Hero (Submission, Chikara Special, ****)
Lince proved throughout the match that Hero was too slow to keep him down, and though Hero slowed him down with body work, he kept, through his cockiness, setting Lince’s speed up for him, by throwing him to the ropes and putting him on the top rope. Eventually this lead to Hero’s kryptonite, the Chikara Special, a move he had no answer for and was defeated. No one thought Lince could really win here, but the strong underdog showing had the crowd loving him by the end of the match. Lince’s flashy speed and good selling, along with Hero’s focused attack made this upset feel like a huge deal.

Chikara King of Trios 2008 Night 2: Lince Dorado, Pantera, and Incognito vs. Mike Quackenbush, Shane Storm, and Skayde

Lince begins with Shane and they do some basic, but cool lucha, controlled by Lince, though Shane does better than expected.

Quack is now in with Incognito. More lucha from these two (okay, the whole match is in lucha, I’ll stop saying it), but more mat based here. The two feel each other out and Incognito is stronger, but Quack is more slippery. Quack takes to the air to get control and does so in a flashy manner. Skayde jumps in to raise Quack’s hand.

Skayde is in with Pantera and the crowd loves it. The lucha legends go at it. The legends roll on the mat quite a bit and Pantera looks quite a bit better at that. Skayde is pretty damn good, but, at this, Pantera is fantastic.

Quack gets in and he’s immediately mushed. He ends up worked over by Pantera and Incognito shortly, until Skayde makes a fancy save and he and his protégé Quack show they are an awesome team and destroy their opponents. The crowd is thrilled as they celebrate.

Storm and Lince go at it now. Lince is trapped long enough for Quack to get in and he’s under his opponent’s control. Lince takes a beating as the crowd roots for the man who at Chapter 11 nearly went blind entertaining them. This is a really, really fun beating.

Lince desperately gets a move in on Storm and gets to his corner. Incognito is in and he and Skayde go at it. Incognito wins with a dive to the floor. Lince is back in and he and Quack go at it, won by Quack, as Lince is still worn down. Rookie mistake. Pantera interrupts, stops Storm and takes him out with his own maneuver.

Quack goes for the BTS and he and Pantera battle, while Pantera counters… a crucifix out of nowhere and Quack stays down for three!

Team Lucha defeats, QuackenStormSkayde (Pin, Crucifix, ****)
This was better live as it had far more emotion to the Skayde segments, but it was 20 minutes and generously felt like 10. Lince’s heat segment was long, but with all his credibility and the cool moves done on him, it felt like it took no time. This was art.

Lince’s Outlook: Lince just won Chikara’s King of Trios with Pantera and Incognito, so his huge push after defeated the Kings of Wrestling’s Mitch Ryder doesn’t look to be done. While he has no feud set up, he does have awesome potential and a guaranteed major push. It’s a matter of time given his skillset and charisma before he breaks out of Chikara and I’d guess the bookings will come in PWG first, where he’d fit in great.

11. Riccochet – Riccochet is one of the premier high fliers in wrestling and has learned how to work off a base better than perhaps anyone on the indies except perhaps Qauckenbush himself. His flashy moves are second to none and he runs with both the Riccochet gimmick around the indies and that of the luchador Helios in Chikara.

Chikara Young Lions Cup 2007 Night 3: Riccochet vs. Chuck Taylor

This is the finals of the tournament to crown the best young wrestler in Chikara. They then defend their trophy for the next year. Riccochet immediately establishes his physical dominance, using awesome speed. Riccochet is awesome for a bit, then Taylor gets lucky with a quick big boot and gets control. The match slows down a ton.

Riccochet’s entire offense is running, so Taylor begins to just wait and knock em down as he runs in. The workover after is slow, but Taylor’s personality carries it. Riccochet eventually ducks the run in and does a twisting DDT. Double count.

They go strike wild and Riccochet takes control, staying a step ahead of Chuck. Eventually the Yakuza kick is run into by Ricc and Chuck has control again. They trade control a bit, but it’s mostly Taylor’s control, though now he is using more high impact moves, trying to finish before Riccochet can drop him on his head at high speeds again.

Riccochet gets a reversal and goes with everything he can to take the win, flipping everywhere, but Taylor catches him with multiple powerbombs and the Omega Driver for the win!

Chuck Taylor defeats Riccochet (Pin, Omega Driver, *** ½)
Chuck’s workovers and means were great. Riccochet was physically, but not mentally superior, which came off perfectly without any cheap heel stuff from Taylor at all.

Chikara: Maximum Overdraft: Riccochet vs. Eddie Kingston

King cuts the best promo in ages about how angry he is that he isn’t getting opportunities that others do and, while it isn’t personal, he’ll take it out on Riccochet. Holy mother of… that promo is insanely fantastic.

Kingston offers Riccochet the right to leave, and Riccochet wants some exercise. Riccochet goes all speed and takes out Kingston with some of the flashiest offense around, all hit in fantastic succession. That only gets a one count.

Kingston smashes. Riccochet flops about at the stiff assault. Riccochet tries to fight back with multiple strikes, but Kingston destroys with one stiff strike each time. Riccochet uses speed and momentum to attempt comebacks, even hitting a hands free twisting plancha to the floor, but Kingston powerbombs out of a hurricanrana try and goes right back to control. The speed is good for near falls, but King remains a step ahead… until he nails a low blow and the match is called.

Riccochet defeats Eddie Kingston (Disqualification, Low Blow, *** ½)
Awesome beating and awesome comebacks. No one breaks out flashy offense in such rapid succession. Riccochet is the perfect name for what this man does. Kingston was the perfect man to bounce off. These two need a rematch with a finish.

Riccochet’s Outlook: Riccochet will need to continue to impress as he has in the last half of the last year. The Chikara Young Lion’s Cup champion will naturally continue his push their as Helios and his feud with Chuck Taylor, which is quite high profile. In other indies, well, all it takes is one live look to know this guy is special. Hopefully his matches will continue to get more and more time, since that’s what’s standing between he and Pac’s reputations.

10. Pac – Similar to Riccochet, but with far more hype, Pac is the British high flier extraordinaire, who excels at longer, epic matches with either fellow fliers like Generico in PWG or bigger wrestlers like Claudio in Chikara.

King of Europe Cup: Pac vs. Martin Stone

This is an extra on the King of Europe cup DVD and a match Stone himself recommends as especially awesome (thanks to Ollie Sutherland for that). Stone is my current pick for best British wrestler, while Pac is easily the most well known besides those that are regularly in the states. This is the RQW tournament final.

They do mat work early and end up even. Stone has a hurt wheel, but enough power to get early control. Stone’s speed is sapped by the knee injury, and Pac is able to use his speed to nail a moonsault kneedrop. Pac goes after the knee of Stone, but runs into more of Stone’s power. A cobra clutch crossface leaves Pac in pain, but he gets the ropes. They trade yet more offense as Pac flies all over the place. Stone refuses to stay down and keeps coming back with big offense.

They battle back and forth, but Stone’s lariats kill Pac. Pac is screwed and dead on the ramp. The roles reverse and now Pac is in trouble. London Bridge (DDT with feet on the ropes) is hit and Stone wins.

Stone defeats Pac (Pin, London Bridge, *** ¼)
Pac controlled a bit much given his stature, but his taking of brutal moves and brutal bumps are what really make the match stand out. Stone really killed him and it was great.

PWG European Vacation 2: England: Pac vs. Human Tornado

Tornado is all antics early and Pac is frustrated. This doesn’t bode well for Tornado. Pac goes into overdrive for flips and smacks Tornado with a dropkick, chasing him to the floor. Pac stays on Tornado mixing flips and strikes. Tornado takes a beating.

Pac eventually is caught up top and Tornado kills him with kicks then slows things down, trying to take away Pac’s speed with a chinlock. When that doesn’t work, Tornado thinks a step ahead, using a reverse DDT onto his knee and then going with a dragon sleeper type stretch, until Pac again makes the ropes. Tornado eventually makes a mistake and ends up on the floor, so Pac hits a twisting top rope splash onto him, making up for a lot of lost momentum.

Pac in hits a shooting star knee into a shadows over heel position and a running corkscrew splash. He can’t keep Tornado down, but has him on the run. Tornado’s kicks keep him alive and he can continue to ground Pac, but Pac is just a bit too quick and manages an enziguiri into corkscrew shooting star, but eats knees. Tornado tries a tornado DDT and is caught, a second attempt is caught too, and a big strike takes Pac out. A top rope Tornado DDT leads to Dat N**** Dead, and we have a winner.

The Human Tornado defeats Pac (Pin, Dat N***** Dead, *** ½)
Both men were so good at selling that the crowd was involved no matter who was on offense. Pac, in particular, took a big beating. He managed to still look like the physically superior athlete, but Tornado got in his head early, causing over-aggressiveness, and that made all the difference.

Pac’s Outlook: With his disastrous ROH in America tryout done, Pac looks to be focusing on wrestling on his home continent. While there, he is quickly becoming a main draw, facing all the top names both there and in the states. I’d guess he wins the King of Europe Cup this year and gets bookings in Dragon Gate to continue to grow his exposure.

9. Chuck Taylor – Chuck is the ultimate whiney heel of the indies. Whether threatening to beat on kids or barely scraping away with titles like the IWA-MS belt and Chikara’s Young Lions Cup, Chuck is the ultimate jerk who people will pay to see beat.

Chikara Rey De Volvadores: Chuck Taylor vs. Pac vs. Riccochet vs. Retail Dragon

This is for a mini-tournament, to see who the King of the Flippies is. Taylor has to win and declares he will beat on his opponents with no flips!

It’s Taylor vs. three flippy guys in an elimination match. This should be fun. Taylor yells at a kid on his way out.

Pac uses chain wrestling with Retail to start. That goes until Taylor pulls out Pac to smash on Retail who hits the floor. This being Chikara, that’s a tag and now Riccochet is in. Chuck shows his smarts, tripping Riccochet and uses a headlock and power to control. Taylor eats an armdrag and runs.

Riccochet and Pac almost fight, but Taylor jumps Riccochet away and is taken out by Pac. Pac and Riccochet attack Taylor in tandem. Riccochet and Pac now go at it.

They go flip crazy and Pac finally controls on the mat, before yet more flips. Taylor comes in and controls Riccochet again, as Chuck Taylor keeps control even as Retail enters. Diamond Dust as the action gets fast and furious and Retail hits a rollback driver on Taylor. Riccochet is ready with an awesome rollup and eliminates retail. A hands free Cancun tornado is the order is Riccochet dives to the floor.

Back in and Taylor again cuts off Riccochet. Pac takes out both men. A shooting star hits Riccochet and his feet hit Taylor. Riccochet is eliminated.

Taylor and Pac are the final two. Pac dives onto Taylor with a top rope twisting senton and Taylor is in trouble. Taylor again back in takes advantage of the flyer’s over aggressiveness. Taylor wears Pac out. Pac uses his speed to comeback, but misses a corkscrew shooting star press. Pac continues to try various high impact moves, but is moving noticeably slower and eat the Omega Driver. Taylor wins!

Chuck Taylor wins the four way elimination (Pin, Omega Driver on Pac, *** ¾)
The match saw each slightly less flippy guy eliminated in order until the uber-flippy Pac was all that was left, but he had to face Taylor, who eschewed risk in favor of wearing down his opponent. Pac, slown down, was no match for Taylor who finished with the Omega Driver. Taylor is the ultimate in anti-indy flippiness, owns the ultimate flipsters.

IWA-MS Ted Petty Invitational 2007: Chuck Taylor vs. Jimmy Jacobs

This is for the IWA-MS Heavyweight title, which Taylor holds. Jacobs is a former champion and wants to dethrone Taylor, who will break Jacobs record for longest reign with a win tonight.
Jacobs attacks Taylor pre-bell. Jacobs mixes speed and brawling to take out Taylor, but Taylor fares surprisingly well at this, but can’t win at it. With Jacobs, though, survival is impressive enough. Jacobs speared Taylor as he was hanging off a basketball hoop.
Jacobs gets Taylor back in the ring and Jacobs works Taylor over, wearing him down. This is a long beatdown, but good selling by Chuck is keeping it alive. The Contra Code is countered as Jacobs is dumped to the floor and Taylor nails a tope con hilo to the floor. He stops to sell his beating, then goes to work over Jacobs, running on pure mean. Taylor now beats on and wears down Jacobs. Jacobs selling now keeps this alive.
A missed moonsault allows Jacobs back in the match, and the two worn down competitors trade trademark maneuvers, Taylor with Soul Food and Jacobs with a killer spear. Jacobs tries a tope to the floor, but eats the guard rail. Jacobs speed can’t match Taylor’s, while Taylor has no prayer brawling with Jacobs. Taylor waits for the count out, while Jacobs waits and bleeds.
Jacobs makes it back in, far the worse for wear and a jackknife roll after a powerbomb gets two for Taylor, who then continues the onslaught. Jacobs recovers just long enough to go for Contra Code, but counters the reversal into a small package for a near fall. Taylor is right back in control, angry again and works on Jimmy’s formerly badly injured knee. He takes off the knee brace of Jacobs and its figure four time.
Jacobs fights back desperately and counters a top rope move with a top rope senton. Both men are up at the same time and Taylor attacks Jacobs knee again. Jacobs again fights Taylor off the top and hits a back senton. Jacobs aims for a Contra Code, but it’s blocked. Jacobs falls, due to his hurt knee. Taylor with a low blow and Omega Driver for the fnish.
Chuck Taylor defeats Jimmy Jacobs (Pin, Omega Driver, **** ¼)
What a match. Jacobs brawling was better than Taylor’s speed, but both the missed tope and the hurt knee changed everything for Jacobs as he became just another underdog trying to unseat the champ. Of course, wounded, he was no match for Taylor who dismantled him.
Sexy Chucky T’s Outlook: Chuck is the hero of small indies. His antics with smaller crowds are pure gold. He will ideally be booked in larger venues and be able to develop his presence that way. He’s been a main guy in IWA and Chikara already, so PWG seems the next venue to conquer.
8. The Human Tornado – Whether an underdog, fun face, or the pimping, woman abusing heel, Tornado gets crowds more involved with him than almost anyone on the indies. It is this connection that makes him viable as current PWG champion and taking ROH bookings.

ROH Chaos at the Cow Palace: The Human Tornado vs. Chris Hero

Tornado is hugely over, and Hero is wildly hated. This is a role reversal from their PWG stuff where Hero is the face and Tornado is the evil pimp.

Hero does the fake-out on the handshake. The big stall starts while Tornado dances to fill time. The crowd loves all the antics of Hero.

When they finally lock up, Tornado is too much, as he pounced Hero to the floor. Tornado is distracted by Sweeney and so Tornado is attacked from behind. Hero works Tornado over. Tornado’s selling is awesome, as his hope spots reek of desperation, while his selling makes it seem like Hero’s killing him. Tornado’s comeback is all on kicks and Hero is left in a world of trouble. Luckily for him, Tornado throws his body at Hero, who is strong enough to use his power and regain control. A bitchslap and tornado DDT stop the Hero control, and the Dat N***** Dead gets a very close near fall. Torndo is tired and desperate. He has nothing left and a Hero’s Welcome leads to the Hangmen’s Clutch. The extra finish makes Tornado tap.

Chris Hero defeats Human Tornado (Submission, Hangman’s Clutch, *** ¼)
This was about as standard a match as you get. The heel did the big stall, paid for it, but took control for most of the match. The face made the big comeback and came up just short. Hero wins, but the crowd ate it up due to all the personality and charisma displayed by both men. They were desperate for the beloved Tornado to eek one out here, but Hero just had too much power and stamina.

PWG Battle of Los Angeles Night 1: The Human Tornado vs. CIMA

CIMA attacks Tornado early with great intensity. Poor Tornado gets whupped. Of course, after a bit, CIMA got overconfident and, using his manager Alexis Laree, took control. The evil pimp Tornado works over CIMA, including all of his flashy face offense, with a dive into the front row.

Tornado gets cocky and tries to superplex Laree onto CIMA, but gets ball shots for his trouble. CIMA is up and angry, leaving Tornado in trouble, but he’s weakened enough that the Tornado DDT and DND aren’t enough. Tornado goes up top and hits a twisting splash for another near fall. Tornado goes for the splash again, but is so beat, that Laree has time to knock him off the top in revenge. CIMA hits the iconoclasm, Laree hits a missile dropkick and a Shwein later has CIMA winning.

CIMA defeats the Human Tornado (Pin, Shwein, *** ¼)
Not a great match with a load of cheating by the face, CIMA that the ref ignored, but the crowd ate it up and rooted for CIMA to kill the misogynistic pimp.

Tornado goes full heel post match in a vile manner.

Tornado: The future is bright for Tornado. As PWG champion, he commands more respect and money, and his successful heel run, with reportedly career best matches show great growth and versatility. ROH bookings should continue to come because he’s so over, while TNA seems a phone call away as he could not possibly be better for a rebuilding X-Division due to his unique style and charisma.

7. Jigsaw– Formerly a masked Chikara star, he now plies his trade maskless as a member of ROH’s Vulture Squad. The mask gave him a unique aura and he is certainly less viable without it, but since he’s the closest thing to the next Mike Quackenbush in the ring, he should find success regardless.

ROH Honor Nation: Jigsaw, Ruckus, and Jack Evans vs. Roderick Strong, Rocky Romero, and Davey Richards

This is the Vulture Squad’s full debut. Jigsaw and Strong start off and Jig lucha’s Roddy into submission. Ruckus and Davey repeat the same basic idea until Romero comes in to be whupped by Jack’s flips.

Romero takes a triple team whupping in high speed, then so does Roddy. Davey finally manages a bit of offense and kicks the crap out everyone, while Strong catches Jigsaw to start a workover. Jigsaw escapes, so Jack takes the beating instead. The beating is quite innovative. Jack eventually flips to escape, though with lucha rules, he could have just rolled out… and his partners beat on their opponents. Davey is again awesome enough to finally get major offense in, and he kills Ruckus. That doesn’t last as Jigsaw’s out of nowhere to destroy Davey. Romero is in and manages to shut down Jigsaw. Jack’s turn and he beats on Romero. Oops, that leaves Strong, and he attacks as his partners get up to destroy Jack. Jigsaw chases everyone away and flips onto them. Davey likes the idea and does the same. Then Ruckus, then Romero, and finally Jack finishes it off.

Roderick and Jack are back in. Roderick is in trouble, but his partners bail him out. Jigsaw is caught alone in a crazy combination or three, and Ruckus saves Jigsaw. Jack catches Romero with his tree of woe knees, and that leads to a coast to coast by Ruckus. A 630 later and Romero is done.

The Vulture Squad defeat the NRC (Pin, Jack 630 on Romero, ****)
The Vultures showed that together they could just keep ahead of their more powerful opponents. Jigsaw was very lucha flippy, while Ruckus just added extra flips all over the place. Jack was a good mix, with a slightly more Japanese style. Overall, though their similar, the group has enough differences to compliment each other.

Chikara King of Trios 2007 Night 2: Jigsaw, Mike Quackenbush and Shane Storm vs. Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin and Sonjay Dutt

They do the one on one sequences. Storm and Dutt do nothing special, then Quack gets Shelley. They do some awesome mat wrestling. Quack wins and Jigsaw flies in, putting Sabin in trouble. Jigsaw ends up trapped, however, and Team TNA goes to work. That doesn’t last as Quack gets in and goes after Sonjay. Sonjay takes out both Quack and Jigsaw, leaving Shelley to beat on Shane Storm. Scramble style spotfest time and everyone goes at it. The Chikara guys are better at it and win the dive war.

The MCMG begin to heel it up and isolate Jigsaw. They go after the mask, which is a DQ, but the tournament is important so they’re letting it go. Jigsaw eventually gets the hot tag, but it’s to Storm who just gets worked on in his stead. Quack takes all he can and runs in for a save. He’s now beat on.

Quack has enough and makes a hot tag. Finally a hot tag to Shane. Shane takes out Sabin and Quack is in to beat on Shelley. BTS gets two, and Quack is in control untila border city stretch out of nowhere and it’s the triple team submissions by TNA, until the reversal and now it’s by team Chikara.

The teams go to war with high spots and big drops. Team TNA all hit their big moves, but are unable to but the Chikarmy away. Jigsaw gets a quick reversal on Sonjay into the Jig and Tonic and the match is over.

Quackenstormsaw defeat Team TNA (Pin, Jig and Tonic, ***)
This was almost all the Chikara guys getting smoked, with intermittent high spots and a lucky finish.

Jigsaw’s Outlook: Out of Chikara, but still in ROH and PWG, Jigsaw will use 2008 as an adjustment period to being mask free. Luckily, in ROH he has a hot feud budding with Eddie Kingston that should keep him a hot property. If it doesn’t his talent as the most well rounded young high flier in the business should.

6. Eddie Kingston – The hardest working man in the indies brings an unmatched intensity to the ring whether as a heel or a face. He’d be higher ranked if we knew how ROH planned to use him and had he not no showed a PWG show this past weekend, but between ROH, Chikara, PWG, and as IWA-MS champion, no one is performing at a higher level in more places.

IWA-MS A Rotten Fairwell: Eddie Kingston vs. Chuck Taylor vs. Chris Hero vs. Mike Quackenbush

Quack is the champion, a long time coming, and Taylor is the recently lost champion. Hero and Quack have a longstanding rivalry, while Kingston and Hero absolutely hate each other. Kingston was trained by Hero and Quackenbush. This is an elimination match for the IWA-MS Heavyweight Title, and Quack says whoever can pin him gets the IWA Lightweight title too.

Early on the faces, Quack and Kingston, can dominate the heels alone, but Taylor and Hero work together to gain an advantage through sneakiness and double teams. Eventually, Hero turns on Taylor, allowing the faces to take over. Quack owns everyone, but shows a lapse in concentration and is taken out by a Taylor sunset flip! New lightweight champ and new Heavyweight Champion guaranteed.

Taylor with a ton of momentum takes out Kingston first, then Hero, but his moonsault is caught in a cravate, and Hero finishes Taylor off in a shockingly fast turn of events. All that’s left are the blood rivals.

Kingston and Hero go into sick brawl mode. They brawl through the arena. Kingston gets hurt, but Hero eggs him on. Kingston gets back in and is smashed, but hits several backdrop drivers, which Hero somehow kicks out of. They trade bombs until Kingston KO’s Hero with two spinning backfists.

Eddie Kingston wins the four corner elimination (Pin, Spinning Backfist on Hero, ****)
Kingston proved how tough a badass he was here, destroying guys all match and taking out his rival again. Meanwhile, Hero and Taylor established their sneaky credentials, but they still got destroyed by their own attempts to outmaneuver each other.

Chikara Chapter 11: Eddie Kingston vs. Hallowicked

This culminates a long feud where Kingston tried to kill Hallowicked and all other young ROH wrestlers because Hallow is considered the best and breakout ROH school graduate. Kingston thinks that honor belongs to him and will beat the truth into Hallowicked and everyone else. Falls count anywhere is the order of the day.

They brawl right away and go at each other. This is pure “better man” stuff right away with no honor. Hallow goes to the stomach to win the brawl, but Kingston goes to the eyes. They go to the floor quickly, and Hallow tries to break him immediately, with a suplex on the ramp and a pin for two.

Kingston won’t stay down and fires back with chops as the beating starts to take its tol on him. Back in and King pounds on his opponent. Hallowicked ups his game and striking visibly as this goes on, and though he is on the defensive, his offense improves.

Kingston tries to dive, but eats a Yakuza and then goes with a rolling kick. A Michinoku driver on the floor nearly finishes Kingston, but a STO on the floor changes the offense yet again. Hallow eats a Yakuza as well. Back in, Hallow catches Kingston at the top and breaks out his former death finisher, the super fisherman’s buster, but Kingston still won’t stay down.

Both men are down and Hallowicked goes for the Go to Sleepy Hallow, but Kingston is out with MMA elbows. Both men are up and striking. Kingston knows its close so he goes to backfist to the future, but Hallowicked has it perfectly scouted and it’s blocked numerous times. Hallowicked hits a series of moves, but the Go to Sleepy Hallow is again blocked, now with a Kingston Saito Suplex. King hits two of those, but Hallowicked is up again. Backfist knocks him out and Kingston wins.

Eddie Kingston defeats Hallowicked (Pin, Backfist to the Future, ****)
This was pure hatred, but tinged with how well these guys knew each other. They countered a lot of their regular moves, establishing Go to Sleepy Hallow and Backfist to the Future as the must hit finishers, since all the other big moves wouldn’t do. The backfist hit first and so King proved he’s the man.

Bonus: CZW Out with the Old, In with the New: Eddie Kingston vs. Chris Hero

The loser here has to leave CZW.
These two establish their immense hate for one another very early with security keeping them separated until the bell and a huge slugfest to start off the match. That’s most of the story of this match: they hate each other and know each other extremely well. Kingston’s personality is fantastic for this display as when he’s finally knocked down, he demands that Hero kill him. These kind of brawl displays are sprinkled through the match, always extremely stiff, and almost exclusively with Kingston coming out for the worse in them. The pain and exhaustion in these exchanges are obvious and graphic.
Fortunately for Kingston, he knows Hero like the back of his hand. Hero may be able to quickly gain control, but the Hero’s Welcome, the cravate, flip elbow, and more are countered by Kingston into big moves. The selling of Hero’s frustration is awesome.
Kingston makes his one mistake of the match when he hits Hero with the Hero’s Welcome, rubbing in how well he knows his opponent, but firing up Hero who gets the closest to a win he does all match with the Hangman’s Clutch. Kingston claws his way to the ropes, fighting out of the hold. Nothing is given in this match, everything is battled for.
Hero, now totally spent, loses a slugfest with Kingston and eats a back drop driver, one of Kingston’s finishers. A backfist later, another of Kingston’s trademarks and Hero is down and out.
Eddie Kingston defeats Chris Hero (Pin, Backfist, **** ¾)
This is a major match of the year contender. The brutality and hatred conveyed by both men is a sight to behold. That Hero could outbrawl Kingston barely was a surprise, but Kingston had that covered with his big move counters. Those allowed him to wear out and Knock Out Chris Hero in the best non-ROH match I’ve seen this year, and the third best I’ve seen overall.
Kingston’s Outlook: The hardest working man in the indies will plow on. Look for a good, long IWA-MS run, while he continues to move up the card with Hero in PWG. He’s starting in ROH, but his angle has people talking, so hopefully a push will come there. As a faction leader, long requested, he’s due. His team was second in Chikara’s King of Trios, so a push there will likely continue as well, hopefully with the Quackenbush portion of the roster. He has returned to CZW and even works JAPW, as well.
5. Kevin Steen – Steen is among the men who connect best with the crowd in the indies, and though his singles matches aren’t necessarily always the best, his tags are phenomenal, and his charisma and personality more than makeup for any shortcomings. He’s undefeated in ROH in 2008 and might be the first on the list to make it to the top. Just a note, I’ve avoided Steen and Generico’s classic series with the Briscoes here, but its must see.

PWG Astonishing X-Mas: Kevin Steen vs. Super Dragon

This is the culmination of these two’s blood feud and a guerilla warfare match, which basically means a no rules, feud ender.

This begins with both men brawling violently through the crowd, using chairs. This is intense immediately. They then continue… and continue… and both fall down of exhaustion. Steen puts on a Super Dragon match, does his curb stomp and they beat each other in the ring. Super Dragon no sells the curb stomp to do one himself. Way to make his move look weak. More curb stop via Dragon.

They now brawl over a table. Super Dragon gets suplexed from the apron to the floor through it. Steen rolls him in and gets two. The Swanton gets two more. Both men are selling their exhaustion better as this goes on. Super Dragon stomps his head on the apron and both men are dead on the floor again. Oh, another curb stomp, this time on a chair. Dragon jumps from the top and stomps Steen’s head on a chair. Steen kicks out. That was sick and built well since half of SD’s offense has been stomps.

SD gets thumbtacks. Steen bombs SD through the tacks. SD sells tacks as if he’s out cold for some reason. Steen piles chairs and tries a package driver on them. He hits and that gets two… what…the…

Steen leaves, deciding this isn’t worth it. Oops, gotcha. He comes back with a barbed wire board. The board is set between two chairs. Super Dragon hits a double arm suplex from the top through it for another two. The giant balls of these competitors is saving this. Super Dragon hits a psycho driver through a table to the floor. That would have gotten three, but SD wants to be sadistic…err… more sadistic.

SD gets handcuffs and cuffs Steen. Steen spits at Dragon and takes a sick unprotected chair shot. More thumbtacks and Dragon psycho drivers Steen through them onto the barbed wire board and finally finishes.

Err, ***** brutality and hate, ** match. Call it ****.

Super Dragon defeats Kevin Steen (Pin, Psycho Driver through miscellaneous items, ****)
It was memorable and while it wasn’t much of a match, it shows the extreme hate and passion that Steen can give to the ring. This was riveting, and while not my kind of match, hell, not really a match, just escalating brutality and hatred, it was the perfect example of why Steen has a future.

PWG Battle of Los Angeles 2007 Night 1: Kevin Steen and El Generico vs. Susumu Yokosuka and Dragon Kid

They start here with establishment sequences; Yokosuka and Steen are about even in wrestling, while Dragon Kid has speed on Generico. This leads to Yokosuka working over Generico very early on. Generico shows great fire on his comeback and Steen comes in to smash the smaller opponents. Dragon Kid ends up in a workover.

The hot tag to Yokosuka is slightly more than the Steen one of earlier. Dragon Kid is up quickly to pile on, but these are Dragon Gate guys; I don’t expect long term selling to be perfect. Generico being take out, Steen gets in and DG guys again have no answer for his power. As soon as Generico is back in, Dragon Kid’s speed shows him up again.

Generico, though his speed is outmatched, is valiant in fighting back and continually screwed over until he starts thinking steps ahead. This doesn’t account for double teams, and the workover period gets flashier this time, even leading to near falls as the crowd is into it.

The hot tag lead’s to Steenerico’s flashy offense and suddenly team Dragon Gate is in trouble. It turns out that flashy offense isn’t a huge threat to DG guys, who can one up Steen and Generico a good deal of the time. Due to Steen’s consistent ownage, he rolls through a ‘rana, hits the package piledriver, Generico comes in for a brainbuster, and we’re done.

Kevin Steen and El Generico defeat Yokosuka and Dragon Kid (Pin, , Package Buster, *** ¾)
Generally, matches with multiple heat segments don’t work. The crowd gets lost and ceases caring. Generico’s great selling and the build in the flashiness of the heat segments made this seem more. Generico and Steen’s offense, while limited, was all huge power stuff, which made it all the more believable when they suddenly finished. Steen showed he could hang with Dragon Gate guys here, giving them someone to bounce off perfectly well.

ROH Honor Nation: Kevin Steen vs. Takeshi Morishima

This is towards the end of Morishima’s title run and he’s been worn down. Steen considers this his big shot and will totally bring it at the giant opponent.

Steen comes out throwing bombs, mixing power and speed like no opponent since Claudio and taking control of the much bigger opponent. Morishima tries firing back, but Steen stays ahead by working over Morishima’s knee. That plays off the Danielson attack on Morishima’s leg and plays into Steen being a smart challenger.

Morishima eventually just gets mad, no sells everything and uses his normal offense to smash Steen. Steen goes to the leg for his hope spots, but Morishima is just too strong. Steen manages a Sharpshooter and the crowd goes crazy. Got to love Canadians and Sharpshooters. Generico comes out to encourage Steen as Morishima makes the ropes.

Morishima falls as Steen tries to throw him to the ropes; his leg is shot. Steen goes up with a swanton and frog splash, but Morishima won’t stay down. The Steensault misses and Morishima goes big boot, lariat, but gets caught up top again. Steen hits the superplex, but Morishima again no sells. Steen goes for the package piledriver, but can’t get it Morishima crushes Steen bonsai style, out strikes him, a backdrop driver, and we’re done.

Morishima defeats Steen (Pin, Backdrop Driver, *** ¾)
Morishima’s no selling here nearly killed this. His leg was destroyed and he ignored it. He ignored too many huge moves of Steen throughout. Steen, on the other hand, played off previous defenses, stayed on the offense and looked like gold. Not many people can carry a future GHC Champion.

ROH Domination: Kevin Steen and El Generico vs. Mike Quackenbush and Jigsaw

This is pure exhibition and meant to be midcard filler. The crowd (rightly) loves Mike Quackenbush. Steen is not pleased with the Quack love and sets about showing him up.

Jigsaw and the Generic Luchador begin with some lucha mat work. Jigsaw controls this and Quack comes in. Generico is screwed. If he couldn’t stop Jig at lucha, he won’t be able to stop his mentor. That’s basically what happened. Steen and Jigsaw get in and Steen uses his power to bounce Jigsaw off him. Jigsaw goes to speed and takes out Steen. Looks like Steenerico, tag title contenders have underrated their challengers.

Jigsaw and Generico square up. Steen attacks Jigsaw from behind and we have a workover on Jig. He’s controlled and worn down by his opponents. Frequent tags and good double teams keep things moving. Steen plays to the crowd, happy to be getting attention over Quack.

Jigsaw eventually manages a reversal on Quack, playing off the early establishment period, and Quack gets a piece of Steen as the crowd loves it. Quack controls for a bit, but Steen and Generico together are too much as Jigsaw is still hurt from his beating. Quack won’t back down and keeps offensive, getting Jigsaw back in with just enough time for a Jig splash to hit knees. Jig and Generico trade reversals and now Quacksaw break out their combinations. A flying combination ends with double knees, but Steen pulls out Jigsaw with perfect timing to stop the count.

Quack hits the floor a moment later as a Jigsaw attempted ‘rana finds Steen too strong, again playing off early in the match, but a big pin is interrupted by Quack. Generico quickly takes out Quack, Package Buster and Jigsaw is done.

Steen and Generico defeat Quack and Jigsaw (Pin, Package Buster, ****)
Nearly perfect for what it is. This had Steen and Quack’s character’s playing off each other, Jigsaw’s in ring story with Generico and Steen paying off in huge near falls, perfect tag formula, and a lack of overkill. They stopped with the crowd pumping and eating out of their hands, but also at a point where the rest of the show worked. This is fantastic.

Steen’s Outlook: With a title shot coming, the undefeated Steen is poised to move into ROH’s World Title scene permanently. He’s also a major PWG player, but focuses more on the tag belts than the World. With his persona, he could truly break out, though I’d guess that’s more likely as a heel because he’s such a good jerk.

4. El Generico – The generic luchador is the ultimate face in peril and, as pulse author Bones Barkley is fond of pointing out, pure fun for both the kids and adults in the audience. A goofy look holds him back a bit, but within minutes the pure skill he displays in the ring takes over and shows just how impressive of a wrestler he is.

PWG All Star Weekend IV Night 2: El Generico vs. Pac

Generico and Pac have a rivalry across the Atlantic as to who the better man is. This is an early encounter.

They go establishment with mat work early. Generico shows a power advantage and that he can control on the mat. Pac shows he can out flip and fly Generico. Glad we got that straight.

Pac, finding an advantage, goes pure speed, taking out Generico, whose response, awesomely, is to smash him in his face. Pac uses speed to regain control. They trade control based on their skills, each gambit going higher risk and more impressive and explosive. Pac hit a pop up reverse ‘rana, but that wasn’t enough. Soon after he was caught up top with the turnbuckle brainbustaa and finished.

Generico defeats Pac (Pin, Brainbustaa, ****)
Generico had enough counters in him to be ready when Pac climbed the turnbuckle one time too many, and if there’s one thing you can say about high risk it’s that when it pays off, you’re golden, but when you’re caught, it can cost you the match. It was Pac’s only hope, having no power or mat advantage here, but his hope turned against him and he lost the match.

ROH Motor City Madness 2007: El Generico vs. Naomichi Marufuji

They start off establishing that Marufuji has mat and power advantages, while Generico is faster. The speed catches Marufuji off guard and Generico works the back, until a suplex attempt is countered and Marufuji dropkicks Generico to the floor. Marufuji beats on Generico, using dropkicks into the guardrail on the floor.

Marufuji, back in, keeps a headlock in, no matter what Generico tries. A springboard side-headlock, really, lets Marufuji smack Generico’s head into the ringpost. Back in the ring and we have more headlock momentarily as Marufuji goes to work. Generico is squashed until Marufuji takes too much time deciding on his point of attack, giving Generico the room for a comeback, and naturally that almost immediately leads to a dive to the floor.

Generico is in control, even though he’s slow getting up, but that control doesn’t last long as Marufuji’s thinking ahead again, this time with the follow clothesline. Marufuji goes right after the head and Generico is back in trouble again.

Generico escapes and uses his speed for near falls, even hitting the brainbuster, but Marufuji is still strong and thinking a head, catching a flying Generico with a superkick and then a shiranui for… two. Generico avoids a coast to coast and he and Marufuji battle on the turnbuckle. Generico goes for the brainbustaah, but Marufuji nails a shiranui instead and the match is done.

Marufuji defeats Generico (Pin, Super Shiranui, *** ¾)
This was very exhibition-like, but very good at what it was. Generico’s speed was beating Marufuji’s other advantages, so he thought ahead, came up with unique counters, and worked the head. Generico showed awesome fire here, but was ultimately outmatched.

PWG Giant Sized Annual 4: El Generico vs. Bryan Danielson

El Generico is the PWG champion and was challenged by Danielson. Danielson had earlier been through a grueling war with Necro Butcher, but Generico had just, with Steen, won the PWG tag titles in a long battle. Generico accepts after Danielson slaps him and we have a match!

Generico goes right at Danielson with strikes and speed straight off and the crowd eats it up. Danielson for his part, works on counters and goes for a quick submission, knowing Generico must be nearly beat.

Once Danielson has the advantage he tries to show Generico up big time, scorning his work as champion. It appears that any other champion trying to be great is an affront to Danielson. Mixing in a beating and tauntings with his submissions adds hugely to the big match feel, as does Generico selling his beating like he’s getting destroyed (which he is). The hope spots are all speed to get away from Danielson, while working towards a knockout since Necro did so much damage earlier. Danielson barely retains control, but Generico’s offense is successful and he really has a chance of knocking out Danielson before he can be dismantled.

Danielson goes up and, trying to match speed, ends up totally screwed by Generico’s big kicks and the two men go to war, ending in a brainbuster, but that’s only enough for a near fall! Both men are down. Danielson again tries to go up top and eats a Yakuza, but won’t take the Brainbustaa, reversing into a super back drop. Cattle Mutilation is locked in after, as Generico’s back is weakened enough for the hold to work after the big move, but Generico makes the ropes. Danielson smells blood and eats him up with the elbows, another Cattle Mutilation and the match is done!

Bryan Danielson defeats El Generico (Submission, Cattle Mutilation, **** ½)
One of the most intense, desperate rides you’ll ever see. Both men tried desperately to win before their weaknesses could be exploited and Danielson proved that he, however barely, had enough. Danielson tells Generico he’s a true champion and can have a rematch. Now we get to…

PWG European Vacation 2: Germany: El Generico vs. Bryan Danielson

Generico is hurt, so Dragon comes out and demands that he get his match. Generico is in for the match.

Generico goes right at Danielson in the small, dimly lit German ring, but his aggressiveness is a curse as Danielson attacks his hurt shoulder. Generico sells it like Dragon is slowly carving his arm apart. A fully healthy Danielson is destroying a hurt Generico, but Generico’s selling and Danielson’s trash talking have turned a split crowd into one heavily favoring the underdog challenger.

Generico manages a suplex to the floor which seems a good way below the ring. Generico then gets back in and, struggling to his feet, goes to the top and hits a summersault dive to the floor. Generico goes back on offense in the ring, favoring his shoulder, but using chops and the Yakuza kick for offense… but no, it was just an extended hope spot as Danielson is ready for the kick. Danielson goes up, and in this match two finds that isn’t the ideal strategy against Generico. Yakuza kick now works as Generico goes into a combination, but can’t keep Danielson down.

Danielson, sensing trouble, goes after the arm and locks in Cattle Mutilation, but Generico makes the ropes. Danielson starts hitting the MMA elbows, but still can’t keep the challenger down. Generico shows fire, using his own elbows and the brainbuster, but Danielson isn’t nearly worn down enough for that. Generico goes for the turnbuckle brainbustaaa, but Danielson goes after the arm and hits a single arm bulldog off the top. Danielson goes with his head stomp and now the Cattle Mutilation gets the tap out.

Danielson defeats Generico (Submission, Cattle Mutilation, ****)
Great match here that was mostly Danielson trying to keep Generico down with arm work, while Generico sold and showed fire. Danielson almost got taken out by the challenger, but had Generico’s number by again going after the hurt arm. Generico still needs a shot at Dragon when healthy, but showed how great he can be, even wounded.

Generico’s Outlook: The former PWG champion is again a major contender for their World Title. He and Steen won the PWG tag titles again. It’s a matter of time before they do the same in ROH. While I doubt he’ll win, his inevitable match with Nigel should be a classic. That will elevate him more than what I expect will be an average match from Steen, though they are the closest two on the list, nearly tied.

And we’re done this week with a 32 page monster. Hope you liked the column, enjoy Wrestlemania and check back Monday for A Modest Response: The Top 3.