Match 1: Jerry Lynn vs. Kenny King
Lynn is stupidly over with huge chants for him all through his match. This wasn’t paced as quickly as most openers and was built around King trying to keep up with Lynn’s acumen. Of course, many of the same chants that chanted vocally for Lynn immediately demanded the match end during any lull and that he was washed up, but that would be a theme of the night. King got a near fall, but argued with the ref while climbing up. Lynn turned that into a top rope hurricanrana and Lynn took the win with the cradle piledriver.
Jerry Lynn defeats Kenny King (Pin, **, Cradle Piledriver)
The pace of this wasn’t great for an opener, but Lynn was so over it didn’t matter.
Match 2: NWA World Title Match: Brent Albright © vs. Adam Pearce with Larry Sweeney and Shane Hagadorn
The start was a bit sloppy, but Albright controlled pretty well. Usually when he used the hurt arm he sold it. A ref distraction allowed Pearce to throw Albright over the top rope (a disqualification if caught in NWA Title matches) and get his control in. During this, he managed plenty of cheating. After a bit, he took the top turnbuckle off, only for the ref to attempt to put it back. This let Hagadorn put a chair in the corner. Pearce tried to throw Albright into it, but after a few reversals, leapfrogged and Pearce went into the chair. Some more near falls lead to both men on top, where they took a nasty spill to the floor from superplex position (Pepsi Plunge attempted by Pearce) in a really sick spot. They battled more, each man nailing the other’s signature move, but Pearce locked in the Crowbar and Albright, with his hurt arm had no choice but to tap out.
Adam Pearce wins the NWA Title from Brent Albright (Submission, Crowbar, *** ½)
The psychology here was great as they dragged the crowd into it with perfect timing of spots and a great build. This would have been better later in the show, but I guess they wanted the crowd hot for the title matches. Albright’s arm might be legitimately injured, causing the title change.
Match 3: FIP World Title Match: Go Shiozaki © vs. Kevin Steen
This one was just flat out stiff. They beat the shit out of each other, with Go tending to win striking battles, but Steen having a clear speed advantage. That went on for a bit, until Steen realized speed was a nice set-up, but wouldn’t get him the win. Steen got a few big power moves into the sharpshooter, but go straight powered out and hit two sudden Go Flashers for the win.
Go defeats Steen (Pin, Go Flasher, *** ¾)
One of Steen’s better singles efforts in ROH falls below **** through no fault of his. Go’s victory was very sudden and didn’t really build from anything. Ultimately that will cause this to be slightly less memorable than it should be. Still, a very fun, stiff match.
Nigel came out to beat on Steen post match, say he was unbeatable and then that he’d be coming after the tag titles.
Match 4: GHC Jr. Heavyweight Title Match: Bryan Danielson © vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima
Nice and simple, Danielson had a huge advantage on the mat. He was around and on top of Nakajima before Nakajima could figure out what was going on. Danielson controlled pretty much everything early this way, with Nakajima’s only offense coming off an array of spectacular kicks. Eventually, Nakajima realized he’d better try something else and attacked the leg. This, mixed with his kicks proved effective and he almost won the title with his signature Everest German suplex to no response as most of the crowd thought it was just another spot. They kept building with Nakamia’s kicks and leg holds, including an ankle lock, getting him close to victory until Danielson realized he could neutralize Nakajima by just not letting him up. He rolled through his finishers at this point, finishing with the Cattle Mutilation.
Danielson defeats Nakajima (Submission, Cattle Mutilation, **** ½)
I had this lower at first due to really obnoxious hecklers right around me, but I’m sure I’ll love it on DVD and pretty much everyone else had it rated higher. Note to the hecklers: 1. A curse or two fine, but there are still kids at these shows. Calm down. 2. Everything you say doesn’t have to be in chant form, especially if you’re the only one saying it. The match itself told a very good, simple story with good selling and didn’t need spectacular spots to be engaging. That Danielson though, he sure is no RVD.
Intermission it is announced that 12/26 is the return date to Philadelphia at the Alehambra. I’d guess, due to atmosphere, this is PPV and where Tyler Black finally dethrones Nigel.
Match 5: Erick Stevens vs. Rhett Titus
Rhett cuts a promo about Daizee Haze pre-match. Stevens comes out to “Cochise†by Audioslave now and it’s an improvement. Stevens dominates early, but Titus breaks his nose with a flying knee. He controls for a few minutes attacking that injury, but he makes the mistake of humping Stevens face, at which point he is duly destroyed.
Stevens defeats Titus (Pin, Doctor Bomb, * ½)
Short, inoffensive and fun, but there wasn’t much here.
Post-match Larry Sweeney offers Stevens a contract. Stevens turns it down. He’s destroyed by Sweet and Sour (Go, Hagadorn, Hero, Edwards, Del Rey, Dempsey and Sweeney himself) for his trouble. The job squad and Vulture Squad try and save, but they’re fought off. Roderick Strong, Stevens former mortal enemy, comes out and backs off the heels.
Match 6: Roderick Strong, Ruckus and Jigsaw vs. Shane Hagadorn, Chris Hero, and Eddie Edwards
The faces beat on Hagadorn to start before he escapes to tag in Edwards. Jigsaw is left trying to take out everyone alone and is kicked in the face. This leads to a long heat phase on Jigsaw. The comeback lead to a crazy triple team by the face and both Strong and Edwards looked incredible with stiff kicks and great timing. Edwards caught Jigsaw with his flipping backdrop, then went for a quebrada, only to be kicked in the face by Strong while upside down. Strong then turned into a loaded roaring elbow by Hero and lost.
Hero, Hagadorn and Edwards defeat Strong, Ruckus and Jigsaw (Pin, Loaded Elbow, ** ½)
Tag formula with some fun spots. The crowd was officially tired by now.
Match 7: Kensuke Sasaki vs. Claudio Castagnoli
This was slow and plodding without a lot of crowd reaction as, besides chops, the crowd didn’t appear to react to much of Kensuke’s trademark spots. Claudio got a good bit of offense until eventually losing to a series of hard strikes and the Northern Lights Bomb.
Kensuke defeats Claudio (Pin, Northern Lights Bomb, ***)
ROH World Title Match: Nigel McGuinness © vs. El Generico
Nigel controlled a lot early except for a few spots and the crowd died. Nigel did his usual ton of arm work, mixed with a couple of hard strikes. Generico tried to fight back using speed, but just kept falling short. Eventually, Nigel escaped the brainbuster, so Generico kept trying for the corner brainbustah to get the win. His arm was too hurt to pull off that move and they toppled from the top, Nigel grabbed a roll up win.
Nigel defeats Generico (Pin, Roll Up, *** ¾)
Reminiscent of Nigel vs. Steen from Injustice.
Steel Cage Warfare: The Briscoes and Austin Aries vs. Jimmy Jacobs, Tyler Black, and Delirious vs. Necro Butcher
This is an elimination style War Games with one ring.
Tyler and Aries were out first. Aries controlled but there were dueling chants and fans love Tyler. Jacobs was in next and he and Tyler bloodied Aries. Necro came in after that and dominated everyone. Jay Briscoe came after Necro and he and Necro cleaned house. Eventually, Aries and Jacobs waffled Necro with chairs and pinned him. Delirious and then Mark Briscoe rounded things out. Aries was powerbombed through a barbed wire table and taken out. Daizee Haze ran out to prevent a spiking by Del and was spiked herself in a really cool, intense moment. A shaky Delirious was soon after eliminated by a Doomsday Device.
Jacobs and Black and the Briscoes were the last four. The Age of the Fall dominated until they hit the Briscoes with chairs. Jay and Mark manned up to a huge pop and then hit the Jay Driller and Cutthroat Driver to win the match and finally end their part of this feud.
Jay and Mark Briscoe survive Steel Cage Warfare (****)
Wargames just works.
Ultimately, this show was put together strangely, with an exceedingly strong first half followed by a hit or miss second half. That and the four and a half hour length took away from the feel of the whole show, but there is still enough great stuff here to be must buy. This falls short of Death Before Dishonor VI, but Glory by Honor VII is still in the top tier of ROH shows for the year.
