Column of Honor: 05.06.06
Posted by Ari Berenstein on 05.06.2006
COH goes shamefully scatological, intriguingly mysterious, and furious with righteous indignation. Overall, a fun little column this week.
HELLO and WELCOME TO COLUMN OF HONOR MOVIEPHONE.
"Hello, anybody here?"
…Eight unsuspecting victims…
"This place is disgusting…I keep seeing things."
…One deranged psychopath…
"What is going on?"
…Who will survive the night?
"What do you want?"
On May 6th, pray for Lizard Face…
"BLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLABLAHBLAABLAH…BANANAPHONE!"
"AHHHHHH!"
Delirious…in Speak No English
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ RING OF HONOR RESULTS, PRESS ONE.
BEEP!
ROH Results: "Weekend of Champions Night 2" Cleveland, OH 4/29/06 Matches
-Conrad Kennedy III and Colt Cabana defeated Irish Airborne of Jake and David Crist.
-Delirious defeated Chris Sabin via submission.
-Jimmy Jacobs defeated Trik Davis Jay Fury, Flash Flanagan, Spud, and Jimmy Yang in a Six Man Mayhem match. Jacobs pinned Trik with the Contra Code.
-Samoa Joe and Claudio Castagnoli fought to a no contest as CZW forces invaded.
-BJ Whitmer defeated Super Dragon via pinfall with the Exploder.
-"The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels defeated Matt Sydal.
-Title vs Title: ROH Pure Champion Nigel McGuinness defeated ROH World Champion Bryan Danielson via Count Out. However, there is no new ROH World champion (see below).
-ROH Tag Team Champions Generation Next of Austin Aries and Roderick Strong defeated DAH EM BAH SEE of Alex Shelley and Jimmy Rave to retain their titles.
Angles & Impressions
Injured: According to fan reports, Matt Sydal hurt his leg in a similar fashion to the injury that occurred to Daniels back during their in January, ironically also held in Cleveland. Sydal was limping after the match. Legit injury, or post match selling? I find it highly suspicious that the exact same injury occurred in the exact same match in exact same location. Then again, high risk is high risk, and Sydal relies on flying around in his matches.
Confused: Um…how DID Danielson not lose the ROH World title in a title vs. title match when the match was fought under PURE rules, which state that a title can change hands via count out and that was the fucking finish? I was confused and a bit angry even, but hey, LOOPHOLE~! The way I figure is that even though the PURE title can change hands via count out under PURE title rules, the ROH World title cannot change hands via count out, even under PURE title rules. Get it? Very cute booking, and by very cute I mean I want to throw up. Still, all reports indicated it was a fantastic match and very dramatic finish; even through the logic is still a bit shaky. Next time, Gadget, make sure I don't need a college degree in Calculus to figure it out.
Mocked: Colt Cabana seemed to be making funny gestures at Conrad Kennedy III during their match up. Hmmm.
Revenged: Whitmer hit Super Dragon with an EXPLODER THROUGH A TABLE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE RING. Dangerous.
In the Dark: Champion vs. Champion Tag Match Still Very Much a Mystery
There is still no word on who the tag partners will be for the May 12th
May 12th May 12th May 12th May 12th May 12th May 12th May 12th May 12th
Sorry…I got stuck on "Kane's Outer Monologue" Mode…
Ahem…still no word on the tag team champion vs. champion match at the Sports Plus Entertainment Center this upcoming weekend. ROH World champion "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson and TNA NWA World Heavyweight Champion Christian Cage will be on opposite sides of the ring, but ROH is not revealing just yet who will join them. In a slight diversion from standard operating procedure, ROH booker Gabe Sapolsky is keeping mum in his newswires, whereas usually full disclosure on high profile matches such as this are the norm. When Jushin "Thunder" Liger made his appearance in ROH for the "Dream Tag with Partner" match, we knew in advance of the match that Liger would team with Joe and Danielson with Low Ki. This method of hype was also repeated for the Kobashi dream match last year. Not so this time with Christian Cage.
The air of mystery is not necessarily a terrible thing, although I will admit I (and more than a few others) have been dying in anticipation of the announcement. While the smart bet is on AJ Styles and Samoa Joe to be the partners (and Christopher Daniels a close third), there are many other worthwhile choices and the lack of any tangible information keeps the fans at home, those who will be in attendance and this writer guessing. The deal with the storyline is that Cage and Danielson will have the opportunity to "pull out" other wrestlers already signed to matches, so the suspense gets ratcheted up even further.
It will be interesting to see who Cage selects as his partner and the corresponding reaction that may result from the choice. Bryan Danielson has been working as a tweener who acts like a heel in the ring, but he has been cheered in matches where he is facing either other heels or those who represent "outside" opposition, i.e. wrestlers not contracted to Ring of Honor (Hero as a CZW representative, Corino with a Zero-One). Currently Cage is an outright face in TNA, but Ring of Honor fans have always been picky (make that substantially two-faced) when cheering or booing special guest stars. If Cage makes the "wrong" selection (as in a Jimmy Rave or CZW wrestler), there will be a definite fan backlash. Meanwhile, whether or not Danielson selects a face or a heel partner, the fans reaction seems to stay at the same mixed level. Of course, Danielson could care less about what the fans have to say about his choices or his title reign, but there are those in the crowd who still cheer for him no matter how much he tells them he doesn't care.
No matter what the choices made on May 12th, battle lines will be made clear. The resulting dream match will be an intriguing watch for fans of either champion.
ROH Call
ROH Champions—As of 5/06/2006 (After "Weekend of Champions, Night 2")
ROH World Champion—American Dragon Bryan Danielson (champion since 9/17/05, 18 successful defenses)*
ROH PURE Champion—Nigel McGuinness (champion since 8/29/05, 11 successful defenses)*
ROH Tag Team Champions—Austin Aries and Roderick Strong (champions since 12/17/05, 7 successful defenses)
*4/29/06 champion v. champion match results in no title change and therefore should be considered successful defenses of the respective titles.
MY ROH Top 5 Rankings: May 2006
It's the beginning of the month and no new Top 5 has been released as of this column, so it's time once again to give you my own opinions about who is involved in the fight for the top prizes in ROH. As usual, when the official list is released, I'll compare it to this one to see how incredibly correct or how horrifyingly wrong I was in slotting these contenders.
The most immediate difficulty in creating this month's list is whether or not to include the Combat Zone Wrestlers involved in the current feud. Previously ROH has allowed for the inclusion of wrestlers who are making one time appearances (Kobashi) or have left the company (Low Ki). This issue between both companies definitely has legs and could consume the larger part of this year. There is also no doubt that CZW wrestlers have won their fair share of matches in this feud and that if they were not branded as "outsiders" they would probably warrant inclusion in the list. Thereore, in what may be considered a bit of controversy, I must conclude that CZW wrestlers are qualified to make this list.
1.Christopher Daniels—despite loss to Nigel in a Pure title match, Daniels has wins against Claudio and Matt Sydal. Daniels is keeping himself busy in ROH singles action and that translates well to Top 5 positioning.
2. Claudio Castagnoli—I guess this means that crime does pay. Claudio's betrayal of ROH boosts him right up to the top. He made everyone in the company wake up and smell the Swiss Miss, including Samoa Joe.
3. Chris Hero—engineered the 4/22 Arena Warfare win, continues to antagonize ROH wrestlers by sending his CZW henchman Necro Butcher to do his dirty work. His one win in ROH does as much to boost him to this ranking as any series of wins other competitors have put together.
4. Colt Cabana—hasn't lost a match since deciding to work his way back to the title contention from the bottom up.
5. Delirious—stepping up his game big time since the big win that saved his career in ROH. Wins in several matches this past month and title matches against Danielson place the big D on this list.
Yup…I'm slotting CZW wrestlers at 2 and 3 this month…deal with it.
I don't know if Ring of Honor will actually do the same. However, title matches between ROH and CZW wrestlers (such as Kings of Wrestling capable going for the tag straps or even the open contract to CZW for a title match back in January) certainly will make this issue that much more passionate for the ROH fans who don't want to see these titles change hands to the enemy.
Rivalry Scorecard:
Well okay readers, I need your help on this one… should this feature continue to run in this column? I originally envisioned the scorecard as a way of keeping track angles and storylines simply and in as clean a manner as possible, but in light of posting results and newbits, I don't know if it's necessary or if you guys (and gals) get anything out of it. Your votes count on this one, so send an email and tell me if you want this to stay or go.
ROH News (via the ROHnewswire… and other sources when attributed
Tony Mamaluke to WWE ECW
From the 411 news threads, it appears Tony Mamaluke has been signed to a contract with the new ECW re-start up ("sponsored" by your extreme friends at World Wrestling Entertainment). Mamaluke made his bones in ECW as part of the Full Blooded Italians, where he would put his body on the line doing insane moves and taking insane bumps. Mamaluke had tagged with Sal Rinauro and held the ROH Tag Team titles from October until December of 2005.
Signing to the new ECW is a very smart move for Mamaluke, as he can get back to that character and reform the FBI. It is no doubt a comfortable position for him and hey, the money ain't bad either. Plus, Mamaluke never seemed to fit in or get comfortable in his latest run with Ring of Honor. Tony actually had two previous runs in ROH, including a successful series of matches against James Maritato (Nunzio / Little Guido) early in ROH's history in 2002 as well as a short run teaming with John Walters as the tag team The Purists in 2003.
Aries, Sydal Head to Dragon Gate
From the newswire: Matt Sydal will make his final ROH appearances on May 12th in Long Island and May 13th in Edison before going on an extended tour of Dragon Gate in Japan. ROH officials have decided to let Sydal choose his final opponent before going to Dragon Gate and Sydal has picked Christopher Daniels!!! May 13th in Edison will be Sydal vs. Daniels. Sydal has taken Daniels to the limit in past matches, but has been frustrated in getting a victory. Sydal wants to get a win on Daniels before going to Japan. Sydal will be back in either July or August and he wants to have momentum behind him when he returns so he needs a win here.
In addition, Austin Aries has posted to his blog that he will also be going on a tour of Japan for Dragon Gate wrestling in early July. He, along with Sydal and Evans all in Japan at the same time means that Generation Next could potentially become a powerful force overseas. Although they should all return by summer, this does leave a potential gap both on the roster and in storylines. I'd suspect that new talent may be featured during this time and that another stable or faction may try to stake their claim as a dominant force.
CZW Best of the Best 6 Tournament—Lethal Return, ROH Entrants
As ROH has its Tri-State Double Shot next weekend, Combat Zone Wrestling also presents a huge card for its company. On May 13th CZW's Best of the Best 6 Tournament will take place. It features many ROH talents who have been slotted in to the tourney and will fight against CZW talent, excuse me; I should say "talent".
In addition, Jay Lethal makes his return, but NOT on the side of Ring of Honor. Nope, ROH fired his ass, so now he's come back for revenge and there's no better place to do it than with the blessing of ROH's enemy. So Lethal is in for himself as well as to show up the ROH wrestlers.
1st Round Matches:
CZW World Jr. Heavyweight Title Match:
"The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels vs. "Pure Impact" Derek Frazier vs. "The Anamoly" Niles Young (Champion)
"A Wrestling Riddle Wrapped in an Enigma" Jigsaw vs. "The New Age Punisher" B-Boy vs. Austin Aries
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Roderick Strong vs. ?
Matt Sydal vs. Sabian vs. ?
Representing Pandora's Box - "The Original Playa from the Himalyas" Sonjay Dutt Not Representing ROH - Jay Lethal
Plus:
Lionel Knight & Christopher Bishop
vs.
The H8 Club (Justice Pain & Nick Gage)
Chris Hero, Necro Butcher & Super Dragon's challenge to the Blackout has been accepted.
What will happen when Eddie Kingston, Joker & Ruckus enter the CZW Arena?
…Oh yeah, there's ANOTHER reason why my hatred for CZW boileth over…Sonjay Dutt! Damn was he ever a punk at Arena Warfare…dude's not even involved as a major part of the feud but he's in there mugging for the cameras and torturing BJ Whitmer. To quote my friend Chris, "I'd like to hit him with a flank steak." You're god-damnned right man.
In addition, in order to accommodate the fans attending BOTB6, the Samoa Joe vs. Necro Butcher is going to main event the May 13th ROH card in Edison, NJ and bell time has been moved back to 8pm.
KENTA's opponents announced—Triple Threat, Generation Next to Fight The main event for 6/17 back at the New Yorker Hotel in Manhattan has been signed. Last time in Manhattan, KENTA teamed with Naomichi Marufuji to defeat Bryan Danielson & Samoa Joe in a battle of the "Best In The World." There was obvious heat between Joe and KENTA. Joe also wants Danielson's World Title and is upset that Danielson took the fall in the tag match. Danielson wants to avenge his loss to KENTA. KENTA has also made waves about going after Danielson's World Title. So on 6/17 you will see one of the most explosive matches ever. It will be Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe vs. KENTA in a one fall three-way. Pride will be on the line in this one as once again the best in the world collide in NYC.
On June 23rd [in Detroit] you will see a first time ever match as KENTA takes on half of the ROH Tag Team Champions in Roderick Strong!!!
Chicago Ridge will see KENTA vs. half of the ROH Tag Team Champions Austin Aries on 6/24!!
In a word: YES, YES, YES! All three matches signed are exciting and have tons of possibilities as far as during the matches themselves and future efforts from KENTA and even Marifuji. It seems that the GHC Jr. title won't be on the line in the singles matches against Aries and Strong, so booking-wise it keeps open the potential win for either man. Plus, if KENTA wins a match against one or both men he can stake an immediate claim to a tag title match with Marifuji at a later date.
The triple threat match in New York, in the magical locale of The New Yorker, is going to be incredibly awesome. I mean, I don't mean to get the hype train started already, but any singles combination of Danielson, Joe and KENTA is a main event caliber match for a Ring of Honor card. When you put all three of them together in one match, well things are gonna go BOOM. It also seems that the ROH World title is not on the line in this one...so anyone can realistically win the match. No matter who wins, you further all three rivalries, keep things burning towards future singles matches…and maybe…MAYBE…a Round Robin Challenge?
Get KILLED….errr, TRAINED by KENTA, Danielson If you are an aspiring or experienced wrestler we have a once in a lifetime opportunity for you on June 18th. GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion KENTA will join ROH World Champion Bryan Danielson for a special training seminar at the ROH Wrestling School. This will be your opportunity to learn training and in ring techniques from two of the best in the world. The price will be only $60 and the school is located just outside Philadelphia. The school is just minutes from I-95 as well as the NJ & PA Turnpikes making it an easy drive from all locations. This will also be open to fans. The fantasy camp type atmosphere for fans will allow you to see what it is like to get in the ring with KENTA and Danielson. Both will be available for pictures and autographs. The price for this special day is just $60. Spots are limited so email ROHhelp@aol.com to reserve your place in this special seminar.
$60 to get chopped and kicked by both Dragon and KENTA. Get mauled to death…but don't forget to get your pictures and autographs afterwards! Seriously, of course this looks to be a great learning experience for those of you out there who aspire or are already working towards becoming a pro wrestler.
Another Open Contract for CZW The ROH vs. CZW feud will be in full swing on July 15th when ROH returns to Philadelphia and the National Guard Armory. And yes, we do have something up our sleeve and that is your only warning CZW. There will be more than one ROH vs. CZW battle that night. ROH World Champion Bryan Danielson, who has become one of the most hated men among CZW fans, says that he will prove that he is superior to anyone in CZW again. Danielson has sent an open World Title Match contract to CZW. Danielson will take on anyone that CZW throws his way on July 15th. If Danielson is still champion this match will be for the ROH World Title.
The early line on that this is Super Dragon's shot. Dragon vs. Dragon would be great enough, but maybe ROH should expand this match to a Four Corner Survival and invite Retail Dragon and Dragon Dragon in as well. A Dragonoff invitational!
May 12th and May 13th Matches Signed A #1 Contender's Match to the Tag Team Titles has been signed for 5/12 in Long Island. It will be The Embassy of Alex Shelley & Jimmy Rave with Prince Nana vs. The Rottweilers of Homicide & Ricky Reyes with Julius Smokes. Both these teams have recently challenged for the belts, now only one of them will get a rematch.
We learned earlier this week that Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli will be making their debut as "The Kings Of Wrestling" on 5/12 in Long Island. It will be the first time that Hero and Castagnoli walk into a ROH building as a tag team. If you have been watching the ROH Video Recaps at ROHvideos.com you know how wild and violent the matches pitting Hero against anyone from ROH have been. Now the war will continue in Long Island as BJ Whitmer & Adam Pearce have enlisted to fight the so called "Kings Of Wrestling" in one week.
Colt Cabana continues to try to work his way back up the card and into a World Title rematch vs. Bryan Danielson. It will continue on 5/13 when Cabana takes on the returning Kikitaro (formerly known as Ebessan) in Edison, NJ!! Kikitaro will also be on the May 12th Long Island event.
Embassy vs. Rottweilers is a heel vs. heel match, although Homicide still gets the face pops better than many true faces, so really, all this means is that Homicide may get a chance to blast Rave and / or Shelley with a roll of toilet paper. Kings of Wrestling will be an immediate threat to the tag team division—Hero and Claudio are really, really good when tagging together. More good fun with Ebessan is always a good thing…good to know he'll be on both shows and that on the 13th he will be matched up with the brighter, sunnier "found his smile" Colt Cabana. THAT is going to be A+ comedy.
…Kennedy! Conrad Kennedy III impressed at last Saturday's Cleveland show and he has been added to 6/23 in Detroit and 6/24 in Chicago.
Get this guy on the mic already!
There WILL Be a Best of Al Snow Tape! Al Snow has joined up with Ring Of Honor to conduct a few editions of the Secrets Of The Ring series. Snow sat down to give his first lessons last week. This is one of the best Secrets Of The Ring ever and a must for all aspiring wrestlers out there. The DVD will be out in a few weeks.
Well, it was about time ROH got around to releasing another volume of Secrets of the Ring with Raven …oh wait its Al Snow this time! Woohoo diversity! Let's hope that in addition to lessons, he also gives the down low on Tough Enough.
Holly and Amazing Kong to SHIMMER SHIMMER Women Athletes has made several big announcements over the past few days, including a personal appearance by former WWE Women's Champion Nora "Molly Holly" Greenwald for their 5/21 event at the Eagles Club in Berwyn, IL. The newest addition to the roster of wrestlers is international phenom Amazing Kong! As a member of All Japan Women during its final years, she held the WWWA Singles and Tag Team Titles, as well as LLPW and NEO Tag Team gold. Kong currently competes in Japan for ZERO1-MAX, Oz Academy, M's Style, and NEO. Her first SHIMMER opponent will be Nikki Roxx. Also signed for 5/21 is Sara Del Rey vs. Mercedes Martinez in a match with no time limit, Rebecca Knox vs. Daizee Haze 2 out of 3 falls, the UK's Nikita vs. Lacey, and much more.
MOLLY! AMAZING! EXCLAMATION POINTS!
ROH Recap # 6 ROH Video Recap #6 is now up at ROHvideos.com. Bryan Danielson vs. Delirious for the ROH World Title has been announced in the new ROH Video Recap for May 13th in Edison, NJ. To see why this match is taking place and the Delirious promo that everyone is talking about make sure to check out the new Recap now at ROHvideos.com.
Delirious is taking some English lessons because you can clearly make out many words that are not in BLAHBLAHBLAH…good for him. 1-800-ABCDEFG, hooked on phonics worked for him. Plus, Cornette appeals to Homicide's better angels of his nature---if Homicide does get involved in the ROH / CZW war, that may very well turn the tide back to the home team.
Your DESPUES DE CINCO DE MAYO Mid Column Olay
source: tnawrestling.com
OLAY OLAY OLAY OLAY….
OLAY, OLAY…
OLAY! OLAY, OLAY, OLAY…
OLAY, OLAY…
This has been your Mid Column Olay!
NEW COLUMN FEATURE: The Ring of Shame
While I remain one of the more positive Ring of Honor homers on this here website, I have to admit…sometimes ROH has gotten it wrong. Sure, ROH has plenty of awesome talent, incredibly athleticism, five star matches, and the best toilet paper distribution plan known to mankind. All those positives does not mean that Ring of Honor hasn't had its share of crap (that's foreshadowing right there) in its history. So while I usually choose to look on the sunny side of all things honorable, once a month I will take a look at an incident or a match that has occurred in Ring of Honor that…well, wasn't quite honorable. In fact, these incidents are far from what I expect out of Ring of Honor, but more like a company that was named…Ring of Shame. Hence, I give to you the column of honor equivalent of Wrestlecrap, the headshaking, fist wagging, embrassing moments in ROH history, all bound together in one volume known as The Ring of Shame.
By the governing body of the New York State (Dis)Honorability Commission, elected into the Ring of Shame for May 2006:
The Carnage Crew's Shit in Baggage Incident: March, 2004
I told you that was some foreshadowing there.
Anyway, I've always felt that The Carnage Crew got unfairly shat on by the fans, especially as they finished up their run in the last few months of 2005. The Carnage Crew was at one time a full fledged stable of wrestlers, consisting of HC Loc and Devito, Justin Credible and Massada. However, the whole shebang began with Loc and Devito as the Crew in 2002. They wrecked tag teams like the Natural Born Sinners and Da Hit Squad that year in hardcore tag matches that resembled the bloody and brutal action made famous in ECW. Now these two were by no means the best "pure wrestlers" in ROH, but they did have a good amount of athleticism and ability…no matter what the snide critics say. Hey, big men doing moonsaults and missle dropkicks, not so easy. However, by the end of their run in late 2005, the ROH tag division did not have any other brawling style tag teams—and there was no way that TCC could hold up in a full out "wrestling" match against the likes of The Embassy or Generation Next, who were at a peak of speed and motion in their matches.
Anyway, back in 2004, The Carnage Crew experienced the best moment of their career—the true zenith of their meaning in Ring of Honor. The main event, the top match on the card during the At Our Best card, right before Wrestlemania XX and in front of one of the largest crowds in ROH history. After nearly a year of feuding with spoiled brats Special K, The Carnage Crew finally got their revenge in a highly violent and super chaotic Scramble Cage match. Special K literally had the numbers advantage, as there seemed to be twenty guys out there (plus a few "Special K sluts" as dubbed by Gab…err…Chris Lovey) including Angeldust (Azriael), Hydro (Jay Lethal), Izzy and Dixie, Cheech, Cloudy, Lit, Dopey, Sleepy, well, no, not those last two. Hey, even Fred the Elephant Boy was there to support Special K (and what a fitting tandem that was).
Twenty against four…not good odds, but surprisingly The Crew had the advantage early on. They bloodied up Special K members, did evil moves such as powerbombs, throws into the cage, etc. Then the tide started to turn and Special K took over, swarming the ring…until of all people, the common man working hard for the man, "The American Dweam", err "Dream", Dusty Rhodes came into fight with The Carnage Crew! With a barrage of bionic elbows, Dusty led the comeback of The Carnage Crew, followed soon by the coup de grace of a FREAKING SPIKE PILEDRIVER from the TOP of the Scramble Cage THROUGH TWO TABLES!
Special K was dead and The Carnage Crew had their greatest victory.
The delicious taste of said victory would only last so long…as immediately after that match, in the locker rooms, Dusty and The Crew would cut a post show celebration promo…that went very, very wrong.
Dusty: "Hey, does anyone smell crap? It smells like someone shit in your bags."
Devito: "Hey you know I smelled that too."
Loc: "No, it couldn't be."
Everyone: What the hell? No no no!
(Dusty, Justin and Masada leave the room)
Loc: "Not one day of peace for us huh? NOT ONE DAY!"
Yeah. Shit. In a bag, as an angle, on a Ring of Honor release. Bloody freaking terrific.
Now, ROH didn't actually film the shit—that remained "off camera". Nonetheless, the fact of the matter was the company devoted to delivering a great WRESTLING product to its fans, had just, well, delivered shit to its fans. The very idea that ROH would use a known rib by "the boys" (and a pretty disgusting one at that) as an idea for an angle for the company, was, well, you know.
So, the follow up to the angle was that Loc and Devito went on an investigation to find out who it was that did the dirty deed. Their investigation…consisted of them beating up on their "suspects"…well, mainly just Dunn and Marcos (CLAP CLAP, CLAP CLAP CLAP). Once The Carnage Crew beat up on their suspects and beat them to the ground…they were proven innocent. Wow, great detective skills there—a regular Sherlock Holmes and Watson these two were not.
So who were the culprits behind the befouling of The Carnage Crew's duffel bags? Who exercised their right to excrement? Who shit on their shirts and didn't bother to leave a tip? It turns out it was none other than…their own teammate Masada…and Danny Daniels.
Yeah. Pretty anticlimactic, isn't it? Besides, why in the hell would a member of their own team do such a thing? Masada was a guy who pretty much put his body on the line for his team by executing a 360 splash from the platform of the top of the cage onto Special K members outside ring the during the At Our Best match. Why would he then do the doo just a few minutes after his biggest win for his team and himself? There was relatively little logic and weak justification for the action.
Daniels and Masada temporarily formed The New and Improved Carnage Crew to fight the Old Carnage Crew…and were promptly handed their asses. The New and Improved Carnage Crew were defeated and disbanded at ROH: Reborn Stage 3 (July 2004) and that was the end of that shit.
Although it wasn't ever shown on-screen (as opposed to say that Big Show / Eddie Guerrero segment where Eddie visibly sprayed down Show with "feces"), for needlessly including poo into a storyline, this angle is our first inductee into the Ring of Shame. Shame, Shame, ROH, you know better.
**The Independent Buy In**
Support independent pro wrestling, ROH or non ROH, I don't care. But if you out there are spending so much time complaining about how WWE sucks, then dammit, spend some money so you won't have to spend so much time complaining. This list stays in the column and will be added to as the year goes on. Remember: don't bow out, BUY IN!
Recommended for purchase:
**IWC No Excuses (Styles vs. Matt Hardy, John McChesney vs. Claudio Castagnoli, Jason Gory vs. Shima Xion)
**FIP New Years Classic (Strong vs. Joe, Homicide vs. James Gibson)
**Hardcore Homecoming (2 Cold Scorpio vs. Kid Kash, 3 Way Dance Barbwire Match Funk vs. Douglas vs. Sabu)
**TNA Lockdown (AJ Styles vs. Abyss, Daniels vs. Skipper, Lethal Lockdown 6 Man Tag, AMW vs. Team Canada + Bonus Chris Candido tribute)
**ROH Fate of an Angel (James Gibson vs. CM Punk, Christopher Daniels vs. Matt Hardy, Roderick Strong vs. AJ Styles, Samoa Joe vs. Jimmy Rave)
**TNA Anthology: The Epic Set (available only through Walmart and Walmart.com at a ridiculously cheap price) (Victory Road 2004, Turning Point 2004, Lockdown 2005)
**ROH Redemption (4 Way Title Elimination—Punk vs. Gibson vs. Joe vs. Daniels, Matt Hardy vs. Homicide, Gen Next of Aries, Strong and Sydal vs. The Embassy of Rave, Shelley and Abyss)
**ROH Punk: The Final Chapter (CM Punk vs. Colt Cabana plus post match celebration, Matt Hardy vs. Roderick Strong, Samoa Joe and Jay Lethal vs Low Ki and Homicide, Austin Aries vs. Jimmy Rave)
**IWC Summer Sizzler 2 (AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe, Steve Corino vs. Shirley Doe, Glen Spectre vs. Chad Collyer, Shima Xion vs. Nigel McGuinness)
**ROH Glory By Honor IV (Dragon vs. Gibson, Styles vs. Rave, Low Ki vs. Jay Lethal) **ROH Joe vs. Kobashi (Samoa Joe vs. Kenta Kobashi, Christopher Daniels vs. Matt Sydal vs. Azriael, Gibson vs. Yang)
**TNA Best of the X Division MATCHES Volume 1 (Joe vs. Sabin, Ultimate X AJ vs. Williams vs. Sabin, Ironman match: AJ vs. Daniels)
**FIP Bring the Pain (Punk vs. Danielson 2/3 Falls, Aries vs. Strong)
**OVW October 2005 Television Showcase (Ken Doane vs. Brent Albright III, Johnny Jeter vs. Matt Cappotelli, and CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk)
**OVW November 2005 Television Showcase (CM Punk vs. Ken Doane (c)—TV Title, CM Punk vs. Brent Albright, Matt Cappotelli vs. Johnny Jeter (c) II-Heavyweight Title)
**ROH Unforgettable (Samoa Joe / Low Ki vs. Homicide / Kenta Kobashi, Dragon vs. Strong, Daniels vs. Yang, Cabana vs. Evans)
2006 List
*ROH This Means War (Bryan Danielson / Roderick Strong, AJ Styles / Austin Aries, Claudio Castagnoli / Alex Shelley)
**ROH Vendetta (Bryan Danielson / Roderick Strong, Eight Man War: Generation Next + AJ Styles / The Embassy, Samoa Joe / Christopher Daniels)
**ROH A Night of Tribute (Bryan Danielson / Christopher Daniels, Aries + Strong / Joe + Lethal, Colt Cabana / Homicide, Claudio Castagnoli / Milano Collection AT)
**OVW December 2005 Television Showcase (CM Punk (c) vs. Ken Doane vs. Brent Albright—3 Way Dance TV Title, CM Punk vs. Brent Albright—TV Title)
**SHIMMER WOMEN'S ATHLETES Volume 1 (Cheerleader Melissa vs. MsChif, Sara Del Rey vs. Mercedez Martinez, Lacey vs. Daizee Haze)
**TNA Bound For Glory 2005 (Iron Man 2: Styles / Daniels, Monster's Ball 2, Joe / Liger, 10 Man Gauntlet, Jarrett vs. Rhino)
**TNA Genesis 2005 (Jarrett & AMW / Rhino & Team 3-D, Styles / Williams, Elimination X: Joe, Daniels, Shelley, Strong / Sabin, Dutt, Aries, Bentley; Christian Cage Debuts)
**ROH Steel Cage Warfare (Generation Next / The Embassy, Dsanielson / Romero, Joe / Lethal, Corino / Homicide )
**ROH Final Battle 2005 (Low Ki / KENTA, Danielson / Marifuji, Claudio / Nigel, 4CS: Daniels / Joe / Lethal / Whitmer )
**ROH Tag Wars 2006 (All three Trios Tournament 2006 matches, Generation Next / Danielson and Lethal, Low Ki / Christopher Daniels )
**BCW International Incident (Jarrett / Raven, Daniels / Sabin, Petey Williams / Jerry Lynn, Bobby Roode / Abyss)
**SHIMMER WOMEN'S ATHLETES Volume 2 (Four Way Elimination Match: Daizee Haze vs. Sara Del Rey vs. Lacey vs. Mercedes Martinez / MsChif vs. Beth Phoenix / Alison Danger vs. Rain)
**PWG Astonishing X-Mas (December 16th, 2005) (Super Dragon vs. Kevin Steen / Eight Man Tag / Strong & Evans vs. Human Tornado & El Generico / Colt Cabana vs. Scorpio Sky) **ROH Fourth Anniversary Show (Generation Next / Styles & Sydal, Danielson / Rave, Homicide / Cabana Ghetto Fight, CZW all out brawl) (NEW ADDITION)
ROH @ 411
A CM Punk fan's treasure trove was ROH Unscripted II. Jacob Zeigler and Brad Garoon provide your coverage. They also provide all the Dissension for your dissenting needs.
Honor Bound Links
BG covers one of my favorite PWG DVDs, Uncanny X-Mas. Mock up of X-Men comic book covers rule. As such CHIKARA's 2006 Grand Prix also rules by proxy.
Scott Slimmer fills in for Nick "RING OF HONOR DVD~!" Marsico on the Friday news report. So there, someone is finally plugging something done by a Heat reacapper. Or is it Velocity? I can't remember. Whatever. Mehxt!
If I wasn't a cynical person I would think that doing a High Road / Low Road on Rey Mysterio would be some sort of height joke. On Cinco de Mayo no less. Racists.
Bayani, Andy, I'm sorry, but I couldn't care less…kiss and make up already.
Okay…women and children, clear the room. Or hit that "X" button on the top right of your computer screen.
I feel I may have given the new writers the wrong impression on me as I went on my once a year only (twice tops) cursing tirade on the staff forums. The tirade was due to some nutfuck saying that Larry Csonka was "lazy" for taking a week off on the news column he does every Tuesday. The guy who releases seventy two kajillion billion columns every week, has a ton of stuff already written on the future index…is lazy…because as he nicely and intelligently explained, he wanted to bond with his kid…
But he's "lazy".
Ahem, ahem…
Now, I know Larry probably already has got this, but excuse me a second as I copy and paste my response from the forum.
Oh and ANOTHER thing...what the MOTHERFUCK?
Why don't you have some heart, nut up and try to do a tenth of what Larry does for this website. Then see if you're not BEGGING, DYING for a day off. Larry doesn't do one column, and some jagoff douchebag writes in to complain. Oh you're lazy, oh you're not doing your job…
This on the same week that Larry does an ADDITIONAL Fact or Fiction column…which I'll have you know is done on the fly the week of. So Larry actually did just about the same amount of writing he does every week after all, and maybe more.
And he enjoyed some time with his child. You know what, if you can't appreciate that, I have two words for you:
FUCK YOU!
End of story.
So yeah, I think the new writers may have gotten the wrong impression of me.
I'm really genuine and calm, just a nice guy. Really.
By the way, tearing someone a new A-hole AND plugging a column at the same time? SCOREBOARD.
Sorry Grayson, but I reached my man-crush quotient on 411 way back when. First there was Wids, then Evocator, Melchor and then Larry and then Bayani and Stu and then Sully. You're way down on the list there kiddo, so take a number. But you've still got a great column.
Excuse me a minute, I have to reinforce my insecure heterosexual ego by heading to the Movie Zone and looking at some cheesecake shots of some female hotties while reading the lattest Hollywood news and gossip. Informative and Arousing at the same time, only at 411~!
New Features Continue Next Week
Well after a sure to be infamous start with the Ring of Shame, next week I'll introduce another new feature to the column. Why is it that The Apocalypse is NOT Happening Today? You'll find out…. NEXT WEEK!
Yeah…errr…don't worry about the time frame contradictions. Hell, I've forgotten about them already.
Also next week, results from the May 12th card in Long Island (and live impressions since I'll be there at the scene of the crime)and a preview of May 13th in Edison, NJ, which has some pretty huge matches including Briscoes vs. Generation Next for the tag titles.
Well, I've taken up enough of your time and mine. Peace be with you all. Brooklyn!
--Ari--
