Column of Honor: 12.01.07: Are You “Man Up” Enough? Part Two
Posted by Ari Berenstein on 12.01.2007
CHIKARA Folds Five, Jerifuji, Classic Promos Month wraps up with two for the price of one and a preview of ROH Trios Tournament 2K7!
Honorarium
-Sorry guys, had to play with the dog for a bit. This time I did not put her in the cravate. Nope, I put her in the Hangman's Clutch.
-Speaking of Chris Hero, I caught Raw and saw Randy Orton perform a cravate, likely setting up for a Cravate-KO. Now there is no doubt who is Randy Orton's Hero.
-So did anyone else catch Chris Jericho's impression of Naomichi Marufuji this week on Raw? Jericho has talked up Marufuji as a guy he's been impressed with in the wrestling he's watched while on hiatus from the ‘E. So I wasn't surprised but I was amused to see Jericho do the confusion lariat spot and the Marufuji falling knee breaker. The Code Breaker—nice name, but unfortunately I don't see the move as having enough power behind it to last as a finish. I'd rather see him use that move mid-match and switch back to the Walls of Jericho to finish people off. Or if he must use Marufuji moves to finish people off, he should have done the POLE SHIFT! I'll let the non-puro readers Google that one up.
-By the way, still loving Jericho's return. I've actually been watching Raw again, thanks to him. So even though the ratings point remains the same, we do know that Jericho = ratings!
-Did JP see that sign for him on Raw? That thing wasn't a Hidden Highlight, it was a freaking neon sign!
-It's nice to see Bayani and Landsell start off 411's annual inter-staff feud. See what happens when the rooks won't take their feet off the office coffee table? Personally, I think internet feuds amongs IWC members are quite silly and senseless.
-Steve Cook, I'm warning you now brudda, stay away from mah woman Sara Del Rey! Or dere's gonna be truhble fer yewww!
-I absolutely love that CHIKARA has named several of its show titles after Ben Folds songs. As Mike Quackenbush tells it, the references started with Talking Heads songs, up until their last album "Brick", which is also the name of a Ben Folds Five song. Since then CHIKARA has come up with titles such as "Best Imitation of Myself" and "Brusied" and recently "The Battle of Who Could Care Less" which is a name that is just dipped and covered in wrestling satire. "Brusied" is especially apropos for a wrestling show as well considering the aftermath of a match on a wrestler's body. Coincidentally it just happens to be one of my favorite new songs from Folds.
So, future show titles with references to Folds' work have to include the following: "Rockin The Suburbs", "Narcolepsy" (if the show puts people to sleep), "Steven's Last Night in Town" (perfect for a loser leaves town match), "One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces" (A Midget Match), "Missing the War" (if anyone no shows) "The Last Polka", "Selfless, Cold and Composed", "Fired", "The Luckiest", "Sports & Wine", "Underground" (how appropriate for an Indie promotion) and of course "Boxing" because it would throw EVERYONE for a loop if a show was called "CHIKARA Pro Wrestling presents BOXING". Then we can wrap the whole series up with "B****es Ain't S**t", which was Folds' cover a Dr. Dre song, and you can transition to the D-R-E from there…heh.
-The Haul has decreased in size, but it still remains waiting for me to watch and watch and watch. No life!
-To mark the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album, Chris Hero MUST start to use the Moonwalk in his acrobatics routine!
ROH Preview: Trios Tournament 2007 12/01/07 in Chicago Ridge, IL
Frontier Fieldhouse
7:30 pm belltime
9807 Sayre Ave.
Chicago Ridge, IL 60415
Trios Tournament 2007: Winning team to receive three matches of their choosing.
Trios Tournament First Round Match #1
ROH World Tag Team Champions Jay & Mark Briscoe & Claudio Castagnoli
vs. Sweet & Sour Inc. of Chris Hero, Tank Toland & Bobby Dempsey with Larry Sweeney & Sara Del Rey
The Briscoes and Castagnoli are "Super Face Team~!!!" and as such their popularity and the entertainment of Sweet & Sour Inc. will help make this match a memorable one. You can't help but feel sorry for Bobby Dempsey, who is outmanned by all three members of the opposing team. It's a big mismatch in favor of the faces here and you just know he is going to get the blame when / if Sweet & Sour Inc. lose here. Claudio will no doubt be gunning for Hero, but I'd suspect more of a cat and mouse chase between them until the concluding portion of this match. The Briscoes are just going to go smashmouth and bust some heads here, and rightfully so.
Trios Tournament First Round Match #2
The Age Of The Fall of Jimmy Jacobs, Tyler Black & The Necro Butcher with Lacey
vs.The Vulture Squad of Jack Evans, Ruckus & Jigsaw
Jack and Ruckus had a huge win last night in the tag scramble, pinning The Briscoes in a non-title match. That will likely give them the opportunity to challenge for the tag straps at a later date. Therefore I'm even more resolute in my prediction that Age of the Fall wins here. They are dangerous opponents. They are ruthless, relentless and more importantly they are an emotional explosion of violence. They have also whupped the V Squad ever since their formation. They have dominated them in matches and I don't expect that to change here. I do expect some sick action though and a few high flying moves from the faces. And Necro will punch somebody. There's some on point analysis for you, right?
Trios Tournament First Round Match #3
No Remorse Corps of Roderick Strong, Davey Richards & Rocky Romero
vs.The Hangmen Three of Adam Pearce, Brent Albright, & BJ Whitmer
I mentioned this in my roundtable preview, but I don't much care for heel vs. heel encounters in these kinds of tournaments. I think if the fans are going to get behind any team it will be the NRC, mostly because their team does not have BJ Whitmer on it. Then again, their team does have Davey Richards on it and he has been the object of internet scorn for a while now. So as go down the list, we have chops, kicks, kicks, punches, suplexes and suplexes. So expect lots of those here. Oh and Hagadorn will be lit up by Strong--and that will be fun.
Trios Tournament Finals Three Team Scramble
1st round match #1 winner vs. 1st round match #2 winner vs. 1st round match #3 winner
This scramble tag rules, where one fall wins it all. Scrambles are usually chaotic, high energy affairs. Team work and timing are crucial and necessary in order to win. You have to either divide and conquer, or team up and be the unstoppable unit. High fliers are favored in this match, which could mean if the V-Squad gets here they can win it all. Momentum switches will be interesting to watch as well as if any pacts are made between teams—immobilize and take care of one team and then the teams that are left fight it out. Whichever team wins will receive a big reward in the form of calling your own shots and in ROH only winning titles is more paramount.
Rematch From "The Chicago Spectacular Night 2"
Bryan Danielson vs. Delirious
Last Delirious created a huge feel good moment when he was able to submit Danielson in the Cobra Clutch. This year there isn't a whole lot for Delirious to feel good about. He's been crazed and maddened by the Hangm3n and you have to wonder if he has any mental capability here to combat Danielson in the ring. Delirious is usually unorthodox but there is a method to his madness. Can Delirious use the Cobra Stretch strategy to win again or will he just blitzkrieg Danielson in hopes of winning at any cost?
Special Challenge Match
Austin Aries vs. Erick Stevens
Stevens was foolhardy enough to challenge Davey Richards to step up last night in Dayton. Stevens cost himself a victory. As a result he may be even more temperamental than ever before and that is bad news for Aries. Stevens can use his massive power and surprising speed to deal damage to Aries, the ill-effects of which he can ill afford. Aries is going to have to play it smart, play the match fast, wear Stevens out and then go for the kill ASAP.
Do Or Die Four Corner Survival
Shane Hagadorn vs. Human Tornado vs. Silas Young vs. Seth Skyfire
Tornado and Skyfire were said to be very well received last night in Dayton. Let's see if they can keep it up here with good showings in this Do or Die match. Tornado will be jive talking and pimp slapping his way all over the ring and hopefully he'll take out Hagadorn on the way.
Plus: ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness; Daizee Haze; others!!!
"Classic" Promo Month: Week Four
I wanted to go back and present some of ROH's past promos that I really enjoyed or found compelling. These aren't necessarily "the greatest ROH promos evar!" or else I would have called it as such. Rather these are "classic" promos in the sense that they are older but nonetheless remain quality due to content or circumstance. I hope you all enjoy.
I'm giving you all a two-fer as I wrap up the month of classic, old school ROH promos. Both tie into some of the promos I've used from the last several weeks.
Dusty Rhodes. Homicide and J-Train run down Corino, The Epic Encounter (Philadelphia, PA 04/12/03):
(Dusty, Homicide and ‘Cide's crew are all backstage. Dusty and Homicide are visibly busted open and bloddy on their face)
Let me tell you something about Ring of Honor, if you will, in public. Homicide taking care of bidness. Corino I came looking for you and you ran. Now then Homicide has rid himself of allll your men. Now then my man is gonna take care of you. Corino, isn't that right Homma?
Homicide: Oh yeah. Steve Corino you're a coward You're the last one. I defeated all your boys. Corino you're next.
J-Train: We got the bull of the woods, Stardust, oh yeah. On the real the real, This ain't the Jon Boys, this is the real deal. Down on this concrete jungle--your blood, my blood your flesh, my flesh. Oh yeah? You feel that bleedat bleedat!
Homicide: This is not over Steve Corino, this is not over.
J-Train: Way not over, hell yeah!
Homicide: Corino you're a dead man.
Why it Works: It's a short and sweet promo, but boy is it ever effective. You get all three men after finishing up what was an incredibly violent (but not well filmed) Bunk House riot match with "Cide's gang and Dusty up against Corino and his crew. The aftermath shows these men bloody and beaten, but victorious and enjoying the glory. Dusty had history with Corino at the time, stemming from their feud in ECW, so fans understood why he runs down Corino on the mic. Also having Homicide filmed next to Dusty and having Dusty put him over was a tremendous move . This is what giving someone the rub is really about. This interview legitimizes Homicide in having earned the respect of a legend, and it makes "Cide look like the future of the industry.
Colt Cabana and CM Punk explain their bond, The Epic Encounter (Philadelphia, PA 04/12/03):
(Punk and Cabana are standing, in their street clothes after the show. Cabana has just turned on Raven and joined his friend Punk and his mentor Steele as a part of the Second City Saints. Cabana has a on a gas station attendant shirt with the name "Jim" in script. Punk is looking very Edge-lite. He has on his red Adidas jacket and a shirt with a skull and bones over a heart that says "I Love Lucy". That's an awesome detail because he was dating Lucy (Daphne) at the time and she was a part of the SCS).
Colt Cabana: You know, CM Punk and Ace Steel you guys tagged up against me and Raven and Raven chose me because there was history between CM Punk, Ace Steel and Colt Cabana. You see my friend we have history we were the best of friends and we were the worst of enemies. But I tell you what we represent the second city of Chicago, we represent the Midwest and now we're here representing Ring of Honor. Punk, you've spread some light on me. I believe what you're saying. You tell the truth. You have very high-morals, high values. And you tell what's the truth and I tell you what's history. There's a lot of history.
CM Punk: History? You know Raven, history is what the friendship of Colt Cabana and CM Punk is based on. We are the Second City Saints. Its funny you mention history. The history of Ring of Honor for one year has been of immense pride, of immense integrity, of athletic contests, of fighting spirit. So I'm gonna let you know right now that I'm not going to compromise my integrity. I was going to shake your hand like the man that I am…but you tried to hit me with the Raven Effect DDT and now You sent Trinity out e to send me some kind of message. Mind games don't work with me, at least not yours. You see I live by the X (crosses his arms in an X. It symbolizes my commitment against your poisoned society. The history, the brick wall of integrity that is The Second City Saints. It's stronger than anything you put in your body or anything you guzzle to fall asleep at night. History is what makes us who we are. History is exactly what we're gonna make in Ring of Honor.
Off Air Voice that is not (I repeat NOT) Gabe Sapolsky (oops!): Alright thanks guys.
CM Punk: Thank You
Colt Cabana: Tremendous. Hey Punk, Punk I gotta good Idea for you. Now you know I'm over. You know I'm over, right? Man these people love me but you know what? You know? I need a catchphrase (pushes shoulder playing around).
CM Punk: Ow my shoulder.
Colt Cabana: Sorry. Now I need a catchphrase. Tell me what you think about these catchphrases.
CM Punk: If you say anything about David Hasselhoff I'm gonna knock you out.
Colt Cabana: What, Germans love David Hasselhoff?
CM Punk: is that, is that…?
Colt Cabana: No no no, no, listen we're gonna cut this promo and then I got it on the back of my T-shirt like "Waklka Wakka!"
CM Punk: …what?
Colt Cabana DYNOMITE!
CM Punk: Do you… Do you have any idea what I'm trying to do here? And you're gonna… besides that's not even original! You're ripping off the Muppets and your ripping off the Jimmy…that sitcoms not even in reruns! That sitcom has been off the air for years!
Colt Cabana How about this? I'm Colt Cabana and I'm just (swings imaginary gold club) playing through. What do you think of that one?
CM Punk: (exasperated] I think it sucks. That's the worst one ever.
Colt Cabana: Listen, let's walk and talk, let's walk and talk. I've got ideas… I got ideas…
CM Punk: I think I'm getting a headache… (both men walk off screen)
Why it Works: In this shorter Punk / Cabana promo you still get several classic (no pun intended) moments that clue us in to the friendship between Cabana and Punk. Cabana is very subservient to Punk and puts him over as having made him see the light. Even better, Punk comes off very tickled about Cabana's words putting him over and uses them as a springboard to continue his complaints about Raven.
Not to mention the "post promo" (quote un-quote) antics are downright hysterical there are several times where the inflection in both of their voices makes me belly laugh. This happened especially when Punk became so frustrated with Cabana's behavior and the search for a workable catchphrase. The way he says "I think it sucks" is pure comedy. Wakka wakka indeed.
Going Home
Name That Tune Week 12
Every week I'll include an excerpt of music lyric and I'll ask you guys to guess the song. The catch is that it will be a wrestler's theme! All promotions are up for grabs, but I'll focus mostly on the independent scene.
Here was last week's clue
Clue: ROH, for starters
Lyric: "I've seen the future and I've left it behind"
What's the name of the song and the artist?
The answer: "Supernaut" (by Black Sabbath)
Now this was a semi-trick question because this isn't a specific wrestler's theme but rather the opening entrance music to start the ROH show. All the personnel and the first match referee walk out to this song. It's an adrenaline pumping kick and gets everyone pumped for the night's action.
This week's winners (by order of receipt):
soulpower
Mitchell Rose
Chris Landsell
Matt Interante
Dave Tew
You_think_you_know_me
Congrats to all the winners this week. I'm sorry that I didn't have time to get back to you all personally this time around, but thanks for playing. Now let's see what you all have for Name that Tune! for this week, December 1st, 2007! This one comes special from 411's own Chris Landsell:
Clue: ROH, alumnus Lyric: I exploit you, still you love me What's the name of the song and the artist?
Here's one from regular reader / emailer Seaneb14, who is taking up for the ROH fans:
A little late on this, but my computer's been on the fritz.
A couple weeks ago you wrote about how disappointed and angry you were at the fans at the 2 Glory By Honor shows. Even the writer of the Heat report talked about how the fans were wrong to be pissed at the DQ finish to Briscoes V Age of the Fall. I have to side with the fans on most instances though, I don't think you are looking at it from their perspective.
Firstly, the Nigel situation. I don't think anyone is angry or anything at Nigel for getting hurt, these things happen. I do think that some fans were disappointed when Nigel won the title. For how many steps Nigel has come, I still think he needs some time before he wears a title. I know it works from a story telling perspective, and at the time the angle started Nigel was over enough to hold the title. Something happened, though, on the road to the title win. Whether it was the over use of the lariat, the return of Danielson to steal his thunder, or the fact that Nigel just kept losing, I don't know. The fans started to turn on him a bit. Maybe the story could've been altered a bit to give time for Nigel to get back to where he was at the beginning of the year, or even the end of last year. Then not only are the fans unsure of him as a champion, he starts off by going to draw in his first match as champion. Which definitely doesn't look good. So on Glory by Honor weekend Nigel had confrontations with Hero, Aries, and Dragon. Arguably the 3 most over wrestlers on the roster. Aries and Dragon are self explanatory. Hero just came off sweeping survival of the fittest and looked like a world beating cool heel. So when Hero came out and demanded his shot, and the fans exploded it was to be expected. When the fans were disappointed that he lost, that had to be expected to. They wanted the title change because they like Hero more than Nigel anyway. Would the fans have been as disappointed if it was last year, and Dragon not Nigel? I don't think so. So to say the fans were booing the champion because he dared to be injured, isn't fair. It comes off as if you are overly defensive of Nigel "how dare the fans boo Nigel".
The next night the fans were disappointed that Nigel didn't defend against Aries. Can you blame them. He wrestled the night before and Aries earned the shot. They want Aries to be champion. Why not be disappointed? Then they cheered when Dragon beat Nigel into the ground. Honestly, I think the ROH crowd would cheer Dragon if he beat a kitten into the ground. Injured or not, Nigel isn't as over as Dragon. So in a case of Dragon V Nigel, babyface or heel actions be damned, Dragon's gonna win. To quote Dragon himself: "Don't you get tired of loosing to me in every single thing." It wasn't because Nigel dared to be injured, it was because Nigel dared to be in the ring with the best wrestler in the world.
Also, when the fans chanted refund after the DQ in the Briscoes match, I think the reaction was expected by ROH, or the match at the end of the show wouldn't have happened. The fans have a right to not expect bullshit DQs in ROH, especially on one of the biggest shows in the year, because that's what ROH prides itself on. I don't think the fans literally wanted a refund, but it was a way to show just how pissed off they were at a bullshit finish to a really high profile match on a really high profile card. So to demonize the fans for booing a champion they aren't sure about, or to be pissed at a bullshit finish isn't fair to them. They pay their money and drive long distances to voice their opinions and see the best wrestling on the planet, and they deserve that right.
Also to explain the McLariat name. How many wrestlers can you name use their finisher as much as Nigel? Definitely not most big names. I can't remember the last time someone kicked out of more than one pedigree, superkick, tombstone exc. Using it so much devalues the move, and when someone takes 7 in a match, it makes the move look weak. Also, if someone goes down to just one, how does that make him look? Repetitiveness can really kill the enjoyment of a match, no matter what the move is. How many times have you read Randy "chinlock" Orton. So I can see where people are coming from when they say Nigel McLariat. I even noticed that Nigel was paying attention to that, and started using the armbar submission, because he devalued the lariat so much. He did the same thing to the Tower of London at the end of last year, letting everyone and their mom kicking out of that move. Nigel really needs to be more protectful of his finishers.
On a less argument note, have you seen Dragon's shirt that he's shilling on his myspace? I think it's much cooler than the official ROH one.
I can't agree on an overall level that the fans love Hero more than Nigel. I think they are massively entertained by Hero being the cool heel, so many cheer for his antics. However, just judging by my ears at the shows, there is still a good 40 to 50 percent of fans who steadfastly boo Hero out of the building. He gets heel heat when he needs to and he is a comic foil when he needs to fill that role. Nigel is the great and righteous babyface. People love the underdog, so they get behind a character like that. However, sometimes in this age of cynicism it's hard to buy into a guy in the white hat, so they start to get sick of them. I think it's almost a fatalistic prophecy for all heroes to be betrayed by their fans. That said, while I won't deny fans have the right to boo Nigel, I don't think they were booing Nigel on that night (Glory By Honor VI) for anything other than he wrestled the night before and then he claimed that he wasn't fit enough to wrestle on that might. People crapped all over that and maybe rightfully so. Maybe he never should have been booked to wrestle in Philadelphia in the first place.
Is Nigel overshadowed by Danielson and Aries right now? I'd stipulate to that yes. Aries' return has been pushed big time and Danielson is now in the position of ROH Legend, in that he carries almost universal respect and is over all the time. Then again pushing Aries and Danielson has been by design in order to build up those two as next in line for a title shot. At this point there are several high profile contenders for the title, enough to carry the top tier for several months to come. You can't have a champion without top contenders can you?
And all that said I think it won't take much for cynical fans to come back around on Nigel. In fact I think its happening already. When Nigel gets the chance to defend the belt on a regular basis my belief is he will turn it back around in his favor.
As to your points about The Briscoes, here again I have to disagree with you. I saw the fans next to my area and some of them were seething. When the crowd chanted refund—they really wanted a refund. You have to also remember the elevator troubles at the venue—some of the fans were just filing in at this time and that was a heavily anticipated match between The Briscoes and Age of the Fall. Then they see that BS finish and that can push people over the edge. I honestly don't think many of the fans there saw the match at the end of the show coming, or at least thought they were being swindled out of the match for that show until the next time they came back to NYC. I also don't see how ROH, if they expected to get that kind of reaction would be foolish enough to book a honor ceremony for Joe Higuchi immediately after—knowing it would be crapped on. That is bad business for the politics between NOAH and ROH.
Again just to back up here, I never said that the fans don't have the right to feel the way they do, or to boo or cheer whoever and whenever they want. Of course everyone has a right to react the way they want—but here's the thing. The ROH fan base has tended to be hypersensitive. If there is something remotely not what they like, they immediately go from 0 to 60. They don't stop to think about what this or that might mean—and when that means they boo Nigel because they didn't get what they want, that's more than cruel and becomes unjustified. Last year when Dave Batista has to take time off for his injury and gave up the title, he returned to WWE Smackdown to give his speech that he was injured but he would be back. He was very well received and people understood. They didn't boo him because they wouldn't be seeing his scheduled match that night. ROH fans did that to Nigel and I believe that is bullshit.
Nigel's finisher is the Jawbreaker Rebound Lariat. He tends to use that finisher once per match, or at least only hits it once per match. Nigel's case is a bit unique because he uses different lariats during his match but his finisher IS the Jawbreaker, which is a specific kind of lariat. It's the same when BJ Whitmer throws a few different versions of the Exploder suplex DURING his match, but we all know his finisher is the pump handle version of the exploder. Nigel also throws such a great lariat that any time he does any version of it he looks like he's won the match. So are we going to punish him for looking good in a match? Is that what its come to now?
The Randy Orton comparison is only half valid, because the difference comes in the use of the moves. Orton uses the move deliberately to SLOW DOWN the match and grind it to a halt, thus making the match boring as hell. Nigel uses the lariats during his furiously facts babyface comeback. They're quick, powerful and they even the odds for him when he needs to come back from a deficit in the match. Does it devalue the move? A bit perhaps, but it also pops the crowd almost every time, so why stop what gets a reaction? Maybe their use and your interest in them is a matter of opinion but I love to see people get laid out by a closeline….but I don't really like when Orton "wears down a body part" with the chin lock medley.
And yes to end on a less argumentative note, Danielson's shirt rocks. I need to pick one up ASAP. Thanks for writing in with your opinion.
**The Independent Buy In**
2007
**PWG Battle of Los Angeles 2006: Night One (Strong / Romero, CIMA / Cross, Deliirous / Generico, 8 Man Tag)
**SHIMMER Women's Athletes Volume 6 (MsChif / Melissa Last Woman Standing, Rebecca Knox / Allison Danger Pure Rules)
**PWG Hollywood Globetrotters (Super Dragon and Davey Richards vs. Roderick Strong and Jack Evans; Cape Fear (El Generico and Quicksilver) vs. Arrogance (Chris Bosh and Scott Lost); B-Boy vs. Frankie Kazarian; Alex Shelley vs. Chris Sabin.)
**PWG Beyond The Thunderdome (Super Dragon and Davey Richards vs. AJ Styles and Chris Daniels); Cape Fear vs. Arrogance; Joey Ryan vs. Chris Sabin)
**PWG Enchantment Under The Sea (Cape Fear vs. Briscoes; Matt Sydal vs. B-Boy; Super Dragon and Davey Richards vs. Arrogance; Austin Aries vs. Kevin Steen)
**wXw World Lightweight Tournament 2006 (Ares / Baron von Hagen, Pac / El Generico, Quackenbush / Roudin, 5 Way Tournament Match)
**ECWA Super 8 Tournament 2001 (Danielson / Low Ki, Danielson / Reckless Youth, Low Ki / Billy Fives, Danielson / Spanky)
**ROH FWA IPW:UK Frontiers of Honor 2 (Sydal / Richards, Cabana / Burridge, JC Thunder / Nigel McGuinness, Danielson / Brookside / Stone)
**PWG Battle of Los Angeles 2006: Night Two (Necro Butcher/Super Dragon, Hero/Horiguchi, Evans/Castagnolli)
**PWG Battle of Los Angeles 2006: Night Three (Generico / CIMA, Hero, Claudio, Necro, Romero / Cabana, Quicksilver, M-Dogg 20, Delirious, Generico / Sabin, Richards / Strong, Evans/ Horiguchi, Richards / CIMA)
**Chikara The Crushing Weight of Mainstream Ignorance (Quackenbush / Akuma, Steel / Steel, Sweeney / Kingston, Hair vs. Mask: Jigsaw / Icarus)
**Chikara King of Trios Night One (Order of the Neo Solar Temple / Los Ice Creams, Miyawaki, Yago & KUDO / Iron Saints, Sweeny, Eliis and Ryder vs. Neo Solar Temple POSEDOWN, Shima Xion / Nobutaka Moribe)
**SHIMMER Volume 7 (Daizee Haze/Cheerleader Melissa, Mercedes Martinez/LuFisto, Sara Del Rey/Nattie Neidhart)
**Chikara King of Trios Night Two (Sabin, Shelley and Dutt vs. Quackenbush, Jigsaw and Shane Storm / Hallowicked, Cheech and Cloudy vs. Lince Dorado, Pantera and Sicodelico Jr. / Olsen Twins vs. Miyagi and Yago / Quack T-Shirt Squad vs. Boyer and 2.0)
**Chikara King of Trios Night Three (Pantera, Lince Dorado & Sicodelico, Jr. vs. Mike Quackenbush, Jigsaw & Shane Storm / Kings Of Wrestling vs. Kudo, Yoshiaki Yago & Miyawaki / Mike Quackenbush, Jigsaw & Shane Storm vs. Kudo, Yoshiaki Yago & Miyawaki / Ricochet vs. Claudio Castagnoli / Daizee Haze vs. Sara Del Ray / Mokujin Ken vs. Mecha Mummy / Matt Sydal vs. Hallowicked)
**UWA Hardcore: Hour of the Dragon (Ultimo Dragon / Black Tiger, Chris Sabin / Josh Prohibition, Mike Quackenbush / Claudio Castagnoli, Tyler Black / Josh Ambercrombie)
**Fight Sports Midwest: Chapter One (Samoa Joe / Eddie Kingston, Larry Sweeney / Bryan Alvarez, Josh Ambercrombie / Austin Aries, Hydra / "Old Timer" Jeff King) **Fight Sports Midwest: Chapter Two (Alex Shelley / Low Ki, Mike Quackenbush / Tiger Mask IV, Human Tornado / Josh Ambercrombie)
**CHIKARA: Rey De Voladores (Chris Hero / Claudio Castagnoli, Chuck Taylor / Lince Dorado, Cheech & Cloudy / F.I.S.T. (Gran Akuma & Icarus), Chuck Taylor / Ricochet / Pac / Retail Dragon)
**SHIMMER Women's Athletes Volume 8 (Sara Del Rey / Mercedes Martinez, Daizee Haze / Tiana Ringer, Nattie Neidhart / Portuguese Princess Ariel, Allison Danger / Lufisto)
**CHIKARA: Anniversario? (Hero / Quackenbush, Hallowicked / Kingston, Pantera & Lince Dorado / Castagnoli & Sweeney, Worker Ant / Hydra, Player Uno / Shayne Hawke)
**CHIKARA: Maximum Overdraft (F.I.S.T. / Briscoes, Mike Quackenbush / Black Tiger, Hero & Castagnoli / El Pantera & Lince Dorado, The Colony / Los Tres Deliriouses, Daizee Haze / Sara Del Rey—2 out of 3 Falls)
**SHIMMER Women Athletes Volume 9 (MsChif / Amazing Kong, Cheerleader Melissa / Sara Del Rey, Tiana Ringer / Nikki Roxx, Lexie Fyfe & Malia Hosaka / Allison Danger & Cindy Rogers)
**PWG: Passive Hostility (PWG Tag Team Titles: Super Dragon & B-Boy / Cape Fear of El Generico & Quicksilver, PWG Title Three Way: Joey Ryan / Human Tornado / Kevin Steen, Scorpio Sky, Chris Bosh & Scott Lost / Kazarian, Sabin & Shelley, Richards / Romero)
**SHIMMER Women Athletes Volume 10 (Daizee Haze / Amazing Kong, Del Rey Nikki Roxx, Melissa / Lacey, Amber O'Neal / MsChif, Allison Danger / Cindy Rogers, Perez / Ariel)
**PWG: Based on a True Story (PWG Title: Joey Ryan / Human Tornado, Loser Leaves PWG: Kazarian / Scorpio Sky, Colt Cabana / Rocky Romero, Bosh / Steen)
**PWG Holy Diver Down (PWG Title: Human Tornado / El Generico, PAC / Kevin Steen, Arrogance / Motor City Machine Guns, Karl Anderson / Frankie Kazarian)
**FIP Unfinished Business 2007 (Dog Collar Match: Erick Stevens / Steve Madison, TLC: Sal Rinauro / Seth Delay, FIP Heavyweight Title: Strong / Albright, Jack Evans / Gran Akuma, Sweeney / Claudio Castagnoli )
**TNA: Instant Classic: The Best of Christian Cage (NWA Title: Jarrett / Cage, Barbed Wire Six Sides of Steel: Rhino / Cage, Against All Odds 2007: Angle / Cage, Destination X: Joe / Cage)
**UWA Hardcore: vs. Toryumon Japan Night 1 (Jushin "Thunder" Liger & Puma / Ultimo Dragon & Kazuchika Okada, UWA Canadian Tilte: Alex Shelley / MDogg20 / Josh Prohibition, Sonjay Dutt / Brian Lee / Chris Sabin, Larry Sweeney / Passion Hasegawa, Dan Paysan / Daisuke Hanaoka )
**UWA Hardcore: vs. Toryumon Japan Night 2 (Jushin "Thunder" Liger & Ultimo Dragon / Motor City Machine Guns, UWA Lightweight Title: Lionel Knight / Hiromi Horiguchi, UWA Canadian Title: Josh Prohibition / Kazuchika Okada, Derek Wylde / Daisuke Hanaoka / Puma, M Dogg 20 / Brian Lee)
**FIP Battle of the Belts (Eddie Graham Memorial) (Stevens / Strong, Strong / Jay Briscoe, Jay Briscoe / Sweeney, Stevens / Delirious, Stevens / SHINGO)
**PWG Giant Sized Annual # 4 (PWG World Title: El Generico / Bryan Danielson, PWG World Tag Team Titles: Roderick Strong & PAC / Kevin Steen & El Generico, Danielson / Necro Butcher, Aries / Romero, Fergal Devitt / Davey Richards, Karl Anderson, Bino Gambino & Scott Lost / TJ Perkins & The Young Bucks)
**WSX: The Complete First (And Last) Season (Episodes 1-9, Web Shows 1-9, Extras) (NEW ADDITION)
Wrestling Society X lasted a blink of an eye in the wrestling world. Some people loved it, others hated it and yet others were completely mystified by it. Now the complete first and last season is available in a stunning package and at a quality price. You get your money's worth with this one in terms of the production, the extras and the chance to see X-Pac hit on Lizzy Valentine.
Did I just gross you out? Sorry.
I personally thought WSX was a very good alternative to what was on at the time. There were many flaw though, from the obnoxious camera cuts to the MASSIVE EXPLOSIONS EVERY FIVE MINUTES to using music stars on commenrary when they didn't have the first notion about commentary to MASSIVE EXPLOSIONS and over the top effects. Did I mention MASSIVE EXPLOSIONS? I did, didn't I?
Yet the pros of WSX did in fact outweigh the cons. You get to see many ROH, PWG and Independent stars strut there stuff. Their characters are sometimes the same, sometimes similar and sometimes complete different from what you saw of them on the Indie scene, but usually they were fun and came from good professional wrestling stock. So many wrestlers were used well in this one, from Sydal as the cocky heel to Evans as the Eminem style face, to Human Tornado being all SUPAHFLY. There was also a massive EXPLOSION concentration on tag teams at the time when tag teams didn't get much focus. That 70's team, D.I.F.H. Team Dragon Gate, hell even Teddy Hart was used very effectively in his team up with Matt Cross.
The actual TV shows are quick, but the internet shows gave you more back for your buck (especially since they were free at the time) with longer matches and oh yes LACEY! Let's not forget about Lacey, who is a freaking EXPLOSION star here. She did an awesome job as host / commentator and in a way I wish she could do more of that stuff in the regular indie scene apart from her heel persona.
There is commentary for every show, multiple ones at that. Dr. Keith Lipinksi is a wacky kind of guy, but his mix of humor and insightful questions for Kevin Kleinrock and other wrestlers he interviews makes the PIRANAH DEATH MATCH commentary track required viewing. Other extras such as deleted scenes and promos, the advertising campaign and oh yes LACEY! In a bikini video spread. Lizzy Valentine too.
So what I'm saying is its worth your EXPLOSION purchase, whether or not you were a fan of the show, to pick up this DVD. Hell if you weren't a fan of the show, then you should buy it and burn it. But watch the Lacey video before you do so.
The ROH List
**Fifth Year Festival: NYC (Samoa Joe / Morishima, Homicide / Rave, Briscoes / Cabana & McGuinness, Albright / Whitmer, Evans / SHINGO / Xavier / Jacobs)
**Fifth Year Festival: Philly (Homicide / Morishima, Sydal & Daniels / SHINGO & Evans, Briscoes / Generico & Steen, Castagnoli / Aries, McGuinness / Perkins)
**Fifth Year Festival: Chicago (Morishima & McGuinness / Joe & Homicide, Cabana / Jacobs, Strong & Richards / Aries & Cross, Daniels & Sydal / The Briscoes, Albright / Castagnoli)
**Fifth Year Festival: Liverpool (Joe / McGuinness, ROH World Tag Team Titles: The Briscoes / Doi & SHINGO / FIP Title: Strong / PAC, 2/3 Falls: Delirious / Matt Sydal) **Fifth Year Festival: Finale (Joe / Homicide, Fight Without Honor: McGuinness / Rave, ROH World Tag Team Titles: Doi & SHINGO / Richards and Strong, Sydal / PAC, Falls Count Anywhere: Whitmer / Jacobs)
**All Star Extravaganza III (ROH vs. Dragon Gate 8 Man Tag, Strong / Evans, Mochizuki / Richards, Cabana / Sydal / Hero / Pearce, Homicide / Daniels)
**Supercard of Honor II (CIMA, SHINGO and Yokosuka / Dragon Kid / Saito / Mochikzuki, Strong / Aries, Whitmer / Jacobs, Evans & Doi / Richards and Romero, McGuinness / Hero, Daniels & Sydal / Delirious & Jay Briscoe)
**Fighting Spirit (ROH World Title: McGuinness / Morishima, Jay Briscoe and Erick Stevens Mark Briscoe / El Generico & Kevin Steen, Evans & Delirious / Strong & Romero, Claudio / Romero, Cabana / Williams)
**The Battle of St. Paul (ROH World Title: Morishima / Aries, FIP Title: Strong / Daniels, Delirious / Stevens / Romero / Evans, Albright & Pearce / Homicide & Cabana/ ROH World Tag Titles Ultimate Endurance)
**Good Times, Great Memories (ROH World Tag Team Titles: Briscoes / Murder City Machine Guns, Roderick Strong / Jack Evans, ROH World Title: Morishima / SHINGO, Austin Aries / Rocky Romeo, Adam Pearce / Colt Cabana, 6 Man Mayhem: Deliirous, Quackenbush, Hallowicked, Jigsaw, Akuma, Primeau)
**A Fight at the Roxbury (Four Corner Survival: Quackenbush / Hero / Castagnoli / McGuinness, ROH World Title: Morishima / Jay Briscoe, El Genercico / Matt Sydal, Steen / Briscoe, Danielson / Rave)
**Respect is Earned (ROH World Tag Team Title: The Briscoes / Castagnoli & Sydal, Danielson & Morishima / McGuinness & KENTA, Marufuji / Romero, Tag Team Scramble, Toland / Albright)
**Domination (ROH World Tag Team Titles, 2 out of 3 Falls: Briscoes / Hero & Castagnoli, Steen & Generico / Jigsaw & Quackenbush, Morishima / Strong, Sydal / Hallowicked, Lacey / Daizee Haze)
**United We Stand (Danielson & McGuinness / Marufuji & Morishima, KENTA / Rocky Romero, NRC vs. Resilience)
**Live in Tokyo (ROH World Title: Morishima / McGuinness, Briscoes & Marufuji / Sydal, Ricky Marvin & Atsushi Aoki, Danileson / Go Shiozaki, Fight Without Honor: Delirious / Strong )
**Race to the top Tournament Night 1 (ROH World Tag Titles: The Briscoes / Danielson & McGuinness, Evans / Steen, Quackenbush / Sydal, Hero / Stevens, Richards / Jigsaw, Delirious / Generico)
**Race to the top Tournament Night 2 (Generico / Claudio, Claudio / Quack, $10,000 Tag Team Challenge: Danielson, Aries, Sydal, Mark Briscoe / McGuinness, Strong, Delirious, Jay Briscoe, Generico / Hero, Evans / Albright)
**Death Before Dishonor V Night 1 (Boston Street Fight: The Briscoes / Steen & Generico, ROH World Title: Morishima / Castagnoli, Danielson / Sydal, Pure Wrestling: Hero / McGuinness, Richards / Evans)
**Death Before Dishonor V Night 2 (Philadelphia Street Fight: NRC & Sydal / Resilience & Delirious, ROH World Title: Morishima / Albright, Quackenbush / Danielson, McGuinness & Castagnoli / Hero & Jigsaw, Del Rey / Lacey, Steen / El Generico, Briscoe / El Generico )
** Caged Rage (Steel Cage ROH World Tag Titles: Brisoes / Generico & Steen, Steel Cage: Evans / Strong, ROH World Title Elimination Match: Morishima / Castagnoli / Albright, Resilience / Richards, Blade & Edwards, Hero / Hallowicked )
** Manhattan Mayhem II (Two out of Three Falls: ROH World Tag Titles: Briscoes vs. Generico & Steen, ROH World Title: Morishima / Danielson, Hero / Castagnoli, Aries / Evans / Strong, Ruckus / Edwards, Cross & Stevens / Quackenbush & Jigsaw)
** Motor City Madness 2007 (ROH World Title: Morishima / Stevens, Marufuji / Generico, Jacobs / Hero, ROH World Tag Team Titles: The Briscoes / Aries & Cross )
This section needs your help! If you want to recommend some good independent wrestling to your fellow internet readers out there, drop me a line for the column.
ROH @ 411 This Week
Given the premiere of ROH Man UP on PPV this week 411 has a bevy of different columns, recaps and reviews for you to peruse as you explore the world of ROH.
If you want more reviews of the Man Up PPV, then check out Larry Csonka's play by play and J.D. Dunn's breakdown review.
Once again myself, Larry and Christi have completed an audio podcast review which you can listen to via our streaming feature or download to your PC / whathaveyou.
The 411 Staff Roundtable for this weekend's ROH shows comes strong. 411 Buy or Sell also looks at the issues surrounding this weekend's shows. Sam and Brad match wits in a Rock, Paper Scissors contest. Or something.
Alex Mattis looks at tonight's Trios Tournament 2K7 with his Best of the Rest column.
On the review from, Dunn continues his Japanvasion with a look at ROH Live in Osaka.
In the main event Brad Garoon & Jacob Ziegler go all out in their DVD review piece for ROH Driven—one of the best PPVs of the year made even better with the inclusion of the Danielson vs. KENTA match as a bonus.
Ryan Byers completes his MUST-READ Ultimate Starter's Guide to SHIMMER Women's Athletes this week. It is an insanely detailed account of the best SHIMMER has to offer. It's as insanely detailed as my Final Column series has become over the last two years.
Finally the man who is Sam I am Berman completes the royal ROH write up team with his Independent Mid Card column and a look at a hell of a match with Quack & Jig vs. Steen & Generico.
Stuart Carapola has to put up with writing Heat reports—good lord man. Be sympathetic to him and check out his That Was Then series, always a fine read.
Corke has pegged The Seventh Dimension as TNA…yeah, I think he pretty much has it right this time.
High Road / Low Road on Edge and Vicki. Oh, the jokes we can make out of that set up…
Larry Conska brings the words in this week's Wrestling 4R's.
Michael Weyer shines the spotlight on wrestlers returning to the fold. And he makes a great Christmas present time pun in his title.
Truth B Told, Bayani likes Prince. Me, I like little red corvettes.
William Bumgamer gives WCW Mayhem a what for. It's a good read on a horrible video game.
Yes, dear readers, sometimes I intentionally make the link words as atrocious as possible in order for you to laugh when you click them. Well, no, really for me to laugh about when you click them. Sorry, but it is funny to click on "WCW Mayhem".
Okay everyone I think we have significantly manned up enough this week. 4 weeks to go until Final Column 2007. I have my choices now for the top 100 list and it will be interesting to see the reaction to the reveal.
Next week we still go on with more ROH related writing, including results from tonight's trios tag tournament and a green X-mas edition of Dear Delirious! See ya then.
