ROH – Dissension DVD Review

ROH – Dissension – Cleveland, OH – 1.28.06

Review by Brad Garoon and Jacob Ziegler

The Honor Roll

JZ says: Since this is a double shot, there are no changes since last night. But for those who need a reminder, this is what it was –

ROH WORLD CHAMPION: Bryan Danielson (since 9.17.05)
ROH PURE CHAMPION: Nigel McGuinness (since 8.27.05)
1) Austin Aries (1, 3)
2) Alex Shelley (4, 2)
3) Roderick Strong (3, 9)
4) Christopher Daniels (NR, 1)
5) Jay Lethal (2, 3)

Intro

BG says: Dave Prazak is with Matt Sydal to find out if he’s reconsidered going after the tag titles with AJ Styles against his fellow Generation Next members. Sydal has a lot on his mind, with AJ trying to be his ally and a chance to beat Christopher Daniels tonight. His answer will have to wait until after his match. Prazak tells the camera man to keep an eye on him in case he says off-promo what his decision will be.

The Embassy has been partying hard after their trios tournament win. Now they’re getting ready to go after some gold in the company. Rave decides that he’s chosen to take his ROH World Title shot at the Fourth Anniversary Show. Alex Shelley decides, while quoting Vince Vaughn beautifully, that he’s taking his title shot on the show before that show. This causes some tension but Nana calms everyone down. DISSENSION! Abyss takes out the camera man to end the promo.

JZ says: Prazak begins the show with Matt Sydal, wondering if he has reconsidered his decision to chase the Tag Team Titles with AJ Styles. He once again avoids the question, saying that he’s focused on his match with Christopher Daniels tonight. Prazak tells the camera man to keep an eye on Sydal tonight.

The Embassy is in some unidentified room to brag about their victory in the Trios Tournament last night. Jimmy Rave says he wants to use his title shot at the Fourth Anniversary Show on 2/25. Alex Shelley thus says that he’ll go for the belt on 2/11. Rave and Shelley then argue about the color of the actual belt in a very funny exchange. I can hear Abyss grunting in the background, as we learn that Nana doesn’t care who wins the World Title as long as it’s one of them. Nana says to unleash the beast, so Abyss takes out the camera man. What a phenomenal segment.

MATCH #1: Adam Pearce vs. Jay Fury

BG says: Pearce’s decision to go with Black Betty instead of Freebird is a good one, in my own humblest of opinions. He attacks before the bell but walks into a dropkick. Fury hits another and a leg lariat sending Pearce to the floor. Fury follows him out with an Asai moonsault. Pearce hangs him up on the top rope but gets hit with the short kicks back in the ring. Pearce hits a powerbomb and a powerslam for 2. Fury ducks a clothesline and hits an enziguiri for 2 when Pearce gets his foot on the bottom rope. Pearce hits a spinebuster and climbs the ropes. He comes off with a big splash for the win. Solid little opening match squash there.
Rating: *¾

JZ says: Both of these guys are fairly new in Ring of Honor; Fury in particular just made his debut last night. Prazak and Leonard are hosting tonight, as usual. They brawl to start and Pearce goes to the floor only to get hit with a nice twisting Asai moonsault. Pearce overpowers Fury and goes to work. The crowd gets behind Fury in pretty short order. Pearce hits a splash off the top rope to get the win at 3:28. That was a fine opener but could have used some more time. Pearce throws a chair into the ring and tells the referee to remove Fury. He says he knows that Commissioner Cornette will be coming out for an announcement and he just wants a front row seat.
Rating: *¾

Plus: ROH Commissioner Jim Cornette

BG says: Pearce grabs a chair and a microphone and brings them both into the ring. He won’t leave the ring until Commissioner Jim Cornette comes out to confront him. Toothless Jimmy meets Pearce, but says he has a few things to say before he gets to him. Cornette starts complaining about the CZW interference from the night before as Necro Butcher shows up, ticket in hand. Cornette says that he may not be a wrestler, but Necro isn’t either so he wants to fight him now. Pearce holds Cornette back and steps in for that challenge. He runs out and pulls Necro over the guardrail and it pretty much turns into a ton of students and a few wrestlers dragging him to the back while taking shots. Back in the ring Cornette thanks Pearce for helping him out, and it seems we have an enemy of my enemy is my friend situation going on.

JZ says: Cornette talks about the events that happened last night that got him so worked up. For those who don’t recall, Chris Hero and Necro Butcher invaded the show and Cornette somehow lost a tooth. Necro Butcher is in the crowd, and he has a ticket and thus has a right to be there. Cornette runs Necro down and says that the ROH guys will beat the piss out of the CZW guys. Cornette wants to fight Necro himself, but Pearce thinks it’s a bad idea. He challenged Necro instead and then goes outside after him and the brawl is on. Cornette even gets in on the action, as a bunch of ROH wrestlers come out and neutralize Necro. Pearce and Cornette come back to the ring to talk some more. They shake hands.

Ring of Honor Top 5

5) Christopher Daniels
4) Jimmy Rave
3) Alex Shelley
2) KENTA
1) Jay Lethal

MATCH #2: First Time Ever – Jimmy Yang vs. Jay Lethal

BG says: They lock up and Lethal taunts Yang. He grabs a wristlock but Yang reverses to his own. He gets a takedown for 1. Lethal grabs a headlock but Yang comes back with a pair of armdrags into an armbar. He hits the tiger flip and puts on a half crab. Lethal gets to the ropes. Yang hits a leg lariat and chops Lethal to the apron. He kicks Lethal to the floor and chases him back into the ring. Lethal hits a knee strike sending Yang to the floor. He launches Yang into the crowd and then rolls him back into the ring where he gets 2. He hits a bodyslam and an elbow drop for 2. He puts on a front facelock and then hits a back elbow for 2. He hits a snap suplex for 2. He slugs Yang down for 2. Yang overhead suplexes Lethal into the turnbuckle and then blocks a blind charge. He hits a side kick off the second rope and clotheslines Lethal down. He catches Lethal coming off the top rope with a leg lariat for 2. He climbs the ropes but Lethal cuts him off and hits a clothesline for 2. He hits a bodyslam and a flying elbow for 2. Yang comes back with Yang Time out of nowhere for the win. This was okay, but didn’t do much for me after the way they both shined so much the night before.
Rating: **½

JZ says: The do some mat wrestling to start. Both men were involved in some excellent matches last night, so I’m pumped for this. They go to the outside soon after the match starts, and Lethal irritates the fans by moving away from Yang’s dive and throwing Yang back into the ring a few moments later. He’s become a pretty good heel in a short amount of time. They do some stuff and go back and forth until Yang gets the Yang Time to earn his first ROH victory at 11:06. That was technically solid but not all that engaging.
Rating: ***

Backstage

BG says: The camera man, following Prazak’s request, finds Matt Sydal chatting it up and having a grand old time with AJ Styles. Things aren’t looking good for Generation Next. DISSENSION!

Low Ki cuts his last promo ever in ROH, saying that 2006 will be the year the Rottweilers take over. That’s been a lot harder for them since Ki hasn’t been around. Anyway, tonight Ki is going to hurt Jack Evans to send a message to the rest of Generation Next. That was actually a pretty good promo by Low Ki standards.

JZ says: A camera is sneaking around back watching AJ Styles and Matt Sydal, who are having a good time giggling with each other.

Low Ki is standing outside in front of a brick wall, talking about how 2006 will be the year of the Rottweilers. He faces Jack Evans tonight in the first Rottweilers versus Generation Next match. He would be gone from ROH shortly after this promo.

MATCH #3: Jimmy Rave, Alex Shelly & Abyss vs. Tony Mamaluke, Sal Rinauro & Delirious

BG says: The Embassy beat Mamaluke, Rinauro and Jay Fury the night before in the trios tournament, so this match has a little bit of history I suppose. This ended up being Abyss’ last match in ROH. Delirious and Shelley start. They knuckle up and Shelley stomps on his hands. He hits a dropkick but gets rolled up for 1. Delirious gets a sunset flip for 2. He gets another roll up for 2. Abyss tags in and goes for a chokeslam, only to get his hand bitten. He does hit a big boot and a torture rack backbreaker. Rave tags in and tags to Shelley. They hit a double shoulder block and then Shelley hangs Delirious in the Tree of Woe to stand on his crotch. He hits a neckbreaker and the Skull Fucker. He holds Delirious in a camel clutch while Daizee Haze comes off the top with a missile dropkick to the masked man’s face. Abyss tags in and press slams Sal onto Delirious when he tries to come in with a crossbody. It gets 2. Rave tags in and gets rolled up for 2. Delirious blocks a blind charge and hits a dropkick to the back. Sal and Shelley tag in and Sal hits a moonsault press for 2. He hits a springboard swinging DDT for 2. Shelley hits a dropkick and tags to Rave. Mamaluke tags in and hits a side suplex for 2. He sets Rave up top and hits a superplex. He holds on for a guillotine choke but Rave gets to the ropes. Sal and Tony hit a double faceplant on Rave. Rave hits a gutbuster and a DDT and tags to Shelley. Sal hits Shelley with a dropkick and tags to Delirious. He hits a northern lights bomb on Shelley for 2. He drop toeholds Rave into Shelley’s crotch and hits them both with the Panic Attack for 2. Shelley hits a superkick so Sal and Tony come in. Abyss tags in and takes out all of the opposition. The babyfaces start running the same offense on him as Evans, Sydal and Yang did the night before, and it is just about as effective. Abyss hits a Black Hole Slam on Delirious and a chokeslam on Mamaluke. He tosses Sal up and slams him to the mat. He press slams him onto Mamaluke on the floor and signals for a dive. Shelley tags himself in again and tells Abyss that he’s being stupid. Rave disagrees and fights with Shelley. Sal and Tony pull Abyss to the floor and Delirious dives out onto him. Rave and Shelley keep arguing so Tony and Sal run in and roll them up for the win. DISSENSION! Just a bit better than last night’s match, with more consistent action and a cute finish.
Rating: ***

JZ says: Along with the usual toilet paper, someone throws a plush animal into the ring and Abyss wants to keep it. He learns how to throw the toilet paper back in the audience, claps for himself, gets a high face from Jimmy Rave, but gets a cold shoulder from Alex Shelley. What a dick that Shelley is. Delirious flusters Shelley with pinning combinations in the early going. Abyss comes in and now we have the two masked men going at it. Delirious bites, so Abyss kicks him in the face. The referee goes to admonish Mamaluke and Rinauro so Daizee Haze gets up to the top rope and gives Delirious a dropkick to the face. The Embassy uses lots of tags and dominates Delirious. Rinauro finally gets the hot tag and cleans house on Shelley. Mamaluke comes in and gets a submission on Rave while Delirious holds Shelley back. Rinauro and Abyss kind of stand there and look at each other. All three of the faces try to take Abyss out, but he is able to control them for a bit. Delirious runs into a huge black hole slam; Mamaluke gets a chokeslam; and Rinauro gets a huge press slam followed by a press slam to the floor onto Mamaluke. Abyss teases hitting the dive again, but Shelley stops him once again, and Rave comes to the aid of Abyss. There’s dissension in the Embassy as Mamaluke and Rinauro pull Abyss to the floor and Delirious hits him with a huge dive. Meanwhile, back in the ring Mamaluke and Rinauro get matching rollups on Rave and Shelley and get the simultaneous three-count (don’t think I’ve seen that before) to win the match at 14:23. That was a fun little match, on par with The Embassy’s first-round match last night.
Rating: ***¼

MATCH #4: Low Ki vs. Jack Evans

BG says: Another farewell here, as this would be Ki’s last match in ROH. Sparked by Austin Aries’ issue with Ricky Reyes, there was a little Generation Next/Rottweilers feud beginning to simmer. Ki attacks Evans as he’s break dancing before the match. He rips off Evans’ shirt and chops him. Evans comes back with a dropkick but Ki shoves him down. Evans hits another dropkick and Ki falls to the floor. Back in the ring Evans hits a hurricanrana and Ki falls out again. Evans goes for a Space Flying Tiger Driver but Ki dodges it. Back in the ring Ki gets 2. He hits a stiff kick to the small of the back for 2. He rams Evans into the turnbuckle and hits a snap mare for 2. He puts on a waistlock but Evans gets to the ropes. Ki stomps him around for 2. He hits a Mongolian chop for 2. He puts on a legvice but Evans gets to the ropes. Ki dumps him to the floor and spears him into the barricade. Back in the ring he gets 2. He hits a bodyslam for 2. Evans comes back with a series of kicks for 1. He hits a spinning kick for 2. He hits a handspring elbow and a springboard kneedrop for 2. Ki chops him to the mat and then hits a faceplant for 2. Evans hits a standing corkscrew moonsault for 2. The 630 senton misses and Ki hits a running dropkick for 2. He sets Evans in the Tree of Woe and hits the double stomp for the win. This was too long just to watch Evans get beat up. He had two hope spots, and aside from the finish those were the only two interesting parts of the match. So long Low Ki.
Rating: **½

JZ says: I love how Evans shows no fear even when an ass-kicking is extremely imminent. Ki does not appreciate Evans’s shenanigans. Evans fights valiantly and actually is in control for a few minutes in the early going. Evans hits what Prazak rightly calls the “Super Space Flying Tiger Disaster.” Ki dominates Evans, hitting him with hard chops and kicks. Evans keeps fighting back though. Ki eventually gets the win at 12:33 with his huge double stomp off the top rope with Evans in the tree of woe. Evans of course just sits up and takes it, which is why I don’t like that move. Also, am I nuts, or does Ki scream like a girl when he goes for that move? Match was fine, but was essentially the usual extended squash that Evans has when he faces a bigger name.
Rating: **½

MATCH #5: Anything Goes – Claudio Castagnoli & Ace Steel vs. Nigel McGuinness & Chad Collyer

BG says: This feud is killing me. As much as I like the effort that went into making an issue for the feud, I don’t buy Steel as the crazy tough guy he’s made out to be. It’s just annoying. Not to mention the fact that all of Steel’s promos indicate an urgency with which he wants to hurt Collyer, but the feud only happens on the shows in Ohio and Chicago. Steel is just too annoying and the feud is too drawn out. Nigel says that he’s not going to compete under the relaxed rules assigned for this match, opting rather for a scientific bout. Cornette comes out and says there have already been enough of those tonight, and after Necro Butcher’s antics he wants to see someone get their ass kicked, so now anything goes and there must be a winner.

Collyer and Nigel go for wristlocks so Steel and Claudio slug them down. The respective rivals pair up and brawl around ringside. Claudio piles chairs on Nigel and sits down on the pile. Steel sends Collyer into the crowd and then dives onto him. Claudio guillotines Nigel with a section sign. That’s a pretty cool visual. Steel throws cups from the crowd at Collyer and they brawl back to ringside. Back in the ring Steel chops Nigel during the hand stand. Steel and Claudio double flapjack Collyer. They put on a double Mexican surfboard and ram Collyer’s head into Nigel’s gut. They double clothesline both opponents and Claudio climbs the ropes. Nigel shoves him to the floor and Collyer stomps on Steel. Collyer & Nigel hit a double suplex for 2. Steel gets a backslide on Nigel for 2. Collyer monkey flips Claudio to the floor. Collyer and Nigel hit a double wristlock takedown for 2. Nigel clotheslines Collyer by mistake and Steel gets 2. Collyer helps Nigel hit the hand stand kick and then hits a German suplex himself for 2. Nigel hits a hammerlock DDT on Steel. Claudio hits a springboard forearm on Nigel. Nigel falls to the floor and Claudio follows him out with a suicide dive. In the ring Collyer has an arm submission on Steel but he gets to the ropes. Collyer goes for the cloverleaf but Steel fights him off. Steel hits an enziguiri but Collyer comes back with a side suplex for 2. Collyer puts on the cloverleaf but Claudio saves. Steel hits a spinebuster and puts on a stretch muffler but his back gives out. He hits a chin breaker and the Spinal Shock for 2 when Nigel saves. Steel hits a swinging DDT on Collyer who falls to the floor. Steel goes for a dive but eats barricade. Nigel hits a DDT on Claudio for 2. He hits an elbow drop for 2. Steel suplexes Claudio on the ramp. Nigel hits Claudio with the Tower of London for 2 when he grabs the bottom rope. Claudio gets a backslide for 2 and hits the inverted DVD for the win. This had a lot of cool stuff sprinkled throughout it, but it was so disjointed that it got frustrating.
Rating: **¼

JZ says: Claudio’s smiling demeanor is quite different from his partner’s angry face, which just looks stupid. Nigel comes out with a microphone but not the Pure Title. He’s not sure what Relaxed Rules means. Nigel claims that tonight’s match will be all about hammerlocks, wristlocks, and headlocks. That’s wrestling, baby. This brings out Commissioner Cornette, who says that the crowd came to see someone get their ass whipped. So Cornette makes this an Anything Goes match, which really goes against his anti-hardcore credo. I find stuff like that very annoying. As much as I don’t like Ace Steel, I do like it when Nigel and Collyer’s feuds intersect and they can team up. It’s a big brawl in the crowd to start as both pairs of feuding wrestlers pair off accordingly. When it gets back to the ring Nigel and Collyer take over with their promised locks. Claudio and Nigel take each other out outside the ring, leaving Ace and Collyer to fight in the ring. Nigel and Claudio then get into the ring and Ace and Collyer are on the outside. Ace gives Collyer a suplex on the ramp, and Nigel gets the Tower of London on Claudio for two. Claudio hits what looks like an Angle Slam of sorts to get the pin on Nigel at 16:10. That should line Claudio up for another Pure Title shot at Nigel. The match was the usual anything goes tag match with some nice wrestling thrown in. I’m just insanely not interested in seeing Ace Steel feud with Chad Collyer. And I like Chad Collyer.
Rating: **¾

Intermission

BG says: The camera man catches Austin Aries chewing Matt Sydal out for his ambition. DISSENSION! I dig there actually being a reason for the camera man to be where he is. The fact that there’s no sound is also a nice touch. You know it’s not just the match quality that ROH puts out better than WWE, it’s some of the little things like this that make it more fun to watch. Now if only someone could sink an insane amount of money into the company.

AJ Styles talks about his accomplishments in ROH from 2002 to 2004. He’s beaten Bryan Danielson twice, and has never been pinned by the man. Tonight he’s going to win the title.

Bryan Danielson reminds us that this isn’t 2002 or 2003, it’s 2006 and he’s the man now. Tonight he’s going to get the AJ Styles chip off his shoulder, and just like Chris Sabin and Naomichi Marufuji, Styles is going down.

JZ says: The cameras once again catch Matt Sydal, this time arguing with Austin Aries. This segues to an AJ Styles promo, as he brags about his accomplishments in ROH. Chief among them is pinning Bryan Danielson on two occasions in ROH. Then this segues into the Champ, Bryan Danielson, who says that 2006 is not 2002 or 2003. It’s hard to argue with that logic. He says that AJ is going down.

MATCH #6: ROH Tag Team Title Match – Austin Aries & Roderick Strong vs. Jimmy Jacobs & BJ Whitmer

BG says: Jacobs is ultra concerned with Lacey during his entrance, prompting Whitmer to tell him to get his head in the game. He even freaks out when Whitmer sets her on the apron. Brilliant. He also flips out when the crowd taunts her. Whitmer and Strong start. Strong grabs a wristlock but Whitmer suplexes out. Jacobs and Aries tag in. Aries puts Jacobs on the mat but Jacobs gets a wristlock. Aries gets a fireman’s carry for 2. Strong tags in and chops Jacobs down. Aries tags in and chops him. Strong tags in and shows Aries up with a hard chop. Whitmer tags in and gets armdragged into an armbar. Aries tags in and goes to work on the arm. Strong tags back in and chops Whitmer down. He hits a butterfly suplex for 2. Jacobs takes a cheap shot on Strong and saves Whitmer from a dropkick. Whitmer hits a back elbow and dumps Strong to the floor. Jacobs follows Strong out with a suicide dive and rolls him back into the ring. Whitmer gets 2. Jacobs tags in and they clobber Strong down. He hits a neckbreaker and holds on for a chinlock. Whitmer tags in and hits a dropkick to the face for 2. He hits a high knee for 2. Jacobs tags in and blocks a blind charge. He hits a hurricanrana and tags to Whitmer. Whitmer hits an elbow drop for 2. He puts on the Mark Nulty Special but Strong gets to the ropes. Jacobs tags in and Whitmer powerbombs him onto Strong for 2. He puts on the Mark Nulty Special himself and asks Whitmer for a tag. The tired Whitmer reluctantly tags in and hits a bodyslam. He climbs the ropes but misses a frog splash. Aries tags in and hits a missile dropkick and the corner dropkick. He Finlay rolls Jacobs onto Whitmer and hits them both with a frog splash for 2. Strong comes in and they double-team Whitmer in the corner. Jacobs stops Aries from using the brainbuster and Whitmer hits him with an exploder. Jacobs tags in and hits a top rope senton for 2 when Strong saves. Whitmer hits Strong with a German suplex and a running knee. He kills Aries with a clothesline getting 2 for Jacobs. They go for the Doomsday hurricanrana but Jacobs gets distracted with Lacey and the move gets botched. Aries hits Whitmer with the brainbuster. Jacobs bites Aries hand and goes for the Contra Code but Aries blocks and Strong hits him with a backbreaker. He hits the half nelson backbreaker and Aries hits the 450 splash for the win. That was another solid tag title defense from the champions, featuring a good showing from the challengers and weaving in a nice story without overshadowing the match.
Rating: ***½

The crowd, Lacey and Whitmer all get on Jacobs’ case after the match. All he can do is talk about being in love so Whitmer slaps him down and hits him with the wrist clutch exploder. DISSENSION!!! He walks out on them as Lacey shrieks.

JZ says: The way Jacobs shields Lacey from the crowd is pretty funny. Then he tries to lift Lacey up to the apron but can’t, so Whitmer does it for him and Jacobs is upset that he touched her. Lacey tries to get him focused on winning the tag team titles. This is Whitmer and Jacobs’s second chance at regaining the titles since losing them back in October. I could go on a rant about how this tag team has been mishandled, but I think I’ve made my point in prior reviews. Jacobs is insanely protective of Lacey. The crowd is very behind the champions here. The champions more or less dominate here. Whitmer comes back and tosses Strong to the outside and Jacobs hits a nice dive on him and the challengers take over with some literal clubberin’! Jacobs busts out a version of the Muta Lock, which I don’t think I’ve seen him use before. Strong finally makes the hot tag to Aries, who cleans house for a minute until Jacobs and Whitmer double team him, and Jacobs hits the senton on Aries for two. Whitmer hits a nice release German suplex on Strong. Whitmer nails Aries with a big lariat and Jacobs covers for two. The challengers go for the Doomsday Rana, but since Jimmy is so concerned with blowing Lacey a kiss he that Aries has time to recover and shoves Jacobs off when he goes for the Rana. It wasn’t a “planned botched spot” or whatever some people are calling it. He recovers long enough to go for the Contra Code, but Roderick decides that he will kill Jacobs with backbreakers, and then Aries hits the 450 on him to get the win and retain the titles at 14:00. That started slow but picked up really nicely and was really good in the last few minutes. After the match, a frustrated Whitmer hits Jacobs with the Wrist-Clutch Exploder as Lacey screams at him. I think it’s too sudden to break the team up, but I don’t book a wrestling company, so what do I know?
Rating: ***½

MATCH #7: Christopher Daniels vs. Matt Sydal

BG says: This is another of the replacement matches for Samoa Joe, who is out with a staph infection. These two have wrestled as part of a couple three way matches before this. Sydal grabs a headlock and switches to a hammerlock. Daniels reverses to a headlock but gets hit with a pair of armdrags and bails. Back in the ring Daniels puts on a wristlock but gets hit with a dropkick and bails again. Back in the ring Sydal hits an armdrag into an armbar. Daniels uses the ropes to escape but walks into a roll up getting 2 for Sydal. Sydal gets a backslide for 2. A spot is botched and covered up by production and Daniels bails. A replay of one of the armdrags shows that Daniels may have messed up his knee. He hits Sydal with a flatliner back in the ring for 2. He hits a back suplex and chokes Sydal in the corner. He hits a leg lariat for 2. He hits another, very ugly leg lariat but Sydal comes back with a dropkick. Daniels catches him with a DVD as he jumps off the ropes for 2. He dumps Sydal to the floor and rams him into the barricade. He rams his head into the barricade until Allison Danger calms him down. Back in the ring Daniels gets 2. Sydal hits a hurricanrana but walks into a uranage. Daniels hits a neckbreaker for 2. Sydal catches Daniels coming off the second rope with a dropkick. He hits a running forearm and a clothesline. He hits a hurricanrana and Daniels bails. Sydal follows him out with a twisting plancha. Back in the ring Sydal gets 2. He hits a standing moonsault for 2. Daniels hits another uranage but Sydal stops him from climbing the ropes. He hits an enziguiri but runs into a clothesline getting 2 for Daniels. Daniels misses the triple jump moonsault and Sydal rolls him up for 2. He hits the pumphandle piledriver for 2. He climbs the ropes and misses a shooting star press. Sydal reverses the Angel’s Wings to a pin for 2. Daniels puts on the Koji clutch but Sydal goes for the ropes. Daniels captures his free arm and Sydal passes out, prompting the referee to call for the bell. This was kind of disappointing for the first ten minutes or so given the participants, which I’ll chalk up to Daniels tweaking his ankle. It ended strongly, however.
Rating: **¾

Ladies and gentlemen, coming soon is the return of the Briscoe Brothers. I said in the Tag Wars 2006 review that my confidence in the tag division was coming back, and this does a lot to boost it further.

JZ says: These two have wrestled in two three-way matches prior to this, but this is their first on-on-one encounter that I know of. Sydal actually gets the best of Daniels on a few occasions in the early going. Daniels aggravates his knee early in the match and we get a helpful replay of it to show us how it happened. This allows Sydal to control a good deal of the match until Daniels catches him in mid-air and gives him a Death Valley Driver. They do some wicked back and forth and Sydal hits the Here It Is Driver for two. Finally Daniels locks on the Koji Clutch and Sydal passes out at 15:11. That was a good match and continued the rise of Matt Sydal.
Rating: ***¼

COMING SOON – THE RETURN OF THE BRISCOES

MATCH #8: ROH World Title Match – Bryan Danielson vs. AJ Styles

BG says: Danielson gave this match to Styles because he’s never beaten him in ROH, and twice in the past he was pinned by Styles. They fight on the mat until Styles backs into the ropes. Danielson takes a cheap shot so Styles dumps him on the mat. Danielson hits a German suplex and Styles bails. Back in the ring Styles spits at Danielson when he offers a handshake. Danielson responds by spitting in Styles’ face. Styles rushes him so Danielson bails. Back in the ring Styles grabs a wristlock. Danielson reverses to a legvice and does some push ups. Styles gets an armbar but Danielson swats out. He goes for a chinlock but Styles reverses to a wristlock. Danielson goes for a snap mare but Styles cartwheels away. Styles hits a back suplex but Danielson holds onto a headlock. They knuckle up and Danielson goes for a monkey flip but Styles cartwheels away again. Styles hits a roundhouse kick and a backbreaker for 2. Danielson tries to nip up but Styles knocks him back down with a clothesline. Styles hits a dropkick and a swinging backbreaker for 2. He puts on a Mutalock and makes it vertical. Danielson gets to the ropes. He lifts Styles over his shoulder and slams him to the mat. He hits a snap suplex and climbs the ropes. He hits a dropkick from the top for 2. Styles goes for the Styles Clash but Danielson grabs the ropes. Styles back suplexes Danielson to the floor but gets rammed into the barricade when he follows him out. Styles jumps off the barricade and hits a leaping forearm on Danielson. Back in the ring Danielson begs off and then catches Styles with forearms. He hits a knee lift ad a second rope kneedrop for 2. He puts on the Mexican noselock after pounding on Styles’ nose quite a bit. And what do you know, it’s bleeding. He puts on a cravat and reverses Styles’ flip DDT to a cravat suplex for 2. They trade forearms and Danielson goes back to the cravat. Styles blocks a dragon suplex and hits the Pele kick. He hits a backdrop driver for 2. He sets Danielson on the top rope but Danielson fights him off and hits a European uppercut for 2. He gets a roll up for 2. Styles hits the flip DDT for 2 when Danielson gets his foot on the bottom rope. Styles climbs the ropes but Danielson crotches him. He hits a back superplex for 2. He puts on the Cow Killer but Styles gets to the ropes. They hit simultaneous roaring forearms and then Danielson goes for the Cow Killer. Styles blocks and puts on a torture rack. He slams Danielson down and then climbs the ropes. He hits the Spiral Tap for 2. He goes for the Styles Clash but Danielson grabs the ropes. Styles tries again but Danielson reverses to the Cow Killer. Styles flips over and gets 2 but Danielson catches him with the crossface chicken wing for the win. This match did a lot of things really well. Styles, being undefeated against Danielson, knew how to handle all of the technical wrestling that Danielson threw at him. It took brawling (the nose work) and new techniques (the chicken wing) to get the job done for Danielson. That’s more great stuff from this awesome title reign.
Rating: ****

JZ says: AJ’s music is stupid. However, he is up 2-0 in ROH lifetime against the World Champion, which bodes well for his chances tonight. Danielson offers the challenger his hand, and he spits on it. That AJ Styles, what a class act. Danielson counters by holding Styles in the corner and spitting in his eye. Then the two guys break into a fight and Danielson rolls to the outside and points at his head. They do a bunch of wrestling stuff, and Danielson mostly dictates the pace. Maybe soon he’ll also change all the rules again. A few fans chant boring, so the elitist crowd tells them to “shut the fuck up,” because they don’t have a right to express themselves. You may only express yourself if it is the opinion that ROH is amazing. Styles has a busted nose now, and Danielson shows no mercy on it. Danielson busts out the cravat suplex. AJ eventually fights back and hits the Spiral Tap for two. He keeps going for the Styles Clash, but Danielson somehow reverses into the Cattle Mutilation. AJ reverses to a pin for a convincing near fall. Danielson responds with the cross face chicken wing and AJ Styles taps out at 31:22. That was an excellent match, as Danielson’s amazing title reign continues to roll. They become spit brothers after the match, which looks pretty gay to me.
Rating: ****

Aftermath

BG says: Lacey gets on Whitmer’s case backstage for turning on Jacobs. She wanted them to go after the titles. Whitmer blames it on Jacobs’ mind being on her. Lacey gets confrontational with him, so Whitmer tells her to ask Allison Danger what happens to women who mess with him. DISSENSION!

Dave Prazak asks Matt Sydal, in front of Austin Aries, whether or not he’ll still be going after the tag titles. Sydal says he wants the belts. Aries says in the nicest way possible that Sydal was nowhere before he was in Generation Next, and he’s being ungrateful. Sydal doesn’t like Aries’ attitude, and pretty much says he’s challenging for the tag titles. DISSENSION!

They show an advertisement for FIP Violence is the Answer and the Straight Shootin’ Series. You can read my review of FIP Violence is the Answer, a great show by FIP standards, right here!

JZ says: BJ Whitmer is here to cut a promo, but Lacey interrupts him before he can get a word in edgewise. He says that Jacobs has lost his mind over Lacey, who claims that it’s not her fault. Whitmer says to ask Allison Danger what happens when a women crosses him. She claims that Whitmer is nothing without here.

Matt Sydal, Dave Prazak, and Austin Aries are discussing the possibility of Sydal going after the tag team titles, which Sydal says he is going to do. Aries says that sometimes individuals have to do something for the better of the group. Aries rightly says that it was Sydal joining the group that made him who he is. Sydal says that Aries is making this decision pretty easy. Matt Sydal is the new Chad Collyer of promos.

We close with an ad for Full Impact Pro and the ROH Straight Shootin’ Series.

MVP

BG says: I’m going to give it to Styles, for sacrificing his win streak against Danielson, and his nose, for the good of Danielson’s title reign.

JZ says: Adam Pearce, for getting over in one segment as a defender of Ring of Honor and a guy that Jim Cornette can count on.

THE FOLLOWING MATCH IS NOT ON THIS DVD

BONUS MATCH: #1 Contender’s Trophy Match – AJ Styles vs. Bryan Danielson, ROH Main Event Spectacles, 11.1.03

BG says: This was the first match to have no commentary as part of a gimmick where the commentators said the action was so good that commentary wouldn’t have added anything. I call it a blessing considering how annoying Chris Lovey and Ray Murrow’s unnecessary shouting is at the start of the match. This match was also for the now defunct #1 Contender’s Trophy. They scrap it out on the mat and beg off to start. Danielson grabs a front facelock but Styles slips out. They go back to the mat and roll to the floor. Back in the ring Danielson grabs a strangle hold but Styles slips out and forces him to the ropes. Danielson hits a side suplex and Styles bails. Danielson follows him out and hits a pair of European uppercuts. He tries to ram Styles into the barricade but he hops over and hits Danielson with an enziguiri. Back in the ring Styles hits a dropkick for 2. Danielson launches him across the ring by his neck and then ties him in the ropes to kick at his arm. He hits a series of armbreakers and a back suplex for 2. He suplexes Styles by his arm and locks in a wristlock. The crowd is totally dead for this. Danielson puts on a double underhook but Styles flips back for 2. Danielson hits a butterfly suplex for 2. He turns Styles’ wrist and a very disgusting sounding pop echoes through the building. Styles rolls to the apron and then suplexes Danielson to the floor. He goes out and dropkicks him on the ground. He hits a shinbreaker on his knee and another on the barricade. He hits a third on the post and a fourth on the barricade. Back in the ring Styles puts on a leglock but Danielson reverses to a half crab with the arm trapped. Styles comes back with kicks to Danielson’s leg and an arm wringer. He puts on a figure 4 leglock but Danielson rolls over and Styles goes to the ropes. He grabs Danielson’s leg but Danielson hits an enziguiri. Styles holds on and ducks to dragon screw the leg. He kicks at Danielson’s leg with Danielson egging him on. Styles changes things up with a roundhouse kick and stomps to the head for 2. Danielson comes off the second rope with a European uppercut and then hits a roaring forearm for 2. He climbs the ropes and hits a diving headbutt for 2. Styles goes for the flip DDT but Danielson reverses to a cravat suplex for 2. He sets Styles up top and goes for the back superplex but Styles reverses to a crossbody. He goes for a slingshot move but Danielson pushes him off the ropes, then pulls him into the ring with a back suplex off the second rope for 2. He puts on the Cow Killer but Styles quickly gets to the ropes. Danielson goes back to work on the arm, then puts the Cow Killer back on and rolls Styles over for 2. Styles comes back with the Pele kick and a clothesline. He hits a discus clothesline for 2. Danielson blocks the Styles Clash and puts on a cross armbreaker. Styles powers up and hits an impromptu Styles Clash for 2. He hits the real thing moments later for the win. Fuck this crowd. The match was technically just as good, if not better in certain aspects, as the one from Ohio but the crowd was so silent that there was no drama to speak of. The finish came off especially flat for that reason. I can’t imagine that would ever happen today, as the crowds have thankfully become more marky and less insistent on being silent for everything but big moves and stiff shots.
Rating: ***¾

JZ says: Danielson is looking absolutely jacked here, and he has a normal haircut for a change. Danielson does the Karate Kid pose for some reason. This is for the #1 Contender’s Trophy; which is odd because Danielson hasn’t wrestled in ROH since April, and he lost, so I’m not sure what he did to deserve it. Commentator Chris Lovey defends this by basically saying that Danielson is really good. Well, that’s not good enough for me. The winner gets the shot on November 29. This could create an interesting wrinkle, as AJ is scheduled to team with Samoa Joe to challenge the Briscoe Brothers for the Tag Team Titles. Lovey and Murrow decide to watch this one from the crowd, so I think I’ll relax and watch it with them. The crowd chants for both men. A guy in the crowd chants “boring” I think, so Danielson asks him what the fuck he knows about wrestling, and that he should shut his mouth. I HATE stuff like that. You don’t see major league pitchers yell back at the fans “what the fuck do you know about baseball” when a pitcher gets heckled for multiple pickoff attempts. Danielson then tells the same fan that he will kill him, which takes even more heat away from the match and puts it on some random jackass in the crowd. But really, what the fuck do I know about wrestling? If I knew anything about wrestling, I guess I’d get a finishing move that looked like it hurt. The crowd is mostly dead here, which makes it really hard to get into. AJ hits the Styles Clash to win the match and the trophy at 24:15. I’ve seen a lot of glowing reviews for this match, and I’m going to call erroneous on that. It’s good, but there’s no drama and both AJ (calling his opponent a “faggot”) and Danielson (asking a fan “what the fuck” he “knows about wrestling”) did things that severely irritated me. Still, it was very good, but not as good as the 2002 or 2006 match.
Rating: ***¾

You can pick up this show, as well as all other ROH shows at ROH Wrestling Dot Com.

Coming soon will be our review of UNSCRIPTED II!

Have any thoughts, comments, or concerns? Like how we’re doing our reviews? Let us know!

E-mail Brad at [email protected]
E-mail Jacob at [email protected]

The 411: BG says: A bit of a downturn from the night before, but still a solid shot. Both of the title matches were excellent and the six man tag was a lot of fun too. If you only get one Ohio show from January 2006, make it Tag Wars, but if you're thinking about getting both you won't be disappointed. JZ says: While not as good as Tag Wars 2006, this is a very good show with a tremendous main event and some solid undercard stuff as well. It flows very well with the show form the night before, so I can’t imagine owning one but not the other.

Final Score:  7.0   [ Good ]