Maybe you heard of this one. No real story here. They just brought in Kobashi for the prestige and publicity it would bring and put him in there with their top guy. The result was pretty darned good.
October 1, 2005
From New York, N.Y..
Your hosts are Dave Prazak and Lenny Leonard.
We open with a brief recap of Joe's career in ROH to build up the importance of tonight's main event.
Opening Match: Colt Cabana vs. Claudio Castagnoli.
Both guys are masters of the European Style, so they have good chemistry. One of Homicide's thugs yells at Cabana from out in the crowd. Cabana gets distracted and crotched on the top rope. He counters Claudio's attempt to capitalize to an armdrag, though, and grabs an armbar. Cabana puts on the breaks on a corner whip, but Claudio has it scouted and knocks him back with an uppercut. A diving European uppercut gets two for Claudio. Claudio goes for a long-delayed suplex, but he holds him up so long that Cabana is able to counter to a small package for two. Colt shoves Claudio to the floor and hits a missile dropkick. Claudio blocks a charge and hits a Shake, Rattle & Roll neckbreaker. Colt kicks out but gets distracted by another gangmember, allowing Claudio to hit the Ricolabomb and complete the upset at 7:51. Good stuff, but the angle with the Rottweilers detracted quite a bit. **1/2
Three-Way Dance: Christopher Daniels (w/Allison Danger) vs. Azrieal vs. Matt Sydal.
No real story behind this one. In fact, this feels more like they had nothing else for them to do. Double headlock spot to start, and Daniels whips both guys into one another. Azrieal and Sydal team up for a Shining Wizard and a suplex into a powerbomb. Daniels monkeyflips Sydal into an Azrieal Electric Chair facebuster and then cuts off the double-stomp with a clothesline. Sydal comes back with a mind-blowing DDT on Daniels after springboarding off Azrieal's head. That gets two. Azrieal hits a shinni no make slam. Sydal follows it up with a legdrop for two. Daniels comes back with a bulldog/clothesline combo and hits Sydal with the Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Azrieal uses the distraction to hit Daniels with a top-rope clothesline. He tosses Daniels to the apron, neckbreakers him in the ropes and hits him with a double-stomp across the ropes. That's one of the few times that spot makes sense. Sydal slingshots into a rana on Daniels, and Azrieal takes them both out with a pescado. Sydal and Azrieal fight on top, and Sydal hits the moonsault belly-to-belly to eliminate Azrieal at 9:27.
Since Sydal is basically "AJ-lite," this should be good. Sydal rolls Daniels up, but Daniels uses the Oklahoma DVD to get two. Sydal comes back with the reverse half-gainer moonsault for two. The crossbody gets two. A Japanese Rolling Clutch gets two for Sydal, but Daniels blocks the legdrop with a snapmare and finishes with the Angel's Wings at 13:02. ***
James Gibson explains that ROH has allowed him to pick his own opponents. His opponent tonight is Jimmy Yang. Gibson says that there will be no political powers holding them back from having a good match tonight. Sounds a little disingenuous considering Gibson was on his way back to a place where the political powers would hold him back. But then, if he don't get no tolls, then he don't eat no rolls.
ROH Tag Titles: BJ Whitmer & Jimmy Jacobs vs. Tony Mamaluke & Sal Rinauro.
Mamaluke is returning after being gone for a few years. Since Jacobs and Whitmer had literally no other tag teams to challenge them, Mamaluke and Rinauro signed an open contract. Plus, Mamaluke was a successful tag wrestler in WCW and ECW while Sal was an FIP tag champ. Mamaluke plays the part of arrogant challenger and gets bitchslapped by Whitmer. I should point out Rinauro has "Saved by the Sal" on the back of his tights. Jimmy plays huss-in-peril for a bit before Whitmer gets the semi-hot tag. Mamaluke dropkicks Whitmer's knee out from under him. Whitmer blocks a DDT and launches Mamaluke into the buckle. CLUBBERING! Jimmy drops a few elbows, and Whitmer powerbombs him onto Mamaluke. Rinauro tags in and springboards off the buckle into a Pelé for two. He springboards again, but Jimmy spears him. The crowd actually starts a "Let's go, Sal!" chant. That wouldn't last long. Whitmer lariats Sal into next week, but Mamaluke blind tags himself in and fires off a series of kicks. Whitmer no-sells, but Mamaluke takes him down into a reverse armlock. Whitmer rolls forward to counter, but Mamaluke segues to a Triangle Choke. Mamaluke blocks the Doomsday Contra Code, but Whitmer powerbombs him and hoists him back up for the Doomsday Rana. ONE, TWO, THR-Mamaluke kicks out. Huh? Jacobs and Rinauro brawl on the floor as Whitmer puts Mamaluke on top. Rinauro makes the save with a springboard dropkick that sends Whitmer to the floor. Jimmy returns and hits Mamaluke with the sunset flip bomb, but Rinauro springboards into a spinning enzuigiri. I'M SO EXCITED! I'M SO EXCITED! I'M SO…scared. The challengers finish with a double Electric Chair DDT (Rubix Cube Driver) at 13:48. This was a puzzling win for Rinauro and Mamaluke, especially considering they had no time to get over. But then, the tag division has meandered since Dan Maff left, so this shouldn't be a surprise. There were some decent spots, but the match felt flat thanks to the lack of defined rolls from the challengers. **1/2
Pure Title: Nigel McGuinness vs. Jay Lethal.
McGuinness asks the crowd for some respect on behalf of poor Todd Sinclair, thus earning Todd even more heel heat. The funny thing about Nigel's shtick is that the fans boo the ref for going through the rules before the match, so Nigel interrupts him and, thus, the babyface forgets about the rules during the match. Lethal backs Nigel into a corner, but Nigel sees the chop coming and avoids it. Nigel grabs an overhand wristlock and tries the Artful Dodger, but Lethal ends that in a hurry with the backflip kick. Lethal fires away with chops and forearm uppercuts. In fact, that's pretty much the formula of the match — Nigel uses his unorthodox (to us) wrestling tactics while Lethal uses his fired-up babyface offense. How Lethal resists the urge to use a fist, I'll never know. Lethal hits the Swandive Headbutt but delays in going for the pin and only gets two. Nigel misses a charge and takes a wicked superkick. Lethal puts him in the reverse Mexican Surfboard, but Nigel uses his first ropebreak. Lethal goes after Nigel to capitalize, but Todd Sinclair gets in between them, allowing Nigel to grab his iron and slam Lethal's head into it for the win at 10:59. Nigel thanks everyone for their support and walks out. Not much to say about this one. It was like most of Nigel's recent matches only Lethal provided a lot of spunk (not that kind, you perv). **3/4
Roderick Strong vs. Jimmy Rave (w/Prince Nana & Jade Chung).
Strong is hot off winning Survival of the Fittest. Rave stalls early and avoids Strong's chops. He tries to go chop for chop, but you can guess how that works out. Jimmy tries to quell the momentum with a headlock, but Strong sends him into the buckle. Rave takes over by ramming Strong's head into the barrier. Roderick comes back with a crossbody for two, prompting a nervous Nana to jump up on the apron. Jimmy avoids a charge and hits a lariat to the back of the head. Rave works in a Russian Leg Sweep into a Mr. Salty. Strong fires back and sunset flips Rave. Rave squats down with a handful of ropes, but the ref catches him. Strong hits a backbreaker and a lightning dropkick to set up yet another backbreaker. Rave spears him, though, and calls for a chair. The ref takes it away from him, so Strong is able to hit the press gutbuster and finish with the Stronghold at 13:47. Good psychology. Great heat. I liked it. ***1/4
After the match, Nana reminds us all that he was once a halfway decent wrestler, avalanching Strong in the corner and hitting a buttalanche. Rave and Nana wrap Jade's dog-collar around Strong's neck, and they try to strangle him. Jade refuses to hang on to the ropes, though, ruining the whole thing, so Nana scolds her. She finally gets good and pissed and takes the collar off. LOW BLOW FOR JIMMY! SLAP TO NANA! Nana's selling of the slap is so great. LOW BLOW TO NANA! Strong chases them off and challenges the Embassy to a match at Steel Cage Warfare. A liberated Jade and Strong embrace in the ring in a very cool moment for those tired of Nana's abuse. Add another 3/4* for this to make the whole segment ****.
Ricky Reyes (w/Julius Smokes) vs. Pelle Primeau
Reyes had virtually been buried by the recent booking, so this is the beginning of an angle to rebuild him. Pelle is a graduate from the second class of the ROH school. Reyes just steamrolls over him, hitting about three or four moves that could be finishers and then finishing with the Dragon Sleeper at 0:49. 1/4*
James Gibson vs. Jimmy Yang.
Yang uses "The Last Dragon" as his entrance music, thus sending me back to the drawing board for mine. They open with a series of quick counters ending in a stalemate. The announcers point out their history as tag partners in WCW. Gibson & Yang work a long sequence off a headlock and then segue to a wristlock. They do a really cool sequence involving armdrags that ends up with Jamie rebounding off the ropes and hitting a neckbreaker. Yang lands on his feet on a hiptoss attempt and hits a wild enzuigiri. Yang goes after the arm with a hammerlock, but Gibson chops his way out of it and runs Yang to the floor. A suicida sends both men into the crowd, who generously chant "holy shit." Back in, Gibson comes off the top right into a spinning wheel kick from Yang. The Tiger Wall Flip sets up a superkick for two. They exchange pinfall attempts á la Eddy & Dean. It ends with a double clothesline spot for a double KO. Gibson recovers and gets fired up with a lightning legline and a spinebuster for two. Yang avoids an elbowdrop and hits the moonsault block for two. Yang Time (the Corkscrew Press) misses, and Gibson puts him in the Butterfly Lock. That segues to the Guillotine Choke, but Yang powers out and rams Gibson into the corner. He hits Yang Time this time, but it only gets two. Gibson crotches him on the top on a second attempt and powerbombs him into the corner. That sets up the Tiger Driver for a dubious two and the Guillotine Choke to finish Yang off once and for all 15:37. Not surprisingly, these guys had great chemistry, and it's amazing just how watered down they are in the WWE. ***1/2
Post-match: Jamie talks about how gratifying Ring of Honor has been for him, but now it's time to go because Sylvan ain't gonna job to himself. He lays out a challenge to Roderick Strong to see who truly is the MVP. Hey, I'm there.
Homicide (w/Julius Smokes) vs. Jack Evans.
Jack is making his return after a few months off to clear his head. The hometown fans are firmly behind 'Cide on this one. Homicide even shows his mad dance skillz. Evans headscissors him to the floor and hits a somersault tope in a page out of Homicide's playbook. Back in, Jack hits a running knee and a snap suplex for two each. Homicide catches him with a tilt-o-whirl backbreaker. The announcers point out the Rottweilers guarding the entrance in case Colt Cabana decides to show up. In the ring, Homicide stretches Jack in a single-leg crab and then grabs Jack's head and bends it back to touch his own foot just to be an asshole. A Tornado DDT gets two for Homicide, but Jack is too close to the ropes. Homicide misses a Stinger Splash but crotches Jack on the top. Jack elbows him off and haphazardly hits a moonsault buttsplash. Evans sends him to the floor and hits a springboard somersault into the crowd. The Rottweilers try to get involved, so Jack hits another somersault to take them out. Back in, Evans tries yet another Homicide move with an Ace Crusher off the top, but Homicide counters to a top-rope DDT. Homicide goes for the kill with the Cop Killer. Evans slips out but gets hit with the Ace Crusher. He sets up and hits Evans with the LARIAT! Evans is out of it, but Colt Cabana appears up on the balcony and cuts a mad rhyme, saying that Homicide is Konnan's bitch. All this gives Jack the opportunity to sneak in and hit the inverted rana for the win at 13:37. I don't like that finish when the WWE does it, and I don't like it any better in ROH. The match was fine before that, though. **3/4
And I'll just recycle my 2005 Match of the Year review for the main event…
Kenta Kobashi vs. Samoa Joe.
Joe sends a message right away with a few stiff kicks and a slap right in Kobashi's face. Kobashi responds with a stiff chop to remind Joe who he's in there with. Joe knocks him to the outside and follows with a tope. Joe decides to cater to their whim, busting out a Stretch Plum (a favorite move of longtime Kobashi nemesis Toshiaki Kawada). He gives those in the front row a little knowing grin. Joe loses a battle chops and is forced to switch strategies with an enzuigiri. Figuring he had success earlier, Joe uses another Kawada move — the rapid-fire kicks to the face. Kobashi hulks up but Joe stays on top with yet another Kawada fave — the paintbrush kick/chop combo. You can't say Joe hasn't done his homework. Kobashi rolls to the outside where Joe sets him up and delivers the Olé Kick. Kobashi blocks a second attempt with a chop, though, and belts Joe all the way into the crowd. A DDT on the floor follows. Back to the ring, Kobashi gives Joe the Irish Whip Knees and gets two off a series of straight chops near the throat. Joe buys a breather by countering a suplex, and they trade blows. With each chop, a vivid cloud of sweat sprays off each man's chest. Kobashi wins the battle and locks in a stepover facelock. Now it's time for Kobashi to start running through his usual arsenal. He hits a series of chops to Joe's neck, but Joe counters a spinning chop to the STO and squashes Kenta flat with a Senton splash. Both men are spent. Joe recovers first and uses another move from an All Japan favorite; this time it's Genichiro Tenryu's punch and chop combination. TUNBUCKLE POWERBOMB! That leads to the Face Wash (running kick across the face). MUSCLE BUSTER! ONE, TWO, THRE-NO! Kobashi kicks out at two, frustrating Joe with his resilience as he has so many opponents over the years. Joe lays Kobashi out with a powerbomb and, when that fails to get the pin, segues to an STF. Kobashi scratches and scrapes his way to the rope, but Joe quickly cuts that off by switching to a Crippler Crossface to keep Kobashi's arm tied up. Kobashi reaches with his other arm, only to have Joe chickenwing it! With one last desperate motion, Kobashi lunges his foot onto the bottom rope. Joe charges in for the kill but runs right into a chop from Kobashi. HALF NELSON SUPLEX! They tease a double countdown with Kobashi getting to his feet at 8. Kobashi turns Joe's chest into hamburger with a series of chops. I love how he slows down as if tiring out and then comes back with one last burst of chops. Joe's chest is starting to blister now. Kobashi hauls him up and delivers another Half Nelson Suplex. ONE, TWO, THRE-Joe gets his hand on the bottom rope. Yet another head-dropping Millenniumplex would seem to be enough, but it only serves to fire Joe up even more. He erupts with a series of slaps and charges only to have Kobashi catch him coming with the BURNING LARIAT. Kobashi gets the pin at 22:14. A worthy successor to those late All Japan matches with Samoa Joe working in a number of moves from Kobashi's old rivals. Joe worked in his usual stuff as well as a number of nods to historic Kobashi foes. A lot of people complain about the reliance on chops, but that only puts over the heavyweight fight aspect of the contest. After all, "Ali vs. Frazier" was a great contest and it only had punches. If you want to play the "Hey, this is wrestling, not boxing card," okay; how about Flair vs. Steamboat? The point is, it's not the moveset that's important but the intensity and importance of what you're doing. The other complaint is that Kobashi didn't really show Joe much respect as far as using his big moves, which would have more validity had the match been in NOAH rather than ROH, but we're stateside, meaning we have a little different take on the hierarchy of moves and psychology. After all, why is the RKO a finisher, but Homicide's Ace Crusher is a transition move? Why do they no-sell Tombstones in Japan while they're illegal in Mexico? Besides, one of the main complaints about Kobashi in the 1990s was his heavy reliance on head-dropping moves instead of psychology, and now that he's toned things down (considerably, if you've seen his matches with Rikio and Suzuki) people are complaining about that. In the context of the match, everything worked just fine, and that's why it is most people's MOTY. ****3/4
After the match, an exhausted Joe (bruised chest and all) says he's proud to give it all for the sport he loves.
Elsewhere, Kobashi gives much the same interview (one assumes), only he's much happier…and fully conscious.
The 411: The Joe/Kobashi Match of the Year makes it an automatic thumbs up, but this is far from a one-match show, especially if you're as into the whole Jade Chung/Embassy/GenNext affair as I am. Buy it for the main event, but don't sleep on the undercard either.
