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Welcome back to the Cynical View! I’ve been rather quiet this past week or two, and for good reason. Firstly, I ain’t been so well. And secondly, I’ve been busy compiling this list… my top ROH matches of 2007. Yes, I know, it’s another of those frickin’ critics’ lists etc… But I really wanted to do this because I didn’t get the opportunity to talk about Ring of Honor half as much as I wanted to over the past year. Aside from that, I was in the midst of compiling my top 25 matches of the year, anywhere, when I occurred to me that the majority transpired in ROH. I just haven’t seen enough Japanese stuff this year to fairly start listing stuff, and the majority of TNA material didn’t compete, with the WWE largely bringing up the rear. So, a top 50 ROH was the logical way to go.
This took A HUGE amount of effort. I pretty much went back and rewatched every match on the list, and a whole lot more besides. Anything I either liked, loved, felt strongly about or simply couldn’t remember, or whatever, was rewatched and consider, not to mention a couple shows I was seeing for the first time. However (Disclaimer time!) this is by no means a comprehensive guide, in the sense that there are a few things missing. For example I haven’t seen Honor Nation yet, and skipped Caged Rage. I also haven’t yet seen any of the Dragon/Aries series (They’ll be looked at in-depth when I do so). But basically, this spans everything after Final Battle 06, up to and including Glory By Honor VI, Night two, with anything that followed that in 06, for consideration next time out.
But I hope anyone who takes the time to read this, enjoys my thoughts, and please feel free to voice your opinions. Any queries, disagreements, arguments, whatever, are welcome, as I’d love feedback as to what I’ve included, and should have included, and indeed, you think I’ve got wrong totally, and should have left out. If you have similar lists or write ups, and wish to share them, by all means, as ROH’s 2007 was definitely one of the most talk-worthy periods yet for the promotion. One thing I should point out first though, is that as I neared completion, ROH’s fan forum poll results came out, and their number one choice matched mine! I really wanted in there first damn it!
I’m going to break tradition and start at the top, because If I didn’t, everyone would just skip to the end first!
1. Bryan Danielson vs. Takeshi Morishima (Manhattan Mayhem II)
So this is it. The match of the year for me. And to clarify, this wasn’t just my Ring of Honor MOTY, it was my favorite full-stop. It’s pretty disturbing when you distil it all down, make your choice, then go back to watch it, and watch if yet again. The match takes on a bizarre energy where it carries a lot of expectation, yet you’ve already seen it, and are completely aware of what occurs. But that’s what took it for me. Already, I’ve seen this bout five or six times, and each time, I’m utterly blown away by it. Since I reviewed Manhattan Mayhem II recently, I thought it appropriate to include those thoughts:
Absolutely spectacular match-up. This one would be good enough to redeem an average show, but on a set this good, it is even more satisfying. Danielson is out first (paying attention WWE? The Champion enters LAST!), and immediately carries with him that legitimate feeling of anything could happen. This feels like an important title match, one where they belt could definitely change hands. The crowd are electric. Danielson starts out timidly, trying to stop the advancing champion with kicks and sharp, brief attacks, in a very believable, MMA style. It’s all very realistic, and exciting, because you really feel that if Morishima gets his hands on him, he will kill the poor guy. When they do get in tight, the action is brutally realistic and at times, frighteningly stiff, with a few exchanges that see either guy lose control with wild, hectic strikes, that tap into that atmosphere one usually only gets with legit shooting. At one point during this, Dragon’s eye is somehow injured, and he looks in extreme pain. Morishima nonetheless tosses him to the outside, and dumps him the chair, giving him a big boot. Dragon cuts him off in a follow up attempt, and then hit’s the springboard cross body over the guard rail, which looks crazily sicker than usual, thanks to Dragon’s expression resembling that of an extra in Hostel. Back in the ring, they move into some amazing sequences, with Dragon continuing to target the leg of the Champion, who continually fights back with strikes. What’s great is that by working the leg, Danielson is clearly hindering Morishima in his attempts to hit his trademark moves, but Morishima has so much in him that even after all the innovation and intelligence, Dragon still finds him near impossible to put down. It doesn’t let up at all, with Danielson absorbing continual punishment to the eye and face (Dragon’s eye was legitimately injured). The final few minutes of this are simply astonishing, as Dragon’s hard work pays off, and Morishima’s defences finally falter, allowing Dragon to hit his big spots, but even these can’t get the job done! Thus, Dragon is forced to improvise further still, whilst the New Yorkers are completely in the palm of his hand.
Of course, it helps proceedings when the crowd are as white-hot as the NY bunch are, but crucially, these two know how to maintain that. They know how to fuel that fire with intensity, and neat, subtle reworking of both of their trademark spots, that actually play up on their history with other people, and confound expectations, preventing the knowledgeable fan-base from becoming jaded and tired. From what I’ve seen/heard/been told, this bout is high up on most folks shortlists, but is perhaps overshadowed by some of Dragon’s other bouts. But not for me. This is one of the most insanely satisfying, absorbing efforts within a squared circle I’ve ever seen. Remove the stiff, searing brutality, and the red-hot crowd, strip away the note-perfect performances of both athletes, and you’re left with the perfect rendition of the David vs. Goliath, for this century.
2. Bryan Danielson vs. KENTA (Driven)
3. Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuiness (Driven)
Two more Bryan Danielson outings take spots two and three, as I run the risk of being perceived as some sort of Dragon mark. But I felt it unfair to try and avoid that, to merely spice the list up. When I attempted to, I just couldn’t pretend I enjoyed anything more than these two scintillating encounters.
What’s amazing about these however, is that they’re both available on the same friggin' DVD!
Again, Dragon proves to be the most versatile performer of the year. These two bouts are tricky to describe, because in many ways they’re so similar, but yet they’re simultaneously different and distinctive.
The Nigel Match is perhaps more a fight. It conveys what is at stake. It isn’t just a number one contenders match, it’s an culmination of where they’ve been before, and the desperation that both feel at being so inseparably linked, by both achievement and skill. Throughout this, they both deliver a little bit of everything in each man’s respective, err… cannon, and they do so whilst still convincing you that this is a battle, a struggle, and not an exhibition. In that regard, this is why this bout is the closest of all of their encounters to their best (Unified: August 2006). It’s also the perfect match to show your friends who don’t like wrestling, because it’s not real, or those folk who believe every Ring of Honor match is akin to an Amazing Red spot-fest. If the Dragon/Nigel feud were a Jeff Hardy match, this move would be the Swanton Bomb.
Alternatively, I preferred the KENTA match (merely a DVD extra), just that little bit more. As in 2006 though, it’s a tough choice (in 2006, I had KENTA/Dragon from Glory by Honor, and Nigel/Dragon, as 1 and 2 on the list respectively). But this effort topped their first encounter, taking their previous interaction into consideration to build a match that may have been crippled by what seemed like an obvious win for KENTA. Yes, it looked entirely probably that he would emerge victorious to even up their rivalry, but believe me, you’ll forget that as this bout progresses. The final few minutes of this bout are also amongst the most scintillating I’ve ever witnessed. It was almost as if these two guys looked forward to each other, knowing that opportunities for them to square off would be few and far between, like long-lost chess rivals. And that sentiment transcends into the crowd anytime these two are in contact with one another. With that in mind, they gave it everything, knowing that a loss would haunt them until the next improbably occasion where they would meet. A fantastic bout, and a really subtle, exhilarating rivalry.
4. Briscoe Brothers vs. Motor City Machine Guns (Good Times: Great Memories)
For the entire year, I was pretty sure that this list would be topped by either American Dragon, or these guys, this Briscoes. What just, just gave that edge to Dragon, and possibly enabled the Briscoes to slip, was the vastly different bouts that Danielson was able to execute, every time to an incredible standard, where at times, the Briscoes treaded repeatedly in the same waters. But what fantastic waters they were!
If I was to show one Briscoes match to someone, I’d probably show them this one. More so than the devastating ladder bout, or their other outings, this one epitomizes what the Briscoes of 2007 are all about.
This is stunt-filled, breathtaking athleticism, but contrary to what many naysayers like to believe, that’s not all it is. Around the half hour of furiously paced action, they manage to fit in the most subtle and fascinating character development, and some really fine storytelling. This really shocked me, as although by now, I’ve learned to not be surprised by a Briscoes match, upon seeing this for the first time, I was concerned that it would resemble their encounters from 2002/03, and be a series of stunning, but ultimately numbing stunts. The stunts are there, but they follow some great tag work (yes, there are elements of psychology at work here!), and a standard-setting heel performance from Alex Shelley. The duo of him and Sabin is completely and utterly wasted in TNA. Make no mistake, this is a wild spectacle of a match, but unlike at least three of these guys five years ago, it’s a coordinated, logically progression of one, and that’s what makes this so satisfying. All the goodness of a huge, prolonged rivalry, rolled into one match.
5. Briscoe Brothers vs. El Generico & Kevin Steen (Man Up)
I don’t wish to be critical of this match, because it’s stunning. It’s a vicious, jaw-dropping spectacle, that deserves to be seen, and seen again, and admired. However, Christ, I hope to not see anything like this again. The one problem with it (and it’s a major flaw), is that one of the main reasons that this is so astonishing, is because all four guys emerged still able to walk. What did surprise me however, was that these guys did manage to create a sense of anticipation, and build up to the devastation. Their hatred started things out, with a stiff, wild brawl around ringside. This sapped the strength and energy of the wrestlers, as they then entered the ring, having to rely on teamwork, and cunning in order to establish enough of an advantage in order to climb the ladder (Ladders, as it proved to be). When team-work proved to not be quite enough from either side, in light of the determination and desire in evidence, the ladders then became used as brutal weapons. Also, rather nicely, Jay and Steen managed to create a dramatic finish, which is something that many ladders suffer from, that problem of having the ending simply being a guy scaling the steel. Instead, the idea here was to reduce everything down to a literal fistfight, that encapsulated the need within these guys to emerge victorious. That’s why the bulk of WWE’s ladder matches will never, ever touch this (especially not the money in the bank spot-fests). Yes they’re exciting, but they don’t have the confidence and know-how that a long term feud builds within a wrestler, of almost instinctively being able to convey what’s in their heads.
6. Jimmy Jacobs vs. BJ Whitmer (Supercard of Honor 2)
A year. A year this built for. When the blow off to their epic feud finally arrived, it actually ran the risk of being overshadowed. They risked being overshadowed by the first ROH encounter between Roderick Strong and Austin Aries, previously one of the most beloved tag teams in company history. They risked being outperformed by the Dragon Gate six-man, a rematch that was expected to be at least as good as the bout that was for many, the match of 2006. Additionally, their feud lasted so long, featured so much brutality, invention of drama, it begged the question, what more could they do?
Well, somehow they did it. Aided by not being booked to go on last (which drew criticism, but made sense, yes, it was the main event of the show, perhaps the draw, but like Triple H/Steve Austin at No Way Out 2001, it required a crowd at peak energy levels, who would’ve been drained by the nature of the DG bout), these two took part in an absolute war, at times - a gore-fest, but one never devoid of drama. Like Homicide/Dragon at Final Battle 06, these two had the sense to incorporate all the individual elements that people loved about their feud, and wrapped it all together in a stunning package. They also pulled out the rail-road spikes, that had been utilized in storylines, and took them to the next level, sickeningly pummeling each other in the face, in what was gruesome, but when you think about it, completely logical. In the end, the right guy emerged victorious, and yet both guys were elevated to no end. Despite the two of them being involved in attention grabbing storylines lately (particularly in Jimmy’s case), this remains the pinnacle, thus far, of each of their careers. Outstanding.
7. Briscoes vs. El Generico & Kevin Steen (Death Before Dishonor V Night 1)
One of ROH’s little trademarks, is that occasionally the commentators will step out of the booth, and let an encounter speak for itself. This is usually reserved only for the most epic of matches, yet Prazak and Leonard abandon ship due to wild nature of this one. I’m not sure if that’s possible why this one maybe lost something for me, and had me struggle to have much interest. That completely turned around by the end. Where it redeems itself, is in the incredible array of brutal stunts these guys produce, that convey the intensity of their feud, and force an atmosphere of completely unpredictable hatred. They just batter the crap out of each other right around the building. And yes, as the match transpires, it became apparent that they needed to abandon the announce table, because the action was vast, sprawling, and at times, terrifyingly dangerous for anyone in the vicinity. The match is pretty much divided in two, the first have being an arena-wide brawl, with the second being an utterly astonishing collective of vicious in-ring work. What makes this special, and stand out from other matches of a similar nature, is the intricacy of many of the sequences, utilizing an array of props at any one time, and assembling rewarding spots, in an unpredictable, yet dazzling and believable manner. People crash through objects that were subtlety placed moments before, weapons come into play out of necessity, blood flows, and the very hint of regret of hesitation is abandoned. Superb. A must-see stage of their feud.
8. Samoa Joe vs. Nigel McGuiness (Fifth Year Festival: Liverpool)
This would probably be even higher up there, if this had proven to be the match where Nigel finally, finally, was granted that long-awaited, definitive one-on-one victory over Joe. Alas, instead, this is merely a stunning clash of two goliaths. I’m assuming the reasoning was that, at the time of Joe’s departure, it was still expected TNA would allow him to return on special occasions. Thus, having defeated Morishima, and Nigel, he would return later in the year, and receive his shot at Morishima and the World title. He’d have put Morishima over, whilst Nigel would then have unseated the champion in England (at around the same time he actually did lift the strap), before defending the belt against Joe. Joe however, would have then did the job for McGuiness.
However, hindsight’s a wonderful thing, but this still remains a fantastic fight. Both guys go to town on each other, just brutalizing their bodies in front of rabid crowd. There were lofty expectations for sure, as the fans in attendance had also witnessed Nigel/Danielson, and most were also familiar with CM Punk’s departure from ROH. They played everyone, touching one both subjects. As the bout progresses, you’ll notice increasing heel mannerisms from Joe, which escalates into a climax that sees the beloved star turn temporarily heel, in order to put over the courage of McGuiness. This crowd was there, not just for ROH, not just for their homeboy, Nigel, but they were there to witness the departure of Samoa Joe, and send him off in a grand fashion. Yet Joe’s heel behavior was so effective, that the stunned crowd actually turned on him. Sensational. This was memorable, star-making stuff, even without the desired McGuiness victory.
9. Briscoe Brothers vs. El Generico and Kevin Steen (Manhattan Mayhem II)
The Briscoes have made it one of their signatures to absolutely decimate arch-rivals in 2/3 falls encounters. Yet somehow personally, they don’t draw my interest. I’ve loved the notion, and the record that they maintained throughout 2007 (as of this writing), in not being defeated within the boundaries of the gimmick, but the bouts often don’t appeal to me. Perhaps with this one, it was because it occurred in the midst of a heated rivalry, which logically wouldn’t lead to this stipulation. But that’s how the wrestlers approach it, and that in turn makes it incredibly enjoyable. It comes across as a challenge, a brief excursion from their hatred, their grudge, in order to each prove themselves, to emphasize their own greatness. In this regard, it makes sense that the Briscoes don’t drop a fall. They know each other, and in their own environment, the Briscoes are able to control their two foes, proving their superior worth as a unit. Maybe then, it’s that blatant solidarity, that the Steen/Generico lack, that helps us side with the Briscoes. We know that somewhere down the line, their opponents will split up, because Steen is a horrible, sadistic heel, and Generico is essentially a baby face, being taken advantage of.
It says a lot for the efforts of all of these guys, that the rivalry did not lose momentum, despite the seemingly crushing nature of this lose for the challengers. Having followed the feud throughout it’s duration (although I’m yet to see their Cage match), I’ve found this one rewards familiarity, and provokes a pleasant surprise.
10. Shingo, Susuma Yokosuka & CIMA, & vs. Dragon kid, Ryo Saito & Masaaki Mochizuki (Supercard of Honor 2)
While many went with the first Dragon Gate six man as their favorite of last year, for me, it had the same effect as this one. Dazzling, yes. Breathtaking, and dramatic? Yes. But it just didn’t resonate with me. It didn’t have any emotional impact whatsoever. That makes the fact that this match is still special, even more impressive however. Despite the lack of, in my opinion, audience interaction and emotional investment, it’s still a mouth-watering, memorable contemporary tag match, and one that undoubtedly tops last year’s effort. These guys had one hell of an act to follow, and didn’t disappoint, creating a spot-filled crescendo that flowed and ebbed in superior fashion to the first, and enjoying a greater depth than it’s predecessor. Mochizuki and Saito, in particular, stood out as especially impressive, as I continue to be intrigued by how all these guys play to each others strengths and weaknesses as well as they do. Intricate, fast, state-of-art, and sure to please whoever the hell you force to watch it.
11. Takeshi Morishima vs. Claudio Castagnoli (Death Before Dishonor V Part 1)
This is probably the match that saw Claudio transform from being merely a great performer, who always has my interest and admiration, to being a great performer, whose work I anticipate, and would eagerly go out of my way to see. Yes, the PPV outings were great, and indicated that he could deliver when it counted, and the Race To The Top Tournament victory saw him earn the kayfabe main event status. But I think few fans would disagree that this title match is the one that really elevated him, to the point where he could be considered legitimate in a headline position.
It should be noted that Claudio is also incredibly tough to utilize as an underdog, thanks to his muscular, giraffe-like physique. He just doesn’t come across as the up and comer, but this was the first instance perhaps, since his encounters with Joe, in which I really felt he was completely at a disadvantage. The difference here, of course, was that Claudio is the baby face, and is the challenger, succeeding magnificently in rallying the crowd behind him into a furious wave of emotion. Morishima plays his part perfectly, as the bully constantly surprised that he isn’t able to dominate his opponent, coming to the realization that he perhaps underestimated Claudio. By the end of the bout, it has resulted in a series of superlative false finishes, and one of the highlights of Morishima’s title reign, when almost the entire building shook, believing that Claudio had just won the world title.
12. Jay Briscoe vs. Mark Briscoe (Finale)
When the previous night in Liverpool, it was announced that this would take place, I’m not sure many in attendance really knew what they were in store for. The pop for the announcement of this match was pretty huge, mind you. The situation was also unique. Having lost the tag titles, in their first defense, the brothers were disgusted by their flaws, and felt that only they could each sufficiently motivate one another. What they ended up with was a physical, exhilarating battle, but one fought with the best intentions in mind. Some have belittled this contest as being merely a spot-fest, but I feel that that could not be more inaccurate. The context of these two feeling that they had to both push each other to the absolute limits, in order to regain whatever it was they had lost, was enthralling. They pulled out dozens of crazy spots, but nothing of the level their late tag matches would exhibit. And this one had the built in get-out-clause, of not being about those big moves, but being about the SURVIVAL of them. There were a couple of scary moments, in which the crowd felt that a Briscoe may have been hurt, but aside from that, this was a simple, good natured epic.
13. Takeshi Morishima vs. Austin Aries (Battle of St Paul)
The Battle of St.Paul is one criminally neglected show. Occurring the same weekend as Colt Cabana’s last appearance, this perhaps became the “other†one. The aborted child. The less appealing sister. The err, cheap alternative. But that couldn’t be more inaccurate. This one ranks alongside Domination as one of the sleeper hits of the year. And that’s in no small part due to the fantastic main event between Aries and Morishima. It’s the bloody simplest story you could every imagine. Tiny child, versus huge, demonic beast. And that’s exactly what we got with this. Morishima was an absolute monster, and Aries was the epitome of courageous. He’d managed the impossible before, and Ring of Honor exploit that here, by making the task of beating the Champion seem ridiculous, before turning it around and creating an environment where the audience really believed he could do it. Aries looks to be turning heel at the moment, but if encounters like this are anything to go by, there is plenty more scope for him on the side of the angels. If you’ve never, ever seen ROH, or if you mates haven’t, but like TNA, this is a swell place to get hooked.
14. Takeshi Morishima vs. Bryan Danielson (Glory By Honor VI Night 2)
Ordinarily, I’d find it hard to enjoy endings akin to that which dots this encounter… a disqualification. Especially not in a third match between two guys, when the second ended in similar circumstances. But here, it’s perfect, and a example of well ROH can, at their best, weave wrestling staples, and booking traditions into a new environment, that really adds to a more satisfactory story overall. This is also possibly the angriest match I saw last year. Following on from Man Up, I didn’t think their series could possibly get more furious and passionate. But it did, which for me, bearing in mind the result of their PPV match which just aired is an indication that they’re going t eventually blow the feud off with a Fight Without Honor. Given what’s come already, it could be one of the greatest bouts in company history. Oh yeah, back to this bout. It’s a match that’s all about the simple things. The little moments that hark back to their previous encounters, that let attentive viewers know, hey, we’re aware you’ve been watching, we’ll do something different. As a long-time fan, I couldn’t appreciate that more.
15. CIMA, Susumu Yokosuka, Dragon kid & Ryo Saito vs. Austin Aries. Delirious, Rocky Romero, & Claudio Castagnoli (All Star Extravaganza III)
This show just doesn’t get much press, and this is maybe understandable, coming on the back of Supercard of Honor II as a double shot. But the whole point of naming this one All Star Extravaganza III was in light of the hugeness of this event as a whole. And it is a monstrously good show, with this main event being the undoubted highlight. This effort included much more comedy than expected, but it worked, with CIMA behaving especially light-heartedly. The humour does not deter the big-vibe that was present though, as it appeared a crucial match for the unlikely ROH team. Romero had just returned, and was in need of a character, while Claudio was still viewed as a traitor and a coward by the locker room, and was out to prove himself. There was quite a few subtleties at work then here, in distinguishing the ROH characters, especially in keeping those two true to themselves, rather than degenerating into random exhibitionism. It was also really something to hear the response to Aries, who for me, was easily the most over baby face of 2007 the promotion had.
The supposed Dragon Gate Rules seemed a little muddled at times here, but the lack of certainty made it even more curious and fascinating, with the Japanese stars combining in stunning fashion, conjuring up some exhilarating combos. When Aries finally managed to nail his 450, it resulted in a breathtakingly convincing near fall, that rocked the building. The only criticism of this I would have, is that I would have much preferred to see the Ring of Honor guys go over, as I’m not a fan of the Japanese imports always coming out on top. That said, given the unlikely crew ROH had recruited, it did none of them any harm, and played into the booking of such disparate individuals.
16. Takeshi Morishima vs. Nigel McGuiness (Fighting Spirit)
This was something of a turning point for Morishima’s World title reign. It was the first of his defenses that was really impressive, beyond being a squash, and in the sense of being a great match. He had a truly outstanding showing, showing much increased emotion than previously. Many thought, right from the beginning, that Nigel would take the trophy from the big man, and in fact, at first, they also seemed to feel that it would be a short reign, hence the excitement surrounding this encounter. Nigel was also possibly at the height of his baby face run at this point, and had the fans eating out of the palm of his hands for his frankly terrifying Lariat obsession. The hot Edison crowd were fired up for a title change, and reacted accordingly throughout the duration of this ridiculous stiff-fest, where at times the champion seemed frustrated by the level of spirit his challenger was showing. It remains the best of their encounters I’ve seen (haven’t seen the Undeniable bout mind you!), and a superior starting block for anyone wishing to get caught up on Morishima’s amazing title run. Bear in mind though, like all of the battles between these two, this is incredibly painful looking stuff. But hey, it was inventive, and told a story, so who can argue!
17. Samoa Joe vs. Takeshi Morishima (Fifth Year Festival: NYC)
There’s no doubt about it. People expected this to be a sequel to Joe/Kobashi. Respectful ring introductions, streamer, good-will, all that stuff. An exhibition bout. Ingeniously, they didn’t get any of that. Instead, they weren’t even permitted proper intros, as Joe crashed Nigel McGuiness’ celebrations, then Morishima crashed Joe’s own party. Thus, this was immediately positioned as a scathing, scalding hot brawl, that now sits as the perfect means in which to begin Morishima’s Ring of Honor run. Shockingly, in another aspect that confounded some, Morishima largely slaps Joe about. For a good portion of this encounter, Joe is rocked, suffering at the hands of someone who perhaps can play his game better than he himself can. Not to say this is a one-sided fight, it’s far from it, and both guys delve into some sickeningly brutal stiff shots. However, there was more story to this than many of Joe’s first-time encounters, as Morishima shook Joe up by being able to dominate him, to the point where Joe looked frustrated, at perhaps the potential for humiliation of having his challenge met and turned away. Thus, when Joe is in control- he’s scary. Pant-wettingly scary.
At the point in time in which this occurred, it was reasonable for Joe to defeat Morishima. However, given his status with TNA, and the fact that he can’t work in ROH, bearing in mind the lack of a rematch, the wrong man won this one.
18. Go Shiozaki vs. Bryan Danielson (Live In Tokyo)
This is the best bout of the entire tour of Japan, taken from the finest of the shows. This operates as a fine intro for ROH fans to Shiozaki, who was also pretty good when he appeared back in England in 2006. However, he’s of a different class here, and most fans have responded positively to him, clamoring for him to tour ROH in 2008. I certainly agree that he’s one of the most likely candidates for such a role. I don’t think he’s anywhere near the standard of a, Morishima, for example. However, working with guys outside Japan, with such incredible versatility as Danielson, is exactly what will broaden Go’s skills. If it happens, I look forward to seeing him. Meanwhile, this match is fascinating as the two combine to create a really neat, simple, but perfectly executed little tale, that had the Japanese fans going crazy, an usual thing, when considering a mid-card (at best) Gaijin, in singles competition.
19. Roderick Strong vs. Takeshi Morishima (Domination)
This DVD sat on my shelf for some time before I could bring myself to actually summon up the fortitude to put myself through it. It just didn’t appeal to me whatsoever, and the main issue, was this match. Roderick vs. Morishima was perhaps the one title defense of ‘Shima’s that I dreaded. And it’s mainly as as a result of my complete dislike and boredom, when it comes to Roderick Strong as a heel. I can remember a time when I couldn’t see anyone but Roddy, being crowned the next ROH world champ, back in late 2005, right up until after the milestone series. But his heel turn changed all that. If he were a convincing heel, then fine, at least I’d buy into his character. But I don’t think he is. His matches have generally dipped in quality, because he’s had to sacrifice much of the actual wrestling, for taunting (which basically is him spitting A LOT, and flicking water off his fringe) and half-assed unconvincing frat-boy attitude. Basically, he doesn’t convince me in his role. If he did, then the change in style would be fine. So I couldn’t get excited about sitting down to this one. Happily, my fears were completely up my own rear. This match, was unlike almost anything else Roderick did during the year, because instead of attempting to play the cowardly heel, he worked this in the style he worked his title challenges with Bryan Danielson. Thus, this became an enjoyable, fast-paced battle, similar to Brent Albright’s challenge. The fans in attendance went absolutely bananas for Roderick, who transformed into not only the more versatile athlete, but one so effective at portraying that aspect of his game, that when he unleashed his power-moves, it was once more stunning and inspiring. The best one-on-one match you’ll see from Roderick until he turns face.
20. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Naomichi Marafuji (Glory By Honor VI Night 2)
This was such a pleasant surprise, a purely, ridiculously enjoyable match, that has perfectly instigated a friendly, though exciting rivalry, that will culminate with Marafuji’s return to ROH later in the 2008. I’ve been critical of Claudio almost as often as I’ve praised him throughout this year, and a good example of what I haven’t enjoyed, was his Fighting Spirit spotty/empty/gymnastic mis-match with Rocky Romero. That said, Claudio is enormously talented, and this is a better representation of his abilities. The two worked a good pace, that gripped the crowd, but never lapsed into the exhibition style I feared. They also took to the mat a fair bit, bringing to mind slower paced mat-work, that the WWE use, but only effectively when it was worked by guys like Shelton Benjamin, Chris Benoit, Matt Hardy, Brock Lesnar, and Kurt Angle. Thus, as this match progressed, it became a sportsmanlike tussle of one-upping the opponent, of inventive counter holds, and surprising your foe with your signature stuff. Great fun.
21. Takeshi Morishima vs. Brent Albright (Death before Dishonor V Night 2)
Another of Morishima’s title defenses that caught me and many others off guard. Albright’s had a fine year for the company, but this was one of those instances where you pondered over whether he’d be out of his depth. Yes, Death Before Dishonor Weekend was eagerly anticipated. Yes, Claudio vs. Morishima, and Albright vs. Morishima were both eye-openers on paper, but I certainly feel that was more due to their freshness, than the expected outcomes. Most of us would have predicted that neither of these guys would be the one to raise the strap from Morishima, acknowledging that in all likelihood, Nigel McGuiness eventually. That makes this even more remarkable, because once that bell sounded, the fans gradually became more and more invested in Albright, completely buying his challenge. Throughout this, he was able to use his own strength and power game, to deflect Morishima’s offence, and upset the champions usual psychological advantage against him. So when Morishima summoned up his fighting spirit later on in the bout, the challenger, unlike so many, wasn’t sapped by a powerful beat-down, and still had the means to deliver some equally devastating manoeuvres. The match also features one of those endings, where after witnessing some shocking near falls, that are unbelievably close, the actual finish is as simple as they come. I’d love to see more of this sort of thing through 2008 in ROH, and would especially appreciate Albright escaping the horrendous Hangman 3 faction that does nothing for him. Great, big, but believable and unpredictable action.
22. Takeshi Morishima vs. Bryan Danielson (Man Up!)
In all honesty, not much separates this from the Glory by honor Match at all. If anything, this effort is topped by the follow up, purely because of the sheer difficulty in having to follow this one. And what’s great about this, is how superbly they did something different from their first bout. This wasn’t about out-doing that great match, this was about building on what they did then, to further the storyline and feud. Everything they do in this was crisp and effective, yet brutal and terrifying. Also of note, is how beautiful that extra camera angle they employed throughout this PPV worked. It brings the action a little closer, which is lovely in this bout, as it’s so stiff and believable, placing the viewer right in there with some terrific grappling. Morishima is represented as genuinely frightening, a Vader for 2007 and beyond. Carrying his legitimate eye injury affords Danielson a little extra sympathy, that is sometimes strange, as much of his wrestling is so nefarious and heellish. Here, he looks noble and hard-working, bravely following his desire, in spite of the risk of blindness. His attacks consisted of absolutely anything he could muster up, but much of this being simple, effective strikes, and a disregard for patience and tactics. This is Danielson, using instinct, and creating a palpable excitement. The crowd responded accordingly to boot, totally clambering all over Morishima during the brief moments towards the end when tactically outmatched, he targeted Dragon’s eye, taking the cheap way out.
23. Brent Albright vs. BJ Whitmer (Fifth Year Festival: NYC)
The great thing about the fifth year festival, was that it spewed forth numerous nice surprises. The quality of this effort was certainly one of them. Going into this, I couldn’t have cared less about this rivalry. So what did these guys do? They started out with Albright throwing Whitmer clean through a table .That’s one way to get your attention. So whilst Albright was clearly a mini-feud, to further expand and draw out the Whitmer/Jimmy Jacobs storyline, he clearly made the most of the opportunity, inventing this aura of while he may have been a mere roadblock, he was the nastiest, biggest, most violent one you could imagine. During the match itself, they avoided exposing each other’s weaknesses, keeping the action finely balanced between hardcore, and fairly straightforward, big-man sequences, but focusing on well-timed, perfect execution. This is not the sort of match that I’d like to see more of in ROH, but that’s probably why it’s so effective. Check out the red-hot crowd too.
24. Shingo vs. Takeshi Morishima (Good Times: Great Memories)
On paper, this title defense looked to maybe suffer from featuring a challenger extremely unlikely to be successful. In a sense, that’s a real credit to how triumphant overall Morishima’s run was. I worried that I would be bored to tears by a strong-style exhibition match, but this bout had a lot more depth than I was initially willing to give it credit for. Shingo was leaving shortly after this, there’s just no way he was going to take the title. Yet somehow, these guys made me forget that our loss would be Dragon Gate’s gain, and had me nearly slipping discs the way I was popping out of my seat. Although as a match, it’s very different from a lot of Shingo’s work in ROH, it’s also the perfect way to remember him. Whilst unique, and coming in with a lot of DG elements, he did also have many of the more traditional Japanese quirks that work so well in ROH. But he still managed to stand out, and increasingly so as he developed, so that by this stage, he had clearly learned a great deal from his extended tour. How strange is it, that a guy who emerged from a predominantly Junior style promotion in Japan, enjoyed the most memorable moment of his American career, against a Japanese heavyweight?
25. Rocky Romero vs. KENTA (United we Stand)
A enthralling, high-flying encounter, that led me, at the time, to believe that 2007 would be the year of Rocky Romero. Whilst that wasn’t exactly to be the case, he certainly improved by leaps and bounds, and if the No Remorse Corps can get rid of Roderick Strong, the remaining members could certainly flourish. What really stood out for me, was that Romero has traded in a lot of the pointless glitz and flash for creativity and invention. Thus, given the perfect dance partner of KENTA, he’s able to throw together some mightily impressive sequences, and hugely entertaining counters. When they perform big, trademark moves in this one, they do so as quick counters, as if they’re both to smart to use them within their gameplans, but on the fly, they work perfectly. They also worked a lot more methodically, and strategically than you may imagine. It’s a shame that after the bout, the focus was shifted so rapidly to Davey/KENTA, as these two guys could have some really satisfying rematches. This was Romero’s finest performance in ROH in 2007.
26. Briscoe Brothers vs. El Generico & Kevin Steen (Driven)
The first PPV bout between the two teams, the two benchmarks of tag wrestling in 2007. It was also probably an amazingly tricky match to pull off, because while on PPV, they’re feud was rather new, to those of us following, they’d been at each others’ throats for months. This became more of a match for PPV viewers then, as pretty much everyone else would have known of the follow-ups to this one. Thus, it says a lot for this, that it wasn’t completely lost amongst a 2/3 falls match, a street fight, and a ladder match. This is just a nice, hectic, but understandable and absorbing tag contest, which really had the emphasis on winning, and the tag titles. For me, Steen was the star of the show, but they all busted their asses, taking some scary bumps, and wowing the crowd, with tag action that American audiences just don’t see from the big promotions.
27. Nigel McGuinness vs. Jimmy Rave (Finale)
This is an insanely hard-hitting encounter, that benefited from the crowd welcoming home-country lad Nigel, as their hero. As usual, the fans hated Rave, creating a hot atmosphere, in which they were absolutely desperate to see Nigel finally get a big solo win in the UK. Hence, liberal use of the guard-rail , and much err, jaw-breaking action occurs. Basically, it’s a violent, nasty, triumph. Personally, I felt the outcome was rather predictable, especially given the fact that Nigel had lost the previous night, but it didn’t prevent this from being exciting. Indeed the two turned the violence up, in what perhaps needn’t have been a “Fight Without Honorâ€ÂÂÂ, but one that was memorable as such thanks to the aforementioned, inventive use of the barriers.
28. El Generico & Kevin Steen vs. Mike Quackenbush & Jigsaw (Domination)
This is the type of match that just couldn’t fail to raise a smile, and still does, even on repeated viewings. Quack and Jigsaw were newcomers to the uhh, Gabe-house, back at Domination, and as this was low on the card, I had every right to assume I’d witness them being mowed down in sadistic fashion. Instead, I was astonished by a competitive, ping-pong match that continually threatened to end, but then gloriously kept going. I keep going back and forth on whether I want Steen and Generico to break up. They’d have a magnificent feud, but they’re so perfect together. I also feel Quack, in the long run, may be best suited to a run in a proper tag-team. As good as he is on his own, he’s even better with someone else to bounce off, with another element in his act. This is the sort of superb little match that should be opening WWE and TNA pay per views. It’s also one that will be interesting to look back on, as all of these guys are primed to be a big part of Ring of Honor’s future.
29. Briscoe Brothers vs. Kings of Wrestling (Domination)
An underrated treat from one of the most criminally under-hyped shows of the year. I myself overlooked this card as pants, until I actually sat down and watched it. God knows why I initially cringed in light of this gem, because it’s excellent. Maybe it’s that two-out-three falls stip again. But anyways, it works fine in this clash, which is distinguished by being divided between a long beat-down prior to the first fall, and a complete mess of furious action in the second. The Briscoes look like tag-gods as usual, but Claudio comes away looking like a star too, having had to work a considerable portion of the bout on his own. At times, it’s wondrous and original, taking your breath away, while it’s also sprinkled with a few really jaw-dropping moments and sequences. Truly excellent.
30. Briscoe Brothers vs. Claudio Castagnoli & Matt Sydal (Respect Is Earned)
Some might say that these two teams went over the top, and too far into the realms of exhibitionism. However, given that this was the first PPV appearance of the Briscoes, and a relatively friendly encounter, in contrast to what was to come for the tag champions, I feel that this worked just fine. It was more akin to what made the Briscoes familiar in the first place, and differed from the direction they’d go in with Generico/Steen. Certainly, when I watched it with a few friends (Not all of whom are overly familiar with ROH, most have only seen a few select bits), this is the match that stood out most for them. Although the closing stages may have been a bit over the top (was there really a need to go that far with all the false finishes?), it at least ensured this bout remained memorable, and landed the Briscoes on PPV as the guys who are the show-stealers. It also, along with the tag match main event, underlined the fact that this is a promotion that takes tag wrestling seriously, and that when viewing their shows, one can expect to see just as much of this, as singles action.
31. Colt Cabana vs. Jimmy Jacobs (Fifth Year Festival: Chicago)
If Jimmy versus BJ was a Terry Funk hardcore match, then this was a Mick Foley one. While it didn’t quite scale the heights of that cage match, it was still a hot piece of work, that sits nicely alongside Cabana’s rivalry with Homicide in the hardcore category. Billed as a Windy City Death Match, the title is pretty much meaningless. But the match itself is somewhat odd. It’s a feud based on jealousy and lust on Jacob’s part, and yet, one that continually had the bizarre feel good factor that Cabana usually brings to proceedings. So even though earlier on the DVD, Cabana cuts a great promo, I still couldn’t get into this as an intense match, instead I found it to be a really fun battering. Cabana is utterly dominant, but within the context of the bout, it works just fine, and somehow didn’t slow Jacobs momentum in his feud with Whitmer. Thus, this is the most run bloodbath you could imagine. I only truly felt the seriousness of the violence in the fleeting moments that Jimmy controlled the match. And then again, by the end, Cabana was dancing again. The home crowd definitely helped this bout, which probably had no need to be so violent, but when it came, it was generally inventive and exciting. Strange yes, but even more strangely, enjoyable. And check out the sick use of hammer and spike.
32. Takeshi Morishima & Naomichi Marafuji vs. Bryan Danielson & Nigel McGuiness (United we stand)
Touted as a NOAH versus ROH match, this had a big, big feel to it. It also had the benefit of featuring four guys who know each other extremely well, whose past encounters the audience were familiar with. Hence, there’s a great variety or work sprinkled throughout this, which developed slowly at times, and rather deliberately. But this was it’s strength, that it drew you in, rather than bamboozled the viewer. The NOAH guys clearly worked better together, offering what resembled an actual tandem, rather than two guys lumped together. But the ROH guys obviously wanted to each prove their worth and outshine each other, thus they collaborated less effectively, but consequently pushed each other harder. Great match, and a nice development in the ROH World title picture, which became incredibly compelling as soon as Bryan Danielson returned to the fold to complicate affairs.
33. Briscoe Brothers vs. El Generico & Kevin Steen (Fifth Year Festival: Philly)
Typical stuff from these four, in their first ROH encounter, that established early that rapport they showed all year. Mark is worked over for much of this, which is a nice change of pace, before they hit home with all the highspots, and big moments, that the Briscoes can do like no-one else. It is also worth noting, that El Generico was the baby face in peril at one point, a role that he maintained all year, even when his partner completely heeled it up to the max. As is the case every time these duos lock up, the closing moments are a catastrophic, orgasmic feast.
34. Briscoe Brothers vs. Shingo & Doi (Fifth Year Festival: Liverpool)
This was an astounding shock. Liverpool was overall, a very satisfying show indeed, and this was one of the most eagerly anticipated aspects of the line-up. But a title change? I almost crapped my pants when it occurred, and rightly so, as the Briscoe Brothers had only won the title a couple of weeks prior. I’d like to think I could be forgiven for being so naive, Then again, the entire Liverpool Olympia must have been as well, because when those titles changed hands, the look of amazement on people’s faces was incredible. This was state of the art, bell-to-bell excitement, that developed frenetically, to the point where the last ten minutes were truly heart-in-mouth stuff. They played to all four guys strengths, to produce what felt like a reward for Shingo, to repay him for his outstanding efforts for the company during his extended stay. The last couple of moments were just breathtaking, ‘rasslin’ at it’s most indulgent, modern and exhilarating.
35.Delirious vs. KENTA (Reborn: Again)
Reborn Again was something of humdrum show, with an onslaught of non-regulars, and somewhat unsatisfying contests, coupled with a bizarre return for Bryan Danielson. But this contest stood head and shoulders above everything else, and was mainly notable for not being especially typical of either man. KENTA actually looked as if he was enjoying himself, and added a little humanity to his character, which deviated somewhat from his usual role, whilst Delirious was making a definite attempt to step up, and thus improve his standing. There was good, varied action throughout this, which was great fun, but nowhere near as gimmicky as you might imagine. Good use to of the Cobra Stretch, with both guys doing a great job of building up to a hot final few moments, despite the flat crowd. Great range of expressions from KENTA too.
36. Takeshi Morishima & Bryan Danielson vs. KENTA & Nigel McGuiness (Respect Is Earned)
Whilst the first Ring of Honor PPV didn’t produce any clear masterpieces, it did do a fantastic job of establishing most of the roster in their roles, within the context of fresh, exciting matches. This was no exception, although of all four, Danielson was the one most capable of translating his character in an every-so-slightly simplified form. But they all delivered here, producing a chunky, but never flabby main event that was completely different to the other fabulous tag encounter on the same card.
37. Jack Evans vs. Roderick Strong (All Star Extravaganza III)
This was Jack Evans at his absolute best, with both him and his opponent telling a simple, effective story. Strong was the bully, and throughout this, dangerously tossed Jack around, who landed all over the ring, and floor with the most disturbing thuds one could imagine. With the crowd firmly behind Evans, and Strong not yet stale as a heel, it led to a hot bunch of highspots, and an array of brutal, but sympathetic punishment. I think these two really have a dynamic similar to Jeff Hardy and Umaga, in that they’re both pros at playing the roles of underdog and bully, but more so against each other than anyone else. You should be warned though, that the recklessness with which Strong often treats Jack here is absolutely shocking (and probably amongst his best heel work- similar to more recent Davey Richards material). Oh yeah, and of course, there’s one or two sickening submission holds applied too, in fact, the most disgusting used on Jack since he went to-to-toe with American Dragon.
38. Rocky Romero vs. Naomichi MarUFuji (Respect Is Earned)
This proved to be an enormously important match, as it was the first real ROH PPV match (ignoring Morishima‘s impromptu squash), thus it carried the pressure of having deliver an impressive, accurate reflection of the company. They completely succeeded, building a thrill-fest that created a real stir amongst the New York crowd. This one was vital, because it had to incorporate all that high-flying, innovative, dangerous, cutting-edge action that epitomizes ROH, without coming across as hollow and rehearsed, which does often happen with these exhibition-type deals. Essentially, it was an collage of fun maneuvers, and stunning, pretty sequences, masquerading as an actual competitive match, but it was executed so perfectly, you just can’t tell. Brilliant stuff, and a total success, that kicked off Marufuji’s run of hugely impressive PPV performances.
39. Chris Hero vs. Naomichi Marufuji vs. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Nigel McGuiness (Man Up!)
Exciting match, and another in the series of fine openers for ROH shows. For a PPV first-timer, to see this as a starting point, has got to be something of an eye-opener. These four all worked seamlessly together here, to create something of a remarkable showcase, especially for an opening match. One of the main objectives in this, was obviously to highlight McGuiness as a star, with his obvious subsequent World title challenge being in the back of everyone’s minds. In this, they succeeded admirably, while not derailing any of the other guys. Marufuji also came across as a mega-talent, though it’s difficult not to create that effect, because he really is, and has become one of my favorite wrestlers anywhere, over the past year or so. There was actually a lot of stuff going on in this bout too, with the Claudio/Hero rivalry, Nigel/Hero, and this was especially relevant to those following ROH, not just on PPV. These were all guys who were on the cusp of main-eventdom (Nigel having had his challenges seen off, needed to keep winning), and a win here was vital.
40. Jay Briscoe & Erick Stevens/Mark Briscoe vs. El Generico & Kevin Steen (Fighting Spirit)
I’ll be honest, this match, while very good, is much more memorable for the angle surrounding it, and the role it played in the overall Briscoes/Steenerico rivalry. But Jeeebus, what an angle this was. Following his unfortunate injury at All Star Extravaganza III (yeah, THAT shooting star), Stevens stepped in to tag with Jay, as Mark was still cooped up and doo-la-lee after the horrible bump. Thus, we’re left with an odd-couple versus a team on a mission. But bad buggers they are, the No Remorse Corps would take Stevens out early here, leaving Jay on his own to face the wolves. Cue Mark, in street clothes, jumping the barricade, while his MOM attempts to hold him back, squealing that he’ll lose the rest of his teeth or summit. The crowd go bonkers, like they’re at a Def Leopard tribute show. Just awesome. Of course, the result is, Mark gets repeatedly, disturbingly, dropped on his head. End of match. Fantastic stuff. It’s really refreshing because in the overall context of their rivalry, it was rare to see such a sustained, one-sided beat-down, and one team being so dominant, rather than back-and forth. If Ring of Honor ever consider doing some compilation DVDs, one of the top ones on my list would be a piece covering this astonishing rivalry.
41. Austin Aries vs. Davey Richards (Man Up!)
Austin Aries is just an invaluable performer right now. He may be almost in the role of being utilized to create newer stars, but his position at the top of the card should remain for a long time to come. This one was interesting because Aries wasn’t the centerpiece of the No Remorse Corps/Resilience 3 match series that occurred on this show, Erik Stevens was. However, this was the better encounter. Davey looked excellent too, as he’s real grown as a heel, to the point where he works extremely well with fan favorites as ridiculously popular as Aries. Plus, his aggressiveness plays well when confronted with the explosiveness of the former World Champion. With this bout, it’s easy to see why. Aries exudes a tangible energy and desire that echoes throughout the crowd. I’d always thought these two would and should work superbly together. But of any interactions between the two in ROH, I’ve found this to have been the best. They stuffed this full of nice little touches, such as Richards avoiding Aries’ headstand dropkick, a cool move, that everyone likes to see, but really, logically, Davey should be aware of enough to avoid. Both guys emerged from this fine PPV bout looking tough, exciting, and best of all, smart. Probably my own insanity, but this somewhat reminded me of mid-nineties Junior stuff from New Japan.
42. Samoa Joe vs. Homicide (Fifth Year Festival: Finale)
I don’t know how much it would surprise anyone to say that this match is far more notable for what it represents, for it’s significance, than for the actual content. It is a pretty good bout, with it operating like a nostalgia package for all the previous wars these two have had. They go through the history of their encounters, the heat, the risks, the dangerous spots, the desperation, the despair, and the desire to win, the desire to be the better man. Thus, this conclusion to the fifth Year Festival neatly wraps up one of the most important feuds in company history in style. Otherwise, the real reason to catch this is the raw emotion in evidence. The fans were absolutely pumped on the night, for Joe, chanting throughout the entire evening, and reaching fever pitch by the time his music splintered through every speaker in the building. When he actually steps onto the stage, it’s one of the most rewarding moments in ROH history, and garnered a monster pop from the crowd, who stumbled over each other to chant Joe’s name. Basically, a good match, but nothing special in that regard. But it was Joe’s last match in Ring of Honor, and that alone is enough to make this unmissable.
43. Jack Evans vs. Davey Richards (Death Before Dishonor V Night 1)
Like Davey, Evans has improved considerably over the past year in his role. My friends used to really dislike this guy (aside from the high-spot marks), but he’s increasingly showing them (and me) up with his sleek, crisper style, and more honed act. This was a great way to open a big show- a really aggressive heat magnet, up against a high-flying underdog. It started hot and hard, and stayed that way, with Davey locking on the Stretch Muffler really early, and the crowd having to rally behind Evans. A sweet spot occurred when Evans attempted a corkcsrew plancha, but Davey leapt onto the apron and booted him in the dome, with a helluva shot. One of Davey’s real improvements is how he times his submissions and “rest-holdsâ€ÂÂÂ, aggressively applying them, in a similar style to how Brock Lesnar used to do so. In typical Jack style, there was also one crazy moment, where he attempted a wacky springboard corkscrew moonsault to the outside. He did connect, but only with his feet, as his face almost came down on the edge of the apron. Ouch. Other than that one moment, this was a slick, absorbing bout, with a DQ ending that doesn’t feel forced. Unfortunately Davey has often seemed utilised as the prop-up heel, who faces guys on their way to a journey with Roderick Strong.
44. Rocky Romero vs. Austin Aries (Good Times: Great Memories)
The tussle between these two worked so well, because of how fantastically over Aries is as a baby face in ROH. The crowd were with him the whole way through this, that saw Romero look like a horrendous bad-ass, with his vicious kicks, and combos of submissions/suplexes, that presented Aries as an underdog, even though you perhaps wouldn’t label him as such. And they nicely built the action in a traditional wrestling structure, with Aries getting cut off from his comebacks, to the point where he ended up almost out of desperation, gaining the advantage, for an old-school, brief, but decisive final comeback. Sometimes the simplest things do just work out for the best.
45. Roderick Strong vs. Austin Aries (Supercard of Honor 2)
This was a fine, fine bout, the first encounter between these two former best friends, turned arch-rivals. However, I have to admit, I expected GREAT things from this match, and felt disappointed. The booking seemed to be at fault here, as the first major pit-fall was the defending of Strong’s FIP title. Yes, it’s nice to showcase that strap, and give the promotion a little publicity, but not at the expense of the ROH product. I’ve talked about this elsewhere, but it really bugs me when the excitement of a match is soured by predictability, thanks to this belt being on the line! Also, in the negative category, is the lack of animosity shown especially at the beginning. These guys took a long time to get the intensity really going, which I just didn’t buy into, considering Aries should have been dying for revenge! Not just content with outdoing, and outsmarting, and embarrassing Roddy, but demolishing him. Still, remove these criticisms, and what you’re left with is a great match that involves a little bit of everything, but in particular, some really satisfying mat-work, and old-fashioned submissions. Oh yeah, and a Superb final few minutes.
46.Claudio Castagnoli vs. Mike Quackenbush (RTTT Night two)
Another great outing for Claudio, and an understated, clever performance from Quack, who is already firmly established as someone with tons of potential, if not wins, within ROH. These two have, elsewhere, contested absolutely fabulous encounters in the past, and this is a worthy follow-up to those, but one that certainly hints at further to come from these two, without blowing too much considering Quack’s limited status in ROH.
This had lots of really neat technical, mat wrestling, which I always love, and was a nice contrast to some of the other action on this card. It was also nice how they often upped the ante with reversals and escapes, rather than actively trying to pursue craziness. It was almost as it their commitment, and knowledge of each other caused things to escalate, rather than a desire to have anything other than a great sporting contest. Quack remains the most gentlemanly wrestler around, which can only be a good thing. At one point, during some holds, a retard in the crowd yelled “boringâ€ÂÂÂ, which was met with a nicely hostile response from the crowd. Well done ROH fans….
47. Roderick Strong & Davey Richards vs. Doi & Shingo (Fifth Year Festival: Finale)
This sort of drifted on and off the list several times, as I debated whether or not being there live influenced me in an overly positive fashion. I felt ill at ease with the No Remorse Corps character development here, as they were still working spotty, almost exhibition type stuff, when the company was pushing them as despicable heels. But in Liverpool, they had tremendous heat, and this match made the cut thanks to these guys doing a superb job of maintaining that heat, in spite of wrestling a ridiculously fast-paced, highly impactful bout. And it was also really nice to see Doi and Shingo in the role of defending champs, as they really filled the criteria established by The Briscoes and Generation Next brilliantly. This was great fun, and holds up well, not just because it was performed in front of a unique crowd, but also because this is an opportunity to see four guys who aren’t regular sparring partners.
48. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. KENTA (Glory By Honor VI Night 2)
In all honesty, I thought this was way overrated by those who saw it live. Sure, it was amazing to see Misawa appear in ROH, and it was also excellent for KENTA. But for me, it wasn’t a performance anywhere near the standard of the singles matches that housed Kobashi’s debut, Morishima’s, Marafuji’s, or that of KENTA himself. And for someone of Misawa’s magnitude, that ensures that if you were really hyped up for this, you just have to be disappointed. However, having seen enough of the recent GHC Heavyweight champion to understand his current form, I realise there’s still a place for him, and he can still deliver within certain limitations, which he didn’t at all against Samoa Joe in Japan incidentally. The previous night, his tag debut was a fair match, that went to an unsatisfying draw, especially considering the awe-inspiring performance of Marafuji, who held the whole thing together. It wasn’t a bad bout by any means, but the fact that Misawa did almost nothing whatsoever is the reason it drops off this list. This was significantly better, though not a classic, but showcasing an attention-demanding performance from KENTA. Misawa proved though, that he has it in him to pull himself up to a main event standard, and the two managed to combine to build a fight that by the end, had the crowd on their feet, popping for the near falls. A really fine piece of work as it really elevated KENTA, and it makes the tail end of this list, because unlike Misawa’s tag match, this one did what it said on the tin.
49. Samoa Joe vs. Davey Richards (Fifth Year Festival: Dayton)
I really, really looked forward to this clash, as I’d been appreciative of Davey’s efforts since joining the fray. He emerged here not quite the complete package as a heel, but oozing potential. This effort was also marked for the dubious distinction of being Joe’s last ROH singles match in the states. You knew it would be stiff with these two involved, but the recent heel turn of Richards added an element that distinguished this from being the usual strike-fest, as he had to stick to some base heel mechanics in order to remain faithful to his character and also to not sway the crowd against Joe. Nevertheless, they still increased interest in the rather pedestrian pacing with some astonishingly brutal striking, with one revolting kick to the back of Richard’s head, being especially notable. In fact, throughout this, they moved deliberately, and in a controlled manner, building up to some big spots, and not rushing through things. A little bit looser, and slower than many similar Joe matches, but still containing the same incredible sense of fun that serves as a reminder to why we miss him. And, once you realise, that this match didn’t exist to make a star out of Davey, it’s all the more enjoyable.
50. Bryan Danielson vs. Mike Quackenbush (Death Before Dishonor V Night 2)
Initially, I was a little disappointed with this contest, as for me, it was something of dream match in ROH. And while good, it didn’t absolutely blow me away. But when I returned to it a second time ,I appreciated it a whole lot more. Quack isn’t a big star for Ring of Honor, and isn’t promoted, or booked as such .He’s an up and comer. And when you bear that in mind, this match becomes a good deal more successful, because you’re looking at he being the guy who has to prove himself. And he does, by taking American Dragon to over fifteen minutes of crisp, sensible, yet absolutely absorbing, mat-wrestling. Over the years, we’ve obviously seen guys beat Danielson, but rarely do we ever see guys simply out-wrestle him, beating him at this own game. Quack comes close, and for a few moments, you’re with him in wanting to see that, but by the end, he only gains from his loss. A great match in combining the simple dynamics of two guys who are great on the mat, with one being known for his flashy, inventive strikes, and highspots, whilst the other has an incomparable depth to his repertoire. In other words, a sublime bout, with much variety, and a good case against those that think ROH is spot-crazy.
Best of all, this match was just an indication of what these two will produce if eventually booked into a long-term rivalry. I’d love to see that later this year.
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading this nonsense. If you took the time out to properly read through this train wreck, I genuinely thank you, and would love to hear your thoughts. I hope it was at least as entertaining as a Mark Henry match, and more thought-provoking than a Honky Tonk shoot. If you have any comments/questions/queries/or anything to say, get in touch at bazilalfonso@hotmail.com, whether you agree/disagree/hate me, or whatever if may be, I welcome all correspondence. Thanks again!
