Death Before Dishonor IV
Video Wire: Its always the blasted irony that I actually remember to watch the videowire for the shows where I’ve seen all subsequent shows and am actually clued in on the storylines. We see clips of Mark Briscoe returning to the ring, Ruckus earning a world title shot, and several clips of Rhett Titus showing half the lockeroom his sexual exploits with Daizee Haze on his video phone. We also see Necro Butcher walking away from the Age of the Fall and Austin Aries looking confused. We then see Lance Storm confronting Larry Sweeney about the wrestling industry and how more than just money its about work ethic. Unfortunately for storm while Sweeney stalled for time with platitudes, Chris Hero and Go made simultaneous sneak attacks, however Storm and Stevens lock the two heels in the maple leaf and gives Hagadorn a brutal superkick. We then go to exclusive post PPV interview were after their epic match at New Horizons Nigel tells Claudio “that you’ve earned my respect sunshine” and tells him to ignore all the seals in the audience and shake his hand.
The show opens with Nigel telling us he’s the best in the world. Nigel says tonight its a fatal fourway and ROH are throwing everything at him. Nigel says its elimination and he’s gonna eliminate each other his opponents one by one, and then whose gong to be leaft to take his World Title then? No one, he’s Nigel McGuinness and he’s in it, to win it.
The Briscoe Brothers vs. The Vulture Squad
“Fuck ‘em up Briscoes” chant rings out and Jay slugs his shoulders as if to say sorry boys. Mark and Jigssaw start the match, Jigsaw gets an arm wrench but Mark rols and counters into a northern lights suplex and grabs an arm, Jigsaw uses a creative reversal and finds his way into a Gory Special. Mark and Jigsaw exchange takedowns then headlock takedowns and escapes leading to a stand off and a big round of applause. Mark lays some shouldertackles in the corner and after a serious of evasion move hits a slingshot stomp. Jay tags in and scores with double shoulder tackle and a body slam. Jigsaw tries to respond with a suplex but Jay counters however flips out and makes the tag. Ruckus scres with a cartwheel ranna and a handspring Pele. Jigsaw goes for a plancha but Mark cuts him off with a springboard closeline and then hits a tope onto Jay and Ruckus on the outside. Jigsaw then responds with a front flip plancha before Ruckus hits a moonsault press off top.
Mark counters the moonsault leg drop with a roll up for two. Mark counters a closeline and Jay hits a running Yakuza. Jay gives Jigsaw a corner closeline and Mark follows up with a top rope larieat. Ruckus counters the Jay Driller into the front flip neckbreaker. Jigsaw gives Mark double knees in the corner and they hit the suplex powerbomb combo for a near fall. Jay hits Ruckus with a spinebuster, but Jigsaw waffles him with a superkick from out of nowhere, Jigsaw is then killed in turn with a superkick and a powerbomb for a two count. Mark then superkicks Ruckus off the apron and the Doomsday Device gets the 1-2-3.
That was your standard ROH tag team breaks down into chaos spotfest opening. You know exactly what your gonna get good athleticism and nothing consequencial. (**1/4)
Larry Sweeney comes to the ring and offers the Briscoes his card but they refuse. Sweeney then introduces Chris Hero. The crowd chant “Bobby Dempsey” so Hero tells Bobby he knows the drill and Bobby crawls under the ring. Hero then says last time he was in this building he was embarrassed by Delirious but he no longer cares about entertaining the crowd he only cares about the knock out. He says some cool catchphrases before proclaiming himself that young knock out kid.
Delirious vs. Chris Hero
Delirious hides under the ring causeing Bobby to emerge. Hero goes looking for Delirious but Delirious sneaks out behind him and hits a front flip senton off the top rope onto Sweet and Sour. Hero can’t get his hands on Delirious who goes out of the ring and makes fun of body Dempsey. Hero after some comedy pulls Derilous into the ring via the tassles. However Delirious remains one step of head with headbutts and a nice ranna counter. Delirious then hits the never ending story closelines in the corner but Hero blocks the bulldog and shoves him down hard.
Hero gains control and kicks Delirious down and works him over before hitting a weak look senton back splash for a two count. The commentary in this match is total dire. Hero continuously works to unimaginatively work over Delirious hitting a hard elbow with Delirious laying across the apron. Hero then applies a double chicken wing with his legs and works the face of his arms. Hero then changes tack and hits a very contrite looking waist lock slam and a senton back splash for two. Delirious tries to fight back but Hero holds onto the mask to stop him and puts Delrious on top.
Delirious dodges a dropkick and hits a top rope driving ranna and begins to unload, Delirious runs right into a Prime Time Slam but Delirious counters into a lovely DDT for a near fall. Delirious counters a roaring elbow with a pair of closelines before running right into a big roaring elbow for a near fall. Delirious dodges a big boot but can’t avoid the elbow strike combination and the crescent kick. Hero then counters a second rope dive with a headbutt to the gut and hits the Panic Attack. Delirious goes for Shadow over head but its countered with a nice elbow strike and Hero then hits a sloppy Roaring Elbow for the win.
Not a bad match but very uninspired this was probably the equivalent of a WWE house show match focus more on getting the wrestlers characters across than the match its self. (**)
Roderick Strong vs. Eddie Edwards
Strong takes Edwards down with an arm drag but Edwards rolls to counter with a headlock. Strong quickly counters back into an arm bar but Edwards bridges up to reverse the hold into a key lock. Eddie hits a shoulder tackle but Strong replies with a leap frog and a cross before getting a deep arm drag. Eddie manages to slow down the pace and work over Strong in the corner. Strong counters the 2K1 Bomb with a small package for one and the hits a quick leg lariat. Strong then hits a nice slingshot suplex for a two count. Sweeney stops Strong’s momentum by grabbing his leg and allowing Edwards to hit a running knee strike.
Edwards hits a running back elbow for two and has gained control. Both men exchange stiff strikes before Edwards chokes down Strong in the corner. Hero gets a quick cheapshot in while the ref is distracted but that only inspires Strong to hit a mule kick and a second rope missile dropkick. However Strong misses a blind charge and scores with a nice torpedo dropkick for a two count. Edwards hits a sloppy running closeline for two count. Edwards goes for a suplex but its blocked and he finds himself suplexed to the apron. Both men exchange forearms and Strong knocks Eddie from the apron. Strong stomps on Edwards hand and hits a baseball slide before following up with running flying forearm from the ring apron. Strong then proceeds to chop Edwards all around the outside.
Back in Strong hits two running corner forearm strikes and a dropkick for a two count. Eddie slips out of the gutbuster but can’t avoid an ezenguri. Eddie catches Strong on top with an enzenguri of his own and takes him off with the Back Pack for a near fall. Roderick counters the 2K1 bomb by floating over and getting a roll up for two. Eddie rolls through a sunset flip and hits a stiff kick to a seated Strong. Eddie goes for a lionsault but Strong gets the knees up and gets a brilliant full nelson roll up for a near fall. Strong runs into a back elbow and a diving second rope code breaker before a super kick and a back suplex facebuster gets a near fall. Strong comes back with a chin breaker and an enzenguri before scoring with the gut buster and the half nelson back breaker for a near fall! Strong goes for the Gibson driver but Sweeney distracts the ref allowing Hero to kill Strong with the loaded roaring elbow of certain doom. Eddie Edwards then hits a lionsault and gets the 1-2-3.
Was slow and plodding in part but the final portion was very strong and there was solid action through out. However there was the usual lack of selling and the move-move-move nature of the match up. Still good lower card match up. (**1/2)
Sweeney laughs triumphantly in the centre of the ring saying the Sweet and Sour is two for two and things are about to get a whole lot better. Sweeney introduces Scrap Iron Adam Pearce accompanied by Sara Del Ray and Shane Hagadorn. Pearce says that this is the 60 anniversary of the NWA and it is the same year he was granted the title that went from Harley Race to Jack Brisco to Harley Race to Giant Baba and now to the Scrap daddy Adam Pearce!!! Brent Albright comes to the ring and says Sweet and Sour are having a pretty good night and he challenges that repo man look a like to defend his NWA World title right now.
NWA World Heavyweight Title
Brent Albright vs. Adam Pearce
I have been reliably informed that this match is brilliant but I look at these two and I still just see it at best as a good three stars, but I’m hoping I’m wrong.
Adam Pearce tells the referee to stick it and then gets in the crowd before they lock up but its even stevens. Brent scores with two shoulder blocks before Sweeney trips Brent. Brent storms to the outside and gets in Bobby Dempsey’s face before dodging Adam Pearce who floors Dempsey. Pearce hits a shoulder tackle but runs straight into a nice big boot and Pearce bails to regroup with Sweet and Sour.
Back in the ring Brent and Pearce exchange pinfall exchanges and then Brent spins Pearce around and hits a big bitch slap! Pearce slaps back but Brent floors him and unloads in the corner with a flurry of rights before hiting a closeline. Brent now unloads with a series of jabs almost mocking Pearce. Brent dodges a closeline but Pearce cleverly runs him throat first into the top rope. Pearce spits in the referees face when he asks for a clean break in the corner. Pearce then hits a stiff head butt in the corner flooring Albright before playing to the crowd. That busted Brent wide open, that is either incredibly brutal or a very good blade job. Pearce unloads on Brent making sure that everybody can see the cut as he begins to open it up. Brent tries to fire back with a flurry of rights but Pearce cuts him off with a basement dropkick and blows snot onto Albright.
Pearce tosses Albright to the outside and gives the front row a good look at Brent’s cut before throwing Brent hard headfirst into the guard rail. Pearce then reveals the concrete floor and looks for the piledriver but Albright counters with a double leg trip and catapults Pearce head first into the ringpost. Pearc e is now busted open and Brent sets up a table at ringside. Brent rolls back into the ring to recover but Sweeney gets a steel chair and tries to get Pearce DQed but Strong runs in and kills Sweeney with a Yakuza kick.
Brent hulks up and the crowd go bananas and Albright unloads and scores with a back body drop. Brent unloads on Pearce as the crowd goes steadily more nuts. Brent then hits the 6-1-Knee and calls for the knee strikes. Brent gets the hammerlock and hits two big knee strikes before Pearce expertly counters to the figure four leg lock. Brent slowly makes his way to ropes to break the hold. Pearce runs straight into a boot but recovers by killing Brent with a lariat. Pearce goes for the piledriver but its countered with a back body drop for two and then a powerslam from Brent also gets a two count and both men are down.
Pearce gets an arm wrench and a huge right hand before hitting a back suplex and Pearce points to the top rope. Pearce heads up slowly and Brent looks out of it as Pearce hits the Big Splash for near fall. When Brent kicks out Pearce uses the momentum to apply the STF, Brent fades but manages to counter to the Crowbar unfortunately Pearce stretches his leg and reaches the bottom rope. Brent goes up top but Pearce recovers and shoves him off top and Brent goes crashing to the outside chest first through the table.
At nine Pearce pulls Albright back into the centre of the ring and hits a brutal piledriver and Brent kicks out at 2.999999!!! A big “Albright” chant rings out. Albright leapfrogs Pearce and hits the half nelson suplex and both men are down. The crowd come to life as Brent begins to fire himself up. Brent hits a second half nelson suplex for 2.7777!!! Both men brawl on there knees and we get a big “boo-yeah” exchange that gets progressively faster until Pearce rakes the eyes. Brent dodges a closeline and hits the rolling German suplexes, five german suplexes in total for a near fall and the crowd don’t believe it.
Brent is exhausted as he heads to the top rope and goes for a sunset flip but Pearce rolls through and goes for the figure four but Brent counters with an inside for a near fall and then when Pearce charges he takes him down with the crowbar and one big wrench and Pearce is forced to tap and the big celebrations kicks in.
Well perhaps my expectations were raised a little too high for this one as feel somewhat disappointed even though I’ve just witnessed a very good match. There was certainly a plodding rough around the edges feel to it but that was part of its charm. This match was good, but it flittered in between clicking perfectly and then failing just sort, three were glimpses of these two firing on all cylinders but they were fleeting. Pearce played his heel roll every well but Albright just lacks that special something baby faces need, he can roar and bring the crowd into the match but unlike John Cena or Jeff Hardy he can’t bring through body language and subtly facial expression the crowd into the match especially in the slower sections. All in all a good but not great match, that felt at time epic but equally at times also-ran. (***1/2)
The Briscoes are cutting one of their hick promos and are discussing getting back to their roots when Rhett Titus comes into the room to show them his video, Jay is shocked and says is that who I think it is! Mark says she’s a close friend of ours and says you must be stupid boy before chasing him away.
Claudio is then changing backstage when and interviewer burst in, he isn’t happy about this an explains this could be his last shot at the World Title and needs to focus.
Jimmy Jacobs vs. Necro Butcher vs. Austin Aries
Necro was reluctant to come out but Jimmy drags him through the curtain however by the time they make it to the ring everything seems in order and the two men overwhelm Aries and put the boots or the foot in in Necro’s case. Aries back body drops Necro to the outside before hitting a back elbow on Jimmy and the heat seeking Missile on Necro. Aries then quickly hits a top rope flying BACK RAKE!?! Aries hits a nice sidewalk slam for a near fall.
Aries begins to slowly work over Jimmy hitting a nice chest breaker and the momentum elbow for a two count. Necro seems hesitant to attack Aries who keeps stomping Necro to get him to back off. Jimmy manages to press slam Aries off the top rope with Necro providing the distraction. Both Jacobs and Necro hit headbutts but Necro looks reluctant to hurt Aries. Necro gets a chair and poses on the apron but Aries whips Jacobs into Necro knocking him off the apron. Jimmy tries to apologise but Aries goes for a brainbuster but Jimmy blocks and hits a spear. Necro looks shocked and asks the crowd what happened.
Necro returns to the ring and accuse Jacobs of hitting him in the back but Jimmy convinces him it was an accident and he stomps Aries and then holds Austin back for Jimmy to strike. Necro then pats Jimmy on the back and poses with Jacobs. Jacobs hits a kind of STO and then plays to crowd as Necro applies a choke. Aries tries to attack Jacobs but Necro cuts him off with a chair shot to the back and then hits the chair assisted body slam. Necro then holds Jimmy on the steel chair and allows Jimmy to hit the top rope senton back splash. Necro goes for the pin but Jimmy pulls him off the pin.
Jacobs gets on the mike and says your not here for you your here for me. Jimmy shoves Necro and tells him to scratch out Aries’ eyes so he sees no beauty just like Jimmy. Jacobs shoves and slaps Necro sending him into the ropes, while his back is turned Aries hits Necro in the back and throws Jimmy the chair. Necro turns shocked and Jimmy majorly begs off and stooges he even returns the chair to Necro but the Butcher punches it away and unloads on Jacobs killing him with a chair and walking off saying I don’t need him as Aries Smirks. Aries springs into action hitting a brutal running corner dropkick and the brainbuster before getting the 1-2-3 with the 450 splash.
More of an extended angle than a match but it was a great angle with the culmination of one chapter and the opening of another. Necro Butcher must really be commended he may be a sloppy and stiff worker but he really has a unique charisma and plays this sympathetic, ill educated, bum character to perfection. This was a big payoff to the live audience and there was some nice action and some good teases thrown in the drama completely makes up for the lack of a traditional match. (**1/2)
Daizee Haze is backstage and she says she has been rehabbing their back when The Motor City Machine Guns walk in and give her a big hug. The Guns then ask if she’d like to be the meat in a Machine Gun sandwich. They then run through some innuendo and Daizee wonders where this is all coming from and walks away. The Guns then turn their attention to Steen and Generico, they say Steen and Generico may have better physiques, better looks and better ring attire but they don’t have a win over the Briscoes and they certainly couldn’t pull Daizee Haze. They say tonights motto is point and shoot and tonight their point at Steenerico. Very fun segment.
Danielson then cuts a good variant of Danielson promo hyping how important and unpredictable tonight’s match is which is of course code for don’t get your hopes up he’s not winning.
Delirious then comes to the ring and in his own little language calls out Daizee Haze. He’s even wearing a suit and tie. Delirious looks nervous but finally works up the courage to ask Daizee if she’d like to go out on a date. Daizee looks all cute and flirty. Before Daizee can answer Rhett Titus’s music hits and he tells Delirious that he doesn’t want any part of Daizee Haze because she is used goods. Rhett then removes his trousers to reveal a picture of Daizee’s face on his trunks and he grinds his arse in Delirious’s face. Delrious kicks his arse and gets the microphone back. Delirious say “Bah Bah Bah Daizee Date with Me?”, Daizee looks all cute and says it’d be great fun to go out with him but it’d be better if they just stayed friends. THE CROWD GO FUCKING MENTAL Booing the shit out of Daizee and as she says its not you its me they let out a huge groan and a deathing “Bullshit” chant breaks out as Daizee tries to explain she’d say the same that to anyone and that she wants to go after the Shimmer title and concentrate but you could hardly hear a word over the most monsterous bullshit can’t in human history. The crowd chant “you got cock blocked” as Daizee walks away. This possible the biggest crowd heat I’ve seen for anything in any arena ever.
Naomanchi Marufugi vs. Go Shiozaki
Marufugi dodges a giant chop and then flips and kips out of an arm wrench to reverse the hold but go does the same and counters with a waist lock and then an arm bar. The crowd exchange “Marufugi/Shiozaki” chants. Marufugi again manages to evade knife edged chop. Go gets a shoulder tackle and counters a leap frog into a big chop. Marufugi goes for a big closeline but its instantly countered into an arm drag and Marufugi counters with a headlock takedown, before both men dodge superkicks and we have simultaneous dropkicks leading to a stand off. Good traditional start.
Go grabs a waist lock but Marufugi laughs it off and grabs an arm bar and an over the shoulder arm breaker. Marufugi methodically hits another but when he goes for the third Go counters with a sleeper but Marufugi immediately counters with a jawbreaker. Both men unload with forearm shivers before GO unloads with a giant chop but Marufugi responds with a spinning back kick however when Marufugi goes up top Go kills him with a sickening chop that sends Marufugi crashing to the outside.
Go follows Marufugi and introduces Naomanchi to the ringpost before rolling him back in for a nearfall. Go hits a running corner forearm and a lovely second rope knee drop for a near fall. Go applies the dragon sleeper but Marufugi is too near the ropes. Marufugi manages to return fire with a dropkick sending Go to the outside. Marufugi hits a spinning back kick and goes for the Asai but Go pulls him down hard onto the apron and hits a stiff chop before laying Marufugi on the apron and hitting his killer running knee strike for a near fall.
Marufugi charges but he’s met with a spinning back suplex and Go locks in a deathlock but Marufugi slowly makes the ropes. Go hangs Marufugi in the tree of woe and chops down Marufugi before hitting the sliding chop for a two count Marufugi back body drops Go onto the ring apron and then floats over and scores with a DDT on the ring apron. Marufugi then gives Go a pair of hard Irish whips into the barricade and a basement dropkick against the guard rail. Marufugi then hits a sick Brianbuster with Go’s head landing flat on the ring apron, great spot. The crowd chant “Marufugi” as the crowd go bananas.
Marufugi then brings Go into the ring with the between the ropes neck breaker before applying a chinlock? Marufugi then locks in a standing crossface and then crossface style cravat but Go makes the ropes. Marufugi lays on the second rope and then runs and hits a leaping basement dropkick from the floor and a cocky pin gets a near fall. Go tries to fight back but Marufugi sends Go staggering back across the ring with a spinning back kick and then stands on the face of Go Shiozaki. Go charges face first into a big boot and Marufugi uses a headscissors to send Go head first into the second turnbuckle. Marufugi then hits a back suplex for a two count. Marufugi hits a pair of chops and then a chop to the eye before hitting the flying elbow strike in the corner but Go comes back with a pop up ranna and big chop.
Marufugi fires back with a basement dropkick but he runs straight into a giant shoulder tackle. Go gets a series of running chops and the knee strike in the corner. Go plays to the crowd before hitting the flying knee drop off top. Marufugi gets his stalker rope running spot and hits a dropkick and then a running back elbow and a corner Russian legsweep and then a running knee strike to the back of the head. Marufugi looks like he’s going to hit a Sliced Bread but instead hits a front flip cutter manoeuvre that was just superb. Marufugi plays to the crowd before hitting a superkick on a kneeling Go for a near fall.
Go blocks the sliced bread but Marufugi floats out of the Go Flasher but can’t avoid the fisherman’s buster for a near fall. GO locks in the Dragon sleeper but Marufugi kicks his way, Go goes for a powerbomb but its countered to a double underhook but that’s countered to a powerbomb into the turnbuckle. Go sees the Stalker rope running coming and counters with a sleeper which he then adapts into the Dragon Sleeper and Marufugi is right in the centre of the ring, Go then turns the hold over so Marufugi can’t kick his way out but Naomanchi makes the ropes.
Marufugi tries to bails but Go catches him on the apron and goes for a German suplex but Marufugi counters with the Sliced Bread from the apron to the floor and the crowd go totally nuts. Marufugi plays to the crowd and rests in the corner as the crowd chant “NOAH”. Marufugi waits for Go to crawl back into the ring and hits a killer slingshot basement dropkick for a nearfall. Marufugi goes for the Sliced Bread but Go crotches him in the tree of woe gives him a stiff chop and then a big Lariat sending him down hard. Go then hits a superkick and the Falcon Arrow for a 2.999999999999 count! Marufugi then immediately counters the GO Flasher into the Sliced Bread Number Two and both men are down and the crowd chant “This is Awesome”.
Go runs into an enzenguri, Marufugi runs into stiff back elbow, Marufugi does his rope running move to hit a closeline but Go responds in kind with a monstrous closeline. Both men swat away super kicks and then Marufugi slips out of a torture rack more and Go elbows out of a waist lock. Marufugi hits some big chops and then the driving curb stomp Marufugi then fakes a kick of death and hits a step up basement enzenguri. Marufugi then kills Go with a superkick, Go tries to respond with a closeline but he’s met with the most Lethal reverse Roundhouse Kick I’ve ever seen, bloody hell, Marufugi the Pulse shift for the 1-2-3
That was a thoroughly excellent match, it had some awkward spots early on when both men seemed lost for ideas and applied some uninspired and illogical chinlocks. That is only a minor slight on a match that created such great swathes of unique innovative offence and incredible near fall. These guys are incredibly tight and crisp with there strikes and this was a fun Japanese psychology match up with Marufugi on offence for the majority of the match up. The best aspect of this match up is that they refreshing consistently did the opposite of what was expected. (****)
Tyler Black cuts a decent promo that is mostly gibberish its a shame for him that he has that lisp because over than that he carries himself very well.
Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. The Motor City Machine Guns
Even after the gruelling last match up the crowd don’t seemed burnt out and back and forth chanting erupts from the get go as the two teams shove each other and Shelley gives everyone the finger. Todd Sinclair breaks up the shoving and Kevin Steen makes fun of the Guns, a huge “Motor City” chant erupts. Generico Sabin start this match up, Sabin gets an arm wrench but Generico flips and powers out, Sabin flips and kips to counter leading to standoff.
Alex Shelley tags in to a huge round of chants. Shelley kicks Generico in the gut and gives him and over the shoulder arm drag and mocks Generico before giving him a chop in the arse and a bow and arrow hold. Generico slips out and hits an arm drag and a dropkick to regain control. Shelley bites to counter a chinlock and Sabin tags in leaping over Shelley to score with an axe handle. Generico tags in Steen who misses a wild swing as a “Mr. Wrestling” chant erupts. Sabin can’t budge Sabin with a shoulder tackle, nor can he with two more, before Steen hits him down hard with a shoulder tackle of his own. Sabin has more luck with the flying headscissors and he introduces Steen to Shelley’s boots. Shelley calls for Sabin to repeat the process and plays to the crowd but instead Steen throws Sabin into Shelley’s boots hangs Shelley in the ropes and gives him and enzenguri before mocking the MCMG sign. Very fun little spot there.
Generico puts his boot up and Shelley is promptly introduced to it. Generico gets a drop toe hold and Steen scores with the front flip leg drop and plays to the crowd and Generico gets a near fall. Steen makes fun of Sabin in Shelley’s face so Sabin spits at Steen, Steen fires a snot rocket, Shelley fires a huge about of snot back and the spit at each other until Shelley falls off the apron. Generico scores with a backbreaker but Shelley and Sabin hit a deathlock and rings of Saturn combination on Generico, Steen breaks the hold. Shelley tries a sunset flip but Shelley blocks and gives Steen and enzenguri before tossing him out of the ring. Sabin gets a full nelson pin for a near fall and then Sabin runs off of Shelley’s back to dropkick Steen off the apron. The Guns then hits double stiff kicks on Generico to gain total control.
Shelley lays Generico in the ropes and hits a basement dropkick to the head of Generico. Sabin tags in the Guns hit a double spinebuster and then a Mexican surfboard bulldog combo for a nearfall. Shelley applies a chinlock drawing a big “Ole” chant. Generico fires back with some open hand chops but is cut off with a running closeline. The Guns then hit a double reverse elbow, double suplex, double leg drop combination before playing to the crowd. Sabin hits a bow and arrow stretch variant for a two count. The Guns then apply a double foot choke in the corner, Generico attempts to fight out of the corner but Shelley slaps on a unique step over standing double arm stretch before getting a unique pin for a two count. Shelley spits a Steen who fires back with snot. Sabin goes for a dropkick but Generico avoids it, Generico gets a standing switch on Shelley and shoves him face first into Sabins balls. The race is on but Sabin cleverly runs around and pulls Steen off the apron just as Generico dives for the tag. Generico levels Shelley with a boot and gets a victory roll on Sabin but when Sabin kicks out it launches Generico across the ring.
HOT TAG!!! Steen lays out Sabin before hitting a big back body drop and kicking the ropes into Shelley’s balls. Steen then hits a double closeline put Sabin in a back pack and hits a senton back splash on Sabin with Shelley on his back. Steen then plays to the crowd, Shelley tries to hug Sabin to protect him from Steen but Steen just slugs him down and it buys Sabin time for a spinning back kick but a pop up ranna is countered into a powerbomb but when Sabin kicks out Steen locks on the Sharpshooter. Steen sees Shelley coming and knocks him out of the ring with a sloppy superkick and reapplies the sharpshooter, Generico then takes out Shelley with a front flip tope. Sabin makes the ropes and Steen heads up top but Sabin cuts him off and hits Generico with a spinning back kick and gets ready for a powerbomb, Shelley runs onto Sabin’s back and hits a super jaw breaker sending Steen into the corner, Sabin then gives Generico a running splash mountain bomb onto Steen, great stuff.
Sabin and Shelley hit the stereo kick and enzenguri combination for a near fall. Sabin goes to the top rope and Shelley puts Generico in the Electric Chair, Generico slips out and crotches Sabin and gives Shelley a Michkinoku Driver. Generico then gives Shelley and Sabin running corner Yakuza kicks but when he plays to the crowd Sabin returns fire with a running Yakuza kick of his own. Steen breaks up the Craddle Shock and Gives Sabin the pump handle Neck breaker and goes up top and Steen goes for the Swanton but is met with knees and Shelley crotches Steen. Shelley gives Steen the Shell Shock for a near fall and Sabin tries a super cradle shock but its blocked, the turnbuckle brainbuster is block and Shelley sneaks in with an enzenguri allowing Sabin to hit a frankenstiener that flips Generico so he hits a swanton on Steen. Shelley then hits a frog splash on Steen for a near fall!
Sabin and Shelley goes for the powerbomb Sliced bread combo but Steen makes the save and hits the cannon ball in the corner on Sabin. Generico then absolutely kills Shelley with the Super Turnbuckle Brainbuster, that move is just sickening. Steen locks Sabin in the sharp shooter, Sabin tries to make the ropes but Steen pulls him back to the centre and Sabin has to tap.
Well that was certainly a very good match with lots of intricate double team moves, and some great counters and exchanges, the Machine Guns offense is a little too cute but its none the less very good. The real key to the match was the brilliant battle between Steen and Shelley to see who could be the bigger prick, I haven’t seen that much snot fly in along time, and Steen really brought out the intensity that the Machine Guns usually lack with their flashy offense. Very cool match one that some will absolutely adore but I’ve seen so many of these everything breaks down ROH tag matches that while this was top end stuff, other than the novelty of seeing Shelley and Sabin back it didn’t stand out that much.(****)
The Briscoes are celebrating backstage when Daizee comes in to celebrate and she offers to help them even up the odds with AotF and take out Mischif, they say thanks but are clearly uncomfortable and don’t look particularly thrilled to see Daizee they make their excuse about needing a beer and go offstage.
Steen is backstage when Generico busts in and says “Kev, ci, Meu Biene”, Steen cuts a money promo saying he should be happy about the victory but he is focused on winning ROH this goal this year, and they should focus on getting back to doing what they do best so that when they return to Dayton Ohio they have ROH gold.
ROH World Title
Four Way Elimination Match
Bryan Danielson vs. Tyler Black vs. Claudi Castagnoli vs. Nigel McGuiness
The crowd start with a friendly chant of “fuck you Nigel” and then “your gonna get fuckin’ head kicked in”. All free men close in on Nigel but Nigel tells them to bring it on but then goes onto the apron and decides to let Danielson and Claudio start the match. Claudio and Danielson exchange waist locks leading to stalemate. Claudio takes Dragon down with a test of strengths and Danielson rolls and goes for the surfboard but Claudio makes the ropes. Both Nigel and Black make blind tags and Nigel hits Danielson with a lariat and Black kills Nigel with a dropkick. Black then hits a front flip plancha onto Danielson and Castagnoli hits a suicide dive. Interesting start.
Black does his signature fake dropkick spot and scores with a back body drop on Nigel before Dragon tags in. Dragon wrestles Black into the corner and kicks the crap out of Tyler in the corner. Nigel tags in for a cheap shot but when Tyler fights back Nigel tags in Claudio. Claudio hits a gut wrench suplex and goes for a suplex but its blocked and Black takes Claudio down and scores with a knee drop. Nigel again blind tags and scores with a quick dropkick for a series of one counts. Claudio dodges a closeline and hits a springboard diving European uppercut. Nigel immediately tags out and brings Dragon in. A bit lifeless but some good action and psychology in that section.
Claudio powers Dragon down but can’t break Bryan’s bridge and Danielson counters with a huge monkey flips. They trade some big European uppercuts, its pretty even until Dragon uses a roundhouse kick and tags in Black. Black gets a corner closeline, a snapmare and a second rope neck whip. Nigel gets another blind tag and scores with a hard Irish whip and a back body drop. Nigel the knocks Nigel off the referee and scores with a snap mare and a spinal tap, Nigel then knocks Black off the apron. Claudio fires back with European uppercuts and Danielson won’t tag in so Nigel has to absorb a European combo, the spinning face buster and the water slide for a near fall. Black gets a blind tag on Claudio and Nigel uses this opportunity to beg of and distract Claudio allowing Black to dropkick him out of the ring. Nigel then presses Black all the way to the outside. Dragon then comes into the ring with a springboard torpedo dropkick on Nigel but Nigel then bails.
Claudio tries to sneak in with German suplex but Dragon lands on his feet and tries a ranna but Claudio rolls through into an inverted torture rack back breaker but then Tyler returns to the ring and boots Claudio in the face. Nigel then sneaks in and plants Black with a DDT and Danielson gives Nigel a German suplex and all four men are down. Claudio and Black and Nigel and McGuinness exchange strikes. Black slams Claudio and goes up top but Nigel catches him and goes for the Tower of London but he’s shoved off and Dragon kills Nigel with the running knee strike. Danielson locks in Cattle Mutilation as Tyler Black dives off top over the submission hold scoring with a flying crossbody on Claudio for two. Nigel rolls out of the hold but Danielson keeps control and unloads with the elbow strikes of near certain death until Claudio lifts him off with waist lock to a round of boos and a german suplex gets two. Black hits a lionsault on Claudio for two. Claudio counters God’s Last Gift and puts Claudio on top and gives him an enzenguri. Dragon rolls out of no where and locks in the Triangle Choke but Claudio manages to make the ropes. Nigel crotches Black and scores with the second rope lariat.
Nigel and Dragon go head to head and unload, Nigel misses the jawbreaker but hits a regular closeline. Dragon then back flips over Nigel and hits his diving closeline sending Nigel to the outside. Dragon baseball slides Nigel into the front row and then scores with a springboard cannonball plancah. Dragon tries the torpedo dropkick but Claudio counters to the Giant Swing but at the end Dragon counters with a cradle for a 2.9999! They trade uppercuts until Claudio hits the Pop Up European and goes for the cover but at two Dragon counters to the Small Package of Certain Doom and that gets the 1-2-3. Claudio is in complete and utter disbelief he can’t believe that was it. Claudio gets in the referees face and the crowd chant “get the fuck out”, Danielson says well done and offers a handshake and Claudio looks to leave but turns and kills Danielson with the pump kick, the Ricolla bomb and then pounds the shit out of Danielson. The officials try to drag Claudio away but he returns with a chair and kills the officials and lays the chair on Danielson’s head and stomps it down. After a fight the officials finally manage to remove Claudio as Nigel smirks and looks on Claudio Castagnoli has been eliminated.
Nigel can’t believe his luck and sneaks back into the ring and tries to lift Danielson who is selling like he’s barely conscious, when Danielson gingerly stands up right Nigel brutalizes him with a lariat for the 1-2-3. Bryan Danielson Has Been Eliminated.
That leaves two, Nigel is looking pretty pleased with himself but doesn’t realize that Tyler Black is on the apron. Black then scores with a big springboard closeline and then the head of steam corner closeline and then a slingshot twisting leg lariat and a hangmans neckbreaker gets a near fall. The crowd chant “Tyler Black” as he goes for the Frog Splash but Nigel rolls out of the way and gets a two count. Nigel goes for the tower of London as Marufugi looks on but Black blocks and Nigel instead goes for a superple. Tyler shoves Nigel off top but he comes back with a throat thurst, “let’s go Nigel/Fuck You Nigel” chants ring out as Tyler fights off Nigel and scores with a frog splash for a near fall. Nigel responds with the hammerlock divorce court for a two count. Nigel then hits a short arm lariat for a near fall. Nigel then sets Black up and scores with the Tower Of London for another near fall.
Tyler begins to fire back as Nigel dares him to hit him, Black hits a dropkick and Nigel uses the momentum to try for the Jaw Breaker Lariat but Black in a tremendous counter turns it into the turnbuckle running powerbomb and then hits a immediate F-5 for a near fall. The crowd were big time into that near fall. Black runs into a boot and Nigel goes up top but Tyler kips up and catches him on the top rope and goes for a superplex and scores with it and rolls through into the paroxysm for another near fall. Black hits a superkick for another near fall! Black is in complete and utter disbelief! Nigel response with chin breaker and a spinning Lariat for a near fall and now Nigel can’t believe it! Black kicks his way out of the London Dungeon and counters the Jaw Breaker into GOD’s Last Gift 1-2-2999999999999999999999999!!!! Black goes for the Pheonix splash but gets nothing but air and Nigel brutalizes Black with a lariat but that only gets two as a huge “Tyler Black” chant rings out.
Nigel scores with another Tower Of London, a head of steam forearm and a running lariat for a nearfall. Big “Let’s Go Tyler” chant is erupting, Black misses a blind charge and is met with the back kick closeline combo. Nigel crotches Black but misses the second rope diving Lariat! Black goes for a springboard move but is met with an absolutely devastating Lariat for 1-2-2.99999 the crowd really though that was it. Nigel locks in the London Dungeon and Black has nowhere to go and it looks like it’s over when Black counters to a small package for another incredible nearfall. Tyler dodges a lariat and hits a pele but that seemingly pisses off Nigel who explodes with a killer Lariat and then drags Black to his feet who hits Black with an even more devastating Lariat for the 1-2-3.
Well that was another really good match on a really good show. The final portion with Black was yet again utterly superb with the fans buying into each an every nearfall. The early half of the match had extreme highs but some very mediocre and meaningless moments scattered throughout, the Claudio turn on Danielson was handled superbly handled and from then on in the crowd was red hot. This match despite the quality throughout was a case of subtraction by addition. Normally the throwaway nature of the first half would drop this down to three star range but the Claudio turn made the opening half of the match just as relevant as the Tyler Black-McGuiness final showdown. (****1/4)
Overall Thoughts: Incredibly strong show from ROH, there were four very good matches on the show, but beyond this there were three incredibly important and very well executed angles on this show, this show was the perfect combination of a light undercard with big matches in a variety of styles and hugely newsworthiness, huge recommendation. (9/10)
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