ROH New Horizons
Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black are in the ring and they say that now they are ROH Tag Team champions and they can now spread their revolution and they are glad to see the revolution is alive and strong here in Detroit. Jacobs says as there are no real contenders they refuse to defend the World Tag Team Titles. The Briscoes then run out and clear the ring and demand a title match but The Age Of The Fall refuse and try to walk away but Austin Aries comes from the back and brawls with Jacobs into the dressing room. The crowd chant “Welcome Back” in Mark’s direction and Dave Prazak announces that they have some ready stand in opponents for the Briscoes.
The Briscoe Brothers vs. Mitch Franklin & Silas Young
Jay closelines Mitchlin over the top rope as Young hits the Finley roll and headstand and split legged moonsault. Jay kills Young with a superkick and Mark hits a diving lariat from the second rope. The Briscoes then give Franklin a huge Flapjack and a monster Hip toss, Young tries to sneak in with a springboard lariat but Jay catches him and counters to an exploder before they finish Mitch Franklin with the Springboard Doomsday Device.
That was an insanely impressive squash to get the crowd absolutely rocking. (*)
We then go to a video feature on the Briscoes showing how Southern they are and they say that they are no longer going to be so flashy and pander to the crowd they’re going back to their brawling roots.
Four Corner Survival
Delirious vs. Erick Stevens vs. Ruckus vs. Shane Hagadorn
Delirious goes crazy to start chasing Hagadorn out of the ring before running into a shoulder tackle from Stevens. Delirious comes back with a arm wrench and a headbutt to the gut, Stevens no sells Delirious lariats and hits a nice Samoan drop. Hagadorn tags in and unloads on Delirious. Delirious floats out of a back suplex and tags in Ruckus. Ruckus hits the hand spring pele on Stevens but misses a kick of death and Stevens scores with an overhead belly to belly suplex. Ruckus uses agility to make a tag and Stevens unloads on Hagadorn with big strikes . Hagadorn tries to run away but Delirious and Ruckus throw Stevens back in for his beating. Stevens hits a stiff chop and then Delirious gets an avalanche, Erick Stevens gets the CHoo Choo and Ruckus hits a handspring moonsault for two. Ruckus then hits a front flip plancha on Hagadorn. Delirious counters the Choo Choo with a drop toe hold and the Panic Attack but is crotched ontop by Hagadorn, Delirious recovers and hits the Shadows Over Hell. Ruckus hits the corkscrew neckbreaker and the moonsault leg drop for a near fall. Hagadorn hits a back drop driver and plays to the crowd but doesn’t see Stevens coming with a big Lariat and the Doctor Bomb finishes the match up.
All action not much of a match up but fun and fast paced to keep a high octane tempo to the PPV. (*3/4)
Austin Aries comes to the ring to a huge reaction and says his feud with Jimmy Jacobs transcends the ordinary blood feud and he says this feud is about beating each over its about mental anguish. This is at a level so deep that we couldn’t help to comprehend so he calls out Jimmy Jacobs. Jacobs makes his way out slowly and Tyler Black tries a sneak attack but Aries sees that coming and he clears Tyler out of ring. Austin Aries does not however see Mischif coming who hits a stiff low blow and allows Jimmy to mug Aries with the rail road spike as Age of the Fall promo airs. Kevin Steen comes out and asks when he’s going to get his tag team title shot. Jacobs says he has to earn it he doesn’t just get it for free. Steen says he’s proved it on every PPV but he’ll happily kick both their arse singlehandedly. However Jimmy says no and Necro Butcher attacks from behind.
Kevin Steen vs. Necro Butcher
Necro hits a double arm suplex on the entrance ramp that was brutal, Necro then hits Steen with the guard rail before Steen replies hitting Necro with the ring bell and then ringing it in his ears. Necro chokes Steen with the ring apron before Steen responds with a hard Irish whip into the ring apron and then a running powerslam onto the apron.
They return to ring where Steen gets a two count. Steen rips away at the face of Necro and then bites the forehead of the Butcher. Necro responds with a flapjack dropping Kevin Steen throat first onto the top rope. Necro kicks the crap out of Steen in the corner and pulls away at the nose of Kevin Steen. Steen fires off with a big right hand but Necro responds with some huge rights to subdue Steen. Steen gets a sunset flip and tries to lock in the Sharp Shooter but Necro punches his way and out and locks in a sleeper hold, the crowd really come to life.
Steen fights his way out but runs straight into a big right hand that sends Steen crashing to the outside. Steen hits in the gut with a chair and then military press Necro off the apron through a chair. Steen then hits a frogsplash from the apron to the outside. Back in the ring Steen plays to the crows before going for the Swanton Bomb but Necro gets the knees up. Necro lays a chair in the ring and hits his chop punch combo in the corner and follows it up with a bulldog onto the chair for a near fall. Necro sets up a chair and goes for the Tiger Driver but Steen fights it off, Necro blocks a closeline but Steen blocks a big foot and crotches Necro butcher. Steen hits A MIKINOUKU DRIVER THROUGH A CHAIR!!! But it only gets a 2.999999 count and Steen finally finishes Necro with the Package Piledriver on a steel chair for the 1-2-3.
Very stiff very fun hardcore brawl with an insanely sick spot with Necro’s head getting buried in the steel chair. (**1/2)
Adam Pearce then cuts a very good promo on Brent Albright explaining what he’s going to do to Brent Albright and why he joined Larry Sweeney. Pearce cuts money promos.
Sweeney offers Marufugi a place in Sweet and Sour Inc. But Marufugi tells him to go fuck himself. Larry Sweeney says e doesn’t want to wrestle tonight and leads the boys to the back. Storm comes from the back to be serious for a minute and he says Sweeney’s not getting out of here without going through him
Sweet & Sour Incorporated Vs. Roderick Strong & Naomanchi Marufugi
Go and Strong starts, GO gets a series of chops and a shoulder tackle but Strong responds no selling a chop and hitting a running leg lariat. Strong unloads with stiff chops and Go replies in kind before taking Roderick down with a dropkick. Hero and Marufugi tag and in and Naomanchi quickly takes down Hero. Hero runs Naomanchi runs Hero into the top rope but Naomanchi responds by dropping Hero throat first on the top rope. Go tags in and unloads with some stiff chops but Marufugi replies with a running back elbow and a back body drop. Strong comes in and they get an insanely fast back breaker basement dropkick combo.
Strong lays in a series of stiff chops on Go before missing a blind charge. Hero pulls Strong to the outside and gives Strong a big boot on the outside. Go hits the running corner chop and tags in Chris Hero. Hero lays the boots in on Strong and keeps control with some big forearms. Strong tries to fight back but is tossed to the floor, Sweet and Sour think about an attack but Storm keeps them back. Hero chokes Strong on the apron and then distracts the ref allowing Go to hit his running knee strike. Hero then hits a senton back splash and GO follows up with a knee drop for a two count. Strong begins to fight back and hits the leaping Leg Lariat. Go applies a Dragon sleeper to stop an potential of a hot tag. Strong fights out of the hold with knee strikes but Go takes Strong to the corner and hangs Strong in the tree of Woe. Hero hits a running basement dropkick in the corner for a two count. Hero places Strong on the top Rope and Go hits his big chop sending Storm down hard onto the back of his neck. Go unloads with strikes but is met with an suprise Enzenguri.
HOT TAG! Marufugi hits two dropkicks and then a basement dropkick combo on Hero while dodging GO’s closeline and then hits GO with a lariat. Marufugi runs Go face first into the turnbuckle and then Strong his a brutal stiff kick. Marufugi hits the Superkick but it only gets a near fall. GO counters the sliced bread putting Go on to the top rope, GO then blocks a Swinging DDT, Marufugi blocks a suplex with knee strikes but can’t avoid a Fisherman’s buster. Hero tags in but runs straight into a Superkick, Marufugi again goes for the Sliced Bread but Hero stays on his feet, they do some flip counters and then Hero hits a flipping bit boot for a near fall. Strong dodges a roaring elbow and the faces hit a gutbuster code breaker combo for a near fall. Go unloads with chops on Marufugi but Go is then killed by a superkick, Hero hits two roaring elbows on Marufugi knocking him out but he didn’t see the blind tag allowing Strong to hit a diving Yakuza kick and the half nelson back breaker for the win.
Started rather indifferently and a little plodding, the match picked up through the gears very nicely and the final few minutes were very fast paced and exciting. The formulae ROH breaking down of the tag team is completely over played and tired but this match had enough energy in the finish to make the cliché nature of the ending acceptable. (**3/4)
Brent Albright then cuts another promo about recovering from Pearce’s fire ball attack and how he’s missing out on a pay and day and how his children are now afraid of their Daddy’s burnt face. He then promises vengeance on Adam Pearce, surprisingly strong promo from Brent.
We then get a brief vignette of Claudio and he speaks about how both he and Nigel fulfilled the American dream and he has great respect for Nigel but this is his time.
ROH World Title
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Nigel McGuiness
The crowd chant “Your a Wanker” in Nigel’s direction, I have to say not a bad impression from the crowd. Claudio hits the Pump kick for a near fall straight away for a near fall and then goes for the RIcolla Bomb but Nigel counters to the unwrapping short arm closeline, Claudio HULKS UP and hits the Ricolla Bomb for a near fall! Nigel bails to the outside but Claudio won’t give him any time at all and unloads with European Uppercuts and beats Danielson around the ring. Super Hot Start.
The crowd chant for Claudio as they return to the ring, Nigel flicks the ropes back into Claudios face. Claudio gives Nigel a forearm off the apron sending Nigel crashing into the barricade and goes for a Suicide dive but Nigel counters with a throat thrust. Nigel goes for the Tower of London but gets distracted telling the crowd to go fuck themselves and instead Claudio fights his way out putting Nigel in a caveat and flipping Nigel Upside down into the barricade twice. Nigel then recovers with the rebound roaring elbow. Nigel crotches Claudio on the guard rail but Claudio blocks the lariat and goes for a springboard but Nigel blocks dragging Claudio throat first over the guard rail. Nigel then hits the Tower of London on the outside. THIS IS AN INSANE START.
The pace slows down as Nigel takes over working over Claudio with European uppercuts reminding the referee that he has until five. Claudio responses with some Europeans and we get a “Boo-Hey” exchange but Nigel counters the final European into a spinning lariat. Nigel gets in Claudio’s face and bitch slaps him before locking Claudio in a headscissors. Nigel then drives Claudio’s face repeatedly into the mat and tells the crowd he’s the best wrestler in the world. The crowd are just white hot. Nigel gets a stiff kick to the chest before locking in a vertical style Bow and arrow hold but Claudio flips over and counters into a cover for a two count. Nigel doesn’t give Claudio a second and hits a DDT for a near fall. Claudio runs into a back elbow and then Nigel hits the headstand and mule kick for a two count. Nigel slaps on a front face lock and then switches to a cravat. Claudio tries to fight up and out but he’s met with a snap mare and knee strike for two count. Nigel cockily lays his boot into the face of Claudio and goes for the headstand but Claudio slides underneath dodges and hits a diving second rope European uppercut.
Claudio unloads with a series of ten left and right handed European uppercuts. Claudio hits a kitchen sink and Spinning face buster combo. Claudio then closelines Nigel out of the ring and the crowd get ready and Claudio hits a lovely suicide European Uppercut. Claudio goes up top but Nigel catches him and goes for the Tower of London but Claudio blocks and they battle on top. Claudio unloads with a series of Forearms taking Nigel down but Nigel manages to evade the flying cross body. Nigel then hits a hammerlock divorce court for a two count. Claudio misses a blind charge and Nigel gets the back kick closeline combination before hitting the Tower Of London for a near fall. The crowd are going Bananas for Claudio now.
Claudio cuts off the head off steam with a running European and the Pump Kick for a near fall, Claudio goes for a Ricolla bomb but its blocked and Nigel goes for a Jawbreaker, Claudio blocks he tries again and Claudio counters to the Giant Swing for a nearfall, that was a tremendous spot. Claudio misses a blind charge and Nigel crotches Claudio on the top rope and Nigel goes for a the closeline but Claudio counters with a soft but impressive enzenguri and then a superplex for a near fall. Claudio then hits a dead lift German for a near fall, then the Water Slide for a near fall, the crowd are just going nuts. Nigel counters the RIcolla Bomb with the short arm lariat but Claudio dodges and hits a second rope diving European uppercut and Nigel Rebounds with the Jaw Breaker but Claudio counters into Claudio counters with the Pop Up European for a neafall. Claudio hits the RIcolla bomb for 2.99999999, Claudio holds on and goes for another Ricolla bomb but Nigel slips out the back and goes for the Jaw Breaker but that’s countered into a Backslide for a nearfall. Nigel counters a roll up for a two count but when he’s kicked off he rebounds with the Jawbreaker Lariat for the 1-2-3.
That was absolutely brilliant, I honestly didn’t think Claudio Castagnoli could have a match that good but I stand correct this was just sublime. The pace was insane from the start and was very refreshing and creative, the counters were superb, there was a lull in the middle when Nigel’s offence was a bit uninspired (but I should point out by uninspired I mean not five star quality not in anyway bad), the match then kicked right back up into top gear. This match surpassed all my expectations and was very close to five stars, I just felt it had that one blip and lacked the intense psychology of Danielson-McGuinnes at Driven and was more of a movesfest than a total package, none the less superb match definite Match of the year contender. (****1/2)
Tyler Black vs. Bryan Danielson
Tyler jumps Dragon during while he tried to take off his ring jacket and kicks the crap out of him. Tyler then chokes Danielson with the ring jacket and then aggressively grinds his boot in Danielson’s face. Bryan slides under Tyler’s legs and hits a dragon screw leg whip and goes for the running knee strike but Tyler bails to regroup. Intense fast paced start.
Tyler tries a wrestling takedown but Dragon counters into his arm bar but Black responds with a snapmare and an arm drag to counter. Black grabs an arm bar and pulls the hair on Danielson hard. Dragon flips and rolls and counters the arm bar into a dropkick. Dragon then battles and unloads with stiff kicks to the leg and back and then gets the snapmare and spinal tap. Dragon gets a two count and then a disgusting leg stretch reminiscent of a half crab, Black turns out of the hold but Dragon turns it into a Indian Deathlock, which the crowd just love and then Dragon gets an incredible Indian Deathlock pin for a near fall. The crowd chant “Best in the World”.
Black powers Danielson into the corner and unloads with strikes but he gets cocky and Dragon responds with a pair of European uppercuts and then the armscrew and the Wrist lock of certain death and the elbow stomp, Dragon doesn’t let up going straight to the butterfly suplex cross arm breaker combo. Black immediately powers up and kicks Danielson in the head to break the hold. Dragon unloads with big kicks to the chest and then applies an absolutely brutal arm an wristlock that looks like Black’s elbow will pop out. Dragon then goes to hammerlock and treads brutally down on the other arm. HUGE “THIS IS WRESTLING” you damn fucking right.
Dragon charges with a shoulderblock and then counters a hip toss and suplexes Black onto the apron, Black tries to suplex Dragon over the top rope but Dragon counters with a knee strike and lands on the apron. Dragon goes for a hangman’s neckbreaker but Black counters and Dragon crashes and burns onto the ring apron and down to the floor. Black then throws Dragon through the barricade and into the crowd before laying his head against the ringpost and going to work. Black lays Dragon on the apron and lays in a kick to the chest and then a running boot to the back of the head.
Back in the ring Black gets a mount and unloads with some ground pound. Black then chokes Danielson over the second rope and then stands on Danielson’s back and chokes Danielson before back flipping and playing to the crowd. Black bitch slaps Danielson and he’s Hulking up. Dragon unloads with two European uppercuts and runs straight into a sleeper hold and Dragon fades. Dragon fights out but is cut right off with a leaping leg lariat. Black then stands on the side of the face and drops a stomp. Black then throws Dragon hard neck first into the mat. Black follows up with a nice hangman’s neck breaker for a two count. Dragon fires back with a European and two big kicks to the chest before Dragon unloads with a running dropkick.
Tyler misses a blind charge and Danielson gets the running forearm strike, the kitchen sink and then a brutal spinal tap for a two count. Black cuts Danielson off with an eye rake and unloads with some big right hands. Dragon dodges a closeline and kills Black with a diving closeline and then Dragon goes straight up top with the torpedo dropkick. Black bails and regroups as Dragon sells the neck but he kips up. Dragon goes for the suicide dive but Black runs toward it and dodges and Dragon crashes and burns. Black then hits a moonsault press killing Dragon.
Black returns to the ring with a springboard closeline for a near fall. “Let’s Go Dragon” chant rings out, Black hits another nice hangman’s neck breaker for a two count. Tyler asks if Dragon’s had enough and gives him a giant bitch slap, he tells Dragon his time his over and gives him a bitch slap, he tells Dragon that he is the revolution and another bitch slap. Black gets a head of Steam but Black runs straight into big boot and then a running knee strike turns Black inside out for a nearfall. Dragon then locks in Cattle Mutilation and Black slowly crawls to the ropes. Allowing Dragon to remind the ref he has until five. Dragon then lays in three bitch slaps, the crowd want one more and they get it.
Dragon goes for a Tiger suplex but Black LANDS ON HIS FEET and hits a Ranna and we go to a near fall exchange and Tyler counters a bridging pin into a rear naked choke and Dragon fades. The referee checks the arm but Danielson won’t give it up. Dragon replies with a Sleeper of his own and then turns that into the crossarmbreaker, Black tries the same counter as earlier in the match but Dragon knows its coming and locks in the Triangle Choke. Black fades but manages to power up and breaks the hold by hitting a running Powerbomb into the Turnbuckle that BREAKS THE FUCKING TOP ROPE WHICH GOES FLYING!!! Both men are down as a huge “holy shit” chant rings out.
Both men make it to their feet and both men exchange strikes Danielson hulks up but misses a closeline and Black hits a pele, Black whips Dragon who manages to do the back flip spot even with the broken top rope but Black catches Dragon and hits the F-5 and the superkick for a 2.999999999. The crowd chant “Please don’t stop”, Black then hits God’s Last Gift for a nearfall. Black looks frustrated and he knows there’s no top rope so he can’t use the Pheonix Splash. They exchange forearms with the “Boo-Yeah” affect, Danielson hulks up and gets the open palm strike combination which takes Black to a knee, Danielson pounces and hits the Elbow Strikes of Certain Death for the knock out.
That was another absolute classic match up. This wasn’t as smooth in execution as the previous match up but this match made up for it with huge intensity, great story and Danielson through in some brilliant scientific wrestling in the early portions from Danielson. This match did have a plodding section with Black on offence, he really doesn’t have a full heel offensive move set, but this didn’t matter a jot as the match continued to build and build getting steadily more intense as it went along until Dragon over came Black in a battle of wills. The ring breaking powerbomb was an incredible moment and full credit to both men for calling an audible and creating a memorable finish. (****3/4)
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