The first ROH PPV!
Ring of Honor in association with G-Funk!
New York City!
BJ Whitmer is in the ring. He issues an open challenge.
Respect Is Earned open.
The challenge is answered by the ROH World Champion, Takeshi Morishima! He indicates that he’s putting the title on the line. Dave Prazak and Lenny Leonard are on commentary.
ROH World Championship Match: Takeshi Morishima (c) vs. BJ Whitmer. They trade elbows. Whitmer can’t knock Morishima down. Morishima can hit a sidewalk slam. Morishima just shoves the referee out of his way. He goes for backdrop driver, but Whitmer lands on top for like 0. Whitmer hits the Exploder for 2. Whitmer hits a lariat for 2. Whitmer hits a frog splash for 2. Whitmer goes for the wrist-clutch Exploder, but fails. Whitmer still can’t knock Morishima down. Morishima nails Whitmer with a lariat, then a big boot for 2. Morishima hits another lariat for 2. Morishima hits the backdrop driver for the pin in 2:52 to retain the title. Good way to make Morishima look like a beast.
Nigel McGuinness comes out and challenges Morishima for the next title shot. Bryan Danielson comes out to a big pop, returning from a 5 month absence. He also wants a title shot. Danielson and Nigel banter, then start brawling. Danielson and Morishima team up to take out Nigel. Danielson picks up the belt and says it’s his. Morishima snatches it away and leaves. Nigel gets up ready to fight, but Danielson leaves.
Brent Albright hype video.
Bobby Cruise is the ring announcer.
Rocky Romero vs. Naomichi Marufuji. They have neat little video packages to show highlights of the wrestlers. Romero takes Marufuji down. Marufuji does some gorgeous wrestling. Romero locks in an Octopus hold. He turns it into a cradle for 2. Marufuji locks in an abdominal stretch. He turns it into a ground Cobra Twist for 2. More gorgeous mat wrestling to a stalemate and applause from the crowd. Marufuji runs the ropes and ducks a knee. Marufuji leap frogs Romero. Romero lands with some kicks. Really quick action, which I love, but it’s hard to transcribe. I don’t know how court transcribers do their job. I could never keep up with every little thing like that. Romero takes Marufuji down into a cross armbreaker. Awesome. He lets go and throws hard kicks at Marufuji’s arm. Romero works the arm. Marufuji turns a cross armbreaker into a cradle for 2. Romero keeps punishing the arm in awesome ways. Marufuji backdrops Romero to the apron, then springboard dropkicks him off and into the barricade. Marufuji tries to work feeling back into his arm, then follows Romero outside. Marufuji rams Romero’s knee into the post. Back inside, Marufuji goes to work on the knee. Gorgeous leg work. Marufuji brings Romero off the middle rope with a Dragon screw leg whip, then locks in the figure-four leglock. Romero gets a rope break. Romero fights back and brings Marufuji down RIGHT ON TOP OF HIS FUCKING HEAD! Romero goes for a flying dropkick, but Marufuji catches his legs. Romero flips around and kicks Marufuji, then dances. They counter suplex attempts. Romero hits a tornado DDT for 2. Romero goes for the Tiger suplex, but Marufuji lands on his feet and hits a Codebreaker-like move. They get to their feet and trade chops. Marufuji hits a lariat. Marufuji hits a powerbomb for 2. Marufuji goes up top, but Romero cuts him off and hits an avalanche-style cross armbreaker! Crowd chants “PLEASE DON’T TAP!” Marufuji gets a rope break. Romero kicks the arm. Marufuji kicks the face. Romero kicks the head to drop Marufuji. Marufuji powerbombs Romero into the corner, then ties him to the tree of woe. Marufuji hits a coast to coast dropkick for 2. Marufuji goes for the Shiranui, but Romero hits the Tiger suplex and a head kick for 2. Marufuji lands some kicks and hits the Shiranui for the pin in 16:04. Awesome match!
Larry Sweeney and Tank Toland are backstage. Sweeney says Sweet N Sour Inc. have signed a new client… Sara Del Rey. Toland says he’s going to get Bobby Dempsey in shape. He makes Dempsey do squats. Del Rey joins in. Toland says this is an exercise for men. Del Rey says she can do more squats than Toland, so they have a squats challenge. Dempsey falls down. This was stupid. There’s something going on in the ring!
Takeshi Morishima and Nigel McGuinness brawl in the ring. Bryan Danielson joins in to help Morishima. KENTA makes the save for McGuinness.
ROHWrestling.com!
ROH World Tag Team Championship Match: The Briscoe Brothers (c) vs. Claudio Castagnoli & Matt Sydal. No entrances for the challengers. The Code of Honor is observed. Mark and Claudio lock up. Nice mat wrestling. Claudio works Mark’s arm a bit. Mark gets a Northern Lights suplex, but Claudio holds on and turns it into a front face lock. Sydal tags in and wrestles with Mark. Jay tags in and clamps a side headlock on Sydal. Sydal wrestles him to his feet and into the ropes. Sydal chops Jay instead of giving a clean break. Really fast exchange with ranas between Jay and Sydal. Sydal catches Jay with a spin kick, then tags in Claudio. Claudio schoolboys Jay for 2, then twists him into a wacky crucifix hold for 2. Mark tags in. Briscoes double team Claudio. Claudio takes Mark down and tags in Sydal. Sydal hits a Cannonball leg drop for 2. Briscoes double team Sydal. Mark hits a knee drop on Sydal for 2. Briscoes double team Sydal some more. Jay locks Sydal in a stretch plum, then chops him. Sydal fights back, but Jay hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and holds Sydal so Mark can hit a split legged moonsault. Cover by Jay gets 2. Mark tags in and hits a belly to belly suplex for 2. Sydal rallies, sends Mark outside, and ranas Jay off the top rope (jumping up from the ground). Claudio gets the hot tag and runs wild on Jay. Diving elbow drop gets 2. Mark catches Claudio with a knee from the apron and comes in with a double stomp. Briscoes double team Sydal. Briscoes double team Claudio. Claudio hits one Briscoe with a diving European uppercut while Sydal hits the other an enzuigiri. Claudio works over Jay. Sydal tags in and works over Jay as well. Now it’s Jay’s turn to play face in peril. He gets double teamed. Mark and Sydal fight outside. Claudio gets Jay with the giant swing. Cover gets 2. Sydal tags in and plants Jay with a bulldog. Sydal hits a springboard twist senton for 2. Claudio tags in and hits a springboard elbow drop for 2. They try setting up Jay on the top rope, but Jay fights them off and makes the hot tag to Mark. Mark runs wild and does a bunch of karate chops. Briscoes send Claudio out of the ring. Jay wipes him out with a suicide dive. Mark and Sydal do some fast stuff in the ring. Briscoes hit the veg-o-matic on Sydal for 2. All 4 guys in now. Claudio hits the Match Killer (I think that’s what they called it). Sydal covers for 2. Claudio tags in and hits the Alpamare Waterslide on Mark for 2. Claudio with a flying headscissors and a big boot on Mark for 2. Sydal hits a leg Final Cut on Mark for 2, then a standing moonsault for 2. Mark makes a comeback against Claudio and tags in Jay. Jay hits a diving cross body for 2. Jay hits a front suplex on Claudio. Hart Attack-style kick on Claudio. Mark hits a springboard kick on Claudio and Jay covers for 2. Claudio hits a springboard European uppercut on Jay and sends him outside. Sydal dives off of Claudio shoulders onto both Briscoes with the knee strike. Sydal throws Jay into Claudio. Claudio hits the Ricola Bomb, but Mark saves. Claudio throws Mark out of the ring. Sydal tags in and hits the Shooting Star press. Mark barely makes the save. Claudio and Mark trade shots. Mark sends Claudio out. Jay hits a Death Valley Driver on Sydal. Mark takes Claudio out with a dive. Jay covers for 2. Sydal counters the Jay Driller with a Frankensteiner for 2. Jay ducks a kick and lifts Sydal. Briscoes hit the springboard Doomsday Device. Jay pins Sydal in 20:07. Another really good match.
Prazak and Leonard put over the sell-out crowd. Kevin Steen and El Generico come out. They want a title shot. The Briscoes seem to challenge them to come to the ring. They do, and the 2 teams brawl. Security and other geeks try to break them up with limited success, as some of them get beaten up int he process. Steen and Generico in the Package Piledriver/brainbuster combo on somebody, then Genero hits a suicide dive onto a big pile of people. The Briscoes and Steenerico brawl to and around the back. Steen eventually lays on Jay with a chair shot.
Delirious/Roderick Strong video package.
Roderick Strong vs. Delirious. No entrances. Delirious goes ape shit at the bell, as always. Strong bails before any contact is made. Delirious gives chase and beats up Strong on the outside. They make it inside and Delirious continues to dominate. Strong goes for the Strong Hold, but Delirious turns it into a cradle for 2. Delirious hits a cross body for 2. Delirious hits a diving rana. Strong finally manages to get the advantage briefly. Delirious hits a clothesline and a backdrop suplex for 2. Strong avoids a shot in the corner and hits a uranage backbreaker for 2. Back and forth action. Strong goes for a springboard dive, but Delirious catches him mid-air with a headbutt. Delirious hits some clotheslines. Delirious dropkicks Strong into the corner and hits the Panic Attack. Delirious goes up top, but Strong avoids him. Delirious hits the Bizarro Driver for 2. Delirious goes for the Cobra Stretch, but Strong backs him into the corner. Delirious hits a hangman’s neckbreaker for 2. Strong hits a Torture Rack backbreaker for 2. Strong hits a fall away slam off the middle rope for 2. Delirious counters a fireman’s carry into a crucifix hold for 2. Delirious hits an enzuigiri and goes up top, but Strong cuts him off and goes for a superplex. Delirious fights him off and hits the Shadows Over Hell to the back for 2. Delirious goes for the Cobra Stretch. They do a sweet cradle reversal sequence. Strong hits a sick powerbomb backbreaker. They fight on the apron. Delirious dropkicks Strong to the floor and hits a suicide flip from the top rope. Delirious sends Strong into the guardrail and hits the Panic Attack. Back to the apron. Strong hits a backdrop suplex onto the ring apron. Ouch. Cover gets 2. Strong goes for the Tiger Driver, but Delirious blocks it. They trade blows. Strong gouges Delirious eyes. Strong hits a gut buster for 2. Strong locks in a crab hold. Delirious gets a rope break. Strong goes for another backbreaker, but Delirious counters and hits the Chemical Inbalance II for 2. Delirious locks in the Cobra Stretch and turns it into a Cobra Clutch suplex. Cover, but Strong gets a rope break. Delirious whiffs a kick, but lands a serious of blows. Strong ducks a clothesline and hits the half nelson backbreaker, a big boot, and the Tiger Driver for the pin in 17:06 (estimate, as I didn’t hear a closing bell). Very good match. Strong’s No Remorse Corps mates, Rocky Romero and Davey Richards, bring out a piece of steel barricade. They beat down Delirious and set up the barricade between the ring and… well, the barricade. Strong hits the Tiger Driver on the barricade. Erick Stevens of the Resilience runs in and takes out Romero and Richards. He and Strong brawl, then Stevens hits a powerslam to send him running too.
Adam Pearce talks to Shane Hagadorn backstage. He tells Hagadorn to go find someone, then cuts a promo. Hagadorn says “he” is around the corner. “He” is BJ Whitmer, who got destroyed earlier tonight. Pearce talks some more, then goes to console Whitmer.
Main event time!
Nigel McGuinness & KENTA vs. ROH World Champion Takeshi Morishima & Bryan Danielson. Danielson and KENTA lock up and wrestle, and it’s great. Morishima and Nigel tag in and go at it. Nigel can’t knock Morishima down, but Morishima can knock Nigel down. Danielson tags in and takes Nigel down to the mat. Awesome stuff there as always. Nigel tries to set up the Tower of London, but Morishima provides a distraction that lets Danielson hit a diving European uppercut. Brief clusterfuck ensues as everybody comes in to hit moves. Order is restored and Morishima dominates Nigel some more. Danielson tags in and gets on Morishima’s back as Morishima stands on Nigel’s throat in the corner. Danielson has until 5, referee! Danielson works over Nigel. Danielson does a sweet grounded Dragon sleeper, but Nigel turns it into a cradle for 2. Morishima tags in to beat up Nigel some more. There isn’t really a clear face/heel dynamic, but Nigel is the de facto face in peril. He takes a beating from Morishima and Danielson. He finally makes a comeback on Danielson. Morishima comes in and Nigel connects with the rebound lariat. KENTA tags in and runs wild on Danielson. Danielson fights back and we get an awesome exchange. Danielson makes the tag to Morishima. Morishima hits a flying dropkick on Danielson. KENTA hits a powerslam on Morishima and makes the tag to Nigel. Nigel and Morishima start throwing bombs. Nigel takes a flying dropkick, but hits the lariat for 2. Nigel hits another lariat for 2. KENTA and Danielson brawl outside. Nigel goes for a sunset flip powerbomb, but Morishima sits on him. Morishima blocks the lariat and hits the backdrop driver, but KENTA saves. Morishima throws KENTA out of the ring. Morishima goes up top, but KENTA grabs his leg. Nigel hits the Tower of London on Morishima. Tags to KENTA and Danielson. They trade blows. KENTA slingshots Danielson into the ropes, then hits a diving knee drop to the back of the head for 2. Danielson hits a Dragon suplex hold for 2, then locks in the cross face chickenwing. KENTA kicks off the turnbuckles and lands on top of Danielson for 2. Danielson goes for a backdrop suplex off the top, but Nigel powerbombs Danielson. Morishima catches KENTA and hits a move on him. Nigel hits the lariat on Danielson. Morishima throws Nigel outside, then tries to throw him back in, but Nigel hits the lariat. Nigel comes off the top rope and dives onto Morishima in the crowd. Danielson hits a double-arm suplex on KENTA. Nigel and Danielson face off and trade European uppercuts. Danielson kicks Nigel’s elbow and sends him outside. Danielson goes for a diving heatbutt on KENTA, but gets kicked in the head. KENTA hits the KENTA rush and the Busaiku knee kick for 2. KENTA hits the Go 2 Sleep on Danielson, but Morishima saves. Nigel tapes up his elbow. Danielson hits a diving headbutt on KENTA for 2. Danielson hits the rolling elbow on KENTA. Morishima hits a lariat. Danielson covers for 2. Morishima and Danielson set up a Doomsday something, but Nigel saves and hits the lariat on Morishima. KENTA hits an avalanche-style Falcon Arrow on Danielson for 2. Danielson and KENTA trade blows. Danielson goes for the cross face chickenwing and ends up hitting the backdrop suplex off the top for 2. Danielson locks in the Cattle Mutilation, then turns it into the MMA elbows. KENTA lifts Danielson and goes for the Go 2 Sleep, but Danielson counters into a Tiger suple xhold for 2. Danielson locks in the Cattle Mutilation again. Morishima cuts off Nigel from making the save. KENTA submits to Danielson’s Cattle Mutilation in 24:56. Awesome match. Danielson picks up the title belt. Morishima hits him with the backdrop driver. Nigel picks up the belt and hands it to Morishima. Morishima clotheslines him. Don’t fuck with Morishima.
That’s the PPV, and it was an awesome show. Now for the bonus matches!
Tank Toland (w/ Larry Sweeney & Bobby Dempsey) vs. Brent Albright. They shake hands. Toland looks like a buff midget. Albright dominates the match. Toland finally manages to press slam Albright into the top rope, then knocks him down for 2. Toland hits a slam, then does jumping jacks on Albright, then drops an elbow for 2. Toland locks Albright in a body scissors, then hits some sit up elbows for 2. Dempsey does squats at ringside. Toland hits a one armed delayed chokeslam for 2. Albright connects with a dropkick and makes his comeback. Albright hits an enzuigiri and a 619-style knee (“6-1-knee”). Toland hits a spear for 2. Albright gets a reverse cradle for 2. Albright hits the half nelson suplex for the pin in 6:47. Fine little match. Albright plays with Toland’s bendy thing that weight lifters have after the match.
We get a No Remorse Crops promo backstage. Strong puts over being the FIP World Champion, then they beat up Pelle Primeau, just to be dicks.
Erick Stevens vs. Davey Richards. It’s Resilience vs. No Remorse Corps. Richards refuses the handshake and they just go at it. Richards tries to bail, but Stevens pursues him and kicks his ass all over the place. A fan pours beer on Richards. What a fucking prick. That guy should have been kicked out. Richards catches Stevens coming back in the ring and gets the advantage for like a second, then gets his ass kicked some more. Stevens clotheslines Richards out of the ring. Stevens hits a shoulder block off of the apron. Richards makes it back into the ring and boots Stevens off of the apron into the barricade. Richards throws Stevens into the barricade. Richards works over Stevens in the ring. Diving leg drop gets 2. Richards clamps on a leg scissors hold. Stevens suplexes Richards out of the ring. Back inside, they trade chops. Richards hits a flurry of strikes, then Stevens hits a German suplex. Stevens hits the Choo Choo and a TKO for 2. Richards hits a handspring enzugiri. Stevens hits a cool pumphandle powerbomb for 2. Richards hits a springboard dropkick, a running elbow to the corner, and a backdrop suplex. Stevens no sells. Richards kicks his arm and hits an other backdrop suplex for 2. Richards locks in the Kimura. Stevens gets a rope break. Stevens goes for the TKO, but Richards counters and goes for the DR Driver. Stevens counters, but Richards hits a tornado DDT, then locks in the Kimura for the win in 10:03. Good match.
Jimmy Jacobs and Lacey go shopping in Chicago, then he drops her off at her hotel room and they hug. Pointless. He’s in love with her and she doesn’t reciprocate, apparently.
Sara Del Rey vs. Daizee Haze. Hand shake. They lock up and go back and forth with some good stuff. Haze fails a diving cross body and gets fall away slam’d. Del Ray covers for 2. Del Ray works Haze’s arm. Del Rey gets another near fall. Haze gets a sunset flip, but Del Rey rolls through. No count. Del Rey locks in a crab hold and walks around the ring with it. Haze gets a rope break. Del Rey ties Haze to the tree of woe and puts the boots to her. Haze fights out and hits an Ace Crusher to start her comeback. Haze gets a cross body for 2. Haze goes up top, but Del Rey cuts her off. Haze fights Del Rey off and hits a diving lariat for 2. Del Rey locks in the Royal Butterfly, then turns it into a modified Gory Special. Haze gets free and gets a sunset flip for 2. Del Rey puts her knees on Haze’s shoulders for the pin in 5:51. It was fine. They shake hands again afterward.
Another stupid Jimmy Jacobs & Lacey video. I’m fast forwarding.
Tag Team Scramble Match: Pelle Primeau & Mitch Franklin vs. The Irish Airborne vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. Adam Pearce & Jimmy Rave (w/ Shane Hagadorn). Everybody shakes hands. Rave and Pelle start. Pelle sends Rave out with a tilt a whirl head scissors. Generico comes against Pelle and they do stuff. Pelle hits a dropkick on Rave coming off the apron. Pearce comes in and heels it up against Generico. Crowd chants “REPO MAN!” at Pearce, so he puts on a Repo Man mask. Awesome. Franklin comes in and slaps Pearce. Pearce slaps Franklin. Franklin slams Pearce again. Pearce launches Franklin across the ring from the top rope. The Irish Airborne double team Pearce. Steen and Generico go with the Airborne. Dave Crist hits a cross body on Generico that takes them both out of the ring. Steen and Jake Crist go at it in the ring. Steen sends him out and hits a flip dive on everybody. Rave drops Steen face first on the apron. Pearce beats up Pelle in the ring. Rave tags in and beats up Pelle too. Pelle fights back. Rave backdrops Pelle out. Pelle hits a springboard Bombs Away and a double stomp. Jake Crist and Kevin Steen go at it again. Jake hits a sweet springboard neckbreaker. Generico hits a tilt a whirl gut buster on Dave. Pearce hits a lariat on Generico, followed by a diving leg drop, but the Irish Airborne save. Irish Airborne hits stereo Asai moonsaults outsdie on Pearce, Rave, and somebody. Franklin hits a Franklinsteiner (I just made that up) up Generico for 2. Generico hits a sick spinning powerbomb on Franklin for 2. Pearce low bridges Franklin out of the ring. Pelle cradles Genericho for 2. Steen catches Pelle’s dive and hits a spinning Samoan drop for 2. Generico hits a tornado DDT on the blonde Airborne… Dave, I think. It’s a clusterfuck now. Rave hits Jake with a knee lift and goes for the Pedigree, but Steen breaks it up. Steen hits the Package Piledriver on Dave Crist for the pin in 7:33. Fun little clusterfuck. Steenerico, the Irish Airborne, and the students shake hands after the match.
Another stupid Jimmy & Lacey video. He gives her a ring. She puts on something naughty and invites him into her room. “Some time later…” the camera man comes back to find Jimmy’s shirt on the floor. Stupid.
The show was really good, especially the actual PPV. The Jimmy & Lacey crap was stupid.