ROH: At Our Best Gradual Thoughts

[Agent Kev]

FIRST MATCH: The Amazing Red vs. Sonjay Dutt vs. Mark Briscoe vs. Jimmy Rave vs. Jack Evans vs. Teddy Hart (Six Man Mayhem Match)

This was a mess. It was up and down with really no direction. It kind of felt like something TNA would throw out on one of their shows (but with more highspots). Another strange part of this match was Jimmy Rave going from looking like an inexperience rookie in the beginning of the match to a seasoned pro in the closing minutes. This was just a strange match. I have a feeling that these 6-man matches come off MUCH better live.

Rating: **

SECOND MATCH: Xavier vs. Slyk Wagner Brown

This was probably the BEST SWB match I have EVER seen. That being said it wasn't very good. I felt sorry for Xavier during this match as he deserves much more.

Rating: *3/4

THIRD MATCH: Jerry Lynn vs. Nigel McGuiness

I liked this a lot. Mainly because I am digging Nigel more and more of late. I think he will be a big benefit to ROH re-establishing the pure wrestling division along with guys like Shelley and Williams. Nigel vs. Doug Williams needs to happen.

Rating: **3/4

FOURTH MATCH: Matt Stryker vs. John Walters (#1 Contender's Trophy Match)

This was definitely the best match so far as these guys seem to work well together. Nice chant towards the end where Stryker had Walters in the "Stryker Lock" and the fans chanted "Please don't tap".

Rating: ***

Next Up: Dan Maff & BJ Whitmer vs. Colt Cabana & Ace Steel

[IWSfan4life]

I think i'm going to love these 6 man matches, as i'm a huge fan of CW carnage as long as it doesnt get too clustered. I'm a huge lucha fan in every way, so i bet i'd enjoy this one. Plus the guys in it are amazing.

Agreed on McGuinness, and this is one i'd love to see.

Walters and Stryker had an awesome match at one of the other shows i have, and would love to see them start a pure fued, the way Stryker and Collyer did.

-jason Burke

[Agent Kev]

Stylesclash2004 said:

I think i'm going to love these 6 man matches, as i'm a huge fan of CW carnage as long as it doesnt get too clustered. I'm a huge lucha fan in every way, so i bet i'd enjoy this one. Plus the guys in it are amazing.

I liked the 6-man from 1/29 A LOT more than this one. This one just seemed off.

[AndyKaid]

Lynn vs McGuiness was VERY cool, as Lynn busted out a lot of new offense and stuff he hadn't used in years. And McGuiness is your swank British wrestler of the week, so it was good.

I wonder if Stryker vs Walters came off better on tape, as I couldn't STAND it live. Maybe it's my Walters hate, or my bitterness towards Stryker as of late, but I just was not into it at all.

[Agent Kev]

AndyKaid said:

I wonder if Stryker vs Walters came off better on tape, as I couldn't STAND it live. Maybe it's my Walters hate, or my bitterness towards Stryker as of late, but I just was not into it at all.

It could also be the fact that after the first 2 matches it just looked better than it was.

[Agent Kev]

FIFTH MATCH: Dan Maff & BJ Whitmer vs. Colt Cabana & Ace Steel

This was a really FUN tag-team brawl. Everyone looked on their game in this one and Maff and Whitmer looked much better than at their last outing (4-way at 2AS). Good stuff and great continuation of the Prophecy vs. SCS feud.

Rating: **3/4

SIXTH MATCH: AJ Styles vs. CM Punk (ROH Pure Wrestling Title Match- Guest Referee: Ricky Steamboat)

This was a really good match but I thought it was just a step below their match at 2AS. I almost think that having Steamboat as ref took some of the emphasis off of the actual match and put it on him and Punk (which is good for storylines).

Rating: ***3/4

Next they showed clips of Hydro/Roderick Strong and Austin Aries/Danny Daniels. All the clips looked good..I'm definitely interested in seeing more of Aries and Strong as I think they will be a good addition to the lower mid-card of ROH (and maybe more in the future).

SEVENTH MATCH: Samoa Joe vs. Jay Briscoe (ROH World Title Cage Match)

This was a really great match that told a great story. Man did Jay bleed and bleed and bleed. Really good match. IMO the second MOTY contender from ROH this year.

Rating: ****

Next Up: Scramble Cage II

[NewFnShow]

IMO the second MOTY contender from ROH this year.

What did you think the other one was?

I can't wait to see the Joe/Jay cage match. It sounds BRUTAL.

[Agent Kev]

NewFnShow said:

What did you think the other one was?

I really liked Punk vs. AJ from the 2AS (but I haven't re-watched it a second time yet. I may have liked it so much because the entire tournament was friggin' great).

[Agent Kev]

EIGHTH MATCH:The Carnage Crew vs. Special K (Scramble Cage II)

Overall a FUN match but not as good as the first one IMO. Awesome finish with the spike piledriver off the top of the cage thru two tables.

The verdict on this show is that it was good but not one of the top ROH shows (even of this year). The Joe/Jay and Punk/AJ matches were strong but beyond that everything else was good at best. I would recommend picking this one up after the anniversary show and TBLAD.

ROH Show Rankings for 2004:
1. 2nd Year Anniversary (must-see)
2. The Battle Lines are Drawn (need-to-see)
3. At Our Best (good to see)
4. The Last Stand (good to see)

I just got the ROH reborn 4/23 and 4/24 shows in on Friday so I will be watching those soon.