Post by Agent Kev on Nov 19, 2005 18:16:39 GMT -5
Spanky vs. Nigel McGuinness vs. Azrieal vs. Deranged (Four Corner Survival Match)
This was a solid opener. Not too memorable but pretty much up to the usual standard of recent Four Corner Matches.
The Carnage Crew vs. BJ Whitmer & Jimmy Jacobs (ROH Tag Team Title Match)
Ugh...the Carnage Crew matches have been unwatchable since they have come back from their 90-day suspension at the hands of Dunn & Marcos. I kinda liked them okay before but know I just cannot stand them. The good thing to come from this match is that BJ and Jimmy win back the tag-straps. HUSS~!
Low Ki, Homicide, & Ricky Reyes vs. Samoa Joe, James Gibson, & Jay Lethal (Six Man War)
This was really solid with good work around the horn. It really felt like they left something on the table here, but that's okay as long as it is delivered on in the future. Lethal looked really strong in this match as he just seems to get better and better. I also really enjoyed the Ki/Gibson stuff. Some pretty good stuff here and a very solid match.
Alex Shelley/Fast Eddie vs. Austin Aries/Roderick Strong
This was a fun tag-match. Shelley opens up with a promo including the line "I didn't sell out, I bought in" which is one of the best lines ever. Everyone looked good here with Fast Eddie stepping up his game and hanging with Aries/Strong. Eddie and Strong both hit some incredibly stiff looking moves during this match. Match ends with Rave interferring and putting the Embassy over. Makes sense in that it keeps Gen Next strong and this was a match that Alex Shelley could not lose since he had just joined the Embassy.
Street Fight: AJ Styles vs. Jimmy Rave
This was a fantastic brawl. First 10 minutes took place outside the ring with both guys going at each other. AJ hits some awesome spots in this match including a belly-to-back suplex off the apron to the floor thru a table and a snap brainbuster on a chair and a brutal series of headbutts that took around one minute.
And what can I say about Jimmy Rave other than he is THE best heel in ROH. He has gone from someone who seemed to have little charisma and seemed often tenative in the ring to the most brass, cocky heel in ROH. He is one of the guys in ROH that I most look forward to watching.
ROH Title: CM Punk (c) vs. Christopher Daniels
This was a really good title match. Definitely the best Punk title defense yet. Really good pacing and real good story told here. The match also leaves you wanting more as it finishes with Daniels hitting the angels wings, getting a 1 count and then the bell ringing for the 60-minute draw. Really good stretch run in the last five minutes as everything leads to the finish and finishes up nicely. I would put this above the first Joe vs. Punk 60 minute draw but jut a tad below the second (although it finishes better than the second Joe vs. Punk draw).
Verdict:
This is a really solid show. The biggest negative about this show is that there are only 6 matches (and one of them involves the Carnage Crew). Also, this show feels a lot like it is building to something bigger: Six Man War leaves a lot to be figured out in the future, Tag-match is open eneded, AJ/Rave is far from over and the Main Event was inconclusive. That being said this is definitely a show that you will want to add to you collection. Highly recommended that you pick this up during one of the ROHwrestling.com sales.
2005 Show Rankings:
1. Manhattan Mayhem- New York, NY 5/7/05
2. Third Anniversary Celebration Pt. 2- Dayton, OH 2/25/05
3. Fate Of An Angel- Woodbridge, CT 7/16/05
4. The Future Is Now- New York, NY 6/12/05
5. Nowhere To Run- Chicago Ridge, IL 5/14/05
6. The Homecoming- Philadelphia, PA 7/23/05
7. Death Before Dishonor III- Morristown, NJ 6/18/05
8. Back to Basics- Woodbridge, CT 3/12/05
9. Third Anniversary Celebration Pt. 3- Chicago Ridge, IL 2/26/05
10. Third Anniversary Celebration Pt. 1- Elizabeth, NJ 2/19/05
11. Escape From New York- New York, NY 7/9/05
12. Sign of Dishonor- Long Island, NY 7/8/05
13. Final Showdown- Dayton, OH 5/13/05
14. Stalemate- Dorchester, MA 4/16/05
15. Best Of American Super Juniors Tournament- Asbury Park, NJ 4/2/05
16. New Frontiers- Buffalo, NY 6/4/05
17. Trios Tournament 2005- Philadelphia, PA 3/5/05
18. It All Begins- Cambridge, MA 1/15/05
This was a solid opener. Not too memorable but pretty much up to the usual standard of recent Four Corner Matches.
The Carnage Crew vs. BJ Whitmer & Jimmy Jacobs (ROH Tag Team Title Match)
Ugh...the Carnage Crew matches have been unwatchable since they have come back from their 90-day suspension at the hands of Dunn & Marcos. I kinda liked them okay before but know I just cannot stand them. The good thing to come from this match is that BJ and Jimmy win back the tag-straps. HUSS~!
Low Ki, Homicide, & Ricky Reyes vs. Samoa Joe, James Gibson, & Jay Lethal (Six Man War)
This was really solid with good work around the horn. It really felt like they left something on the table here, but that's okay as long as it is delivered on in the future. Lethal looked really strong in this match as he just seems to get better and better. I also really enjoyed the Ki/Gibson stuff. Some pretty good stuff here and a very solid match.
Alex Shelley/Fast Eddie vs. Austin Aries/Roderick Strong
This was a fun tag-match. Shelley opens up with a promo including the line "I didn't sell out, I bought in" which is one of the best lines ever. Everyone looked good here with Fast Eddie stepping up his game and hanging with Aries/Strong. Eddie and Strong both hit some incredibly stiff looking moves during this match. Match ends with Rave interferring and putting the Embassy over. Makes sense in that it keeps Gen Next strong and this was a match that Alex Shelley could not lose since he had just joined the Embassy.
Street Fight: AJ Styles vs. Jimmy Rave
This was a fantastic brawl. First 10 minutes took place outside the ring with both guys going at each other. AJ hits some awesome spots in this match including a belly-to-back suplex off the apron to the floor thru a table and a snap brainbuster on a chair and a brutal series of headbutts that took around one minute.
And what can I say about Jimmy Rave other than he is THE best heel in ROH. He has gone from someone who seemed to have little charisma and seemed often tenative in the ring to the most brass, cocky heel in ROH. He is one of the guys in ROH that I most look forward to watching.
ROH Title: CM Punk (c) vs. Christopher Daniels
This was a really good title match. Definitely the best Punk title defense yet. Really good pacing and real good story told here. The match also leaves you wanting more as it finishes with Daniels hitting the angels wings, getting a 1 count and then the bell ringing for the 60-minute draw. Really good stretch run in the last five minutes as everything leads to the finish and finishes up nicely. I would put this above the first Joe vs. Punk 60 minute draw but jut a tad below the second (although it finishes better than the second Joe vs. Punk draw).
Verdict:
This is a really solid show. The biggest negative about this show is that there are only 6 matches (and one of them involves the Carnage Crew). Also, this show feels a lot like it is building to something bigger: Six Man War leaves a lot to be figured out in the future, Tag-match is open eneded, AJ/Rave is far from over and the Main Event was inconclusive. That being said this is definitely a show that you will want to add to you collection. Highly recommended that you pick this up during one of the ROHwrestling.com sales.
2005 Show Rankings:
1. Manhattan Mayhem- New York, NY 5/7/05
2. Third Anniversary Celebration Pt. 2- Dayton, OH 2/25/05
3. Fate Of An Angel- Woodbridge, CT 7/16/05
4. The Future Is Now- New York, NY 6/12/05
5. Nowhere To Run- Chicago Ridge, IL 5/14/05
6. The Homecoming- Philadelphia, PA 7/23/05
7. Death Before Dishonor III- Morristown, NJ 6/18/05
8. Back to Basics- Woodbridge, CT 3/12/05
9. Third Anniversary Celebration Pt. 3- Chicago Ridge, IL 2/26/05
10. Third Anniversary Celebration Pt. 1- Elizabeth, NJ 2/19/05
11. Escape From New York- New York, NY 7/9/05
12. Sign of Dishonor- Long Island, NY 7/8/05
13. Final Showdown- Dayton, OH 5/13/05
14. Stalemate- Dorchester, MA 4/16/05
15. Best Of American Super Juniors Tournament- Asbury Park, NJ 4/2/05
16. New Frontiers- Buffalo, NY 6/4/05
17. Trios Tournament 2005- Philadelphia, PA 3/5/05
18. It All Begins- Cambridge, MA 1/15/05
