Post by IWSfan4life on Sept 18, 2006 15:08:42 GMT -5
I decided to skip about 10 shows and move ahead to this year and start with the first show of 2006. I had been down on ROH, even partially due to the early part of this show. But it picked up nicely at the end and I hope to stay with it this time.
1. Austin Aries beat Ricky Reyes
Solid little opener, nothing special. Aries is an awesome talent and Reyes looked a bit better than usual, but it was forgettable.
2. Jimmy Rave & Alex Shelley defeated Claudio Castagnoli & Azrieal
One of the two matches in the first six that I could enjoy and get into. Double C is over and fits the ROH style really well, and I'm glad he has found his place. Rave when he's on is great, and the heelishness of the Embassy made this one fun. Really solid tag match with 4 strong workers and a good tag mentality.
3. Bryan Danielson defeated Homicide & Roderick Strong in a Triple Threat Match to win the FIP Heavyweight Title
Considering Strong and Cide were in this, I am suprised I hated it. Sure Cide looked courageous but in terms of work it was lackluster. And for the FIP title to change hands for the first time on an ROH show is just stupid.
4. Jack Evans defeated Adam Pearce, Salvatore Rinauro, Trik Davis, Kid Mikaze, & Jason Blade in a Six Man Mayhem Match
The other of the 2 good matches in the first 6. Just fun spot work here, innovative, quick paced stuff that was needed badly on this show. Mikaze and Blade impressed me in the first time I saw them, and Pearce's old school style was a good change of pace here. Awesome fun match.
5. Nigel McGuiness defeated Tony Mamaluke to retain the Pure Title
Really disappointing. When I saw this listed I got really excited, but it just seem to be lost from bell to bell, and the ending was too rushed I thought. These two are far too good for this to happen.
6. Christopher Daniels beat Jay Lethal
Another disappointment. 2 of my favorite workers and this just didn't feel like a paced match. They kinda relied on the 5 minute Impact match moreso than a 15 minute ROH show. Nothing wrong with the TNA style, but I didn't expect it here and it just seemed like neither man wrestled realistically. Not bad, but not either man's caliber match.
7. Samoa Joe beat BJ Whitmer
Here's where it got better. Kick ass stiff match from the start. Crowd was way into it, and Whitmer always looks best when he has a specific style of match to guide him. Really cool match that ended when Joe hit the hardest kick I've ever seen anyone hit in history.
8. AJ Styles defeated Matt Sydal
I hate to put this over so much, but I have no choice. I know these two had my MOTY in 2004 in IWA MS, but as of right now (I have a lot of TNA, ROH, CZW, IWS, and JAPW to watch so this doesn't mean much right now) this is my 2006 MOTY. The crowd and the similarities between the two automatically give these two something to draw off of. They did a lot different in this match than in their 3 IWA matches, but they still paced in the beginning, and then put it all on the line and bumped their asses off.
False finishes and plenty of backstory with the counters, some bumps on the apron and in the crowd, and an awesome flash pin to end it. Sydal did an awesome job always selling his neck being worked, which is where AJ lacks. Sydal is gonna beat him sooner or later, but until then I love watching him try. My current MOTY.
9. Bryan Danielson beat Chris Hero to retain the ROH World Title
Not that great, but not bad. I think it's ROH that makes me hate Danielson, because I always enjoy his PWG and IWA MS stuff, including these two's match from the TPI. The heat for this was good, and Hero's work on Dragon's arm was magnificient, but Dragon bores me in ROH 100% of the time.
Overall a solid show with 2 great matches and a few decent early ones. Weak start, but a strong finish. I'm almost done with the second show now and it looks like it kills this one.
-Jason
1. Austin Aries beat Ricky Reyes
Solid little opener, nothing special. Aries is an awesome talent and Reyes looked a bit better than usual, but it was forgettable.
2. Jimmy Rave & Alex Shelley defeated Claudio Castagnoli & Azrieal
One of the two matches in the first six that I could enjoy and get into. Double C is over and fits the ROH style really well, and I'm glad he has found his place. Rave when he's on is great, and the heelishness of the Embassy made this one fun. Really solid tag match with 4 strong workers and a good tag mentality.
3. Bryan Danielson defeated Homicide & Roderick Strong in a Triple Threat Match to win the FIP Heavyweight Title
Considering Strong and Cide were in this, I am suprised I hated it. Sure Cide looked courageous but in terms of work it was lackluster. And for the FIP title to change hands for the first time on an ROH show is just stupid.
4. Jack Evans defeated Adam Pearce, Salvatore Rinauro, Trik Davis, Kid Mikaze, & Jason Blade in a Six Man Mayhem Match
The other of the 2 good matches in the first 6. Just fun spot work here, innovative, quick paced stuff that was needed badly on this show. Mikaze and Blade impressed me in the first time I saw them, and Pearce's old school style was a good change of pace here. Awesome fun match.
5. Nigel McGuiness defeated Tony Mamaluke to retain the Pure Title
Really disappointing. When I saw this listed I got really excited, but it just seem to be lost from bell to bell, and the ending was too rushed I thought. These two are far too good for this to happen.
6. Christopher Daniels beat Jay Lethal
Another disappointment. 2 of my favorite workers and this just didn't feel like a paced match. They kinda relied on the 5 minute Impact match moreso than a 15 minute ROH show. Nothing wrong with the TNA style, but I didn't expect it here and it just seemed like neither man wrestled realistically. Not bad, but not either man's caliber match.
7. Samoa Joe beat BJ Whitmer
Here's where it got better. Kick ass stiff match from the start. Crowd was way into it, and Whitmer always looks best when he has a specific style of match to guide him. Really cool match that ended when Joe hit the hardest kick I've ever seen anyone hit in history.
8. AJ Styles defeated Matt Sydal
I hate to put this over so much, but I have no choice. I know these two had my MOTY in 2004 in IWA MS, but as of right now (I have a lot of TNA, ROH, CZW, IWS, and JAPW to watch so this doesn't mean much right now) this is my 2006 MOTY. The crowd and the similarities between the two automatically give these two something to draw off of. They did a lot different in this match than in their 3 IWA matches, but they still paced in the beginning, and then put it all on the line and bumped their asses off.
False finishes and plenty of backstory with the counters, some bumps on the apron and in the crowd, and an awesome flash pin to end it. Sydal did an awesome job always selling his neck being worked, which is where AJ lacks. Sydal is gonna beat him sooner or later, but until then I love watching him try. My current MOTY.
9. Bryan Danielson beat Chris Hero to retain the ROH World Title
Not that great, but not bad. I think it's ROH that makes me hate Danielson, because I always enjoy his PWG and IWA MS stuff, including these two's match from the TPI. The heat for this was good, and Hero's work on Dragon's arm was magnificient, but Dragon bores me in ROH 100% of the time.
Overall a solid show with 2 great matches and a few decent early ones. Weak start, but a strong finish. I'm almost done with the second show now and it looks like it kills this one.
-Jason