home | wrestling | flashback_reviews | roh

Ring of Honor: Man Up!, December 1, 2007
by Sassy

I am doing my best not to get overly hyped about this wrestling event. I have become an avid ROH fan in a very short amount of time. ROH shows are innovative, amazing and entertaining. There is little talk, much action, and talented wrestlers in the ring. To find out more about ROH wrestlers, a current ROH roster can be found on this site.

As much as I enjoy ROH, the only time I can see this kind of action is via pay per view (if my cable company is cooperative) or by purchasing ROH DVDs. If you are fortunate enough to have an ROH event live in your area, I suggest you make an effort to attend. You won’t regret seeing ROH in action. For those of you who are like me, you can find more ROH matches here: http://www.rohwrestling.com.

Disclaimer: What you are reading in this review is less than half of the action that actually was going on in the ring. I am a fast typist but there is no way I could keep up with this kind of action. There are no lags in the matches. You will not experience an ROH event until you see it or yourself – trust me.

Chicago, IL Ringside announcers: Lenny Leonard and Dave Prazak

McGuiness takes the mic before he enters the ring. He says he will be watching the Championship match tonight since he is on his way to a title match. Nigel McGuinness is “in it to win it”! Prazak is attempting to tell us about the ladder match but is interrupted by someone in a black outfit with a mask.

MAN UP!

Claudio Castagnoli is in front of the mic telling Chris Hero and Larry Sweeney that he will take care of both of them and will get a world title match.

Sweeney appears with Sweet ‘n Sour, Inc. Yep, I’m ready to for Claudio to smack Sweeney and he just opened his mouth!

Four Corner Survival Match:
Naomichi Marufuji from Tokyo, Japan
Vs.
Nigel McGuinness from England
Vs.
Claudio Castagnoli from Switzerland
Vs.
Chris Hero from Metropolis
accompanied to the ring by his agent, Larry Sweeney
along with Sweet ‘n Sour, Inc. – Sara Del Ray, Tank Toland and Bobby Dempsey.

I can’t call this match because I am torn between Claudio and Nigel. Hero could win, especially with a little outside interference by his agent and/or fellow Sweet ‘n Sour wrestlers. Marufuji is great in the ring but there is such a size difference between him and the other three wrestlers in the ring, I don’t think he’ll be able to pull it off

Only two men can be in the ring at the same time. Nigel and Marufuji open the match. Hero wants in the ring and Nigel tags him in. Hero gives us a display of his athletic abilities until Claudio is tagged into the match. Hero bails out of the ring and looks for help from his agent and personal trainer. It was Hero and Claudio in the ring, but Hero makes a quick tag to Marufuji and bails out of the ring again. Claudio is much taller than Marufuji, both men are quick. Claudio is trying power pins, but Marufuji manages to get a shoulder up each time. Marufuji on the top rope, now back down to the canvas but the men are locked up. Marufuji delivers a kick to the leg. Claudio misses a dive at Marufuji in the corner but he tags in Hero who is now in the ring with his former partner, Claudio. Hero takes Claudio down to the mat by sweeping the leg and then begins punches and stomps. European uppercut by Claudio and Hero bails out again as he tags in Nigel. Nigel and Claudio shake hands before they lock up. Claudio again shakes hands but this time delivers a European uppercut and the two men exchange uppercuts. We have near falls all across and over the ring but neither wrestler gets a three count. Hero gets a blind tag to Nigel and he goes after Claudio and delivers a kick to the side of the head. Hero goes for the cover but only gets a one count. Hero drops his weight on Claudio twice and again goes for the pin. Hero gets a two count. Hero is now busy kicking Claudio but Claudio is back to his feet and he delivers a nasty back body drop to Hero. Claudio hits Hero with a leg drop and Hero once again bails out of the ring. Claudio follows him out. ROH RULES: NO COUNT OUTS ON THE FLOOR UNLESS THE REFEREE CALLS A DISQUALIFICATION! Claudio slams Hero into the guardrail and Hero is fighting back. Marafuji comes across the ring and over the top rope to take out Hero and Claudio. Marafuji picks up Hero and goes to work on him as the fans encourage Nigel to get involved. Nigel steps into the ring, climbs up on the top turnbuckle and dives of Claudio and Hero who are now in the audience seating area! Great leap and there are chairs and bodies everywhere. Nigel is back into the ring where Marufuji is waiting. The two men exchange forearms and uppercuts. Nigel charges Marufuji but Marufuji gets his boot up. Marufuji works to get Nigel down to the mat and goes for the pin but doesn’t get the count. Marufuji has Nigel down again and goes for the cover but Hero breaks it up. Now it’s Hero and Marufuji in the ring. Hero slams Marufuji down to the mat and goes for the cover. Hero gets two before Claudio breaks it up. Now it’s Claudio and Hero in the ring. Claudio slams Hero to the mat and goes for the pin but Nigel breaks it up, then hits Claudio with a clothesline. Nigel goes for the cover and Marafuji breaks it up. We have all four wrestlers down in the ring and the ref starts his count. The ref counts to four as Nigel and Marufjui are back to their feet. Marufuji delivers a head dive to Nigel’s head and goes for the cover. Nigel manages to kick out before the count of three. Marufuji is on the top rope but Nigel hits the tower of London and Hero breaks it up before Nigel can get the win. Hero and Nigel are in the ring and now Hero is climbing to the top turnbuckle and dives on Nigel, goes for the cover and Claudio is in to break it up. Claudio rolls up Hero for the win but he only gets a two count. Claudio executes the giant swing, delivers a European uppercut and goes for a pin. Claudio gets a two count before Hero kicks out. Marufuji is now in the ring with Claudio, after several twisting wrestling maneuvers, Marufjui rolls up Claudio but can’t get the three count. Both men are back on their feet. Marafuji delivers a kick to Claudio’s head, then to the abdomen and sets Claudio up on the top turnbuckle. Marufuji goes across the ring and up to the top rope to springboard off, but Nigel gets in the way. Hero is back in the ring and he is after Nigel, but Nigel sends Hero out of the ring. Claudio is back in the ring and then out again. Nigel and Marufuji are the two men in the ring legally (I think) and Claudio hits the ricola bomb, goes for the cover but Hero dives in and hits Todd Sinclair, the referee! The ref is not happy but now he’s in the ring with Claudio. Claudio delivers a bicycle kick and then rolls out of the ring. Nigel is in the ring with Claudio and he hits a jawbreaker lariat, goes for the cover and gets the three count.

Winner of the Four-Corner Survival Match: Nigel McGuinness

I was certain Claudio Castagnoli was going to take this match but Nigel McGuinness showed us why he does what he does for a living. The dive he took into the audience area was thrilling and every move he used was perfect in this match up. Claudio most likely lost due to the interference of Hero when he hit the referee. You can bet there will be a war between Claudio and Hero over this loss. Better luck next time Claudio. I have not seen a Four Corner Survival match and am still not certain of the rules but it was a great opening match.

This match is rated

A for Action

S for superb performance.

Brian Danielson is on camera with a black patch over his eye. He says that Morishima hit him in the eye and detached his retina at Manhattan Mayhem II. He had to have surgery and he tells us how upset his Mother and sister are because of the injury. He says his sister wants him out of wrestling because of the injuries he has sustained and that his Dad talked him out of it and he is now ready to face Morishima for the World Title tonight.

No Remorse Corps
Rocky Romero, Roderick Strong and Davey Richards
Vs.
The Resilience
Austin Aries, Matt Cross, and Erick Steven
s

We have a best of three singles matches involving these two factions.

Each team will have to pick a representative for each match:

First Match in Best of Three
Rocky Romero representing No Remorse Corps
Vs.
Matt Cross

No Remorse Corps laughs and say “they put the gymnast in” (referring to Matt Cross).

I know whom I want to win – Matt Cross. He has a good chance as long as he doesn’t let Romero overpower him. We start with slaps to the chest being exchanged by both men. Cross takes Romero down with a head scissors but Romero comes off the ropes with a boot that lands on the side of Cross’s head. Cross slams Romero chest first to the mat and Romero rolls out of the ring. Cross comes off the ropes as if to dive at Romero and his allies but stops at the ropes when No Remorse Corps scatters. Romero comes back toward the ring and Cross slides through the ropes with both feet, Romero ducks, Cross comes back and nails him. The men are on the floor. Romero picks up Cross to slam him into the corner post but Cross sends Romero shoulder first into the metal. Romero is down on the floor and Cross is back up on the ring apron. He delivers a flag pole press by dropping on Romero who is still down on the floor. Cross rolls Romero back into the ring and goes for a pin but Romero kicks out. Cross gets caught in Romero’s arm breaker but Cross gets his foot on the bottom rope. Romero delivers a kick to the side of Cross’s head and then Romero stops to play the crowd. A big drop to the floor to Cross and then a big knee by Romero. Cross is now in the corner but he comes back out to slap Romero. Cross delivers a split legged press out of the corner and goes for the cover but can’t get the three count. Standing moonsault by Cross and another pin attempt. Cross gets a two count. Cross goes for what looks like a neck breaker, goes off the top ropes but Romero has moved and he hits the mat. Romero hits with a kick to the head, goes for the cover and gets the three count.

First Winner – Best of Three Series: Rocky Romero representing No Remorse Corps

The pressure will now be on The Resilience since they are down one match. I’m not sure what the reasoning was putting Cross in against Romero. I felt Richards would have been a better opponent for Cross. I’m not taking anything away from Cross. He does some great acrobatics in the ring.

This match is rated

A for Action

S for superb performance.
Second Match in Best of Three
Roderick Strong representing No Remorse Corps
Changed to Davey Richards representing No Remorse Corps after Austin Aries was chosen.
Vs.
Austin Aries representing The Resilience

Austin, Austin, Austin! I didn’t think I was ever going to get to see him in a match again! I know he is good but I’m not too sure about how he will be in the ring with his former ally, Roderick Strong. I’m still voting for Austin Aries here.

UNbelIEVABLE! Strong bales out of the ring and Davey Richards takes his place in the ring. No problem for me…Austin can take Richards any day of the week but I’m not sure what Strong is up to.

Don’t make a liar out of me here Austin. We start off with some fast moving action and wrestling holds. Austin has Richards in size Austin goes for a pin early but only gets a one count. Austin has Richards down on the mat but Richards is back to his feet. Richards has Austin in a head scissors and Austin works to free himself. He does and goes for a dropkick but Richards gets out of the way. Richards tries for a kick but Austin catches the leg and delivers some heavy chops. Austin is in the air with a short dropkick. Richards comes off the ropes with a kick to send Austin to the mat. Richards works on Austin’s left shoulder before tossing him out of the ring. Austin comes back in avoiding Strong on the outside, he nails Richards with a shoulder block and goes for a pin but only gets a two count. Richards gets a bridge on Austin and nearly gets a pin. Richards tries to drop an elbow but Austin is out of the way and Richards hits the mat. Austin drops an elbow and goes for the cover but only gets two. Austin sets Richards up on the top turnbuckle and goes up after him. Richards is fighting back and he sends Aries over the top rope and onto the floor. Austin tries to get to his feet as Richards comes out on the ring apron and comes off with a double fist and sends Austin to the floor. Richards rolls Austin back into the ring and delivers a back breaker. Richards stops to antagonize. The Resilience and Aries is back to his feet. Richards rakes the eyes and Austin is back down again. Richards delivers a head butt and sends him chest first into the corner post. Austin has Richards in a waist lock but Richards uses a leg sweep to send Austin to the mat. Richards hits Austin with a kick to the head and then goes for the pin but doesn’t get the three count. Austin is still fighting back and they trade blows in the center of the ring. Austin ducks under and comes off with a lariat that sends Richards out to the floor. Suicide dive by Austin and he takes Richards down to the floor. (I think my heart just stopped!) Those are metal guardrails and you can hear it! Austin rolls Richards back into the ring and dives over the top to land on Richards and try for the cover. He gets a two count. Austin comes off the second rope and goes for another pin. He gets another two count. Austin tries to set Richards up for the brain buster, Richards breaks free. Richards off the rope with a handspring kick to Austin’s head. Richards picks up Austin and sends him over to the mat, goes for the cover and gets a two count before Austin gets his shoulder up. Richards is yelling at Austin to get up. Richards delivers a series of kicks to Austin’s forehead. Austin catches Richards leg and sends him down to the mat. Austin goes for the cover and only gets a two count before Richards kicks out. Austin goes up to the top turnbuckle but he take too long and Richards is on his feet delivering a kick to Austin’s head. Austin is now sitting on the top turnbuckle and Richards climbs up after him. Austin is fighting back but Richards is behind him. Austin delivers an elbow that sends Richards down to the mat. Austin stands up to climb to the top turnbuckle and Richards is back up behind him one more time. Richards brings Austin crashing to the mat from the top turnbuckle. Richards goes for the cover but Austin gets a shoulder up before the count of three. Richards is back to his feet and the crowd is chanting for “Aries”. Austin sends Richards into the corner post with a series of shoulder blocks and then he delivers forearm strikes and elbows. Austin is up on the ropes and pounding on Richards. Austin is back to the opposite turnbuckle and he flies across the ring to deliver a dropkick, but Richards rolls out of the way and Austin connects with the corner post. Richards hits Austin with a running forearm and then a clothesline off the ropes. Richards sends Austin over the top with a German suplex but Austin lands on his feet. Richards manages to roll Aries up but he only gets a two count. Austin rolls up Richards and gets a two count. Austin is back to his feet and he delivers a kick to the top of Richards’ head. Austin delivers the brain buster and goes up on the top rope. Austin somersaults off the top rope to hit Richards, goes for the cover and gets the three count.

YES!

Second Winner – Best of Three Series: Austin Aries representing The Resilience

This match is rated

A for Action

S for superb performance

H for HOW can they do that and still be able to get up after the match is over?

Third Match in Best of Three
Roderick Strong representing No Remorse Corps
Vs.
Erick Stevens representing The Resilience

I’m a little concerned for The Resilience. I have seen Strong in action and he’s good. I’m not familiar with Stevens in one on one competition. Oh, darn! Prazak just informs us that Stevens is relatively new to ROH but Roderick Strong is a veteran of ROH. Now I’m more than a little concerned.

Strong attacks as the bell rings. Stevens is large but I’m not sure if he’s as fast as Strong. Stevens is overpowering Strong and he delivers an Oklahoma stampeded then goes for the cover. He can’t get the three count. Strong isn’t doing well so far. Stevens again goes for a pin and only gets a two count. Stevens slams Strong down to the mat and delivers an elbow off the ropes. Stevens goes for the cover but only gets a two count. The two men are now exchanging chops in the middle of the ring, the forearms. Stevens sends Strong over his shoulder and to the floor. Strong rolls out of the ring and onto the floor. Stevens is listening to the crowd and doesn’t notice that Strong is up on the ring apron behind him. Strong delivers a running forearm, then he drops Stevens back first on the ring apron. That didn’t sound good. The two men are now on the floor and Strong sends Stevens into the metal guardrail around the audience. Strong puts Stevens back into the ring and then wraps him around the ring post to work on Stevens’ ribs. Strong is back in the ring and he goes for the cover but only gets a two count. Strong stands on the side of the face of Stevens and Stevens is back on his feet. Stevens charges at Strong and Strong comes off the ropes and hits Stevens with a dropkick. Strong goes again for the cover and again gets a two count. Strong pounds on Stevens, but Stevens is fighting back. The crowd is rooting for Stevens, but Strong delivers a fall away slam to Stevens and goes for the cover. Strong can’t get the three count. Strong delivers a back breaker and then stretches Stevens’ back across his knee. Stevens refuses to tap out and Strong drops him on the mat to deliver a few kicks to the body. Strong delivers chops to Stevens chest. Strong charges across the ring but meets Stevens elbow and Stevens comes out of the corner with a shoulder block that sends Strong crashing to the mat. Stevens charges across the ring, smashes Strong, delivers a tko and goes for the cover. Strong gets a shoulder up at the count of two. Strong delivers a jaw breaker and charges across to hit Stevens with a forearm strike. Strong sends Stevens over his back and drops him on his head. Strong again goes for the pin but only gets a two count before Stevens powers out. Strong has a few words for the referee’s counting method. Strong tries to get Stevens on his shoulders but Stevens blocks the move. Strong hits Stevens with an elbow, comes off the ropes but Stevens catches him and power slams Strong to the mat. Stevens goes for the cover but only gets a two count. Stevens and Strong are locked up in the ring. Strong breaks free and delivers a kick to Stevens’ head. Strong delivers a gut buster, then delivers a pump handle. Strong goes for the cover but once again only gets a two count before Stevens kicks out. Okay, I’m ready to start yelling “STAY DOWN, STEVENS, STAY DOWN”! but I’m biting my lip to avoid doing that. Strong delivers a knee to Stevens and we have a chop contest in the middle of the ring. Stevens sends Strong down with a suplex and takes him down again with a leg cradle, then a pump handle. Stevens tries for a pin and gets the two count. Stevens is back on his feet and as Strong gets to his feet, he sends Stevens back into the corner post with a shoulder block. Strong delivers chops and a clubbing blow to the back of the neck before raking Stevens’ eyes. Strong sets Stevens up on the top turnbuckle and climbs up after him. Strong delivers a super plex off the top and Stevens is back to his feet immediately. Strong nails Stevens with a kick to the side of the head, then hits him with a half nelson back breaker. Strong rolls Stevens up and goes for the pin but can’t get more than a two count. Strong is up on the top turnbuckle and pulls Stevens up with him. Stevens is blocking Strong’s maneuvers and delivers a head butt to Strong , then brings Strong off the top in a power slam. Stevens goes for the cover and gets only a two count. Stevens sits Strong up on the top turnbuckle then goes out on the ring apron and climbs up after him. Strong is blocking Stevens’ moves and we have a punching match on the top turnbuckle. Strong pounds on the back of Stevens’ head. Strong locks in the half nelson but Stevens hits him with an elbow shot to the side of the head and continues to pummel Strong making him break the hold. Strong drops down to the mat but he’s still on his feet. Stevens is going back up to the top turnbuckle and Strong takes him down. Strong goes up on the ropes and sets up Stevens and takes him down to the mat on the back of his neck. Strong goes for the roll up and gets the three count.

Third Winner – Best of Three Series: Roderick Strong representing No Remorse Corps

This match is rated

A for Action

S for superb performance

T for these guys are tough!

Winner of the Best of Three Series: No Remorse Corps Rocky Romero, Davey Richards and Roderick Strong.

I can’t believe No Remorse Corps won. This was one great match and I don’t care how little experience Erick Stevens had in ROH before this match up. Stevens did a fantastic jobs in this match. I expected as much from Roderick Strong and he didn’t disappoint me.

Prazak is describing a film clip of a Four Corner Survivor in Hartford, CT. It is Delirious against Adam Pearce in the ring with Nigel McGuinness and BJ Whitmer. Delirious has the audience laughing at Pearce. Pearce appears to be beating on anyone and everyone in sight. Nigel won the match and after the match, Pearce attacked Delirious, Shane Hagadorn tried to interfere but Brent Albright enters the ring and delivers the half nelson suplex taking down Delirious. Pearce is not happy about being laughed at in the ring and he is talking to Delirious who is being held by Albright. Hagadorn hands Pearce a staple gun and Pearce is preparing to staple Delirious’ mask to his head. BJ Whitmer enters the ring and faces Pearce. BJ shoves Pearce into Albright and Delirious is suddenly up and talking to BJ but BJ decides to take out Delirious instead of Pearce. The crowd is not happy and they say so – loudly. It’s disgusting and they did not show this on the clip, Pearce did staple the mask to Delirious’ head. Adam Pearce, BJ Whitmer and Brent Albright are known as The Hangman Three.

ROH World Title Match
American Dragon Bryan Danielson
Former ROH World Title Holder
Challenger
Vs.
Takeshi Morishima
ROH World Champion

There is absolutely an incredible size difference here. Morishima is agile and quick for someone his size. Danielson is quick and agile as well, but much smaller and he is going to be working the ring with a patch over one eye. Anyone who has ever had to work with only one eye will tell you that perception will be off due to the loss of the use of that eye. I almost hate to do this but I’m going to predict that Morishima will hang on to his ROH World Title belt at the end of this match up. Morishima has held the title since February 2007. This is a rematch. Both wrestlers should know each other.

Morishima doesn’t hold back when the bell rings. He sends Danielson out of the ring and to the floor to collect himself. Danielson comes back in attempting to take Morishima down but Morishima overpowers him with weight alone. Prazak tells us that Morishima has said he will not go after the injured eye of Danielson. Morishima has Danielson down on the mat and then delivers a boot to Danielson after sending him into the corner. Danielson is again outside the ring and Morishima is out after him. Morishima sends Danielson into the guardrail and the eye patch has been moved around on Danielson’s head. Morishima sets Danielson up on a chair before charging into him and smashing him against the guardrail one more time. Morishima is sending Danielson through the barricade on all sides of the ring. Both men are still outside the ring and the ref is with them. Danielson is trying to fight back but one hit from Morishima sends Danielson down to his knees. Morishima rolls Danielson back into the ring then turns to face the crowd. Danielson is back on his feet and he dives out of the ring and into Morishima, sending him crashing to the floor. Danielson is back on his feet first and he sends Morishima back into the ring. Danielson is back in the ring and he charges with a forearm to Morishima, Danielson off the ropes with a forearm smash. Morishima is still on his feet. Danielson comes off the ropes again and delivers a kick to Morishima’s shoulder sending Morishima down to the mat. Danielson goes for the cover but only gets a two count. Danielson delivers an uppercut and then comes off the ropes to hit Morishima in the chest. Again Danielson goes for the pin and gets a two count. Prazak tells us that the match has gone past the four-minute mark (Morishima has had a run of taking out his opponents for the World Title in under four minutes). Danielson is back to his feet and Danielson is outside on the ring apron and to the top turnbuckle. Danielson dives off the top rope and Morishima catches him and sends him shoulders first to the mat. Morishima goes for the pin but can’t get the three count. Danielson goes for the triangle choke and Morishima is trying to break free. Morishima gets to the bottom rope and the referee forces Danielson to break the hold. Danielson is trying for the Mexican surf board, but it doesn’t work. Danielson tries for the bow and arrow and gets it locked in but Danielson’s shoulders are close to the mat during this submission hold. Morishima manages to avoid the hold and gets Danielson’s shoulders down, but he only gets a two count. Danielson is again the first back to his feet and he delivers forearms to Morishima. Morishima lands on Danielson’s chest and then he delivers a kick to Danielson and goes for the cover. Morishima gets a two count. Danielson has a chokehold applied but Morishima is still on his feet. Now Morishima is down to the mat and Danielson still has the hold applied. Morishima is back to his knees with Danielson on his back. Now Morishima is back to his feet and sends Danielson over his back. Danielson lands on his feet and goes for the small package (that’s a you’ve got to be kidding me hold if there ever was one in this match!) but Morishima slams Danielson down to the mat. Danielson puts Morishima up on the top turnbuckle – I don’t know HOW he did, I just saw him do it -- and then climbs up after him. Danielson delivers the belly to back suplex and goes for the cover. Danielson gets a two count. Danielson is working on Morishima with elbows to the side of the head. Danielson hits the tiger suplex but he only gets a two count. Danielson applies the cattle mutilation but Morishima is fighting it. Danielson stomps on Morishima but Morishima picks Danielson up and slams him into the mat. Morishima delivers lariat but only gets a two count when he goes for the pin. Morishima delivers the back drop pile driver but he’s close enough to the ropes for Danielson to get his foot on the ropes. Morishima is back on his feet and he charges with a clothesline and hits Danielson then he pulls off Danielson’s eye patch. Danielson gets Morishima in the small package but he only gets a two count. Morishima hits another back drop driver and then delivers elbows to the side of Danielson’s head. The audience is showing it’s displeasure at Morishima’s actions and it appears Morishima is working on the injured eye side of Danielson’s head. The ref rings the bell and stops the match before Danielson sustains further damage to his eye.

Winner: Takeshi Morishima who retains the ROH World Title

This match is rated

A for Action

S for superb performance

M for master wrestlers

The crowd is mad and so am I. Someone as large as Morishima can’t beat Danielson without trying to cause him physical harm? That said, I have to admit that both of these wrestlers went all out in this match. Danielson worked the hardest due to his smaller size but both of them put on a great match. I look for further title feuds between Danielson and Morishima in the near future.

We see a film clip of a match in Edison, NJ between the Briscoes and Kevin Steen and El Generico and again in Manhattan, NY, Chicago, IL, Boston, MA, Philadelphia, PA, Hartford, CT. Whoa, they certainly have taken each other out in a lot of major cities!

ROH’s First Ever Ladder War
ROH Tag Team Title Match
You must climb the ladder in the middle of the ring to retrieve the Championship belts hanging overhead.
Kevin Steen
&
El Generico
Vs.
Jay and Mark Briscoe, combined weight of 421 lbs., from DE
The Briscoe Brothers.
ROH Tag Team Champions

The battle starts before the bell rings. We’ve got a four man brawl out on the floor and I can’t keep track of who is where. Steen sends Mark into the crowd as Jay delivers a head shot with a steel chair to Generico. I think all four men are now in the audience area. Jay is now taking chair shots as Steen is after Mark. Generico goes flying into the audience chairs and the audience is moving fast to get out of the way. We see a shot of Generico’s back and he is covered with large red welts. Mark and Steen are punching it out still in the audience area. Jay is down from chair shots again. Steen is eating someone’s popcorn! Confident isn’t he? Generico still has a chair and he’s going after Jay. Generico hits Jay again. I think Jay’s got a laceration – he appears to be bleeding. Steen has staggered Mark but he’s back to his feet and he goes up on the guardrail and takes Steen down to the floor. Jay and Generico are in the ring with the ladder. Generico sends him to the mat with a jawbreaker. Generico folds the ladder up and heads for Jay but Jay moves and the ladder is now in the corner. Generico delivers a dropkick to Jay’s head and Jay is out on the floor. Generico sets the ladder up in the middle of the ring. Mark is back to his feet and he pulls Generico off the ladder and goes to work with right hands. Mark body slams Generico to the mat and heads for the ladder. Generico sends Mark through the ropes out to the floor but he lands on his feet and he goes back in the ring after Generico. Generico and Mark battle in the middle of the ring, the ladder bounces off the ropes and nails Mark in the face. Generico sends Mark head first into the ladder head first and once again Mark is out on the floor. Generico is setting the ladder up in the center of the ring and he starts to climb but Jay is back in the ring and he takes Generico off the ladder and to the floor with a face buster. Generico is now down on the floor. Jay starts up the ladder but is cut off by Steen who is back in the ring. Jay delivers a boot to Steen’s head and tries for a pile driver but Steen drops Jay with a back breaker. As Steen starts up the ladder, Mark springboards off the ropes and nails the ladder, sending Steen crashing to the mat. Mark is now trying to climb the ladder and he is one step from the top but Steen has him by the leg. Mark is kicking Steen, but Steen is not letting go and he manages to drag Mark down from the ladder. Steen is now pounding on Mark and Mark is out on the ring apron. Steen sends the ladder into Mark and Mark lands on the guardrail outside the ring. Generico is in the ring and Mark is back in the ring to work on Generico. Mark is now bleeding as well. Jay is in the ring and they double team Generico, sending him back first into the ladder in the corner. Ouch! One of the Briscoes sets the bent ladder back in the corner as Generico rolls outside the ring. Steen drags Mark out of the ring and goes in after Jay who is up on the ladder in the ring. Steen shoves the ladder over and Jay lands on the bent ladder in the corner. Steen appears to be the only man standing as he picks up Jay and delivers a belly to back suplex dropping Jay on the downed ladder. Mark is back in the ring but Steen delivers a low blow with a boot and Generico is now back in the ring. Generico slams a ladder into the back of Jay. Generico lays Jay on the ladder and drops with a split legged moonsault of the top turnbuckle. Steen is now bringing Mark back into the ring and he and Mark are battling it out in the ring until Generico nails Mark from behind. Jay is back in the ring trying to take down Steen but Generico hits him in the back with a ladder. Jay is in the corner behind the ladder. Generico charges and kicks the ladder into Jay. Steen throws Mark into a ladder outside the ring over the top rope. Mark is now down on the floor. Steen is setting up the ladder in the center of the ring, Jay and Mark on are on the floor. Generico is in the ring with Steen trying to hold back the Briscoes. The ladder goes down and Steen comes crashing down with it. Generico gets taken out with a German suplex, landing on his head. Right now we should be calling this MAN DOWN! because all four men are down in and out of the ring. One of the Briscoes uses the ladder to take down Generico. Jay goes after Steen and he sends the ladder back into Jay’s face sending Jay down to the mat. Mark springboards off the top rope with a missile dropkick, taking down Steen and then Generico. Steen is trying to get back to his feet but he gets a boot to the head. Jay picks Steen up and delivers a death valley driver on the ladder. Steen is down. The Briscoes set the ladder up again in the center of the ring. As Steen tries to get to his feet, Jay comes off the ladder and lands on Steen. Generico is back in the ring and Mark takes him down with a suplex. Mark sets the ladder on top of Generico and goes up to the top turnbuckle. Mark delivers a shooting star press on top of the ladder. Jay goes off the top and takes Steen through a table outside the ring. All four men are down again. Jay and Steen outside the ring. Mark and Generico inside the ring. Mark is going back up the ladder in the ring and is reaching for the belts, but Generico is on his feet. Generico shoves the ladder out from under Mark and Mark hits the mat. Jay is yelling for the maintenance ladder in the back – it appears all of the available ladders have been damaged beyond repair. We are told that ladder is not part of the match but there are no rules in this match so anything goes. The crowd surfs the ladder to Jay Briscoe who takes it and heads toward the ring. They get the ladder set up in the ring and Mark gets nailed in the back with a boot courtesy of Generico. Jay delivers a big boot to Generico, puts him up on his shoulders, Mark springboards off the top ropes, comes THROUGH the ladder set up in the middle of the ring and clotheslines Generico off Jay’s shoulders. Nice shot! The ladder is still standing in the middle of the ring. Mark is going to climb the ladder and is trying to get it under the belts. Both Briscoes are climbing the ladder. Steen is back in the ring and he grabs one of the bent ladders to take both Briscoes down to the mat. Steen sets up the ladder between the corner and the ladder standing. Mark is going back up the ladder and Steen is right behind him. They battle it out on the ladder and Steen delivers a pile driver on the ladder that is set up. Generico is back to his feet and he is climbing the ladder to go for the belts. He has a hand on them but Jay is back in and he delivers a shot to Generico’s back with a ladder. Jay is trying to set up the ladder between the corner and the standing ladder. Jay gets to Generico before he can grab the belts. Jay sets up and delivers the Jay driller on the ladder. Steen is now to his feet and climbing the ladder. Jay is back to his feet and he is on the other side climbing up. We have a battle at the top of the ladder. That’s one tall ladder, boys. Both men are grabbing for the belts and throwing punches in between grabs. Jay is beating on Steen but Steen is beating back. Steen falls backwards and lands on a ladder on the floor. Jay has the belts, Jay HAS the belts, but they won’t come loose! PULL JAY PULL! He goes up another step and now Steen is back up the ladder. Jay has to stop to fight off Steen. Jay has one of the belts! And Steen falls back to the floor.

Winners: Jay and Mark Briscoe, the Briscoe Brothers who retain the ROH Tag Team titles!

This match is rated

A for Action

S for superb performance

H for HOLY S****!

One hell of a match! This was absolutely the best brawl I have seen in ROH. I hope they don’t try to duplicate it. I don’t think it’s possible. All four of these men were absolutely the greatest! I’m sure they are beaten and battered but the reaction of the live audience said it all. They were really into this match and the four men in the ring.

Steen is not happy with Generico and he walks off and leaves Generico in the ring.

We hear screaming in the audience and they are dressed in masks? Prazak says he doesn’t know who they are or what they want but two men come out of the crowd and come over the guardrail The two men are Tyler Black and Jimmy Jacobs. And with them, is Necro Butcher and they are there to take out the Briscoes. As if the Briscoes hadn’t gone through some tremendous punishment already, they are getting worked over royally again. Necro has barbed wire wrapped around his hand. That looks nasty. It appears the Age of the Fall has a problem with the Briscoe Brothers.

And the show is over.

Sound Off!
Comment about this article on Da' Wrestling Boards!

Email Sassy

back to Flashback Reviews Index