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ROH: Glory By Honor VIII: The Final Countdown
By MIKE SICILIANO - MOP Squad Sports Staff Writer
Sep 27, 2009 - 11:51:39 AM |
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Quick results from ROH Glory By Honor VIII: The Final Countdown.
Colt Cabana defeated Rhett Titus.
The Dark City Fight Club defeated Cheech & Cloudy.
Claudio Castagnoli defeated Kenny Omega.
Roderick
Strong defeated Sonjay Dutt in Four Corner Survival that inclduded
Grizzly Redwood and Delirious with Daizee Haze at ringside.
The American Wolves retained the ROH World Tag Team Championship, winning Ladder War II over Kevin Steen & El Generico.
Chris Hero defeated Eddie Kingston.
Austin Aries defeated Petey Williams to retain the ROH World Championship.
Jim Cornette returned to ROH, and announced he is the new Executive Producer of ROH on HDNet.
The Young Bucks defeated the Briscoes.
Bryan Danielson defeated Nigel McGuinness.
I
have been fortunate enough to be at some of the most memorable matches
of the careers of Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuinness since I began
following ROH. While I am a Dragon fan more, I cannot discount the
title defense Nigel performed against KENTA at the 7th Anniversary Show
where he basically worked the match without arms, and he looked like he
was in absolute agony, yet still gutted the match through and through,
and defended his title. THAT match made me a staunch and life long
Nigel McGuinness supporter. And what I am about to discuss, just
cemented that fact even further.
With Bryan Danielson, the
memories are extensive. Especially for the chances I have been
fortunate enough to see the man perform live. It starts for me when it
goes all the way back to Lake Grove, Long Island, and Glory By Honor
IV, where on September 17th, 2005, Dragon made James Gibson submit to
capture the ROH World Championship, and helped to continue to cement
its legacy as one of the most prestigious titles in pro wrestling.
It
continued with defenses against Christopher Daniels, competing against
then NWA World Heavyweight Champion Christian Cage in a tag match with
Daniels. Cage's comment of how Dragon looked whiter than John Cena is
still classic. (I know it's not appropriate, but at the time it was
funny as hell. There's a tremendous coincidence and nice closure to
this comment that I'll get to later.)
One of the most memorable
nights I have ever had with seeing Bryan Danielson perform live was
back on December 23, 2006, in the Grand Ballroom of the Manhattan
Center, where I thought a riot was going to occur once Dragon had won
the match via disqualification when he was defending the world title
against the Notorious 187, Homicide. Fortunately, for me, and for the
rest of the fans, the match was re-started, and Homicide came out
victorious. Dragon, who had been beaten to death from his extensive
title reign, showed true class in handing the belt to Homicide, and
gave him his moment in the sun. I had never left a show more
emotionally jacked than I did back on that night.
Even though I
did not see his match at Man Up live, the match with Morishima where
Danielson's eye was injured just showed the true grit and determination
of a professional wrestler. I could not imagine, nor would I even try
to estimate the pounding that he took that night. I continue to hold
that DVD in my possession as one of my most prized.
Fast forward
to Glory By Honor VI Night 2, and the only United States appearance of
Mitsuharu Misawa (R.I.P.). Danielson and Morishima beat the high holy
crap out of each other, and it had to be stopped, if memory serves, by
the entire locker room after Danielson bled like a stuck pig.
The
Rising Above 2007 PPV saw Danielson get some serious pay back on
Morishima, making this feud, quite possibly one of the most intense and
violent feuds in the 7 1/2 years of Ring of Honor. I know one spot in
the matches I've seen with Dragon and Morishima had Dragon stomping
Morishima's testicles in to grated hamburger meat. I think it was back
at Glory By Honor VI, Night 2, but I could be mistaken. But, one thing
is definitely for certain, these two men, who were tag partners at the
Respect Is Earned 1 PPV, showed how to conduct a feud, with hard
hitting, emotional, and in your face intensity.
The 6th
Anniversary show saw Nigel EEK out a win in defense of the ROH world
championship against Dragon. I mean EEK. It showed how equal these men
are, and how competitive their series of matches has been throughout
both of their careers inside a Ring of Honor ring.
Final Battle
2008 saw the culmination of the Danielson/Morishima feud when Dragon
and Morishima beat each other practically to death in a fight without
honor. To me, it proved that Danielson is one of the few men in this
business who can do it all. From comedic entertainment to hardcore
fighting, there is nothing, if given the chance, that the American
Dragon cannot do.
The 7th Anniversary show had one of the most
emotional moments I have had in some time at an ROH event, when
Danielson had a mystery partner going up against the Embassy of Bison
Smith and a mystery partner. That match saw Jimmy Rave & Colt
Cabana return to Ring of Honor and the match had an audience reaction
the likes I have never heard. The best part of the match, besides the
competition, was seeing how Cabana and Dragon were literally vying for
the turnbuckles during the playing of the Final Countdown, after Cabana
said thanks for welcoming him back to ROH, but he wanted to hear one
theme song, and that was Danielson's. Personally, I loved every single
minute of that.
Manhattan Mayhem III: I just bought this DVD
last night, so I haven't watched it fully yet, but the match was a four
corner with Dragon, Colt, D'Lo Brown and Claudio Castagnoli. The match
was competitive, and even teased perhaps a feud with Colt and Dragon,
after Colt was able to get the victory over D'Lo Brown. Another
memorable experience.
I know this was long, and a little bit
tedious, but my point here is this. It all led to last night, when I
was honored to have the experience of being in the Grand Ballroom at
the Manhattan Center for ROH's Glory By Honor VIII: The Final Countdown.
Now,
I'll talk about the whole card in a minute, but there's some things
that need to be said beforehand. I was livid pissed when ROH changed
the main event from Aries taking on Dragon for the world title to
Dragon vs. Nigel one last time after Nigel had signed with WWE.
How WRONG was I about that one.
The
passion and emotion showed during the main event last night was
tangible. The atmosphere in New York City was electrifying, and you
could cut the furvor with a blade. Dragon and Nigel beat each other
from one end of the Grand Ballroom to the other, and I swear to you,
some of the shots that were struck made me cringe, and I was sitting in
the 3rd row of the balcony.
When Nigel McGuinness, quite
possibly one of the toughest bastards to walk a ROH ramp says in the
post match speeches that "he had a lot to say, but this clamdigger
knocked me out," all that can be said is, the intensity was off the
freakin' page.
It was kind of ironic, and for me, a little bit
satisfying, to see how Bret Hart, who was booked for this show back at
the 7th Anniversary Show, was literally an after thought throughout the
night. The line at the autograph session for him was extensive, don't
get me wrong, but he was tucked away in a separate room away from the
main room, while Dragon and Nigel's table was crowded with fans from
the time I walked in to the arena till bell time. (I Know Wrestleview
brass will hate me for that, but that's the way I feel.)
I met
Dragon during the meet & greet, and thanked him for the memories. I
stammered and stuttered like I was a 12 year old kid meeting his idol,
but truth be told, I kind of was. I had seen an incredible amount of
Dragon's matches live, and have some more on DVD that I did not list
above, so I have had a connection with Dragon from the time I started
following ROH back at Sign of Dishonor.
Dragon was the
consummate gentleman, thanking me for supporting "US". That type of
comradeship is lost in this world, but I will not go further there,
because it's a soapbox for another day.
He then took the time
to personalize the autographs that I asked for. One for me, and one for
my son's friend. I only wish I was smart enough to pick up something
else, because I had Dragon sign the DGUSA promo pics we picked up en
route inside the building, and it's difficult to see his wriitng.
Nevertheless, the chance to say thank you to someone I have followed
for four solid years was well worth the price of admission.
The opening contest saw COLT CABANA defeat RHETT TITUS.
It was the typical Cabana match, a little comedy, a little insanity, a
flying asshole, and a Billy's Goat Curse for a victory. Titus, I have
to say, I remember him when he was holding the ROH Top Of the Class
trophy, and he has really made some incredible progress in his career.
The potential on this man, I believe, is nearly limitless, and it
appears ROH is continuing to give him the ball, and let's hope he runs
with it.
Cabana's "pro wrestler" jacket was red in color,
perhaps in tribute to the departing legends, but it does show me this.
This company, throughout all its financial problems, still has the
absolute best WRESTLING I have ever had the privilege to experience.
Match #2 saw Chikara members CHEECH & CLOUDY fall to the DARK CITY FIGHT CLUB
when the DCFC hit a double team neckreaker powerbomb combination off
the top rope on Cloudy. I had thought Cheech and Cloudy were the same
guys I saw back in 2005 at Sign of Dishonor as a part of Lacey's
Angels, and maybe they were, but regardless, they put up one hell of a
fight against a team that outweighed, and outpowered them 10 to 1. This
was my first time seeing the DCFC, and damnit, they're good. Double
teams with precision and ferocity, and an attitude to match. I was
impressed.
Match #3 saw CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI with Prince Nana and beard-less Ernie Osiris defeat KENNY OMEGA
with a low blow and European uppercut. This match was incredible, with
Omega countering and countering every attempt at a short cut Claudio
did. This was my first time seeing Omega, and I now know why he has
been nipping at A Double's heels, because he can hang with the big boys
of ROH. This match was impressive as hell. If memory serves, Omega
kicked out of the Ricola Bomb, which is something that I have never
seen happen before.
BRET HART came out for a promo. As
God as my witness, it appeared like either he was sedated, or had
marbles in his mouth. Maybe because I'm going deaf, and I have trouble
hearing is one thing, but I could barely hear what Hart was trying to
say. He paid homage to Curt Hennig, his brother Owen, and the boys in
the back, and left the ring to a standing ovation. All but me, of
course, but that's a whole differerent story.
A Four Corner Survival was next when RODERICK STRONG pinned SONJAY DUTT with a Gibson Driver. In the match as well was GRIZZLY REDWOOD and DELIRIOUS with DAIZEE HAZE
in his corner. Strong looked like a man on a mission, realizing it's
his time to begin to step up to the main event level, and take the
places that are being vacated by the legends departing for WWE.
Delirious was aiming for Sonjay throughout the match, even audibly
saying "Come on, you son of a bitch," which was funny, and also really
cool to hear out of the masked man. Strong lost it when Dutt started
hitting on Haze, and chopped him down to size for the win. Dutt ended
up walking around half the ringside area with his tights around his
thighs. (Not a pleasant thought.)
LADDER WAR 2
There has to be some things said here first.
First, Steen looked like he was going to pop a blood vessel. Intensity? Focus?? Mr. WRESTLING!
Eddie
Edwards was injured the night before in Boston. ROH said his elbow was
broken. I would have never dreamt in my life that Edwards would compete.
He
did. And he received the respect that he deserved from the New York
crowd, because if you looked at his arm, it was troubling to see. He
couldn't bend it obviously, and he had it taped so high, that if Steen
or Generico focused on it, Edwards would have been in career
threatening trouble.
I'll say it right now.
Tremendous and unbelievable kudos go to Eddie Edwards for competing in this match in the condition that he was in.
Hell,
kudos to ALL FOUR MEN who put themselves through the absolute match of
their lives. Steen & Generico know this match, having been in it
with the Briscoes back in Chicago at Man Up, but this match was on par
with that one, no question.
Steen's worst spot he took. From the
top of a huge ladder, one of the Wolves, I don't remember who,
powerbombed Steen through a table and a ladder set up from the apron to
the floor, ala Sabu. I thought Steen was dead. And damnit, he never
moved for the rest of the match, as that spot happened toward the end.
Edwards
and Generico fought nearly 20 feet in the air, (and I'm not WWE
exaggerating this one), when Edwards was able to get Generico's knee
(the hurt one), in the rungs of the ladder. He leant back, put Generico
in pain the level I couldn't even imagine, and Richards climbed up, and
got the belts back for the champs.
Richards, earlier in the match, took a suplex through a table from at least 15 feet in the air.
Generico, damn, this dude, is indestructible. He ends up wrapped aorund so much debris, it's almost too obscene to discuss.
Words
cannot provide this match justice, ladies and gentlemen. It was an
honor and a privilege to be a part of this match as a spectator. I
cannot say any more than that. Except this.
The welts on the
back of both members of the Wolves was disturbing to see. That's how
intense this match was. That's how off the page this match was.
Intermission time. And the fans needed it. And more. Because that match took a lot out of the crowd.
The next match saw CHRIS HERO defeat EDDIE KINGSTON.
Kingston grabbed the emerald elbow pad to nail Hero with it, but Hero
had a backup, hit the loaded elbow and got the win. This match was
doomed from the start. New York did not have any respect for Eddie
Kingston, and truthfully, neither did I. I didn't like his style,
because he had none, and I thought he would be this super insane bad
ass, and to me, and I'm gonna say it, he looked like a clone of D'Lo
Brown. I can understand why ROH doesn't book Kingston regularly. He's
just not got that much to give to the table. But like I said, the crowd
was shot from Ladder War II, and it seeped over in to this match
without question. Hero was impressive and athletic, don't get me wrong,
and I liked his increased ferocity, which is new for him in my eyes,
but as I said, this match could've, or should've been better, and I
don't blame it on Hero. I blame it on his opponent, and where the match
was set up on the card After the match, Kingston lost his temper, and
began flinging anything around the ring he could find. It didn't seem
emotional or intense to me, it seemed like a man who was crying that he
lost the match. I was not impressed.
Next was the A DOUBLE L DOUBLE I love Aries. Heel. Face. I don't care. Aries is the man. Aries calls out BRET HART who is obviously, long gone, and then proceeds to call Hart a coward. Out comes PETEY WILLIAMS
and after a brief debate, the title match is on. Aries retains by count
out after hitting a brain buster on the floor. He needed to, because
Petey hit not one, but two Canadian Destroyers on Aries, one from the
middle rope. It looked sick, that second one. We all knew in the crowd
that Aries was not dropping the title tonight, but the match, no
questions about it, was entertaining. I thought it was entertaining for
the wrestling, but the crowd had other ideas. They proceeded to shout
"TWINKIES" at Todd Sinclair, the referee, every time he made a count.
It got so bad, that Aries got on the mike after the match, and told the
fans to stick a twinkie someplace obscene. Petey then said to Aries to
shove one in the same place, on himself. My son and his friend were
rolling in the aisle from the twinkies chants. I gotta admit, it was
funny as hell.
Next out, was JAMES E. CORNETTE. Now,
look. Cornette in ROH is a good thing. No questions. Cornette is a
genius mind, and if he can get along with the locker room, it's gonna
benefit the company. The promo he did ripping TNA was priceless. Sarah
Palin's gonna give Barack Obama a lapdance in the white house before I
get behind Vince Russo 100%. I'll never forget that line as long as I
live. But, let's take this in to consideration. The crowd is wiped.
ARIES comes out, and has literally a ten minute debate with Cornette as
to who is truly the power man in ROH. It got so long winded that the
crowd starting yelling "SHUT THE F*** UP," to Aries. It really devalued
Aries' performance in the world title match, in my opinion.
The semi - main was the YOUNG BUCKS beating THE BRISCOES
with I believe, their finisher, the MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK, on Jay
Briscoe. These two teams could possibly be the best two tag teams in
wrestling at this moment. This match was insane. It showed how the
Bucks, who look like pretty boys on the outside, can be as tough as
nails when they have to be, because they got their asses kicked, and
still managed to get the win. Nice show of class by Jay and Mark,
raising the hands of the Bucks following the contest. I wish it was
higher in the card, so I would've been more focused, but I was trying
to save up for the main event.
Bryan and Nigel came out to
thunderous roars. And I mean thunderous. The crowd was upset when they
didn't play the Final Countdown for Bryan. Streamers were passed
around, and the respect given was incredible. Danielson did his usual
spots with the suicide plancha to the crowd, the elbows, cattle
mutilation, and the roaring elbows, but take this in to consideration.
Danielson took a post shot that busted him open badly. He was in bad
shape for some time, took multiple towers of london, and sat in the
London Dungeon for an endless amount of time. They did not disappoint,
ladies and gentlemen. They did not. Danielson won the match with a
triangle choke, after knocking Nigel out with elbows I believe.
Draogn's back was to me, so I don't know what the knockout blow was.
The
post match speeches were emotional beyond words. The ROH locker room
came out and stood at ringside. Nigel thanked ROH for allowing him to
be a pro wrestler, put over Danielson, and thanked the fans, and it's a
miracle he was able to do that, because like I said earlier, "this
clamdigger knocked me out." He did. Dragon did knock him out. Nigel
looked loopy for the entire time before the end of the night.
Dragon
began putting over the locker room, specifically the Wolves, which is
justified beyond measure. He then put over the rest of the ROH locker
room, saying without them, he would not be him. He asked the fans that
wherever he may go, wherever he may end up, to continue to support ROH.
The fans ate it up. Dragon joked he wasn't going to be able to punch
anyone in the ear anymore, and the crowd chanted they wanted to see
Dragon punch John Cena in the ear. Dragon responded that he would come
up to that son of a bitch, and POW!. Nice closure to the comment back
from years ago made by Christian Cage at How We Roll.
Dragon was
the epitome of class throughout this speech, and asked for one thing,
to have his favorite song played one last time. "The Final Countdown"
was played, and to hear the crowd in the Manhattan Center sing that
song in unison, well, bluntly, it made my spine tingle.
I can
say, with conviction, that this show was by far and away, the most
emotionally jacked show I have ever been too. This blew Final Battle
2006 out of the water. Cornette returning was a nice surprise, the
wrestling was off the charts, ladder war lived up to its billing, Eddie
Edwards deserves a purple heart for competing in that match, and the
legends of ROH left their essence in the ROH canvas.
I am honored, pardon the pun, to have had the pleasure to experience ROH: Glory By Honor VIII: The Final Countdown.
Whether
you're a fan of ROH or not, I recommend highly picking up this DVD when
it's released. It will be a hot item, I believe it will be one of the
best ROH shows on DVD ever sold.
My email is Klac1102@aol.com
Copyright 2007 - MOP Squad Sports
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