Column of Honor: 09.22.07 The Yom Kippur “Fast” Edition Part Two

Honorarium

In my free time this week I re-watched (again) the Respect is Earned PPV, well actually just the tag title match and the Delriious vs. Strong encounter. I have to say that you get a much better and more complimentary impression of Delirious vs. Strong IF you watch it separately from the tag title match (like I did this time around). It’s well paced and Strong does not dominate the match as much as I remembered (although again I think this because of the judicious editing done). In fact, this is Delirious’s match pretty much throughout and it takes several hard shots from Strong to put him down. I’d recommend to anyone who is down on this match to check it out again, but watch it first.

-Live in Tokyo and Live in Osaka:

Final thoughts on the Japan shows. Speaking of Delirious vs. Strong, I really liked their encounter in Japan. It definitely came across as a “feud ender”. The use of weapons and the way Delirious was able to work the crowd on his side during the match (remember this is a foreign audience, so it takes that something extra to do it) helped bring the match up in quality.

A huge pattern in both the Japan and the Osaka shows was the use of six man tags. The interaction between NOAH and ROH and Dragon Gate and ROH could be better highlighted this way. The “all star” aspect of these matches was a big selling point and provided several unique moments of crossover interactions. I do think with two tag matches and two six man tags on the Dragon Gate show that the impact of that show’s main event was diminished. It didn’t seem to be as unique as it could have been.

-Race to the Top Tournament Night 1: I also just finished watching this show and am on my way to watch Night 2 after I finish up this column. I was very much surprised at how much I liked this show. There were several factors working against it from the start, for one being the smaller venue (they were forced to move after Sports Plus closed down) that cramps up the “look” of the show and the other being it was a Long Island show. However, a nice mix of good matches and fun interactions between the wrestlers in the tournament made for a successful show.

I have given LI its fair share of grief over the years, but on recent shows this crowd has begun to make a turn around. It continues here with this show as aside from a few moments of idiocy (the Yankees / Red Sox chant in particular) the crowd was enthusiastic and pumped for almost everything.

Jack Evans and Kevin Steen is the tournament highlight for night 1. Evans has a few weaknesses, including his punches and strikes which seem ineffectual against larger opponents. Here he is trying to throw body punches at Steen and it seemingly has no effect; HOWEVER, the work on the stomach surprisingly does have a pay off with the finish and where his 630 lands on Steen. I don’t know if it was intentional, but it worked for me. Evans doesn’t hit everything clean towards the end of this one but he is very exciting and gets one of the bigger crowd reactions.

Chris Hero has often been criticized for doing too much shtick in his matches, but I enjoyed the comedy work he did with Stevens in their tournament match. There is a time and place for everything and this seemed to work. I also have to give props to Jigsaw, who does terrific as an undercard good guy. Now here’s a guy who goes the “come on baby!” route as a face, but it actually works in his case, maybe because he looks cool in his mask and outfit. I wouldn’t have said it six months ago but I’d like to see more of Jig in ROH.

No matter how you slice it, Aries’ return comes off as anti-climatic, even though he gets promo time with The Resilience and the 4CS match came across very well on DVD. Also it’s hysterical that Aries pumps his guys up and then they all lose. Way to coach bro. Come on booker man, LET THESE GUYS WIN!

I do have to criticize the camera work a bit, as there were a few “iMPACT director” moments early on, like when BJ Whitmer’s total destruction of Rhett Titus was totally missed (after it being teased several times in the match against Pelle).

The Money Players: August and September 2007

Who are the money players? In the sports industry, money players are the athletes who are making the right plays at the right moments.

In wrestling, the concept of the money player is not all that different. The wrestler who has a great match or gives an impressive impression upon the audience ups their worth to the wrestling promoter. While you may be helping your team, you are also helping yourself and your career.

So once a month here at Column of Honor, I’ll be looking at some of the money players in Ring of Honor. We’ll also see who’s hot, who’s not, who’s making those key plays and who is dropping the ball, so to speak.

Money Players of the Month—August 2007

-Steen and Generico have been the consistent number one contenders to the ROH World Tag Team titles and fought twice in August for the tag belts. Even though they were not able to win, they have won perhaps something far more important in the long run. They have won the hearts and minds of the ROH fans, who seem to dig everything about this team and every match they have wrestled in during the last several months. In August alone, this “Odd Couple” bested The Briscoes in a non title street fight and defeated the current tag champs in singles matches. Then they put in breathtaking and dramatic performances in back to back title matches where each time a tag title win looked to be within reach. Steen and Generico secured long term bookings in ROH with their tremendous efforts and August 2007 may have been one of the best examples of how well they can do inside the ring.

Money Players of the Month—September 2007

-On the other hand, the September money players are Steen and Generico’s adversaries. This is the third time that The Briscoes have earned the “Money Player” award, which goes to show you how important they have been in 2007. When The Briscoes main event a show, you get your money’s worth. The Briscoes main evented both ROH shows in September, going on last in Detroit against Austin Aries and Matt Cross; then unleashing a hellacious, non stop effort in the ladder tag title match in what was ostensibly the main event in Chicago Ridge, IL. Age of the Fall fans can get upset as much as they want about this call, but their little effort against Jay & Mark (and you know with Jacobs we’re talking “little” all around—that’s what she said) doesn’t impress or win them points here. The Briscoes carried the ball for ROH in September and that is that.

Previous Money Players:
July 2007: Claudio Castagnoli (CAST)
June 2007: Bryan Danielson (AMER)
May 2007: Jay & Mark Briscoe (BRSC)
April 2007: Colt Cabana (COLT)
March 2007: BJ Whitmer (WHIT), Jimmy Jacobs (HUSS), Jay and Mark Briscoe (BRSC)
February 2007: Samoa Joe (SAMO)
January 2007: Homicide (HOMI)

ROH STOCK INDEX

Breadwinners STOCK UP!

–Takeshi Morishima (MORI): Seriously, can this guy’s stock go any higher? Every month I list him here because he is THE breadwinner of ROH. The champion takes on all comers and put them down every time. He leads the competing brands and is clearly the superior product at this point in 2007. Stock way up on this one. The only problem is some concern out of investors that Mori is going to be taking on too much in October and November, with more title matches and a face off against Misawa in a tag match in Philadelphia yet to come.

–Claudio Castagnoli (CAST): The Swiss money making machine continues to wow stockholders and analysts alike with his successful profit formula. He wins matches, he drives up his stock and demand has gone way up for Double C. A win against Chris Hero proves his dedication to performance and there is more where that came from in the form of an upcoming rematch against Race to the Top runner up El Generico. Invest now in this likely future champion before it’s too late.

–Nigel McGuinness (NIGE):Last time around Nigel was looking up at the lights as a loss leader, but a huge win at the PPV tapings gives Nigel newfound momentum. Most forecasters are predicting that Nigel will make the third time the clichéd and proverbial “charm” and go on to win the ROH World title in Edison, NJ. While that remains to be seen, no one can doubt that Nigel is in the middle of a huge turnaround in his fortunes. His stock is definitely way up.

–Erick Stevens (CHOO): Stevens is making a very interesting surge in competition with some nice performances over the last few months. A win in a tag match against Quackenbush & Jigsaw as well as winning a chance to fight the ROH World Champion will raise the eyes and spark the interest of even the most conservative investor. Stevens has a chance to break out of the pack, even with so many other brands out ahead of him right now. He’s one to watch.

Loss Leaders STOCK DOWN!

–PAC: (PACC): Last month he was kicked out of the stock market, and unfortunately it all went downhill from there. PAC made his American debut in Detroit and New York City, but these very important test markets did not receive the import product well. The UK market was sent into a tizzy because of this and investors overseas fear this could cause a chain reaction for all European stocks. PAC faces an uncertain future as far as growth is concerned and because of that he is one of the major loss leaders of this month.

–Chris Hero (HERO): Oh I bet he won’t be happy to read this one. Unfortunately it was an up and down month for Chris Hero, but one that ultimately concluded in way more downs that ups. Hero lost to his former partner and now rival Claudio Castagnoli in NYC and he was further humiliated by a loss to Jimmy Jacobs, who had just come back from an injury. Not an impressive month for the usually impressive Hero and Sweet & Sour Inc.

Trendsetters

–The Age of the Fall (FALL): Well, you can’t knock their method of advertising and the incredible impact of their debut. The Age of the Fall successfully used new methods of marketing their brand to reach an untapped and diverse consumer group and it seems they have convinced many of them to invest in their future efforts. Buy early and buy low, sell high and sell well. That’s the motto of the stock market and that’s working to perfection in this case.

–The Hangman’s Three (THM3): Another new grouping of stock put together to hopefully create more success and profit. Pearce, Whitmer and Albright may be able to do together what they could not do alone—become the number one brand of ROH product in 2007.

Future Outlooks

(+) POSITIVE: Nigel McGuiness (up), Jimmy Jacobs (up), Tyler Black (up), NECRO Butcher (up), Adam Pearce (up), BJ Whitmer (up), Brent Albright, Roderick Strong (up), Davey Richards (up), Rocky Romero (up), Jack Evans, Ruckus, Julius Smokes, Erick Stevens, Tank Toland, El Generico, Kevin Steen, Claudio Castagnoli

(/) NEUTRAL: Takeshi Morishima (drops), Bryan Danielson (drops), The Briscoes (drops) Austin Aries (drops), Mike Quackenbush (drops) Jigsaw (drops), Hallowicked (drops) Chris Hero (drops), Delirious

(-) NEGATIVE: Pelle Primeau (drops way down), Gran Akuma (drops) Matt Cross, Shane Hagadorn, Irish Airborne, Eddie Edwards

Out of the stock market: SHINGO, Matt Sydal, Ricky Reyes, Jimmy Rave, Trik Davis, CJ Otis
Added: NECRO Butcher, Tyler Black, Ruckus, Julius Smokes

Penny Stocks
Looking for a cheap bargain? This is the place to speculate on the next possible big things…but look out; there could also be a few duds here.

–More than a penny for your thoughts
Pelle Primeau (PPRM)–Injured and out until December, which hurts his momentum and his building up of reputation over the last few months.
Shane Hagadorn (HAGA):–The Friar Tuck haircut must go.
Irish Airborne (IAIR)
M Dogg 20 “Matt Cross” (MD20)
Julius Smokes (SMOK)–Hype man from the Heavens is a great pick up and could make some big moves in the future.

–Still just one cent
Jason Blade (BLAD)
Eddie Edwards (EDED)
Eddie Osirus (EOSI)
Mitch Franklin (MFRN)–New Top of the Class trophy holder looks to make a go of it.
Bobby Dempsey (BDEM)–Still hasn’t lost much weight.
Rhett Titus (TTUS)–Very sexy.
Alex Payne (PAYN)

Closing Thoughts / Ring the Bell: The closing bell is rung this month by BOBBY DEMPSEY, who is being made to run laps up and down the stairs by his personal trainer Tank Toland before he will be allowed to ring the bell! Bobby is huffing and puffing…oh he just collapsed on the last stair! Well, it looks like Tank Toland will be the one to close out the stock market this month and he is all smiles about that. For now, the market is closed.

Going Home

Name That Tune * NEW FEATURE!

Every week I’ll include an excerpt of music lyric and I’ll ask you guys to guess the song. The catch is that it will be a wrestler’s theme! All promotions are up for grabs, but I’ll focus mostly on the independent scene. So for example:
Last Week:

Clue: CHIKARA & ROH
Lyric: “Stand tall like a man / Head strong like a horse / when it’s all mixed up, better __________.”
What’s the name of the song and the artist?

Answer: “Break it Down Again” by Tears For Fears (Mike Quackenbush’s theme)

Here are the fine, smart and savvy readers who knew that when it’s all mixed up you better break it down and that all the love and all the love in the world won’t stop the world from falling. WAIT A MINUTE… Jimmy Jacobs? Where are you buddy, I know that’s YOU writing that lyric.

This week’s winners (in order of response):
Shooter0094 (Adam G.)
Premiumblandrew (Quack, Quack, Quack indeed)
Joakim Hellstrand
Matthew French

Let’s play Name that Tune! for this week, September 22, 2007!

Clue:ROH, top class
Lyric: “It’s the end of Camelot / And if you’re ready or not / You can smell the rot of ______________________.”
What’s the name of the song and the artist?

Send in your answers here and if you’re correct I’ll list your name in next week’s column!

Ringtones

seaneb14 writes in with thoughts on the third PPV (this was written before the PPv aired):

So I heard that Danielson will return to face Morishima for the tile Saturday. What do you think the odds are that Danielson takes the title home? Danielson was made to look very strong in the last 2 PPVs and ROH had been pushing the toll that title reign has taken on Morishima. It would be a strong selling point for the PPV and it would be the first meaningful thing to happen on a PPV.

I was just thinking, do you think it’s a possibility that the Danielson eye injury was a work. He’s coming back really fast, in my opinion. If he does indeed win the title, it would be a good way to get him out of the NWA title picture without losing and also giving him a few weeks off before the big win.
Well, as we saw last week, Danielson did not win the title, although another rematch is inevitable. Looking back in hindsight, the singles title matches on PPV, one each for Danielson and for McGuinness was foreshadowed right in the very first PPV. I don’t know if McGuinness gets the win in his title match due to timing (it’s before the Misawa appearances). My pick of a triple threat match could happen at the fifth PPV, wherever that ends up being. If I’m fantasy booking (and I don’t like to share these all that much but here it is), McGuinness loses in Edison, wins the title in the triple threat at the fifth PPV and then finally defeats Danielson one on one at the sixth (and at this point final) PPV special.

No, unfortunately I don’t know any of the numbers for the PPV, and really neither does anyone else right now as they’re being kept under wraps. The move to PPV in my mind is still smart and we have seen small instances where their exposure is increasing because of the extra attention given to the PPV on the internet (and ads run on cable stations like ESPN). However, in the end it seems like it may have become another way to get more money out of the same audience, “double dipping” as it were. It’s fine by me, because the PPV product at ten bucks a pop is definitely worth it.

As far as Danielson’s injury being a work—absolutely not. I saw the match against Morishima in NYC live and in person and let me tell you that eye injury was legitimate. It was swelling up and Danielson was visibly affected by it and not in and I’m going to sell for the match kind of way. I also don’t think he would go to the trouble of wearing an eye patch voluntarily, unless he was auditioning for the role of Burchill 2K7 in WWE. Don’t think the E isn’t above doing another pirate gimmick!

Sean Comer, Community News Editor of the NORTHWEST MISSOURIAN (WOOT!) has something to say about ROH not going to certain markets and the PWG crossface incident:

I read your column regularly. Great, great stuff. Why ROH decided to bypass two former wrestling hot-beds here in the Show-Me state (KC and St. Louis) to take their act to Vegas instead elludes me. If ROH ever comes to KC, that one night alone could make it a banner year for me. We’ve got the venues AND the fanbase. Now I just wonder why they’ve never decided to give it a shot!

Regarding the actions of Human Tornado: That is a disgusting human being. I refuse to believe that NOTHING about that act struck him as inappropriate. We complain about WWE’s creative pushing exploitative garbage such as that, but it seems rare that an indy angle makes such headlines. I, too, am a little embarrassed that Chris Hero wasn’t made the least bit uncomfortable by this. I always hoped Chavo, Vicki, and/or Rey/Benoit would take a stand against what was done in the wake of Eddie Guerrero’s death but to know that Hero STILL played along after THAT fiasco….will the business never learn?

I think ROH decided to add the 10/19 show when they confirmed that they were going to do the San Fran convention show. It makes sense to do another show to maximize their profit / exposure in that area. If they are going to go there and incur the costs, I think it makes sense to recoup a bit. I do agree though, I’m not sure why ROH bypasses Kansas City and St. Louis. I’ve always been impressed when WWE runs shows in those locales but when wrestling has been such a tradition in those cities, maybe its not a huge surprise. Maybe they just haven’t found the right smaller venue to run in?

Re: Tornado: the fact is I can’t really say or know who came up with the idea; I can’t out and out write him off because I don’t know what he felt about it. Maybe he has reservations but they weren’t enough to outweigh creating a “hot” angle that would draw fans. Maybe the bookers behind the scenes decided it was the thing to do, although PWG has never gone with something that over the line before. They’ve done some violent feuds and some angles where women were in jeopardy before, but never that level. What we do know is that all three of them went through with it. I think its that wrestlers’ mentality of give the fans something to talk about and get them coming back that drives this sort of booking heady angles. And as you said, it is because of this desire to draw that makes wrestlers not learn from past mistakes. I just know that I didn’t like hearing it took place and I didn’t like the lack of reaction from the fan communities even more.

The indomitable Justin Shaq is back!

Dear Sir,
I have two words for you my friend and twoi words only. JIMMY Jacobs he is the best f’n thing to hit ROH since Jimmy Bower’s Beer bill lol anyway since ur an english teacher would you say that shakespeare may have used him for a character if he knew he was this evil and so into his character. I swear to God i was there and i couldn’t stop marking out the man has many human dimensions under his belt it’s unbelivable. Also in regards to the Stable Wars do u think ROH would resurrect the old war games concept? Thoughts and Once more Jimmy JACOBS

Jacobs has certain Shakespearean aspects in character, although maybe he has taken more of a character direction from Machiavelli and the Marquis de Sade *especially because of that bloodbath deal from the 3rd PPV. If he would be anyone from Shakespeare, maybe he’s Iago, who hid his evilness from the heroes with false flattery until it was too late. While Jacobs had been outspoken about his suffering before, his baby face act upon his return was hiding his true nature.

Totally agreed about Jacobs–speaking of drama, the man can speak quite the dramatic monologue. I’m shocked at how well he performs.

I am definitely thinking we’ll see the return of Steel Cage Warfare later on for the 3 way Gen Ex war. I’d expect lots of barbaric stipulation matches for Briscoes and Age of the Fall.

Finally, the very famous and ever 411 present Jay 2K Winger makes his debut in the COH mailbag!

First off, let me say I really enjoy reading your column. ROH has fast become my favorite North American promotion, and I’ve started attending their shows in Philly, starting back at “Domination” and “DBD V Night 2,” and I’ll be front-row for “GBH VI Night 1.”

-=Jay 2K Winger=-

I’m always happy to hear when more people pick up on ROH. It’s not perfect, but its far and away better than the big two in my opinion anyway.

Your thoughts about 161 / Hangman’s 3 actually echo my own. I also think their may end up being some sort of collusion revealed soon that connects the two stables into one major faction. THEN things would be really bad for ROH’s good guys. Although it would be an interesting twist if maybe Whitmer was recruited by Pearce into this whole deal without knowing that Jacobs was the mastermind.

Hangman’s 3 has definitely been the red herring, but the hanging photos and the naming of the group on the same day as 161’s arrival are highly coincidental. No real proof just yet, but there are pieces that can fit later on down the road.

The ending of Jimmy Loves Lacey makes total sense now and fits in as sort if the “birthplace” of Age of the Fall, which is actually a bit disconcerting, even disturbing if you think about it. As Jimmy himself has said “love doesn’t save, nothing saves.” That’s some powerful emotions right there, which I think go beyond “emo” and right into nihilism.

Good call on the hood deal for Albright. i wonder if BJ and Pearce will start to wear them as well.

Someone else pointed out that there were times when ROH had six stables before, notably in 2004: Second City Saints / Embassy / Generation Next / Carnage Crew / Special K / Prophecy. it’s not necessarily the quantity of the stable that will bve the issue, but their placement on the depth chart, how they’re used, how they interact against each other and the quality of the matches. Those are the real factors that will determine whether or not this can be pulled off.

**The Independent Buy In**

2007

**PWG Battle of Los Angeles 2006: Night One (Strong / Romero, CIMA / Cross, Deliirous / Generico, 8 Man Tag)
**SHIMMER Women’s Athletes Volume 6 (MsChif / Melissa Last Woman Standing, Rebecca Knox / Allison Danger Pure Rules)
**PWG Hollywood Globetrotters (Super Dragon and Davey Richards vs. Roderick Strong and Jack Evans; Cape Fear (El Generico and Quicksilver) vs. Arrogance (Chris Bosh and Scott Lost); B-Boy vs. Frankie Kazarian; Alex Shelley vs. Chris Sabin.)
**PWG Beyond The Thunderdome (Super Dragon and Davey Richards vs. AJ Styles and Chris Daniels); Cape Fear vs. Arrogance; Joey Ryan vs. Chris Sabin)
**PWG Enchantment Under The Sea (Cape Fear vs. Briscoes; Matt Sydal vs. B-Boy; Super Dragon and Davey Richards vs. Arrogance; Austin Aries vs. Kevin Steen)
**wXw World Lightweight Tournament 2006 (Ares / Baron von Hagen, Pac / El Generico, Quackenbush / Roudin, 5 Way Tournament Match)
**ECWA Super 8 Tournament 2001 (Danielson / Low Ki, Danielson / Reckless Youth, Low Ki / Billy Fives, Danielson / Spanky)
**ROH FWA IPW:UK Frontiers of Honor 2 (Sydal / Richards, Cabana / Burridge, JC Thunder / Nigel McGuinness, Danielson / Brookside / Stone)
**PWG Battle of Los Angeles 2006: Night Two (Necro Butcher/Super Dragon, Hero/Horiguchi, Evans/Castagnolli)
**PWG Battle of Los Angeles 2006: Night Three (Generico / CIMA, Hero, Claudio, Necro, Romero / Cabana, Quicksilver, M-Dogg 20, Delirious, Generico / Sabin, Richards / Strong, Evans/ Horiguchi, Richards / CIMA)
**Chikara The Crushing Weight of Mainstream Ignorance (Quackenbush / Akuma, Steel / Steel, Sweeney / Kingston, Hair vs. Mask: Jigsaw / Icarus)
**Chikara King of Trios Night One (Order of the Neo Solar Temple / Los Ice Creams, Miyawaki, Yago & KUDO / Iron Saints, Sweeny, Eliis and Ryder vs. Neo Solar Temple POSEDOWN, Shima Xion / Nobutaka Moribe)
**SHIMMER Volume 7 (Daizee Haze/Cheerleader Melissa, Mercedes Martinez/LuFisto, Sara Del Rey/Nattie Neidhart)
**Chikara King of Trios Night Two (Sabin, Shelley and Dutt vs. Quackenbush, Jigsaw and Shane Storm / Hallowicked, Cheech and Cloudy vs. Lince Dorado, Pantera and Sicodelico Jr. / Olsen Twins vs. Miyagi and Yago / Quack T-Shirt Squad vs. Boyer and 2.0)
**Chikara King of Trios Night Three (Pantera, Lince Dorado & Sicodelico, Jr. vs. Mike Quackenbush, Jigsaw & Shane Storm / Kings Of Wrestling vs. Kudo, Yoshiaki Yago & Miyawaki / Mike Quackenbush, Jigsaw & Shane Storm vs. Kudo, Yoshiaki Yago & Miyawaki / Ricochet vs. Claudio Castagnoli / Daizee Haze vs. Sara Del Ray / Mokujin Ken vs. Mecha Mummy / Matt Sydal vs. Hallowicked)
**UWA Hardcore: Hour of the Dragon (Ultimo Dragon / Black Tiger, Chris Sabin / Josh Prohibition, Mike Quackenbush / Claudio Castagnoli, Tyler Black / Josh Ambercrombie)
**Fight Sports Midwest: Chapter One (Samoa Joe / Eddie Kingston, Larry Sweeney / Bryan Alvarez, Josh Ambercrombie / Austin Aries, Hydra / “Old Timer” Jeff King) **Fight Sports Midwest: Chapter Two (Alex Shelley / Low Ki, Mike Quackenbush / Tiger Mask IV, Human Tornado / Josh Ambercrombie)
**CHIKARA: Rey De Voladores (Chris Hero / Claudio Castagnoli, Chuck Taylor / Lince Dorado, Cheech & Cloudy / F.I.S.T. (Gran Akuma & Icarus), Chuck Taylor / Ricochet / Pac / Retail Dragon)
**SHIMMER Women’s Athletes Volume 8 (Sara Del Rey / Mercedes Martinez, Daizee Haze / Tiana Ringer, Nattie Neidhart / Portuguese Princess Ariel, Allison Danger / Lufisto)
**CHIKARA: Anniversario? (Hero / Quackenbush, Hallowicked / Kingston, Pantera & Lince Dorado / Castagnoli & Sweeney, Worker Ant / Hydra, Player Uno / Shayne Hawke)
**CHIKARA: Maximum Overdraft (F.I.S.T. / Briscoes, Mike Quackenbush / Black Tiger, Hero & Castagnoli / El Pantera & Lince Dorado, The Colony / Los Tres Deliriouses, Daizee Haze / Sara Del Rey—2 out of 3 Falls)
**SHIMMER Women Athletes Volume 9 (MsChif / Amazing Kong, Cheerleader Melissa / Sara Del Rey, Tiana Ringer / Nikki Roxx, Lexie Fyfe & Malia Hosaka / Allison Danger & Cindy Rogers)
**PWG: Passive Hostility (PWG Tag Team Titles: Super Dragon & B-Boy / Cape Fear of El Generico & Quicksilver, PWG Title Three Way: Joey Ryan / Human Tornado / Kevin Steen, Scorpio Sky, Cgrus Visg & Scott Lost / Kazarian, Sabin & Shelley, Richards / Romero)
**SHIMMER Women Athletes Volume 10 (Daizee Haze / Amazing Kong, Del Rey Nikki Roxx, Melissa / Lacey, Amber O’Neal / MsChif, Allison Danger / Cindy Rogers, Perez / Ariel) (NEW ADDITION)

**PWG: Based on a True Story (PWG Title: Joey Ryan / Human Tornado, Loser Leaves PWG: Kazarian / Scorpio Sky, Colt Cabana / Rocky Romero, Bosh / Steen) (NEW ADDITION)

This show is book ended by two must watches in Kazarian vs. Sky and Tornado vs. Ryan. These two matches are the culmination of what was at the time two of PWG’s bigger and more serious feuds. The Dynasty had been running wild and dominating the company’s babyface roster for much of 2006. Kazarian had been stymied several times by Scorpio Sky and his valet Jade Chung. Joey Ryan had screwed everyone out of a fair chance of winning the PWG title, but especially the fiery babyface Human Tornado.

So the card begins with one of the better matches of the show and sets quite the pace for others to match (and most of them really can’t). It’s funny, but in many ways this resembles the Ultimate Warrior-Randy Savage “retirement” match and especially the post match angle. These two go at it rough and ready in the ring, as if everything is on the line and they come up with several exciting moments where the finish is in doubt. At the end though, Kazarian is the winner. Jade pulls a Sensational Sherri and attacks her former client now that he is no longer a winner. Dino Winwood, former manager of Sky in the AXP (Arial Express) plays Elizabeth and boy, think about that one for a second. We get the “happy ending” (even without Jade) and a babyface turn / curtain call for Sky before he bows out of PWG at this particular time. This is a great match made even better if you understand the long road of getting there.

Jade Chung by the way—phew—still breathtaking.

Colt Cabana is a dark horse MVP of this whole show, as not only does he have the third best match on the card in a terrific comedy bout against Rocky Romero, but he also subs in for commentary on this particular show. His interaction with Disco machine is pure genius, although when it comes time for commentary on his own match, he mysteriously disappears in favor of his “brother” (wink, wink). It’s important to actually turn the commentary off for his match because the comments he makes to both Romero and the referee must be heard and enjoyed in full. Colt even pulls off the impossible, working a match AND flirting with a girl outside at the same time!

I was able to get my first viewing of a Karl “Machine Gun” Andersen match with this show and I have to tell you that I like what I see out of this guy. He, Bino Gambino and Scott Lost face off against Disco, Nemesis and TJ Perkins (the mask-less alter ego of Puma). Resembling David Young or as the crowd asserted with their chants, “Gillberg!”, Anderson plays a great mix of comedy and serious wrestler. He gets flustered by the faces and plays the clown, he had an awesome taunt where he pulls out an invisible machine gun and fires off some rounds. Yet he can back up all the silliness with a legit technical acumen and good poise in the ring. He even was able to play into the aforementioned Gillberg chants in a very entertaining way.

Kevin Steen and Chris Bosh also have a fun match that gets really going about halfway through. Steen’s crowd interactions whether as a bastard heel or a unwilling babyface add tremendous depth to his act. Be sure to check this one out.
The real miss of the show is Cape Fear vs. Los Luchas, which goes on and on and on and would have been better served being shorter in length and in terms of the insane moves being pulled out that only end up in two counts. There is STILL the problem in PWG of pulling out too many killer moves, but unlike in ROH, this happens here in almost every match! You also can’t do that if the main event needs that kind of effort, as the title match did on this show. Not to mention that the longer the match went on, the more Los Luchas blew spots and everyone just started looking sloppy and uncomfortable in the ring.

The main event tied together the night’s theme of “The Dynasty Loses” as we finally get the long awaited title change and a face win to end the night. It’s not a cake walk though as the title match is also a “Guerrilla Warfare” match, one of the more brutal and physical matches in the promotion. Tornado goes through a hellacious amount of punishment, bleeding and table breaking, but he works through it and preservers against the odds. Tornado is the new PWG champion after this match.

The ROH List
**Fifth Year Festival: NYC (Samoa Joe / Morishima, Homicide / Rave, Briscoes / Cabana & McGuinness, Albright / Whitmer, Evans / SHINGO / Xavier / Jacobs)
**Fifth Year Festival: Philly (Homicide / Morishima, Sydal & Daniels / SHINGO & Evans, Briscoes / Generico & Steen, Castagnoli / Aries, McGuinness / Perkins)
**Fifth Year Festival: Chicago (Morishima & McGuinness / Joe & Homicide, Cabana / Jacobs, Strong & Richards / Aries & Cross, Daniels & Sydal / The Briscoes, Albright / Castagnoli)
**Fifth Year Festival: Liverpool (Joe / McGuinness, ROH World Tag Team Titles: The Briscoes / Doi & SHINGO / FIP Title: Strong / PAC, 2/3 Falls: Delirious / Matt Sydal) **Fifth Year Festival: Finale (Joe / Homicide, Fight Without Honor: McGuinness / Rave, ROH World Tag Team Titles: Doi & SHINGO / Richards and Strong, Sydal / PAC, Falls Count Anywhere: Whitmer / Jacobs)
**All Star Extravaganza III (ROH vs. Dragon Gate 8 Man Tag, Strong / Evans, Mochizuki / Richards, Cabana / Sydal / Hero / Pearce, Homicide / Daniels)
**Supercard of Honor II (CIMA, SHINGO and Yokosuka / Dragon Kid / Saito / Mochikzuki, Strong / Aries, Whitmer / Jacobs, Evans & Doi / Richards and Romero, McGuinness / Hero, Daniels & Sydal / Delirious & Jay Briscoe)
**Fighting Spirit (ROH World Title: McGuinness / Morishima, Jay Briscoe and Erick Stevens Mark Briscoe / El Generico & Kevin Steen, Evans & Delirious / Strong & Romero, Claudio / Romero, Cabana / Williams)
**The Battle of St. Paul (ROH World Title: Morishima / Aries, FIP Title: Strong / Daniels, Delirious / Stevens / Romero / Evans, Albright & Pearce / Homicide & Cabana/ ROH World Tag Titles Ultimate Endurance)
**Good Times, Great Memories (ROH World Tag Team Titles: Briscoes / Murder City Machine Guns, Roderick Strong / Jack Evans, ROH World Title: Morishima / SHINGO, Austin Aries / Rocky Romeo, Adam Pearce / Colt Cabana, 6 Man Mayhem: Deliirous, Quackenbush, Hallowicked, Jigsaw, Akuma, Primeau)
**A Fight at the Roxbury (Four Corner Survival: Quackenbush / Hero / Castagnoli / McGuinness, ROH World Title: Morishima / Jay Briscoe, El Genercico / Matt Sydal, Steen / Briscoe, Danielson / Rave)
**Respect is Earned (ROH World Tag Team Title: The Briscoes / Castagnoli & Sydal, Danielson & Morishima / McGuinness & KENTA, Marufuji / Romero, Tag Team Scramble, Toland / Albright)
**Domination (ROH World Tag Team Titles, 2 out of 3 Falls: Briscoes / Hero & Castagnoli, Steen & Generico / Jigsaw & Quackenbush, Morishima / Strong, Sydal / Hallowicked, Lacey / Daizee Haze)
**United We Stand (Danielson & McGuinness / Marufuji & Morishima, KENTA / Rocky Romero, NRC vs. Resilience)
**Live in Tokyo (ROH World Title: Morishima / McGuinness, Briscoes & Marufuji / Sydal, Ricky Marvin & Atsushi Aoki, Danileson / Go Shiozaki, Fight Without Honor: Delirious / Strong )

This section needs your help! If you want to recommend some good independent wrestling to your fellow internet readers out there, drop me a line for the column.

ROH @ 411 This Week

Bayani Domingo leads us off with ROH talk breaking down the six ROH stables and giving us the truth about what to expect from each of them.

Buy or sell gives you a range of ROH related topics for discussion.

Brad and Jacob give their much anticipated review of Respect Is Earned. I’ve been waiting to read their thoughts on this one for a while now.

Alex Mattis comments on Project 161 and the rest of the independent scene in The Best of the Rest.

Chris Landsell is a fan of ROH and a fan of my thoughts on ROH. I’m a fan of anyone who is a fan of ROH and is also a fan of my thoughts on ROH. Check out The Way I C It for Chris’s P.O.V. on ROH and Kotaro Suzuki / Ricky Marvin.

Alex Barcham gives us his views on who could be the next ROH champion in Hitting Below The Betlway.

Honor Bound Links

FIP gets the Mid Card treatment by Independent Mid Card columnist Samuel Berman

Your Friday news is supplied by John Meehan and James Thomlison gets the call up to the majors for the Saturday news.

The Evolution of the Godfather / Kama Mustafa / Papa Shango (Mark Briscoe pronunciation: SHAYYN-GO). I guess it really was an evolution for Charles Wright.

T.G. Corke brings us to The Seventh Dimension…Spandex.

Magnus Cuts to the Crap

HR / LR on Cade and Murdoch. I bet THQ had them back on the SDvR ’08 roster right now.

Larry CCCC talks HHHH in his RRRR’s.

Rob Halden idiocizes No Mercy. Yeah I just made up that word.

UW(eyer)F.

Steve Cook asks the questions, but I change the answers! Oh…wait, that’s not how the saying goes…

Well ANOTHER two part episode of Column of Honor has come to an end. I tend to go on, I know, I know. Anyways, remember to check out Rocketbusta Radio TONIGHT at 8pm EST for my segment on ROH and also be aware that next week I’ll be doing a Driven PPV report with Larry Csonka on his Tremendous Tirades Podcast, so be here next week for that. There may also be one more podcast related announcement to come on my end in the future, so stay tuned…

Brooklyn! DAH EM BAH SEE!
–Ari–