Column of Honor: 10.20.07: JACKPOT!

Deep Thoughts:

Hero pulls Triple 7s, Sweeps Survival of the Fittest 2007

As the saying goes, “anything you can do, I can do better; I can do anything better than you.” This phrase was proven true by Chris Hero and his super agent “Sweet & Sour” Larry Sweeney last night in Las Vegas, Nevada.

October 19th marked a sweet day for Chris Hero, but certainly a sour day for Claudio Castagnoli, his arch rival.

Fan favorite Castagnoli, who has been feuding with Hero for months now, was the last man eliminated in the six way finals as Chris Hero ran a clean sweep of the field to win the fourth annual Survival of the Fittest tournament. The annual tournament is usually a launching pad for a wrestler to make a huge impression upon the ROH fans and helps to make a jump to the upper tier in the promotion. Castagnoli had won the Race to the Top Tournament back in July, which had a similar goal of one man making great strides to get to the top of ROH. Claudio proved he could rise to the occasion, but then on the strip in Vegas, Hero proved that he could do it too.

The three previous winners have all gone on to bigger and better things after the tournament, including title wins and landmark victories over the bigger names on the independent wrestling scene.

Supporters of Chris Hero have been waiting for the moment that the modern day Superman would make his mark as a singles wrestler. Hero dominated the tag team division at the end of 2006 with Claudio Castagnoli as part of the Kings of Wrestling, but with their break up and Hero subsequent signing with Sweeney’s agency, many were expecting Hero to take off straight to the main event of ROH and never look back.

Hero fought for the ROH World title during the first show of 2007 Dedicated against then-champion Homicide. However a loss there are Hero was back down the contender’s list. It would then be a frustrating year filled with more losses than wins in singles competition. Many of his fans would wonder what was wrong…why was Hero losing in ROH when he very clearly should have been winning all this time?

Every time out, even in matches Hero should have won, he lost. While he did get the occasional singles win, they were few and far between. Fans were now questioning whether or not it was the right move for Hero to be in ROH at all. In my own predictions I mentioned that I would have bet for Chris Hero to win the tournament except that his recent win-loss record was spotty at best. Yet it was last night in Vegas that Hero finally took the House and hit the jackpot.

The well traveled Hero used his previous tournament experience in other independent wrestling companies all over the world (such as the recent WxW tournament in Germany) to perform in and win this contest. He did it with glitz, cunning and brains, often refusing to tag in and participate directly in the elimination style formatted match. Then Hero would tag in when it was appropriate and steal pinfalls, take advantage of opponents’ confusion, at one point bribe and finally outright dismantle his once great friend and now greater enemy in Castagnoli to win the event.

Castagnoli had begun a turnaround of his career in early March. He had at one point looked to leave ROH for the wide open spaces of the WWE, but a technicality or two in the contract ultimately prohibited him from going and instead Claudio chose to stay independent. There was an extended spate of losses and frustrations, including losing Hero as a friend to the wayward temptation of Sweeney. Eventually Claudio began to turn things around, finding redemption in the fans’ faith in him, even after he had betrayed their trust in 2006 when he turned against ROH during the CZW wars. Now both ROH and the fans had taken him back and he had used that newfound trust and appreciation to make huge moves up the singles and tag divisions.

Meanwhile Chris Hero was having his problems with wrestlers such as Nigel McGuinness. For every win he could accomplish, such as his opening round win against the massive Erick Stevens in the Race to the Top, there would be an equally injurious loss, such as the one to El Generico in the quarterfinals. Hero even lost to his rival Castagnoli in front of one of the largest audiences in New York this past August.

All of that “one step forward, one step back” business would come to an end. Hero took five giant steps forward that night, at the expense of Human Tornado, Rocky Romero, Austin Aries, Roderick Strong and his “dear old friend” Castagnoli. In the city that can take you from zero to hero with just one pull of the lever or one roll of the dice, Hero became a man who would not be denied his payday. He rolled sevens all night at the Craps table, hit blackjack, bet on black at Roulette and won, baby, won.

Even worse is that as braggadocios as he has been even when he has lost, now that he has broken from the pack, embarrassed his former tag partner and earned the right to be called Survival of the Fittest champion, there may be no stopping Hero now.

ROH Results: “Survival of the Fittest 2007”, Las Vegas, NV October 19th 2007

Matches
-Survival of the Fittest 2007 Qualifying Match: Roderick Strong defeated Brent Albright to via pinfall after a gutbuster.
– Survival of the Fittest 2007 Qualifying Match: Chris Hero defeated Karl Anderson via submission with an STF / Hangman’s Clutch.
-Survival of the Fittest 2007 Qualifying Match: Rocky Romero defeated TJ Perkins via pinfall after a knockout kick to the head.
– Survival of the Fittest 2007 Qualifying Match: Austin Aries defeated Delirious via submission.
– Survival of the Fittest 2007 Qualifying Match: Claudio Castagnoli defeated Davey Richards via pinfall after a Ricola Bomb.
– Survival of the Fittest 2007 Qualifying Match: Nigel McGuinness and Bryan Danielson fought to a 20-minute time limit draw.
-Wild Card Survival of the Fittest 2007 Qualifying Match: The Human Tornado defeated Tony Kozina and Shane Hagadorn via pinfall. Tornado pinned Kozina with the Dat N***a Dead.
-The Age of The Fall of Jimmy Jacobs & Necro Butcher defeated Jay & Mark Briscoe in a street fight via referee stoppage when Jacobs hit his DDT / guillotine submission combination.
-Survival of the Fittest 2007 Finals: Chris Hero became the 2007 SOTF champion in a match that also included Roderick Strong, Rocky Romero, Austin Aries, Claudio Castagnoli and wild card entrant Human Tornado. Order of elimination: 1. Human Tornado eliminated by Hero via pinfall after Hero’s Welcome. 2. Rocky Romero eliminated by Hero via pinfall after Aries hit a 450 Splash. 3. Austin Aries eliminated by Chris Hero via pinfall with a roll up. 4. Roderick Strong eliminated by Hero via pinfall after a Hero’s Welcome. 5. Claudio Castagnoli eliminated by Hero via referre stoppage when Claudio passed out to the Hangman’s Clutch.

Angles and Issues

Fan reports put the crowd as estimated between 200-250 in attendance, with some reports going as high as 300. Certainly that has to be a bit disappointing for a regular ROH show, but again most debut shows in new markets don’t start out with huge numbers. Also keep in my the “21 and over” age limit which may have kept out a fair share of teenagers and families with children and that number doesn’t seem to be as bad as first thought.

Interviewus Interruptus: what’s becoming a somewhat commonplace species during the first champions’ interview, FIP champion Roderick Strong walked out and interrupted the show’s opening interview segment with new ROH World champion Nigel McGuinness. Strong and McGuinness seem to be renewing acquaintances, with the FIP champion basically stating that he has the more impressive championship resume. Nigel of course objected to that, and then Brent Albright came out to start the SOTF tournament.

20 minute draw Redux / Submission of the Night: As I had expected, the McGuinness-Danielson match ended in a draw, thus eliminating both men out of the tournament. It was the second year in a row in which a draw finish was used, but in the “good news” department at least ROH had some sort of a back up plan this time. More on that later. In the meantime Nigel did the whole “five more minutes” routine. Last year Samoa Joe tried that and Danielson came back and clocked him with the ROH World belt. This year Danielson came rushing back in again, only to be tapped out by Nigel via a wicked armbar submission. Danielson slipped out, and since the match hadn’t officially been restarted the tap out did not count. Both men were still eliminated from the competition.

Wild Card: After the time limit draw, Bobby Cruise announced that the winner of a three way match between Human Tornado, Tony Kozina and Shane Hagadorn would win entry into the SOTF finals. That is some heavy and stiff competition there let me tell you. Basically this was an opportunity for Tornado to shine in front of a very favorable wrest coast crowd.

Give Me My Money Back, You Bitch: I had mentioned bribery in my opening write up of Chris Hero’s tournament win and this is what it was. As the numbers dwindled in the tournament and it was down to Hero, Strong and Claudio, a generous cash sum was offered to Strong (some citing it was about $400) by Sweet and Sour Inc. to help Hero eliminate Claudio. While Strong took the money, he eventually attacked Hero with “no remorse”. At that point Hero responded, eliminating Strong with the speed and torque of a devastating Hero’s Welcome. In a funny moment, Hero took back the money given to Strong, obviously because services were not rendered.

ROH Call

ROH Champions—As of 10/20/2007

ROH World Champion—Nigel McGuinness (NEW champion since 10/06/07)

Next Defense:: vs. Jay Briscoe 10/21/07 San Francisco, CA

ROH World Tag Team Champions— Jay and Mark Briscoe (champions since 03/30/07, 14 successful defenses)

Next Defense: TBA

V.1 Ultimate Endurance: defeated Pelle Primeau & Mitch Franklin, Mike Quackenbush & Jigsaw, Hallowicked & Gran Akuma (4/27/07 St. Paul, MN)
V.2 defeated Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) (4/28/07 Chicago, IL)
V.3 defeated BJ Whitmer and ROH World Champion Takeshi Morishima (5/11/07, Hartford, CT)
V.4 defeated Claudio Castagnoli and Matt Sydal (5/12/07, New York, NY)
V.5 defeated The Kings of Wrestling (Claudio Castagnoli and Chris Hero) (6/09/07, Philadelphia, PA): 2 out of 3 falls- 2 straight falls
V.6 defeated Claudio Castagnoli and Matt Sydal (6/22/07, Dayton, OH): 2 out of 3 falls- 2 straight falls
V.7 defeated El Generico & Kevin Steen (6/23/07, Chicago Ridge, IL)
V.8 defeated Jimmy Rave & Genki Horiguchi (7/17/07 Osaka, Japan)
V.9 defeated SHINGO & Susumu Yokozuka (7/17/07 Osaka, Japan)
V.10 defeated “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson & Nigel McGuinness (7/27/07, Long Island, New York)
V.11 Steel Cage Match: defeated. Kevin Steen & El Generico (8/24/07 Hartford, CT)
V.12 defeated Kevin Steen & El Generico (8/25/07 New York, NY): 2 Out of 3 Falls – 2 straight falls
V.13 defeated Austin Aries & Matt Cross (9/14/07 Detroit, MI)
V.14 Ladder Match: defeated Kevin Steen & El Generico (9/15/07, Chicago Ridge, IL)

FIP Heavyweight Champion: Roderick Strong (since 11/10/2006)
SHIMMER Champion: Sara Del Rey (since 6/2/2007)
Top of the Class Trophy (For ROH Students): Mitch Franklin (since 8/24/2007)

Top Feuds & Pairings:

-Bryan Danielson vs. Austin Aries (rivalry)
-Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness
-Roderick Strong vs. Nigel McGuinness (FIP / ROH title rivalry)
-The Age of the Fall vs. The Briscoes
-The No Remorse Corps vs. The Resilience vs. The Vulture Squad
-Vulture Squad vs. Age of the Fall
-Delirious / Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. Albright, Whitmer and Adam Pearce (The Hangman’s Three)
-Chris Hero vs. Claudio Castagnoli

ROH News
(via the ROHnewswire… and other sources when attributed

Dragon Gate at Mania ROH Shows For Third Year in a Row

It is official!!! Dragon Gate will send several representatives to Orlando for the 3/28 & 29 events. It looks like the annual Dragon Gate six man will come to Orlando. We’ll have news on what Dragon Gate names are coming to Orlando in the upcoming months, but you are guaranteed to see several of Dragon Gate’s top talents.

The main double shots have become the calling card for Dragon Gate to make their impact in ROH and its good news to see that trend would be continuing. I’d like to see Dragon gate vary up the participants in the annual six man tag, giving us a look at different talents that have not done ROH shows as yet.

Retail Distribution for ROH in ’08?
In an interview conducted by Hero’s Sandwich

This one comes to us from 411’s own Chris Landsell, so unfortunately this week you are Dq’ed from the competition my man! But thanks for the suggestion.

Clue: RoH, insect
Lyric: “Wrap myself in the American flag”
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

sidewinder573 wrote a bit of mail for me in addition to answering NTT:

I read your thoughts on Dragon vs. Morishima from MM II and I have to agree with you. While I wasn’t there live I did get to see it through Japanese TV and the magic of the internet. It was definitely a great Heavyweight vs. Jr. Heavyweight match but by no means was it the be all end all MOTY. Heck there were people calling it the greatest match in ROH history. It was a definite MOTYC. I put it at 4 1/2 stars.

Well that’s it for. Keep the COH coming.

I’m glad I’m not alone here on an island with my thoughts about MCMG vs. Briscoes. It just received **** ¾ from J.D. Dunn in his review this week of “Good Times, Great Memores”.. Again my thoughts are that it’s a good, maybe great match but it has too many flaws for it to be my MOTY.

As far as Dragon vs. McGuinness I loved the “story” behind the action, that being Danielson works on Morishima’s leg until he can’t stand anymore and that’s when Danielson can capitalize on the win. Meanwhile Morishima has brutalized Dragon and has in some way altered his ability to follow through on his game plan. It was a genius psychology and live it came through 100 percent. On video though, something was missing. The match became almost too one dimensional, although that one dimension was pretty damned great. For my money though, Dragon vs. Nigel had all three dimensions, maybe even four.

John Mabery has something to get off his chest regarding how fans are treating the appearance of Misawa. I present it here unedited and I think it pretty much says it all:

Ari ~ I know you covered this recently a bit, but I think the situation on the
ROH Message Board has gotten quite out of control and I think more could be said
on the matter. You’ve always listened and given us a forum to speak our minds,
and I know you’ll have my back on this one, so this is my little rant that I’ll
deliver and then I’ll let it go.

~ John Mabery

ChooseSlack from the forums sympathizes with my comments last week about being a Tori and a wrestling fan at the same time.

Great article. Cracked up big time…stumbled upon it today. Related to the “caught between two worlds” which is so true..same for me as I’m a huge fan of both Iron Maiden and Public Enemy (nearly all the IMaiden fans I knew in high school were white stoner racists…), and P.E’s rap music is mostly about black power…

Metal AND rap mixing? You were way ahead of the times there.

**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, Chris Bosh & 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)
**PWG: Based on a True Story (PWG Title: Joey Ryan / Human Tornado, Loser Leaves PWG: Kazarian / Scorpio Sky, Colt Cabana / Rocky Romero, Bosh / Steen)
**PWG Holy Diver Down (PWG Title: Human Tornado / El Generico, PAC / Kevin Steen, Arrogance / Motor City Machine Guns, Karl Anderson / Frankie Kazarian)
**FIP Unfinished Business 2007 (Dog Collar Match: Erick Stevens / Steve Madison, TLC: Sal Rinauro / Seth Delay, FIP Heavyweight Title: Strong / Albright, Jack Evans / Gran Akuma, Sweeney / Claudio Castagnoli )
**TNA: Instant Classic: The Best of Christian Cage (NWA Title: Jarrett / Cage, Barbed Wire Six Sides of Steel: Rhino / Cage, Against All Odds 2007: Angle / Cage, Destination X: Joe / Cage) (NEW ADDITION)

Yes, you read that right. TNA has made it back to the IBI, honest to goodness. Christian Cage gets his own best of with TNA and it’s a really good set with some of his best efforts during his short (almost two years now) run with them. You get great outings from Cage collected in one DVD, including quality main event level matches such as his title win against Jarrett and his title defenses during his second reign in early ’07 (you know, when TNA could guarantee a smidgen of quality on screen during PPVs) in bouts against Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe.

The disc also has a very nice interview portion, running about 45 minutes or so and works as sort of a shorter shoot interview. If you’ve seen his ROH Straight Shootin’ DVD, some of this will be familiar, but for one it’s easier to hear Cage in this one. His genuine and earnest conversational style draws you in and it’s worth a watch for this reason. The documentary incorporates a lot of different pictures from his childhood and the early days of his career. The TNA documentary portions are clearly several steps below WWE productions, but they are learning and improving a great deal from earlier efforts.

You also get as a bonus a sort of “Cribs” parody style tour of his house in Florida. “Cribs” itself and even the parodies of them are a few years out of fashion and the tour does seem a bit boring at times (I mean I don’t really need to know what is in Cage’s fridge, and the information to that one comically raises more questions than answers) but it’s a mostly nice feature. It’s cool to know what the wrestlers are like behind the scenes and for Cage to bring in a camera crew in (especially after the Abyss incident, which he references in a very humorous fashion) and show us behind the scenes.

The last big bonus is an old school match with Cage fighting Simon Diamond (wrestling as Lance Diamond back then). It’s shoddy quality of video as to be expected, but the fun part is Cage and Diamond on commentary cutting into themselves and the fans in attendance.

I rarely watch TNA anymore (after being a big supporter of them for a while I just have stopped watching or caring for it in 2007) but if there is any reason to pick this up, its because Cage is honestly one of the better personalities and one of the success stories of the last two years. In a time when TNA can’t do much right, Cage has always brought quality in his promos and in his matches.

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 )
**Race to the top Tournament Night 1 (ROH World Tag Titles: The Briscoes / Danielson & McGuinness, Evans / Steen, Quackenbush / Sydal, Hero / Stevens, Richards / Jigsaw, Delirious / Generico)
**Race to the top Tournament Night 2 (Generico / Claudio, Claudio / Quack, $10,000 Tag Team Challenge: Danielson, Aries, Sydal, Mark Briscoe / McGuinness, Strong, Delirious, Jay Briscoe, Generico / Hero, Evans / Albright)

Next week—the Death Before Dishonor V shows.

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

Buy or Sell this week has myself and Stuart Carapola, who may be planning the perfect wrestling themed wedding even as we speak. In between Randy Savage’s bachelor party we had time to discuss this weekend’s ROH events in NV and San Fran.

Then we got the whole staff together for Part 2 of Randy Savage’s bachelor party while cranking out this week’s ROH Roundtable with our picks for the Las Vegas and San Fran cards.

Complete the Las Vegas experience with Bayani Domingo’s comments on his expectations for last night’s show in this week’s Truth B Told. I wonder if he met Bobby Dempsey at the buffet.

J.D. Dunn gives us plenty of reasons to celebrate Good Times, Great Memories.

Brad Garoon and Jacob Ziegler take the ROH international flight out to Japan and review the Live in Tokyo show.

Brad goes solo with his review of SHIMMER Volume 10, which is an Independent Buy In selection.

Mark Briscoe vs. Alex Shelley headlines the Independent Mid Card, Survival of the Fittest edition.

Alex Barcham writes an extensive response to his experiences at the 4th ROH PPV. Some points he makes it I agree with and other points like his comments on Matt CrossI have my own thoughts on, but its good writing at any rate.

Honor Bound Links

JP Prag gives us the Hamilton Avenue Journal, the only internet column brought to your lap by your dog!

Sforcina continues his evolutionary walk though casket matches.

Corke is back with The Seventh Dimension: Ithaca, New York. I’ve got a million of them Corke, so please stay with 411 for a long time, kay?

I loved the Austin gun incident back in the day as it was totally crazy and different from what had ever occurred before and I was getting to be big into Austin at that point. Magnus seems to think it’s Crap< ?A?> though.

HR / LR on Hardy vs. MVP.

Larry C talks the 4R’s. Sometimes they talk back.

Halden excoriates Teddy Hart. Your Latest Idiot.

Weyer expounds upon Hell in the Cell in this week’s Spotlight

Michael Melchor makes a rare return to writing form with a look at ECW in his Double Impact column.

Time to put the finishing touches on the column for this week. Sorry I couldn’t get to the top five ROH title defenses for Morishima, but I have to finish up Death Before Dishonor V Night 2 and then I’ll have had a complete as can be viewing of his American title defenses. So next week its that, plus results from San Francisco, Hero’s Sandwich will be back with more of “Chris Hero’s” crowing about the SOTF victory and so much more. Take care everyone!

Brooklyn! BOB BEE DEMP SEE!
–Ari—