Column of Honor: 12.29.08: Final Column 2008 Part Four

*******The Top 100 ROH Matches of the Year 2008*******
#15 – 1

15. NWA Heavyweight Title: Adam Pearce (c) vs. Brent Albright
—Death Before Dishonor VI (New York, NY 08/02/08 ****1/4)

Fifteenth place may not satisfy some people who viewed this one as the match of the year, but while it was certainly one of the most “over” matches of the year when it came to crowd reaction, it wasn’t the “best” match of the year. The one thing holding this one back is the slow start and the awkwardness of the first few minutes. It was about five minutes in when some outside the ring brawling, an impressive crash through a table and a bleeding Albright all combined to create a perfect storm. The crowd massively got behind Albright to win the title and give Pearce what for. The trade off of suplexes, the two Half Nelsons that the fans bought as the finish and the finish roll up reversal sequence were all golden. It was the first ever NWA title change in New York, so history of sorts was made there. It was also one of the best live crowd reactions of the year, right up there with Steen & Generico winning the titles, the reaction to McGuinness at FB ’07…but not quite up there with how the crowd went absolutely bonkers later on this same night in New York.

14. Bryan Danielson vs. Tyler Black
—New Horizons (Detroit, MI Taped 07/26/08, Aired on PPV 09/24/08 ****1/4)

But for the top rope breaking after the massive powerbomb to Danielson in the turnbuckle, would this have been Black’s big time win over the former ROH World Champion? Tyler Black lost his composure and sense of what to do after not being able to commit to the Phoenix Splash and that spelled all of the difference. These two brought the best of their first two matches to bear on Pay Per View—the disrespect, Danielson’s ability to stretch his opponent and take control when it counted, and then the ferocious frenzy of Black trying to use his best moves to win only to find himself still one step behind the best wrestler in the world. What a match.

13. Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino
—Dragon Gate Challenge II (Orlando, FL 3/28/08 ****1/4)

The Muscle Outlaw’z were known for being fast, but they may have outdone themselves in this one, chaining their best sequences together in an effort to defeat Steen & Generico. No tags were necessary in this one, which picked up the speed of the match even further. It wasn’t so much the speed though as the force behind some of the moves and that the fans were so into the wrestlers who were doing them. The crowd completely bought into Steen & Generico’s double splash combination for the three count, but then went just as batty for the real finish, the combination package piledriver and brainbuster.

12. ROH World Title: Nigel McGuinness (c) vs. Tyler Black
—Take No Prisoners (Philadelphia, PA Taped 03/16/08, Aired on PPV 05/30/08, ****1/4)

Based around Nigel dominating the match with arm work (timing a chair shot to the arm as Black dived to the outside was tricky but paid off) and Tyler coming back in several hope spots, this one was the true coming of age for Tyler Black. Supporting cast nomination for the crowd here who hated Nigel so much that they picked up Black—their support of him was impressive to say the least, making his comebacks that much more dramatic. Extra tip of the nod to Prazak and Leonard’s call of this match as they focused on how Black refused to go down (this time when he spat at an opponent, it was given a massive pop instead of heel heat) and how surprising it was that Nigel wasn’t getting the job done. Black put up a hell of a fight, raised his profile in the company and justified being given the main event spot of this PPV.

(****1/2 matches)

11. ROH World Tag Team Titles: The Age of the Fall (Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black) (c) vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico
—Driven 2008 (Boston, MA, Taped 09/19/08, Aired 11/14/08 ****1/2)

Steen & Generico’s title win was emotionally satisfying from beginning (Steen emotionally promising to win the “god damn titles”) to end (jumping into the crowd of fans at ringside). It was shorter than most of the other tag matches in the four and half star class but they told a tightly-formatted story of Generico having to fight back from isolation to make the hot tag to Steen and then how both men poured on their offense until The Age of the Fall couldn’t answer any more. Jacobs’ injury earlier in the show gave AotF an out to explain the title loss, but really this was as earned a victory in the staged world of professional wrestling as you can get.

*******The Top 10*******

10. Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. Jay & Mark Briscoe
—Return Engagement (Chicago Ridge, IL 4/19/08, ****1/2)

From the 7/12/08 Column of Honor: Well, its one year later, and I have finished watching the second match in Ring of Honor between these two teams, and it is safe to say that THIS time around, I am a true believer . . . There is intensity to be sure, the desire to win and to be competitive is there as well, but there are no heel actions by either team. Just two tough teams toughing it out against each other until a winner is declared. Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the “water spit” spot or the heel hugging act employed by the Machine Guns the first time around. In and of themselves they are fantastic moments to use in any match. It’s just that the absence of these moments the second time around actually help to clearly focus the match. It’s not about out-tricking the opponents; it’s about out fighting them . . . This match seems destined to be swallowed up by a deluge of terrific tag matches and fantastic performances and maybe that’s a part of why this time around I enjoyed the match much more than the first. I wasn’t a victim of the hype this time.

9. ROH World Title: Nigel McGuinness (c) vs. Austin Aries
—Supercard of Honor III (Orlando, FL, 3/29/08 ****1/2)

A worthy follow up to their first match (from Rising Above, #4 on the list), which used the opposite result of the missile suicida to effect the format of the conclusion to the match. This time it was Aries who crashed and burned, and Nigel who capitalized on the missed move. He just doesn’t settle for the Aries knocked out, but goes for more punishment with the lariat afterwards. The match is filled with a lot of interesting “learned” spot and variations on a theme from the first match, but now with Nigel in full heel mode. You could also see Aries settling in with what he would do in the ring most of the year, hitting multiple of the IED dropkick and setting up the Last Chancery in the beginning and the end of the match.

8. Austin Aries vs. Bryan Danielson
—Take No Prisoners (Philadelphia, PA Taped 03/16/08 Aired on PPV 05/30/08, ****1/2)

Danielson is great at blending the best of pro wrestling and MMA submission work together, but this time he has a match in Austin Aries, whose Last Chancery can equalize the situation. There are some excellent reversals and pin attempts interspersed among the grappling. Danielson targeted the arm throughout the match and it led to the finish of a fujiwar armbar cranked upwards for the tap. This is my favorite match in the rivalry between the two since 2004’s Testing the Limit and personal preference gets this one up a notch or two above the others right below it.

7. KENTA & Kota Ibushi vs. Naomichi Marufuji & Katsuhiko Nakajima
—The Tokyo Summit (Tokyo, Japan 9/14/08 ****1/2)

From the 11/29/08 Column of Honor: A thirty minute PLUS draw felt like it took no more than fifteen minutes because those guys were just going at it non-stop. KENTA and Kota Ibushi vs. Naomichi Marufuji and Katsuhiko Nakajima was an action-packed match and an example of how a draw can get everyone over and still satisfy the crowd. This was the match the crowd came to see and it shows in their sustained energetic reactions. The match was strike based in ring and guided by both the KENTA and Marufuji rivalry and by the tension between KENTA and Nakajima, who go to great lengths to give that extra one-upsmanship against the other throughout the match. Plenty of blistering kicks and fun volleys of offense to be seen here, leading up to the frenzy of the final five minutes of the match where it’s Ibushi vs. Nakajima in the ring whie KENTA and Marufuji cancel each other out outside the ring. The match could have ended at the thirty minute mark and I would have been satisfied.

6. Shingo & BxB Hulk vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico
—Supercard of Honor III (Orlando, FL, 3/29/08, ****1/2)

We have a nice big man / fast man vs. big man / fast man combination …and with Steen’s attitude, SHINGO returning to ROH having vastly improved, the crowd loving Generico and excited by Hulk’s aerial offense and charisma, you have a fantastic combination that results in the number six match of the year. The Dragon Gate team ended up doing these mind blowing double team moves (DOOMSDAY SPRINGBOARD WHEEL KICK) that I had no idea were even possible. Hulk stumbled once or twice in attempted to do moves but with negligible impact on the overall impression of the match. Generico is also feeling frisky and busts out the rare double jump moonsault in this one (like with the brainbuster off the top, he saves his moves for the right moments). Attitude, charisma, tag team psychology and a fantastic run to the finish—can’t ask for much more than that…

5. Dragon Gate Six Man: Muscle Outlaw’z (Naruki Doi, Masato Yoshino & Genki Horiguchi) vs. Typhoon (CIMA, Dragon Kid & Ryo Saito)
—Supercard of Honor III (Orlando, FL, 3/29/08, ****1/2)

…Unless you’re asking for the third annual Dragon Gate six man tag! This year’s combination involved the same men from the first outing (Supercard of Honor I) with CIMA and Horiguchi on opposite sides of the face / heel coin. This time around, with the fans more aware of who these guys were and what they can do, you get a lot more enthusiasm from the crowd right away. There is a reprise of the five minute period of super fire finishers and it is almost as breathtaking as it was in 2006, but this time the heels walk away with the victory. This is one of those matches you can’t really describe in writing and just have to see for yourselves to get caught up in it.

(****3/4 matches)

4. ROH World Title: Nigel McGuinness (c) vs. Austin Aries
—Rising Above (New York, NY 12/29/07, Aired 03/30/08 ****¾)

I was there live and being there, I can tell you what was most impressive about the bout was that it didn’t end when McGuinness got blasted from behind into the barricade. McGuinness actually went on for another fifteen minutes in that match, his head covered in a geyser of blood (that you can see fans just gasp and turn their heads because they didn’t want to look at it) and his mind cloudy from a concussion. All due to credit to Aries for slowing this one down to allow McGuinness to get back some semblance of his bearings. The fact that Aries and McGuinness worked a main event match and worked through the injury definitely gives it bonus points in my judging. It is amazing to think they created a match this great in quality and drama, worthy of being the main event of a Pay Per View program,with McGuinness half in the bag and a demanding NYC crowd hot for action. In fact, another memorable detail of this match would be the crowd and the split-reception for McGuinness. This was the match that the Nigel haters just reigned down boos and their hostility. Meanwhile the other half of the crowd rallied around both McGuinness and Aries, supporting the in-ring action and their desire to see these two go at it as best as possible. Aries was launched by McGuinness over the top rope and to the floor in what was a shocking moment and a spot that had not been seen before in ROH (a variation of it would be repeated just one night later in the Briscoes vs. Age of the Fall title bout). McGuinness and Aries had a fantastic stretch run of moves, which was the prototype of what would become the benchmark of McGuinness title defenses. The series of moves, built around the jawbreaker lariat and the defense against it by the opponents, created a must-see series of momentum shifts where it seemed that Aries could have won the title at any moment…but McGuinness was just too quick on the draw and leveled Aries with another lariat that dumped the challenge on his neck (think Sabu’s injury oh so many years ago). It was a devastating move and a perfect capper to a title match that may not have gone down perfectly as planned, but became something much more and much greater due to the atmosphere and the context of McGuinness’s injury.

3. Austin Aries vs. Jimmy Jacobs
—Vendetta II (Chicago Ridge, IL 6/28/08, ****3/4)

The stakes had been elevated so high and so intense by the time the first one-on-one encounter between these two had been signed, that a great match was almost a sure thing. Even still, I was surprised at how excellent this match was—an example of how the drama of professional wrestling can lead to a terrific grudge match. This one was beautiful violence and bloodshed borne out of hatred, anger and thirst for vengeance. Some of the best movies have been made with those three qualities present in their plot. This one, with fists, teeth, chairs and tables breaking every step of the way, made for a fight fans couldn’t turn their heads from, but couldn’t deny just how gory it became. By the end of this bout, it was clear that the end product was one of the best matches of the year.

2. ROH World Title: Nigel McGuinness (c) vs. Bryan Danielson
—Sixth Anniversary Show (New York, NY 2/23/08, **** ¾)

The number one match of the year and one of ROH’s longest running feuds of the modern era spawned three more encounters in 2008 (including one more taped for PPV). It’s the first of three bouts between Danielson and McGuinness that makes it all the way to number two on this year’s list. Some fantastic back and forth wrestling action between two who are the very best at it was the backbone to a larger story that confirmed Nigel McGuinness’s heel turn and created the overall direction of the main event scene for the year to come. Danielson agreed not to hit McGuinness in the head in a pre-match stipulation, as requested by the champion, who had become so whiny and irritable that even the fans who stayed by his side in the wake of the controversy of his injuries had become willing to boo him for his lack of honor. A questionable hit by Danielson during the match found the referee unwilling to disqualify the challenger, so McGuinness took it upon himself to get a DQ, decking the referee to massive amounts of boos from the fans in attendance. “You wanted a title shot? Well, you got your title shot”, McGuinness said defiantly. Some reviewers took a look at the re-start finish and felt it created a flaw in the match, but I believe the re-start actually created the extra “it” factor that pushed the match to the next level, not to mention keeping the crowd atmosphere worthy of the story being told. Even to the very end, when Danielson had the champ in the triangle choke, he lived up his word and his honor, but McGuinness showed he had lost whatever integrity he possessed over the last twelve months when he took shots at Danielson’s head without mercy or remorse. THAT is the professional wrestling story at the very core of ROH—those who have honor and those who don’t respect it.

(***** matches)

1. Four Way Elimination Match, ROH World Title: Nigel McGuinness (c) vs. Bryan Danielson vs. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Tyler Black
—Death Before Dishonor VI (New York, NY 08/02/08, *****)

This match was a perfect confluence of multiple stories being told in the ring, put together in a three-part act that all told represents the best of what Ring of Honor is all about. On one side you had the champion Nigel McGuinness, nearly unstoppable in his dominance on top of the promotion. Bryan Danielson, ever determined to win back the ROH World Title and to avenge his loss to McGuinness at the Sixth Anniversary Show. Claudio Castagnoli, a man desperate to win and on his last legs in the company due to his own desperation. Tyler Black, the up and comer who could take a licking and keep on ticking, willing to take his chances to win the biggest prize of his career.

It was awesome to see the wrestlers and already established rivalries overlap and play themselves out during the course of the next thirty minutes. McGuinness vs. Danielson, Danielson vs. Black, Black vs. McGuinness, Castagnoli vs. McGuinness, Castagnoli vs. Danielson. On that last matter, the athletic competition and the fact that Danielson had one-upped Castagnoli once again was the final and breaking straw for the Swiss-man. Castagnoli turned heel by attacking Danielson after losing to him in this match, after shaking the man’s hand and seemingly putting the match behind him. The show of good sportsmanship was fleeting and phony. The massive damage Claudio inflicted upon Danielson, with a bicycle kick, a ricolla bomb and then a massive pilman-izing shot to the head with a chair, led directly to the next fall. The boos reigned down like a boiling pot of molten lead…directed at Claudio Castagnoli, and then at Nigel McGuinness, swooping in like a bird of prey. A lariat later and it was down to just two men.

It was a reprise of the title match from the Take No Prisoners Pay Per View and it was even more electric and exciting. Black once again fought from behind, absorbing massive and inhuman amounts of punishment. Main event wrestlers had taken less and succumbed to McGuinness, but Black fought on. He came back with a miraculous series of maneuvers that looked to end the match in his favor, but McGuinness showed his resourcefulness too by kicking out at the last possible second. Finally McGuinness poured on lariat after lariat, until Black couldn’t take anymore. McGuinness had won that night, dashing the hopes of all of the New York crowd, desperate and aching to see McGuinness get what he so richly deserved. It was not to be…and it was fantastic in its drama and meaningfulness.

The action in the ring was awesome in and of itself, but the context of the rivalries and the situations that developed as a result are what pushed this match to the number one position on my list. In this match we had a heel turn, multiple grudges evolving to their next level and the confirmation of a wrestler as worthy of being labeled the next big thing in the promotion. The crowd was absolutely wonderful for this one, going along for the ride and having some of the loudest reactions of all time in ROH, even louder than the finish to Pearce vs. Albright just a few hours earlier in New York City. In a year when all four of these men created some fantastic in-ring efforts, it took the combination of all four of them to create what is 2008’s best match of the year.

Previous Column of Honor Match of the Year Winners:

2007: # 1 Contender’s Match: “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness—Driven (Philadelphia, PA taped 6/09/07, aired 9/21/07 & 9/28/07 on PPV)
2006: ROH World Title: Bryan Danielson (c) vs. KENTA—Glory By Honor V Night Two (New York, NY 9/16/06)
2005: Samoa Joe vs. Kenta Kobashi—Joe vs. Kobashi (New York, NY 10/01/05)

ROH Results: Final Battle 2008, Manhattan, NY, December 27th, 2008

Matches

-Kenny Omega defeated Claudio Castagnoli via pinfall by reversal of a Ricola Bomb into a small package.
-Jerry Lynn defeated Chris Hero, Rhett Titus, & The Necro Butcher in a Four Corner Survival match when he pinned Hero after a Cradle Piledriver.
-ROH World Tag Team Champions Kevin Steen & El Generico retained the titles by defeating challengers The Age of the Fall of Jimmy Jacobs & Delirious. Generico pinned Delirious after the Package Piledriver/Brainbuster combination.
-Brent Albright, Roderick Strong, & Erick Stevens defeated Sweet & Sour Incorporated of Davey Richards, Eddie Edwards, & Go Shiozaki in “Come As You Are” New York City Street Fight. Albright submitted Shiozaki with the Crowbar after all the good guys landed their finishing moves.
-Jay & Mark Briscoe defeated Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima via pinfall. Jay Briscoe pinned Nakajima after a Jay Driller.
-Austin Aries defeated Tyler Black in a number one contender’s match via pinfall with a brainbuster and 450 Splash combination.
-ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness retained the title by defeating challenger Naomichi Marufuji via pinfall after a Jawbreaker Lariat.
-“American Dragon” Bryan Danielson defeated Takeshi Morishima in a Fight Without Honor. Danielson used a chain and wrapped it around his elbow to use his rapid fire elbows to the head and a Cattle Mutilation for a tap out.

Angles & Issues

-Claudio is cranky: After the upset loss to Kenny Omega, Claudio Castagnoli flips out and kicks some guardrails, then flips over the ringside officials’ table.

-Delirious and Daizee…not over yet? After the four corner survival match Necro and Jerry Lynn shook hands and were honorable. Lynn left and Necro was in the ring. Delrious came running out from the stage area and Jimmy Jacobs from the crowd and they cornered Necro and beat him down. This brought out Steen and Generico (along with Daizee Haze, who continues her rep of cornering anyone and everyone who is willing) to brawl with AotF and begin the ROH World Tag Team Title match.

Later on in the match Jacobs had Daizee cornered, but Delirious surprisingly stopped him from doing anything to her. Jacobs was caught off-guard and that let Steen and Generico hit him and dump him outside, then hit their finishers on Delirious for the win. Afterwards Jacobs yelled for a prolonged time at Delirious, who shirked like a scared dog in response. So it looks like there’s still some part of Delirious that likes Daizee Haze.

-Go Home!: Sweet & Sour Inc. lost the street fight. Richards wasted no time in blaming Go Shiozaki for the lost and both he and Edwards walked out on him in disgust. Shiozaki received a nice ovation from the fans (this seemed to be his swan song in ROH for now), but while Shiozaki was initially cool with it, he then flipped everyone off on his way out.

-Steel Cage is Back On! The American Wolves of Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards immediately ran out from the back after the end of The Briscoes vs. Sasaki and Nakajima match. They put the beatdown on The Briscoes, apparently out of retribution for losing last night in Philadelphia. Sasaki and Nakajima walked to the back, because they did not want to help a team who had defeated them. Richards brought handcuffs and locked Jay onto the ropes and then both he and Edwards proceeded to beat down Mark, concentrating on his knee (later PWinsider reported this was just storyline and not to cover an actual injury).

Instead, Steen and Generico came back down for the save. Steen grabbed a chair and chased off Richards and Edwards. They realized then that they had The Briscoes, long time rivals, in a prone position. Steen threatened to use the chair, but then threw it down. They had their back turned on Richards and Edwards, who rushed the ring again…but this time Strong, Albright and Stevens came out for the save. It was seven on two, so the heels ran for higher ground until the rest of Sweet & Sour Inc. made their way surrounding the ring.

Brent Albright cut an impassioned promo about how this war would go on and on and take down ROH with everyone else. He implored ROH owner Cary Silkin to make a Steel Cage match to finish things off for good. Silkin agreed, to the chagrin of Davey Richards and Larry Sweeney.

-DOUBLE SWITCH!: The crowd was about 50-50 as expected for the Black vs. Aries match…although no one really booed either man. As Black was in control and had Aries set up for the Phoenix Splash, Jacobs surprisingly came out to ringside. He shook his head to Black, as if to tell him not to do the move. The distraction cost Black the match as he missed the splash and Aries came roaring back for the win.

Afterwards Jacobs entered the ring, seemingly furious with Black over losing the match or maybe over something else. Jacob berated Black for minutes and pushed him and go physical, until it seemed that Black would knock him down. Instead, Black regained his composure and made up with Jacobs. They shook hands, but then in a split second Jacobs kicked him in the nuts and Black went down…grasping at Jacobs as if not understanding why his tag partner was doing this. Jacobs offered no explanation other than slapping on The End Time guillotine submission. Jacobs looked to “Pillmanize” Black’s head with a steel chair…

Suddenly Aries ran out and entered the ring, taking the chair off of Black’s head. Black started to stand up, and then Aries swiveled and absolutely waffled him with the chair! This is a double switch with Aries going heel and Black face. Jacobs and Aries both beat down Black, but it was uncertain and couldn’t be determined if both were on the same side or both just happened to want to beat down Black so much that they didn’t mind if they did it at the same time.

-LEGIT FIGHTING AT A WRESTLING SHOW! As Aries made his way to the back, he was pushed from behind by a fan near the stage. Aries went right at the guy and decked him in the face. This fan’s friend also starts a stir and Paul Turner ends up rushing down to where they were to calm him down. However the friend looks to get involved physically and Turner pulls him out of the crowd and puts him in a chokehold! CRAAAAAA-ZY! Security and even Adam Pearce were there to escort these guys out…and they took them through the back, and not the front…and you know what that means…wrestling justice was served.

Paul Turner makes his way to the ring and received a standing ovation from the crowd, including “next world champ” chants. Turner for his part played into the chants, making the title belt motion to his waist, then pointing his finger to his mouth to shush the crowd when he saw Cary Silkin making his way back to the ringside area.

Lynn To The Fore: Nigel was reporting to be holding his forearm after the match, but nothing so far on an injury coming out of it. Jerry Lynn made his way out to the ringside area after the match. He congratulates Nigel respectfully and puts over his effort and ROH. Nigel McGuinness grabs the mic and claims Lynn is trying to steal his spotlight. Lynn flips out and goes all death metal voice (yikes…he should switch to decaf) and demands they go at it right now. Nigel looks to leave but Lynn cuts him off, and Nigel escapes through the crowd.

Where’s Nana? THERE HE IS! The lights go down as announcer Bobby Cruise announces its time for the main event. When the lights come back on, PRINCE NANA has made his way into the ring and grabs the mic from Bobby! The crowd goes bananas and Cruise ends up chasing Nana around to get the mic back while Nana again begs for a job until security catches him. Reports have security dragging him all the way out of the building while Nana continued his act…very cool stuff for people near the entrance of the building to see the angle carried that far.

This is no doubt hilarious stuff and I love seeing Nana again, but I’m hoping it ends up going somewhere soon.

-THE FINAL COUNTDOWN: Bryan Danielson managed to sneak up on the monster Takeshi Morishima at the beginning of the match. The lights were down and Morishima was facing the entranceway. Danielson’s music began to play, but Danielson popped out of the other side of the crowd (like the third time it happened, is there a secret entrance no one knows about?) and hit a springboard dropkick on Morishima. All the while his music is playing. He then pushed Morishima outside into the crowd and then hit the springboard bodypress, getting up just in time for the chant along to the song screaming out the words “it’s the final countdown!” Awesome moment. After the match many of the faces come to the ring, and Danielson thanks the fans for coming, announces this has been a record attendance and asks everyone to come back for more in 2009. Then he says everyone is invited to the ROH afterparty…if you can find it. Heh.

-Return Date: March 21st, 2009

J.D. Dunn’s ROH Reviews: A Show by Show Index:

=2007=
Caged Rage
Manhattan Mayhem II
Honor Nation
Man Up
Motor City Madness 2007
Undeniable
Survival of the Fittest 2007
Chaos at the Cow Palace
Glory By Honor VI Night One
Glory By Honor VI Night Two
Reckless Abandon
Unscripted III
Rising Above
Final Battle 2007

=2008=
Proving Ground
Transform
Breakout
Without Remorse
Eye of the Storm
Sixth Anniversary Show
Double Feature Night One
Double Feature Night Two
Take No Prisoners
Dragon Gate Challenge II
Supercard of Honor III
Bedlam in Beantown
Injustice
Tag Wars 2008
Return Engagement
Southern Navigation
A New Level
Up For Grabs
Respect is Earned II
Battle for Supremacy
Vendetta II
Northern Navigation
New Horizons
Fueling the Fire
Death Before Dishonor VI
Age of Insanity
Night of the Butcher II
Battle of the Best
The Tokyo Summit
Glory By Honor VII

Stars of Honor DVD
Bloodstained Honor DVD

2008 Selected Reading: Columns about Ring of Honor and Independent Wrestling

[Alphabetical by Last Name]

Sam Berman
The Up & Under: Sitting In The Dark
The Independent Mid Card: McGuinness vs. Castagnoli
The Independent Mid Card: The Age of the Fall Debuts
The Independent Mid Card: Morishima vs. Danielson
The Up & Under: A Fond Farewell
The Up & Under: Wrestling With The Inevitable
The Up & Under: The Era of Honor Ends

Julian Bond
Please Don’t Hate: Everything Else But ROH

Mike Campbell
The Tiger’s Take: ROH Cutting Costs
The Tiger’s Take: The War of New York

Jake Chambers
Wacky Wrestling Theory: ROH
Wacky Wrestling Theory: Interview with the stars of KAIJU BIG BATTEL
Wacky Wrestling Theory: Interview with the stars of CHIKARA
Wacky Wrestling Theory: Interview with the Stars of Ring of Honor

Mike Chin
The Importance of: Indy Wrestling

Andy Clark
The Shimmy: Mayhem in Manassas

Steve Cook
Cook’s Corner: Wrestling With Stereotypes

Larry Csonka
Wrestling 4R’s of Respect is Earned II

Jerome Cusson
Column of Honor: Why the Age of the Fall is the Decay of Ring of Honor
Column of Honor: Getting Down to Business
Column of Honor: Ghosts of Honor

Bayani Domingo
Truth B Told: The Defense Rests
Truth B Told: Welcome Back Low Ki
Truth B Told: Girl Fight
Truth B Told: Can You Hear Me Now? Good.
Truth B Told: PWG DDT 4-Play
Truth B Told: I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T,Do You Know What That Means??
Truth B Told: Go North Young Man
Truth B Told: The Afterlife
Truth B Told: Enter the Dragon Gate
Truth B Told: Strike Up The Ban
Truth B Told: Don’t Hate the Playa
Truth B Told: PWG ’08 BoLA BoLOW-Out
Truth B Told: NWA: Straight Outta Hollywood

Aaron Hubbard
The Wrestling Bard: Honorable Intentions
The Wrestling Bard: WWE vs. ROH
The Wrestling Bard: CM Punked
The Wrestling Bard: Wrestling As Art

Chris Lansdell
The Way I C It: CHIKARA Edition

Tim Livingston
Tim’s Take: Ring of Honor
Tim’s Take: World Wrestling Entertainment of Honor
Tim’s Take: You Can’t See What You Don’t Sell
Tim’s Take: See You at the Crossroads
Tim’s Take: Going Broadway

Alex Mattis
The Best Of The Rest 12.03.08: Volume 68: The-Essentials: ROH Good Times, Great Memories

Matt Short
The Navigation Log: Indy Japanese Invasion
The Navigation Log: A Changing of the Guard
The Navigation Log: Celebration Our Japanese Independents

Mathew Sforcina
Evolution Schematic: SHIMMER Part 1
Evolution Schematic: SHIMMER Part 2
Evolution Schematic: SHIMMER Part 3
Evolution Schematic: SHIMMER Part 4
Evolution Schematic: SHIMMER Part 5

Scott Slimmer
Don’t Think Twice: For the Love of the Pop

Jarrod Westerfield
Scripted Through Sin: A Royal Pain in the Kaiser
Scripted Through Sin: Sprinkle It With Pixie Dust
Scripted Through Sin: Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun
Scripted Through Sin: Copied That Cat

Michael Weyer
Shining a Spotlight: The IWC and the Fanbase
Shining a Spotlight: The State of ROH
Shining a Spotlight: Rejecting Retirement
Shining a Spotlight: Andy Kaufman
Shining a Spotlight: ROHate
Shining a Spotlight: The Ultimate Wrestling Library Part I
Shining a Spotlight: The Ultimate Wrestling Library Part II
Shining a Spotlight: The Ultimate Wrestling Library Part III

Jullian Williams
The Top Ten: Fifty Greatest Matches Ever Part One
The Top Ten: Fifty Greatest Matches Ever Part Two

**The Independent Buy In** FINAL LIST FOR 2008

**CHIKARA “Cibernetico & Robin” (Torneo Cibernetico: Kings of Wrestling vs. Dorado’s Luchadores, The Olsen Twins / Cheech & Cloudy, Quackenbush / Donst, The Colony / BLK OUT ) High Recommendation
**CHIKARA “Brusied” (Kingston / Donst, Campeones de Parejas: F.I.S.T. vs. Incoherence / Castagnoli / Taylor, The Colony / Brodie Lee & Olsen Twins, Cheech & Cloudy / Osirian Portal ) High Recommendation
**Pro Wrestling NOAH “Special Budokan Double Shot”7/15 & 9/9/07 (Determination League Semi Finals & Finals, NTV Cup Finals)High Recommendation
**PWG Battle of Los Angeles Night 1 (Castagnoli / Williams, Evans / Pac, Black / Shelley, Aries / Strong, PWG Tag Titles: Generico & Steen / Dragon Kid & Susumu Yokosuka)Medium Recommendation
**PWG Battle of Los Angeles Night 2 (CIMA / Tornado, Steen / Butcher, McGuinness / Richards, Kid / Yokosuka) Low Recommendation
**PWG Battle of Los Angeles Night 3 (the entire show) High Recommendation
**Shimmer Volume 11 (Sarah Stock / MsChif, Sarah Stock / Cheerleader Melissa, Sara Del Rey / Cindy Rogers, Nikki Roxx / Lacey, Daizee Haze / Malia Hosaka, Allison Danger / Hosaka)High Recommendation
**SHIMMER Volume 12 (Del Rey / Lacey, Del Rey / Sarah Stock, Haze / Lacey, Portuguese Princess Ariel / Josie / Nikki Roxx / Portia Perez, Melissa & MsChif / Lexie Fyfe & Hosaka)High Recommendation
**SHIMMER Women’s Athletes Volume 13 (Melissa / Portuguese Princess Ariel, “Dark Angel” Sarah Stock / Daizee Haze, Portia Perez / MsChif, Del Rey & Roxx vs. Rain & Lacey, O’Neal vs. Melissa) Medium Recommendation
**SHIMMER Women’s Athletes Volume 14 (SHIMMER Title: Del Rey / Lacey, Nikki Roxx / Amazing Kong, Two out of Three falls: Allison Danger / Cindy Rogers, Portuguese Princess Ariel / Amber O’Neal) Medium Recommendation
**CHIKARA The Battle of Who Could Care Less (Incoherence & Tim Donst / BLK OUT, Claudio Castagnoli & Equinox / Hero & Hawke, Lince Dorado & Pantera / Olsen Twins, Quackenbush & The Colony / F.I.S.T. / Osirian Portal) High Recommendation
**CHIKARA The Sordid Perils of Everyday Existence (Campeones de Parejas: Incoherence / Cheech & Cloudy, Lucha de Apresta: Chris Hero / Equinox, F.I.S.T., Ellis, Ryder / Quack / Donst / Super Smash Bros.) Medium Recommendation
**CHIKARA Chapter 11 (Hallowicked / Kingston, Colony / Super Smash Brothers & Shane Storm, Tex-Arkana Title Match: Alvarez / Sweeney, Quack, Trik Davis & Helios / Shayne Hawke & The Osirian Portal, MIYAWAKI, Hasegawa & Pantera / Cheech & Cloudy & Delirious) High Recommendation
**SHIMMER Women’s Athletes Volume 15 (SHIMMER Title: Sara Del Rey / Amazing Kong, Daizee Haze / Sara Stock, Cheerleader Melissa / Alexa Thatcher, Minnesota Home Wrecking Crew / Ariel & Josie, Sereena Deeb / Jetta) High Recommendation
**SHIMMER Women’s Athletes Volume 16 (SHIMMER Title Two Out of Three Falls: Sara Del Rey / Sara Stock, Amazing Kong / Cheerleader Melissa, Daizee Haze MsChif & Eden Black / Lacey, Rain & Jetta, Portia Perez & Nicole Matthews / Ariel & Josie, Sereena Deeb / Jetta) High Recommendation
**CHIKARA Two Eyebrows Are Better Than One (Castagnoli, Lince Dorado & Ophidian / Quackenbush, Donst & Amasis, Kingston / Storm, Colony / F.I.S.T., Moravian Greyhound / Zombie Plantain / Hydra)Medium Recommendation
**CHIKARA King of Trios Night One (Colony / Go, Nakazawam Shimizu, Osirian Portal & Mecha Mummy / Quackenbush, Storm & Skayde, Cheech & Cloudy & M.C. KZ / Quackenbush, Storm & Skayde, Delirious, Hallowicked & Helios / The Cartel) High Recommendation
**CHIKARA King of Trios Night Two (Player Uno, Stupified & El Generico / Cannon & North Star Express, Lince, Pantera & Incognito / Los Ice Creams & Glacier, Sweet & Sour Inc. / F.I.S.T. & Taylor, Donst, Gulak & Sumner / Fabulous Three / ) Medium Recommendation
**CHIKARA King of Trios Night Three (KOT Quarter, Semi Finals & Finals, Tag Team Gauntlet) High Recommendation
**CHIKARA Deuces Wild (NWA Jr. Heavyweight Title: Mike Quackenbush / El Pantera, UltraMantis Black / Tim Donst, Young Lions Cup: Helios / Lince Dorado, Colony / Osirian Portal, Robbie Ellis / Ice Cream Jr.) Medium Recommendation
**CHIKARA Passion and Persistence (Brodie Lee / Claudio Castagnoli, Campeones de Parejas: Incoherence / F.I.S.T., Quackenbush, Shane Storm, Cheech & Cloudy / Mitch Ryder & Shayne Hawke, Larry Sweeney & Robbie Ellis, Hydra / Chuck Taylor)High Recommendation
**CHIKARA Grit & Glory (Castagnoli, Sonjay Dutt & Pantera / Quackenbush, Jorge Rivera & Turbo, Campeones de Parejas: Incoherence / Osirian Portal, Storm / Kingston, Vin Gerard/ Lince Dorado, Colony / Fabulous Three, Hydra & Tim Donst / Super Smash Brothers, Gran Akuma / PSYCHO, Daizee Haze & Chuck Taylor / Sara Del Ray & Bobby Dempsey)High Recommendation
**CHIKARA AniversarioMA (Atomicos Increibles: Mike Quackenbush, Cheech, Stupified & Worker Ant / Cloudy, Player Uno, Soldier Ant & Shane Storm, Brodie Lee, Mitch Ryder & Shayne Hawke / Incoherence & Claudio Castagnoli, Chuck Taylor & Gran Akuma / Turbo & Lince Dorado, El Pantera vs. Jorge Rivera , Osirian Portal / 2.0) Medium Recommendation
**CHIKARA AniversarioCT (Osirian Portal / Shane Storm & Mike Quackenbush, Super Smash Bros. / Cheech & Cloudy, Hydra & Tim Donst / Los Ice Creams, F.I.S.T. / The Colony, Brodie Lee / Claudio Castagnoli) High Recommendation
**FIP Cage of Pain II (Cage of Pain II, Roderick Strong/Larry Sweeney, Delirious & Hallowicked & Jigsaw/BxB Hulk & YAMATO & Jack Evans, Erick Stevens/Necro Butcher) High Recommendation
**FIP Redefined (Erick Stevens/Roderick Strong in their best encounter in FIP or ROH, Austin Aries/Davey Richards, Nigel McGuinness/Necro Butcher, Shawn Murphey/Heartbreak Express, Sal Rinauro/Tyler Black) High Recommendation
**CZW Deja Vu 3 (No Rope Barbed Wire Match: JC Bailey/Necro Butcher, El Generico/Super Dragon, B-Boy/Nate Webb, Ruckus & Mike Quackenbush/Kings of Wrestling) High Recommendation
**SHIMMER Volume 17 (Sara Del Rey & Allison Danger / MsChif & Cheerleader Melissa, Lacey / Sara Stock, Mercedes Martinez / Wesna Busic, Amazing Kong / Ariel, Daizee Haze / Cindy Rogers) High Recommendation
**SHIMMER Volume 18 (Amazing Kong / Wesna Busic, SHIMMER Title: Sara Del Rey / MsChif, Cheerleader Melissa / Sara Stock, Mercedes Martinez / Cindy Rogers, Minnesota Home Wrecking Crew / Ashley Lane & Nevaeh) High Recommendation
**CHIKARA Young Lions Cup VI Night 1 (Fabulous Three / The Colony, YLC Semi Final Six Way Elimination, Sami Calahan / Vin Gerard, Jimmy Olsen / Stupefied, Amasis / Ultimo Breakfast) (NEW ADDITION) Medium Recommendation
**CHIKARA Young Lions Cup VI Night 2 (YLC Semi Final Six Way Elimination, Storm & Quackenbush / Super Smash Brothers, Worker Ant / Chip Day, Johnny Gargano / Marshe Rocket, Neo Solar Temple / Soul Touchaz, Ophidian / Turtle ) (NEW ADDITION) High Recommendation
**CHIKARA Young Lions Cup VI Night 3 (YLC Finals: Fire Ant / Vin Gerard, Brodie Lee / Drake Younger, Eddie Kingston / Soldier Ant, Osirian Portal / Bobby Dempsey & Sara Del Rey, Fabulous Three / Soul Touchaz, Jimmy Olsen / Lince Dorado) (NEW ADDITION) High Recommendation
**CHIKARA Tragedy & Triumph (No DQ: Brodie Lee / Castagnoli, Vin Gerard / Fire Ant, Storm / Quackenbush, Eddie Kingston / Lince Dorado, Osirian Portal & F.I.S.T. / Super Smash Brothers & The Colony) (NEW ADDITION) High Recommendation
**CHIKARA La Loteria Letal (Vin Gerard vs. Colin Delaney / Mike Quackenbush & Pinkie Sanchez, Larry Sweeney & Claudio Castagnoli / Pinkie Sanchez & Mike Quackenbush, Icarus & Ultimo Breakfast / Tim Donst & Helios, Lince Dorado & Jimmy Olsen / Shane Storm & Eddie Kingston , Colin Delaney & Vin Gerard / Mitch Ryder & Halcom Guerrero, Icarus & Ultimo Breakfast / Lince Dorado & Jimmy Olsen)(NEW ADDITION) High Recommendation
**CHIKARA Style & Substance (Cage Match: Claudio Castagnoli / Brodie Lee, F.I.S.T. / The Colony, Vin Gerard & STIGMA / Mike Quackenbush & Tim Donst, Osirian Portal / Cheech & Cloudy, Kingston / Dorado, The Best Around & Order Of The Neo Solar Temple / Hydra, Helios & Incoherence ) (NEW ADDITION) High Recommendation

*****

Thank you for making it to the end of this Final Column feature! I want to give thanks to the following: Larry Csonka (who has always been very supportive, understanding and a fan of the column); and Ashish Pabari (whose 411 I was a fan of long before I became a writer); Chris Miccio (for his friendship and his participation in the column through his My Two Cents feature that intermittently runs in the column); Sam Berman (a far cooler cat and a much better writer than most 411 WotW comment boarders); Brad Garoon and Jake Ziegler (for having me repeatedly on The Cool Kids Table Podcast, which has seemingly seeped into the IWC ether but hopefully makes a comeback); Michael Bauer and Stu Carapola (good ROH pre-show and intermission friends, email acquaintances and excellent writers in their own right); Jerome Cusson (who filled in for me twice this year and has moved on to TCKT); Jarrod Westerfield, Bayani Domingo and Chris Lansdell (for participating in the 411 ROH Roundtable—thanks to anyone else who I am forgetting who did so this year); J.D. Dunn (well written and fair ROH reviews); Stephen Randle (for the consistent Monday plugs of my column, and because he’s Canadian and they are cool people); Michael Melchor and Mitch Michaels (helping me out on the music zone side of things when I pitch in on the odd occasion).

Thank you to the readers of the column, for following my writing and for following Ring of Honor wrestling, whether it is as a hardcore or as a casual fan.

I want to thank the wrestlers and the behind the scenes guys at ROH for working hard to put on 40 plus shows a year. Again, what some negative Nancy’s seem to forget is to even get to that level of independent wrestling show takes time and effort and a hell of a lot of perseverance. That’s something that should be acknowledged and appreciative, not knocked or insulted.

It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but ROH is mine. And then again, so is independent wrestling and professional wrestling as a whole.

Have an honorable New Year’s eve!
BROOKLYN! DAH EM BAH SEE FOREVAH!
–Ari—