BG Says: FIP Bring The Pain

March 26, 2005 – Sebring, Florida

When we last left FIP
CM Punk was running around with the FIP title belt, having stolen it from Homicide at a Ring of Honor show. He beat James Gibson and challenged Bryan Danielson to a title match despite not being the champion. Austin Aries beat Insane Dragon in an ROH title match, but the finish was controvercial. Other things happened, but those are the angles you’re watching for.

Your hosts are Dave Prazak & Lenny Leonard.

VS.
The Fipper dances his way to the ring, and if I had to guess who was under the mask I’d say it was Evan Starsmore. Dave Prazak comes out and introduces Ryze as the newest member of DP Associaates. The Fipper goes for shoulder blocks early but gets nothing. Ryze hits a clothesline but Fipper blocks a slam. Ryze hits a backbreaker and a spinning backbreaker for the win in 46 seconds. I usually give squashes points for helping the squasher look good, but this didn’t really make Ryze look all that scary. Prazak demands he hurt the Fipper after the match, but Ryze refuses.
Rating: DUD

Austin Aries comes out and complains that he hasn’t slept because of all the partying he did the night before, and he also has a papercut so he won’t be wrestling tonight. Roderick Strong comes out and asks for a title shot. What, does he have wax in his ears? Prazak and Insane Dragon come out and complain about the finish to Dragon’s ROH title match from the night before and demand another shot. Aries rightly states that not only does Dragon not deserve a rematch, but he didn’t deserve the first match he got. Aries says that he’ll fight through his papercut for the ROH title against the winner of a Strong/Dragon match.

VS.
The hard carmera is really blurry. Dragon attacks to start. Strong comes back with a clothesline and a pair of armdrags. He puts on an armbar but Dragon gets to the ropes. They lock up and Dragon takes a cheap shot in the corner. Strong returns the favor and pounds away. He hits a bodyslam and a kneedrop. Dragon coems back with a low blow and a backflip kick for 2. He hits a stiff kick to the back and puts on a camel clutch. He hits a northern lights suplex for 2. Prazak chokes Strong on the bottom rope and Dragon rakes the back. He hits an elbowdrop but Strong comes back with a sunset flip for 2. Dragon hits a seated dropkick and a kneedrop to the back. He puts on an illegal chinlock in the ropes and the referee calls for the break. Strong bails so Dragon rams him into the post. Strong fights back and drops Dragon on the barricade. Dragon runs Strong’s back into the apron and rolls him into the ring. He hits an elbowdrop and a leg lariat. He hits a tornado DDT for 2. Strong comes back with a huge German suplex. He hits the Sick Kick for 2. He hits a buttefly suplex and a delayed brainbuster for 2. Dragon blocks a blind charge and hits a dropkick. He hits a reverse hurricanrana for 2 when Strong gets his foot on the bottom rope. Strong reverses a hurricanrana into a backbreaker and puts on the Stronghold for the win at 9:36. Fun match, but Dragon’s weaknesses showed through. The man doesn’t know how to do a dramatic kickout at all and his offense is all over the place.
Rating: **3/4

VS.
Juan is looking chubbier than usual here. He goofs off at the bell, frustrating Stevens. Juan hits a hiptoss but Stevens kicks him down and gets a headlock. Dave Prazak finally joins the commentary team as Juan puts on a hammerlock. He switches to a headlock and hits a shoulder block. Stevens comes back with a belly-to-belly overhead suplex. He hits a clothesline in the corner but gets crotched on the second rope. Juan hits a neckbreaker from there and a clothesline for 2. He hits a dropkick for 2. He hits a side Russian legsweep for 2. He goes to the eyes but Stevens comes back with a clothesline for 2. Juan hits an inverted DDT for 2. He blocks a blind charge but walks into a powerslam. Stevens hits a shoulder block and a bodyslam for 2. Juan hits a spinning neckbreaker for 2. Stevens blocks a crossbody and hits a gutbuster. He hits a senton for 2. He climbs the ropes but Juan cuts him off and hits a hanging DDT for 2, then Stevens rolls him up for the win at 6:20. Decent stuff from these chubby cherubs.
Rating: **1/2

Juan needs to prove his manhood after the match, so he says he’s going to pick a girl from ringside and guarantees she’ll go home with him. The girl he picks doesn’t seem interested, despite all the traits Juan rattles off. That is until he mentions his tongue tricks. As they walk towards the locker room the Heartbreak Express come out and drool all over Juan and talk about his amazing party tactics. Juan takes his butterface to the back and the Heartbreak Express decide to try their hand at picking up chicks. They decide Sebring girls aren’t up to their standards, and their opponents for the evening attack.

VS.
This is a rematch from Dangerous Intentions in a match that had an incredibly underwhelming finish. Epic and Kahagas hit stereo leg lariats sending the Heartbreak Express to the floor. The match gets organized as Epic hits Phil with a forearm in the corner. He climbs the ropes and hits a missile dropkick for 2. Sean accidentally drops a senton on Phil. It gets 2 for Epic. Phil hits a superkick and tags to Sean. Sean hits a clothesline in the corner and follows it up with an avalanche and a big splash for 2. He puts on a chinlock and switches to a surfboard stretch. Phil tags in and they hit a double back elbow. Sean makes a phantom tag and hits a Michinoku driver for 2. Epic ducks a clothesline and hits the Osaka Street Cutter. Kahagas tags in and cleans house. Epic dives onto Sean on the floor as Kahagas hits a Michinoku driver on Phil for the win at around 5:21. Usual Heartbreak Express nonsense.
Rating: *

VS.
Madison was tired of being looked over in favor of ROH guys. He wants to make waves, so Tony Kozina answered the challenge. Madison grabs a wristlock but Kozina headbutts out and gets a headlock. Madison gets out with a legvice but Kozina slips out and misses stomp. He hits a double stomp to the back and a hurricanrana. He puts a headlock back on but Madison goes to the corner for the break. He hot shots Kozina on the top turnbuckle and hits a bodyslam. He puts on a chinlock but Kozina comes back with a sunset flip for 2. Madison hits a powerslam for 2. He puts on a sleeper hold but Kozina fights out. He hits a dropkick but Madison dodges a second attempt and hits an elbowdrop for 2. He goes back to the chinlock Kozina gets a roll up for 2. He blocks the ax bomber and gets another roll up for 2. He hits an inverted Pedigree for 2. He hits a springboard bulldog for 2. He hits an inverted DDT for 2. Madison catches him with the ax bomber out of nowhere and hits a piledriver for the win at 8:16. Kozina was all about doing these creative reversals and moves, but there were just too many chinlocks for a match that short.
Rating: **1/4

VS.
Steel grabs a wristlock and hits a suplex. Starsmore comes back with a headlock but can’t keep it on. Steel hits a shoulder block but misses an elbowdrop. He slams Starsmore down for 2. He sets Starsmore on the top turnbuckle and then hits a fall away slam for 2. Starsmore goes for a sunset flip but Stevens blocks and hits a spinebuster. Starsmore dodges an Asai moonsault and gets a sunset flip for 2. He gets a backslide for 2. Stevens comes back with a side slam for 2. Starsmore comes off the second rope with an elbow but Stevens blocks a second attempt and hits a flatliner for the win at 4:59. Starsmore tried, but he just sucks so bad that it’s going to be hard for him to overcome.
Rating: *1/4

VS.
Walker calls himself a fighting champ willing to take on all challengers, despite holding no title. They lock up and Walker powers Masada into the corner. Masada gets a hammerlock but Walker reverses to a headlock. He gets a roll up for 2. Masada gets a leglock but Walker comes back with a takedown for 1. Masada gets one for 2. Walker hits an STO for 2. Masada clotheslines him to the floor and follows him out with a somersault dive. He suplexes Walker on the floor and rolls him back into the ring where he gets 2. He hits a northern lights suplex and puts on a hammerlock. Walker reverses to a leglock but Masada kicks to escape. Walker hits a kick to the chest for 2. They trade forearms and Masada hits an overhead suplex. They clothesline each other down but Masada gets up at 5. Masada picks Walker up in a fireman’s carry but Walker reverses to a dragon suplex for the win at 6:53. Nothing to see here.
Rating: *3/4

VS.
They lock up and Aries powers Strong into the corner. He does it again and cheap shots him. Strong returns the favor with a chops sending Aries to the floor. Back in the ring Strong gets a hammerlock but Aries reverses to a legvice. Strong slips out and puts on a headlock. Aries reverses to a hammerlock but Strong gets a drop toehold into a leglock. Aries makes it to the ropes. They crisscross and then stop for no reason, and Prazak calls them out on it. They crisscross again and Strong grabs a headlock. Aries escapes with a back suplex. He puts on his own headlock but Strong reverses to a legvice. Strong hits two mini piledrivers but Aries comes back with a basement dropkick. Aries hits the slingshot elbow but Strong comes back with a backbreaker. He hits a dropkick and a back elbow for 2. He hits a side slam and stomps on Aries’ hand. Aries bails so Strong follows and works the hand over on the floor. Aries takes over and rolls Strong into the ring. He misses a senton and Strong hits a back bodydrop for 2. Aries hits a flatliner into the turnbuckle and chokes Strong in the ropes. He hits a back elbow and an elbowdrop for 2. He hits a running knee and punts Strong to the floor. He hits a baseball slide but Strong comes back with a baseball slide for 2. Okay, little rant time. Aries was holding onto the ropes there to block the move and the referee kicked his hands off. Why in the world wouldn’t the referee have called for a break? Aries was in the ropes and not going for a pin or submission, the referee basically just cheated for Strong. Ugh, stupid. Aries comes back with a clothesline as Prazak echoes my sentiments. Strong gets a crossbody for 2 but Aries puts on a double underhook submission. He puts on a front facelock but Strong charges him into the turnbuckle. He dropkicks Aries to the floor and follows him out with a plancha. Back in the ring Strong chops Aries down and hits a suplex for 2. Aries hits a dropkick in the corner for 2. Strong hits the double knee gutbuster for 2. Aries hits a running forearm for 2. He reverses the half nelson backbreaker into the crucifix bomb and puts on the Rings of Saturn for the win at 17:10. The match ended strong, but overall I expected more action and less goofiness from these two.
Rating: ***

VS. [2/3 Falls Match]
Punk claims that he’s putting the FIP title on the line in this match, despite not being champion. They lock up to start and Danielson shoves Punk down. They knuckle up and Danielson powers Punk to the mat for 2. He stands on Punk’s face and gets 2. Punk tries to return the favor but can’t break Danielson’s bridge and gets stuck in a legvice. They turn over and slap out out and Danielson gets 2. Punk gets a roll up for 2. Danielson kicks Punk’s thigh and chest and goes for a Mexican surfboard but Punk powers out. Punk puts on a leglock but Danielson slugs Punk in the face to escape. Punk hits a couple European uppercuts so Danielson returns fire and knocks Punk down. He puts on a chinlock and turns it into a seated abdominal stretch. He beat Punk with that move in ROH. This time he rolls into a crucifix and pins Punk for 2. Punk gets a headlock but Dragon fights out and hits a bodyslam for 2. He puts on an armbar but Punk makes it to the ropes. Danielson hits three armbreakers and a back suplex for 2. He goes for the Cow Killer but Punk rushes to the ropes. Danielson goes for a high knee in the corner but Punk moves and he tumbles to the floor. Milo Beasely jumps out of his wheelchair to beat on him a little and Punk joins in. Back in the ring Punk goes to work on Danielson’s knee and puts on a leglock. Danielson makes it to the ropes. Punk hits a buttefly suplex for 2. He puts on another leglock but Danielson kicks him in the face to escape. He tries using his good leg to keep some distance from Punk and puts on a cross armbreaker. Punk makes it to the ropes. Danielson puts on the Mexican surfboard but Punk reverses to an STF. Danielson makes it to the ropes. Punk goes back to what won him their first FIP match and puts on a figure 4 leglock. Milo helps Punk get extra leverage but it’s not enough to keep Danielson from turning it over. Punk makes it to the ropes. He hits a bodyslam and kicks at the leg. He hangs Danielson’s leg on the middle rope and kicks at it. Danieslon comes back with a back heel kick and goes for the airplane spin but Punk reverses to the figure 4 leglock. Danielson taps to lose the first fall at 24:39.

Punk stays on the knee and hits a dragon screw. He puts on a half crab but Danielson powers out. He chops Punk in the corner and goes back to work on his arm. He wraps the arm around the top rope and puts on a hammerlock. He yanks at Punk’s other arm while keeping the hold on for 2. He goes for a cross armbreaker but Punk goes to the knee to escape. He hits a fistdrop and chokes Danielson with his shin. Danelson gets a sunset flip for 2. Punk gets another drgon screw and goes for the figure 4 leglock again but Danielson reverses to a roll up and evens the match at 30:08.