The Furious Flashbacks – ROH Final Battle 2005

KENTA and Low-Ki re-define the word “stiff” in a MOTYC

We’re in Edison, New Jersey. Hosts are Dave Prazak & Lenny Leonard.

17th December 2005.

BACKSTAGE Low-Ki tells us he’s now got more skill and intensity than ever before. He doesn’t want to fail against KENTA tonight. He wants KENTA’s title.

Jimmy Rave w/Prince Nana v Milano Collection AT

The toilet roll gag is now in full effect. Rave welcomes the foreigner to the United States shores by rubbing his forearm against his face. AT, being a pretty boy, objects. They trade a bit on the mat with AT breaking out the Oriental Crossbow. AT’s dodging on the International is innovative as his dropdown is the splits. He counters into a standing Octopus (AT Lock perhaps?) and then breaks out the PARADISE LOCK! That’s where he ties his opponents arms into their own legs. Only this time in the ropes. He kicks dirt into Rave’s face and adds a basement dropkick. I love that hold. So should everyone. They fuck up a Northern Lights with AT not understanding what was coming. You can’t face bump a Northern Lights! Rave on the ropes and AT runs along the floor before jumping into a dropkick version of the 619. They counter some more Rave gets the FROM DUSK TILL DAWN! AT gets out but Nana interferes so AT dropkicks him through the ropes. Rave charges so AT meets him with a step kick. AT is all fired up and runs through some babyface basics into a high crossbody. Rave counters back into Ghanarea for 2. Nana is getting very upset about the lack of pin now. AT gets a bit flippy with a handspring. ARMANI SHOE EXCHANGE. AT kicks Rave in the face and I miss the bit afterwards demonstrating how lousy Test’s leg slapping was on his big boot to Redje. Rave fucks up the running knee and hits the Pedigree for the win. **1/2. AT is an entertaining and innovative guy but Rave had a few issues in that match.

BACKSTAGE Bryan Danielson talks about sending out invitations around the world but he’s not worried because he’s beat all the top juniors in Japan. He says he’s the best wrestler in the world and he won’t lose to anyone.

Azrieal v Colt Cabana

Colt has a SERIOUS beard showing he means business. No dancing like a demented flamingo this evening. Az goofs around as if he expects a comedy match but Colt waves him off. Az gets a clean break in the corner and gives Colt a HIGH TEN. Colt looks confused. It’s YOUR MATCH DUDE! Colt uses a hammerlock excessively. He snapmares Az who then dances around and provokes the crowd into a “dance” chant. Colt remains all bidniz. Colt with an arm mare and Az dances again. Colt, unpredictably and shockingly, uses foul language. Colt points out that if he hits the ropes Az will try and trip him up. Az does it anyway so Colt slaps him in the face. CRAVAT OF DEATH! Az with the foot stomping as he continues his comedy approach to this match. He tries for a springboard but Colt dropkicks him out of the air while he’s upside down. Az realises he’s in a fight and kicks at Colt’s legs to try and stop his mobility. Colt stops himself doing the Artful Dodger because he’s totally serious in this one. Az finds Colt hard to lift because of the size difference but eventually boosts him up into the Samoan Michinoku Driver. Colt comes back with one Dusty Rhodes elbow. Missile dropkick and the LARIATOOOOOOOOOOOO finishes. That’s for you, Homicide. **. He does the lariat better than Homicide anyway.

POST MATCH Colt shows he’s still a good guy by offering a towel and a handshake to Azrieal. Homicide doesn’t like happy babyface moments though so he strolls out here to interrupt. He has a sling on his arm but he takes that off. Homicide is out here to “warns you”. He says he needs surgery and he’ll be out for 6 months. He blames Steve Corino and says he’s not out here to fight Cabana. Homicide thinks Corino was out to even up his ear injury but that’s not cool so he’s out for Corino first then he’ll be coming for Cabana. He tells Cabana to stay out of his “motherfuckin’ bidniz. This is a shoot”. To prove his point he assaults the ring bell. GANGSTA!

Pure title – Claudio Castagnoli v Nigel McGuinness (c) w/iron

Claudio has sure gotten “EEEEEYYYY” over as a catchphrase. Nigel acts like a jerk by slapping Claudio on the forehead and hiding in the ropes. They do some great counters with armdrags and Nigel does a rana that Claudio tries to block but Nigel is too heavy. Nigel mocks Swiss air defences by pretending to be an airplane so Claudio slaps him in the head. Nigel uses a closed fist and we have two referees and the second one sees it. Ah, two referees for a legitimate reason. Tidy. Claudio positions BOTH of them and punches Nigel in the head. Nigel tries the same thing but the outside referee sees it and Nigel loses a rope break. They do some neat European standing counters but Nigel hangs onto the arm to ensure he wins out regardless of how much Claudio is moving. Claudio pulls the same trick out after using the referee to flip over. Nigel pushes off from the ropes and the ref on the floor sees it and calls it a rope break. Sounds like a neutral plot. Those damn Swiss with their cheese and chocolate and cuckoo clocks. Claudio showboats a little with a springboard EEEEEEEYYYYYYY. Nigel shoves the outside ref in the way of a tope thus removing him from the match. Claudio hurts his arm in the process and Nigel hits the Divorce Court. Nigel with a charging forearm uppercut followed by some back kicking. Claudio uses the ropes to avoid an armbar. “That’s ONE for Claudio” confirms Nigel. He hooks up a cravat and Claudio has to use the ropes again. Nigel does the headstand but Claudio grabs the leg and pulls him down. Claudio tries to channel famous Swiss people like…um…that guy who invented the chalet. And Martina Hingis. Claudio dropkicks Nigel basement style right in the face. Claudio breaks out one of his many forearm uppercuts. They block and counter standing again as Nigel tries for another Divorce Court but Claudio kicks his leg away into a throw. Nigel blocks a superplex so Claudio jumps off and hits a running forearm uppercut INTO THE TOWER OF LONDON. Nigel has to use the ropes to save the title and that’s his last rope break. REBOUND LARIAT…for the ref. That’s two ref bumps in a pure title match? With both refs down Nigel gets the iron and pulls an Eddy by throwing the iron to Claudio and lying on his back. “Eddy” – crowd. Claudio uses it because the ref is still down and knocks Nigel out for the pinfall. ***1/4.

BUT…Dusty Finish. The other ref saw the iron shot. He can’t talk about it because of the power of the tope from earlier though. “You British piece of shit” – some happy fan. The Swiss lose despite being neutral. Yeah, neutral but they sure like that NAZI GOLD, EH?

Alex Shelley v Steve Corino

I have the physique of a wrestler…Steve Corino. Nana lays out Corino’s special announcer so Corino lays him out and we just head into the match instead. No real focus to start this and it spills outside where Shelley endears himself to the ringside fans. Nana gets in a cheap shot so Corino grabs a chair and runs him off. Shelley works the arm/hand to get this match focussed. Shelley starts getting stiff with some kicks to the arm. Corino makes me laugh with an assortment of swearing as he takes heat on that arm. Shelley sets up a chair in the corner but Corino counters Shelley’s face into it. The ref turns around (from arguing with Prince Nana) and the chair is completely gone. Shelley kicks him in the arm to stop that comeback. Corino with some babyface chops. WOOO! High-ish knee. Corino makes the mistake of grabbing Shelley with his bad arm and Shelley easily counters out into a roll up for 2. Then a cross armbreaker on the kickout! Arm Stunner! Tornado Divorce Court. Shelley has been entertaining working the arm breaking out some varied offence. Corino, usually shouting “Ogawa” before hitting it, connects with a running STO. Nana jumps on the apron but the heels miscue. Nana jumps in looking for revenge and Corino hits a Flatliner/DDT combo. WHAMMY – standing LARIATOOOOO! He hit that Kobashi style. Nana jumps in again to bump the ref and stop the pinfall. Ref opts not to DQ Shelley who promptly wins with a roll up. **. A somewhat different clash of styles. Clear that Corino isn’t quite in line with the product ROH was trying to hock to the fans but was sufficiently over from the Homicide feud to be useful as enhancement.

POST MATCH Speaking of Homicide he pops up as soon as the pin is counted to attack Corino’s now injured arm. Some pretty stiff kicks from Homicide. He busts out a carton of Draino as he aims to kill Corino. Colt Cabana makes the save but Julius Smokes blindsides Colt and Homicide pours Draino into Colt’s face. And by Draino I mean cous cous because that’s what it looks like.

PROMO TIME – Gary Michael Cappetta is out to get some answers from Jay Lethal about his actions against former mentor Samoa Joe at the last show. Crowd seems to dislike him now. “WHHHHHHHHYYYYYY?” – smartass but funny fan. Lethal heels on Joe saying he never took Jay under his wing he trapped him under the fat on his side. Lethal talks about how much more money Joe is on than him. “Joe’s gonna kill you”. He reminds us that he won the pure title AND beat Low-Ki and that should equal “big bucks for Jay Lethal”. He says he’s now the hottest free agent in wrestling and tells any prospective managers watching that he’s available.

Jay Lethal v BJ Whitmer w/Lacey v Christopher Daniels v Samoa Joe

Daniels in another nothing match. He was almost being used as a special attraction. Like the card would have a number of showcase matches then you’d have a little “plus appearing Christopher Daniels” blurb at the bottom of the poster. The main story in this match is the Joe-Jay connection and how it’ll be used to strengthen Jay Lethal as a potential main event player. Seeing as Jay is too pussy/smart to face Joe from the start BJ gets used as the lamb to the slaughter showing how far he’s dropped down the card. It used to be he’d at least be able to go toe to toe with the main guys. Now he just gets splatted. Daniels gets the tag and the crowd are feeling that. Joe starts out with leg kicks and Joe’s leg kicks have plenty of weight behind them. It’s like being kicked by a tree. They run a nice improvised spot, I presume, where Joe misses a powerslam on Daniels and it ends up as a flapjack. That’s assuming it wasn’t just a flapjack to begin with, which shows how good the cover up is. Both Jay and BJ cheap shot the stars and run them into the rail. BJ’s issues with Daniels, for leaving him high and dry when he left the Prophecy, become very apparent as he gets vicious with the whips into the rail. The two lesser guys, Lethal & BJ, try to single out Daniels for abuse and the crowd absolutely heels on Lethal. They can live with BJ’s approach and his issues but Lethal comes off as a jerk. Lacey cheats on Whitmer’s behalf choking Daniels over the rope because she’s desperate for success. Lacey jumps onto the apron to abuse Daniels some more and Alison Danger runs over to sort her out. CATFIIIIIIGHT. Wait, they’re wrestling? BOOOO! Alison has a tremendous ass btw. BJ pulls her off but it gives Daniels an opening for an Enzuigiri. He uses Alison far more effectively as a manager. Daniels tags Jay and Joe gets a tag off BJ. He’s in a mean mood and beats the shit out of Jay. Flying kick and a senton gets 2. BJ jumps in there gets levelled with the S.T.JOE! HEY! They called it. Sweet. Joe looks worked up but he runs into the EXPLOIDAAAAAAAAAA for 2. BJ smartly dropkicks the knee but Joe doesn’t stay down and he kills BJ with a bridging DVD for 2. Jay had to make the save. Daniels jumps in there and hits a Flatliner for 2. This sure is spotty! Daniels wants the Iconoclasm but Jay counters and hits a leg lariat for 2. Spinebustah! That gets 2. Jay wants the finish but Daniels blocks it into a release urinage. BEST. MOONSAULT. EVER! That gets 2. Everyone in now for a wild brawl. Daniels backs into Joe and they start brawling. Joe gets the better off it with some stiff striking. Lethal runs in and Joe powerslams him for 2 while Daniels lays out Whitmer for his own near fall. BJ backdropped out of the ring. Lethal grabs the X title and tries to bash Joe with it but he ducks it. Joe grabs Daniels – MUSCLEBUSTAH ON THE BELT! BJ chair shots him out of the ring but Jay missile dropkicks BJ out of the ring. Both guys down and Daniels too. Jay diving headbutts Daniels for the HUGE win. ***1/4. Really fun but ridiculously spot heavy. At least it wasn’t totally disposable as it progressed an assortment of feuds. It also flew by despite running 15 minutes, which is the sign of a well worked match.

INTERMISSION – GMC has the Embassy (Nana, Rave & Shelley). Nana says 2005 was a fluke bad year for the Embassy but 2006 will be great. Shelley cuts a promo about taking titles and playing by the covenant of the ROH competitors. Rave chips in saying he’d like the ROH title. SUURRREEEE.

Ricky Reyes v Davey Andrews

This is so boring that GMC cuts in with Steve Corino cutting a bizarre promo about how Homicide tried to murder Colt Cabana. He says this has gone too far and this is an unsafe working environment so he’s leaving. That was SO over the top. Davey is supposed to be defending the ROH students by taking on Reyes who’s been killing all the students over the past couple of months. Davey gets about as far as attempting a powerslam before Reyes cuts him off and chokes him out with the dragon sleeper. Squash!

POST MATCH Reyes destroys the top of the class trophy but that just pisses off Austin Aries, ROH trainer after the departure of CM Punk, and he rushes the ring looking MEAN. “Oh shit” – Julius Smokes. The Rotties clear out. Aries gets the mic to run down Reyes for beating up students. Aries tells Reyes that Rocky Romero carried his ass for over a year and the only time he’s over is when he’s drunk. OOOOHHHHH! OH NOES, HE’S SHOOTING. CUT THE MIC! Smokes has to drag Reyes away from the ring. Aries figures seeing as he and Strong are already out here we might as well have the tag title match.

Tag titles – Tony Mamaluke/Sal Rinauro (c) v Austin Aries/Roderick Strong

Is it the responsibility of the ROH trainer to carry the tag team division or something? They had Punk in there for a while when he was trainer too. The tag division has fallen apart of late and the champions are somewhat weak. Mamaluke may be a more seasoned competitor now but he’s still the small guy out of the FBI. And Sal Rinauro is even smaller. The crowd aren’t feeling sympathy for the Italians chanting “break his back” as Roderick starts out. Mamaluke gets an armbar but Strong powers him up out of it. Wow, Tony really is light. They run some more counters and Sal gets a tag. Strong chops the hell out of him. Strong is still running the Arn Anderson thing. He used to be the Enforcer of Generation Next protecting Aries’ title. Now he’s proving he can operate effectively with multiple tag partners. First he formed a great team with Jack Evans now he’s working with Aries in an equally impressive double act. Strong takes the majority of the match in the early going showing he’s resilient enough to deal with both opponents. Aries is now able to work in his slingshot back elbow in the corner off a tag. That’s always been a tag move. He just needed a tag team. Love the referee selling the chops as Strong just lays into Sal. Gen Next don’t quite have their timing down as Aries several times isn’t quite ready for the tag. Aries loses a chop contest with Strong. He just murders Sal with another couple of stiff chops. Aries shaking his head because he knew he’d been easily out done is funny. Austin opts for instead just adding in little bits of his offence in between Strong beatings. Like the Power Elbow, which seems even faster these days. Mamaluke stops Aries slingshotting by pulling him off the apron. That was another error from Aries as he found himself in the wrong part of town and decided to showboat. There’s a suggestion that Aries isn’t in this match because he’s thinking about kicking Ricky Reyes’ head in. Mamaluke does a reverse Hogan where he checks to see which part of the crowd is booing him the most. He still has time to haul Aries up and hit the Saito suplex. Mamaluke picks his shots and acts like a complete jerk by trying to submit Aries right in front of Strong. Strong takes it out on Sal when he tags in by breaking up a pin with an enormous chop. I like that Strong has found something he doesn’t really well striking wise. That pretty much puts him on a par with the top guys. The champs bring some interesting continuity with a drop toehold/gutbuster. Gen Next have always been noted for good tagging but here it’s been the champs that show the better teamwork. Ultimately they’re weaker as individuals although Generation Next isn’t a super-team in the conventional sense because they’ve been team mates for so long. Aries gets out of trouble pretty easily because the champs are so weak. Hell, Sal is pretty much in this match so Strong can beat him up. Butterfly backbreaker from Sal who really can’t get ANYTHING against Strong. More chops. Sal does break out a great counter to the press gutbuster though as he flips sideways into a rana. However Aries tags in blind and they hit a spinebuster/lariat combo. Aries pretty much has Sal beat but Mamaluke interferes. Superplex from him and Sal adds a splash for 2. Mamaluke is an issue so Strong backbreakers him out of the match. Sal manages a desperation dropkick on Strong but he won’t stay down. Aries hits a brainbuster on Mamaluke. He’s dead. Strong backbreakers Sal into position and the 450 Splash finishes for the NEW tag team champions. ***1/2. I really enjoyed the psychology behind the match. The way that Aries and Strong already know each others strengths and weaknesses but didn’t have any team work coming in. During the match their team work actually improved and by the end they were as one. Meanwhile the fluke champions were brushed aside by two superior wrestlers. It took longer than expected but that just allowed Strong to showcase his skills.

POST MATCH the Code of Honor is followed. The former champs are very respectful. I wouldn’t mind seeing a re-match although you’d think logically that Gen Next would brush them aside with greater ease at the second time of trying.

ROH title – Bryan Danielson (c) v Naomichi Marufuji

Long before Morishima claimed the ROH title Japanese competitors were signing up for shots at it. Are the lasers an attempt to make this look more like Pro Wrestling NOAH? I like Danielson showing the belt respect by wearing it to the ring rather than slinging it over his shoulder. Streamers for Marufuji. Nice “Maru-fuji” chant that the challenger enjoys. Danielson insists he’s introduced as the “best wrestler in the entire world”. Code of Honor is followed. To the mat early where Danielson shows he’s fast as well as technically able. Marufuji runs a funny spot where he stands on Danielson’s hands and slaps the back of his head. Danielson is humbled! Danielson shows he has power by standing still on a shoulderblock and slapping Marufuji. CHOPFEST! They run the International into a near falls. DROPKICK DUEL! Indy kneel-off! Danielson wants another handshake and slaps Marufuji in the face. Danielson is wrestling a little weird here. Like he wants to show Marufuji he’s a big fucking deal over here. This is especially prevalent in his no selling of Marufuji’s strikes. Not that they’re worth selling. Always been a weak point for me of his approach. Danielson takes him down and starts stretching him on the mat. Marufuji shows his speed as he flips around Danielson to escape an arm ringer. Danielson screams at him and slaps him across the face. Marufuji slaps him back, hard, and Danielson finally sells a strike by falling over. Marufuji fucks up a slingshot dropkick back into the ring holds a finger to the disappointed crowd as if to say “wait a sec” and then hits it. The crowd are willing to cut him a little slack because of his reputation. Someone shouts “USA” in the back of the building. HAHA. There’s a lot to be said about jingoism. They counter a little standing with Marufuji generally controlling but Danielson knees him in the face. Outside and Marufuji gets grounded the same way as Austin Aries was earlier. They go for an ambitious spot on the apron before countering back inside and Marufuji attempts the sunset flip powerbomb to the floor. Danielson blocks it though and we’re outside so Marufuji can test the guardrail durability with his spine. Duelling chants. Danielson has been heeling it up since the match started. There are heel elements about him that seem to surface even when he’s working babyface. Danielson goes for a surfboard and Marufuji makes the mistake of tapping out. Oops. They carry on regardless into the Mexican Surfboard. Still no submission. He decides to do it again then pisses the fans off by refusing to do it and instead stomping on the knees. Danielson hooks up a standing figure four THEN BRIDGES BACK IN IT! Awesomeness. Marufuji tries to rally the fans again by tapping out. Come on man, play the game! Danielson gets disrespectful with slapping before PLANTING Marufuji with the exclamation point DDT for 2. Back to the knee though and Danielson has the figure four. Marufuji tries to slap his way out so Danielson increases the torque. Marufuji taps out again. This is getting silly. He needs to learn to stop that. Marufuji starts ignoring the abuse and we get another series of slaps. Danielson decides to take the eyes as a receipt. I HAVE TIL FIVE REFEREE! Crowd is starting to get into this now after a somewhat quiet crowd during the earlier segments. Danielson tries to dive off the top but gets dropkicked on the way down. Marufuji kicks Danielson in the head a few times and that just pisses him off. They counter over a suplex and Danielson gets suplexed clean out of the ring. Marufuji wants a baseball slide but Danielson moves and goes back in – ELBOW SUICIDAAAAAAAAAA! And his back hit the rail. That looked painful. Danielson with an enormous missile dropkick. Marufuji sold that well. And by sold I mean he took the feet full on in the chest. To the ropes and Marufuji wants the Shiranui. They counter some more and Danielson gets dumped in the tree of woe. Basement dropkick! Marufuji wants to up the ante somewhat. SPRINGBOARD COAST TO COAST BASEMENT DROPKICK! That merits a replay! Danielson kicks out. Superkick! Danielson is groggy but still knows to escape the Shiranui and counters into a German suplex for 2. CATTLE MUTILATION! Marufuji is JUST close enough to get the rope. To the ropes again and Marufuji SELLS the BACK SUPERPLEX with shock before it happens for about 5 seconds. He’s REALLY SHOCKED. CATTLE MUTILATION! Marufuji is trying for the ropes again so Danielson turns it sideways into a pin for 2. He wants the Regalplex countered into the SHIRANUI! Double down. See, there is selling in NOAH! Both guys back up and they counter over suplexes before going into a near falls at a frantic pace and Danielson eventually ends up on top for the pin. The near falls finished? I’m a little surprised. But that’s ROH for you! ***1/2. Suffered from some issues early with Danielson behaving unusually and Marufuji’s selling being all over the place. It doesn’t help that Marufuji had little chance of winning. The result was at times like watching an exhibition match. But then not many people rated Marufuji’s chances of winning the GHC title and he still did. Not that it he was the right guy to do so. He’s certainly the right guy to be coming over to the States and jobbing to Danielson though. Crowd respect him more for coming over and losing. Crowd chants his name and then “please come back”. “Arigato”.

Incidentally the problem with booking Danielson heelish and having him call himself the “best wrestler in the world” is that the fans perceive him as the best. So he’s not really acting like enough of a jerk to be heelish. He either needs to be heel or face. Not this tweener character.

GHC Junior Heavyweight title – KENTA (c) v Low Ki

Really weird hearing the declaration in English. I’m so used to hearing it all read out in Japanese that the English almost seems wrong. But then it’s nice to hear the translation. Ki gets a hometown pop despite being a heel. Loads of streamers for KENTA. I didn’t realise how small KENTA is. Normally in Japan he’s in there with other juniors but comparing him height wise to Ki he looks like a midget. Ki starts out with HUGE aggression going after the arm. Duelling chants. They go to the mat where KENTA shows some nice transitions particularly trapping Ki’s legs so he can move to a headlock. Ki lights KENTA up with a chop and his aggressive streak continues. Ki with a trio of stiff kicks on the mat. KENTA knows all about stiff kicks though and retorts with his own. “Fuck him up KENTA, fuck him up”. STIFF SLAPS! HOLY SHIT. Ki kicks him RIGHT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD. Ki starts laying with elbows and they’re stiff as fuck too. KENTA with a tornado DDT into the ropes and a choke with bodyscissors over the ropes. KENTA with the diving lariat for 2. The crowd is going “OOOOOOHHHHHH” after every strike here because they’re THAT stiff. No leg slapping here. Ki started it but you don’t want to get into a stiffness war with KENTA because he WILL finish it. KENTA narrowly misses with a double stomp, on purpose, and kicks dirt in Ki’s face instead. Crowd dig that. KENTA gets a run up but gets clocked with the KOPPOOOOOUUUU KIIIIICK! Ki dumps him on the ropes and PUNTS HIM to the floor. Ki breaks out the awesome with a dive onto the top rope into a plancha. That’s INCREDIBLE for a small guy. Shelton Benjamin does it all the time but he’s about a foot taller. Ki with a few more cocky and disrespectful kicks to the face. MORE KICKS, NO SOLD! KENTA fires back but Ki lays him out with the Enzuigiri. Crowd applauds loudly knowing they’re seeing a great battle here. Ki starts using body slams to continue the abuse on the back in between kicks. Ki works a bodyscissors that somehow looks like it’s not a rest hold even though it is. KENTA tries a sunset flip, which is foolish with Ki who counters into the DOUBLE STOMP for 2. Again it’s another blow to the torso, which Ki has worked almost exclusively. He lays in a few more kicks and they’re stiff as fuck but have a little less on them than earlier. Outside and KENTA gets to meet the rail too. “Ki just fucked you up” – ringside fan. KENTA in the ropes and Ki DOUBLE STOMPS THE BACK. His focus has been awesome in this match. Strategically this is one of his best matches in years. KENTA with a powerslam but Ki is up first because KENTA’s back is so hurt. Ki is standing there so KENTA kicks him in the face a couple of times. KICK COMBO. SPRINGBOARD MISSILE DROPKICK…for 2. More stiff kicks from KENTA. Ki CHOPS HIM IN THE FACE. KENTA does NOT like that and suplexes him into a cross armbreaker. Ki fights it and gets the ropes before KENTA can straighten the arm out though. Falcon Arrow gets 2. That’s never been a finish really but a trademark move nevertheless. To the ropes and KENTA jabs Ki in the throat to set him up. Ki elbows at the thigh and sets up the WARRIORS WAY!!!! OH FUCK! That’s a killer move. Double down as Ki hurt his arm landing. By the time he gets over the pin gets 2. Ki uses his good arm for more chops. CHOP RUSH! Mongolian chops but KENTA comes back with combos and Ki springboards around his final attack to hit the Springboard Enzuigiri for 2. Duelling chants with feeling. Ki with the KAWADA KICKS. He’s lifting All Japan main eventers for his striking. Ki goes up but KENTA dives up onto the buckle with him. Holy shit. SUPER FALCON ARROW gets 2. That’s definitely not a finish now. “This is awesome”. Slapping! HOLY SHIT they fuck each other with slaps. Ki goes for the backhand but KENTA ducks it and lays him out for 2. That was nearly a finish and the crowd would have bought it, which shows how hard they were slapping each other. KENTA goes for the Busaiku Knee Kick BLOCKED INTO THE KI KRUSHER…FOR 2! TIDAL KRUSH! KENTA is still standing but he’s out. They counter looking for each others finishers and KENTA wins out with the tiger suplex…for 2 when he can’t get the GTS. KENTA is up – COMBO KICKS but Ki ducks a palm strike and dropkicks him. GHETTO STOMP…FOR 2!!! How many more false finishes can this crowd take? Ki wants the Phoenix Splash but KENTA moves. Ki is left open. GO TO SREEEEEEEP! Ki is out on his feet but KENTA isn’t done – BUSAIKUUUUUU KNEEEEE KIIIIIICK! You’d better believe that’s it. ****3/4. Best Low Ki match in years. Probably since 2002. If you can overlook the lack of selling, which most people do for Japanese wrestling anyway, this is flat out awesome. They beat the piss out of each other and KENTA went full out to have a great match on his ROH debut. “Please come back”.

POST MATCH Ki follows the Code of Honor and shakes hands. Crowd chants “ROH” and we’re out.