Ring of Honor 7/27/02: Crowning of a Champion
Running Time: 3 hours
1. Tony Mamaluke vs Jeremy Lopez
Mamaluke applied a waistlock on the mat but Lopez held his own. Lopez gave Mamaluke an armringer and a wristlock but Mamaluke countered with an armringer and wristlock of his own. Lopez took Mamaluke down by his legs and applied a bow and arrow hold. Lopez applied a waistlock and snapmared Mamaluke, then dropkicked the back of his head. Mamaluke took down Lopez with a headlock but Lopez applied a headscissors. Mamaluke took down Lopez with a headlock but Lopez turned him over and gained a near fall. Lopez applied a headscissors but Mamaluke quickly kicked out of it. Lopez applied a headlock and tackled Mamaluke. Mamaluke countered an Irish whip and gave Lopez a drop toehold neck first onto the second rope. Mamaluke then hit a nice slingshot legdrop on the apron. Mamaluke applied a modified camel clutch near the ropes and kneedropped Lopez. Lopez blocked a back suplex by grabbing the ropes but Mamaluke elbowed him. Mamaluke charged but ran into a roaring elbow from Lopez. Lopez gained a near fall. He kicked Mamaluke, gave him a yakuza kick and a neckbreaker slam of sorts for a near fall. Lopez placed Mamaluke on the top rope but Mamaluke fought back and gave him a tornado DDT for a near fall. Lopez caught Mamaluke in a Fujiwara armbar, which he turned into a crossface. Lopez chopped Mamaluke twice and gave him a kneelift. Mamaluke hiptossed Lopez and applied a modified armbreaker. Lopez countered and turned Mamaluke over for a near fall but Mamaluke maintained the hold. Lopez picked up Mamaluke as he stood up and gave Mamaluke a back suplex of sorts to finally break the hold. Lopez landed a couple forearms and whipped Mamaluke into the corner but ran into a boot. Mamaluke went for a tornado DDT but Lopez shoved him off. Mamaluke ran into a boot and Lopez gave him a cool second rope double arm tornado DDT. Lopez maintained the hold on the arms and gave Mamaluke a tiger driver for a heated near fall. Both men repeatedly countered German suplexes. Mamaluke kicked Lopez and gave him an Edgecution-like DDT. Mamaluke held onto Lopez and applied a front facelock/armbar/bodyscissors combo for the submission win at 7:25. A near-perfect opening match: not memorable enough to steal the show but strong enough to get the viewer into the show. Pure wrestling fans will like this one, as they had many good technical exchanges without off-the-charts creativity better suited for main events. They exchanged enough near falls and cool moves to round out the match. Mamaluke was entertaining as usual while Lopez kept up with him pretty well and shows some potential. **3/4
2. Joey Matthews and Christian York vs Prince Nana and Jacobs Ladder
Nana and Ladder attacked their opponents right after the handshake. Nana and Ladder pummeled their opponents early. Ladder ran into a boot from York but caught York and gave him a full nelson slam. Nana chopped Matthews and gave York a big splash. Nana then gave a crouched Matthews a butt-butt in the corner. York went after Ladder but Nana attacked him from behind. Nana missed an enzuguiri (impressive for someone who looks like a black Yutaka Yoshie if not fatter). York and Matthews then gave Nana, who was on his knees, a neat double enzuguiri. Nana walked to the back. Matthews lifted Ladder in a flapjack position and York gave him a top rope legdrop for the pin at 1:48. Pretty much a pointless match that added nothing to the show. NR
3. Winner to get an ROH contract: Michael Shane & Bio-Hazard vs Paul London & Don Juan
Shane took down London with a waistlock and applied a front facelock. London escaped, applied an armringer and then a headlock on Shane. They did a criss cross and London gave Shane two armdrags and a spin kick. (clip forward) London did a somersault plancha but barely hit both opponents as he landed close to the apron. Shane flipped Juan into the ring and kicked him in the corner. Juan gave Shane a forearm and a clothesline for a near fall. London landed a couple elbows but Shane kicked him. London whipped Shane into the corner but Shane dumped him to the apron. London elbowed Shane and went for a springboard moonsault bodyblock and missed but landed on his feet. Shane knocked London into the corner with an overhead belly to belly suplex for a near fall. Hazard punched Shane, gave him a couple kneelifts and gut wrench suplexed him. Hazard gave London a cool back suplex for a near fall. Hazard whipped London into the corner but ran into an elbow and London gave him a headscissors takedown from the top rope. Juan gave Hazard a cool crucifix into a sunset flip for a near fall. Hazard kicked Juan and gave him a jawbreaker. Hazard gave Juan a northern lights suplex for a near fall. Shane punched and chopped Juan and superplexed him for a near fall. Shane chopped and snapmared Juan. Hazard came off the second rope with a rolling neck snap on Juan in another neat spot and Shane gained a near fall. Hazard punched Juan and gave him a rolling fireman's carry slam. Hazard went for a second rope moonsault but crashed onto Juan's knees. Juan kicked and DDTd Hazard. London gave Shane a couple clotheslines and backdropped both opponents. In one of the coolest spots I've seen, in part because I (and no one else) didn't see it coming, London dropkicked Shane, and in the process propelled himself into a moonsault on Hazard for a near fall. Shane threw Juan out of the ring. London slammed Shane and hit a second rope moonsault for a near fall. London elbowed Shane and whipped him into the corner. London went for a clothesline but ran into a superkick from Shane for a near fall. Shane gave Juan a couple chops as Hazard snapmared London. Hazard missed a second rope rolling neck snap on London and London kicked his back hard. London hooked Hazard's arms and head with his legs but Shane clotheslined him, and in the process London fell back into a pin position and Hazard gained a near fall. Shane slid under London and took him down by his legs. Shane hooked London's legs in a sharpshooter position and just bent him back. Juan gave Hazard a dragon screw for a near fall and London hit a top rope elbowsmash on Hazard when Juan moved. Juan gained a near fall on Hazard. Juan and London argued, and Shane caught Juan with a superkick. Hazard speared London and Shane pinned Juan to win the match and the contract for himself. About 8:33 aired, and it was a fun match. Good action on everyone's part, with some neat spots. This had an indy feel with shallow transitions and a little sloppiness at times, but generally was solid for the kind of match they worked. Fans weren't rabid, but clearly enjoyed this match. Don't know how much was edited out, so I'll say this was about **1/2-***. In other words, definitely a good match.
4. Da Hit Squad (Mafia & Monsta Mack) vs Divine Storm (Chris Divine & Quiet Storm)
Finally an interesting tag team division match in ROH, and finally DHS will get an adequate chance to show what they can do. They traded harsh words and Divine Storm attacked DHS with punches at the bell. DHS got the better of their opponents early until Storm caught one of them in the middle of the ring with a Fujiwara armbar. Storm landed a couple elbows but ran into an overhead belly to belly suplex from Mack as Mafia fought with Divine at ringside. Mafia slammed Divine but Divine countered a burning hammer and seamlessly gave Mafia a Death Valley driver for a near fall. Divine kicked Mafia and gave him a spinebuster for a near fall. Divine punched Mafia and gave him a clothesline in the corner. Divine went for a diamond cutter but Mafia pushed him off. Divine whipped Mafia into the corner and went for a flying attack of some sort but Mafia moved and shoved him into the corner. Mack then whipped Mafia into a flying body attack on Divine in the corner. Mafia gave Storm an overhead suplex of sorts. Storm gave Mack some elbows and a diamond cutter out of the corner for a near fall. Mafia threw Storm out of the ring but Divine elbowed him. Divine ducked a clothesline from Mack but ran into a kick from Mafia and Mafia gave him a brutal clothesline. Mack speared Divine and they both crashed through the ropes to the floor. Mafia missed a lariat and Divine gave him an impressive overhead belly to belly suplex for a pop. Divine gave Mafia a very sloppy tilt-a-whirl headscissors and went for a huracanrana but Mafia powerbombed him for the pin at 4:36. A bit short to amount to anything, but this was decent, except for a couple sloppy spots. DHS looked much heavier than I remember them, almost like the Headhunters did back in their early days, but they still impressed with their high impact moves. They also let their MUCH smaller opponents throw them around quite a bit, but I'm not sure if that was a good thing in terms of logic. Entertaining, not much more. *1/2
5. Jay Briscoe (w/Mark Briscoe) vs James Maritato
They traded holds early. Briscoe took down Maritato with an armbar but Maritato quickly escaped. Maritato applied a hammerlock but Briscoe countered with a headlock. Maritato did a top wristlock into a headlock of his own. Briscoe gave Maritato an armringer but Maritato took him down by his arm. Briscoe gave Maritato a spinning toehold but Maritato kicked him off. Briscoe landed a couple punches and lifted Maritato in a fireman's carry but Maritato countered and applied a Fujiwara armbar. Briscoe took Maritato down and applied an STF of sorts. Briscoe appeared to attempt a Texas cloverleaf but Maritato rolled him up for a near fall. Maritato clipped Briscoe's leg and took him down. Maritato went for a cross armbreaker but Briscoe rolled out of it. They traded waistlocks and Briscoe elbowed Maritato. Maritato went for a kick but Briscoe caught his leg, held onto his leg as he turned away from Maritato, and gave him a spinning stunner in a neat move for a near fall. Briscoe punched Maritato and jumped to the middle rope but Maritato caught up to him. Maritato attempted a second rope Russian legsweep but Briscoe held his ground and pushed Maritato to the mat. Briscoe jumped off the second rope but jumped into a clothesline for a near fall. Maritato applied a cross armbreaker but Briscoe quickly reached the ropes. Briscoe missed a dropkick but Maritato missed a second rope splash. Briscoe caught Maritato and gave him a Death Valley driver. Briscoe dropkicked Maritato for a near fall and gave him a kneelift. Briscoe lifted Maritato on his shoulders and gave him a face first slam (called a front fallaway Niagara slam, whatever that is, by one of the announcers). Briscoe rammed Maritato into the corner. Maritato blocked a superplex and knocked Briscoe to the mat with chops. Maritato hit a very sharp second rope dropkick as he caught a charging Briscoe right in the face for a near fall. Maritato chopped Briscoe. Briscoe missed a corner splash. Maritato went for a superplex but Briscoe countered with a face front superplex for a near fall. Briscoe started to powerbomb Maritato but then dropped him on his butt like a Bubba bomb (although it looked like Maritato might have been trying to counter the powerbomb). Maritato responded with a dropkick to Briscoe's face for a near fall. Maritato gave Briscoe a second rope legdrop for a near fall. Maritato telegraphed a backdrop but blocked a neckbreaker. Briscoe blocked a kiss of death and gave Maritato a tornado DDT for a near fall. Mark Briscoe walked away from the ring and Maritato gave a distracted Jay a kiss of death for the pin at 8:33. Pretty good match, but I think this could have been a little better. There were a couple sequences with sloppy or questionable execution and transitions. Most of the matwork was smooth, as were the key spots. Somewhat similar in feel to Briscoe vs Mamaluke from 4/27, but that match flowed better and had more spot-to-spot momentum. Briscoe looked sharper against Mamaluke than against Maritato, who I thought was a more polished worker. A bit of a styles clash, but generally good. **1/4
6. Bunkhouse Match: Natural Born Sinners (Homicide & Boogalou) vs Carnage Crew (H.C. Loc & Tony Devito)
They started fighting before the bell. Homicide gave Devito a corner splash as Loc fought with Boogalou. Devito clocked Homicide with his boot. Loc punched Boogalou and attacked him with a cow bell and a rope. Devito grinded Homicide's face into a strand of barbed wire in the corner. Homicide rammed Devito into the corner as Boogalou got the better of Loc. A bloody Homicide grinded the barbed wire into Devito's head in the corner. Homicide then drew blood from Devito's head using a fork. Loc went after Homicide and gave him a back suplex. Boogalou gave Loc a released German suplex as Devito hit Homicide with a chair at ringside. Devito gave Homicide some brutal chairshots at ringside. Loc gave Boogalou a tornado DDT or stunner (couldn't tell which, my video was poor at this moment). Devito elbowsmashed Homicide on the floor but Homicide fought back with a chairshot. Loc attacked Boogalou with a cow bell as Homicide hit Devito with a sick chairshot. Homicide grinded Devito's head into the mesh fence around ringside. Homicide stiffed Devito with another chairshot. Boogalou hit Loc with a loud shot with the cow bell. Devito hit Homicide through the ropes with a chair but Homicide responded by hitting him with the cow bell. Homicide and Devito traded blows and Devito hit Homicide with the cow bell repeatedly. Homicide hit Devito with a portion of the barricade and clocked him with another brutal chairshot. Devito rammed Boogalou into the barricade and hit him with yet another brutal chairshot. Devito gave Boogalou several chairshots to his back as Homicide hit Loc with the cow bell. Homicide attacked Loc with the edge of a belt and drew more blood. Homicide whipped Loc and Devito with the belt repeatedly. Boogalou hit Loc with a chair repeatedly. Devito missed a dropkick on Homicide as Boogalou hit Loc with another chairshot. Homicide gave Devito a shining wizard for a near fall. Devito countered a cop killer but Homicide countered a German suplex with elbows. Devito gave Homicide a couple short clotheslines and an overhead suplex right into the corner and the barbed wire. Devito grabbed the barbed wire from the corner and wrapped it around Homicide. Devito moonsaulted Homicide and both sold being cut by the barbed wire. Devito gained a near fall but Boogalou intervened. Boogalou wrapped the wire around his arm. Homicide gave Loc a stunner. Boogalou gave Devito a clothesline with the barbed wire wrapped arm. Homicide then hit this crazy, insane somersault tope suicida onto Loc, and crashed through the barricade in the process. Spectacular spot as it was perfectly timed and the barricade segment was destroyed. Boogalou then pulled Devito back with a strand of barbed wire around Devito's mouth for the submission win at 9:32. This wasn't great, but given who was involved about as solid as one could ask for. They employed a hardcore, bloody style, but without off-the-charts bumps or insane weapons. The weapons they did use were used to perfection and the crowd ate up most of the match. The chairshots were Balls-Tanaka caliber crazy, and the barbed wire was used well but not excessively. Not many wrestling spots, but most were saved for the second half of the match, which made it build better. Good match because it delivered a change of pace in a way that fans got into. **1/2
7. NWA TNA X Title: A.J. Styles (c) vs David Young vs Adam Jacobs
Jacobs whipped Young into a kick from Styles. Jacobs kicked Styles but Styles whipped him into the corner, where Young caught Jacobs and gave him a sitout powerbomb. Styles gave Young a couple chops and blocked a DDT before landing more chops. Styles went for a backdrop but Young flipped over his back and gave Styles a huracanrana. Jacobs kicked Young and gave him a sloppy neckbreaker running off the ropes as Young didn't go down fast enough. Young dumped Jacobs to the apron. Young ducked a lariat and went to rollup Styles but Styles blocked it. Jacobs then sunset flipped Young as Young German suplexed Styles in a great spot for a near fall. Jacobs threw Young out of the ring but Styles caught him with a flying kick. Styles missed a moonsault off the apron and Young rammed him into the apron. Young then hit an amazing Asai moonsault given his size (probably 240-250 legit) on Styles. Jacobs took out Young with a somersault plancha and gained a near fall back in the ring. Jacobs and Young traded blows but both punched Styles when he returned to the ring. Styles ducked a double clothesline and gave both opponents a quebrada double inverted DDT. Good spot, but not as great as usual because his opponents were a little out of position, or too far from him. Styles gained a near fall on Young and superkicked Jacobs. Styles whipped Jacobs into the corner, jumped off his chest but Young caught Styles from behind and gave him a released German suplex. Young powerslammed Jacobs. Young went for a moonsault, but took too much time, and Styles caught him. Styles attempted a powerbomb, Young tried to counter with a huracanrana, but Styles caught him and went for a Styles clash. Instead, he held Young in place as Jacobs delivered a dropkick to his face. Jacobs went for a superplex but Styles pushed him off and into Young's grip, and Young gave him a great spinebuster. Styles gave Young a dragonrana (not as sharp as Dragon Kid but still breathtaking) and fans gave him a standing ovation. Styles gained a near fall on Young and chopped him. Young whipped Styles into the corner but missed a flying body attack. Styles hit a somersault senton with a full twist (something like a forwards skytwister) on Young for the pin to eliminate him at 5:28. Jacobs gave Styles a couple hard kicks and a superkick for a near fall. Jacobs punched Styles but Styles rebounded off the ropes with a flying forearm. Styles chopped Jacobs but Jacobs whipped him into the corner. Styles blocked a monkey flip and placed Jacobs on the top rope. Jacobs got the better of Styles and gave him a tornado DDT for a near fall. Styles caught Jacobs attempting a huracanrana but Jacobs blocked a Styles clash, so Styles instead applied a modified Boston crab. Styles gave Jacobs a backbreaker but Jacobs crotched him on the top rope. Styles blocked a top rope huracanrana and gave Jacobs a second rope Styles clash for the pin at 8:00 to retain the title. The second half was much more enjoyable than the first half, which saw its share of sloppiness, including a couple weak spots and some sloppy transitions. The last 4-5 minutes saw much sharper execution. This was almost a complete spotfest, with an indyish feel. Lots of great moves, but something was missing. Had there been no screwups I would've probably given this a fairly high rating but the flawed spots kinda highlighted the indy feel of the rest of the match. Pretty good, but one of the weaker Styles matches of 2002. **1/4
8. Mike Tobin, Marcos & Dunn vs Black Gordman, Brian XL & Dixie
Less than a minute aired, and this was only shown in highlight/music video form. Tobin and co. won the match. Some nice spots aired, but this looked like an indyish match and I have a feeling this wouldn't be pretty unedited. NR
9. Scoot Andrews vs Xavier
Andrews vowed to leave ROH if he lost. Andrews caught Xavier on the handshake and rolled him up for a near fall. Andrews tripped Xavier and gave him la magistral for a near fall. Andrews punched Xavier, whipped him into the corner and gave him a clothesline in the corner. Andrews whipped Xavier into the opposite corner and gave him another clothesline. Andrews dropkicked Xavier for a near fall. Xavier chopped Andrews and charged but Andrews threw him over the top rope. Andrews rammed Xavier into the ringpost and then rammed him hard into the barricade. Andrews rammed Xavier into the barricade on opposite sides of the ring. Back in the ring Andrews landed some punches to Xavier's bloody head and gave him a leg lariat for a near fall. Andrews kicked Xavier and gave him a tiger driver for a near fall. Xavier countered a force of nature and rolled up Andrews for a near fall. Xavier gave Andrews some chops and gave him an elbow for a near fall. Xavier landed some punches and rammed Andrews back first into the corner. Xavier gave Andrews a couple kneelifts and a knee to the head. Xavier gave Andrews a Razor's edge type powerbomb (not a splash mountain because it wasn't a sitout) for a near fall. Xavier landed 3 European uppercuts. Andrews blocked a neckbreaker and gave Xavier a tilt-a-whirl face front slam in a good spot for a near fall. Andrews missed a dropkick and Xavier gave him a cool pumphandle into an inverted force of nature (Andrews facing out instead of in) for a near fall. Xavier went for a moonsault bodyblock but Andrews kinda caught him, although Xavier collapsed on him for a near fall in a botched spot of some sort. Xavier missed a kick and Andrews caught him and gave him a force of nature for the pin. About 5:00 aired, and this looked like it also had an indy feel, but was well laid out with good intensity. Both men seemed to fight with a sense of urgency, Andrews in particular. Looked like their typically solid-good match, so my guess is about **1/2
10. ROH Title One Hour Ironman Match: Low Ki vs Spanky vs Christopher Daniels vs Doug Williams
Ki was going to start against Daniels, but Daniels bailed out of the ring and Williams stepped in. Williams grabbed Ki's leg and ducked an enzuguiri. Williams stretched Ki's legs as he crossed them and also landed some strikes to his face. Williams applied a rear double chicken wing while maintaining the hold on Ki's legs. Ki countered, escaped and applied an armbar on Williams. Williams countered with an armdrag and an armbar of his own. Ki applied a headscissors and took down Williams. Nifty opening segment. Williams applied an armbar on Ki while both men were standing. Ki hiptossed Williams but Williams maintained the armbar on the mat. Ki landed a couple kicks to Williams from his back and tried an armdrag to escape the armbar but Williams rolled with him and maintained the hold. Ki went for a headscissors on a standing Williams but Williams shrugged him off and maintained the armbar. Ki chopped Williams and gave him a top wristlock but Williams tossed him to the mat to escape his grip. They had a knucklelock as Williams applied a bodyscissors while on his back. Williams then stretched Ki while holding him in the air by his arms and legs. Ki tried to bridge out and gained a near fall but Williams maintained a front facelock. Ki tagged in Spanky, whose style would appear far less likely to mesh well with Williams. Williams challenged Spanky to a knucklelock. Spanky hesitantly accepted, tried to turn around, but Williams ended up crossing Spanky's arms in front of his neck in a submission hold. Williams grinded his knee into Spanky's back for added pressure. Williams kicked Spanky just as Spanky reached his feet. Spanky backed Williams into the corner but Williams maintained the hold. Spanky finally escaped and countered with a cross arm strangle of his own on Williams. Williams countered by tossing Spanky to the mat. Spanky gave Williams a drop toehold and went for a headlock but Williams countered with a front facelock. Spanky escaped and applied an armbar, and Daniels tagged in. Daniels applied a wristlock but Williams countered with a wristlock of his own. Daniels tried to flip out of it but Williams maintained the wristlock. They traded more wristlocks and armringers. Williams tried a flip counter but Daniels flipped right with him and maintained the wristlock. Williams applied a hammerlock and shoved Daniels into the corner. Daniels tried to counter the hammerlock by lifting Williams overhead but wasn't successful. Williams sunset flipped Daniels for a near fall. Williams gave Daniels a wristlock and armringer. Spanky applied an armbar on Daniels and kneedropped his arm. Spanky applied a hammerlock and did a bridge for added pressure. Spanky applied a headlock and tackled Daniels before applying a headlock. Daniels escaped and flipped Spanky overhead but Spanky took him down with a headlock. Spanky gained a near fall with the headlock. Spanky tackled Daniels but ran into a kick. Spanky armdragged Daniels and went back to the headlock but Daniels dropped him on his head with a back suplex. Daniels landed a few elbows and kicked Spanky's back. Ki kicked Spanky and gave him a couple Mongolian chops. Ki snapmared Spanky and applied a headscissors. Spanky turned Ki over and rammed his leg into the mat. Spanky gave Ki a rolling leg snap and stomped his leg. Williams clipped Ki's leg and applied a cool standing leglock. Ki chopped Williams but Williams elbowed him in response. They traded chops and Ki escaped the leglock but Williams scored with a series of elbows. Williams pulled Ki's leg back. Daniels stomped Ki's leg repeatedly. Ki punched Daniels but Daniels raked his eyes and tagged Spanky. Spanky kicked Ki's leg from behind and elbowsmashed it. Spanky stretched Ki's leg back but Ki countered with a dragon sleeper and a bodyscissors. Spanky quickly escaped and reached the ropes. Daniels pounded Ki but Ki fought back with a chop. Daniels punched Ki and headbutted him. Williams tagged in. Daniels kicked and punched Williams. Daniels headbutted Williams and gave him some chops but Williams absorbed the blows and landed some sharp forearms. Williams applied a cross armbreaker but Daniels quickly reached the ropes. Williams headbutted Daniels's arm and gave him a rolling arm snap if there is such a thing. Williams applied a wristlock but Daniels reached the ropes as the camera showed Ki selling his weakened leg on the apron (nice production touch). Williams gave Daniels some European uppercuts but telegraphed a backdrop and Daniels kicked him. Daniels elbowed Ki and Williams. Williams clotheslined Daniels for a near fall. Spanky attacked Daniels's arm in the ropes, gave him an armringer and elbowed his arm. Spanky elbowed Daniels and armdragged him, then applied an armbar. Daniels turned Spanky over and gained a near fall. Spanky kicked Daniels's arm but telegraphed a backdrop and Daniels gave him a neckbreaker. Daniels gave Spanky a neckbreaker slam of sorts for a near fall. Spanky went to tag Ki but Daniels dragged him to the middle of the ring and tagged Williams. Williams applied a rear chinlock and bent Spanky over his knees. Ki elbowed Williams and gave him a couple chops. Ki snapmared Williams and applied a chinlock. Williams used a jawbreaker to escape and attacked Ki's leg. Ki kicked Williams with his free leg but Williams maintained a hold on his bad leg. Williams stomped Ki's bad leg and applied a legbar. Williams kicked Ki's face while maintaining the hold but Ki countered with kicks and chops. Ki escaped with elbows to Williams's leg but Daniels came in and attacked Ki. Williams kicked Ki's leg and lifted him off the mat with Ki's bad leg draped and stretched over Williams's neck in a cool spot the announcers called the torture device. Williams then dropped Ki to the mat. Spanky kicked both of Ki's legs but Ki fought back with punches and a chop. Spanky gave Ki a low dropkick to his leg for a near fall. Spanky gave Ki a kneebreaker and elbowsmashed his leg twice. Ki fought back with a great kick from a prone position on Spanky. Spanky went after Ki's leg again but Ki gave him a second stiff enzuguiri from his back using his good leg. Ki whipped Spanky into the corner, where Daniels gave him a kick from behind. Ki gained a near fall on Spanky, snapmared him and gave him a rolling neck snap for a near fall. Ki dropped Spanky gut first across the top rope and brutally punted his chest. Daniels tagged himself in and attacked both Ki and Spanky. Spanky landed a couple punches but Daniels headbutted him. Daniels suplexed Spanky for a near fall and applied a cool neck submission on Spanky in which he bent Spanky's neck back like a crossface or camel clutch while bridging back. Spanky escaped and applied an armbar on Daniels but Daniels rolled out of it and gained a near fall. Daniels headbutted Spanky and applied a neck crank. Spanky elbowed Daniels but Daniels tackled him. Daniels whipped Spanky into the corner but ran into a knee and Spanky gave him a tornado jawbreaker (for lack of a better term) with his knee connecting with Daniels's jaw. Ki tagged in and Daniels went to tag Williams but Williams jumped off the apron. Ki punched Daniels and gave him a couple chops. Ki gave Daniels a koppo kick. Ki gave Daniels a roundhouse kick with his bad leg, sold the damage and then kicked Daniels with his good leg. Ki missed a third kick and Daniels clipped his leg. Daniels headbutted Ki for a near fall and they traded chops. Daniels poked Ki's eyes and elbowed Spanky on the apron. Ki held Daniels in a waistlock but Spanky hit Ki with a top rope dropkick when Daniels moved. Daniels went to give Spanky an inverted DDT and kinda did as Williams clotheslined Daniels. Williams elbowed Spanky but Daniels hit him and whipped him into the corner. Williams jumped off the ropes in the corner and gave Daniels a really cool tornado DDT. Spanky then gave Williams sliced bread II but Ki launched Spanky with a spectacular released tiger suplex. Daniels gave Ki a front face slam (called a front face novacaine and I think Nova called it that before). Fans gave a standing ovation after the sequence, knowing that things were now getting serious. Ki pushed Spanky off the top rope to the floor and Daniels dumped Williams over the top rope to the floor. Daniels clipped Ki's leg again as Ki attempted a spin kick. Daniels gave Ki the last rites for the first pin at 25:30, giving Daniels 2 points and placing Ki at -1 (because he lost the fall). Daniels went to pin Ki again but Spanky intervened. Spanky elbowed Daniels and gave him a leg lariat for a near fall. Spanky gave Daniels a captured back suplex of sorts (holding onto his legs) for a near fall. Daniels took Spanky down and tagged Williams. Williams applied a neck vice on Spanky on the mat. Williams applied a rear chinlock and kneedropped Spanky for a near fall. Spanky dropped Williams's head across his knee. Daniels pounded Williams and dropkicked him. Daniels went for a suplex but Williams countered and applied a Fujiwara armbar. Daniels reached the ropes after a brief struggle. Williams kneedropped Daniels's arm twice and stretched his elbow. Williams kneedropped Daniels's arm again and gave Spanky a head chop on the apron, and tagged him in. Spanky whipped Daniels into the corner but ran into a boot and Daniels DDTd him for a near fall. Daniels snapmared Spanky and applied a neck vice. Spanky escaped and applied a Fujiwara armbar on Daniels but Daniels countered with elbows to his head. Williams punched Daniels and monkey flipped him by his arm, if that's possible (that's what it looked like). Williams applied an armbar on Daniels. Daniels punched and headbutted Williams. Daniels landed some elbows and whipped Williams into the corner but missed a corner splash and sold his damaged left arm. Williams applied a cross armbreaker on Daniels but Daniels escaped and worked on Williams's neck. Daniels landed a couple elbows, Williams responded with punches but Daniels raked his eyes. Daniels whipped Williams into the corner. Williams appeared to go for a tornado DDT but Daniels instead gave him a spinebuster. Spanky tagged in and gained a near fall on Williams. Spanky stepped on Williams's hands in an effort to gain a pin but gained a near fall. Spanky elbowed Williams but Williams fought back with a stunner. Williams applied a headscissors but Spanky countered and raked his eyes. Spanky blocked a piledriver but Daniels gave him a pumphandle side suplex. Daniels elbowed Ki on the apron. Daniels telegraphed a backdrop and Spanky kicked him, then gave him a Russian legsweep for a near fall. Spanky gave Daniels a neckbreaker and tagged Williams. Williams kneedropped Daniels and stretched Daniels's arm over his own neck. Williams applied an armlock on Daniels. Daniels escaped and turned Williams over for a near fall. Williams clotheslined Daniels for a near fall. Williams kicked Spanky but Spanky flipped out of a suplex attempt and gave Williams a weird dropkick like move from behind. Spanky dropkicked Williams again and tagged Daniels. Daniels gave Williams a backbreaker, then held him over his knee as Spanky delivered a slingshot somersault senton. Both Daniels and Spanky telegraphed a backdrop, and Williams kicked Spanky and gave Daniels a kneelift. Williams elbowed Spanky and gave Daniels an overhead belly to belly suplex. Williams caught Spanky in the corner, and gave him a rollup into a German suplex called the chaos theory for a near fall. Williams backed Daniels into a corner but ran into a boot. Daniels gave Williams a front face slam and applied a neck submission using his leg to push Daniels's neck back. Ki gave Daniels a top rope foot stomp and chopped him from the apron. Ki limped into the ring and went for a dragon sleeper but Williams lifted him in a Gori special. Williams then rammed Ki into opposite corners with the hold in a cool spot and Ki hung upside down in the corner. Williams dropkicked Ki in the corner. Williams gave Ki a couple forearms and a European uppercut. Williams placed Ki on the top rope but Ki gave him a Mongolian chop. Williams and Ki traded blows. Ki jumped off the top rope and gave Williams a huracanrana, then applied a triangle armbar. Williams lifted Ki and gained a near fall but Ki maintained the hold. Williams lifted Ki again but Ki rolled him up for a near fall. Ki went for a cross armbreaker but Williams blocked it. Williams lifted Ki by his arm and basically suplexed him back. Ki gave Williams a couple Mongolian chops and a stiff elbow. Williams gave Ki the chaos theory but on the way down Ki caught Spanky in a dragon sleeper in a great spot and Spanky tapped at 41:53, giving Ki one point and leaving Spanky at -1 for losing the fall. Daniels elbowed Ki from behind and slammed him for a near fall. Daniels landed some punches and gave Ki a lionsault for a near fall. Daniels landed a couple elbows but Ki kicked him. Daniels blocked a roundhouse kick from Ki and rolled him up for a near fall before applying a legbar. Spanky intervened and tagged himself in and Ki out. Spanky ducked a clothesline and gave Daniels a flying forearm. Spanky missed a frog splash but blocked a front face slam from Daniels by grabbing the ropes. Spanky gave Daniels an Oklahoma roll for a near fall. Daniels kicked and punched Spanky but ran into a boot. Spanky gave Daniels a tornado pedigree (really!) out of the corner for a near fall. Daniels gave Spanky a jawbreaker and tagged Williams in. Williams lifted Spanky over his shoulders and hooked his neck. Spanky escaped but Williams caught him in a wheelbarrow position and repeatedly rammed him into the mat for a near fall. Williams whipped Spanky into the corner and gave him a jumping knee. Daniels elbowed Spanky but Williams hit him with a jumping knee. Ki gained a near fall on Daniels as Williams climbed to the top rope. Williams hit Ki (and actually Daniels too even though the announcers denied it) with a top rope kneedrop. Daniels elbowed Ki and Williams knocked Ki out of the ring with a clothesline. Spanky gave Williams a weird rollup for a near fall. Spanky went to give Williams sliced bread II but Ki blocked it. Ki chopped Spanky and Williams suplexed Spanky. Williams bridged but Ki gave him a Mongolian chop. Ki then gave Williams several knees to his head and a series of headbutts. Ki wrenched Williams's neck and gave him more headbutts but staggered to the mat himself. Daniels gave Williams an STO and moonsaulted him for a near fall. Williams blocked a tiger driver and backdropped Daniels out of the ring. Spanky hit a flying bodypress on Williams for a near fall. Ki elbowed Williams and went for a second rope tornado DDT but Williams caught him on his shoulders. Ki turned around and applied a dragon sleeper in the ropes but of course had to break the hold. Ki gained a near fall on Williams. Daniels went after Ki as Williams fought with Spanky in opposite corners. Daniels gave Ki a European uppercut. Spanky kicked off of Daniels and gave Williams sliced bread II for a near fall. Daniels dumped Spanky out of the ring but Spanky took Daniels with him. Ki hit a phoenix splash on Williams and pinned him at 48:49 to take the lead with 3 points and leave Williams at -1. Daniels quickly gained a near fall on Williams. Daniels went to suplex Ki but Spanky attacked him. Ki and Daniels double clotheslined Spanky and Ki then chopped Daniels. Daniels and Ki traded chops and Daniels headbutted Ki. Daniels missed a clothesline but he and Ki then clotheslined each other. Daniels gave Ki a rock bottom but missed a moonsault. Ki went for a phoenix splash but crashed onto Daniels's knees. Spanky stomped Ki and snap suplexed him for a near fall. Spanky went for sliced bread II but Ki countered and gave him a tombstone for a near fall. Daniels gave Spanky a burning hammer for a near fall. Williams piledrove Daniels for a near fall. Ki whipped Williams into the corner and went for a tidal wave but Williams caught him and gave him a sitout powerbomb for a near fall. Spanky went for a top rope superplex but Ki shoved him to the mat and hit a 450 splash. Daniels went to slam Spanky but Spanky countered and DDTd him for a near fall. Spanky gave Daniels a frog splash for a near fall as Ki intervened with a kick to Spanky's face. Fans began to stand and cheer on the wrestlers. Ki tagged in and tried to suplex Spanky back into the ring but Spanky floated over him and gave him a backdrop driver for a near fall. Ki ducked an elbow but Spanky countered a tiger suplex and tackled Ki. Williams grabbed Spanky's leg but Spanky took him out with a somersault tope. Daniels sunset flipped Ki for a near fall and gave him a running elbow for another near fall. Ki countered an STO but Daniels gave him a face front slam for a near fall. Williams gave Spanky a tornado DDT off the apron in a great spot for someone built like Williams (not big but a legit heavyweight). Daniels headbutted Ki and landed some elbows. Ki elbowed Daniels and Daniels caught him charging and gave him a blue thunder powerbomb for a near fall. Daniels gained another near fall on Ki as Spanky and Williams, both groggy on the floor, appeared to be technically out of the running to win the match. Daniels pounded Ki but Ki took him down. Daniels caught Ki and went for his spinning inverted neckbreaker but Ki countered. Daniels applied a dragon sleeper on Ki in the middle of the ring. Ki escaped after a dramatic struggle and gave Daniels his own last rites as time ran out at 60:00 and Ki, with 3 points, won the match and the title. Fans gave Ki and co. a lengthy standing ovation. Really dramatic post-match segment with Ki selling the match better than about 95% of his selling throughout his entire career, as well as the magnitude of his win. So how was this match? It was awesome and memorable, that much I think cannot be debated. Was it a classic, match of the year candidate? That is debatable. They worked their butts off and poured their guts into this match, which added a natural element of drama that no storyline or psychology could create. I'd say the match could have maybe had a hotter period of action somewhere in the second half, that wouldn't have made much sense given their effort and fatigue by then. Much of the work was mat wrestling of some kind, with a healthy variety of moves and submissions. Good number of near falls, but it didn't seem as if there were that many dramatic ones. I'm not sure if I liked the point system (2 for a win, -1 for a loss), but they executed that system quite well. Each fall was very meaningful, because there were only three. Although the point system meant that Spanky and Williams didn't have a chance in the last 10:00, it did create a dramatic closing stretch with Ki and Daniels, and if Daniels had beaten Ki he would've won the title. Ki was the MVP of this match perhaps, because despite his flaws he has such a great mat game that he can do mat wrestling for such a long period of time and never get boring (see Ki-Dragon 3/30/02 for an example). Williams was probably the second best performer, and his matwork was quite different and impressive. He also mixed in enough high impact spots and a few spectacular spots during the match. Daniels wasn't the best worker, as 60:00 is a bit long for him, but he was perhaps the best in terms of executing psychology and storylines. His reluctance to fight Ki early, his opportunistic attitude in attacking his opponents when they were vulnerable were sold beautifully. Spanky was good, but I can't say he really impressed me too much. He adapted to the matwork style reasonably well, but the style and focus of this match seemed to sap too much of his natural charisma. The other three had much stronger chemistry with one another, Ki-Daniels because of their matwork, Ki-Daniels because of their rivalry and Daniels-Williams because Daniels could adapt well enough. I've seen only two or three 60:00 matches I can recall with a greater level of workrate, and even those are debatable because this had lots of matwork, which can be quite grueling but often registers as a more subtle form of workrate. If the main purpose of this match was to get the ROH title started on the right foot, this match could not have accomplished it better. Besides the grueling nature of the match itself, part of the match's greatness was how it was sold afterwards by Ki, whose post-match selling was more effective than almost any bit of selling he's ever done in the course of a match. His mannerisms really put the title over well, and with his style being the embodiment of the ROH product, Ki was the right choice as their first champ. Not the best match of the year in the world, or the U.S. or ROH, but one of the most memorable. ****1/4
Make no mistake, this was a one-match show. A decent undercard, but nothing that exceeded "good". They counted on the main event being memorable, and it was. About 95% of the value of this tape is in the main event, but that one match makes this tape worth the money.
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