ROH Glory By Honor VIII: The Final Countdown Review

One Last Time...

ROH Glory By Honor VIII: The Final Countdown

New York City, New York 9/26/11

1.) Rhett Titus vs. Colt Cabana: **1/2

These two have been going at it the last few shows as Colt pinned Titus and vice versa on the Dayton & Boston legs (respectively) of the Final Countdown Tour. It was a decent opener. Little bit of comedy to get the fans into it.

2.) Dark City Fight Club vs. Cheech & Cloudy: **1/2

The outcome may have been somewhat academic, but the match itself was fine. Nice big guys vs. little guys tag team match.

3.) Claudio Castagnoli vs. Kenny Omega: ***1/2

These two had a match back at Final Battle 2008. They were actually able to improve on that match. Really nice work from both guys.

Bret Hart comes out for a promo. He talks about some big career moments for him that happened in NYC.

4.) Four Corner Survival - Delirious vs. Sonjay Dutt vs. Grizzly Redwood vs. Roderick Strong: ***1/2

This is a match featuring two guys in an undercard feud (Delirious & Dutt) and two guys who have nothing else to do (Grizzly & Strong). This was actually a very entertaining Four-Corner Survival. It's fun to watch Roderick Strong just throw people around like rag dolls. 

5.) Ladder War II - ROH World Tag Team Titles - The American Wolves (Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards) vs. Kevin Steel & El Generico: ****1/4

You have to give all the credit in the world to Eddie Edwards for even going through with this match after the injury he sustained the night before. That alone added to the story of this match. Another big item was the fact that Steen & Generico displayed their willingness to kill themselves for the World Tag Team Titles. The match was great despite the Eddie Edwards injury, but at the same time the injury hurt the match. Because of that it is probably the worst of the Four Ladder Wars (not saying the match was bad at all). I can only image how much better it could had been had Edwards not been injured.

6.) Grudge Match - Chris Hero vs. Eddie Kingston: ***1/4

These two have feuded all over the indies in almost every promotion they've been in. It was a nice grudge match. Disappointed that it really just served as a breather after the Ladder War.

Austin Aries comes out next to draw a name for the "Austin Aries Lucky Lottery" (or A Double L Double). He draws Bret Hart, but of course, Hart doesn't wrestle anymore. Petey Williams comes out instead to answer the call.

7.) ROH World Title Match - Austin Aries vs. Petey Williams: ***1/2

Despite the cheap win for Austin Aries via Count-Out, the match itself was still fairly good. This, for me, is the highlight for Petey during this particular ROH tenure.

Jim Cornette, in a surprise, makes his return to ROH. He sets the record straight regarding his recent release from TNA. Cornette says he's doesn't want to be involved in the shenanigans, and has come back to be involved in making stars. He announced that he is now the Executive Producer of ROH on HD Net. Austin Aries then interrupts, and says the only reason Cornette is here is that he rubs everyone else the wrong way. Aries goes on to say a few other funny things before Cornette interrupts by saying he will defend his title against the best ROH has to offer. Aries retorts by threatening to make Cornette the first Triple Crown Winner, as in the first guy to be fired from WWE, TNA & ROH. 

8.) Jay & Mark Briscoe vs. The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson): ***3/4

The Young Bucks looked really good in this one. I feel like they improved on the match they have in Dayton the week before. Solid Match.

9.) Main Event - Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness: ****1/2

Of course, everyone knows the history between these two, and it's only fitting that their last respective matches in ROH are against one another. This was a really good match, though I think the emotion behind it (with it being their last match) definitely rose the bar as far as the overall match is concerned.

After the match, the whole locker room comes out & the crowd chants "Thank You Both". Nigel makes a joke about not remembering what he was going to say because Dragon beat him senseless at the end, but he puts over ROH. Danielson picks up from there and puts over the rest of the roster...end Senior Referee Todd Sinclair. There was a funny John Cena related moment in here as well. Danielson leaves with "The Final Countdown" Playing but Danielson comes back out & requests that the fans chant "ROH" instead, which they do.

Overall: 9.25/10

This is probably one of the best Glory By Honor's ever, and probably gets my vote for ROH's Best Show of 2009. The Danielson/McGuinness match is awesome, The Ladder War was Great, and pretty much the rest of the undercard is filled with great contest. Definitely go check this out if you can find it.