ROH Death Before Dishonor IX Review

The Briscoes & ANX look to bring their war to a bloody end.

ROH Death Before Dishonor IX

New York, New York 9/17/11

Bonus Match

1.) Survival of the Fittest Qualifying Match – Grizzly Redwood vs. Andy “Right Leg” Ridge: **

So this a qualifying match to qualify for a qualifying match, if that makes any sense. Anyway, this was pretty decent for a pre-show match. Ridge wins & moves on.

PPV

1.) Grudge Tag Team Match – Homicide & Jay Lethal vs. Tommaso Ciampa & Rhino: **3/4

A fairly good opener to start the show. Interesting to see Jay Lethal team with Homicide considering their history. Ciampa gets the win for The Embassy.

2.) Special Challenge Match #1 – Shelton Benjamin vs. “The Prodigy” Mike Bennett: **1/2

This is Benjamin's (I believe) 2nd singles match in ROH. A decent match, nothing really special.

3.) Three Way Elimination Tag Team Match – Future Shock vs. The Young Bucks vs. The Bravado Brothers: ***3/4

So this all started during the Best in the World Pre-Show when the Bravados interfered in a Future Shock/Young Bucks match. The Young Bucks have since been released from TNA and are now back full time on the indies. This was freakin' awesome! These three teams went out there and put on a fantastic contest. 

After the match The Young Bucks fake out a handshake with Future Shock. They're great as heels.

4.) One-On-One – El Generico vs. Jimmy Jacobs: ***

Steve Corino was originally scheduled to face El Generico but he was in Japan (I believe) plus he said he "wasn't ready" to face the Generic Luchador yet, so his sponsor is taking his place. Kevin Steen was sitting in the crowd (he was barred from the building but had a ticket). These two were actually going along and having a pretty solid match, until Steen jumps the guardrail and security comes out to take him away, along with Jim Cornette.

Then all hell breaks loose. Jacobs & Steen brawl. El Generico dives out onto the floor but Steen gets out of the way and lands on the security instead. Cary Silkin comes in and Steen goes for the Package Piledriver! Security breaks it up while simultaneously trying to restrain both El Generico & Jim Cornette.

5.) Special Challenge Match #2 – Charlie Haas vs. Michael Elgin: **1/4

This is also the second singles match in ROH for Charlie Haas. Eh....this just wasn't that good. I don't think these two mesh too well. The match ending with a random lariat also hurt it.

6.) Ringmaster’s Challenge – Roderick Strong vs. Eddie Edwards: ****1/4

Basically, the "Ringmaster's Challenge" is a 2/3 Falls Match. The first fall is pinfalls only, the second fall is submissions only, and the third fall, if necessary, would be a 15 Minute Iron Man Match. Odd that you would have an Iron Man match as part of a 2/3 Falls Match. It was a pretty good match. Maybe not as good as their previous encounters earlier in the year, but still a very good encounter. It was hinted at (I believe) that the winner would challenge Davey Richards at Final Battle.

7.) Ladder War III – Jay & Mark Briscoe vs. The All Night Express: ****1/2

This came about after Rhett Titus brought a ladder into the parking lot brawl these two had at the first Sinclair Tapings in Chicago in August. The winners will get a future title match. This was AWESOME. I really enjoyed how this was booked, as it was more of just the two sides beating the crap out of each other, and the first attempt to climb the ladder wasn't even made until later in the match. You could feel the hatred here. Lots of good spots (Mark does a crazy dive off the ladder) and all but Kenny King are bleeding.

After their victory, ANX signs the Title Shot Contract in Blood.

Overall: 8.25/10

Despite the fact that Davey Richards decided to put his Japan commitments above their promotion he's champion of (and a iPPV at that!), this was a pretty good iPPV. The mid-card matches are decent, and the Three Way Tag & Ringmasters challenge are worth checking out. Ladder War III was a bloody encounter and the personification of what Death Before Dishonor is all about.