ROH Glory By Honor XII: Champions vs. All-Stars
Chicago Ridge, Illinois 10/26/13
Pre-Show/Ringside Member
Exclusives
1.) The Romantic Touch vs.
Will Ferrara: **
I believe Ferrara is a student at the ROH Dojo. I won't spoil the identity of The Romantic Touch, because I think everyone can figure out by themselves who's under the mask (Hint: It's pretty obvious). The match itself was ok. Nothing really special. Basic pre-show match.
2.) MsChif vs. Kasey Ray
(with Truth Martini & Scarlett Bordeaux): **
This is Kasey Ray's first match in ROH (though she's wrestled in various other indie promotions) and also, interesting enough, an extension of the long running MsChif/Truth Martini feud from AAW. MsChif is wearing Clockwork Orange inspired ring gear. She actually starts doing this demonic singing while she was beating up Kasey Ray, which was kind of creepy. Again, typical pre-show match that sees MsChif get the win.
After the match, The Romantic Touch comes out and offers MsChif a rose, apparently forgetting that she already has an "Unbreakable" husband. She dismisses him pretty quickly.
Main Show
1.) Mark Briscoe vs. Silas
Young: ***
The issue between two started back at A New Dawn where Silas attacked Mark Briscoe at various points throughout the show. This was a pretty entertaining opener. I'd say they were able to step it up from their first match. Young gets the win via some chicanery (school-boy rollup with his feet on the ropes).
Mark Briscoe attacks Young post match, and Young responds by taking off the belt of referee Todd Sinclair and whipping Briscoe with it until they're finally separated.
2.) Trial Series Match #4 –
Jimmy Jacobs vs. Adam Page: ***
This is a must win for Jacobs, who comes into Match #4 of his Trial Series at 1-2. Another fairly good match. Jacobs was pretty over with the crowd here. Page continues to impress every time he's out there, especially against experienced opponents. He'll definitely get better over time. In the end, Jacobs would end up pulling out the victory, extending his record to 2-2, and setting up the deciding match at The Golden Dream.
3.) Kevin Steen vs. Michael
Bennett (with Maria Kanellis): ***1/4
These two have been feuding since September over who has the better piledriver (a feud that's really been instigated by Maria). A pretty good match here. The crowd was really into this one, which is a good thing. Once again, we have another solid Michael Bennett match. Good back and forth action. but Maria ended up being the deciding factor, leading to her man getting the win over Mr. Wrestling.
After the match, Bennett & Maria looked to do more damage, but Lisa Marie Varon (aka Victoria/Tara from WWE/TNA respectively) came out and went after Maria. A wild brawl breaks out that sees Steen dive off the top rope to the outside onto Bennett and a bunch of security guys. Varon ends up hitting the Widow's Peak on Maria and she & Steen celebrate.
Before the next match, Steve Corino officially rejoins the commentary booth with Kevin Kelly. Corino, with a lot of help from Veda Scott, "reached a settlement" with ROH that allowed him to return to the broadcast team.
4.) “Sicilian Psychopath”
Tommaso Ciampa vs. Jesse Sorensen: **1/2
Sorensen, you may remember, was the wrestler who infamously got his neck broken during a match in TNA, and later ended up being released by the company after Dixie Carter allegedly promised him a "job for life" (way to be an ass, TNA...). This is his ROH debut, and he has a tough challenge ahead of him. The match itself was fine. Nothing really wrong with it, but it was pretty average by ROH standards. Ciampa gets the win via submission, and Sorensen gets a standing ovation.
5.) Outlaw Inc. vs.
Adrenaline RUSH: **1/2
Interesting match-up here. Much like the match that preceded it, the match itself was fine, but it just felt kind of average. To this point, Outlaw Inc. has had some solid performances, but nothing really spectacular. We do get some high flying offense from ACH & TaDarius Thomas, which is nice to see, but in the end, they fall to Eddie Kingston & Homicide.
After the match, Kingston & Homicide cut a promo, talking about breaking Sinclair's "no cussing" rule, and that reDRagon had been "ducking them". They say they're coming for the champs.
6.) “Intrepid Traveler” Paul
London vs. Roderick Strong: ****1/4
This is Paul London's third match since returning to ROH. The match was pretty fantastic. This is the type of match that makes people fall in love with Ring of Honor. Just two guys going out there and putting on a kick-ass match. It's definitely worth going out of your way to check out. London gets the win with an awesome Shooting Star Press.
7.) Champions vs. All-Stars –
ROH World Champion Adam Cole, ROH World TV Champion Matt Taven (with Truth
Martini & the Hoopla Hotties) and ROH World Tag Team Champions reDRagon vs.
“Unbreakable” Michael Elgin, Jay Lethal, and C & C Wrestle Factory: ****1/2
Much like the Eight-Man Tag from Northern Aggression, this match has a two hour time limit. This match was awesome for so many reasons. Firstly, it had great story telling, from Cole trying to run from Elgin every chance he got, to a pretty cool mini-Future Shock reunion. Then there was of course all of the action that occurred during the match, which even saw Outlaw Inc. jumping the guardrail. The match saw Elgin & Cole pretty much eliminating everyone on their opposite sides (including Elgin giving Bobby Fish his first pinfall loss in ROH) until they were the only two left. This match was also pretty injury-filled, from Bobby Fish getting a massive cut above one of his ears after getting slammed in the guardrail, to Jay Lethal & Kasey Ray taking a sick bump off the top rope through the timekeepers table, to the Super Elgin Bomb at the end of the match which gave Adam Cole a concussion. On the whole though, the match was pretty awesome. Definitely worth checking. Elgin won the match for his team, and by virtue of pinning Adam Cole, earns a future World Title Shot.
As Cole & Elgin are recovering after the match, Jay Briscoe comes out with a bag in hand. He asks how you could have Champions vs. All-Stars without the "Real World Champion". Jay exchanges words with Elgin before hitting him with whatever was in the bag, and then proceeds to do the same to Cole. He then opens the bag and reveals a Briscoe-version of the ROH World Title to close the show!
Overall: 8.0/10
This turned out to be a pretty solid show on the whole. While their isn't really a bad match on the show itself, it does give the impression of being a bit top heavy, with London/Strong and Champions vs. All-Stars being really great, while the rest of the card just being average. That being said, the top two matches are well worth going out of your way to watch, and while the undercard is average, most of the matches are very solid. Add the advancement of several storylines, and you have a good show on your hands.
No comments:
Post a Comment