ROH Only The Strong Survive Review

Roderick Strong & Jay Briscoe MAN UP in Charlotte!!

ROH Only The Strong Survive

Charlotte, North Carolina 1/15/11

 1.) Adam Cole & Kyle O’Reilly vs. The Bravado Brothers: **3/4 

These two teams did battle in Canada at Fate of an Angel II. A very good choice of an opening match. Both teams put on an entertaining bout. The Bravados getting the win was a good move since this show was in their hometown.

2.) Rhett Titus vs. Caprice Coleman: **1/2 

Titus is bandaged up after his encounter with Homicide the night before. A decent singles match. 

3.) Colt Cabana vs. Grizzly Redwood: **1/2 

This was a fun match. Cabana does more comedy matches nowadays, but when he does them, especially against the right people, the matches turn out to be pretty good.

4.) “The Prodigy” Mike Bennett vs. Cedric Alexander: *1/2 

Eh...essentially a squash for Bennett. This was when he was a bit of an annoyance to watch in the ring sometimes.

After the match, Bennett cuts a promo and decides to sit an ringside and "observe" the TV Champion in the next match.

5.) ROH World TV Title – Christopher Daniels vs. Claudio Castagnoli (with Shane Hagadorn): ***3/4

This was a very good TV Title Match. Solid wrestling from these two, which is pretty much what you'd expect. 

6.) Steve Corino & Andy “Right Leg” Ridge vs. Alabama Attitude: ** 

So this was supposed to be Steve Corino vs. Andy Ridge, but Corino cut another "I'm an Evil Person" Promo and offers to team with Ridge against a team that he feels has a "Bad Attitude".....Alabama Attitude! This was actually a decent match. 

7.) Kings vs. Wolves – Chris Hero (with Shane Hagadorn) vs. Davey Richards: ****1/4 

Very good match here. It was a little tepid at the beginning but REALLY picked up in the last 10 Minutes. Great stuff.

8.) Four Corner Survival – Homicide vs. El Generico vs. Kenny King vs. Mark Briscoe: ***1/2 

This was a very good Four Corner Survival. I really enjoyed it. Good call back to the Four Corner Survivals from year's prior.

After the match, Homicide attacks El Generico, the winner of the match, laying him out with Da Cop Killa and covering him in the Puerto Rican Flag.

9.) ROH World Title – Roderick Strong vs. Jay Briscoe: ****1/2 

These two got into an exchange backstage at Final Battle, so we have this World Title Match. Truth Martini, by the way, was not there. These two had several great matches in 2009, and this one was no exception. In fact, this match was AWESOME!!! There were honestly moments where you believed Jay was seriously going to win. This reached the level of the Steel Cage Match Jay had with Samoa Joe in 2004. Great Stuff. You NEED to see this match.

Overall: 8.0/10

Strong vs. Briscoe is a must-see match. The TV Title Match, Richards/Hero, and Four-Corner Survival were all very good. While it would seem like the matches would suggest a higher rating, some of the matches did bring the card down a tad. Regardless, this is a show you should definitely own!!

ROH Champions vs. All-Stars Review

Ring of Stars starts off 2011 with a HUGE Eight Man Tag in their Richmond Return!

ROH Champions vs. All Stars

Richmond, Virginia 1/14/11

Christopher Daniels comes out and talks about the main event, but Roderick Strong comes out and starts pushing his buttons, and eventually, we got a ref & a match.

1.) Roderick Strong vs. Christopher Daniels: **1/4

What would you expect from a thrown together match? OK, but far below what these two are capable of. Daniels pins Strong for a huge win. Oh, and the Kings of Wrestling interfered to. DISSENSION!!

2.) The Bravado Brothers vs. Andy “Right Leg” Ridge & Grizzly Redwood: **1/2

Ridge goes from decent performances in the Trial Series to teaming with Redwood in the undercard. Oh well...not like Ridge was ever going to move up in the card. This was actually a decent tag match.

3.) Adam Cole vs. “The Prodigy” Mike Bennett: **3/4

Bennett is without Brutal Bob in this one. Another decent match. Nothing great, but solid.

The Kings of Wrestling (with Shane Hagadorn & Sara Del Rey) come out and complain that two of their teammates wrestled each other earlier in the night, so they demand that El Generico & Davey Richards wrestle each other right now. Richards & Generico come out to confront them but the Kings attack them. The Briscoes end up coming out to chase The Kings out. 

4.) Homicide vs. Rhett Titus: **3/4

Titus does some....disgusting things early in the match. Homicide gets pissed and goes after him. I think Titus actually gets busted open in this one. Decent match.

5.) Steve Corino vs. Caleb Konley: **

"I'm Steve Corino, and I'm an Evil Person". So this is the start of Corino's "Recovering Evil Addict" Storyline. An ok match that saw Corino abiding by the rules and facing a younger guy who Corino thinks has a future. Corino ends up winning the match.

6.) Colt Cabana vs. Caprice Coleman: **1/2

This is the first time we're seeing Caprice in ROH...I think. Anyway, he has a decently entertaining match with Colt Cabana here.

7.) Kenny King vs. Kyle O’Reilly: ***1/4

A fairly solid match. Kenny & Kyle put on a pretty good contest. 

8.) ROH Champions (Roderick Strong, Christopher Daniels, The Kings of Wrestling) vs. All Stars (Davey Richards, El Generico, The Briscoe Brothers): ****

So it's the ROH World, TV & Tag Team Champions against.....Challengers. This was a very good match. With these guys in there you'd expect nothing less. Mark pinning Daniels for the win was a surprise, especially since he did via the "Froggy-Bow" which doesn't come off as a real finisher, but more of a "signature" move (like The People's Elbow & Five-Knuckle Shuffle). Since it would lead to something, however, I'm willing to let it go.

Overall: 7.0/10

Honestly, this was a one-match show. Though I have a feeling if you had the same show a year later, the match quality would be significantly improved. There is a bonus disk that is an American Wolves Best of, which is nice, but they did just come out with an American Wolves Two Disk Compilation, so I'd just view it on rohwrestling.com if you're a ringside member.

ROH Final Battle 2010 Review

The epic rivalry between Kevin Steen & El Generico finally comes to a head!!

ROH Final Battle 2010

New York, New York 12/18/10

1.) Tag Team Rematch – The All Night Express vs. Kyle O’Reilly & Adam Cole: ***1/2

This is a rematch from Richards vs. Daniels back in October. Awesome Opener. Both teams looked great.

2.) Scientific Showdown – Colt Cabana vs. TJ Perkins: **1/2

Not an overly great match, but still decent. Nice technical showcase.

3.) Women of Honor – Amazing Kong & Daizee Haze vs. Sara Del Rey & Serena Deeb: **1/2

You have a pretty good array of women's wrestlers in this one. Serena just came off being released by WWE, where she was apart of the Straight-Edge Society. Very solid women's match. Liked the story they played with Del Rey & Deeb isolating Haze and keeping her from tagging Kong.

4.) Special Challenge Match – Eddie Edwards vs. Sonjay Dutt: ***

Like last night, Kenny Omega was supposed to be here, but didn't show, so Dutt replaces him for the weekend. Solid contest. Edwards looks good in the win.

5.) ROH Legends Collide – Christopher Daniels vs. Homicide: **3/4

Julius Smokes comes out with Homicide. I actually thought this was going to be a little better. It was still good though.

6.) Six Man Tag Team Grudge Match – The Kings of Wrestling & Shane Hagadorn vs. Jay, Mark, & “Papa” Briscoe: ***1/2

This is the culmination of the Kings & Briscoes feud as well as the stuff that had been occurring on HDNet involving The Briscoe's Dad. The match was pretty good. I liked the way it was booked, as although the involvement with Papa Briscoe & Shane Hagadorn was limited, it was done perfectly. I've heard someone describe this as a "WWE-esqe" match with regards to the storyline + the match. I would agree with that.

7.) ROH World Title – Roderick Strong vs. Davey Richards: ****1/4

These two have a long history, as they were apart of the No Remorse Corps and feuded when Davey Richards joined Sweet 'n' Sour Inc. This was fantastic. Richards & Strong went out there and killed each other. I actually agree with Strong winning here, as it was too soon in my view. Plus when you look at it in retrospective it makes a little more sense.

8.) Non-Sanctioned Fight Without Honor – The Final Battle at Final Battle – If Steen loses he will quit Ring of Honor. If Generico loses he will unmask – Kevin Steen vs. El Generico: ****3/4

WOW. What can I say? This was AWESOME!!! It was brutal, it was symbolic, it was everything you can ask of these two men AND MORE. The violence was definitely brought. Fantastic way to end the storyline....for now.

Overall: 8.75/10

This might be a little too high of a rating, but I personally enjoyed those last two matches. They really made this show. Plus you had three pretty good tag team matches and some decent undercard matches. A great way to close 2010.

ROH Tag Title Classic II Review

The American Wolves face the Kings of Wrestling for the First Time Ever!

ROH Tag Title Classic II

Plymouth, Massachusetts 12/17/10

1.) Kenny King vs. Adam Cole: **3/4

A fairly solid opener featuring two of Ring of Honor's rising stars.

2.) Colt Cabana vs. “The Prodigy” Mike Bennett: **

This was bad when Bennett was still "eh" (He has improved greatly since then). Didn't like the finish that much.

3.) Trial Series – Match #5 – Andy “Right Leg” Ridge vs. ROH World TV Champion Christopher Daniels: **3/4

The fifth and final match of the Trial Series for Andy Ridge. Probably the best match of the series. Daniels was the perfect guy to put up against the rookie.

4.) Pick Your Poison Rematch – Jay & Mark Briscoe vs. Kevin Steen & Steve Corino: ***

This is a rematch from the Dayton show from the previous April. About as good as their first match. It was fun. Decent but nothing overly good. 

5.) Four Corner Survival – El Generico vs. Rhett Titus vs. Grizzly Redwood vs. Ricky Reyes: **1/2

A very odd array of opponents in this one. This was actually very average. If Generico wasn't in this, I'd say this was skippable.

Steve Corino comes out and tries to convince Generico to save him self a beating from Steen the next night. Generico Yakuza Kicks him.

6.) Kyle O’Reilly vs. TJ Perkins: ***1/4

This was a very fun match. Good technical wrestling...what you would expect from these guys.

7.) Non-Title Special Challenge Match – ROH World Champion Roderick Strong vs. Sonjay Dutt: ***

Kenny Omega was supposed to be here and face Strong but he's not here so we get Sonjay Dutt. These two had a match back at Manhattan Mayhem III. I remember that match being better, but this was still decent though.

8.) ROH World Tag Team Titles – 1^st Time Dream Match – The Kings of Wrestling vs. The American Wolves: ***3/4

Even though The Wolves probably weren't winning this, it still was entertaining. A very good match, though not as good as I thought it would be.

Overall: 7.25/10

This was pretty much a one match show. Though you pretty much had to expect this, since you had a big show in NYC the next night. There's still a decent amount of good stuff on here though...

ROH Fate of an Angel II Review

Christopher Daniels comes to Canada with hopes of finally achieving his dream!

ROH Fate of an Angel II

Mississauga, Ontario 11/13/10

1.) The House of Truth vs. Bobby Dempsey & Grizzly Redwood: **

Zack Gowen & Michael Elgin debuted for the HOT the previous night. This was actually a decent match. The babyface ROH wrestling academy graduates get the win, and Elgin disposes of Gowen after the match per Martini's request.

2.) Trial Series Match #4 – Andy “Right Leg” Ridge vs. Mark Briscoe: **1/4

Match #4 for Ridge & the Trial Series. This was another decent match. Ridge got beat up pretty bad as his chest looked messed up after battling Mark Briscoe.

3.) Women of Honor – Sara Del Rey vs. Jamilia Craft: *1/2

Much like the weekend of shows from October, this was another Women of Honor showcase. A decent affair. Del Rey looked strong.

4.) Winners Get A Future Tag Title Match – El Generico & Colt Cabana vs. The All Night Express: ***1/4

The winner of this match gets a future World Tag Team Title Shot. It was actually a fine match. Kevin Steen comes out and El Generico goes after him. As expected, this led to Cabana getting beat by ANX.

5.) Kyle O’Reilly & Adam Cole vs. The Bravado Brothers: ***

This match features two young teams going at it. A pretty good match. This would be the start of a series of matches these two teams would have over the next year.

6.) Grudge Match – Jay Briscoe vs. Homicide: ***1/2

This came about after Homicide apparently took offense to Jay Briscoe saving him from an ANX beat down at Allied Forces. These two also have a history that dates back to 2004 when it was The Rottweilers vs. The Briscoes as well as 2006 when The Briscoes were apart of Jim Cornette's crusade against Homicide. This was a very good match. Enjoyable to watch.

7.) ROH World Tag Team Titles – The Kings of Wrestling (with Shane Hagadorn) vs. Kevin Steen & Steen Corino: ***1/2

Steen brings out security to guard the entranceway to make sure El Generico doesn't interfere. For a match involving two heel teams, this was pretty good. Steen & Corino held their own against The Kings. Generico shows up through the crowd. This distracts Steen and allows The Kings to pick up the win & retain.

After the match Steen & Generico get into a long pull apart brawl. Cary Silken then announces (via Bobby Cruise) that Generico & Steen are not to be within 50 Feet of each other between now & Final Battle. He also announced that the match at Final Battle would a FIGHT WITHOUT HONOR!!

8.) ROH World Title Match – ROH World Champion Roderick Strong (with Truth Martini) vs. Christopher Daniels: ****

I don't recall these two having much of a singles history although they did wrestle tag matches against each other in 2006. This was a very good World Title Match. Although you knew Daniels probably wasn't winning the title, he & Strong managed to put on a really great match that proved to be a solid conclusion to the show.

Overall: 7.5/10

This show was definitely an improvement over the show from the night before in Dearborn. You had a great main event for the World Title, a major development in the Steen/Generico story, and several undercard matches that were good to very good, making for an enjoyable card overall.

ROH Survival of the Fittest 2010 Review

Ring of Honor brings its annual tradition to Dearborn, Michigan!

ROH Survival of the Fittest 2010

Dearborn, Michigan 11/12/10

1.) Survival of the Fittest Qualifying Match – Colt Cabana vs. Rhett Titus: **

Cabana points out a fan in the crowd dressed as Hulk Hogan. Funny. The match itself was....eh....ok I guess. It was doing fine until the ending where Titus used the ring bell.

2.) Survival of the Fittest Qualifying Match – Claudio Castagnoli vs. Grizzly Redwood: **

Even though everyone knew Grizzly wasn't winning here, the match itself proved to be decent. 

3.) Survival of the Fittest Qualifying Match – Kevin Steen vs. Kyle O’Reilly: **3/4

Steen & Corino clashed with O'Reilly & Cole at Allied Forces so this is an extension of that. It was actually pretty solid. Steen puts on an El Generico mask & wins with The Brainbuster.

After the match, Steve Corino talks to Steen about Final Battle and how they'll win the World Tag Team Titles the next night. Steen losses it when he goes after a fan who was wearing a Generico mask. Corino then calls out Adam Cole & we get our next qualifier!

4.) Survival of the Fittest Qualifying Match – Steve Corino vs. Adam Cole: **

Another match that was just ok. Cole gets a surprise win with a rollup on Corino. After the match El Generico comes out & brawls with Steen, who eventually puts Generico through a table via Michinoku Driver. Steen says Generico is going to die at Final Battle

5.) Survival of the Fittest Qualifying Match – Eddie Edwards vs. Chris Hero: **3/4

I thought this would be the best of the qualifiers....turns out I was right. These two put on a pretty solid little match. Eddie got injured on a dive, and that played a roll in the finish of this one.

6.) Survival of the Fittest Qualifying Match – El Generico vs. Kenny King: **

El Generico is still competing despite the beating he took from Steen a little earlier. Again, another match that was just ok. Didn't deliver, in my view.

7.) Trial Series – Match #3 – Andy “Right Leg” Ridge vs. Homicide: **1/4

This is Trial Match #3 for Ridge. It was a decent match, though I feel like they're wasting Homicide here.

8.) Six Man Tag Team Match – Christopher Daniels and The Briscoe Brothers vs. ROH World Champion Roderick Strong & The House of Truth (with Truth Martini): ***3/4

Josh Raymond & Christian Able are no longer apart of ROH (one got injured & the other subsequently left, don't know which is which) so Strong & Martini are coming into this match with two new partners....Zack Gowen and a debuting Michael Elgin. Match of the Night here. Daniels looks good going into his World Title Match.

9.) 2010 Survival of the Fittest Finals – Rhett Titus vs. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Kevin Steen vs. Adam Cole vs. Eddie Edwards vs. Kenny King: ***1/2

I gotta say this was a very weird lineup for Survival of the Fittest. Steen gets eliminated quickly after El Generico attacked him pre-match. Adam Cole was out next, followed by Titus, Claudio, and finally, Kenny King, meaning Eddie Edwards was your winner. The match itself was decent, and you gotta give all the credit in the world to Edwards for fighting through his injury, but I was really disappointed with this one. Survival of the Fittest should be awesome and your Match of the Night. It wasn't. The booking didn't help either.

Overall: 6.5/10

As far as Survival of the Fittest goes, this was crap. Plain & Simple. The majority of the qualifiers sucked, and the finals was probably one of the most underwhelming finals in ROH History. The fact that it wasn't match of the night makes it worse. In a year filled with great shows, this is undoubtedly one of the dark spots.

ROH Richards vs. Daniels Review

Davey Richards & Christopher Daniels finally clash to find out who truly is The Best in the World!

ROH Richards vs. Daniels

Chicago Ridge, Illinois 10/16/10

1.) Kyle O’Reilly & Adam Cole vs. The All Night Express: ***1/4

A great way to open the show. Two bright young tag team getting the change to showcase their ability. Good stuff here.

2.) Trial Series Match #2 – Andy “Right Leg” Ridge vs. Ricky Reyes: *3/4

It's the second match in the Trial Series for Andy Ridge...but it's a Ricky Reyes match, so my interest level immediately drops. This reminds me of 2005-6 when Reyes would come out & beat up students from the ROH Wrestling School. Skippable.

3.) Women of Honor – Daizee Haze & Jamilia Craft vs. Lady Jojo & Nevaeh: *3/4

So this is essentially a rematch from the night before but with Tag Team Partners. Another decent women's exhibition.

4.) Homicide vs. Kevin Steen: ***1/4

Now THIS is an interesting matchup, especially since Steen is a heel. An entertaining match. Certainly fun to watch. It also included this:

After the match, Homicide cuts a promo mentioning El Generico, causing Steen to snap, which led to him needing to be brought under control by a group of people.

5.) Mike Mondo vs. The Metal Master: *3/4

Eh....I thought this would be a tad better, but it was what it was. Nothing overly interesting.

6.) Non-Title Elimination Tag Match – The Kings of Wrestling (with Shane Hagadorn) vs. Jay & Mark Briscoe: ***

I guess The Briscoes were frozen from challenging the Kings, and they're facing them here in an interesting elimination. A decent match, but far from their best work.

7.) I Quit Match with Kevin Steen in a Straightjacket at Ringside – Colt Cabana vs. Steve Corino: ***1/4

So before the match Steen was placed in a Straightjacket (how fitting). Now depending on who you ask the match was very good or just ok. I thought it was a good match for what it was. The violence and hatred was brought, and it was a nice conclusion to a portion of the overall feud.

8.) Six Months in the Making – Christopher Daniels vs. Davey Richards: ****1/2

This match has been building since The Big Bang! iPPV in April where Daniels made his return. It turned out to be an awesome match. Both guys brought their stuff and put on a classic match that I thought lived up to the hype.

Overall: 7.5/10

I feel like that this show (and this entire weekend in general) was very underrated. Obviously the Richards/Daniels match is the reason to get this show, but their is some good undercard stuff on here as well. I think ROH did a good with these shows, especially considering their NEW World Champion (Roderick Strong), World TV Champion (Eddie Edwards) & El Generico were all absent.