Post by Supreme on Dec 6, 2004 13:26:01 GMT -5
Ring of Honor returned to the Rex Plex last night before a crowd of around 800 featuring Samoa Joe-CM Punk III and the first time ever in-ring confrontation between managerial legends Bobby "The Brain" Heenan and Jim Cornette.
In the opening match, ROH Students defeated Special K with Davey Andrews pinning Izzy, after Izzy was mistakenly hit by Angel Dust. Post-match, Special K of Izzy, Deranged, Lacey turned on Dixie, Angel Dust, and Becky, setting up the final turn in this storyline that's dragged on for months.
Jay Lethal over "Prince Nana's "Weapon of Mask Destruction" (Slash Venom, aka Flash Flanagan under a mask)
Nana kicked "Weapon of Mask Destruction"out of The Embassy, calling him a "piece of $#$t!" Nana then ranted at Lethal that December 26th's Final Battle in Philadelphia "would be Lethal's last match", with "Weapon of Mask Destruction" version 2 presumably to be seen that night.
In an four-way tag team scramble, The Outcast Killaz defeated Dunn and Marcos, Carnage Crew, and BJ Whitmer and Dan Maff
John Walters retains the Pure Wrestling Title over Jimmy Rave by countout. This was a unique finish, given the format...with
Rave out of rope breaks and Walters holding onto a submission all the way to the floor. The referee went to a 17 count on both wrestlers; with Walters releasing the hold to beat the 20 count (count-outs in ROH exist only in Pure Wrestling style matches), with Rave counted out for the win.
In the show-stealing match of the night. Austin Aries fought Low Ki to a time limit draw. Notable were the SICK double stomps from Low Ki, especially one where Aries was hanging upside by his legs from the ropes, followed by Ki destroying him with a top rope double stomp to the chest.
Post-match, Low-Ki did his best chicken$#$it heel routing when the crowd started begging for 5 minutes after Gary Michael Capetta came out asking the crowd for it. Low Ki then grabbed the mic, and announced that despite the fact that all those people wanted, HE did not, so he walked out, leaving the match a DRAW.
The Havana Pitbulls, Ricky Reyes and Rocky Romero defeated Chad Collyer and Nigel McGuinness to retain the Ring of Honor Tag Team Titles.
Then, the "Managerial Debate" with Jim Cornette and Bobby Heenan.
Cornette came out to his usual pop, but then gave Heenan a great introduction, leading to a full, loud standing ovation from the entire crowd. Heenan enjoyed the ovation, but it wasn't until someone started a "Weasel" chant that he really grinned and seemed at home.
Cornette then cut a vintage Cornette heel promo on Heenan (to be expected, since Heenan wasn't getting booed last night if he barbecued a puppy and ate it live in the ring) saying how he was tired of having to be compared to Heenan saying "Vince McMahon couldn't beat you...WCW couldn't beat you, hell, even cancer can't beat you....what's it going to take to get you out of wrestling and leave me alone".
Cornette then went into "I have too muich respect for you, so I'm not going to split you open with this tennis racket...but they will...leading to Jack Evans and Roderick Strong coming out to attack Heenan.
Colt Cabana and Jimmy Jacobs came out to make the save...all of which set up Generation Next (with Jim Cornette) versus Colt Cabana and Jimmy Jacobs (with Bobby Heenan) all leading into intermission.
Post-intermission, Trent Acid over Jeff Jackson in a rather forgettable match
Colt Cabana and Jimmy Jacobs (with Bobby Heenan) over Generation Next (with Jim Cornette) . This was a old-fashioned Southern style tag team match, where a little meant a lot. It was a genuine thrill to be able to watch Bobby Heenan one more time. Even if he's older, with his voice changed somewhat from his cancer surgery... and might be a bit more tired..it's still Bobby "The Brain".
"American Dragon" Bryan Danielson beat Homicide
Post-match, The Rottweilers collectively attacked Danielson, who was saved by John Walters, Nigel McGuiness, Chad Collyer, and Carnage Crew among others.
Samoa Joe defeated CM Punk to again retain his ROH World Heavyweight Title by submission after about 30 minutes. The match was filled with false finish after false finish teasing a Punk win.
The Elizabeth crowd REALLY wanted Punk to go over. At one point, Samoa Joe got real life heel heat by doing the heel-style "feet on the second rope" type pin. At certain points, the crowd was clapping in rythym bntsClapping was to an absolute minimum here, and to the guy who didn't like the crowd banging out Punk's theme to rally him, f**k you.
Maybe it's me...and maybe their previous two match of the year candidates has me spoiled...but while this match was good by any other standards, it wasn't (obviously) as long as the others, something I'd think a blow-off match would be. The crowd also seemed deflated somewhat by Samoa Joe going over Punk. In traditional booking, the babyface's chase may be more important than the actual capture...but the trigger has to be pulled at some point, or the chase can become meaningless for the next challenger, because no one belives the challenger will go over.
The problem that this decision and the non-finish left Samoa Joe with no clear contender
Ring of Honor returns to action the day after Christmas... Sunday, Decmber 26th in Philadelphia. ROH returns to Elizabeth, NJ on February 19, 2005.
In the opening match, ROH Students defeated Special K with Davey Andrews pinning Izzy, after Izzy was mistakenly hit by Angel Dust. Post-match, Special K of Izzy, Deranged, Lacey turned on Dixie, Angel Dust, and Becky, setting up the final turn in this storyline that's dragged on for months.
Jay Lethal over "Prince Nana's "Weapon of Mask Destruction" (Slash Venom, aka Flash Flanagan under a mask)
Nana kicked "Weapon of Mask Destruction"out of The Embassy, calling him a "piece of $#$t!" Nana then ranted at Lethal that December 26th's Final Battle in Philadelphia "would be Lethal's last match", with "Weapon of Mask Destruction" version 2 presumably to be seen that night.
In an four-way tag team scramble, The Outcast Killaz defeated Dunn and Marcos, Carnage Crew, and BJ Whitmer and Dan Maff
John Walters retains the Pure Wrestling Title over Jimmy Rave by countout. This was a unique finish, given the format...with
Rave out of rope breaks and Walters holding onto a submission all the way to the floor. The referee went to a 17 count on both wrestlers; with Walters releasing the hold to beat the 20 count (count-outs in ROH exist only in Pure Wrestling style matches), with Rave counted out for the win.
In the show-stealing match of the night. Austin Aries fought Low Ki to a time limit draw. Notable were the SICK double stomps from Low Ki, especially one where Aries was hanging upside by his legs from the ropes, followed by Ki destroying him with a top rope double stomp to the chest.
Post-match, Low-Ki did his best chicken$#$it heel routing when the crowd started begging for 5 minutes after Gary Michael Capetta came out asking the crowd for it. Low Ki then grabbed the mic, and announced that despite the fact that all those people wanted, HE did not, so he walked out, leaving the match a DRAW.
The Havana Pitbulls, Ricky Reyes and Rocky Romero defeated Chad Collyer and Nigel McGuinness to retain the Ring of Honor Tag Team Titles.
Then, the "Managerial Debate" with Jim Cornette and Bobby Heenan.
Cornette came out to his usual pop, but then gave Heenan a great introduction, leading to a full, loud standing ovation from the entire crowd. Heenan enjoyed the ovation, but it wasn't until someone started a "Weasel" chant that he really grinned and seemed at home.
Cornette then cut a vintage Cornette heel promo on Heenan (to be expected, since Heenan wasn't getting booed last night if he barbecued a puppy and ate it live in the ring) saying how he was tired of having to be compared to Heenan saying "Vince McMahon couldn't beat you...WCW couldn't beat you, hell, even cancer can't beat you....what's it going to take to get you out of wrestling and leave me alone".
Cornette then went into "I have too muich respect for you, so I'm not going to split you open with this tennis racket...but they will...leading to Jack Evans and Roderick Strong coming out to attack Heenan.
Colt Cabana and Jimmy Jacobs came out to make the save...all of which set up Generation Next (with Jim Cornette) versus Colt Cabana and Jimmy Jacobs (with Bobby Heenan) all leading into intermission.
Post-intermission, Trent Acid over Jeff Jackson in a rather forgettable match
Colt Cabana and Jimmy Jacobs (with Bobby Heenan) over Generation Next (with Jim Cornette) . This was a old-fashioned Southern style tag team match, where a little meant a lot. It was a genuine thrill to be able to watch Bobby Heenan one more time. Even if he's older, with his voice changed somewhat from his cancer surgery... and might be a bit more tired..it's still Bobby "The Brain".
"American Dragon" Bryan Danielson beat Homicide
Post-match, The Rottweilers collectively attacked Danielson, who was saved by John Walters, Nigel McGuiness, Chad Collyer, and Carnage Crew among others.
Samoa Joe defeated CM Punk to again retain his ROH World Heavyweight Title by submission after about 30 minutes. The match was filled with false finish after false finish teasing a Punk win.
The Elizabeth crowd REALLY wanted Punk to go over. At one point, Samoa Joe got real life heel heat by doing the heel-style "feet on the second rope" type pin. At certain points, the crowd was clapping in rythym bntsClapping was to an absolute minimum here, and to the guy who didn't like the crowd banging out Punk's theme to rally him, f**k you.
Maybe it's me...and maybe their previous two match of the year candidates has me spoiled...but while this match was good by any other standards, it wasn't (obviously) as long as the others, something I'd think a blow-off match would be. The crowd also seemed deflated somewhat by Samoa Joe going over Punk. In traditional booking, the babyface's chase may be more important than the actual capture...but the trigger has to be pulled at some point, or the chase can become meaningless for the next challenger, because no one belives the challenger will go over.
The problem that this decision and the non-finish left Samoa Joe with no clear contender
Ring of Honor returns to action the day after Christmas... Sunday, Decmber 26th in Philadelphia. ROH returns to Elizabeth, NJ on February 19, 2005.
