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EVENT:
RING OF HONOR
HOUSE SHOW-042509 |
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Event Review by:
"Our Man" Andy Schumann |
Event Date:
Saturday, April 25th, 2009 |
Location:
Chicago Ridge Frontier Field house, Chicago Ridge, Illinois |
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"Ring of Honor has done a great job looking for new talent that seemingly fits
their mold." |
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MATCH 1:
Egotistico Fantastico vs. Rasheed
Brown
This match showcased a couple of long time veterans of the
local scene. Rasheed Brown was just physically dominating
Egotistico throughout the whole match. Rasheed hit
Egotistico with a version of the island driver. Egotistico
used his speed and agility to gain brief controls of the
match. Rasheed locked Egotistico into the torture rack and
nearly made Ego submit. Egotistico picked up the victory
with a sunset flip.
Match Rating 2 ½ stars out of 4. Rasheed was playing the
villain and the crowd was just reacting like crazy to him.
These guys put on an excellent match that warmed us up for
the rest of the card. I would like to see Rasheed Brown get
some more appearances on future cards. |
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MATCH 2:
Austin Aries & Rhett Titus vs. Alex
Payne & Silas Young
This match featuring 2 of the recent ROH academy graduates
in Young and Titus. Titus has been a lot work on the main
card. This match featured some great back and forth action
between these teams. Every time one team had gotten an
advantage it was quickly squashed. The finale of the match
had Aries nail a kick to the head of Payne. Aries quickly
followed up with a brain buster and laid Titus on top of
Payne to gain the pin fall. After the match Young took and
clotheslined Payne.
Match Rating: 3 stars out of 4. All 4 competitors gave
everything they had in the ring. Titus seems on his way to
stardom every time I see him in the ring he seems to have
grown a little bit more and more. Aries has gotten a gimmick
and he’s making it truly his own. |
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MATCH 3:
Jimmy Jacobs vs. Roderick Strong
vs. Claudio Castagnolli
Strong came in banged up from the previous night and still
put on a great show. Claudio and Jimmy double teamed Strong
consistently throughout the match. Every time Strong
disposed of one the other one jumped on him. Claudio and
Roderick exchanged several strong chops. Jimmy picked up the
victory by making Strong tapping out to the end time. Jimmy
tossed out Claudio and jumped all over Strong. After the
match Tyler Black came down and had a verbal confrontation
with Jacobs. Black winds up calling Jacobs a disappointment.
Match Rating: 3 stars out of 4. This match was a triple
threat and allowed all 3 guys opportunity to get their spots
in. This match shows what they do best putting on a single
one shot match. The after match confrontation was the added
something special. |
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MATCH 4:
Bryan Danielson vs. Jimmy Rave w/
Prince Nana
With the return of Rave also came back one of the best
factions in Roh history the embassy. Bryan Danielson keeps
proving why he’s the best wrestler in the industry right
now. Through all of the matches I’ve seen there haven’t been
2 alike. Danielson consistently kept Rave off balance
throughout the night. Danielson at one point locked Rave’s
arm in a triangle lock and then locked in a crossface at the
same time. Danielson was able to rain down elbows several
times during the match. Rave was able to gain some advantage
after hitting a swinging neck breaker. Danielson finally got
the victory after Rave passed out in the triangle choke.
Match Rating 3 ½ stars out of 4. Danielson every time steps
in the ring there aren’t too many current wrestlers who
match him hold for hold. I’m interested in where ROH plans
on using Rave. Jimmy Rave could be a good mid card heel for
them and once in awhile be a main eventer. The one thing I
wonder is when Danielson going to take the money and test
his skills against the big boys of the WWE. |
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MATCH 5:
Dark City Fight Club versus The
Phoenix Twins
This match was relatively short as the dark City Fight Club
used the power advantage and just decimated the Phoenix
Twins. The twins were able to get some offense in. The Dark
City Fight Club picked up the victory.
Match Rating: 2 stars out of 4. This match was a way to make
these guys a quick rise up to challenge for the titles or
make them serious threats. |
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MATCH 6:
Tyler Black vs. Chris Hero w/ Shane
Hagagdorn
Hero is continuing his striker gimmick relying mainly using
various version of rolling elbows. Tyler gained the
advantage by using his speed to avoid moves or connecting.
The spot of the match having them both on the top rope. Hero
is able to deliver a power bomb from the top rope with
Black. Black kicked out at the very last second. Black was
able to land a big kick that stunned Hero. Black was then
able to win with his small package driver. After the match
Jacobs comes out and attacks Black in the entrance way.
Jacobs leaves Black bloodied.
Match Rating: 3 stars out of 4. Hero and Black have met I do
believe before. These guys put on a great short match. The
kept the crowd in and definitely got them going for the last
two matches. The fireworks after the match got the feud
between Jacobs and Black reached a new level. |
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MATCH 7:
Kevin Steen & Jay Briscoe vs. The
American Wolves for the ROH tag team titles
The match was announced for being a 2 out of 3 falls match.
There has been some bad blood between these 4 men. Steen and
Briscoe worked like a well oiled machine despite pairing up
for the first time. Steen was able to get the first pin fall
of the match by making Edwards tap with the sharpshooter.
The second fall had the American wolves focus on Steen’s
knee for an extended period of time. Richards was able to
pick up the pin fall by making Steen tap out in the Texas
clover leaf. The American wolves got the final pin fall
after nailing Briscoes with a springboard diamond cutter.
After the match Steen and Briscoe got into each other’s
faces.
Match Rating: 3 stars out of 4 stars. This type of match has
been lost for awhile but the 2 teams laid everything out on
the line. The odd pairing of Steen and Briscoe worked like a
team has been together for a few years. The tag team
division just keeps flourishing. The after match antics
showed the turmoil between the two teams hasn’t disappeared. |
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MATCH 8:
Colt Cabana versus Jerry Lynn for
the ROH World Title
This was Lynn’s second title defense since winning the title
during the Wrestlemania weekend. Cabana came out with
something to prove that he was still the same wrestler when
he left for the WWE. Cabana worked in a couple of his
comedic spots but focused on the wrestling. Lynn was
matching Cabana move for move. Cabana picked up the first
near fall of the match after connecting with his colt 45
move. Lynn was able to kick out and take control of the
match with hitting a piledriver. Cabana was able to connect
with a pedigree of the second rope for another near fall.
Lynn was finally able to get the win with a reverse
hurracanrana and follows with his cradle piledriver.
Match Rating: 3 stars out of 4. Colt Cabana seems to be glad
to be back with Ring Of Honor. This was a great basic match
with gradual building of the match from the start to the
end. Jerry Lynn has the ability to carry the strap for a few
months. |
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Overall show review: 3 stars out of
4
I think that they have put the onus on putting on some good
quality shows. They’ve let their wrestling do the talking
for them. Ring of Honor has done a great job looking for new
talent that seemingly fits their mold. They announced when
they come back in June that Nature Boy Ric Flair will be in
attendance. |
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Photo ©
2009 Ring of Honor
Article © 2009 Alternate Reality, Inc. |
