Match by match, ROH Caged Collision (1/31/09):
-Any bout that makes Alex “Sugerfoot” Payne look like a star gets big thumbs up from me. Kenny King and Silas Young also manage to shine, making this an overall successful three-way dance and start to the show.
-In theory, Claudio Castagnoli vs. Kevin Steen is very been there, done that, got the t-shirt, it was black, so why do I want to go back? Luckily this return engagement is more than worth it. The performances are great and the rapport with the crowd is enjoyable. This may be the best singles match either man has had in an ROH ring in some time.
-There continues to be something epic about the clash between Brodie Lee and the Necro Butcher. Every time these titans enter the ring and trade a few fists, it is beyond awesome. The two have a chemistry that most pairings only dream of. So naturally their moments against each other are my favorite parts of the tag match they are involved in here, though their partners Delirious and Jerry Lynn, respectively, do a great job with their roles in the bout.
-The intermingling of Bryan Danielson, Tyler Black, Austin Aries, and Jimmy Jacobs has been a pretty regular occurrence over the last few months in ROH. Thus it isn’t too surprising that nothing new or earth-shattering comes from their four-way contest here, but that hardly stops the match from being enjoyable. It is a good mid-card contest with some main event talent. Nothing wrong with that.
-A fantastic, well developed story is what highlights the world title bout between champ Nigel McGuinness and challenger El Generico. From the start Nigel finds a limb to target on his opponent and never relents. Generico fights back, playing the ultimate baby face that refuses to let the odds overtake him. Nigel is weathered, as the continuing narrative of his title reign has proven, and he is desperate, and it shows. I love everything about this match. Just plain brilliance.
-Steel Cage Warfare, the main event, succeeds on so many levels and completely delivers everything you can ask for. It is entertaining, well booked, has a great twist at the end, and perfectly caps off an overall fun show. All of the mistakes of the last Steel Cage Warfare match, from September 2008, are happily avoided. And while that “twist” at the finish may feel like the most important turn ever, it is still highly enjoyable to watch. Well done.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Motor City Madness
A stretch of four Ring of Honor shows is what awaits me next in this journey through the year, so let’s take it match by match and see if we can’t get there before too long.
Up first a trip to Detroit for ROH “Motor City Madness 2009” (1/30/09):
-Nothing like a fun opening contest to set the tone for the night, and that’s exactly what we get from Bryan Danielson and Rhett Titus. There are certain things Danielson does with the expertise of a well-weathered professional, and at the top of that list is putting over younger talent. So it is a delight to see that treatment given to Titus, somebody really in need of being put over for all the potential he has. Great start to the show.
-Seems like Austin Aries vs. Silas Young in an ROH ring is a regular occurrence, but this time out the two have a very different match than usual. Unfortunately, I much preferred their old act to this new one. Things are slowed down significantly from the swift speed they usually go at, and it shows. I do commend Aries and Young for trying something different, and the match isn’t bad by any means, but in a gunpoint situation, if I had to choose an Austin Aries vs. Silas Young match to watch again, I’d go with any prior meeting over this one.
-I wish I could put into words how entertaining it is to watch two tall rednecks hit each other with various objects through a crowd, but alas, I don’t think the English language was ever prepared to describe a Necro Butcher vs. Brodie Lee match. Let’s just say it is worth seeing and leave it at that.
-Roderick Strong and Erick Stevens vs. Jimmy Jacobs and Delirious reminds me of Channing Tatum. You understand why he’s part of a movie, but ultimately he doesn’t do anything worth talking about. Average tag match that drags a bit. Could have been better if it was shorter, but then I’m starting to think I might just prefer more concise bouts in general.
-It is a real clash of the titans when Brent Albright and Claudio Castagnoli face off, going power move for power move and telling something of a story within there. Wish I liked this match more than I do, but after awhile the slow pace of big move after big move gets old. These big men are good but they’re a Gerard Butler short of Sparta, and that is (bad joke up ahead) the Ugly Truth. A wink.
-The start of the match may not be the most magnanimous, but by bout’s end Tyler Black vs. Jerry Lynn is downright fantastic. Once things go into second gear, everything clicks. Every near fall leaves you nearly falling from your chair, while the general array of offense broken out by both men is pretty awesome. Thumbs way up on this one.
-Shame on me for continuously forgetting how good Jay Briscoe can be, and he really shows it here against Nigel McGuinness. Jay turns on the intensity and goes all out, and Nigel responds perfectly. Might not be the most memorable match ever, but it is certainly good while it lasts.
-Two of the best tag teams today collide in what amounts to a tremendous main event for the show. Not only is the wrestling itself crisp and exhilarating, but the story that develops is first-rate. Lots of trash-talk from both sides, which adds to the experience, and really sells how much hatred exists between the duos. The finish could be argued as weak, but I think the four men make it work.
The show has some meh moments, but overall the great outweighs the mediocre. Definitely worth a viewing, and should have a decent replay value to it as well.
Up first a trip to Detroit for ROH “Motor City Madness 2009” (1/30/09):
-Nothing like a fun opening contest to set the tone for the night, and that’s exactly what we get from Bryan Danielson and Rhett Titus. There are certain things Danielson does with the expertise of a well-weathered professional, and at the top of that list is putting over younger talent. So it is a delight to see that treatment given to Titus, somebody really in need of being put over for all the potential he has. Great start to the show.
-Seems like Austin Aries vs. Silas Young in an ROH ring is a regular occurrence, but this time out the two have a very different match than usual. Unfortunately, I much preferred their old act to this new one. Things are slowed down significantly from the swift speed they usually go at, and it shows. I do commend Aries and Young for trying something different, and the match isn’t bad by any means, but in a gunpoint situation, if I had to choose an Austin Aries vs. Silas Young match to watch again, I’d go with any prior meeting over this one.
-I wish I could put into words how entertaining it is to watch two tall rednecks hit each other with various objects through a crowd, but alas, I don’t think the English language was ever prepared to describe a Necro Butcher vs. Brodie Lee match. Let’s just say it is worth seeing and leave it at that.
-Roderick Strong and Erick Stevens vs. Jimmy Jacobs and Delirious reminds me of Channing Tatum. You understand why he’s part of a movie, but ultimately he doesn’t do anything worth talking about. Average tag match that drags a bit. Could have been better if it was shorter, but then I’m starting to think I might just prefer more concise bouts in general.
-It is a real clash of the titans when Brent Albright and Claudio Castagnoli face off, going power move for power move and telling something of a story within there. Wish I liked this match more than I do, but after awhile the slow pace of big move after big move gets old. These big men are good but they’re a Gerard Butler short of Sparta, and that is (bad joke up ahead) the Ugly Truth. A wink.
-The start of the match may not be the most magnanimous, but by bout’s end Tyler Black vs. Jerry Lynn is downright fantastic. Once things go into second gear, everything clicks. Every near fall leaves you nearly falling from your chair, while the general array of offense broken out by both men is pretty awesome. Thumbs way up on this one.
-Shame on me for continuously forgetting how good Jay Briscoe can be, and he really shows it here against Nigel McGuinness. Jay turns on the intensity and goes all out, and Nigel responds perfectly. Might not be the most memorable match ever, but it is certainly good while it lasts.
-Two of the best tag teams today collide in what amounts to a tremendous main event for the show. Not only is the wrestling itself crisp and exhilarating, but the story that develops is first-rate. Lots of trash-talk from both sides, which adds to the experience, and really sells how much hatred exists between the duos. The finish could be argued as weak, but I think the four men make it work.
The show has some meh moments, but overall the great outweighs the mediocre. Definitely worth a viewing, and should have a decent replay value to it as well.
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