[Andy3000]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

I was just saying it because Dele always shits a brick about how much Ito sucks.

Ah, OK. Haven't really haven't seen enough of him to say he sucks, but that's probably because I dislike him enough to stay away from most of his matches.

Zero-1 Light Heavyweight Tag Team Titles Match - Alex Shelly & Chris Sabin v Ikuto Hidaka & Dick Togo (Zero-1, 1/1/08)

This was pretty good, but it just felt like a spot-fest for the majority of it. I'm a fan of the Dragon Gate style anyway, so I still enjoyed it since it was as great an exhibition of MOVES~ as there's been this year at least.

I'm pretty unfamiliar with the Murder City machine Guns outside their ROH match with The Briscos, but I've always enjoyed the stuff I do manage to watch, and they definitely impress me as a tag team. They're excellent with the double team spots here as well, as are their opponents. Dick Togo's the fucking MAN though so it's to be expected.

Too many cool spots to call, many of which too freakin' complicated to call, but both teams brought their 'A game' for sure. Nothing much else to say really other than if you enjoy the "indy style", I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy this. ***1/2

[watts63]

BJW 1/2/08
Daisuke Sekimoto & Yoshihito Sasaki vs. Takashi Sasaki & Yuko Miyamoto ****1/2-****3/4

[peep4life]

ROH 6th Anniversary Show

Austin Aries vs. Go Shiozaki - ****1/4
Absolutely loved this match. Its amazing, that about a year ago I was ready to write off Aries as he seemed to be going through the motions, but since the Danielson trilogy, his matches with Nigel and Stevens, as well as this match, it seems that Aries is on his game and arguably better than ever.
By the way, Go is a beast.

[Andy3000]

Zero-1 World Heavtweight Title Match - Masato Tanaka v Daisuke Sekimoto (Zero-1, 1/1/08)

More Sekimoto is great, but more Sekimoto v Tanaka is even better! Coming into this, Sekimoto had pushed Tanaka to a 30 minute draw in the Fire Festival last year, so it looked like he had his number. BUT, Tanaka had picked up a huge amount of steam since winning the Festival and the World Title, destroying people's faces with his Sliding Dust finishing move (sliding elbow to seated opponent's face) along the way. I loved how they played up the fact they were equally matched throughout most of it, until the more experienced Tanaka pushed ahead and finally put the beast away with 3 Sliding Dusts. Couldn't really ask for much more in terms of storytelling.

In saying that, though, I wasn't really feeling the first half of the match. I enjoyed it, but it only seemed to be going along nicely, as opposed to being blow-away. The second half of it was just awesome though. Sekimoto's German suplexes are over anywhere he goes in japan now and they've really been built as a deadly weapon. Tanaka was really great at selling the deadlyness (I don't actually think that's even a word, but fuck it) of them too, literally grabbing the ropes for dear life every time Sekimoto attempted one. By the end, his facial expressions were fantastic when Sekimoto was hitting them, giving an "Oh shit, this time I'm definitely gonna die." look, as well as swinging his arms looking for something to grab onto.

My favourite spot has to be when Tanaka, who had managed to counter or escape every German that Seki' had attempted, pinned him after (I think) a lariat, only for Sekimoto to quickly slip out of it and, from the mat, hook Tanaka around the waist and German him right from that position. Awesome.

So this built off their previous match really well, and in the end, despite the slow start, it delivered. Bring on Tanaka/Sekimoto III. ****1/4

[PulseGlazer]

Originally Posted by -Mystery-

FIP Redefined
Roderick Strong vs. Erick Stevens - ****1/2

I demand more.

Danielson vs. Low Ki - All Star Weekend 6 Night 1

This started off with some high quality MMA stuff, with beatiful transitions back and forth between that and normal pro wrestling stuff. I wish everyone who came over Angle vs. Joe saw this, or better, their Round Robin Challenge match, which is *****.

Danielson owns Ki at the MMA shit after awhile and ends up controling by hurting his arm. After that it's all Dragon control, as Ki gives up the big chops, but uses his feet and big moves to stay in the match, while Danielson is putting together beautiful combinations to make Ki's situation seem really desperate. Unfortunately, this entails totally ditching the MMA and the arm work for the remainder of the match, meaning, as cool as it was, it doesn't come back and thus ends up rather pointless.

Danielson's control continues, but Ki gets more and more offense, but struggles doing combinations. Danielson just can't finish Ki, who has numerous Cattle Mutilation counters and is simply too tough and agile for anything else in Danielson's arsenal. Ki tries a big combo, going for a Phoenix Splash, a move he has defeated Danielson with before, but Danielson is ready. The Tree of Woe double stomp, however, isn't something Ki was doing when Dragon faced him all the time, so that's a huge openning which weakens Danielson enough to take the Ki Crusher and then immediately the Dragon Clutch in combination, forcing Danielson to tap. **** - **** 1/4

The MMA and arm work should have come back and the missed spots hurt, but on the other hand, this told a great story of Ki having fallen behind Dragon in skill and rising and rising until his own combinations outshone those of the 'Best Wrestler in the World.'

[M.W.]

Hey, Andy. Would you care to shoot me a PM with a link of that New Year encounter between Tanaka & Sekimoto? I'd really appreciate it and in turn would be willing to donate points, upload something for you in the future, or straight up sex you.

Haha. If not, it's not a big deal, thought it wouldn't hurt to ask.

[-Blaskohiro Tenryu-]

Andy, please send me Tanaka/Sekimoto first. So I can send it to M.W and take up his offer on 'straight up' sex.

[PulseGlazer]

ROH Proving Ground: Erick Stevens vs. Austin Aries

This is for Stevens’ FIP Title. This is Stevens revenge for Aries breaking up the Resilience.

They begin with some technical wrestling, won by Aries handily. Aries shows the first of his veteran wiles, convincing Stevens to run to the ropes, then cold clocking him and taking the match back to the mat. Stevens is strong enough to overcome this and shoots Aries to the ropes, hitting the shoulder tackle and establishing a power advantage. Aries hits the floor to frustrate Stevens, taking his time out there.

Aries comes back in with a shoving match as he keeps trying to get in Stevens head. This leads to a Stevens chop and he goes for two more big strikes, but Aries moves, building momentum, and takes Stevens down with a shoulder block. Aries is thinking far ahead of Stevens in this match. Stevens tries to score one big move, but Aries has counters and ideas planned.

Aries again has control on the mat and Stevens, again, powers out. Aries now has a plan for that and gets control on Stevens. Stevens uses his power to again stop Aries control. They repeat it again and finally Aries heat period sticks.

That doesn’t last long and Aries runs into a powerslam and Stevens gets a short period of control, which he does with high impact moves. They begin countering each other at much greater frequency, neither man able to get anything going, with Aries counters matching Stevens power.

Aries eventually uses the top rope and goes after Stevens neck, setting up the Brainbuster and Horns of Aries. Aries slingshots onto Stevens neck that’s hanging out of the ring. Back in and Aries runs into a back drop. Stevens then grabs a bearhug. Everything Stevens does hurts the back. He then goes with a huge overhead belly-to-belly.

Stevens is in control with a sequence of big power moves. Aries gets desperate and rolls through a German suplex attempt, dumping Stevens to the floor. Aries follows with his heat seeking missile. Aries gets Stevens in and throws a ton of back elbows, but stops to taunt and so gets dropped to the floor. Stevens power is such than at any opportunity he asserts himself with it.

Stevens dives from the apron to tackle Aries. Stevens tries the Choo Choo on the floor, but is elevated into the crowd, where Aries dives on him from the top rope. Both men struggle to get back to the ring and are counted out. Stevens refuses to take a victory that way and restarts the match.

Aries attacks and immediately tries to finish. Stevens fights him off, but Aries is in full counter mode and a lariat becomes the crucifix bomb. Aries manages to hit the brainbuster, but the 450 hits knees as Stevens steps up his game! He hits a German, but Aries see’s the Choo Choo coming and nails another counter with the lariat. Aries tries the Horns, but Stevens with a huge counter now into a TKO!

They battle over the Doctor Bomb, trading elbows, but Aries takes out the legs and nails the kick, brainbuster… no… Stevens gets Aries up, but Aries knees him in the air to escape and it’s the Horns of Aries. Stevens fights out straight into the clubbing lariat! Stevens tries a Doctor Bomb again, but this time Aries hits a hurricanrana. Aries hits a roaring elbow, but Stevens turns with a lariat. Doctor Bomb hits and Aries is done!

Erick Stevens defeats Austin Aries (Pin, Doctor Bomb, **** 1/4-****1/2)

And Stevens proves himself both kayfabe and non-kayfabe with a fantastic match. They did a ton of Aries veteran vs. Stevens rookie stuff, with Aries thinking so far ahead of Stevens that had an answer for literally everything Stevens tried. Of course, Stevens is the Resilience, so despite his beating, and due to his awesome power, he can withstand Aries stuff just enough to finish him off. Worth getting the DVD for this. Better than any Stevens vs. Strong match or Stevens vs. Danielson. Stevens is the Resilience.

[PulseGlazer]

For Hero vs. Tornado Pearl Habra and Redefined Stevens vs. Strong.


PWG Pearl Habra: Chris Hero w/ Candice LeRae vs. Human Tornado

Tornado has been the evil pimp in PWG and beaten on LeRae. This made Hero take up a Hero role to save her. Hero and Tornado have been beating the piss out of each other ever since.

The match is sheer brutality with a wild brawl. When Tornado controls, it’s using his speed and doing as many stomps and dropkicks as possible to weaken Hero’s head for Dat ***** Dead. Hero is merely aiming for pure brutality and dishing out punishment, having far more experience in matches of this type.

Tornado controls and weakens Hero for most of the early part, increasing his risks, but Hero gets rather cranky and takes out a chain, using that to take down Tornado. He hits the Hero’s Welcome on a chair and this might not last very long, but Tornado lands in the ropes. Hero senses victory is near and goes to the top, but he’s too slow and Tornado counters by tossing a trashcan at him. Great selling from Tornado as he uses the can to regain control. A chair is set up outside as Tornado hits the DND on a chair! Hero is able to barely grit it out for a 2 and 9/10 call. Tornado goes for a twisting senton, but puts himself through the table instead.

On the outside, Hero piles chairs and slams Tornado on top, then dives onto the pile and Tornado. Of course, with this being out of the ring, by the time Tornado gets in, it’s only good for a two count. Tornado uses speed to counter a final Hero’s Welcome and we go to showdown mode. Tornado forgoes that, knowing it’s a sure loss, and takes out Hero’s knee, which was very recently hurt and caused him to miss shows. The knee is attacked with weapons and Tornado locks in an elevated cloverleaf. With the pressure on the hurt knee and sitting on Hero’s hurt head, he won’t give up, but LeRae throws in the towel.

Tornado defeats Hero (towel thrown in, Cloverleaf, **** - **** ¼)
Hero is an amazing brawler and the hate here was absolutely intense. With the speed advantage and later knee attack, Tornado showed great strategy and working the head even paid off. Hero was just so tough and awesome at his role of desperately trying to get a big enough, bad enough move to hurt Tornado. Chris Hero is perfect in any role which features him in heated feuds, especially brawling, though in ROH it should be as a heel, not a face.

FIP Redefined: Erick Stevens © vs. Roderick Strong

This one features Stevens as FIP Champion, and Roderick trying to get back the belt he lost. Both men are faces.

They do a surprisingly extended and well developed mat sequence. Roderick ends up barely ahead there, but not enough to control. They then go with a striking sequence and it’s absurdly stiff, but Roddy ends up ahead. They keep going at it nearly even until on the floor, Roderick “accidentally” hits Stevens in the head with the FIP Belt. Stevens is gushing blood out of the side of his head as Roderick narrowly convinces the ref to not disqualify him.

Roderick with control mixes strikes and backwork for quite a while, but simply cannot keep the irrepressible Stevens down. Stevens fights back after a Stronghold and numerous combinations, so Roderick gets desperate and pulls the ref in front of an oncoming clothesline. He then pulls Stevens outside the ring and destroys, and I mean destroys him with a chair shot. Roderick gets back in the ring, wakes the ref, and wins the FIP Title.

Roderick Strong defeats Erick Stevens (Countout, Chair Shot, **** ¼ - **** 1/2)
If you can deal with the ending, this is a major, major MOTYC for 2008. Stevens and Roderick had a war more than a match, fighting for everything and selling to perfection. Roderick’s sneaky heel turn to Stevens clean resilience (pun intended) all match was absolutely awesome. The ending was a bit anticlimactic, but since the new heel won, that’s kind of the point. If anything, I am under-rating this match. Go to www.rohwrestling.com now and buy this DVD for $15. You won’t regret it.

[Benjo™]

Originally Posted by PulseGlazer

FIP Redefined: Erick Stevens © vs. Roderick Strong

This one features Stevens as FIP Champion, and Roderick trying to get back the belt he lost. Both men are faces.

They do a surprisingly extended and well developed mat sequence. Roderick ends up barely ahead there, but not enough to control. They then go with a striking sequence and it’s absurdly stiff, but Roddy ends up ahead. They keep going at it nearly even until on the floor, Roderick “accidentally” hits Stevens in the head with the FIP Belt. Stevens is gushing blood out of the side of his head as Roderick narrowly convinces the ref to not disqualify him.

Roderick with control mixes strikes and backwork for quite a while, but simply cannot keep the irrepressible Stevens down. Stevens fights back after a Stronghold and numerous combinations, so Roderick gets desperate and pulls the ref in front of an oncoming clothesline. He then pulls Stevens outside the ring and destroys, and I mean destroys him with a chair shot. Roderick gets back in the ring, wakes the ref, and wins the FIP Title.

Roderick Strong defeats Erick Stevens (Countout, Chair Shot, **** ¼ - **** 1/2)
If you can deal with the ending, this is a major, major MOTYC for 2008. Stevens and Roderick had a war more than a match, fighting for everything and selling to perfection. Roderick’s sneaky heel turn to Stevens clean resilience (pun intended) all match was absolutely awesome. The ending was a bit anticlimactic, but since the new heel won, that’s kind of the point. If anything, I am under-rating this match. Go to www.rohwrestling.com now and buy this DVD for $15. You won’t regret it.

Great write-up, Strong vs. Stevens is currently my 5th match of the year but it's also my personal favourite.

Got it at **** 1/2 but on another watch i reckon i could go up to **** 3/4.