Ring of Honor-We Don't Imitate...We Innovate (2002)

The Final Countdown · March 14, 2009

SHOW INDEX:
Pre-TV Era:
#1: 2/8/02: The Era of Honor Begins

#2: 2/28/02: Road to the Title

#3: 3/15/02: Crowning a Champion

#4: 3/29/02: Boston Massacre

#5: 4/12/02: Epic Encounter

#6: 4/26/02: Manhattan Mayhem

#7: 5/5/02: Driven

#8: 5/17/02: Testing the Limit

#9: 6/7/02: Death before Dishonor

#10: 6/23/02: Respect is Earned

#11: 7/7/02: All-American Honor

#12: 7/21/02: WrestleRave 2002

#13: 8/7/02: Submission Supremacy

#14: 8/21/02: Triple Jeopardy

#15: 9/4/02: Glory by Honor

#16: 9/18/02: Unscripted

#17: 10/7/02: Survival of the Fittest, Night 1

#18: 10/9/02: Survival of the Fittest, Night 2

#19: 10/23/02: Trick or Cheat

#20: 11/4/02: Round Robin Challenge

#21: 11/6/02: All Star Extravaganza

#22: 11/20/02: Thanksgiving Throwdown

#23: 12/2/02: Choose Your Destiny

#24: 12/5/02: War of the Wire

#25: 12/22/02: Final Battle 2002

#26: 1/8/03: Trios Tournament 2003, Night 1

#27: 1/10/03: Trios Tournament 2003, Night 2

#28: 1/22/03: Trios Tournament 2003: Finale

#29: 2/5/03: First Anniversary, Night 1

#30: 2/6/03: First Anniversary, Night 2

#31: 2/19/03: Enter The Dragon

#32: 3/3/03: Boston Massacre II(*summary only*)

#33: 3/4/03: Caged Collision

#34: 3/17/03: Proving Ground

#35: 4/7/03: Gateway to Greatness

#36: 4/9/03: Manhattan Mayhem II

#37: 4/21/03: Crowning a Champion II

#38: 5/6/03: Honorbound

#39: 5/8/03: Breakthrough

#40: 5/19/03: Golden Opportunity

#41: 5/21/03: A Prophecy Fulfilled

#42: 6/2/03: Death Before Dishonor II, Night 1

#43: 6/3/03: Death Before Dishonor II, Night 2

#44: 6/16/03: Steel Cage Warfare

#45: 7/1/03: The Hunt Is On

#46: 7/2/03: All-American Honor 2003

#47: 7/7/03: The Hunt Continues

#48: 7/9/03: The Hunt Concludes

#49: 8/4/03: Summertime Slaughter

#50: 8/6/03: WrestleRave 2003

#51: 8/13/03: Road To Glory

#52: 9/2/03: Glory By Honor II, Night 1

#53: 9/3/03: Glory By Honor II, Night 2

#54: 9/8/03: Round Robin Challenge II

#55: 10/6/03: Survival of the Fittest 2003, Night 1

#56: 10/8/03: Survival of the Fittest 2003, Night 2

#57: 10/19/03: Trick or Cheat 2003

#58: 11/3/03: All Star Extravaganza 2003

#59: 11/5/03: Bloodlust

#60: 11/12/03: Thanksgiving Throwdown 2003

TV Era:
12/8/03: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 1

12/10/03: Final Battle 2003

12/15/03: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 2

12/22/03: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 3

12/29/03: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 4

1/5/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 5

1/7/04: New Year's Nightmare 2004

1/12/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 6

1/19/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 7

1/26/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 8

2/2/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 9

2/4/04: Second Anniversary Show

2/9/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 10

2/16/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 11

2/23/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 12

3/1/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 13

3/3/04: Escalation

3/15/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 14

3/22/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 15

3/29/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 16

4/5/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 17

4/7/04: Supercard of Honor

4/12/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 18

4/19/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 19

4/26/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 20

5/10/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 21

5/12/04: Honorbound 2004

5/17/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 22

5/24/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 23

5/31/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 24

6/7/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 25

6/10/04: Death Before Dishonor III

6/14/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 26

6/21/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 27

6/28/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 28

7/5/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 29

7/7/04: All-American Honor 2004

7/12/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 30

7/19/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 31

7/26/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 32

8/2/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 33

8/4/04: The Heat Is On

8/16/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 34

8/23/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 35

8/30/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 36

9/6/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 37

9/8/04: Glory By Honor III

9/13/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 38

9/20/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 39

9/27/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 40

10/4/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 41

10/6/04: Survival of the Fittest 2004

10/11/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 42

10/18/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 43

10/25/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 44

11/1/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 45

11/3/04: Golden Opportunity II

11/15/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 46

11/22/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 47

11/29/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 48

12/6/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 49

12/8/04: Final Battle 2004

12/13/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 50

12/20/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 51

12/27/04: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 52

1/3/05: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 53

1/5/05: New Year's Nightmare 2005

1/17/05: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 54

1/24/05: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 55

1/31/05: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 56

2/7/05: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 57

2/9/05: Third Anniversary Show

2/14/05: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 58

2/21/05: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 59

2/28/05: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 60

3/7/05: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 61

3/9/05: Best in the World

3/14/05: Ring of Honor Wrestling, Episode 62

TITLE HISTORIES:

ROH World Championship:
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/rohheavyweight.jpg

Champion #1: Christopher Daniels
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/ChristopherDanielsROHWorld.jpg

Defeated: Low Ki in a tournament final to crown the first champion
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Date: 3/15/02

Title Defenses:
1. Christopher Daniels defeated Low Ki in Philadelphia, PA on 5/5/02
2. Christopher Daniels defeated Low Ki in a Steel Cage match in New York, NY on 6/7/02
3. Christopher Daniels defeated Samoa Joe in Philadelphia, PA on 7/21/02
4. Christopher Daniels defeated Samoa Joe and Low Ki in a Triple Threat match in New York, NY on 8/21/02
5. Christopher Daniels defeated Steve Corino in Philadelphia, PA on 9/4/02
6. Christopher Daniels defeated AJ Styles and Matt Sydal in a Three Way Dance in New York, NY on 10/9/02
7. Christopher Daniels defeated Colt Cabana in Philadelphia, PA on 10/23/02
8. Christopher Daniels defeated Spanky in New York, NY on 11/20/02
9. Christopher Daniels defeated Bryan Danielson in a Submission Supremacy match in New York, NY on 12/22/02
10. Christopher Daniels defeated Homicide in New York, NY on 2/5/03

Champion #2: Bryan Danielson
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/BryanDanielsonROHChampionship.jpg

Defeated: Christopher Daniels and Low Ki in a Three Way Dance
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Date: 2/6/03

Title Defenses:
1. Bryan Danielson defeated Christopher Daniels in a Steel Cage match in New York, NY on 3/4/03
2. Bryan Danielson defeated Spanky in Philadelphia, PA on 3/17/03
3. Bryan Danielson defeated AJ Styles in New York, NY on 4/9/03
4. Bryan Danielson defeated AJ Styles in a Two Out of Three Falls match in New York, NY on 5/6/03

Champion #3: Austin Aries
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/AustinAriesROHChampionship.jpg

Defeated: Bryan Danielson
Location: Overland, MO
Date: 5/19/03

Title Defenses:
1. Austin Aries defeated Christopher Daniels in Philadelphia, PA on 5/21/03
2. Austin Aries defeated Bryan Danielson in New York, NY on 6/2/03
3. Austin Aries defeated Mr. Wrestling 3 in Philadelphia, PA on 6/3/03
4. Austin Aries defeated Low Ki in Philadelphia, PA on 8/6/03
5. Austin Aries defeated Low Ki in Philadelphia, PA on 9/3/03
6. Austin Aries defeated AJ Styles in New York, NY on 10/6/03
7. Austin Aries defeated Jerry Lynn in Philadelphia, PA on 11/3/03
8. Austin Aries defeated CM Punk in an I Quit match in New York, NY on 12/10/03
9. Austin Aries defeated Mark Briscoe in Philadelphia, PA on 1/7/04

Champion #4: Homicide
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/HomicideROH.jpg

Defeated: Austin Aries
Location: New York, NY
Date: 2/4/04

Title Defenses:
1. Homicide defeated Austin Aries in Philadelphia, PA on 3/3/04
2. Homicide defeated Nigel McGuinness in Atlantic City, NJ on 4/5/04
3. Homicide defeated Super Dragon in Philadelphia, PA on 5/12/04

Champion #5: Steve Corino
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/SteveCorinoROH.jpg

Defeated: Homicide in a Dog Collar match
Location: New York, NY
Date: 6/10/04

Title Defenses:
1. Steve Corino defeated Low Ki in Philadelphia, PA on 7/7/04
2. Steve Corino defeated Homicide in an I Quit match in New York, NY on 8/4/04

Champion #6: CM Punk
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/CMPunkWorld.jpg

Defeated: Steve Corino, Low Ki and Homicide in Four Corner Survival
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Date: 9/8/04

Title Defenses:
1. CM Punk defeated Steve Corino in Toronto, Canada on 9/27/04*
2. CM Punk defeated D'Lo Brown in Atlantic City, NJ on 10/6/04
3. CM Punk defeated KENTA in Pittsburgh, PA on 11/3/04
4. CM Punk defeated AJ Styles in New York, NY on 12/8/04
5. CM Punk defeated Christopher Daniels in Atlantic City, NJ on 1/5/05
6. CM Punk defeated Toshiaki Kawada in Philadelphia, PA on 2/9/05
7. CM Punk defeated Bryan Danielson in New York, NY on 3/9/05

*After this match, the ROH Championship was renamed the ROH World Championship.

ROH Pure Wrestling Championship:
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/rohpure.jpg

Champion #1: James Maritato
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/JamesMaritatoROHPure.jpg

Defeated: Spanky in a tournament final to crown the first champion
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Date: 4/21/03

Title Defenses:
1. James Maritato defeated Spanky in Everett, MA on 5/8/03
2. James Maritato defeated Spanky in Philadelphia, PA on 6/3/03
3. James Maritato defeated AJ Styles in Philadelphia, PA on 7/9/03
4. James Maritato defeated Matt Sydal in St. Charles, MO on 8/13/03
5. James Maritato defeated Alex Shelley in New York, NY on 9/2/03
6. James Maritato defeated Kazarian in Philadelphia, PA on 10/8/03
7. James Maritato defeated Paul London in New York, NY on 11/5/03

Champion #2: Jerry Lynn
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/JerryLynnPure.jpg

Defeated: James Maritato
Location: New York, NY
Date: 12/10/03

Title Defenses:
1. Jerry Lynn defeated James Maritato in Dayton, OH on 12/29/03
2. Jerry Lynn defeated John Hennigan in Philadelphia, PA on 1/7/04
3. Jerry Lynn defeated Ricky Reyes in New York, NY on 2/4/04

Champion #3: Bryan Danielson
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/BryanDanielsonPure.jpg

Defeated: Jerry Lynn
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Date: 3/3/04

Title Defenses:
1. Bryan Danielson defeated Jerry Lynn in Richmond, VA on 3/29/04
2. Bryan Danielson and KENTA wrestled to a 30-minute draw in Philadelphia, PA on 5/12/04
3. Bryan Danielson defeated KENTA in a No Time Limit match in New York, NY on 6/10/04
4. Bryan Danielson defeated TJ Wilson in Philadelphia, PA on 7/7/04
5. Bryan Danielson defeated Samoa Joe in New York, NY on 8/4/04
6. Bryan Danielson defeated Samoa Joe in Philadelphia, PA on 9/8/04
7. Bryan Danielson defeated James Maritato in Atlantic City, NJ on 10/6/04
8. Bryan Danielson defeated Super Dragon in Pittsburgh, PA on 11/3/04
9. Bryan Danielson defeated Super Dragon in Charlotte, NC on 11/15/04
10. Bryan Danielson defeated Naomichi Marufuji in New York, NY on 12/8/04
11. Bryan Danielson defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi in Atlantic City, NJ on 1/5/05
12. Bryan Danielson defeated Jerry Lynn in Charlotte, NC on 1/17/05
13. Bryan Danielson defeated Takeshi Morishima in Philadelphia, PA on 2/9/05
14. Bryan Danielson defeated Matt Sydal in Poughkeepsie, NY on 2/28/05

ROH World Tag Team Championship:
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/ROHWorldTag.jpg

Champions #1: The Second City Saints (CM Punk and Colt Cabana)
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/PunkROHTAG.jpghttp://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/CABANAROHTAG.jpg

Defeated: The Spanish Announce Team and The Briscoes in a Triple Threat match
Location: New York, NY
Date: 6/7/02

Title Defenses:
1. The Second City Saints defeated Spanky and Paul London in Everett, MA on 7/7/02
2. The Second City Saints defeated The Spanish Announce Team in Philadelphia, PA on 9/4/02
3. The Second City Saints defeated The Briscoes in Overland, MO on 10/7/02
4. The Second City Saints defeated Austin Aries and Kazarian in New York, NY on 11/20/02

Champions #2: The Backseat Boyz (Trent Acid and Johnny Kashmere)
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/TrentAcidROHTag.jpghttp://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/JohnnyKashmereROHTag2.jpg

Defeated: The Second City Saints (CM Punk and Colt Cabana)
Location: New York, NY
Date: 12/22/02

Title Defenses:
1. The Backseat Boyz defeated Jack Evans and Matt Sydal in Philadelphia, PA on 1/10/03

Champions #3: The Second City Saints (CM Punk and Colt Cabana)(x2)
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/PunkROHTAG.jpghttp://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/CABANAROHTAG.jpg

Defeated: The Backseat Boyz (Trent Acid and Johnny Kashmere)
Location: New York, NY
Date: 1/22/03

Champions #4: La Revolución (Jose Maximo and Joel Maximo)
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/JoseMaximoROHTag.jpghttp://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/JoelMaximoROHTag.jpg

Defeated: The Second City Saints (CM Punk and Colt Cabana)
Location: New York, NY
Date: 2/5/03

Title Defenses:
1. La Revolución defeated The Backseat Boyz in Philadelphia, PA on 2/6/03
2. La Revolución defeated The Second City Saints in New York, NY on 3/4/03
3. La Revolución defeated Jack Evans and Matt Sydal in New York, NY on 4/9/03
4. La Revolución defeated The Havana Pitbulls in New York, NY on 5/6/03

Champions #5: The Havana Pitbulls (Ricky Reyes and Rocky Romero)
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/RickyReyesROHTag.jpghttp://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/RockyRomeroROHTag.jpg

Defeated: La Revolución (Jose Maximo and Joel Maximo)
Location: New York, NY
Date: 6/2/03

Title Defenses:
1. The Havana Pitbulls defeated The Backseat Boyz in Boston, MA on 7/2/03
2. The Havana Pitbulls defeated La Revolución in a Ladder War in New York, NY on 8/4/03
3. The Havana Pitbulls defeated Tom Carter and Mike Quackenbush in Philadelphia, PA on 9/3/03

Champions #6: The Briscoe Brothers (Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe)
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/JayBriscoeTag.jpghttp://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/MarkBriscoeTag.jpg

Defeated: The Havana Pitbulls (Ricky Reyes and Rocky Romero)
Location: New York, NY
Date: 10/6/03

Title Defenses:
1. The Briscoe Brothers defeated La Revolución in Overland, MO on 10/19/03
2. The Briscoe Brothers defeated The Havana Pitbulls in Boston, MA on 11/12/03
3. The Briscoe Brothers defeated Jack Evans and Matt Sydal, The Havana Pitbulls and La Revolución in a Four Corner Survival match in New York, NY on 12/10/03
4. The Briscoe Brothers defeated Austin Aries and Roderick Strong in St. Charles, MO on 12/22/03
5. The Briscoe Brothers defeated Alex Shelley and James Maritato in New York, NY on 2/4/04
6. The Briscoe Brothers defeated Doug Williams and Claudio Castagnoli in New York, NY on 4/7/04
7. The Briscoe Brothers defeated The Stampede Bulldogs in Philadelphia, PA on 5/12/04
8. The Briscoe Brothers defeated The Stampede Bulldogs in Richmond, VA on 5/31/04
9. The Briscoe Brothers defeated Doug Williams and Claudio Castagnoli in New York, NY on 6/10/04
10. The Briscoe Brothers defeated John Hennigan and Roderick Strong in Atlantic City, NJ on 7/5/04
11. The Briscoe Brothers defeated The Motor City Machine Guns in New York, NY on 8/4/04

Champions #7: The English Elite (Nigel McGuinness and Doug Williams)
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/NigelTag.jpghttp://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/DougTag.jpg

Defeated: The Briscoe Brothers (Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe)
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Date: 9/8/04

Title Defenses:
1. The English Elite defeated The Briscoe Brothers in Toronto, Canada on 9/27/04*
2. The English Elite defeated The Motor City Machine Guns in Atlantic City, NJ on 10/6/04
3. The English Elite defeated Kazarian and Matt Sydal in Pittsburgh, PA on 11/3/04
4. The English Elite defeated The Motor City Machine Guns and The Briscoe Brothers in a Three Way Dance in New York, NY on 12/8/04
5. The English Elite defeated The Stampede Bulldogs in Atlantic City, NJ on 1/5/05

*After this match, the ROH Tag Team Championship was renamed the ROH World Tag Team Championship.

Champions #8: The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin)
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/ShelleyTag.jpghttp://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/SabinTag.jpg

Defeated: The English Elite (Nigel McGuinness and Doug Williams)
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Date: 2/9/05

Title Defenses:
1. The Motor City Machine Guns defeated The Briscoe Brothers in Ladder War in New York, NY on 3/9/05

Survival of the Fittest Tournament:
2002: Bryan Danielson
2003: CM Punk
2004: AJ Styles

Trios Tournament:
2003: The Rottweilers (Homicide, Low Ki and Ricky Reyes)
2004: The Rottweilers (Homicide, Low Ki and Ricky Reyes)
2005: Generation Next (John Hennigan, Kevin Steen and Roderick Strong)

Hunt for Honor Tournament:
2003: Low Ki
2004: CM Punk

Wrestling World Cup:
2004: United States (Samoa Joe, Bryan Danielson, Jerry Lynn, Matt Sydal, Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin)

Anniversary Awards Index: Click Here

Unfulfilled prediction contest prizes

--

Before I begin, I want to send a special shout-out to the creators of the awesome 2002 mod, which I've edited slightly so it starts in February rather than April, so I can run ROH from day 1. Also, a big thanks to Wildfire1324, whose incredible NWA diary(s) were my primary inspiration in even attempting a diary.

http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/logoROH.jpg

“So, James, are you in?”

”Hell yes, I’m in. Let’s put together a wrestling promotion.”

--

My name is James Hill, and I’ve been a fan of pro wrestling my entire life. And when I say wrestling, I mean WRESTLING, not that cartoonish BS that guys like Hogan do. While all my friends were “Hulkamaniacs” growing up, I was a proud NWA fan. They could have their over-hyped pose-fests; I was all about watching guys like Ric Flair and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat tear the house down.

My wrestling obsession continued, and I devoured everything I could get my hands on. Tapes from all over the world, magazines and newsletters, you name it. During the spike in wrestling’s popularity in 1998, I happened upon a local wrestling radio call-in show, and decided to give my two cents. Evidently I knew my stuff, or at least did a good job of articulating my opinions, because I quickly developed a reputation on the show, to the point where my calls actually became an anticipated segment of the show. Once I graduated from high school, the producers of the show quickly hired me as a co-host. Talk about a dream job! I was getting paid to talk about something I’d loved all my life. My favorite aspect of the show was having the chance to interview various people involved in the business.

That’s where this story truly begins. During the spring of 2001, the legendary Ricky Steamboat was a guest on our show. I was beyond thrilled at the idea of simply meeting one of my childhood idols, but the reality was even better than I could have imagined. Once “The Dragon” and I started talking wrestling, we couldn’t stop. Hours after the show ended, Steamboat and I continued to discuss the current state of the business. We both lamented the fact that WCW and ECW had recently gone out of business, leaving the WWF as the only game in town. Vince McMahon may have been pleased, but it was clearly not good for the business as a whole. Vince’s idea of what professional wre….err, “sports entertainment” should be is simply not everyone’s cup of tea. And while there were still plenty of great Japanese promotions to follow, wrestling in North America was in sad shape from our point of view.

It was a great conversation, but I figured that’s all it would be: a conversation, two wrestling purists venting their frustrations. And so it was, for several months. But then, in late 2001, I received the phone call that would change my life forever.

“Hello, is this James Hill?”

“Yes it is. And who is this?”

“It’s Ricky. Ricky Steamboat. We met on that radio show earlier this year. I called up the station and asked them for your number. I hope you don’t mind.”

Mind. Was he kidding?

“Oh, no, not at all, Ricky. It’s great to hear from you. So what can I do for you?”

“Well, that conversation that we had really sparked something inside of me. I kept thinking about my own career, and how different it might have turned out if I was just getting started today. I never had the bodybuilder look or the catchphrases; all I had was my athleticism, and my drive to work at my craft. But in this era, would I even have the opportunity to do that? Basically, it’s now Vince’s way or the highway. Now, if you’ve done something to piss Vince off, or he just plain doesn’t like you, where are you going to go?”

“Well, there’s always Japan…”

“Yes, but even that’s not as lucrative an opportunity as it used to be. All Japan has been on a downward spiral since Baba died. Inoki’s fascination with that Mixed Martial Arts stuff is starting to hurt New Japan. And NOAH is still relatively unproven. Basically, no matter where you look, the wrestling business is slumping.”

“The business has seen better days, I agree. But what does that have to do with me, Ricky?”

“I’ll get to that James, just be patient. Anyway, like I was saying, our conversation earlier this year really got me thinking. I owe so much to the wrestling business. I had a wonderful career, and was able to take care of my family. But ever since I had to retire back in ’94, I’ve missed it, missed being a part of it. I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that the business had changed and moved in a different direction; that, in effect, the business I loved was gone, replaced by Vince’s idea of “sports entertainment.” But then, I met you. You’re what, 24 or 25?”

“21, actually.”

“OK, even better. You’re 21 years old, yet you told me about how much you loved my matches with Flair and Savage, and how much you missed that kind of wrestling.. And I spoke to so many callers on the show; most older, but some who couldn’t have been much older than you are. All of them said the same thing: they longed for the days when wrestling was wrestling, rather than that over-the-top stuff the WWF puts out these days. I said to myself, If people less than half my age miss the old days just like I do, then maybe not everything’s changed. From that day forward, I’ve had a goal in mind: to create a wrestling promotion of my own, and give those people what they want: great wrestling, with logical and believable storylines that don’t insult your intelligence.

“That’s great, Ricky, it really is. I know plenty of people who will be really excited to hear that. But I think you overestimate things. There are certainly those of us out there that love to watch great wrestling, and it has honestly been lacking since ECW closed down. But we’re a very small minority; peanuts, really, when compared to the audience of the WWF.”

“I realize that. I’m not talking about going head-to-head with Vince or anything. Heck, I don’t have that kind of money anyway. I’m talking about starting from the ground floor. Every great wrestling promotion, past and present, had to start somewhere. Even the WWF used to be a local group that never strayed outside the Northeastern U.S. We start small, and if we do a good job, maybe we eventually make some waves.”

“It sounds like you’ve really thought this through, Ricky. You obviously have a great mind for the business, and if you’re content with being a small-time independent promotion, at least to start with, I really think you could flourish. I’m honored that I played some small part in your decision. If you want, we can set up a return appearance on the show once you’ve got more of the details figured out, and we can get the word out to the diehards that listen to us. I’d love to help you out in any way I can.”

“I was hoping you’d say that,” Ricky replied, a smile in his voice. “The type of guys that I’m most interested in showcasing are the unproven, up-and-coming guys, and I don’t know near enough about the current independent scene to be able to pick those guys out, much less know how to use them to the best of their abilities. That’s where you come in.”

“Me? You want me to help you pick out a roster of indy guys?”

“No, not exactly. I want you to be my booker.”

My jaw hit the floor, and I was silent for several moments. Finally, I composed myself and spoke. “Ricky, you can’t be serious. I have no experience in the business, and…”

“The fact that you’ve never wrestled is a positive, not a negative. It means you won’t have a group of friends you’ll bring in and show favoritism to over everyone else. Or even worse, book yourself to look like Superman.”

“That’s fair. But why me? There has to be somebody out there that…”

“No, James, that somebody is you. All of my friends in the business are from my generation. I want someone younger, someone who can relate to a new generation while still hopefully putting out a product that will appeal to old-school fans as well. You’re exactly what I’m looking for. If you don’t want to do it, then I’ll understand. But give it some thought. I think you could be a natural.”

“I never said I didn’t want to do it. Booking a wrestling promotion has been a dream of mine for years. I just want you to be sure you’re making the right choice.”

“You can’t be sure of something until it happens. But I’m confident that you’re the right guy for the job. So, James, are you in?”

Like he even had to ask.

The Final Countdown · March 15, 2009

January 11th, 2002

http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/banner_ROH2.jpg

Sick of sports entertainment? Ready for pro wrestling to make a comeback? Want an alternative to the mainstream? Then you’re in luck, because Ring of Honor is here to usher in a new era!

Pro wrestling legend and former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat has created ROH in an effort to bring wrestling fans want they want to see—great in-ring action! ROH’s goal will be to emphasize the talent and athleticism of its competitors. Many of the greatest stars from around the independent circuit have been signed to compete at the first ever ROH show, The Era of Honor Begins, on Friday, February 8th, 2002, from the famed ECW Arena in Philadelphia.

The Arena has seen some of the greatest athletes and matches in all of pro wrestling over the last decade, and ROH will aim to continue that tradition. Let’s preview all of the matches announced for this historic show!

AJ Styles vs. The Amazing Red

AJ Styles, who has wrestled mainly in Georgia in addition to a brief stint in WCW, is viewed by many as the next big superstar in professional wrestling, and he will no doubt be looking to live up to that reputation. But Amazing Red will not make it easy for him. Red, who is no stranger to fans in the Tri-State area, is one of the few people in wrestling today who may well be a more breathtaking high-flier than Styles. How will AJ adjust to the unfamiliar situation of wrestling an opponent faster and more agile than he is?

The Spanish Announce Team (Jose and Joel Maximo) vs. The Briscoe Brothers (Jay and Mark)

Tag team wrestling has fallen into a rut in recent years, but ROH hopes to change that. The Briscoes and Maximos are two of the brightest young tag teams in the world today. Each team feels that they are the future of tag team wrestling, but only one can prevail.

Homicide vs. James Maritato

At first glance, Homicide may appear to be nothing more than a brawler. Looks can be deceiving, however. While Homicide can certainly trade punches with anyone, he is also quite skilled at mat wrestling. His opponent Maritato, a former ECW Tag Team Champion, is renowned for his own grappling talent. Will Homicide attempt to match Maritato hold for hold, or will he attempt to turn the match into a slugfest?

Jack Evans vs. Samoa Joe

Jack Evans is quite possibly the greatest aerial artist in all of professional wrestling today. At just 165 pounds, he’s accustomed to being the smallest man in the match. But against the 290-pound “Samoan Submission Machine”, Evans will be at a much greater disadvantage than normal. Will Evans’ unrivaled speed and quickness be enough of an edge for the Washington native, or will the power of Samoa Joe prove to be too much to overcome?

Spanky vs. CM Punk

Both of these athletes are rising stars with bright futures ahead of them. That’s about the only thing they have in common. Punk, a native of Chicago, is all business once the bell rings. Spanky is a talented wrestler (and how could he not be, after being trained by Shawn Michaels?), but he has been known to go out of his way to try and entertain the crowd rather than go for the victory. Will this penchant for goofing off cost him, or will his bizarre behavior throw CM Punk off of his game?

Tony Mamaluke vs. Steve Corino

Not content with just providing color commentary for the DVD release of the event, Corino will also be in competition. He is said to be less than pleased about his opponent, as he feels that wrestling Mamaluke is beneath him. Mamaluke may not have the credentials of Corino, but he’s no slouch; he and James Maritato held the ECW Tag Team Championships. If ‘The King of Old School’ takes his foe too lightly, he may be in for a rude awakening.

Low Ki vs. “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson vs. “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels

This match could headline any card in any promotion in the world, and ROH is proud to present it as the feature contest on ‘The Era of Honor Begins.’ These three are without question three of the most talented wrestlers in the world, and each wants to try and establish themselves as the top dog in ROH on Day 1.

Low Ki, a three-year pro, is well known for his heavily MMA-influenced wrestling style, featuring a variety of lethal kicks and submission holds. He is also a no-nonsense wrestler who takes the sport very seriously. He won the prestigious Super 8 Tournament last year, defeating Danielson in the process.

“American Dragon” Bryan Danielson is one of, if not the, most skilled technical wrestlers in the world. This graduate of Shawn Michaels’ Texas Wrestling Academy has quickly become a star in the independent circuit, but he suffered a major disappointment when he lost to Low Ki in the finals of the Super 8 tournament nearly a year ago. He will no doubt be looking to redeem himself here.

With nearly 9 years as a pro, Christopher Daniels is one of the most experienced wrestlers on the ROH roster. He has been a star all over the independent scene, and is also making a name for himself in Japan. He has won numerous championships all over the world, as well as the Super 8 tournament in 2000. Will "The Fallen Angel" be able to fend off his two younger opponents, or is Daniels' reign as arguably the top independent wrestler in the U.S. about to come to an end?

Only one of these three world class talents will be able to say that they were victorious in the feature bout of the first ever ROH show. Who will it be? Join us for The Era of Honor Begins to find out!

Prediction List:

AJ Styles vs. Amazing Red
The SAT vs. The Briscoes
Homicide vs. James Maritato
Jack Evans vs. Samoa Joe
Spanky vs. CM Punk
Tony Mamaluke vs. Steve Corino
Low Ki vs. Bryan Danielson vs. Christopher Daniels

haloed · March 15, 2009

Here's to the beginning of a great diary. This could be good.

AJ Styles vs. Amazing Red

The SAT vs. The Briscoes

Homicide vs. James Maritato

Jack Evans vs. Samoa Joe

Spanky vs. CM Punk

Tony Mamaluke vs. Steve Corino

Low Ki vs. Bryan Danielson vs. Christopher Daniels

Chuck · March 15, 2009

AJ Styles vs. Amazing Red

Assuming your booking for the future I am going to go with AJ... Red will be injured/not able to walk within 2 years

The SAT vs. The Briscoes

The essential tag team of ROH

Homicide vs. James Maritato

Time to build him up as your future

Jack Evans vs. Samoa Joe

All the love in the world for Jack Evans on my end won't stop Joe from killing him.

Spanky vs. CM Punk

Toughest call... I like Spanky better than CM Punk

Tony Mamaluke vs. Steve Corino

Low Ki vs. Bryan Danielson vs. Christopher Daniels

SasoreGatame · March 15, 2009

Why are Joe and Punk on the first ROH card, when the both didn't debut until much, much later in the year?

Anyways, here's my predictions:

AJ Styles

The Briscoes

Homicide

Samoa Joe

Spanky

Steve Corino

Bryan Danielson

darthsiddus2 · March 15, 2009

Spanky vs Punk will steal the show... I'm calling it now....... by the way I'm looking forward to this dynasty and I hope it doesn't die.

ya_its_me · March 15, 2009

Prediction List:

AJ Styles vs. Amazing Red
The SAT vs. The Briscoes
Homicide vs. James Maritato
Jack Evans vs. Samoa Joe
Spanky vs. CM Punk
Tony Mamaluke vs. Steve Corino
Low Ki vs. Bryan Danielson vs. Christopher Daniels

I'm smelling the makings of a good dynasty, you've got a reader.

critical-23 · March 15, 2009

AJ Styles vs. Amazing Red

I love the Amazing Red's style but AJ has more tools in the box.

The SAT vs. The Briscoes

Since this is 2002, that also means that these are the Maximo Bros before WWE got their claws into them. The Maximos were a better team back then, so they get my pick here. But it will be a good match nonetheless.

Homicide vs. James Maritato

I a fan of Homicide since the first time I saw him face an opponent (can't remember who he was, though) and beat him with technical moves only. I saw a star then and I see a star now.

Jack Evans vs. Samoa Joe

Too big, too strong, too much Samoa Joe.

Spanky vs. CM Punk

Straight edge, foo'!!!

Tony Mamaluke vs. Steve Corino

No disrespect to Mamaluke who has a very underrated (hope I spelled that word right) submission game. But c'mon--it's friggin' Steve Corino!!

Low Ki vs. Bryan Danielson vs. Christopher Daniels

I am interested in seeing where you will go with this. Daniels is my pick because he was the first non-WWF/E wrestler that I have seen live and I was just blown away.

The Final Countdown · March 15, 2009

Why are Joe and Punk on the first ROH card, when the both didn't debut until much, much later in the year?

I didn't want everything to be just the same as it was in real ROH, hence why I started from the beginning. Punk and Joe aren't the only guys on my roster who weren't in ROH to begin with; Evans didn't debut until late 2003, and I've also signed a couple of people who were never even in ROH to my knowledge.

Thanks for all the comments/predictions guys! Glad to know I've got some people's attention. I've got all but the main event & show aftermath written up, so it should be posted later on today.

Sarcasm · March 15, 2009

AJ Styles vs. Amazing Red

The SAT vs. The Briscoes

Homicide vs. James Maritato

Jack Evans vs. Samoa Joe

Spanky vs. CM Punk

Tony Mamaluke vs. Steve Corino

Low Ki vs. Bryan Danielson vs. Christopher Daniels

Can't wait for the first show. The backstory looks promising. KUTGW.

The Final Countdown · March 15, 2009

February 8th, 2002: The Era of Honor Begins

Note that any part of the show that takes place backstage, or in any behind the scenes area, was not actually booked in-game. I obviously don’t have a TV or PPV deal, and the arenas I’ll be running at this point wouldn’t likely be fancy enough to have a JumboTron or some other form of a large video screen. So I don’t think it would make much sense to book something as a part of the show if the fans in attendance would have no way of actually seeing it. Instead, think of these backstage segments as DVD material. Just like real-life ROH, actually. If and when I eventually get a TV or PPV deal, this will change. Oh, and unlike actual ROH, my announcing team will have a ringside table.

http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/logoROH.jpg

presents:

The Era of Honor Begins

February 8th, 2002

from The ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Attendance: 1,000 (sell-out)

The camera opened on Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, standing backstage. Steamboat flashed an affable smile at the camera.

“Hello wrestling fans. I’m Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, and I’d like to thank you for purchasing The Era of Honor Begins. This is a big night for all of us here at Ring of Honor. I think the title of the event speaks for itself: this truly is the beginning of a new era in professional wrestling. Or so we all hope. We’ve put together some of the greatest talent in wrestling today, from established veterans like Christopher Daniels, Steve Corino and James Maritato, to the stars of tomorrow like Bryan Danielson, Low Ki and AJ Styles. I know each and every guy in that dressing room will go out tonight and give absolutely everything they’ve got. And I’m sure every single fan who paid for a ticket, as well as those of you who are watching this home release, will not be disappointed. Now, without further ado, let the Era of Honor begin!”

AJ Styles (w/Alexis Laree) vs. The Amazing Red

http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/AJStyles.jpg vs. http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/AmazingRed.jpg

If this match is any indication, ROH has a bright future ahead of it. The same could be said about both of these rising stars, who had a very good fast-paced contest that got the show off on the right foot. AJ was the crowd favorite at the beginning of the match, but by the end both men were getting their fair share of support.

At one point of the match, Red executed a spectacular suicide dive that knocked AJ back near the announcer’s table. As Styles regained his bearings, he inadvertently bumped into color commentator Steve Corino, who had gotten up from his seat to get away from the action. Corino took offense, and he and Styles got into a verbal exchange. No blows were exchanged, but Corino was still clearly upset. The match continued, and Styles showed an impressive feat of strength as he caught Red in mid-air during an attempt at a flying hurracanrana and turned it into his signature Styles Clash to pick up the victory. Styles helped Red up to his feet and the two men shook hands in a sign of mutual respect as the crowd cheered their efforts. As Styles left the ring, Corino stood up once again and the two had another stare-down before Alexis Laree eventually coaxed Styles back to the locker room.

Winner: AJ Styles in 18:30 with the Styles Clash

The SAT vs. The Briscoes

http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/JoseMaximo.jpg & http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/JoelMaximo.jpg vs. http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/JayBriscoe.jpg & http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/MarkBriscoe.jpg

Each of these teams is comprised of a pair of brothers, and that was evident in the match as both teams displayed great teamwork. The match was fairly even, with neither team able to hold a sustained advantage. The turning point came when the Maximos attempted to put Jay Briscoe away with their Spanish Fly maneuver. Mark Briscoe came into the ring and shook one of the ropes, causing Jose Maximo to fall crotch-first onto the top rope. He then got underneath Joel Maximo and lifted him onto his shoulders, enabling Jay to connect with a Doomsday Device. From there Jay was able to put the match away with the J-Driller, securing the victory for the Briscoes.

Winners: The Briscoes in 10:43 with a J-Driller by Jay on Joel

Homicide vs. James Maritato

http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/Homicide4.jpg vs. http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/JamesMaritato.jpg

Homicide seemed intent on proving his ability as a mat wrestler, as he spent much of the early portions of the match exchanging holds and counter-holds with the veteran formerly known as Little Guido. He held his own in the exchanges, but never managed to gain control of the match on the mat. Homicide eventually grew frustrated with the stalemate, and started mixing in some brawling and roughhouse tactics. Maritato adjusted well to the change in style and came close to winning the match on more than one occasion, but Homicide picked up the win after leveling him with a vicious lariat.

Winner: Homicide in 13:24 with a lariat

Jack Evans vs. Samoa Joe

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Jack Evans was all smiles before the match began, interacting with the crowd and even doing a bit of break-dancing. Once Samoa Joe arrived, however, the fun and games were over. Evans tried his best to keep his distance from Joe and pick his spots, knowing that if Joe got his hands on him the match would be over in short order. Jack’s tactics worked for a bit, and Joe grew more and more agitated. Then Jack went for a Quebrada moonsault, and it was all over. Joe caught him in mid-air, and drove him to the mat with authority. The Samoan Submission Machine took out his earlier frustrations, punishing Evans for a bit before forcing him to submit with a Triangle Choke.

Winner: Samoa Joe in 09:29 with a Triangle Choke

“This is James Hill here, and it is intermission time at The Era of Honor Begins! I’m in the locker room of AJ Styles, who was very impressive in defeating Amazing Red in the opening contest tonight. But the match had an unexpected side-story: as you attempted to recover from a jaw-dropping dive by Red, you accidentally bumped into my broadcast partner Steve Corino. The two of you exchanged words, and I can tell you that Corino is not at all happy. He’s continued to harp on that incident all night, insisting that you intentionally went out of your way to disrespect him. What’s your take on all this, AJ?”

AJ shook his head in frustration before responding. “I don’t know what Corino’s problem is. I was busy enough with Red; I didn’t have the time or the energy to worry about him. All I know is he’s been complaining ever since tonight’s matches were announced. First he’s not happy about who he’s wrestling, and now he gets all bothered by a little accident. He got in my face and threw a tantrum like a little punk kid. He needs to grow up. But you know what? I’m not a hard guy to find. If he’s got a problem with me, I’ll be more than happy to go out there in that ring and settle things.”

--

Christopher Daniels looked into the camera with a smirk on his face. “I hear what everyone has been saying. ‘Chris, it’s time to pass the torch. You’ve had a great run on the independent circuit, but Low Ki and Bryan Danielson are the men who are destined to take the ball and usher in a new era.’ People have been throwing that ‘new era’ stuff around quite a bit lately. And they’re correct in one respect: tonight is indeed the start of a new era in the world of professional wrestling. But it will not be the Low Ki era, or the American Dragon era. No, we are about to enter the era of the Fallen Angel, the era in which I at long last realize my full potential. So if you think you've seen the best of Christopher Daniels: think again.”

--

Bryan Danielson nodded into the camera. “I’ve had the chance to catch some of what’s gone on so far tonight, and I have to say that Ring of Honor is off to a great start. But the best is yet to come. It will be an honor to step into the ring later on tonight with Low Ki and Christopher Daniels, two of the best wrestlers in the world. Daniels, I have a lot of respect for you. You’ve been all over the world, and done very well wherever you’ve gone. You’re great, but I’m confident that I’m greater, and I aim to prove it tonight. And Low Ki, don’t think for a second that I’ve forgotten about the finals of the Super 8 tournament last year. That was supposed to be my biggest victory to date, yet I went down in defeat. I’ve been waiting for a shot to redeem myself, and tonight’s the night. Tonight, the American Dragon Bryan Danielson takes his first step towards superstardom.”

--

Low Ki fixed the camera with an intense stare and remained silent for several long moments before speaking. “Tonight, Ring of Honor revitalizes the sport of professional wrestling. Tonight, the best wrestlers in the world gather to showcase their skills. And tonight, Low Ki will prove that he is the greatest fighter in the world. American Dragon, Christopher Daniels, all you need to do is be…ready…”

Spanky vs. CM Punk

http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/Spanky.jpg vs. http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/CMPunk.jpg

CM Punk and Spanky are vastly different individuals, and it showed even in their ring entrances. Punk marched to the ring with a determined glare on his face, while Spanky strutted down the aisle and posed with the fans, taking quite some time to even get into the ring. Punk was none too pleased with Spanky’s laid-back attitude, and his anger only grew during the match itself. Whenever Spanky would get the upper hand on Punk, he would pause to appeal to the fans. Punk grew more and more frustrated with Spanky’s behavior throughout the match, and shouted at him to get serious and stop screwing around.

When Spanky was actually focused on the task at hand, this was a very competitive and exciting match. Spanky nearly got the win several times, only adding to Punk’s frustration. Finally, Spanky tried to use a superplex on Punk, but the ‘Straight Edge Superstar’ blocked it and put the match away with his devastating Pepsi Plunge. After the match, Punk berated the fallen Spanky, and even slapped him in the face several times.

Winner: CM Punk in 15:04 with the Pepsi Plunge

Tony Mamaluke vs. Steve Corino

http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/TonyMamaluke.jpg vs. http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/SteveCorino.jpg

With Corino competing, play-by-play man James Hill called this match solo. Throughout the earlier matches, Corino made it very clear that he felt it was an insult for him to even be put in the ring with Mamaluke. His attitude carried over into the match, as he taunted Mamaluke and attempted to humiliate him at every opportunity. Several times he patted his cheek in a sarcastic manner, and he would even occasionally pause to allow Mamaluke a free shot, only to react to the blow with an over-the-top expression of pain. The lack of respect nearly cost Corino the match, as Mamaluke was able to put together a sustained rally, catching Corino in some submission holds that seemed to have him on the verge of tapping out. Once ‘The King of Old School’ regained the advantage, he finally stopped playing around and got down to business. Shortly thereafter, the Old School Expulsion spelled the end of the match.

Winner: Steve Corino in 17:28 with the Old School Expulsion

Low Ki vs. Bryan Danielson vs. Christopher Daniels

http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/LowKi.jpg vs. http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/BryanDanielson.jpg vs. http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/ChristopherDaniels2.jpg

ROH promoted this as an indy dream match, and it lived up to the billing. For over 40 minutes, these three elite athletes engaged in a fierce battle of wills. Two of the men would form a brief alliance and incapacitate the third, only to quickly turn on each other in an attempt to score the victory. Low-Ki’s lethal kicks were on full display, as both of his opponents absorbed cringe-inducing shots on multiple occasions. Danielson preferred to try and pick up the win via submission, making sure one of his foes was disoriented before attempting to force a tap out on the third man. Daniels, the wily veteran of the match, picked his spots, trying to use his moxy to catch either of his opponents off guard and score a sudden pinfall.

Things continued on in that vein for the majority of the match, until an out-of-nowhere flying kick from Low Ki caught Christopher Daniels by surprise, sending him tumbling from the top rope and out onto the arena floor. Daniels immediately clutched his right leg in agony, and Low Ki and Danielson turned their attentions to one another.

They went toe to toe for an extended sequence. Danielson nearly won the match with his Cattle Mutilation submission hold, but Low Ki managed to reach the ropes and force a break. Danielson tried to press his advantage with a Dragon Suplex, but Low Ki broke the grip and dropped Danielson with a kick to the head. After a few more kicks, Low Ki locked on his Dragon Clutch submission, twisting Danielson’s neck awkwardly. Danielson was nowhere near the ropes, and it seemed inevitable that he would soon be forced to submit.

Suddenly, Christopher Daniels lunged back into the ring, moving like a man with two perfectly good legs. He approached from behind and blindsided Low Ki with a palm strike to the back of the head before tossing him through the ropes and to the floor. He pulled up a weakened Danielson and knocked him out with the Last Rites, getting the 1-2-3 before Low Ki was able to return to the ring.

Winner: Christopher Daniels in 43:44 with the Last Rites on Danielson

After the match, Low Ki reentered the ring and glared at Christopher Daniels, clearly angry with the Fallen Angel’s tactics. Daniels begged off with a smile, and asked for a microphone.

“Who, whoa, whoa, back up there Low Ki! Look, I know you’re angry that I outsmarted you and American Dragon, but this isn’t the time for fighting! This is the time to celebrate! Because the Era of Honor has officially begun, and I think I speak for every one of these fans here when I say that this was one hell of a debut show!”

The fans cheered enthusiastically in response to Daniels’ statement, and started an “ROH” chant. Daniels grinned and appealed to the crowd to chant louder, which they happily did. He turned back to Low Ki with a huge smile on his face.

“Low Ki, if you want a chance to get some revenge, I would be more than happy to give you a match any time, any place! But right now, I think it’s only right that we acknowledge the man who put all of this together: the legendary Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat!”

The fans chanted “Ricky! Ricky!” and Steamboat stepped out from behind the curtain and offered a brief wave to the crowd before retreating to the backstage.

“I have a lot of respect for Ricky Steamboat, and I know you do as well, Low Ki. We both know that Ricky was and is a man of honor and sportsmanship, and I think it’s only right that we should honor that by ending this first show with a handshake. What do you say?”

Daniels extended his hand to Low Ki, and the fans chanted “Shake His Hand, Shake His Hand!” Low Ki stared at Daniels, expressionless, before finally accepting the handshake, much to the crowd’s approval.

The approval turned to jeering moments later as Daniels yanked on Low Ki’s hand, pulling him closer and planting him with an STO. He put the boots to Low Ki until Bryan Danielson finally recovered enough to chase him off. Danielson helped Low Ki to his feet, and both of them glared at a retreating Christopher Daniels as the live show came to a close.

--

Steve Corino was sitting in a chair in his locker room, packing up his bags, as James Hill walked in. Hill opened his mouth to ask Corino a question, but Corino held up his hand to silence him.

“I know what you’re going to ask me, kid. Don’t bother. The fact is this: I am the most accomplished wrestler in this entire company. It should have been an absolute no-brainer for Steve Corino to be the headliner of this show. But when ROH contacted me, they asked me to do color commentary for the show. How in the hell do you book The King of Old School and not even give him a damn match? I had to insist that I wanted to wrestle, too, and what was the solution? ‘Well, Mr. Corino, how about a match with Tony Mamaluke?’ Are you friggin’ kidding me? And to top it all off, I go out there tonight and do what they asked, carrying you on my back during commentary, and what was my reward? AJ Styles completely disrespected me! I am a former ECW World Champion! What has AJ Styles ever done? He should have bowed down and kissed my boots, but no, he’s one of these next generation brats who thinks he’s better than everybody else, and he did not give me the respect I have earned! And you already told me what the kid said when you came back here and interviewed him during intermission. AJ, nothing would please me more than to get you inside that ring and give you the whipping that your stupid redneck daddy obviously never gave you! By the time I’m through with you, you will learn to respect your superiors.”

--

“Christopher Daniels, why on Earth did you tarnish that tremendous win with such a classless display?”

Daniels smiled and shook his head. “Well, young Jason…”

“It’s James, actually.”

“Doesn’t matter. Anyway, as I was about to say before you so rudely interrupted: I did what I did to send a message. When the ROH officials first got in touch with me, they stressed how things like ‘honor’, ‘sportsmanship’, and ‘respect’ would be important to the company. Steamboat’s influence, no doubt. But I ask you this: what did all of those attributes get Ricky Steamboat? As far as pure wrestling ability goes, Steamboat was every bit Ric Flair’s equal. So why did Steamboat only win one World championship, while Flair is universally regarded as the greatest of all time? The answer is simple: Flair didn’t let petty things like sportsmanship or trying to pander to those idiots in the crowd hold him back. He did whatever was necessary to succeed. So fools like Low Ki and Bryan Danielson can follow in Ricky Steamboat’s footsteps; I even encourage it. That will just make it easier for me to cement my place as the man to beat in Ring of Honor. You saw it tonight. When Low Ki hit me with that kick, I truly did tweak my leg. If either Danielson or Low Ki had been ruthless enough to come out to the floor and attack an injured man, they could have easily put me out of commission for the rest of the match. But instead, they just left me on the floor, and I was able to use the injury to my advantage by making it out to be far worse than it was, and striking when the time was right.”

“OK, but why did you offer that phony handshake to Low Ki? The match was already over; what did that attack accomplish?”

“There didn’t need to be a reason for it, Jonathan. Garbage like sportsmanship and fair play are things that losers create to feel better about themselves. Winners do as they please, whether the losers like it or not. When you’re the best, you play by your own rules. I am the best in ROH, so I answer to no one but myself. If you, Low Ki, the fans, or even that geezer Stemboat don’t like it? Too damn bad. And that…is the gospel…according to the Fallen Angel.”

Quick Results:

AJ Styles over Amazing Red

Briscoes over SAT

Homicide over James Maritato

Samoa Joe over Jack Evans

CM Punk over Spanky

Steve Corino over Tony Mamaluke

Christopher Daniels over Low Ki and Bryan Danielson

haloed: 6-1
ya_its_me: 6-1
critical-23: 6-1
Sarcasm: 6-1

Chuck: 5-2
SasoreGatame: 5-2

tizzyt · March 16, 2009

nice... I'll be checking this out... Gotta love the beginning of ROH... Good first show... can't wait to see where you go with things

The Final Countdown · March 16, 2009

The Era of Honor Begins: Wrap-up

February 8th, 2002

11:04 p.m.

“Well James, you’ve just booked your first wrestling show. How does it feel?” Ricky’s voice brought me out of my daze, and I turned my attention away from my laptop and towards my boss.

“It’s pretty surreal, to be honest. It was such an odd experience to sit out there at the commentator’s table and watch my ideas come to life.”

“You’ll get used to it, I’m sure. I thought the show went very well, didn’t you?”

“There were certain things that didn’t go exactly as I’d hoped, but all things considered I think the show was a success.”

“I agree. Say, want to go grab a late-night snack? I don’t fly back home until tomorrow morning, and with the way my adrenaline’s running, I doubt I’ll be getting to sleep anytime soon.”

“Sorry, Ricky, but I think I’ll pass. I want to sort over my thoughts on the show while it’s still fresh in my mind. Plus we’ve got another show in two weeks, and pretty soon we’re going to be crowning our first champion.”

“Right. That’ll be the show after next, correct?”

“That’s the plan, at least.”

“So, have you decided who you want to put the belt on yet?”

“Not just yet. We have a really strong group of top-level guys, and I’m struggling to pick between them. I suppose it’s a good problem to have.”

“Of course. Well, I’m going to head out now. Don’t work too hard, James; we’re going to need you around here for years to come, and the last thing we need is for you to burn yourself out.”

I smiled in response, the idea of booking Ring of Honor for years sounding very good to me. “I’ll keep that in mind. Good night, Ricky.”

After Ricky left, I returned my attention to my laptop, and began putting together some notes on the show.

-I put AJ and Red in the opening spot, believing they could get the promotion off to a good start. I was right. They put on a very exciting match, and the crowd was very into it. AJ in particular looked very impressive, and the fans treated him like a true budding star. I hope he sticks around with us long-term, because he could be a heck of a building block for the future. Both of these guys are still very young, however, and it showed up in spots during the match. Even with Ricky’s pre-match guidance, they still had the occasional lack of psychology. I’m sure they’ll both become more polished in that area as time goes on.

-The fans didn’t react much to the Briscoes at first, due to a lack of familiarity. But they started to win them over as the match went on. Mark had a very good night, but all four guys did well. I think both of these teams will be cornerstones of our tag team division once we get it running.

-Homicide got a far bigger crowd reaction that I had anticipated, and it only increased during the match. He’s a very talented and unique wrestler, and I see big things in his future. Maritato was stellar on the mat as usual.

-Samoa Joe and Jack Evans was my only real let-down of the night. Joe is an absolute beast, and I thought the dichotomy of the much smaller Evans basically running for his life would entertain the crowd. But I was wrong. I guess since no one really bought Evans as a legit threat to win, they weren’t as interested. I’m also not so sure about the Triangle Choke as a finisher for Joe. Maybe I should talk to him about that.

-CM Punk and Spanky put on what I thought was the most entertaining match of the night aside from the main event. In retrospect, they probably should have been in the semi-main event spot. I think they did a very good job of establishing their differences, and it served to both produce an exciting match, as well as set things up for my future plans.

-Steve Corino performed well both as a commentator and as a wrestler. The bits of him disrespecting Mamaluke served their purpose well, as people are already itching to see someone beat the hell out of him.

-The main event went over very well. All three guys did a fantastic job. We needed to have a killer match to close out the show and send the crowd home happy, and this delivered. Bryan Danielson is a tremendous technical wrestler. If he can just put it together in the theatrical areas, the sky’s the limit for him. Low Ki has some of the hardest kicks in wrestling. I heard several fans near me groan at the impact of some of them. And what can I say about Christopher Daniels? Why the WWF has never signed this guy, I have no clue. There are very few guys in the world who are as well-rounded as he is.

Overall, it was a good debut show. The crowd seemed pleased, which is all that really matters in the end. But as any wrestling booker can tell you, there's no time to celebrate. Now, it was time for me to get to work on the follow-up…

The Final Countdown · March 16, 2009

February 15th, 2002

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Ring of Honor burst onto the wrestling scene last week with The Era of Honor Begins, and the sold-out crowd at the fabled ECW Arena were treated to a spectacular night of wrestling action! Whether you were a fan of solid scientific wrestling, breathtaking aerial tactics, or hard-nosed brawling, if you saw The Era of Honor Begins, you were not disappointed.

Ring of Honor made a major splash on its inaugural card, and has a bright future ahead of it. As such, several wrestlers claim that they are the top dog, and the man who will lead the company going forward. However, only one can reign as the best of the best in ROH, and it will soon be time to find out just who that man is.

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Who will become the first-ever Ring of Honor Champion? We’ll find out soon enough, because on Friday, February 22nd, the Road to the Title begins!

ROH has decided that an 8-man, single-elimination tournament is a suitable way to crown the first champion. Based on their incredible performances in the epic triple-threat encounter that headlined the first show, Bryan Danielson, Christopher Daniels and Low Ki were all given spots in the tournament. There were also five singles matches on that show, so the winners of those matches have been granted the remaining slots.

One week from today, ROH presents Road to the Title, from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. Both the quarterfinals and semifinals will be held on this night. Let’s take a look at the first round matchups:

Low Ki vs. CM Punk

Low Ki is not a happy man. First he saw Christopher Daniels snatch the victory from him at The Era of Honor Begins…and then, when he tried to show a bit of sportsmanship, Daniels threw it back in his face. Advancing in the ROH title tournament would no doubt go a long way towards appeasing him, but he’ll have his hands full with CM Punk in the first round.

Punk was victorious over Spanky on the first show, but was not at all pleased with Spanky’s carefree approach. If Punk wants a no-nonsense opponent, he’ll get his wish when he steps into the ring for this battle.

Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe

The record books will forever show that Bryan Danielson was pinned in the main event of the first show in ROH’s history. That is an unfortunate reality for the American Dragon, but he could make it a mere footnote if he can cement his name in another way: becoming ROH’s first champion.

Once Samoa Joe was able to catch up to the speedy Jack Evans, he showed just how destructive he can be. If he manages to fend off Bryan Danielson’s ground game, he could very easily plow right along into the semis.

Homicide vs. Christopher Daniels

‘The Notorious 187’ Homicide proved at The Era of Honor Begins that he is much more than just a brawler, as he matched accomplished mat technician James Maritato hold for hold. But stepping into the ring with Christopher Daniels, he must prepare not just for a great wrestler, but also one who will use any means necessary to get the win.

Christopher Daniels is riding high at the moment, albeit not without some controversy. Not everyone approves of his methods, but the fact remains that he scored the victory. He has the talent to defeat Homicide straight-up, but will no doubt bend or even break the rules if he senses an opportunity.

AJ Styles vs. Steve Corino

AJ Styles put on an aerial fireworks show with Amazing Red in the opening match of the last show, but equally as memorable was his confrontation with color commentator Corino. Styles declared afterwards that he would be more than happy to settle this conflict in the ring, and ROH matchmakers were obviously listening. One would think that the flashy Styles will attempt to keep to the air, but if the veteran Corino can keep him grounded, he could be in trouble.

Steve Corino feels that no one is showing him the proper respect, from ROH officials to AJ Styles. He insists that he is the biggest star in ROH, and demands to be treated as such. With a chance to become ROH champion, his complaints against the company should come to an end. But if he wants to prove his point to Styles, he’ll need to do it in the ring.

At the start of the night, eight elite wrestlers will stand. By night’s end, only two will remain. Who will earn the right to wrestle for the Ring of Honor Championship? The Road to the Title gets underway!

Prediction List:

Quarterfinals:
Low Ki vs. CM Punk
Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe
Homicide vs. Christopher Daniels
AJ Styles vs. Steve Corino

Semifinals:
Low Ki/Punk vs. Danielson/Joe
Homicide/Daniels vs. Styles/Corino

darthsiddus2 · March 16, 2009

now that is a top-notch card my friend. I don't have any picks for you!

critical-23 · March 17, 2009

Low Ki vs. CM Punk

It's Low-friggin'-Ki. . .

Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe

Mr. Small Package

Homicide vs. Christopher Daniels

As much of a 'Cide fan as I am--Daniels is on a roll.

AJ Styles vs. Steve Corino

Time's not right for AJ to go for the title just yet.

I am picking Ki/Daniels in the finals with Daniels winning. *crosses fingers*

haloed · March 17, 2009

I'll have to agree a 100% with critical-23.

ya_its_me · March 17, 2009

Great first show!

Prediction List:

Quarterfinals:

Low Ki vs. CM Punk

Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe

Homicide vs. Christopher Daniels

AJ Styles vs. Steve Corino

Semifinals:

Low Ki vs. Joe

Daniels vs. Corino

Finals:

Joe vs. Daniels

Can definitely see Daniels as being the face (or should I say heel?) of your promotion.

The Final Countdown · March 18, 2009

February 22nd, 2002: Road to the Title

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presents:

Road to the Title

February 22nd, 2002

From the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan

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Attendance: 707

The DVD opened with a graphics package highlighting each of the eight participants in the ROH title tournament.

ROH Championship Tournament Quarterfinals:

AJ Styles (w/Alexis Laree) vs. Steve Corino

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In addition to this being a tournament match, it was also a personal matter. Before the opening bell rang, Corino mouthed off to Styles, telling him that he would beat some respect into him. AJ remained silent, but stared right back at Corino with no trace of intimidation.

As much as Corino would have loved to make an example out of Styles, he did not have the luxury. AJ proved that he belonged in the ring with the more experienced Corino, frustrating the veteran with his amazing athleticism. Whenever The King of Old School seemed to be getting the match under control, Styles would thwart his momentum with an incredible counter.

The fans were solidly behind Styles from the start, and their support for him only grew as he pulled off amazing move after amazing move. To his credit, Corino was never at a disadvantage for long. He wrestled a near-flawless match, but his only real mistake proved to be his undoing. He telegraphed a back body drop just a bit too early, and it was enough for AJ to adjust and hit the Styles Clash to advance into the semifinal round after a fantastic match. The crowd gave both men a standing ovation in appreciation for a great opening match. After he recovered, a furious Corino threw a tantrum, yelling at the referee and some fans around ringside.

Winner: AJ Styles in 16:16 with the Styles Clash

ROH Championship Tournament Quarterfinals:

Homicide vs. Christopher Daniels

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Homicide got a hero’s welcome in his hometown of New York. The majority of the crowd jeered Daniels, but there were a vocal minority who did cheer him on.

This was a surprisingly scientific encounter, given Daniels’ declaration to win by any means necessary. There’s no doubt that he is a very gifted wrestler when he chooses to show it, and this was on display during this match. Daniels had Homicide on the ropes, but the pro-Homicide crowd was able to get their hometown son’s adrenaline running, and he took control. Homicide seemed on the verge of scoring the biggest win of his career, getting very close near falls after an Ace Crusher and a lariat. He went for his lethal Cop Killer, but Daniels slipped out, landed on his feet behind Homicide, and abruptly deflated the crowd by beating Homicide with the Last Rites.

Winner: Christopher Daniels in 12:09 with the Last Rites

ROH Championship Tournament Quarterfinals:

Low Ki vs. CM Punk

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Before the match began, Spanky strutted down to the ringside area and joined James Hill and Steve Corino at commentary, much to their surprise. CM Punk was not at all happy to see the flamboyant young man, stemming from their match at The Era of Honor Begins. Spanky never moved from his seat, but Punk was still frequently distracted by his presence. Against an opponent the caliber of Low Ki, this was a recipe for disaster. Low Ki was in a surly mood thanks to Christopher Daniels, and Punk bore the brunt of his anger, receiving a wide variety of kicks. When Punk managed to stay focused and not obsess over Spanky’s presence, he made a respectable showing. In the end, though, it just wasn’t enough: Low Ki advanced in the tournament after driving Punk into the mat with the Ki Krusher ’99.

Winner:Low Ki in 11:24 with the Ki Krusher ’99

ROH Championship Tournament Quarterfinals:

Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe

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Bryan Danielson felt that he had something to prove after suffering the pinfall in the main event of the first show. He didn’t back down an inch from his larger opponent, doing his best to wear Joe doing using his mat wrestling prowess. But Joe demonstrated that he has more going for him than just size and strength, as he showed surprising speed and quickness in escaping some of Danielson’s holds. Joe executed some submissions of his own, but the skilled Danielson managed to either escape or reach the ropes before any serious damage could be done.

Eventually, though, Joe got on a big-time roll, pummeling Danielson with a barrage of strikes and power moves. Danielson was hanging on by a thread, just barely kicking out after a huge powerbomb, and inching his way to the ropes while in the clutches of an expertly applied STF. Joe continued his dominance, and it appeared to be only a matter of time before his offensive force finished the American Dragon off.

Suddenly, Danielson caught the Samoan in an inside cradle, holding him down just long enough to pull off the victory. The fans cheered Danielson’s toughness in withstanding the assault, but Joe was not as impressed. The ticked-off big man attacked a weary Danielson after the match, giving him several hard kicks to the ribs and powerbombing him into the turnbuckle with frightening velocity. A horde of officials and event staff finally pulled Joe away, but the damage had been done, and Bryan Danielson’s tournament future appeared to be in serious jeopardy.

Winner: Bryan Danielson in 13:16 with an inside cradle

--

“James Hill here backstage with Christopher Daniels during intermission. That was an impressive victory, Chris, and even better, you beat Homicide straight up. Can we expect a similar result in your semifinal match against AJ Styles, or will you attempt to cut corners like you did at the first show?”

Daniels smiled and rolled his eyes at Hill. “Jerry, you just don’t get it, do you? I beat Homicide, just like I beat Low Ki and Bryan Danielson. How I get the win is of no consequence; all that matters is that my hand is raised. And rest assured, my hand will be raised one more time tonight. AJ Styles, many people have taken to calling you the ‘next big superstar’ in professional wrestling. And youth being what it is, I’m sure you’ve let all that hype go to your head. Listen well, kid: you’re out of your league. You may have somehow, someway defeated Steve Corino earlier tonight, but Steve Corino is not Christopher Daniels. I am the alpha male here in Ring of Honor, and absolutely nothing will prevent me from fulfilling my destiny: becoming the Ring of Honor Champion.”

Daniels turned away, seemingly finished speaking, but then turned back towards Hill and the camera. “Oh, and Styles: if you think that tramp Alexis Laree is going to be able to help you, think again. The Fallen Angel never goes in without a contingency plan.”

--

CM Punk stared into the camera, a glare on his face. “Spanky, I thought I’d rid myself of you back at the last show. But clearly I was wrong. I don’t know where the hell you get off showing up during my tournament match; the match I earned by driving your goofy ass into the mat with the Pepsi Plunge. But I can promise you this: I will not forgive or forget what you did to me tonight. You will live to regret the day that you cost CM Punk a chance to become the ROH champion.”

--

ROH Championship Tournament Semifinals:

AJ Styles (w/Alexis Laree) vs. Christopher Daniels

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Styles came into the match riding a big wave of momentum after his tremendous victory over Steve Corino earlier in the night, and the fans clearly wanted to see the up-and-comer prevail once again. For his part, Daniels was completely unaffected by the crowd’s adamant support of Styles, even sarcastically joining in during a “Let’s go AJ” chant.

For the second time in the night, AJ proved himself worthy of being in the ring against a much more experienced opponent. Daniels reached into his bag of tricks at various times, doing things like stalling on the floor, using the ring ropes for leverage, and sneaking in the occasional thumb to the eye when the referee’s attention was diverted. But Styles kept his cool and did not let Daniels’ tactics phase him. As the match continued, it seemed that nothing Daniels tried was completely effective. Styles just kept getting stronger and more confident as the match wore on, and the crowd could sense it, urging him on.

Daniels attempted to whip Styles into the ropes, but AJ showed his athleticism by springing off of the middle rope, leaping over Daniels and dropping him into the canvas with an inverted DDT. Believing that he had a chance to finish Daniels off and move into the finals, AJ ascended to the top rope.

Out of nowhere, a beautiful Asian woman emerged from the crowd and attacked Alexis Laree at ringside. This development distracted AJ Styles for just a moment, but it was a very costly hesitation. He attempted his leap, trying to put Daniels away with the Spiral Tap, but the added delay allowed the Fallen Angel to roll out of the way. After AJ’s high risk did not pay off, he quickly went down to defeat thanks to the Last Rites.

Winner: Christopher Daniels in 21:37 with the Last Rites

Daniels and the Asian woman left together as Alexis Laree glared at them, checking on Styles. As Styles left the ring and prepared to leave ringside, Steve Corino climbed onto the announce table and clapped, mocking him for his defeat. AJ made to charge at him, but Alexis and some officials held him back.

ROH Championship Tournament Semifinals:

Low Ki vs. Bryan Danielson

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Bryan Danielson was clearly the worse for wear after his post-match beating by Samoa Joe, as he had his ribs taped and was in obvious pain simply walking to the ring. Low Ki showed his respect for his opponent by shaking his hand before the bell rang, but once the match began he showed no mercy, targeting Danielson’s injured ribs with kicks and submission holds.

The American Dragon may have been in agony, but he wasn’t going to give up on his shot at becoming ROH’s first champion. He battled on courageously, earning the approval of the crowd with his gutsy performance. Danielson and Low Ki engaged in a fierce battle, both men using a mixture of submissions, strikes (kicks for Low Ki, elbows and European uppercuts for Danielson,) and the occasional quick ‘flash pin’ attempt, but neither man could put the other away.

After a Shining Wizard that left Danielson prone on the mat, Low Ki climbed to the top ropes, seemingly preparing his Phoenix Splash. But Danielson summoned a second wind and cut Low Ki off, crotching him on the top turnbuckle and scoring with a belly to back suplex off the top rope. Danielson tried a top rope maneuver of his own, a diving headbutt, but Low Ki moved and the Dragon ate canvas. Danielson staggered to his feet using the ropes for assistance, only to receive a Tidal Krush in the corner. Low Ki hoisted up a dazed Danielson and finished him off with the Ki Krusher ’99, punching his ticket to the final round. The live show ended with Low Ki helping Danielson up and shaking his hand, the two honorable competitors showing their respect for one another after a tough contest.

Winner: Low Ki in 25:14 with the Ki Krusher ’99

--

Steve Corino stormed towards the exit of the building at a brisk pace, James Hill trailing him.

“Steve, you’ve been quite evasive since your loss to AJ Styles in the opening match tonight. Your derisive applause after Styles lost to Christopher Daniels in the semifinals suggests to me that you aren’t quite happy about…”

“Not happy? Of course I’m not happy, you idiot!” Corino shouted. “AJ Styles pulled off the biggest miracle since the U.S. hockey team at the 1980 Olympics! That punk kid isn’t even fit to lace my boots! He had no business competing in this damn tournament to begin with! Now, because of some fluke loss, I’ll have to sit and watch while someone else becomes the first Ring of Honor Champion. That title was supposed to be ‘mine’; it may as well have been custom-designed for my waist.”

“Nevertheless, Steve, you and AJ had a phenomenal match. Surely the standing ovation the crowd gave the two of you afterwards has to make you feel at least a little bit proud?”

“Why should I give a damn what those simpletons think? Their approval is absolutely worthless to me. All I care about is my status as the best wrestler in the world, and the bank account that comes along with it. The fans can go watch that match and talk about how great it was. All I’ll remember is the fact that AJ Styles robbed me of my birthright: being the first ROH Champion! And he will pay for it.”

--

Christopher Daniels and the vivacious Asian woman from earlier stood in his locker room, celebrating his advancement into the finals of the ROH Championship tournament. Daniels looked into the camera with an ear-to-ear grin on his face.

“What did I tell you, AJ Styles? I said that I had a plan, and it worked to perfection. I instructed this lovely lady to wait for an opportune moment and lay out Alexis Laree. I knew that you’d take your eye off the ball if she was in danger, and you played right into my hands. Kids; so predictable.” The woman laughed, and Daniels shared a smile with her before speaking again.

“As for the woman to my right: ROH, meet Gail Kim. But she doesn’t need any introductions to the higher-ups here, does she? When Gail first heard about the formation of Ring of Honor, she was very excited. Finally, a chance for me to be taken seriously as a wrestler, she thought to herself. And so she called up the ROH offices, hoping to receive a match on the first show. But what did these officials, supposedly interested in bringing back the honor and integrity to professional wrestling, tell this world-class female wrestler? Sorry, Gail, but ROH isn’t interested in fielding a women’s division at this time. When word got to me about this injustice, I extended the olive branch to Gail. If ROH wasn’t going to open the door for her, she could simply kick it down. She will work side-by-side with me, and establish herself as the most dominant female in ROH. And as we continue to rule ROH, eventually they will have no choice but to cave to our demands and create a women’s division, with Gail as the face of it.”

Gail smiled up at Daniels, who wrapped his arm around her shoulders before continuing on. “Gail will be an integral part of my movement to rule ROH, but it won’t stop with her. I will look to recruit more soldiers to my cause: people who think like us, who recognize that how you get the job done is irrelevant. The only thing that matters is results, ‘honor’ and ‘integrity’ be damned. And if anyone in ROH doubts that this is the truth, I will prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt on the next show, when I defeat Low Ki and become ROH Champion. How will you feel, Ricky Steamboat, watching me take that championship belt and prove that the ideals that you founded this company on are worthless? I will take great pleasure in…”

Suddenly, there was a loud bang as the previously locked dressing room door was kicked open. Gail screeched and hid behind Daniels as Low Ki stepped into the room. Daniels took a defensive posture, preparing to defend himself from an attack, but Low Ki simply walked right up to him, coming face-to-face with the Fallen Angel without throwing a blow.

“Christopher Daniels, at the end of our triple threat match, you didn’t just attack me. You attacked everything that I stand for; everything that Ring of Honor stands for. This company was created to showcase the greatest wrestlers in the world, to give us a place where our skills would be appreciated. With one sneak attack, you ruined what should have been the dawn of a new age in professional wrestling. An age in which things would be decided in the ring, and the fans could appreciate the art of wrestling without having to deal with all of the B.S. But it’s not too late; ROH can still be the place that Ricky Steamboat envisioned when he created it. All that needs to happen is for me to defeat you, and become Ring of Honor Champion. I will carry that belt with dignity, and as champion I will bring to ROH the same class that Ricky Steamboat had. Christopher Daniels, you will not tarnish the reputation of ROH any further; I will not allow it. When it’s time to crown a champion, all you need to do is be...ready...because I will be coming at you with all of my might.”

Low Ki slowly backed out of the room, never taking his eyes off of Christopher Daniels. Daniels glared at him as Gail Kim rubbed his back soothingly, the tension in the room clear.

--

Quick Results:

AJ Styles over Steve Corino

Christopher Daniels over Homicide

Low Ki over CM Punk

Bryan Danielson over Samoa Joe

Christopher Daniels over AJ Styles

Low Ki over Bryan Danielson

critical-23: 5-1
haloed: 5-1

ya_its_me: 3-3

critical-23 · March 18, 2009

Arrrrrrgggghhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!

I missed one!!! But kudos on bringing in Gail Kim. KUTGW and cain't wait for the next show!

The Final Countdown · March 18, 2009

now that is a top-notch card my friend. I don't have any picks for you!

I thought it would be a killer card when I was putting it together, but a combination of two poor chemistry matchups (including my semi main event) and the crowd crapping all over any non-wrestling stuff added up to it actually not being as good as my first show, which shocked me. It was still good enough to boost my popularity though, so at least there's that.

And no worries about not doing picks. I welcome any and all feedback, picks or no. I'd even welcome any criticisms that people may have. Preferably constructive and not just "You suck", but I'll take what I can get.

Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe
Mr. Small Package

I chuckled when I first read this, seeing as how I knew that's EXACTLY how that match was ending. Get out of my head!

Arrrrrrgggghhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!

I missed one!!! But kudos on bringing in Gail Kim. KUTGW and cain't wait for the next show!

Well, AJ over Corino was supposed to be an upset, so don't feel too bad.

Gail was actually not my first choice as Daniels' valet: I tried to bring in Tracy Brooks, but she wanted way too much money. She would've made more per show than the guy she was managing! No thanks.

The Final Countdown · March 18, 2009

Road to the Title: Wrap-up

February 22nd, 2002

10:21 p.m.

"Something wrong, James? You look pretty bummed." I looked up and saw Christopher Daniels looking at me.

"Oh, just a little disappointed with how the show went, that's all."

Daniels raised an eyebrow, confused. "Why? It went pretty well."

I shook my head and sighed. "Pretty well isn't going to cut it. We need to be great if we ever want to get anywhere."

Daniels chuckled in response. "James, are you a baseball fan?"

"Yes, even though my Dodgers haven't won a playoff game in years." I replied, confused by the change in subject.

"OK, good. I'll put this in baseball terms then. Era of Honor Begins was probably a triple off of the wall, if not a home run, for a company of our size. Tonight's show was, say, a solid double. Could've been better, sure, but it still got the job done. Point is, not every show is going to be an instant classic. And I would bet that there will be shows that don't turn out as well as tonight's did, even. So, everything didn't go over exactly like you'd planned. It was still a successful show, overall. And, for my part, I apologize about the match with AJ. I'm just as disappointed with how that went as you are. But all any of us can do is just use it as motivation going forward. That's what I'm going to do: I'm going to do everything humanly possible to tear the house down with Low Ki next show."

I nodded and smiled, Daniels' talk cheering me up a bit. "Thanks, Chris. I think I needed that."

"Any time, Mr. Booker Man. Well, I'm going to get going. See you in a couple of weeks." The Fallen Angel, fast becoming arguably the franchise player of our new company, left me alone with my thoughts once again. I decided to take a fresh look at the way things went down:

-Before the show officially began, we had Spanky go over Jack Evans in a dark match. I figured if we were going to pay Spanky to come out for commentary during Punk's match, we might as well squeeze him into a match, too.

-In another pre-show segment, Steve Corino tried to get the crowd worked up with an in-ring promo. Despite Corino being one of our best on the mic, the crowd crapped all over this. It was a sign of things to come.

-I am a firm believer in having a great match to open up the show. I figured Samoa Joe vs. Bryan Danielson would be the best match of the Quarterfinal round, so I had been planning on putting that on first. Corino had to talk me into giving he and AJ Styles the opening spot. It's a good thing I caved, because they were tremendous. Easily the match of the night, and it was probably even better than the triple threat that headlined our first show. Needless to say, we'll be coming back to this matchup down the road.

-Christopher Daniels and Homicide put on a pretty good match. Homicide was very popular with the New York crowd, and it added to the match. There were occasional spots in the match where the psychology seemed a bit off, though.

-Low Ki & CM Punk was just sort of there. I figured out all of the other first round matchups, and they were the two left over. They did not have very good chemistry in the ring.

-Bryan Danielson and Samoa Joe had a good match, even if it wasn't quite as good as I had expected. The crowd HATED the post-match attack, though.

-As Daniels eluded to, his match with AJ Styles was extremely disappointing. I thought they might be the odds-on favorite for match of the night heading in, but instead it was a pretty big let-down. They just didn't seem to 'click', for whatever reason. I should take my share of the blame, too: the crowd hated the finish, with Gail Kim getting involved.

-Low Ki and Danielson ended the show on a positive note, thankfully. A fun match, even if it was completely outclassed by the opener. Of course, everything on this show was.

Daniels, and Ricky Steamboat before him, both seemed pretty adamant that this show, while not on par with our debut, was still a positive step forward for us. Maybe that was true, but I couldn't help but want more. I just had to hope out next show, on which we'd crown ROH's first champion, went more smoothly...

ya_its_me · March 18, 2009

Gah...3-3...

The Final Countdown · March 19, 2009

Around the wrestling world in February 2002

February 2002: News & Notes

-“Nature Boy” Ric Flair announced his impending retirement. Terry Funk also announced that he would be hanging up the boots, but as this is approximately the 145,678th time he has said this, it wasn’t considered quite as newsworthy.

-Big Dick Dudley (real name Alex Rizzo) passed away on Sunday, February 3rd, at the age of 34.

-Jim “Warrior” Hellwig announced he would be returning to the wrestling business. Tassel makers the world over rejoiced.

-Mitsuya Nagai won the vacant AJPW World Junior Heavyweight title, defeating Kendo Ka Shin.

-The WWF called up Randy Orton, son of Bob Orton Jr, from their developmental system.

-NJPW’s big PPV show on February 16th witnessed three title changes. Masahiro Chono became a 2-time IWGP Heavyweight champion, defeating lumbering oaf Giant Singh to win the vacant title. Koji Kanemoto and El Samurai captured the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team belts from Gedo & Jado. And finally, Tiger Mask IV won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight belt from Kazunari Murakami, who had himself won the previously vacated title earlier that same day during a TV taping.

-The WWF’s Smackdown brand held their No Way Out PPV on February 17th. Clearly they are planning for their future, as the main event of the evening saw Kevin Nash defeat The Rock, while Hulk Hogan was victorious over Chris Benoit in the semi-main event. There was only one title match: Raven retained the Hardcore championship in a four-way match that also included Tajiri, Spike Dudley and some guy named Brock Lesnar.

-Lita became a two-time WWF Women’s champion, winning the belt from Trish Stratus on the Feb 18th episode of Raw.

-Televisa dropped both AAA & CMLL Lucha Libre from their schedule.

-The WWF chose not to renew Scott Hall’s contract, which ran out at the end of the month.

((OOC: I find that keeping track of the goings-on in other promotions helps me become more immersed in the game world, so I thought I'd include the major happenings in a monthly set-up like this. Is this something I should keep doing, or would you rather I only post things that have to do with ROH?))

The Final Countdown · March 19, 2009

March 8th, 2002

http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/banner_ROH2.jpg

We began with eight. We're down to 2.

One week from tonight, on March 15th, 2002, Low Ki and "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels will go to war, and the stakes will be sky-high: the winner will live on forever in the annals of pro wrestling. Years from now, when wrestling historians discuss the legacy of Ring of Honor, the winner of this match will be the first name mentioned. Only one can become the first ever Ring of Honor Champion. Who will it be?

ROH will present Crowning a Champion on Friday night, March 15th, 2002, from the ECW Arena. Here is the full match line-up:

For the ROH Championship:

Low Ki vs. Christopher Daniels

Bad blood has existed between these two since the end of our first show, The Era of Honor Begins. Each man has a very different viewpoint on what professional wrestling should be. Low Ki believes in the honor of combat, and is no doubt just the kind of man that ROH founder Ricky Steamboat would love to represent the company as its champion. Christopher Daniels, on the other hand, has a win-at-all-costs attitude; he will freely bend or even break the rules if he feels it will benefit him. Can Low Ki uphold the ROH ideals, or will Christopher Daniels prove that, as he claims, integrity and honor are overrated?

Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe

Bryan Danielson defeated Samoa Joe with an out-of-nowhere inside cradle to advance into the semifinals of the ROH title tournament. It was a very costly victory, though, as Samoa Joe brutalized him after the fact. Danielson asked for another match with Joe to try and exact some vengeance for the attack that sent him into his match with Low Ki at less than 100%. Joe, eager to prove that Danielson's victory was a fluke, quickly accepted the challenge.

AJ Styles & The Amazing Red vs. The Briscoes

After Steve Corino goaded him by sarcastically applauding following his semifinal loss to Christopher Daniels, AJ Styles challenged Corino to another match. Corino, however, declined the challenge, saying that he would exact his revenge on Styles only when "the time was right." Eager to compete nonetheless, AJ scrambled to find another match. He and Amazing Red gained a mutual respect for each other following their exciting encounter that kicked off The Era of Honor Begins, and so they agreed to team up and take on The Briscoes. AJ & Red may be the two most athletically gifted wrestlers in ROH, but will that athleticism be enough for this first-time team to defeat The Briscoes, or will the brothers' experience advantage give them the edge?

Spanky vs. CM Punk

After CM Punk defeated Spanky on the first show, he believed that he had put Spanky and his...peculiar behavior behind him. But Spanky showed up during Punk's tournament match with Low Ki, and Punk was clearly never able to fully focus on the match. Now, they will have a rematch. Punk will look to gain a measure of revenge on Spanky for distracting him. Who knows what Spanky's motivation is, but he will be there.

Homicide vs. Tony Mamaluke

Homicide may have lost to Christopher Daniels in the Quarterfinals of the tournament, but he looked very impressive in defeat, nearly pulling off the win several times. He will look to get back on the winning track against Mamaluke, who came close to making Steve Corino tap out on the first show.

Dan Maff vs. Steve Corino

Corino rejected AJ Styles' challenge, but he will still be competing on the show. Dan Maff is primarily a tag team wrestler, and so he has to be considered a heavy underdog in this match. But with a man as big and strong as Maff, one big throw could decide the match.

Prediction List:

Low Ki vs. Christopher Daniels (for the ROH Championship)
Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe
AJ Styles & Amazing Red vs. The Briscoes
Spanky vs. CM Punk
Homicide vs. Tony Mamaluke
Dan Maff vs. Steve Corino

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Ring of Honor-We Don't Imitate...We Innovate (2002)

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