The Final Countdown Posted March 27, 2009 Author Share Posted March 27, 2009 April 5th, 2002 http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/banner_ROH2.jpg For years, Missouri was a wrestling hotbed. St. Louis was one of the hottest territories of the National Wrestling Alliance, and was the site of countless showdowns for the NWA World championship. Legends like Ric Flair, Harley Race and Lou Thesz all competed in the region. Now, Missouri will experience the next generation of wrestling legends—the rising stars of Ring of Honor. ROH will make its Midwest debut on Friday, April 12th, with Epic Encounter. Low Ki & Bryan Danielson vs. Christopher Daniels & Samoa Joe After his broken wrist kept him out of Boston Massacre, Low Ki will be back in action at Epic Encounter, as he tries to redeem himself against the man who capitalized on his injury in the finals of the ROH title tournament, Christopher Daniels. But is Low Ki fully healed, or is his pride causing him to return to the ring prematurely? Bryan Danielson and Samoa Joe have their own issues, dating back to Danielson’s out-of-nowhere victory over Joe in the quarter-finals of the ROH title tournament. Joe felt the victory was a fluke, and attacked Danielson after the match. A rematch and subsequent 30-minute time limit draw did nothing to settle the bad blood. Both men will be gunning for each other in this tag match. But how will the two teams coexist? Low Ki and Danielson may have shaken hands after their semi-final tournament match, but Danielson could possibly have some lingering resentment over the loss. And after Samoa Joe settles his issues with Danielson, one would think winning the ROH title would be right at the top of his list. Will he be able to work cohesively with the man who holds what he desires? Spanky & ??? vs. The Second City Saints (CM Punk & Colt Cabana) Spanky has had his problems with both members of the Saints, and they’ve used their strength in numbers to punish him over the last two shows. Now, ROH officials will give him a chance to even up the odds. But who will Spanky choose to team with him? Or, perhaps more to the point, is anyone in ROH peculiar enough to actually agree to be his partner? Homicide vs. Christian York Christian York, along with frequent tag team partner Joey Matthews, will try to reign supreme in the ROH tag team division, but York will make his debut in singles competition. He will have his hands full with The Notorious 187 Homicide, who is quickly establishing himself as a rising star to watch in ROH. Jack Evans vs. Kazarian The debuting Kazarian has no shortage of confidence—in the past, he has referred to himself as ‘The Future.’ Nothing less than immediate success will satisfy this brash young star who has cut his teeth on the California independent scene. Jack Evans will look to spoil the debut with his amazing agility. Tony Mamaluke vs. James Maritato Mamaluke and Maritato are very familiar with one another—they are frequent tag partners, and they even held the ECW World Tag Team Championships. But each man has an 0-2 record thus far in ROH, and is anxious to turn things around. They have agreed to try and take out their mutual frustrations against one another. One of them will manage to break their winless streak, but how will the loser react? The Amazing Red vs. Matt Sydal The Amazing Red came tantalizingly close to defeating ROH champion Christopher Daniels at Boston Massacre. He was not successful, but his tremendous effort proved that he could be an upper echelon member of the ROH roster. Red will look to follow up his tough defeat with a victory over Matt Sydal. Sydal, a local St. Louis-area wrestler, has only been wrestling professionally since 2000, but his impressive agility already has some independent wrestling followers noting him as someone to watch in the future. Prediction List: Low Ki & Bryan Danielson vs. Christopher Daniels & Samoa Joe Spanky & ??? vs. Second City Saints Homicide vs. Christian York Jack Evans vs. Kazarian Tony Mamaluke vs. James Maritato The Amazing Red vs. Matt Sydal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Final Countdown Posted March 27, 2009 Author Share Posted March 27, 2009 That's one thing I'd love to see added to TEW, the ability for people to unretire. It happens so often in the real world both in Japan and the US (add to the four mentioned above Mick Foley) it makes sense to make it a function of the game. Just for the heck of it, I may go into the editor a few months down the road and un-retire Funk and Abby, just to see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tizzyt Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 Low Ki & Bryan Danielson vs. Christopher Daniels & Samoa Joe Spanky & ??? vs. Second City Saints I don't wanna give a prediction on the match, though I will... but my guess for the mystery partner is Paul London, of course.. and what a fantastic match that would be.... I'm salivating at the thought of it Homicide vs. Christian York Jack Evans vs. Kazarian Tony Mamaluke vs. James Maritato The Amazing Red vs. Matt Sydal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottMulhern Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 Hi, I'm really enjoying the Dynasty, thought I'd wade in with some predictions. Low Ki & Bryan Danielson vs. Christopher Daniels & Samoa Joe I'm going for Low Ki and Danielson here, Low Ki'll get the win on The Fallen Angel . Spanky & ??? vs. Second City Saints Spanky win get his win back to keep the feud going. I'd love to see Paul London in as his partner. Homicide vs. Christian York Homicide's a bad ass. Jack Evans vs. Kazarian Not really a Kaz fan in real life, but it's his debut so I think he'll get the win here. Tony Mamaluke vs. James Maritato Difficult one, I tossed a coin. The Amazing Red vs. Matt Sydal Red gets the win despite a good showing from Sydal. Keep up the good work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TribeWarpath Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 Low Ki & Bryan Danielson vs. Christopher Daniels & Samoa Joe Joe steals pin following blind tag with Daniels. Joe lets Daniels know he's coming for him next. Spanky & ??? vs. Second City Saints My prediction is also London as mystery partner as it seems the most logical. Homicide vs. Christian York I wonder if York has ever been a cop? Jack Evans vs. Kazarian Kaz to impress Tony Mamaluke vs. James Maritato Mamaluke should have no chance. The Amazing Red vs. Matt Sydal Sydal to give Red a run for his money, but come up just a bit short. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthsiddus2 Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 Prediction List: Low Ki & Bryan Danielson vs. Christopher Daniels & Samoa Joe Match could go either way but with the added bonus of The Church Daniels and Joe will win Spanky & ??? vs. Second City Saints again this match could go either way but I'm leaning towards the Second City Saints although this should be a 5* quality matchup Homicide vs. Christian York Sorry but Homicide is the obvious winner...... making York the jobber hhehe Jack Evans vs. Kazarian I don't know why but I see Kaz winning here Tony Mamaluke vs. James Maritato- Draw........ monster swerve anyone? hahaha The Amazing Red vs. Matt Sydal Red may be the new Rey Mysterio but his injuries prevent his full potential so I'm going with Matt Sydal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ya_its_me Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 Prediction List ----------------- Low Ki & Bryan Danielson v Christopher Daniels & Samoa Joe - Random pick, could go anyway like what siddus said. Spanky & ??? v Second City Saints -Big debut from someone, don't know who. Homicide v Christian York - Can't go wrong with the Notorious 187. Jack Evans v Kazarian - Random pick. Tony Mamaluke v James Maritato - Random pick. The Amazing Red v Matt Sydal - ROH is about to go AirBourne. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
critical-23 Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 Low Ki & Bryan Danielson vs. Christopher Daniels & Samoa Joe Ki and Danielson would be more of cohesive unit because Danielson has more honor (so far in this diary anyways). Daniels would probably walk out on Samoa Joe. Spanky & ??? vs. Second City Saints SCS are the more established team, as this is 2002. Although, with the all-mighty Editor of Life, you could probably change certain aspects of the game. Homicide vs. Christian York Between York and Matthews, JM is the workhorse of the team. Too bad that York has to face 'Cide who is on a roll. Jack Evans vs. Kazarian The Future is now!!! Sorry, but yeah I'll give Suicide before the injur--err, Frankie Kazarian the duke. Tony Mamaluke vs. James Maritato Way back in the real 2002, Mamaluke defeated Maritato and I thought that was a bunch of BS. Maritato would wack 'im and make it look like an accident!! The Amazing Red vs. Matt Sydal Hopefully, in your world, Red can stay healthy enough to reach his full potential. Sydal's is still in the early stages of his career. Either way, the match will be a great one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Final Countdown Posted March 29, 2009 Author Share Posted March 29, 2009 April 12th, 2002: Epic Encounter http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/logoROH.jpg presents: Epic Encounter April 12th, 2002 From the Wild Acres Gymnasium in Overland, Missouri Attendance: 127 “Hello fans, this is James Hill welcoming you to the DVD release of ROH’s debut show in the Midwest, Epic Encounter. I am with Low Ki and Bryan Danielson, who will team up in tonight’s main event, where they will take on Samoa Joe and the ROH champion, Christopher Daniels. Low Ki, it’s common knowledge that you suffered a broken wrist about a month ago. We all saw what happened when you attempted to fight through the injury at Crowning a Champion. In retrospect, do you regret that decision? Low Ki held his arm up to the camera to emphasize the injured wrist. “It is always hard for a warrior to back down from a battle, whether he is completely healthy or not. As a result, I refused the postponement offered to me by ROH, and entered the title match at less than my full capacity. Some people, Christopher Daniels included, felt that I was foolish to do so. But even though I may have lost the match, I do not regret my decision. If I had allowed the match to be postponed, I would have regretted it. Even if it had led to me becoming the first ROH champion, it would have been a hollow victory for me. I would rather do battle and lose than win after a retreat.” “And what about tonight? Has your wrist fully recovered, or could you be rushing back into action earlier than you should be?” “I am ready to go to war. Christopher Daniels and Samoa Joe will not step into the ring with a wounded man; they will step into the ring with Low Ki at his best.” “But will you be able to work together with Bryan Danielson? You two have had two fierce battles so far in ROH; first, in the triple threat match at The Era of Honor Begins, and second, in the semi-finals of the ROH title tournament. Will you be able to put those past encounters behind you?” Bryan Danielson stepped forward to respond to this question. “James, the answer is yes. Low Ki and I have gone toe to toe in the past, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we do again in the future. But we both have a mutual respect for each other. If you remember, when Christopher Daniels cheap-shot Low Ki after the three-way at Era of Honor Begins, I came to Ki’s aid. And after he got the better of me in the tournament, I had no problem shaking Low Ki’s hand. I have a lot of respect for Low Ki, and I’ll have no problem teaming with him tonight. The question you should be asking is this: how will Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels coexist? Daniels will stop at nothing to achieve his own goals, and who says Joe won’t turn on Daniels if he thinks it could help him get an ROH title shot?” “Christopher Daniels, Samoa Joe, all you need to do is be…ready… -- After the Second City Saints made their way to the ring for the opening match, Spanky was introduced. He walked out to the ring alone, microphone in hand. “So, I bet everybody here’s just dying to know who the Spankmeister chose as his partner. Well, against opponents like this, I knew I needed to find someone I could trust. Someone who knows me like the back of my hand. Someone who would know what I was thinking without me having to say a word. And boy, did I ever find him! Gals and Pals, give it up for the one, the only… Bushwhacker Butch!” http://media.photobucket.com/image/Bushwhacker%20Butch/altreel/Wrestlers/Bushwhacker_Butch.jpg Butch Bushwhacker-stomped his way down the aisle and entered the ring. He did the familiar stomp around the ring, and Spanky joined in. As they passed the Saints’ corner, Colt Cabana joined in the march. CM Punk’s jaw dropped open as he watched the spectacle in disbelief. After another loop around the ring, they wound up back near Punk's corner. Punk put an end to the silliness with a Shining Wizard to the head of Butch. He rolled the fallen Bushwhacker to the floor with his foot, and Spanky retreated to a vacant corner. “Well, shoot! I bet you’re feeling real proud of yourself, Punky! Good thing I brought a backup. Paul London, come on down!” Spanky said in his best Bob Barker impression. Spanky and Paul London vs. The Second City Saints (CM Punk and Colt Cabana) http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/Spanky.jpg & http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/PaulLondon.jpg vs. http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/CMPunk.jpg & http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/ColtCabana2.jpg Spanky went outside the ROH roster and brought in London, a fellow Shawn Michaels protégé. It appeared to be a good decision, as they exhibited very good teamwork. Their similar fast-paced wrestling styles complemented each other very well, and they pulled off some impressive double-team moves. The Saints were not to be outdone, though. They did a good job of making frequent tags so the man in the ring was fresh. Whenever London & Spanky would start to build some momentum with their speed, the Saints would manage to tag out and get the weary man out. Despite their differing styles, these two teams are quite evenly matched, and neither team ever looked particularly dominant. Towards the end, Cabana caught London in mid-air during a moonsault attempt, and turned it into a shoulderbreaker. He tried to follow that up with his patented Colt 45, but London broke the grip and countered with an armdrag. He made the tag out to Spanky, who stunned Colt with a superkick and dropped him with the Sliced Bread #2. London cut Punk off, preventing him from making the save, and Spanky finally got a measure of revenge on the Second City Saints by scoring the pinfall. Winners: Spanky and Paul London in 15:36 with a Sliced Bread #2 by Spanky on Colt Cabana Jack Evans vs. Kazarian http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/JackEvans.jpg vs. http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/FrankieKazarian.jpg The debuting Kazarian had no shortage of confidence, taunting the young high-flyer Evans before the match began. But along with that confidence is great wrestling ability, as Kazarian proved during the match. Rather than doing his best to win the match, though, Kazarian seemed to be more interested in showcasing himself and his talents. He would hit Evans with a nice move that most other wrestlers would follow with a pinfall attempt, but Kazarian would choose to show off instead. The fans disliked Kazarian’s ****y attitude, and rooted for Evans. Jack gave an admirable effort, and pulled off some impressive aerial maneuvers that temporarily derailed Kazarian. In the end, though, the newcomer picked up the win in his debut with the Wave of the Future. Winner: Kazarian in 10:11 with the Wave of the Future Homicide vs. Christian York http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/Homicide4.jpg vs. http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/ChristianYork.jpg Tag team specialist Christian York attacked Homicide before the opening bell, hoping to get the jump on his foe. He managed to get the early edge, but The Notorious 187 turned things around by blocking a lariat and dropping York with an Ace Crusher. Homicide took control of the match from there, frustrating York with a mixture of technical wrestling and brawling tactics. York would manage to pull off brief offensive flurries, but each one was short-lived. After narrowly reaching the ropes to break Homicide’s STF, a worn-down Christian York fell victim to a hard-hitting lariat. Winner: Homicide in 13:03 with a lariat -- Intermission opened backstage, where Christopher Daniels, Samoa Joe, and Gail Kim were all standing in the hallway outside a locker room. “Low Ki, your continued foolishness amuses me to no end,” Daniels said. “Not only did your pride make it easier for me to become the ROH champion, now it’s causing you to rush back prematurely in some misguided attempt at redemption. You may claim that you’re 100%, but I don’t buy it. For your sake, I hope you’re telling the truth. Because if you’re not, I will go after that wrist again, and put you back on the shelf—permanently. “And I know what some people are saying—there’s no way Christopher Daniels and Samoa Joe can possibly work together. But we will prove you wrong. Because Samoa Joe knows that I hold the powerhere in ROH, and if he cooperates with me tonight, I will be more than happy to grant him an ROH title shot.” As Daniels finished talking, Samoa Joe’s face turned stony. He reached out and grabbed the champ by the shoulder, roughly turning him so they were face to face. The big man glared at Daniels before speaking. “You will grant me? No, Christopher Daniels, you will not grant Samoa Joe anything. If I want something, I don’t sit back and wait for it. I take it. I want that ROH title that you’ve got that little skank holding right now. And rest assured, Chris, that when the time is right, I will take it. Right now, my focus is on proving that Bryan Danielson’s victory over me was a fluke. And if you stay out of my way and let me take care of that tonight, maybe I’ll let you walk out of there in one piece. But if you get in my way, I will not hesitate to give you a small taste of what’s in store for you if you’ve still got that ROH title when I come looking for it. And that…” Joe sneered, “is the gospel…according to the Samoan Submission Machine.” -- The Amazing Red vs. Matt Sydal (w/Daizee Haze) http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/AmazingRed.jpg vs. http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/MattSydal2.jpg The relatively unknown Matt Sydal may be green, but he has the athletic talent to make a serious impact in the wrestling business. He was able to match Red’s lightning-quick offense step for step, something very few wrestlers in the world are capable of. In addition, Red seemed a step off of his game, as the timing of some of his moves was a bit off. Sydal used that against him, and came close to scoring the upset on more than one occasion. A breathtaking standing moonsault by Sydal brought the crowd to its feet in appreciation, but Red managed to kick out. Sydal gave a great effort, but the Code Red finished off a short, but incredibly action-packed, matchup. Winner: The Amazing Red in 07:03 with the Code Red Tony Mamaluke vs. James Maritato http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/TonyMamaluke.jpg vs. http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/JamesMaritato.jpg These two frequent tag partners shook hands before the match began, signifying that this was not about hatred or hostility, but rather mutual frustration and the desire to put together some positive momentum. The more experienced Maritato took control of the match early, controlling Mamaluke on the mat with his grappling skills. Mamaluke is no slouch when it comes to chain wrestling, though, and before long he was matching his partner hold for hold. Both men are well versed in submission wrestling, and the bulk of the match reflected that. A good chunk of the match was spent on the mat, as both men applied various holds in an attempt to force a submission. As the match passed the 15-minute mark, however, the intensity kicked up a notch as Maritato slugged his partner in the face with a solid right hand. This set off a brief slugfest, each man trying to outlast the other and break his winless streak. Maritato got the better of the mini-brawl, and seemed to be on the verge of finishing his partner off. He lifted Mamaluke up for a brainbuster or vertical suplex, but Mamaluke shifted his weight and landed on his feet behind his partner. From there, Mamaluke locked his stunned partner in the Sicilian Stretch and got a submission in what many would consider a bit of an upset. After the match, Mamaluke helped his partner to his feet, and offered him a handshake. Maritato was visibly frustrated at the close loss, but accepted his partner’s handshake, Winner: Tony Mamaluke in 20:26 with the Sicilian Stretch Low Ki and Bryan Danielson vs. Christopher Daniels (w/Gail Kim) and Samoa Joe http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/LowKi.jpg & http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/BryanDanielson.jpg vs. http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/ChristopherDaniels2.jpg & http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/SamoaJoe.jpg Before the match began, Low Ki and Bryan Danielson talked strategy in the corner. Christopher Daniels and Samoa Joe, on the other hand, did no strategizing whatsoever. The tense atmosphere from their earlier backstage vignette carried over, both prior to and during the match. Danielson and Joe started the match off, and picked up right where they left off at Crowning a Champion. They exchanged wrestling holds to start with, but Joe ended that in a hurry with a devastating headbutt. He took advantage of a reeling Danielson, pummeling him with a barrage of strikes before switching to submission holds, trying to force the American Dragon to tap out. After countering a rear naked choke attempt with a standing switch, Danielson ended Joe’s dominance with a belly to back suplex, and wisely made the tag to Low Ki. Joe got up to his feet and was ready to trade blows with him, but Christopher Daniels tagged himself in from the apron, much to Joe’s displeasure. The Fallen Angel immediately went for Low Ki’s wrist, determined to find out for himself if Low Ki had truly recovered. Low Ki answered the question emphatically, using the arm freely and showing no traces of discomfort as he battered the ROH champion. Low Ki and Danielson were true to their words from earlier, as they worked together as a cohesive unit throughout the match. Conversely, Daniels and Joe were constantly at odds. They tagged out far less frequently then Danielson and Low Ki, as they each tried to win the match almost single-handedly. This led to more than once instance of a winded Daniels or Joe being dominated by a fresh opponent. Even when they made tags, it was clear from their body language that they wanted nothing to do with each other. Low Ki had Daniels in an octopus stretch, and Joe came in to grudgingly break it up. He did so, but was then knocked through the ropes by Bryan Danielson, who tackled the big man after a running start. The momentum caused Danielson to fall out of the ring as well. Rather than returning to their corners after they recovered, the two rivals started battling on the floor, neither man giving an inch as they engaged in an intense showdown. This left Low Ki and Christopher Daniels alone in the ring. Daniels had by this point accepted that Low Ki’s wrist was fine, and modified his strategy accordingly. After knocking Daniels down with a stiff kick to the head, Low Ki went to the top rope, but Daniels recovered in time to cut him off with a palm strike and bring him back down to the canvas with a cross-arm Iconoclasm. The champ tried to follow this up with a double-jump moonsault, but Low Ki rolled out of the way. A fired-up Ki took advantage of the miss, finishing Daniels off with the Ki Krusher ’99 and handing the ROH champion his first loss in the promotion’s brief history. Winners: Low Ki and Bryan Danielson in 31:14 with a Ki Krusher ’99 by Low Ki on Christopher Daniels Quick Results: Spanky and Paul London over CM Punk and Colt Cabana Kazarian over Jack Evans Homicide over Christian York The Amazing Red over Matt Sydal Tony Mamaluke over James Maritato Low Ki and Bryan Danielson over Christopher Daniels and Samoa Joe ScottMulhern: 6-0 ya_its_me_: 4-2 critical-23: 4-2 TribeWarpath: 3-3 tizyt: 2-4 darthsiddus2: 2-4 Congrats to the new kid on the block, ScottMulhern, for becoming the 2nd person to record a perfect score! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthsiddus2 Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 and that's why I don't do predictions hahaha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Final Countdown Posted March 29, 2009 Author Share Posted March 29, 2009 Epic Encounter: Wrap-up April 12th, 2002 10:32 p.m. “You looked good out there, Ki. No lingering pain in the wrist, I hope?” Low Ki shook his head in response to my question. “Nope; I feel great. Good as new. I still say I could’ve worked at Boston Massacre.” “I know, I know. But I didn’t see any need to rush you back out there.” “Well, since I proved that I’m good to go, we can move forward with my program with Daniels, right?” “Yes, of course. I put this tag match together primarily so I could be sure you were physically ready to work a singles match. Now that you’ve passed the test, we can set up that rematch you both have been anxious for.” “Good. I know Chris and I will make up for our first match.” “I have no doubt.” Our conversation finished, Low Ki headed off, and I paused to reflect on the show we’d just completed. -The pre-show saw a bit of history, as we had the first women’s match in ROH history. Gail Kim went over Daizee Haze in a match that the crowd did not react well to. I don’t regret booking the match, though. I think both ladies have the potential to develop into solid female wrestlers, but that can only happen if they get the chance to work. I don’t plan on introducing a legit women’s division any time soon, but I will probably give the ladies more pre-show matches in the future. -The opening match between London & Spanky and the Second City Saints was OK, but a bit of a disappointment. I figured it’d at least live up to, if not surpass, the singles matches Spanky’s been having with the Saints, but that didn’t happen. This was mainly due to the performance of Spanky, who was really off his game. -Kazarian’s debut match against Jack Evans was a real let-down. I’m not really sure what went wrong here. Maybe Kaz isn’t quite as good as I’d thought. I was originally planning to put him into a major storyline starting on the next show, but I decided to hold off on any future plans for Kazarian until he turns in a better performance than he did tonight. -Homicide and Christian York was fine for what it was. Homicide got another win and kept his momentum going, while York got a little face time before he and Joey Matthews had their first tag match. This was actually a bit better than the tag match that opened the show, and was even on par with the main event, which I certainly did not see coming. -Matt Sydal is pretty much unknown to anyone who doesn’t live in the St. Louis area. I do happen to be an STL resident, and I’ve been pretty impressed with his development. I think he has a bright future, and I hope to slowly but steadily elevate him. It’s important to let the fans get to know him a bit before giving him any kind of significant push, though. He and Red had an OK match, but Red was a bit off. I don’t know if he was just coasting through or what, but it wasn’t anywhere near the kind of effort that he’s capable of. -Tony Mamaluke’s upset over James Maritato was supposed to be the beginning of a program between the two partners. But unfortunately, they aren’t nearly as good wrestling against each other. They make a good team, but there was just no chemistry to speak of with them on opposite sides of the ring. Thankfully, the begrudging post-match handshake that was supposed to plant the seeds for a rivalry can instead be used to get them back on the same page, and move forward with them as a tag team. -The main event tag match was decent, though not the kind of quality I’d expected from 4 guys of that caliber. Most importantly, Low Ki proved to me that he’s ready to resume his program with Daniels. We also continued the Danielson/Joe feud, and even established some tension between Joe and Daniels that we can turn into a future program if we choose. The match may not have been top-notch, but it got the job done. There was nothing spectacular about this show, but there wasn’t anything that bombed either. It served its purpose in furthering some of our main feuds, and it wasn’t a bad debut show in the Midwest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Final Countdown Posted March 29, 2009 Author Share Posted March 29, 2009 Tony Mamaluke vs. James Maritato Mamaluke should have no chance. Tony Mamaluke vs. James Maritato Way back in the real 2002, Mamaluke defeated Maritato and I thought that was a bunch of BS. Maritato would wack 'im and make it look like an accident!! I agree; I'm definitely more of a Maritato fan. If this had been intended as a one-off match, he'd have won for sure. But, as I said in the wrap-up, this was supposed to be the start of a feud between the two, which would have ultimately been won by Maritato. But Awful chemistry scrapped that, sadly. and that's why I don't do predictions hahaha Well, don't feel too bad. Both tag matches could have been considered toss-ups, and Mamaluke over Maritato was an upset. I'm much more surprised that someone managed a 6-0 than I am that two people went 2-4. If you don't want to do predictions, though, that's cool. But an occasional comment would still be much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Final Countdown Posted March 30, 2009 Author Share Posted March 30, 2009 April 16th, 2002 http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/banner_ROH2.jpg BREAKING NEWS: After Steve Corino's vicious post-match assault of AJ Styles at Boston Massacre, Ring of Honor president Ricky Steamboat confronted Corino and informed him that his actions would result in a suspension. A furious Corino responded with threats of legal action against ROH. Corino was not offered a booking on the next ROH show, Epic Encounter, as the members of the ROH front office tried to determine the best way to proceed. ROHwrestling.com can report that a compromise has been agreed upon by both parties. The ban on Corino has been lifted, and he will return to active competition at ROH's next show, Manhattan Mayhem, on April 26th. In exchange, Corino has paid a fine for an undisclosed amount, and has agreed not to pursue any legal action against ROH for breach of contract. Mr. Steamboat is said to be very reluctant to allow Corino to return, but the other members of the ROH front office apparently convinced him that this was the best solution. http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/13.jpg The controversial Steve Corino will return to action at Manhattan Mayhem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ya_its_me Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 I'm smellin' something big here storyline-wise, don't know how the whole thing will go down but I think it's going to be epic. Go get that next card up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
critical-23 Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 I'm smellin' something big here storyline-wise, don't know how the whole thing will go down but I think it's going to be epic. Go get that next card up! I agree there. Get it up or I'll make sure Ki has another "accident"!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Final Countdown Posted March 30, 2009 Author Share Posted March 30, 2009 I agree there. Get it up or I'll make sure Ki has another "accident"!! Uh oh--that would not be good. I'm actually just about to run the show in-game. So I'll get the preview up either tonight or tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macca316 Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 have to salute you on a simply epic ROH diary grats for making a hyper enjoyable diary.... cant wait for the next results Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Final Countdown Posted March 30, 2009 Author Share Posted March 30, 2009 April 19th, 2002 http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/banner_ROH2.jpg Ring of Honor's recent debuts in New England and the Midwest were successful by all accounts. Now, ROH returns to the Big Apple with Manhattan Mayhem, on Friday, April 26th. Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe What will it take to settle the issue between the Samoan Submission Machine and the American Dragon? Evidently a half hour won't do it, as nothing was settled in the 30-minute time limit draw back at Crowning a Champion. They will be competing in the final match of the evening this time around, which means they'll have a one hour time limit. Will Samoa Joe reassert his dominance, or can Danielson weather the storm yet again? The Amazing Red vs. Steve Corino As soon as Red heard about Corino's impending return, he was on the phone with the ROH office demanding the first crack at the King of Old School. Red and AJ Styles have developed a mutual respect for each other, and Red was enraged by Corino's assault with the chair at Boston Massacre. Red will look to avenge his injured friend, while the brash Corino would certainly revel in putting Red on the disabled list right alongside Styles. ROH Tag Team Title Qualifying Match: James Maritato and Tony Mamaluke vs. The Second City Saints (CM Punk and Colt Cabana) ROH has officially announced the creation of the ROH Tag Team championships, which will be decided in the near future. Over the next several shows, there will be a total of three qualifying matches, with the winning team from each match advancing on to a triple threat match. Whichever team wins the triple threat will become the first-ever ROH Tag Team champions. Maritato and Mamaluke engaged in a singles match against each other at the last show, but a post-match handshake seemed to solidify them as a unit going forward. They are arguably the most decorated tag team in ROH, as they are former holders of the now-defunct ECW Tag Team championships. The Saints, meanwhile, are still smarting from their loss at the hands of Spanky & Paul London. It was a tough loss, but a victory here would do wonders for their momentum. Paul London vs. Christopher Daniels London's ROH debut was a rousing success, as he and Spanky were victorious against the Second City Saints. Now, London will make his singles debut, but he'll have his back against the wall. Christopher Daniels is furious; first, Low Ki pinned him in tag team action at Epic Encounter. handing the champ his first loss in ROH. Then, as a result of that victory, Low Ki was named the #1 Contender to the ROH championship. Daniels will look to take out his frustrations on the newcomer London in this non-title contest. Low Ki vs. Mark Briscoe Low Ki proved that he is 100% recovered physically, pinning Daniels and earning another chance at the ROH title. His title shot is rapidly approaching, but he had better not look past Mark Briscoe. Mark may wrestle primarily as a tag team with his older brother Jay, but he would love to make a statement by scoring the biggest victory of his young career. Joel Maximo vs. Austin Aries One of the chief goals of ROH is to showcase the next generation of wrestling superstars. In that vein, ROH has scoured independent promotions the world over in search of hot young talent. Austin Aries is just such a wrestler; he's only been competing since late 2000, but he has already shown incredible promise. The Milwaukee native will look to impress in his debut, but Joel Maximo could prove to be too tough a challenge for the newcomer. Prediction List: Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe The Amazing Red vs. Steve Corino James Maritato & Tony Mamaluke vs. Second City Saints Paul London vs. Christopher Daniels Low Ki vs. Mark Briscoe Joel Maximo vs. Austin Aries Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macca316 Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Prediction List: Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe The Amazing Red vs. Steve Corino James Maritato & Tony Mamaluke vs. Second City Saints Paul London vs.Christopher Daniels Low Ki vs. Mark Briscoe Joel Maximo vs. Austin Aries My first time making predictions on your fine diary be gentle with me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TribeWarpath Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Prediction List: Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe Draw as the time limit is reached again The Amazing Red vs. Steve Corino Corino to lay out Red causing Styles to make a save just a bit too late James Maritato & Tony Mamaluke vs. Second City Saints F.B.I. wins causing a rift between Punk & Cabana Paul London vs. Christopher Daniels London should do well, but still not enough Low Ki vs. Mark Briscoe #1 Challenger to Daniels needs to win Joel Maximo vs. Austin Aries Aries takes it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macca316 Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Prediction List: Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe Draw as the time limit is reached again Now why didn't i think of that..... its most likely whats gonna happen. maybe build up to an iron man match.... draw 5 min overtime that right there is indie wrestling gold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Final Countdown Posted March 31, 2009 Author Share Posted March 31, 2009 Now why didn't i think of that..... its most likely whats gonna happen. maybe build up to an iron man match.... draw 5 min overtime that right there is indie wrestling gold Not too late to change your pick if you want. I most likely won't be posting the show until Wed or Thur, so feel free to go back and edit your picks anytime you like up until the show is posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
critical-23 Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe I'm calling time limit draw unless yo have other plans. The Amazing Red vs. Steve Corino As much as I love Red, Corino is an @$$ and beating down Red will be a shot at AJ Styles. James Maritato & Tony Mamaluke vs. Second City Saints Although the Maritato/Mamluke combo is more likely to win because of ECW, btu ECW is dead and gone and SCS could be on the rise. Paul London vs. Christopher Daniels ROH champion gets a well-earned victory here. Low Ki vs. Mark Briscoe 'Ki destroys Briscoe. Joel Maximo vs. Austin Aries Joel Maximo is more of a tag team wrestler and you have yet to bring in Roderick Strong so Aries gets the win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macca316 Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Not too late to change your pick if you want. I most likely won't be posting the show until Wed or Thur, so feel free to go back and edit your picks anytime you like up until the show is posted. ahh no dont say that lol your all trying to trick me..... trick me i say Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Final Countdown Posted April 2, 2009 Author Share Posted April 2, 2009 April 26th, 2002: Manhattan Mayhem http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/logoROH.jpg presents: Manhattan Mayhem April 26th, 2002 From the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan, New York http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/hammerstein.jpg Attendance: 988 The DVD opened with a close-up shot of a severely scarred forehead. The camera slowed zoomed out to reveal the face of Steve Corino, sporting a wide grin. “I’m baaaaaaack. Miss me, Ring of Honor? Of course you did. It only took one show without me for the bigwigs to realize that an ROH without Steve Corino is an ROH absolutely no one is interested in. And after all that big talk from Ricky Steamboat about how there was no place in ROH for that kind of stunt, here I stand. Oh sure, he tried to save face by throwing a small fine at me. But for a star like me, any fine ROH can dish out is chump change. The simple fact is, Ring of Honor caved because they need me. Steamboat can get his panties in a twist about my conduct all he wants to, but he will have to learn to live with it, because the King of Old School puts asses in seats. “But Steamboat isn’t the only one who seems to have a problem with the lesson I taught to AJ Styles. His little buddy Amazing Red actually challenged me to a match tonight. Red, I don’t know if your brain is all out of whack because of the onset of puberty, or if you’re just out of your mind, but you’re making a huge mistake. Boy, you’re stepping into the ring with a man tonight. Not just a man; a king among men. You may think you’re going to go out there tonight and make your gimpy buddy AJ Styles feel better by beating me, but it’s not going to happen. I sure hope you’re insured, Red, because after tonight, you’re going to need a hospital bed right alongside AJ. Heck, I’ve got money to spare; maybe I’ll reserve the bed for you. Then you and AJ can lay back, eat that crappy hospital food and observe as Steve Corino proves beyond all doubt that he is the franchise player in Ring of Honor.” -- Low Ki vs. Mark Briscoe http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/LowKi.jpg vs. http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/MarkBriscoe.jpg Fresh off of being named the #1 contender to Christopher Daniels’ ROH title, Low Ki was determined to stay strong heading into his title shot. He was all over Mark Briscoe from the opening bell, punishing him with strikes and stretching him with submissions. Briscoe did his best to fight back, and did catch Low Ki with some flashy moves that temporarily slowed him down. But Mark is not accustomed to singles wrestling, and could not turn back the motivated Low Ki for long. The #1 contender ended Mark’s brief flurry with a devastating buzz-saw kick to the head, and kept his momentum rolling by forcing Briscoe to submit to the Dragon Clutch. Winner: Low Ki in 10:08 with a Dragon Clutch Joel Maximo vs. Austin Aries http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/JoelMaximo.jpg vs. http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/AustinAries.jpg ROH Champion Christopher Daniels showed up unannounced and joined James Hill and CM Punk at the commentator’s table for this match. He would not respond to inquiries about his purpose, but he did seem rather interested in the debuting Aries. Despite his inexperience, Aries was very impressive in his debut match. He controlled Maximo for the majority of the match, showcasing a nice blend of speed and mat wrestling. Maximo did capitalize on a missed quebrada moonsault and control the match briefly, but when he tried to whip Austin off the ropes, Aries regained control with a crucifix that dropped Joel on his head. One 450 Splash later, Austin Aries made his debut a success. As Aries celebrated his victory, Christopher Daniels left the commentator’s table and approached him. They left ringside together, locked in conversation the whole way. Winner: Austin Aries in 09:01 with a 450 Splash ROH Tag Team Title Qualifying Match: James Maritato and Tony Mamaluke vs. Second City Saints (CM Punk and Colt Cabana) http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/JamesMaritato.jpg & http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/TonyMamaluke.jpg vs. http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/CMPunk.jpg & http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/ColtCabana2.jpg Maritato and Mamaluke showed no ill effects from their singles match against each other at Epic Encounter. They worked together very well throughout the match, displaying the same teamwork and continuity that helped lead them to the top of the tag team scene in ECW. The Saints seemed to have regrouped after their loss to Spanky and Paul London. They got off to a great start when Punk scored with an early double under-hook backbreaker on Mamaluke. Punk and Cabana isolated Mamaluke from his corner and worked him over, until he managed to answer with a swinging neckbreaker and subsequently make the tag to James Maritato. The loss to his partner must have really motivated Maritato, because he was on fire. He took the fight to both members of the Saints, tying them up in a variety of intricate submission holds. Maritato nearly won the match for his team with the Sicilian Slice on Punk, but the straight edge grappler had the ring awareness to get his foot on the bottom rope. Maritato let his temper get the best of him by arguing with the referee, which allowed a weary Punk to tag in the fresh Colt Cabana. Maritato did not relent, going right after Cabana, but “Classic” slipped out of the Italian’s submission attempts and floored him with a DDT. Colt wisely knocked Tony Mamaluke off of the apron before turning his attention back to Maritato, who he finished off with the Colt 45. Winners: Second City Saints in 13:44 with a Colt 45 by Colt Cabana on James Maritato -- “This is James Hill, and it is intermission time here at Manhattan Mayhem. I am in the locker room of ROH champion Christopher Daniels, who suffered his first loss in ROH competition at the last show thanks to Low Ki. As a result, Low Ki has been granted a shot at the ROH title. Chris, you may have defeated Low Ki at Crowning a Champion, but he was far from 100%. With Low Ki back and firing on all cylinders, are you worried that you may lose the title in your very first defense?” Daniels shared a look with Gail Kim before turning back to Hill. “Yes, Low Ki pinned me at Epic Encounter. But he did so in a tag team match. When Low Ki gets his title shot, there will be no Bryan Danielson there to help him, nor will there be an out-of-shape buffoon like Samoa Joe to weigh me down like some albatross. It will be Low Ki versus Christopher Daniels, one-on-one. Just like at Crowning a Champion. And we all know what happened there, don’t we? The simple truth is, I underestimated Low Ki on the last show. I didn’t believe that he was fully recovered, and it cost me. But I will not make that mistake again. Low Ki, I will be fully prepared for you. And just like at Crowning a Champion, I will prevail, by any means necessary.” “Moving on to tonight: why did you show up during the match between Austin Aries and Joel Maximo, and what did you and Aries talk about after the match?” Daniels shook his head, smiling slyly. “That is none of your concern, Jonah. My conversation with young Austin Aries is my business.” “Well, then how about your in-ring business tonight? You’ll be facing Paul London in a non-title match. Are you fully focused on this match, or are you already looking ahead to your upcoming title defense?” “I am not a simpleton.; I can multitask. The wheels are already turning for the match with Low Ki, sure, but I am not overlooking Paul London. I’m sure London has some grandiose idea that he’ll make a name for himself at my expense tonight. But it will not happen. Christopher Daniels will not be defeated twice in a row. I will put Paul London in his proper place, and then, by hook or by crook, I will defeat Low Ki and retain my Ring of Honor championship. And that…is the gospel…according to the Fallen Angel.” -- Samoa Joe looked into the camera with a savage glare on his face. “Bryan Danielson, people call you the American Dragon. Some people consider you, pound-for-pound, the greatest wrestler in the world. But the fact is, you are no match for Samoa Joe. I am the biggest badass in ROH. The ROH title tournament was supposed to be my chance to prove it, but that was ruined thanks to your puny ass. We had our rematch, and I was well on my way to proving that it was a fluke. I had you gasping for air, trying merely to survive. If that 30-minute time limit hadn’t expired, I’d have choked you out for the world to see. You may have been saved by the bell last time, but that won’t happen tonight. I have one whole hour to punish you. I’m going to take my time, and after I’m finished with you, there will be no doubt that Samoa Joe is the baddest son of a ***** in pro wrestling.” -- The Amazing Red (w/Alexis Laree) vs. Steve Corino http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/AmazingRed.jpg vs. http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/SteveCorino.jpg Red was accompanied to the ring by AJ Styles’ frequent sidekick, Alexis Laree. He showed more fire and intensity than usual, as he tried not just to beat Steve Corino, but also to inflict some punishment on him. Corino was baffled by Red’s frenetic offense at the start, and it seemed like Red might dominate for the duration. After a desperation eye poke, Corino rolled to the floor to try and gather his bearings, but Red would have none of it, following Corino out to the floor with an incredible pescado. Corino tried to crawl away, but Red attempted to stalk his prey. The cagey Corino had a trick up his sleeve, however. While still on his back, he moved into a strategic position, and grabbed Red by the pants. He yanked, and Red’s skull collided with the ring post with a sickening thud. After rolling the dazed Red back into the ring, Corino continued his assault. The King of Old School was merciless once he got the upper hand, pummeling Red with closed fists and other roughhouse tactics. Red was on the receiving end of a considerable amount of punishment, but he was not finished quite yet. When Corino lifted Red up for a Northern Lights Bomb, the young flier used his agility to counter the move with a headscissors takedown. Red momentarily kept Corino on his heels with a spinning heel kick and a hurracanrana, and capped his 2nd wind with the Red Star Press. Corino managed to get his shoulder up, though, and ended Red’s resurgence with a knee to the gut that doubled him over. Corino quickly pounced, not giving Red another chance at a comeback as he put him away with the Old School Expulsion. Winner: Steve Corino in 17:38 with the Old School Expulsion After the match, Steve Corino asked for a microphone. “Well, I guess it’s official: The King of Old School is back in business!” The crowd reacted by booing Corino, who smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “Hey, it’s OK. You don’t have to like me; you just have to respect me and my accomplishments. Otherwise, you might wind up like AJ Styles.” The booing intensified, and Corino’s smile grew wider. “You don’t like that? I bet you’d like it if AJ Styles ran down here right now and beat the hell out of me, wouldn’t you?” The boos turned to cheers, but Corino shook his head. “Sorry, nimrods, but as much as you might wish it, Styles isn’t here tonight. He probably won’t be back for a while, I’d imagine. But I’m sure he’s paying close attention, and he saw his little buddy Red come up just a bit short tonight. And he’s also going to see this: I’m going to show my respect for Amazing Red, and shake his hand." Corino lifted a motionless Red off of the mat and shook his limp hand, before kicking him in the gut and dropping him with a second Old School Expulsion. The jeers reached a fever pitch, and Corino seemed to revel in the crowd’s reaction. “Oh, and don’t think I forgot about you, Ricky Steamboat! Here’s to you and your pride and dignity, old-timer!” Corino lifted Red up, and gave him a 3rd Old School Expulsion. Having proven his point, Corino sauntered to the back as Alexis Laree and ref Martin Dugas checked on Red. Paul London vs. Christopher Daniels (w/Gail Kim) http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/PaulLondon.jpg vs. http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/ChristopherDaniels2.jpg The relatively unknown Paul London was not intimidated in the least by the ROH champion’s years of experience. He brought the fight right to Daniels, and more than held his own against his more experienced opponent. London surprised Daniels with a couple of early near-falls after a victory roll and a schoolboy roll-up. Feeling the upstart beginning to build some momentum, Christopher Daniels kicked it into high gear, stopping London in his tracks with a Blue Thunder bomb. London kicked out, but Daniels kept the pressure on, trying to wear down his youthful foe with a bow & arrow submission. London escaped the hold, but Daniels kept right on going, throwing some of his best offense at him in an effort to win the match in a convincing fashion. The Fallen Angel got near-falls after a Northern Lights suplex and an STO, and his body language became more confident as he felt the victory within his grasp. He hoisted London up and put him on the top turnbuckle, giving him a palm strike to the face as a set-up for the cross-arm Iconoclasm. But London stunned the champ with a kick to the face, and drove him to the canvas with a Tornado DDT. Daniels staggered to his feet after a near-fall, only to have London knock him right back down with an impressive backflip dropkick. Daniels recovered, but London had another innovation to unveil: he hooked both of the champ’s arms behind his back in a double chicken wing, lifted him into the air, and drove him face-first into the canvas. London scaled the ropes, looking to put the finishing touches on the match. He executed a picture-perfect Shooting Star Press, but there was just one problem: Daniels rolled out of the way in the nick of time, and London crashed and burned. After getting to his feet, Daniels hooked London in a Dragon Sleeper position, but rather than going for the submission victory, Daniels used the hold to pull London to his feet. The Last Rites followed, and Christopher Daniels won the non-title match, but Paul London won many fans with his performance. Winner: Christopher Daniels in 14:32 with the Last Rites Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/BryanDanielson.jpg vs. http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss322/FCDiary/SamoaJoe.jpg Mindful of the 30-minute time limit draw in their last match, both men wrestled a patient match in the early going, clearly settling in for a long night. They had a nice scientific encounter, with Joe showing great skill in keeping up with a mat wrestling expert of Danielson’s caliber. Neither man could gain a significant edge for quite some time, as they had a stalemate of a technical wrestling exchange. Joe ended the deadlock by using a charging Danielson’s own momentum against him with a powerslam. Joe got into a groove, punishing Danielson with kicks to the ribs and going after his arm with a cross armbreaker. The Samoan powerhouse looked to put an exclamation point on things with a powerbomb, but Danielson wiggled free and took his large opponent down to the mat. The American Dragon resumed his mat wrestling approach, trying to push the big man past his threshold with a marathon match. Danielson tried to keep his rival on the mat with a side headlock, but Joe showed his power by getting back to his feet with Danielson still holding onto the headlock. Joe flung him off, and dropped him with a nice flying knee strike to the face that nearly ended the match. Even after Danielson kicked out, Joe kept coming at him. He worked Danielson over with more strikes to the ribs and back, before turning him over with a Boston Crab. Joe sat back deep, putting the bulk of his near-300 pound frame on his opponent’s lower back. Danielson cried out in pain, Joe’s weight doing serious damage to his lower body. It was a struggle, but the American Dragon eventually managed to crawl towards the ropes and force a break. Sensing that he had Bryan weakened, Joe went for the kill. He lifted his foe up for his Muscle Buster, but a desperate Danielson broke his grip and landed on his feet, surprising Joe with the same move he used to win their match at Road to the Title, an inside cradle. Danielson nearly got another out-of-nowhere win, but Joe kicked out just in time. Joe got back to his feet, furious that history had almost repeated itself. He made a beeline for Danielson, intent on pulverizing him, but his slippery foe had other ideas. Danielson dodged Joe’s attempt at a tackle, and the Samoan collided with the turnbuckles. Danielson went for another sudden pinfall, trying to hold Joe’s shoulders down with a schoolboy roll-up, but Joe used his legs to kick out. Danielson tried to put another submission hold on Joe, but the Samoan rolled right through it and popped up to his feet, fired up. He stood in center ring and drew the proverbial line in the sand, challenging Danielson to a face-to-face. Danielson obliged, and the two exchanged blows. Joe targeted the weakened ribs of Danielson with kicks, while Bryan fired off several stiff elbows to Joe’s head. Danielson slumped to one knee after a particularly hard kick to the ribs, and Joe lifted him up for the Island Driver. Danielson once again broke free, though, landing on his feet behind Joe and dropping him on his head with a Dragon Suplex. Joe kicked out, but Danielson adapted, bridging forward to slap on the Cattle Mutilation. Joe was able to maneuver his lower body and get one leg across the ropes, but the length of the match seemed to have taken its toll on the big man. He was slow to get back up, gasping for air. Danielson recognized Joe’s exhaustion, and went right for him. He staggered Joe with a leaping elbow to the head, and pelted him with more elbows. He tried a rolling elbow, but in a repeat of their match at Crowning a Champion, Joe blocked the strike and tried to catch his foe in a rear naked choke. The fatigued Samoan was not able to cinch the hold in, though, and Danielson dropped him onto his stomach with a drop toehold. Danielson floated over and gave Joe a few knees to the head before once again applying the Cattle Mutilation. Joe was not in any position to go for a rope break, and seemed to be just about out of gas. Just when it seemed like Danielson would gain his second victory over Samoa Joe, the bell rang. The ring announcer declared that the 60-minute time limit had expired, resulting in another draw. A frustrated Danielson released the hold, and after a few moments, Joe slowly stood up. The two exhausted rivals stared each other down, clearly not satisfied that there had not been a decisive winner yet again. No Contest due to expiration of the 60-minute time limit Quick Results: Low Ki over Mark Briscoe Austin Aries over Joel Maximo Second City Saints over James Maritato & Tony Mamaluke Steve Corino over The Amazing Red Christopher Daniels over Paul London Bryan Danielson drew with Samoa Joe critical-23: 6-0 Macca316: 5-0-1 TribeWarpath: 5-1 critical-23 picks up the 3rd perfect show. I wondered whether the 60-minute time limit draw might have been a bit obvious. I guess it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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