Friday, January 2, 2015
Ring Of Honor Wrestling Review 12/27/14
Match 1
Later on in the match, both men were on the top rope and Adam Cole does a spider German suplex (he hooked his legs under the second rope so he could go back up to the top to follow it up). However, Kendrick would land on his feet. While Cole was hanging upside down in the tree of woe, Kendrick delivered a baseball slide drop kick to score a near fall. The finish of the match occurred when Adam Cole got the upper hand and took to Kendrick’s back in order to hit the Florida Key to score the pinfall victory.
Main Event – Match 2
Result: reDRagon win the match last eliminating ACH and Matt Sydal after Chasing The Dragon pinning ACH to retain the ROH World Tag Team Titles.
Meanwhile on the outside Kazarian hits Jay Briscoe with a sunset flip bomb from there ACH runs across the ring and dives over the top rope (effortlessly, I might add) to take out everyone on the outside. Sydal flies out of the ring and then Daniels executes the Best Moonsault Ever to the outside of the ring as well. The first elimination would come when the Briscoes would fall victim to a backdrop into a lung blower double team maneuver by the Addiction, which allowed for the elimination.
After the match we cut to another backstage pre-taped promo as this time it’s BJ Whitmer who lets everyone know that he hates Christmas. He also lets all the kids in the world know that Santa Clause isn’t real (NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!) as the show goes off of the air for the week.
I just wanted to say that we have had a hell of a 2014 here at Eyes Of The Ring and myself as well as everyone else on the Eyes On The Ring team can’t wait to bring you all the action that the year 2015 promises to provide for the wrestling fan. We will try to keep up and all do our best to cover everything that we can so that you can feel well informed on what’s going on around you so you can decide what you may want to see and what you may want to avoid.
Sunday, December 21, 2014
ROH Review: 12/20/14
Ring Of Honor Wrestling Review 12/20/14
By Nathan Neumann @Headliner5 on Twitter
Hello Eyes On The Ring readers and welcome to yet another Ring Of Honor Wrestling review where I bring you all things Honor. This week’s show was really good and featured one of the best TV matches I have seen from ROH in quite some time so lets get to it shall we?
Things kick off right away in the arena where Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino welcome us to the show. Roderick Strong’s theme song plays as we go to the ring for our first match of the night.
Match 1
Roderick Strong vs. Papadon
Result: Roderick Strong defeats Papadon via pinfall after End Of Heartache
Thoughts: This was Papadon’s Ring of Honor debut. I have heard a lot about Papadon in the past, but this is the first time I was able to see him wrestle. The match starts and Roderick wastes no time trying to put his opponent away by hitting Papadon with a drop kick to pick up a near fall. Papadon recovers and hits a turnbuckle-assisted DDT to pick up a two count. The finish came when Roderick Strong defeats Papadon with the End Of Heartache. Good match and I want to see more out of Papadon because he’ll be a great addition to the roster.
Rating: **1/4
After a commercial break, we are treated to an appearance by former ROH World Champion Michael Elgin complete with new theme music. Elgin makes a pre-match entrance for his match with Hanson, which is up next. Before the match starts, Elgin cuts a promo and says that his issue tonight is not with the fans or even with his opponent tonight but Ring of Honor itself. This could be interesting going forward...but it has a risk of getting tiresome very fast but we shall see.
Match 2
Michael Elgin vs. Hanson
Result: No Contest after Elgin gives Hanson a double arm DDT from the apron through a table at ringside.
Thoughts: There wasn’t a lot of time given to this match but they made up for the lack of time that they were given by going at it and giving 110% from the opening bell to the closing bell. Early on the match goes to the outside where Hanson throws Elgin into the guardrail. Hanson then goes back into the ring only to come back outside of the ring with a dive onto Elgin, which wiped both men out. Hanson would get a near fall in the match after hitting his signature cartwheel closeline. Shortly after that Elgin hits a flipping leg drop and follows it up with a top rope splash for a near fall. Hanson recovers and backdrops Elgin on the concrete on the outside of the ring before grabbing a table. The match is deemed a no contest after Elgin gives Hanson a double arm DDT from the ring apron through the table that was previously set up at ringside.
Rating: **
Match 3
Will Ferrera and Caprice Coleman vs. Brutal Burgers (Brutal Bob Evans and Cheeseburger)
Result: Ferrara and Coleman pick up the win after a northern lights suplex/german suplex combination.
Thoughts: This match seemed hastily thrown together to give these guys something to do. Will Ferrara is better on his own and Caprice Coleman hasn’t done much of anything since splitting up from Cedric Alexander a while ago. Brutal Bob Evans is a good veteran wrestler. but I just can’t take Cheeseburger seriously. At one point in the match, Evans slams Cheeseburger onto Will Ferrara who was on the ground, which picks up a near fall. From there, Bob does a ridiculous move to Ferrara’s arm that I don’t know what to call so I’ll leave it at that. The match ends when Ferrara and Coleman pick up the win after a northern lights/German suplex combination. I wasn’t a fan of this finish because I couldn’t tell who exactly got the win either way it was Ferrara and Coleman but this match did nothing for me.
Rating: *
After the match, it would seem as if Brutal Burgers are having some disagreements about how their matches have been going as of late. We will see if this plays out in the coming weeks.
Main Event - Match 4
Cedric Alexander vs. Tommaso Ciampa
No Disqualification Match
Result: Tommaso Ciampa defeats Cedric Alexander after delivering a neckbreaker on part of the ring, which had been exposed.
Thoughts: The match starts as both Ciampa and Alexander grab chairs; they swing the chairs at one another and the chairs end up hitting each other. Ciampa rolls to the outside of the ring, Alexander tries to dive to the outside of the ring to hit Ciampa but Ciampa is ready for him and throws a trash can directly at Cedric’s face. Still on the outside and Ciampa takes a chair, unfolds it, and puts it around Cedric’s head. Ciampa then proceeds to throw Alexander head first into the ring post. Back in the ring and Ciampa sets Alexander up in the corner, Ciampa puts a trash can over the head of Alexander and then delivers three running knees to Alexander who can’t defend himself at all. Ciampa goes for the pinfall and gets a two count out of the exchange.
Thoughts: The match starts as both Ciampa and Alexander grab chairs; they swing the chairs at one another and the chairs end up hitting each other. Ciampa rolls to the outside of the ring, Alexander tries to dive to the outside of the ring to hit Ciampa but Ciampa is ready for him and throws a trash can directly at Cedric’s face. Still on the outside and Ciampa takes a chair, unfolds it, and puts it around Cedric’s head. Ciampa then proceeds to throw Alexander head first into the ring post. Back in the ring and Ciampa sets Alexander up in the corner, Ciampa puts a trash can over the head of Alexander and then delivers three running knees to Alexander who can’t defend himself at all. Ciampa goes for the pinfall and gets a two count out of the exchange.
Cedric recovers and throws a chair at Ciampa’s face. Cedric would get a near fall of his own after destroying Ciampa’s arm in a chair. Ciampa recovers and goes to the outside of the ring where he grabs a guardrail, he picks up the guardrail and brings it in the ring with him. From there he sets up two chairs and puts the guardrail on top of it. Ciampa then grabs Alexander and sets him up on the top rope and suplexes him through the contraption that he had previously set up. Later on Alexander recovers and dives to the outside of the ring onto Ciampa and follows it up with a splash on the inside of the ring for a near fall. Ciampa recovers and starts taking the ring apart exposing the wooden boards that are under the canvas and padding (This is where you learn how a ring gets put together. kids).
From here, Alexander sets Ciampa up in one of the corners of the ring and ties him up with some cable so that he can’t go anywhere. Alexander backs up and runs full steam at Ciampa and hits him with a drop kick Ciampa had nowhere to go. Alexander sets another chair in the ring and picks up Ciampa for a brainbuster through the chair for a near fall. The finish came when Ciampa scores a desperation neck breaker on the wooden boards that were exposed earlier on in the match. After the match is over, the ROH doctors rush the ring to check on both men who just went through a war.
Rating: ***
This match was awesome if you have an opportunity to see it please do so. One of the best Ring of Honor TV matches I’ve seen all year and that covers a lot of ground. However that will do it for me and this week’s Ring of Honor Wrestling Television review. I hope you enjoyed the read and until next time please be sure and check out EyesOnTheRing.blogspot.com and all of the articles from everyone on the team including myself. Also be sure and check us out on twitter at @EyesOnTheRing (Follow Us!) and Facebook at Facebook.com/EyesOnTheRing (Like Us!)
The Neumann Scale
Ed. Note: We've gotten a few requests on how we score ROH matches in Nathan's reviews. Here to explain is none other than the man himself, Nathan Neumann. And, upon further review, we at EOTR are discussing an implementation of this ratings system in most show reviews from hereon.
Hello once again Eyes On The Ring readers and wrestling fans Nathan here as I have been asked to explain the star rating system that I use when reviewing Ring Of Honor wrestling. So here it goes the breakdown of what gets what according to me. The star rating system was first created by Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter fame to rank matches of importance.
Everyone’s criteria for a one star rating and a five star rating and in between is completely different as it’s all subjective to whoever is writing said review. While someone may rate a certain match 5 stars others may give it 4 stars or somewhere in between 4 and 5 stars or something completely different because again this all depends on individual tastes as a wrestling fan, what they like don’t like, etc.
But, here is my breakdown of what I believe deserves what rating. Also, these ratings aren’t promotion-specific just because I put certain matches from a certain company in a specific category isn’t necessarily a reflection on the company itself but more of the way the match was presented.
I will start with the one star rating and go from there.
One Star (*)
This criterion is reserved for the worst of the worst. Typically, matches where you ask “why did I waste my time watching that?” when they’re over fall into this category. The matches have no flow to them, no real psychology, and just don’t work from an entertainment standpoint. I mean, let’s face it: if I am not being entertained by a match, then it will get a low rating because as I said earlier all of this is subjective.
Examples of a one star match include but are not limited to these types of matches.
Jeff Hardy vs. Sting from TNA Victory Road 2011 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V6ulxTRSDc
Here is another example of a one star match this match is considered by many the worst match of all time (Sharmell vs. Jenna Morasca from TNA Victory Road 2009)
Two Stars (**)
This is for matches that are a bit above a one star rating, but still aren’t very good. These matches typically no flow to them and no emotion from the crowd. If you want an example of this, watch a Michael Bennett match. There is no emotion. These matches can be good, but often include matches that have a few blown spots within (or matches where the execution of said match is very poor). Also, they’re nothing really to write home about, but I digress.
Three Stars (***)
This is your middle of the road match these aren’t considered either good or bad. But, depending on who is watching, one may sway their opinion either way to make up their mind as to the match’s quality. A good example would be a recent match that took place on ROH Television between Matt Sydal and AJ Styles for instance I only gave this match ** and ¾ stars but other outlets (such as Voices Of Wrestling) gave the match *** the match was good no matter what rating you were to give it but in the world of wrestling, you will get differing opinions from different people as seen above.
Above is a link to a highlight video of said match.
Four Stars (****)
This rating is reserved for matches that, by many standards, are very good matches, are very emotional and where the wrestlers both put in quality work. Sometimes, a match can get a lower rating due to one wrestler in a match not doing as much as another wrestler in the same match. Take for instance Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero Mask vs. Title match at WCW Halloween Havoc 1997 which is considered to by many to be the greatest WCW match ever. I would probably rating this match higher than four stars (say, 4 and ¾) but that’s all part of the subjectivity. Either way, whether it’s a four star match or a 4 and ¾ star match, this match is a perfect example of that.
Another example would be the finals of the G1 Climax this year between Kazuchika Okada and Shinsuke Nakamura watch it below:
Another example would be the finals of the G1 Climax this year between Kazuchika Okada and Shinsuke Nakamura watch it below:
Five Stars (*****)
This match is the cream of the crop. It’s a match so good that it makes you happy to be a wrestling fan there are so many great examples of this anomaly that I wont be able to list them all but I will list a few. Matches like these don’t come along too often, but when they do you know it.
A good example of how rare these matches can be for one promotion goes like this. Dave Meltzer rated the first ever Hell in a Cell match between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels five Stars this match took place back on October 5, 1997. There wouldn’t be another five-star match (at least in WWE) per Meltzer until July 17, 2011 (almost exactly 14 years later) when CM Punk challenged and defeated then WWE Champion John Cena at WWE Money In The Bank 2011.
There was one match within this years NJPW G1 Climax that I personally would rate as five stars they are Minoru Suzuki vs. AJ Styles. This match blew my mind, if you have the time please go watch it located right here.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x22lrf2_g1-climax-24-block-b-match-aj-styles-vs-minoru-suzuki_sport
That does it for me and my breakdown of the star ratings I use when breaking down matches. Sadly, we will probably never see a five star rated match on ROH Television. Is it possible? Yes, but it being a possibility and it happening are two different things and being that Ring of Honor Wrestling is only an hour-long each and every week it may never happen.
I want to thank everyone for taking the time to read this article and please check out our other articles over at EyesOnTheRing.blogspot.com check us out on facebook at Facebook.com/EyesOnTheRing and follow us on twitter @EyesOnTheRing. So long for now and I’ll see you down the road.
Sunday, December 14, 2014
RoH: Tag Wars Wrestling Review 12/13/14
By Nathan Neumann (@Headliner5 on Twitter)
Hello ladies and gentleman and welcome to another one of my signature reviews for Ring of Honor Wrestling Television. This week, we’re reviewing Tag Wars, a show which featured three tag team matches in the first round of a tournament that will crown new number one contenders for the ROH World Tag Team Titles currently held by reDRagon. Let’s get to it shall we?
The Briscoes were in a pre-taped backstage promo to open up the show where they talked about how they will be the ones to they will be the ones to win Tag Wars and will receive a future shot at the ROH World Tag Team Titles. The Briscoes want to become the nine-time ROH World Tag Team Champions (which may or may not be a wise move at the moment due to the fact that Jay Briscoe is the current holder of the ROH World Championship).
Match 1
The Briscoes (Jay and Mark) vs. J. Diesel and Jay Lethal in a Tag Wars Qualifier
Result: The Briscoes defeat Diesel and Lethal after Jay Briscoe hits J. Diesel with the Jay Driller and Marc follows
it up with a top-rope Froggy Bow to score the win.
Thoughts: First off, there were three guys named Jay in this match and I wasn’t a fan of it. It seemed to create some confusion on commentary (rightfully so, because having three guys with the same first name in the same damn match just isn’t a good idea). J. Diesel tags in right away and takes Marc’s head off with a lariat. Jay Briscoe comes in and delivers a forearm to the face of Diesel as we go to commercial.
Also, ROH needs to stop having their wrestlers do commercials.
Back from commercial and Jay Briscoe kicks Diesel in his (stupid!) face and covers him for a two count. Jay Brsicoe hits a top rope superplex on Lethal and both men are down. Double tags on both sides of the ring bring in Diesel and Marc Briscoe the finish came when Jay Briscoe hit Diesel with the Jay Driller and Marc followed up with the Froggy Bow to score the pinfall victory to advance in Tag Wars.
Rating: **
From there, we go straight into Match 2 as Jimmy Jacobs and BJ Whitmer take on Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian.
Match 2
Jimmy Jacobs and BJ Whitmer vs. The Addiction (Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian) in a Tag Wars Qualifier
Result: Kazarian picks up the winwith a Kamikaze AKA the KIllswitch AKA the Un-prettier (a/k/a Christian’s finisher in WWE)
The match starts off as TheDecade attack straight from the bell. The match breaks down right away. Whitmer and Daniels in the ring fighting each other while Jacobs and Kazarian are on the outside of the ring. Kazarian hits a flipping neckbreaker on Jacobs on the outside.
Later on, Whitmer and Jacobs both dive to the outside of the ring to
take out both Addiction members as we go to commercial. Back from
commercial and the Decade have taken control as they hit a powerbomb/neckbreaker
combination that looked a bit mistimed, but it still worked. Daniels
throws Jacobs into Whitmer to make Jacobs spear his own partner. Kazarian then picks up the win with the, allowing
The Addiction to advance.
Rating: **1/2
Back from another commercial and reDRagon cut a backstage promo. They tell everyone that they are not impressed in the slightest with Tag Wars. And now, the main event.
Main Event - Match 3
Matt Sydal and ACH vs. The Young Bucks
Result: Sydal and ACH win the match via shooting star press/450 splash combination after Matt (Jackson) inadvertently superkicks Nick Jackson in the face.
The match starts out hot as ACHis a house of fire! He hits a dropkick on Matt, followed by a bunch of flippy-dos, before tagging in Sydal. But, the Bucks maintain control as we go to break. When we return, the Young Bucks hit a flipping neckbreaker/backbreaker combination on Sydal. Matt (Jackson) gets Sydal in one of the corners of the ring and goes to the opposite corner before running at him and hitting a handspring back elbow. From there, Jackson holds Matt Sydal upside down and Nick kicks Sydal in the face.
The Bucks move to the outside of the ring and ACH hits a flying
moonsault to the outside which takes out both Bucks. Matt (Jackson) hits Sydal
on the outside with a tornado DDT using the ring apron. The finish would come
when Matt (Jackson) is inadvertently kicked in the face by Nick. Matt Sydal hits
a shooting star press as ACH follows it up with a 450 Splash to score the
pinfall victory over, arguably, the hottest tag team in the world right now.
Rating: **3/4
That’ll do it for me and this week’s review of Ring of Honor Wrestling television. Hope you enjoyed theread and until next time this has been Nathan saying so long and I’ll see you down the road. Until next week, be sure and check out EyesOnTheRIng and be on the lookout for more reviews from myself and the rest of the EOTR team. Also, be sure to check us out on Twitter at @EyesOnTheRing and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/EyesOnTheRIng
Friday, December 12, 2014
The Potential Impact of a "Friday Night Impact"
By Jon (@BigJonDaLegend)
Dixie Carter and Destination America have made some big announcements this week. Impact Wrestling has a new logo and will be in a permanent time slot of Friday nights 9-11 pm. All of this is great news for Impact Wrestling to end 2014. Let's face it: 2014 wasn't the best year in the companies history.
The new logo is the most notable change to me. From a branding standpoint, this new logo is bold and grabs your attention. It features the 6 sided ring, and that is the one feature that separates them from any other company. Also the new logo just states Impact Wrestling, without any mention of TNA. To me, TNA is a very disappointing name for a wrestling company. While it may stand for Total Nonstop Action, it's merely a juvenile play on the term "tits and ass." Dropping the TNA from the brand should improve the companies appeal for advertising and ultimately him them grow on a relatively small network (Ed. Note: This isn't Ruthless Aggression or the Attitude Era anymore. Thankfully, more companies are learning you can be "edgy" without being explicit).
The time slot is a good time slot for them to stay on as they settle into a new network and attract viewers. Impact will not be competing with any other wrestling show on televisions on Friday. With WWE moving Smackdown to Thursday nights, and Lucha Underground claiming Wednesdays, Friday is all theirs. The only competition would be whatever is on the WWE Network and not what's on cable television. Impact currently can't compete with WWE in the same time slot like WCW did in its prime.
Not competing is the right course of action for them to take. Why potentially bury yourself even more when you have a second chance to build? Yes, Dixie Carter has made some very costly mistakes in the past. But, this is her second chance--and Impact's chance of redemption. From the recent news that has came out it seems that Impact Wrestling is taking positive steps to ensure its success.
Thursday, December 11, 2014
NXT Takeover R Evolution Preview
What is up with WWE and these long-winded PPV names these days? Anyhow, Speed on the Beat here doing what Nathan and Jon usually do for NXT--except less hilariously. Now, yesterday, we all spoke on the impact that Kevin Owens will have on NXT and the WWE, but let's take a closer look at the PPV he's slated to appear at. This event is looking more like "NXT Graduation" versus REvolution...
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