By Chris Vetter

Ring of Honor returned to Hartford, Conn., for “Reborn Again,” on May 11, 2007. As the name suggests, ROH has undergone some changes because of the news of starting pay-per-views – specifically, Austin Aries and Homicide are gone because of TNA contracts. (It also means that other TNA contracted wrestlers like Christopher Daniels, Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, etc., won’t be back.)

As per usual, Dave Prazak & Lenny Leonard provided commentary, and they’re excellent together. Lighting, sound, and editing are really sharp; ROH really ‘looks’ good on tape right now.

* Rebecca Bayless kicked off the show backstage, talking about how this is “Reborn Again.” Bryan Danielson walked up and said that ROH is still the same promotion with the same focus on great matches, and he’s back and ready to wrestle.

* Lenny Leonard did voice-over on a video clip saying that TNA has pulled its wrestlers, so Homicide & Aries are gone. Leonard also announced that ROH now has some wrestlers under contract for the first time.

(1) Jimmy Rave defeats Pelle Primeau at 4:51. Solid squash. Rave easily shoved Pelle to the mat. Rave hit some chops on the floor, and he whipped Pelle into the guardrail. Pelle hit a headscissors takedown in the ring and a DDT for a nearfall. Prazak talked a bit about the PPV situation and the loss of TNA wrestlers. Rave hit a spear at 2:30, and he dropped Pelle gut-first on the metal clasps in the corner. Pelle came back with a missile dropkick off the ring apron to the floor. Pelle hit a Thesz Press and a doublestomp in the ring, then a headscissors takedown. However, Rave applied the Heel Hook, and Pelle tapped out.

* Backstage, Roderick Strong & Rocky Romero & Davey Richards talked, and Strong talked about how Aries is gone from ROH now. “I’m the only original member of Generation Next still standing,” Strong said. Wow, that’s just sad!

(2) Daizee Haze defeats Nikki Roxx at 5:01. Good short women’s match; I wouldn’t have minded if they had gone longer. They traded armholds, good reversals, and they had a standoff. Roxx hit some quick armdrags and a shoulder tackle. Haze hit a headscissors takedown and a second-rope crossbody block. Roxx hit a windup uranage for a nearfall at 3:30. Roxx tied her up along her back, and she slammed Daizee gut-first on the mat for a nearfall! Roxx hit a faceplant for a nearfall, then the “Mind Trip”/snapmare driver for the pin. Sara Del Rey came out and offered an insincere congratulation to Haze. Solid match.

(3) Kevin Steen & El Generico defeat Eddie Edwards & Jason Blade at 10:18. Good tag match. Generico and Blade started, as Prazak talked about Edwards & Blade scoring an upset victory recently over Hero & Toland. Blade hit a shoulder tackle, and they traded armdrags. Steen entered, and he chopped Blade, and then Steen traded forearms with Edwards. Blade hit a dropkick on Steen. Edwards & Blade hit a team backbody drop on Generico. Blade hit a catapult senton on Generico for a nearfall at 3:30.

Steen yanked Blade to the floor, and he slammed him into the guardrail. Steen choked Blade in the ropes. In the ring, Steen hit a flipping guillotine legdrop and a running senton on Blade at 6:30 for a nearfall. Edwards made a hot tag, and he chopped Steen and hit a nice dropkick. Edwards hit a dive to the floor on Steen & Generico for a nice pop. Edwards hit a running kneestrike in the ring on Steen.

Steen hit a pumphandle neckbreaker over his knee on Blade at 9:00. Generico missed a Mafia Kick. Edwards & Blade hit a Superkick & German Suplex combo. Generico had a cut on his back. Steen hit a Package Piledriver, and he passed Blade to Generico. Generico nailed a Brainbuster to pin Blade. Steen said they would be the next tag champs.

(4) Claudio Castagnoli defeats Bobby Fish at 8:18. Solid, average match. Fish has long, wet, black hair and blue trunks. They opened with solid mat reversals, and Claudio applied a headscissors lock. Fish hit a dropkick and some snap suplexes. The crowd was a bit quiet. Claudio hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a nearfall at 3:00, and he tied Fish in a Rowboat. Claudio hit some forearms, some European Uppercuts, and a delayed vertical suplex for a nearfall, then a guillotine legdrop for a nearfall.

Fish hit some headbutts, Claudio nailed some European Uppercuts, as the fans chanted, “Hey!” Fish hit a headscissors takedown and a Saito Suplex for a nearfall, then a flip dive to the floor at 6:00. In the ring, Fish hit a dropkick for a nearfall. Claudio fired back by nailing a bicycle kick to the chest, then his spin-around-the-back faceplant. Fish hit a running knee to the jaw, but he missed a moonsault. Claudio nailed a gutwrench powerbomb for the pin. Solid, but it lacked heat.

* Europe’s “Final Countdown” hit, and the crowd got to its feet to see the return of Bryan Danielson. A robed figure walked to the ring, but it turned out it was Shane Hagadorn! The crowd booed as Hagadorn took off the robe. Adam Pearce got on the mic and he ripped into the crowd. Pearce said it’s time for a dream match, of Bryan Danielson vs. Shane Hagadorn! Danielson came out, and fans chanted, “Welcome back!”

(5) Bryan Danielson defeats Shane Hagadorn at 4:11. Hagadorn hit some stiff forearms and he immediately bailed! Danielson hit some spine kicks and European Uppercuts. Hagadorn hit some European Uppercuts, but Danielson no-sold them. Danielson applied a surfboard at 3:30. Danielson applied a nice armbar move, and Hagadorn tapped out.

(6) Bryan Danielson defeats Adam Pearce at 1:13. Pearce attacked Danielson immediately, and we have an impromptu match. Pearce told the ref, “I’ve got til … never mind,” when the referee reprimanded him. Funny. Pearce hit a top-rope guillotine legdrop for a nearfall. Danielson hit a Dragonscrew Legwhip, and he twisted his leg, and Pearce tapped out.

* The No Remorse Corps hit the ring! Roderick Strong offered Bryan Danielson a spot in the NRC. Fans chanted, “Just say no!” Danielson turned down the offer. Matt Cross & Erick Stevens came out, and this led to a six-man tag!

(7) Davey Richards & Rocky Romero & Roderick Strong defeat Bryan Danielson & Erick Stevens & Matt Cross at 19:27. Cross hit a flip dive to the floor on the NRC. There was fighting all over the floor. Danielson whipped Strong into the guardrail. Stevens hit a powerslam on Strong in the ring. Stevens chopped Romero. Danielson applied a half-crab on Romero at 2:30. Strong entered and he chopped Stevens. Richards hit some quick spin kicks to Stevens’ chest. Cross hit a snap suplex on Romero, then a dropkick on Richards. Strong & Richards beat up Cross on the floor.

All six guys fought on the floor. Richards hit a snap suplex on Cross on the floor at 6:30. Richards hit a back suplex on Cross in the ring, and Romero hit some spine kicks on Cross. Strong applied the Cattle Mutilation (Danielson’s move!) on Cross. Richards hit a snap suplex. Strong hit a fallaway slam for a nearfall at 9:00, as the heels continued to beat down Cross. Strong & Romero hit a team delayed vertical suplex. Richards hit a backbreaker over his knee. Richards & Romero hit simultaneous front & back kicks. Cross hit a springboard doublestomp on Richards’ back at 13:30, and he made the hot tag to Stevens.

Stevens nailed some clothesline, and a German release suplex on Strong, then his ‘Choo Choo’ running splash in the corner on Strong. Stevens hit a TKO stunner to clear the ring. Danielson dove through the ropes on the NRC. Cross hit his “Super Space Flying Tiger Drop” over the ropes to the floor, and the crowd chanted, “ROH!” Strong and Stevens traded chops in the ring, and Stevens hit a Bulldog Powerslam. Richards hit a gutbuster over his knee on Cross, then the Alarm Clock/flip-up kick to the gut on Cross. Richards hit a German Suplex; Danielson hit a top-rope flying headbutt on Richards for the save.

Cross went for a Shooting Star Press, but he missed and landed on his feet. Richards hit a Tombstone Piledriver on Cross for a nearfall. The NRC applied three simultaneous submission spots at 18:00, but the faces all got out of them. Cross hit an enziguri on Richards, then a Reverse Rana on Richards. However, Richards nailed the DR Driver/butterfly piledriver to pin Cross. Good match, but the three-on-one beatdown on Cross ran a bit too long.

* Rebecca Bayless interviewed Jimmy Rave backstage. Rave said he made an example out of Pelle Primeau, and from now on, he’s taking what he wants.

(8) Tank Toland (w/Bobby Dempsey) defeats Mitch Franklin at 4:11. Eh. Toland was not taking this serious, as he picked up Franklin and set him on the top turnbuckle. Franklin hit a headscissors takedown. Toland did a military press, as he tossed Franklin across the ring. Toland hit a delayed vertical suplexes, while doing squats to show off his impressive strength. Toland hit an Alabama Slam, and he did jumping jacks on Franklin’s chest. Franklin hit some forearm shots, but they had little effect. Toland hit a splash mountain/overhead powerbomb, with Franklin landing in a scary bump. Toland hit a one-armed bodyslam for the pin. Basic. Bobby Dempsey got in the ring, peeled down his singlet, and he nailed a rolling tumbleweed in the corner.

* Backstage, a clean-shaven Delirious cut a promo in his gibberish, saying he will never “Go to sleep.”

(9) Naomichi Marufuji defeats Matt Sydal at 15:00 even. Very good match. Prazak said this was a first-time-ever meeting. They traded armbars and had a standoff. Sydal hit a headscissors takedown and a dropkick, and Marufuji bailed. Sydal hit a baseball slide dropkick to the floor. They traded chops on the floor. In the ring, they exchanged more chops. Sydal hit his running clothesline into the corner at 4:30, then his cannonball guillotine legdrop for a nearfall. Marufuji hit a springboard dropkick, sending Sydal to the floor. Marufuji whipped Sydal into the guardrail, and Marufuji hit a dropkick on the floor. Sydal had a small gash on his right shoulder, and he was bleeding. In the ring, Marufuji cranked on both of Sydal’s arms, and Naomichi hit a bodyslam at 8:00.

They traded chops, and Marufuji hit a kick to the gut. Sydal hit a spin heel kick, and they were both down. They traded forearms, and Sydal hit an enziguri and his Floatover Famouser for a nearfall. Marufuji came back with a dropkick and a running elbow in the corner at 11:30. Marufuji hit a basement dropkick to the head for a nearfall. Sydal hit a standing moonsault for a nearfall and his jump-up Rana for a nearfall. Marufuji hit a decapitating clothesline and a standing powerbomb for a believable nearfall at 14:00. They traded quick rollups, and Marufuji hit a Superkick, then the Sliced Bread #2/flipping overhead bulldog for the pin. Good match.

(10) KENTA defeats Delirious at 22:26. My pick for match of the show. KENTA was perplexed as Delirious squatted, frozen in place, while munching on streamers. Delirious, as usual, went crazy at the bell and ran a lap on the floor, then he jawed at KENTA. Prazak said this was another first-time-ever meeting, and he joked about the “language barrier” between them. KENTA hit some kneedrops on the left knee, and they traded some good mat reversals. Delirious hit a shoulder tackle, but neither man budged, although that didn’t stop Delirious from jawing at KENTA at 3:30. The crowd was HOT! KENTA went for a kick, but Delirious cowered in the ropes and asked for “no kicks!” KENTA nailed a running boot, and Delirious bailed and went under the ring. KENTA hit some spin kicks to the chest on the floor at 6:00. OUCH!

In the ring, Delirious bit KENTA and hit a spine kick, so KENTA bit Delirious. Delirious applied a hangman’s clutch on the mat and tied up KENTA’s legs. Delirious hit a senton for a nearfall, and he rammed KENTA’s head into each corner. KENTA dropped him gut-first across the top rope, and KENTA hit a flying kneestrike to the head at 10:00, then some more stiff kicks to the chest! OUCH! Prazak talked about Delirious’ recent problems with concussions. KENTA hit a springboard quick-back-heel kick, then a pair of Mafia Kicks. Delirious hit his never-ending clotheslines in the corner at 12:30, then the BAM leaping lariat and a German Suplex with a bridge for a nearfall. Delirious applied a Cobra Clutch, but KENTA powered out.

Delirious knocked KENTA to the floor, and he hip a top-rope flip dive to the floor on KENTA, and he got a nearfall in the ring. KENTA fired back with some right & left kicks and a running boot to the face, then a springboard dropkick for a nearfall at 15:30 and a running knee in the corner and a hesitation dropkick in the corner for a nearfall. KENTA went for a springboard move, but Delirious caught him with a headbutt to the chest. Delirious nailed the Bizarro Driver/fisherman’s Michinoku Driver for a nearfall, and they traded stiff forearms. Delirious hit a drop-toe-hold into the corner, and he nailed the Panic Attack/running knee. Delirious went for the Shadows Over Hell Backsplash, but KENTA caught him with a stunner at 18:00.

KENTA hit a fisherman’s buster. Delirious nailed the Shadows Over Hell, and he applied the Cobra Stretch, but KENTA reached the ropes. KENTA hit a Tiger Suplex for a nearfall, and he hit some paintbrush slaps to the face. Delirious got a backslide for a nearfall, and he again applied the Cobra Stretch! Delirious nailed the Chemical Imbalance 2/flipping powerbomb for a believable nearfall at 21:30. Delirious hit a headbutt, but KENTA hit a running kneestrike for a nearfall. KENTA then nailed the Go To Sleep/fireman carry-into-a-kneelift for the pin. “A fantastic back-and-forth matchup,” Prazak said. Excellent action.

(11) Jay & Mark Briscoe defeat Takeshi Morishima & B.J. Whitmer at 19:52 to retain the ROH tag titles. Another excellent match. Whitmer and Jay started with some basic reversals, as Leonard said that Whitmer was Morishima’s “handpicked partner.” Jay hit a headscissors takedown, so Whitmer hit one as well. Morishima faced Mark, and Mark hit a dropkick, but Takeshi was still on his feet. Mark tried a shoulder tackle, but that didn’t level Morishima either. Mark went for a crossbody block, but Morishima caught him; Jay shoved Morishima over. Mark hit a springboard crossbody block on Morishima. The Briscoes hit a double Facewash on Morishima at 3:30.

Whitmer tagged back in, and he hit a snap suplex and a Northern Lights suplex on Jay for a nearfall. Morishima hit some blows to Jay’s back. Jay hit a snap suplex on Whitmer. Mark hit a kneedrop and a gutwrench suplex on Whitmer. Whitmer hit some chops. Jay hit a team Flatliner move for a nearfall at 6:00. Jay hit a nice basement dropkick to the head. Mark hit his catapult doublestomp to the chest. Whitmer hit a Spinebuster, and he tagged in Morishima. The Briscoes hit a double shoulder tackle, but it had no effect on Takeshi! Morishima instead hit a double clothesline, then his rolling buttsplash on Mark, who was sitting on the mat. Whitmer whipped Mark into the guardrail. Morishima stood on mark’s chest. Whitmer dropped Mark stomach-first across the top rope. Morishima whipped Mark into the guardrail on the floor, then he nailed a buttsplash in the corner on the floor at 9:30!

In the ring, Whitmer hit a gutbuster. Whitmer and Mark traded forearms, and Mark hit a moonsault press, but he couldn’t make the tag. Morishima hit his buttdrop and a buttbump in the corner. Mark hit a second-rope forearm on Whitmer and a Superkick, and the crowd heated up. Jay finally made the hot tag at 12:30, and he hit some chops, a leg lariat, a dropkick on Whitmer, and a powerslam. Jay hit a Death Valley Driver on Whitmer, and he traded forearms with Morishima. Morishima hit a mid-ring buttbump. Whitmer hit a frogsplash for a nearfall. Jay hit a running boot on Whitmer. Mark hit a springboard spin kick for a nearfall. Jay hit a jump-up dropkick in the corner on Whitmer, but Mark couldn’t hit the Cutthroat Driver. Whitmer hit an Exploder Suplex, and Mark clutched his head in pain.

Morishima hit a cartwheel-into-a Stinger Splash on Mark, then a missile dropkick at 16:00, drawing a nice pop. Morishima couldn’t hit the Back Drop Driver, but he nailed a crossbody block on BOTH Briscoes. The Briscoes countered with a team superplex on Morishima, and they hit a double Superkick spot as Morishima was on his knees. Jay hit some Mafia Kicks, but they had no effect. Jay hit a flapjack on Takeshi! Jay hit a top-rope crossbody block for a nearfall, and the crowd chanted for the Briscoes. Jay hit a Blockbuster from the corner for a nearfall at 18:30 on Morishima.

Morishima hit an overhead belly-to-belly suplex on Jay. Whitmer tagged in and hit a running knee to Jay’s head, then a brainbuster on Jay. Morishima accidentally clotheslined Whitmer. The Briscoes shoved Morishima to the floor. Jay Briscoe nailed the Jay Driller/butterfly piledriver on Whitmer, and Mark nailed the Shooting Star Press. Jay covered Whitmer for the win. A very good match, but I sensed the crowd never believed that the Briscoes would lose the titles to a makeshift tag team.

* In a clip, Jimmy Jacobs & Lacey were at a hotel. This felt like a ‘reality TV skit’ with people staring at the camera, telling their thoughts about things that happened earlier in the evening. We saw Jacobs nervous as he fumbled with a tie. This was day one of his ‘documentary’ of four days with Lacey. They went bowling on the date, and Jacobs beat up a guy who hit on Lacey at the bar. Silliness, but endearing.

Final thoughts: DVD runs 2 hours, 49 minutes.

The last three matches are the reason to order this show. I liked Delirious vs. KENTA a lot, as they did some of the signature Delirious silliness spots early, but it built nicely throughout with a hot finish. Unfortunately – just like the main event – I never really thought Delirious would win. But that match was easily best of the show.

The main event was really good, and it was fun seeing Morishima vs. the Briscoes. But it seemed destined to end with the Briscoes pinning Whitmer, and that’s exactly what happened. However, it was really good action.

Sydal-Marufuji was good, and could have gone a few minutes longer, and that earned third-best. The six-man tag was good, and that was fourth-best, although they could have turned up the intensity a bit earlier and cut back on the three-on-one beatdown of Matt Cross.

The undercard here was a bit slow, however. I never like leading off a show with a squash match, even though Pelle was solid in his roll. The Blade & Edward team is quietly impressing. The Danielson beatdown on Hagadorn and Pearce was acceptable. Bobby Fish didn’t impress me at all, and Claudio always seems to bring out the best in smaller opponents, so that’s not a good sign.

This show earns a thumbs up. Sure, there have been better ROH shows this year, but the matches with the Japanese contingent, and the return of Bryan Danielson, make this a show worth seeing. Order this DVD at www.rohwrestling.com for $20.

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