By Chris Vetter

Ring of Honor returned to Boston, Mass., on Oct. 5, 2007, for “Honor Nation.” As with all ROH releases, lighting and sound are fairly good, and the commentary team is Dave Prazak & Lenny Leonard. This venue appears to be a large gym, and fans sitting in the bleachers look to be quite a way back from the ring. It’s hard to estimate crowd size, but it must be in the 650-800 range.

* The DVD opens with a backstage promo from Delirious, and he was angry at B.J. Whitmer.

To the ring!

(1) Brent Albright & Adam Pearce (w/ B.J. Whitmer & Shane Hagadorn) defeat Erick Stevens & Matt Cross at 12:05. Solid opener. Albright and Cross started and traded some reversals on the mat, and Albright slapped him. Stevens and Pearce traded offense in a knucklelock, with Stevens getting an overhead suplex as they were still tied in the knucklelock at 3:00. Cross hit a basement dropkick, a senton for a nearfall, and a nice dropkick, then a standing moonsault on the back. Stevens hit some forearms & chops on Albright. Albright grabbed Cross’s ankle, and that allowed Albright & Pearce to take charge. Albright tossed Cross into the guardrail; in the ring, he got a nearfall.

Pearce hit a hard chop, and the heels made some illegal switches. Albright hit a kneedrop on the face, then a snap suplex for a nearfall at 6:00. Pearce hit a slingshot into the turnbuckle. Albright and Cross traded forearm shots. Whitmer whipped Cross into the guardrail. Albright hit a German Release suplex on Cross, but Matt rotated in mid-air and landed on his feet! Stevens got the hot tag at 8:30, and he hit some clotheslines, then a German Suplex on Pearce and his Choo Choo running splash on Albright, then a TKO stunner for a nearfall. Cross hit a flip dive to the floor on Pearce.

In the ring, Cross hit a doublestomp on the chest for a nearfall. Stevens hit a double clothesline and a double noggin-knocker on the heels. Albright & Pearce came back with a team chokeslam on Stevens for a nearfall. Pearce couldn’t hit a reverse Tombstone piledriver. Whitmer tripped Cross, then he gave him a bodyslam on the floor! In the ring, Stevens hit a powerslam on Albright for a nearfall at 11:30. Albright applied a cross-armbreaker on Stevens, but Stevens powered out! Albright then hit a half-nelson suplex for the pin. Solid, but it never moved to the next level.

* Whitmer got on the mic. The crowd chanted, “Steve Corino!” at him (with the new haircut, they do look similar!) Whitmer talked about how Pearce helped him, and he said their first victim was Delirious. Whitmer said he’s here to finish the job of taking out Delirious!

(2) B.J. Whitmer (w/Hagadorn & Pearce & Albright) defeat Delirious at 9:11. Solid match. Delirious charged the ring, and they immediately traded blows. Delirious hit a headscissors takedown and a missile dropkick to the back, and Whitmer bailed. Delirious hit a top-rope flip dive to the floor. In the ring, Delirious bit Whitmer’s head. Whitmer hit an Alabama Slam at 2:30, and he pulled on Delirious’ mask. Albright taunted Delirious. Whitmer hit some chops and a Samoan Drop for a nearfall. Delirious hit a headbutt to the gut. Whitmer applied a Camel Clutch, but Delirious bit B.J.’s hand to escape. Whitmer slapped him on the face.

Delirious hit a snap suplex at 5:30, and the crowd was hot. Delirious hit some punches and a uranage, then a drop-toe-hold, sending Whitmer crashing into the corner. Delirious then hit THREE consecutive Panic Attacks/running knees. Delirious got a chair, but the ref took it from him. Whitmer hit a powerbomb into the corner and a Mafia Kick, then a standing powerbomb for a believable nearfall and a frogsplash for a nearfall, and they were both down at 8:30. Delirious hit a clothesline, and he was fired up! Delirious went to the top rope, but Pearce crotched him in the corner. Whitmer immediately hit a sitdown piledriver for the tainted pin.

* Bryan Danielson cut a backstage promo, thanking the fans for support during his eye injury. He was angry that Morishima went after his injured eye. Danielson said he’s “at the crossroads of my career.” Danielson said he’s glad to have a three-match series with Aries, because they respect each other. Danielson said he would prove he is the “ace” of ROH.

* Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black came out for the next match, which was supposed to be a four-way featuring Black. “This is the Age of the Fall,” Jacobs said. “This is about a revolution.” Jay Briscoe ran out of the back and attacked both Jacobs & Black, and they brawled around the building, and out into a hallway. So, Tyler Black isn’t in the next match!

(3) Nigel McGuinness defeats El Generico and Hallowicked in a three-way at 8:09. Good match. Generico chopped Nigel, but Nigel hit a short-arm clothesline on Generico! Nigel hit a running European Uppercut on Hallowicked. Generico hit a leg lariat on Nigel, then his quick armdrags on Hallowicked. Generico hit a dive on Nigel! Nigel came back with a Rebound Lariat on the floor on Generico. Hallowicked hit a Sky High powerbomb on Nigel for a nearfall at 2:30. Generico hit a top-rope crossbody block on Hallowicked, then a back suplex on Hallowicked for a nearfall. Nigel hit a short-arm clothesline on Hallowicked, then one on Generico.

Hallowicked hit a headscissors takedown on Generico. Hallowicked and Nigel had an awkward, slow exchange, but Hallowicked hit a boot to the back of Nigel’s head. Generico hit a frogsplash on Nigel for a believable nearfall at 5:00. Nigel hit his back kick & inverted DDT in the corner on Generico for a nearfall. Nigel hit a headstand mule kick on Hallowicked for a nearfall. Nigel straddled Hallowicked on the top rope, but he couldn’t hit the clothesline. Generico hit a Tornado DDT on Hallowicked as Hallowicked was straddling the top rope, for a nearfall.

Nigel hit his Tower of London/hangman’s ace crusher off the ring APRON to the floor on Generico, and fans chanted, “Holy sh!t!” Hallowicked hit a flip dive on Nigel at 7:30. In the ring, Hallowicked hit the “Go To Sleepy Hollow”/fireman carry & kneestrike. Nigel couldn’t hit the Rebound Lariat, but he did hit a short-arm clothesline. Nigel then hit another Tower of London to pin Hallowicked. (NOTE: It is the “Rebound Lariat” again; it is no longer the “jawbreaker lariat,” probably because Jimmy Rave is gone from ROH.) They filled this short match with a good amount of action.

* Backstage, Kevin Steen talked about how this is his first ROH title shot. “This is my own change, to prove to everybody who said I couldn’t make it, and I didn’t deserve to be here, to prove them wrong,” Steen said. Steen said that Morishima may be “Godzilla,” but Steen called himself “King Kong.”

(4) Claudio Castagnoli (w/Daizee Haze) defeats Chris Hero (w/Sara Del Rey & Larry Sweeney & Bobby Dempsey) at 23:24. The fans were hot and split, with some chanting, “Let’s go Hero!” and others chanting, “F**k you, Hero!” The ring announcer told the crowd that Hero asked them not to swear, which of course, led to more swearing in Hero’s direction. Hero paced on the floor, clearly frustrated. Sweeney tried to start a “Chris is awesome!” chant. The crowd was HOT! The bell rang, and Claudio got some quick tie-ups, so Hero bailed. The crowd chanted for Dempsey, so Sweeney hit Dempsey. Claudio and Hero locked up in a knucklelock at 3:30, but Claudio overpowered him again, so Hero bailed.

Hero his some shoulder thrusts in the gut in the corner and some forearm shots, and he began bouncing around the ring. Claudio hit a European Uppercut, and he mockingly bounced around like Hero at 6:30. Claudio couldn’t get a Boston Crab, but he hit a snap suplex for a nearfall. Claudio gave Hero a slingshot into Dempsey, who was standing on the ring apron. Claudio hit his Giant Swing for a nearfall. Hero shoved Claudio to the floor, and he slammed Claudio’s head into the guardrail. In the ring, Hero hit a catapult doublestomp to the chest. Prazak said that Tyler Black and Jay Briscoe were still brawling in the back. Hero hit a Buff Blockbuster for a nearfall at 10:00, then a senton for a nearfall. Hero stomped on Claudio’s head, but Castagnoli slowly got to his feet, and the crowd rallied for him.

Hero yelled at the ref, and he hit another senton and a basement dropkick to the head for a nearfall at 13:00. They brawled on the floor. Sweeney hit some stomps. In the ring, Claudio hit a catapult sunset flip for a nearfall. They traded chops. Claudio hit a second-rope diving European Uppercut, and they were both down at 16:00. Claudio hit several European Uppercuts and a nice dropkick, then a second-rope elbowdrop for a nearfall. Claudio dove through the ropes, but Hero moved, and Claudio barreled into Dempsey. Hero jumped off the guardrail and nailed a European Uppercut on Claudio. In the ring, Hero missed a top-rope doublestomp. Hero nailed a Mafia Kick and a Cravate suplex for a nearfall at 18:30.

Hero set up for the Hangman’s Clutch, but Claudio grabbed the ropes. Claudio couldn’t hit the Ricola Bomb, and he also couldn’t hit the Waterslide. Hero hit a hooked-leg back suplex for a nearfall, but he couldn’t hit the overhead flipping neckbreaker. Claudio hit a bicycle kick for a nearfall at 20:30, but he again couldn’t hit the Ricola Bomb. Claudio applied a modified Japanese Stranglehold along his back. Hero got a backslide for a nearfall. Claudio hit a second-rope diving European Uppercut for a nearfall. Hero hit a standing powerbomb for a nearfall, and he applied the Hangman’s Clutch/modified Crippler Crossface, but Claudio reached the ropes. They fought on the ropes in the corner, and Claudio again couldn’t hit the Waterslide, and Hero shoved Claudio to the mat. Hero hit a missile dropkick, but Claudio popped right up, hit a European Uppercut, and scored the pin. Good, but a step below their “Manhattan Mayhem” encounter.

(5) Necro Butcher defeats Jay Briscoe at 11:01. These two brawled from the back toward ringside and they fought through the crowd. Jay hit a chairshot to the gut and the head. Lenny Leonard talked about Mark Briscoe injuring his ankle, saying Mark would be out for six weeks. Necro slammed some chairs on Jay, then he hit his chair-assisted bodyslam at 2:00. Jay ripped off Necro’s shirt, and Briscoe hit some chops and punches, then a chairshot to the head. Necro Butcher choked Briscoe with his T-shirt. The fans gathered around the wrestlers, giving this a “schoolyard fight” vibe, as these two traded STIFF punches! They fought near ringside, and Necro tossed some chairs into the ring.

Jay suplexed Necro Butcher over the guardrail, and they were finally near the ring. Leonard said that Necro’s elbow was swollen. The bell rang to ‘officially’ start the match at 6:00 even. Jay hit a chairshot to the head and some more punches, then a big boot and some chops. Necro hit a short-arm clothesline, and he paused to shake loose his sore elbow. Necro dropped Briscoe crotch-first across an open chair, and he hit a running boot, then a DDT for a believable nearfall at 8:00. Necro Butcher nailed a Tiger Driver onto a pile of folded chairs for a nearfall, and the fans chanted for Necro Butcher.

Jay hit a back suplex, and they were both down, and the crowd was hot! Jay hit a Death Valley Driver onto an open chair! Jimmy Jacobs was suddenly in the ring, and he punched Jay. Jay hit some stomps. Mark Briscoe hobbled to ringside, and he tossed a crutch to Jay! Tyler Black attacked Mark Briscoe on the floor. Necro hit a sideslam on Jay across an open chair for the pin. Good, spirited brawl.

* The Age of the Fall carried Mark Briscoe to the back! “Where are they going with Mark Briscoe?” Prazak shouted.

* It’s intermission time with Rebecca Bayless, and she tried to interview Larry Sweeney. Sweeney claimed that Hero won on a backslide, but the referee was too slow. Jay Briscoe ran up, looking for his brother.

(6) Tyler Black & Jimmy Jacobs defeat Mitch Franklin & Ernie Osiris at 1:48. A total squash. Jacobs got on the mic and said they needed victories to get title shots, so they will start with these two. Jacobs & Black attacked the ROH students. Black hit a nice dropkick. Jacobs hit a running knee in the corner on Osiris as Ernie was tied in the Tree of Woe. Jacobs hit a spear on Franklin. Jacobs hit a plancha to the floor on Osiris, who was sitting on a chair on the floor.

Black gave Franklin a powerbomb into the guardrail. In the ring, Jacobs applied the Front Guillotine Choke on one opponent, as Black hit the Unibomb/Small Package Driver on the other opponent, for the pin. Jay Briscoe ran to the ring and chased off Black & Jacobs. Where is Mark Briscoe?

(7) Austin Aries defeats Bryan Danielson at 24:35. Wow, this was a good mat-based match. The crowd was HOT and split. Leonard said this was the first time these two had met in the ring in a year. They opened with some intense reversals, and Aries grapevined the leg, and they both rolled to the floor. In the ring, Aries hit a shoulder tackle, then he got a headscissors lock, and they had a standoff at 3:00. They had a test of strength, and Danielson hit a dropkick and he tied up the left arm. This felt like a chess match, as they traded good mat holds. They traded offense in a knucklelock. Aries hit a basement dropkick at 8:00, and Danielson bailed. They fought on the floor.

Aries hit a catapult senton back into the ring, then a flying elbow drop for a nearfall, a Power Driver elbow for a nearfall, a shoulder tackle, and some Japanese Armdrags, and he was controlling Danielson’s arm. Danielson hit a kneeshot to the gut, and he set up for a Surfboard, and he pulled back on Aries’ chin at 12:00. Danielson applied a single-leg crab, but Aries reached the ropes. Danielson hit a kneedrop on the head, and he applied an abdominal stretch on the mat, and he turned it into a Rings of Saturn/double armbar, and he pushed Aries’ shoulders to the mat using his feet for a nearfall! Nice move. Daniels hit some spin kicks to the chest, and he applied a cross-armbreaker, but Aries reached the ropes at 15:00.

Danielson hit a snap suplex, and he went to the top rope, but Aries shoved him to the floor. Aries snapped Danielson’s neck over the ropes, and Bryan had a bloody nose. Aries dove through the ropes and barreled into Danielson, and the fans chanted, “ROH!” Aries hit a catapult corkscrew press into the ring, then a Lionsault for a nearfall at 17:30. Danielson hit a leg lariat, and they were both down. Danielson hit some European Uppercuts. Aries got an O’Connor roll for a nearfall. Danielson hit a missile dropkick, and they were both down. Danielson hit a roaring forearm for a nearfall, then a Tiger Suplex for a nearfall, and he turned it into a Cattle Mutilation submission hold, and the crowd was hot!

Danielson hit some repeated elbowshots, but Aries powered out, and Austin hit his own elbow shots in the corner on Bryan! Danielson applied the Crossface Chickenwing, but Aries got up and hit a hooked-leg back suplex to escape the Chickenwing at 22:00. Aries hit a dropkick for a nearfall, but he couldn’t hit the Brainbuster. Aries hit an enziguri to the face and a hard Field Goal kick to the head! Aries then hit the brainbuster! He went for the 450 Splash, but Danielson got his knees up to block it! Danielson applied the Triangle Choke, and fans chanted, “Please don’t tap!” Aries got out of it, but seconds later, Bryan got the Triangle Choke applied again. Aries hit some kneeshots to the head, and he cranked back on Bryan’s head, and Danielson surprisingly tapped out! Fans chanted, “ROH!” Prazak said, “Another classic between these two rivals. This is what ROH is about.”

* Backstage, Aries talked about the match, saying he owed his success in ROH to facing top-level competition like Danielson.

(8) Jack Evans & Jigsaw & Ruckus (w/Julius Smokes) defeat Roderick Strong & Rocky Romero & Davey Richards at 14:46. Good match. The fans taunted Strong with the “Rod-A-rick” chant, and he teased that he was heading to the back. Jigsaw and Strong started, and they traded armholds. Jigsaw hit a nice armdrag and a headscissors takedown. Richards and Ruckus entered, as Leonard pointed out this match is under ‘scramble rules’ (no tags necessary when someone rolls to the floor). Ruckus hit a headscissors takedown and a top-rope armdrag. Evans squared off with Romero, and Evans hit a headscissors takedown and an enziguri. Ruckus & Jigsaw flipped Evans onto Strong. Evans hit a doublestomp and a moonsault on Strong. Richards got in and hit some quick kicks. Strong crotched Evans at 3:00.

Romero hit a basement dropkick to the side of Evans’ head, and the No Remorse Corps were in charge. Romero hit a springboard kneedrop on Evans’ chest. Strong tossed Romero onto Evans. Richards hit a Northern Lights suplex for a nearfall. At 6:00, Strong tied Evans backward in the ropes, so his feet and head touched! OUCH! Romero hit some spine kicks for a nearfall. Evans came back with a springboard Blockbuster, but he couldn’t make the tag. Moments later, Evans made the tag at 8:00, and both Ruckus & Jigsaw entered. Ruckus hit a double kneeshot on Romero in the corner, then he gave Romero a monkeyflip; Jigsaw caught Romero and hit a sitdown powerbomb! COOL!

Richards hit an overhead belly-to-belly suplex, a running forearm on Ruckus, and a German Suplex for a nearfall. Jigsaw hit his jump-up rana and a Tornado DDT for a nearfall on Richards. Romero hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on Jigsaw and a running knee for a nearfall. Evans hit a standing corkscrew press for a nearfall on Romero. Romero slammed Evans stomach-first on the mat for a nearfall. Richards hit a running kick to Evans’ chest for a nearfall at 11:00. Jigsaw hit a flipping dive to the floor on Strong. Richards hit a flip dive to the floor on Jigsaw. Ruckus hit a flip dive on several guys. Romero then hit a springboard crossbody block. Evans hit a springboard corkscrew press on everyone, and the fans chanted, “ROH!” Evans got a nearfall in the ring on Strong.

Evans hit a Reverse Rana on Strong. Ruckus hit his Razzle Dazzle/cartwheel-back-elbow. Jigsaw it a frogsplash for a believable nearfall, then he got a Victory Roll, but Richards sat down to block it and Davey got a nearfall. Richards then hit his Alarm Clock/flip-up kick on Jigsaw. Strong hit the Gorilla Press Gutbuster over his knees for a nearfall. Romero hit a springboard kneestrike to Jigsaw’s chest for a nearfall. Ruckus hit another Razzle Dazzle. Evans hit a Ghetto Stomp kneedrop on Romero as Rocky was tied in the Tree of Woe. Ruckus nailed a Coast-to-Coast flipping missile dropkick on Romero, as he was still in the Tree of Woe! Evans then hit the 630 Splash on Romero for the pin! Good match with non-stop action.

* Evans said that Jigsaw was the ‘final piece of the puzzle.’ Ruckus said the Vulture Squad can deliver on any given night, and they are coming for the tag straps.

(9) Takeshi Morishima defeats Kevin Steen at 18:31 to retain the ROH World Heavyweight title. Very good match. Steen attacked Morishima as Takeshi stepped through the ropes. They traded forearms, and Steen slapped him in the face. Steen hit a shoulder tackle that knocked Morishima down, and Takeshi rolled to the floor. Steen hit a plancha to the floor and a headbutt. Prazak pointed out that Steen is not a small man, and can hold his own against Morishima. Steen hit some more forearm shots in the ring. Steen hit his flipping guillotine legdrop for a nearfall. Morishima hit a mid-ring buttbump at 2:30, and it leveled Steen. Like on previous DVDs, Prazak talked about how Morishima’s schedule, going back and forth from the United States and Japan, is taking a toll on him.

Steen wrapped Morishima’s left knee around the ring post and he slammed it on the apron and the guardrail. Steen even bit on the knee, and he kicked repeatedly at it, as they fought back in the ring. Takeshi had trouble standing. Steen mocked him, pretending to hobble. Morishima hit a (Bossman) sidewalk slam at 7:30. On the floor, Morishima hit a buttbump against the guardrail. In the ring, Morishima hit his cartwheel-into-a-Stinger Splash, then he nailed his rolling buttbump as Steen was sitting on the mat. Morishima peppered Steen with punches in the corner, then a running boot in the corner at 10:30, and he shoved the referee aside as the tried to stop the repeated punches.

Morishima couldn’t hit the Back Drop Driver. Steen hit a springboard crossbody block for a nearfall. Morishima hit a big boot. Steen hit a Dragonscrew Legwhip, but Morishima somehow landed on Steen. Morishima hit a German release suplex, but he missed a missile dropkick. Steen applied a Sharpshooter, but Morishima reached the ropes at 13:30. Generico appeared at ringside, and he cheered on Steen. Steen kicked out Takeshi’s left knee, and he hit a Superkick that dropped Morishima! Steen hit a top-rope Swanton Bomb and a frogsplash for a nearfall. Generico fired up the crowd. Steen missed a moonsault.

Morishima hit a running boot and a clothesline for a nearfall. Steen hit a second-rope superplex, but Morishima hopped up! Steen hit a Spinebuster for a nearfall at 16:30, and the crowd was HOT. But, Steen couldn’t get Takeshi up for the Package Piledriver. Morishima hit a buttdrop on chest for a nearfall. They traded more forearm shots, and Steen hit an enziguri. Morishima hit two decapitating clotheslines for a nearfall. Morishima then nailed the Back Drop Driver for the clean pin. Good, hard-hitting match.

* After the match, Steen shoved Generico – almost as if it was Generico’s fault he lost! – and Steen left alone.

Final thoughts: DVD runs 2 hours, 56 minutes.

This was a good show, but not a great one, either. I doubt it will make many ROH diehards “top 10” lists of show of the year. So, while it was a good one, if you get one or less ROH show a month, this is one you can probably skip.

Best match goes to the mat-based chess match between Danielson and Aries. Not all wrestling fans will enjoy this, especially the intense, slow build in the opening minutes. But, I really liked how this match felt like it could go either way. I also really liked that Aries won with a new submission spot out of nowhere. It caught me – and Danielson – off-guard, and that’s a good thing. I’m looking forward to seeing the future matchups, and seeing if they stay this “sportsman-like.”

Second best goes to the main event. Like many other ROH wrestlers, Steen really stepped up to the plate when given the chance to fight Morishima in the main event. He took the fight to Morishima, following the ‘road map’ that other wrestlers have set, in trying to kick out the left knee, while also peppering Morishima with punches. I’m not a big fan of Prazak laying down excuses for why Morishima will eventually lose the title, by talking about the difficult travel schedule; to me, it is saying that “travel beat Morishima,” not “Nigel beat Morishima.” Eh, we’ll see how the title change plays out soon. One other thing – I personally never felt like Steen got a “believable nearfall.” I just never got the sense that the title was on the verge of changing hands.

Third-best goes to the non-stop action of the Vulture Squad-NRC six-man tag. I wasn’t sure what to think of this Vulture Squad team when I first read about it, but they really clicked well in the ring. (Honestly much better than the Cross-Stevens team clicks). It was refreshing to see the NRC NOT get the upperhand.

I’ll give the brawl between Necro Butcher and Jay Briscoe fourth best. Yes, we’ve seen a lot of brawls through this crowd, but this one really seemed intense and hard-hitting. Claudio-Hero was a step below their prior matchup, as it just felt like they stayed in second gear a bit too long before really picking up steam. Not a bad match for fifth-best, though!

The show started a bit slow, as none of the first few matches really stood out; they were above average, but barely. I just have no interest, at all, in watching Osiris & Franklin. I would have rather seen a short, somewhat competitive match, of Jacobs/Black versus, say, Irish Airborne.

This DVD earns a thumbs in the middle, leaning slightly up. It’s a good show, but not a must-see show. Certainly recommended for ROH diehards, but not a must-have for people who order just a few ROH shows a year. This DVD is available at www.rohwrestling.com for $20.

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