RADICAN'S ROH DVD REVIEW SERIES: 3/27 Phoenix Rising - Aries-Strong, Cabana & Generico-American Wolves
Sep 18, 2010 - 10:30:56 AM
By Sean Radican, Torch columnist
RADICAN'S ROH DVD REVIEW SERIES
FROM THE ASHES
PHOENIX, AZ
TAPED ON MARCH 27, 2010
BY SEAN RADICAN, TORCH COLUMNIST
RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
(1) Kenny Omega beat Rocky Romero. Romero hit a tope through the ropes early on for a big pop from the crowd. Omega fired back and gained control of the match, as the pace slowed a bit. Omega's nose was bleeding quite a bit as he worked over Romero. The pace picked up and Romero hit a springboard tornado DDT. Omega fired back with a series of big moves, but Romero kicked out each time. This match is getting very little reaction at times. Romero hit a springboard dropkick to Omega's knee and went for a leg lock, but he got the ropes. Omega fired back with two dragon suplexes, but Romero kicked out. Romero countered Croyt's wrath into the ankle lock. He then grapevined the leg. Prazak said the match was over and Omega got the ropes a second later. Omega fired back and hit Croyt's wrath with one leg for the pin. (**1/2)
(2) Shawn Daivari beat Human Tornado. Daivari cut a promo before his match. He said he was just as American as anyone in the building. He said unlike the fans, he worked for everything he earned. Tornado sent Daivari to the outsidr and nailed him with a flip dive. Daivari took control of the match after Tornado missed a dive off the top. Nana continually interfered on the outside while the ref was distracted. Both men went for a cross body at the same time and were slow to get up. Tornado fired back and hit his dancing kicks in the corner. Daivari fired back with two German suplexes and a DVD for a nearfall. Daivari ended up getting the win with a rollup using the ropes for leverage. This was pretty lackluster. (*3/4)
(3) Kevin Steen beat Scott Lost. Steen worked over Lost during the early stages of the match. Lost bumped around like crazy for Steen, but the crowd heat just wasn't there. The fans tried to get in Steen's head by chanting Generico's theme, which allowed Lost to roll him up for a two count. Lost continued to mount comebacks, but could never gain a sustained advantage. Steen was fantastic playing to the taunts of the crowd. Lost countered the package piledriver into an ace crusher. Lost went for the big fat kill, but Steen countered it and got the package piledriver for the pin. (***)
(4) The Briscoes & Rasche Brown & Necro Butcher beat Joey Ryan & Bison Smith & Prince Nana & Claudio Castagnoli in an 8 Man Tag match. The babyfaces worked over Ryan during the early stages of the match. The heels eventually got the heat on Jay after Castagnoli distracted him on the apron. Nana eventually tagged in once Jay had taken a sustained beat down, but there wasn't much crowd heat. Jay finally cut off Ryan and made the hot tag to Brown, who ran wild. Mark took out everyone with a dive to the outside. Necro then went up top and hit a flip dive to the outside. Brown then hit a flip dive to the outside and the crowd woke up. Nana went for a dive, but Brown cut him off. Castagnoli went for the ricola bomb, but Jay countered and the Briscoes hit a spiked Jay-driller on Claudio for the pin. This was good at the end. (***)
(5) (5) Kenny King beat Scorpio Sky in a Pick 6 match. King and Sky had some good exchanges early on and came to a stalemate. King had the upper hand, but Sky fired back and tossed him to the outside before nailing him with a nice flip dive over the top. How many flip dives can ROH fit into two matches back-to-back? Sky nailed King with a running kick and a knee strike, but King kicked out at two. King caught Sky with the shotgun knees out of the corner for a 2 count. Sky tried to surprise King with a cradle, but only got a 2 count. Both men battled up top and Sky caught King with a leaping hurricanrana after King shoved him to the mat. Sky went up top, but King cut him off and nailed him with a super royal flush for the pin. (**3/4)
(6) Jerry Lynn beat Steve Corino in a Hardcore match. Both men brawled at ringside for several minutes to begin the match. Corino dropped Lynn onto a ladder that was propped up between the ring and the guardrail. Lynn's cut from the previous night opened up an Lynn was bleeding. Lynn fired back and drove a chair into Corino's side. Lynn tossed Corino back outside and over the guardrail. He then got a running start and nailed Corino with a dive over the guardrail and the crowd popped. Both men brawled by the hard camera. Lynn managed to get up on the scaffold and he nailed Corino with a plancha to the floor. Both men were bleeding at this time. Both men used chairs, but appeared to be protecting themselves. They set up a guardrail across a bunch of chairs in the middle of the ring. Both men battled up top and Corino ended up suplexing Lynn onto the guardrail, but he only got a 2 count. Steen ran down to the ring once Lynn got the upper hand. Steen hit Lynn with an unprotected chairshot, but Lynn kicked out of Corino's cover. Lynn used Corino's blood to pain his stomach, but Corino cut him off. Generico's music played and Generico ran down and took out Corino. Lynn then hit the cradle piledriver on a chair for the pin. This wasn't bad, but the unprotected chairshots were unnecessary and took away from my enjoyment of the match. (**3/4)
(7) Colt Cabana & El Generico beat The American Wolves. After some back and forth action, the Wolves got the heat on Generico. Generico ducked and kick from Edwards, who superkicked Richards. After struggling for several moments, Generico finally fended off Richards and Edwards to make the hot tag to Cabana, who ran wild. Cabana got tripped by Edwards, but Generico came out of nowhere and used Cabana's back to springboard to the outside with a flip dive onto Edwards. Cabana had Richards on the ropes, but Edwards blind tagged himself into the match and nailed Cabana with a kick. Cabana tagged out to Generico moments later, but he was quickly cut off by the Wolves. Cabana hit the Colt .45 on Edwards, but Richards broke it up. The crowd woke up and chanted "this is awesome" as the match picked up. Cabana eventually managed to get the Billy Goat's curse on Edwards. Richards and Generico battled up top, but Generico gave him to the top turnbuckle brainbuster. Edwards then tapped to the hold giving Cabana & Generico the win. (***1/2)
Steen came out after the match and attacked Cabana with a chair. He got on the mic and taunted Generico. Steen called him a bitch and said he wouldn't hit him. Generico blocked a slap from Steen and spit on him, but Corino jumped Generico from behind. Cabana then ran into the ring and made the save. Cabana got on the mic and told Generico he was going to give Steen the brainbuster and the crowd popped.
Aries got on the mic and said Black had gotten a fluke win last night. Aries said Strong should have helped him beat down Black. Aries said Strong got rid of him because Strong's issues with Black were more important than him being the World Champion. Aries said he would hand Strong his ass tonight. Strong teased getting on the mic, but used it to hit Aries instead.
(8) Austin Aries beat Roderick Strong in match #1 of Roderick Strong's Personal Gauntlet Challenge via ref stoppage. Strong lit up Aries with chops during the early stages of the match. He chopped Aries over the ring barricade and both men brawled into the crowd. Aries went after Strong's shoulder and worked him over for several minutes, but Strong mounted a comeback and nailed Aries with a powerslam. Strong followed up with some chops, but Aries shoved him to the outside. Both men battled on the turnbuckles. Strong went for a super Gibson driver. Aries ended up landing on the mat, but the momentum of the move sent Strong crashing through a table at ringside. Several officials came down to the ring to check on Strong. (**)
Aries got on the mic and said Strong should change his last name to fragile. Aries said he hadn't broken a sweat because he has proper breathing technique. Aries then called out Tyler Black, who was already at ringside. Aries challenged Black to put his belt on the line. Black got on the mic and said the belt was on the line.
(9) ROH World Hvt. Champion Tyler Black vs. Austin Aries. Black got the upper hand, but missed a springboard. Both men struggled to get to their feet. Strong came down to ringside, but was held back by several officials. Aries said he was a bitch and should go to the back, but Strong nailed him with a kick and Black rolled him up for a nearfall. Strong's shoulder was heavily taped. Black asked Strong if he wanted a shot at the belt. Cornette said he didn't give a shit what Aries wanted and Strong was going to be inserted into the match, which drew a pop from the crowd. Aries took out Strong with a dive. Strong then hit a twisting bodypress to the floor and sold his shoulder as the crowd popped. Aries hit the I.E.D. and locked in the last chancery. Strong recovered and locked Aries in the Stronghold, but Black broke it up with the paroxysm. All three men were down as the ref counted.
All three men traded shots in the middle of the ring. Aries ended up on the outside. Strong and Black then went at it in the middle of the ring. Strong nailed Black with a flash kick, but Aries kicked him right in the head for a nearfall. Black got rid of Aries, but Strong nailed him with a backbreaker. Aries then nailed Strong with a DVD on the apron. Black tossed Aries onto Strong, who was seated in the crowd. Black then nailed both men with a springboard and the crowd popped big. Black sent Aries to the outside moments later. He then hit Strong with God's last gift, but Strong kicked out. Black then locked in an arm bar and Strong tapped immediately. This was a very good segment to build to "The Big Bang" iPPV. (***1/2)
Overall thoughts: (7.0) From a storyline standpoint, this was a compelling show. In fact, this show alongside the previous show, "From the Ashes," did a fantastic job building the final hype for "The Big Bang" iPPV. The only problem is that the only people that saw these shows before "The Big Bang" at the time were the people that attended them live back in March during WrestleMania weekend.
The KOW-Briscoes, Corino & Steen-Cabana & Generico, and Black-Strong-Aries programs were all strengthened during the course of "From The Ashes" and "Phoenix Rising." The problem with this is that on "Phoenix Rising" there really wasn't a great must-see match, so ROH is going to be selling this release based on how badly fans want to see the major storylines unfold heading into "The Big Bang."
I think "From The Ashes," "Phoenix Rising," and "The Big Bang" will make for a thoroughly enjoyable weekend of DVD viewing for just about any wrestling fan. The big programs are done right and the in-ring action is always good on this release for the most part.
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