By Sean Radican, PWTorch Columnist

RADICAN'S ROH "NEW HORIZONS" PPV REPORT
SEPTEMBER 26, 2008
DETROIT, MICH
TAPED FOR PAY-PER-VIEW IN JULY

Torch VIP members exclusive for two days.

"New Horizons" debuts on Indemand, TVN, and The Dish on Sept. 26, 2008

- The show opened with Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black in the ring. Jacobs said they had the power as ROH World Tag Team Champions. Jacobs said they had the power not to defend the tag titles. Prazak acted angry about this development. Jacobs said they had no contenders. The Briscoes then ran down to the ring and the AOTF bailed. The announcers said the Briscoes appearance was a surprise, as Mark had been out with a wrist injury. The crowd was red hot for the Briscoes. They challenged Jacobs & Black to a match. Black & Jacobs teased running back into the ring, but ended up bailing to the back where they were attacked by Austin Aries.

Prazak asked Mark what he was doing back. The Briscoes said they were here to get their titles back. Prazak then introduced the opening video for the PPV.

1 - - THE BRISCOES vs. SILAS YOUNG & MITCH FRANKLIN

Young hit a nice moonsault on Mark, but Jay kicked him right in the face. Franklin tried a dive, but got caught and then tossed high into the air by the Briscoes. The crowd was red hot as the Briscoes kicked the crap out of Young and Franklin. The Briscoes then got the win with the springboard doomsday device.

WINNERS: The Briscoes

STAR RATING: (NR) – This was a good way to introduce the Briscoes back into the fold after they missed the last PPV.

-A video package aired on the Briscoes. They showed Mark and Jay shooting guns in their backyard, boxing each other, and saying they had gotten too flashy with AOTF and were going back to basics. I wasn't sure why the Briscoes were shooting at the trees, but this was a most-welcome highlight package, as they needed some character development.

2 - - DELIRIOUS vs. ERICK STEVENS vs. RUCKUS vs. SHANE HAGADORN – Four Corner Survival match

Stevens ducked a kick from Ruckus early and suplexed him to the mat. Hagadorn got stuck inside the ring with Stevens moments later and couldn't tag out. Hagadorn tried to leave, but Delirious and Ruckus threw him back into the ring and Stevens nailed him with a chop. Everyone then took turns nailing Hagadorn in the corner and the crowd cheered. Ruckus tried to sneak a pin, but he wasn't the legal man. The ref allowed all four in the ring and the action was chaotic. Ruckus hit a reverse moonsault legdrop on Delirious for a nearfall. Stevens eventually mailed Hagadorn with a clothesline and then pinned him after a Dr. Bomb for the win.

WINNER: Erick Stevens

STAR RATING: (*3/4) – The match only lasted for around 6 minutes. Ruckus hit a fantastic reverse moonsault legdrop off the top, which was the highlight spot of the match. The crowd was red hot for everything and this was fine. Wins and losses mean a lot on PPV, so hopefully this elevates Stevens in the future.

-Austin Aries entered the ring to a huge ovation from the crowd. Aries said what he and Jacobs have going on transcends a blood feud as highlights of their feud aired while he talked. Aries said their feud was about destroying each other after what he did to Lacey. Aries called out Jacobs and he came out. Black tried to jump Aries from behind, but Aries tossed him out of the ring. MsChif entered the ring and gave Aries a low blow. Jacobs took out his spike and nailed him right in the forehead. AOTF graphics aired as Jacobs attacked Aries on the outside. Aries ended up getting taken to the back. Kevin Steen came out to a big pop. Kevin Steen said Jacobs & Black were talented when it came to 2 on 1 attacks, but they wouldn't be able to do it when it was Steen and Generico facing them together. Jacobs said Steen had to earn a shot at the tag titles. Steen claimed he had no problem facing both of them right now. Jacobs acted like he was going to accept Steen's challenge, but The Necro Butcher jumped him from behind.

3 - - KEVIN STEEN vs. THE NECRO BUTCHER – No DQ match

They brawled on the outside for a couple of minutes. Steen eventually hit a running powerslam on Necro on the entrance ramp before tossing him back inside the ring. Steen went for the sharpshooter around the 5 minute mark, but Necro fought free with some punches from his back. Steen tried to fire back, but Necro punched him right across the face and Steen spilled through the ropes to the floor. Necro tried to attack Steen, but got nailed with a chairshot to the mid-section. Steen then set the chair up on the floor and launched Necro off the apron and through the chair. The crowd was really into Steen's flurry of offense on the outside and broke out into a "Mr. Wrestling" chant. Steen went for the swanton, but Necro managed to get his knees up.

Necro threw several chairs into the ring and punched and chopped Steen in the corner before bulldogging Steen onto a chair set up on the mat for a 2 count. Steen made another comeback and hit a Michinoku driver on Necro through a chair, but he kicked out at the last second. Steen then picked Necro up and nailed him with the package piledriver on the chair for the pin. The replays made it looked like Necro's head actually connected with the chair on the package piledriver when they aired in slow-motion from different angles.

WINNER: Kevin Steen

STAR RATING: (**1/2) – The crowd was hot for Steen and his victory puts Steen & Generico in line for a shot at the tag titles. These two have had longer matches with more dangerous spots, so I was glad to see them tone things down a bit and have a solid 9 minute PPV match.

-Adam Pearce cut a promo backstage on Brent Albright. He gloated about throwing a fireball in Albright's face on a previous release. Pearce said he wasn't in the building tonight. Pearce said he didn't care about PPV buyrates or money. He said he wanted to leave a mark on somebody. He said SNS Inc. was on their way up. Pearce's phone rang as the promo ended.

-Highlights aired of Davey Richards's turn on Roderick Strong from the "Respect Is Earned II" PPV taping that didn't air on PPV. Prazak said Sweeney had sent Richards to Japan. Sweeney cut a promo before the beginning of the contest. He told Marufuji that Shiozaki was very happy being in SNS Inc. He told Marufuji to join SNS Inc. and he would be happy. Marufuji teased a handshake and flipped Sweeney off. Sweeney said SNS Inc. would not be wrestling in Detroit. They all went to leave, but Lance Storm came out and said unless they could get past him, they wouldn't be going anywhere. Storm said he came here to see the best locker room in the business compete in the ring and the match began.

4 - - CHRIS HERO & GO SHIOZAKI (w/ SNS INC.) vs. RODERICK STRONG & NAOMICHI MARUFUJI (w/ Lance Storm)

Strong and Shiozaki exchanged some brutal chops during the early stages of the match. Nigel McGuinness came into the announce booth and said he was back by popular demand. McGuinness is actually pretty funny on commentary. McGuinness said he was going to exercise his power as champion just as AOTF did earlier and defend his title next so he could enjoy the rest of the PPV. Strong & Shiozaki should some good teamwork, as Strong nailed Shiozaki with a backbreaker and Marufuji bounced off the ropes several times before nailing Shiozaki with a kick. Shiozaki eventually fired back and tagged in "That Young Knockout Kid" Chris Hero. Hero tossed Strong outside and SNS tried to attack him, but Storm fended them off. Strong exchanged chops with Shiozaki and nailed him with a kick that left them both down on the mat. Strong came close to making a tag, but Shiozaki cut him off.

Sweeney chanted "give it up Roderick, give it up" on the outside as Hero pounded on him near his own corner. Shiozaki propped Strong up on the top turnbuckle and chopped him down to the mat for a 2 count. Strong finally cut Shiozaki off and tagged in Marufuji. Marufuji ran wild on Hero and Shiozaki in the ring until Shiozaki cut him off on the top rope and eventually nailed him with a fisherman buster after a series of counters. Hero tagged in. Marufuji nailed him with a superkick and went for sliced bread #2, but Hero blocked it and nailed him with a kick. Strong made the save and hit a combination gutbuster/code breaker on Hero, but Shiozaki made the save.

Strong and Shiozaki exchanged chops, but Marufuji nailed Shiozaki with a superkick and he was out. Hero managed to nail Marufuji with a roaring elbow, but Strong blind-tagged himself into the match and nailed Hero with a big boot and then a backbreaker for the pin.

WINNERS: Roderick Strong & Naomichi Marufuji

STAR RATING: (***1/4) – This was a fun tag match with Storm holding SNS Inc. at bay during the match. Strong and Shiozaki had some really good exchanges and I'm starting to warm up to Hero's "That Young Knockout Kid" persona. Marufuji is just a blast to watch wrestler, as is Shiozaki, who comes across like a total badass in the ring.

-Sweeney attacked Storm after the match, but Storm caught him in the half-crab. Hero broke it up and Sweeney got on the mic and told him to knock out Storm. Hero nailed him with a roaring elbow. SNS Inc. stood tall over Storm as a replay aired of Hero's knockout blow.

- Brent Albright cut a promo from another location. He said he wasn't wrestling on the PPV because of Adam Pearce. A replay aired of Pearce throwing a fireball in Albright's face in Chicago. Albright said his son cried when he saw his face. Albright said his baby girl cried when she saw him. Albright then said his wife was concerned because they weren't going to be able to pay the bill if he couldn't wrestle. Albright said he was going to hurt Pearce and do everything he could to disfigure Pearce's face. This was a good promo.

-Claudio Castagnoli narrated a promo saying he had come to America with nothing and worked his way up to a World Title match. This was fantastic, as the footage showed Castagnoli running while doing European uppercuts and performing his giant swing and a large tree branch. Castagnoli said he would be the next ROH World Champion.

-Castagnoli came out for the ROH World Title match to a nice ovation from the crowd. McGuinness then came out to a chorus of boos. Both men got a "Broken, Torn, and Snapped" graphic for their signature maneuver. Bobby Cruise then did the formal ring introductions. Castagnoli got a big ovation and McGuinness's introduction was greeted with a chorus of boos.

5 - - ROH World Champion NIGEL McGUINNESS vs. CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI – ROH World Title match

McGuinness jawed with the crowd and the ref rang the bell. Castagnoli nailed him with a big kick and went for the Ricola bomb, but McGuinness blocked it. McGuinness hit a big lariat, but Castagnoli got right up, hit a lariat, and then nailed McGuinness with the Ricola bomb for a nearfall. Castagnoli beat on McGuinness for several minutes and went for a dive to the outside. McGuinness blocked it, but Castagnoli fought free from a tower of London attempt to the floor by McGuinness and went back on the attack on the outside. The crowd was red hot for Castagnoli, but McGuinness bounced off ropes when he tried to throw him back into the ring and Castagnoli got nailed with an elbow. McGuinness cut off Castagnoli as he attempted a dive over the guardrail and nailed him with a tower of London to the floor. McGuinness attacked Castagnoli in the corner and mocked Danielson's "I've got till five referee" spot when the ref administered the 5 count.

Both men exchanged European uppercuts and the crowd cheered for each one Castagnoli hit and booed for each one McGuinness connected with. McGuinness eventually took Castagnoli down to the mat with a clothesline and applied a headscissors submission. McGuinness dominated the action for several minutes and thwarted each of Castagnoli's attempts to mount a comeback. Castagnoli finally hit a European uppercut off the second turnbuckle as the crowd roared as he began his comeback attempt. Castagnoli lit McGuinness up with left and right European uppercuts around the 12 minute mark of the match. Castagnoli clotheslined McGuinness to the outside and the crowd roared as he nailed him with a dive through the ropes to the outside. Both men battled on the top rope and exchanged forearms. Castagnoli sent McGuinness down to the mat and went for a dive off the top, but McGuinness got out of the way and began attacking his shoulder.

McGuinness hit the tower of London at the 15 minute mark, but Castagnoli kicked out and the crowd roared. Castagnoli fired back on McGuinness and nailed him with a bicycle kick for a 2 count. He then went for the Ricola bomb, but Castagnoli blocked it. McGuinness kept going for the jawbreaker, but Castagnoli cut him off and got him in the giant swing for a nearfall as the crowd roared. Castagnoli tried to jump up top, but McGuinness cut him off and draped him over the top rope. McGuinness then climbed the turnbuckle to hit him with a clothesline, but Castagnoli stood up on the ropes and nailed him with an enzuguri. That was quite an exchange! Castagnoli then nailed McGuinness with a superplex for a nearfall. Castagnoli continued to hit power moves on McGuinness for nearfalls as the announcers wondered what he had to do to finish McGuinness off and win the World Title.

McGuinness blocked the Ricola bomb. Castagnoli nailed him coming off the ropes and McGuinness went for another jawbreaker lariat, but Castagnoli was ready for it and nailed him with an elevated European uppercut for another nearfall. Castagnoli grabbed McGuinness right away and went for a Ricola bomb, but McGuinness kicked out. Castagnoli went for a second Ricola bomb, but McGuinness slipped out. Wow! That was a fantastic exchange. Castagnoli went for a rollup, but Castagnoli kicked out. McGuinness used the momentum of the kick out to run to the ropes and hit the jawbreaker lariat for the win.

WINNER: Nigel McGuinness to retain the ROH World Title.

STAR RATING: (****) – This was an awesome match. Castagnoli was great in his role, as he took the attack to McGuinness and acted like he literally had to throw the kitchen sink at him in order to win the match. The match was a total rollercoaster ride from start to finish and you really never knew who was going to win, as Castagnoli found numerous ways to counter the jawbreaker lariat and use his ability to thwart McGuinness to his advantage. The crowd truly believed Castagnoli had the match one with a Ricola bomb towards the end of the match, which was a fantastic nearfall. This is a must-see match.

-An ad aired for ROHWrestling.com.

-Prazak talked about what Danielson had done in the last 30 days and noted he had beaten Lance Cade in a dark match at a Raw taping.

6 - - BRYAN DANIELSON vs. TYLER BLACK (w/ Jimmy Jacobs)

Jacobs distracted Danielson at the bell and Black jumped right in and went on the attack. The announcer mentioned that Black is one of the men Danielson must beat to get a shot at the ROH World title on PPV. Danielson went on the attack and locked in a nasty leg submission as McGuinness came back into the booth. Black fired back on Danielson and nailed him with several shots to the mid-section, but Danielson charged out of the corner and went to work on Black's arm. Danielson then hit a butterfly suplex that he turned into a cross arm breaker, but Black kicked at Danielson's head to break the hold. Danielson maintained the advantage and went back after Black's arm with a really nasty looking arm submission. McGuinness said Danielson was copying a submission he uses in his own matches as the crowd broke into a "this is wrestling" chant.

Both men ended up on the apron, but Black managed to hang on to the ropes when Danielson went for a neckbreaker and Danielson spilled to the outside in pain. Black went on the attack on the outside and began working over Danielson's neck. Black draped Danielson's neck over the second rope and stood on it before back-flipping to the center of the ring and posing for the crowd, which drew some boos. Danielson began firing up and charged at Black and hit him with several European uppercuts, but Black grabbed him in a sleeper hold to cut him off. McGuinness said the fans were already asleep because of Danielson was wrestling. Black continued to work over Danielson's neck as he caught him with a neckbreaker for a 2 count. Danielson fired back with a series of kicks to the chest and eventually took Black down with a big dropkick.

Danielson and Black were down. Danielson got up first and went on the attack. He's got great intense facials. Danielson continued to maintain the advantage and he laid out Black with a missile dropkick. Black rolled to the outside and Jacobs gave him some encouragement. Danielson went for a dive through the ropes, but Black nailed him as he came through and Danielson spilled to the floor. Black then went up top and hit a moonsault press. McGuinness said he was the champion because he didn't take risks like Black. Black tossed Danielson back into the ring and hit another neckbreaker, but Danielson kicked out. Black yelled at Danielson and slapped him across the face twice. He told Danielson he was going to be the expense of the revolution before slapping him across the face. Black went for a charge in the corner, but Danielson blocked it and hit a flying knee strike. Danielson then applied the cattle mutilation around the 20 minute mark of the match, but Black got the ropes.

Danielson slapped Black across the face several times and glared at the hard camera. The crowd wanted one more and McGuinness said the crowd should do that after he hits a lariat. Black and Danielson went to a series of pin attempts for nearfalls. Black stuffed an Okana roll and applied a sleeper on the mat. The ref checked Danielson's arm, but he fired up before it hit the mat a third time. Danielson applied a sleeper of his own, which he turned into a cross arm breaker. Black tried to fight out and Danielson turned it into the triangle choke. McGuinness said Black should tap out soon to preserve his future. Black dead lifted Danielson and powerbombed him into the turnbuckles, which broke. That was freaking awesome and the crowd went nuts as a slow-motion replay aired. Both men were down, but eventually got back to their feet and exchanged strikes on their feet. Black caught Danielson and suplexed him to the mat. He then superkicked Danielson, who was on his knees, for a nearfall. McGuinness said he was impressed with both men in this match.

Black hit a small package driver at around the 25 minute mark for a nearfall and the crowd chanted "this is awesome." Both men traded forearms. Wow! The crowd is going nuts. Danielson finally sent Black down with a series of open hand strikes. Danielson then hit a series of elbows and the ref stopped the match.

-A replay of the finish aired in slow-motion.

WINNER: Bryan Danielson

STAR RATING: (****1/4) – This was an incredible back and fourth contest that built and built until the finish, which climaxed the crowd pop at just the right moment. Black had control of the match and was working over Danielson's neck, but he got Danielson's attention with several slaps to the face. Danielson's comeback was fantastic and the final moments with some really great nearfalls were all believable. This is the second must-see match in a row on this card. McGuinness added a great deal on commentary as well. He was very funny with his heel commentary.

-Austin Aries ran down to the ring after the match and attacked Jacobs. The announcers wondered if it was an official match as Aries hit a series of dropkicks on Jacobs in the corner. Aries went for a dive to the outside, but Jacobs got out of the way. Jacobs got a chair from the crowd and nailed Aries with it across the back. Aries came up bleeding from hitting the guardrail. Jacobs set up Aries on the chair and went for a dive, but Aries got out of the way. The announcers said they would stay with this brawl as long as they could with PPV time running out. They brawled through the crowd and it was difficult to see the action at times. Jacobs dominated the action for several minutes, but Aries eventually gained the upper hand with a clothesline. Aries went for the brainbuster, but Jacobs caught him in the end time submission. Aries managed to fight free by slamming Jacobs into a nearby wall. Jacobs went for a spear, but Aries countered and hit several knee strikes before locking in the last chancery. The crowd chanted for Aries as he threw Jacobs off a pile of mats. Aries grabbed Jacobs in a headlock and drove the end of a chair into his head several times.

Aries went and got a huge ladder. The announcers said the lighting was bad because they weren't prepared for a brawl in the back of the building. Aries set up Jacobs and climbed the ladder, but Jacobs threw a chair at him and dragged him down. Jacobs then set Aries up on the ladder, but he cut him off. Both men ended up brawling on the top of the ladder. The crowd heat was really good for this. Necro came out with a chair. Aries told him not to listen to Jacobs. Jacobs told him to hit Aries. Necro looked confused for a moment, but ended up turning around and pushing the ladder over. Jacobs and Aries both went through tables. Necro then walked away looking confused. The crowd went insane, but the cameras didn't show Jacobs and Aries actually going through the tables, but this was an intentional way of shooting the footage in order to get over the chaotic nature of the brawl. Aries and Jacobs continued to weakly punch each other on the floor as officials came out to attend to them.

Recommendation: (8.5) This was another very good PPV from ROH. The Danielson-Black match was fantastic and the other match that will get people talking is the excellent McGuinness-Castagnoli match. .Everything else on the card was good to very good, although the first couple of matches didn't feature anything memorable.

One thing I liked about this show was that in addition to featuring a couple of matches well-worth going out of your way to see, there was also a lot of character development. The Briscoes were spotlighted with a squash to open the show and also got a video package later on that really spotlighted their personality. The Aries-Jacobs feud was featured in a great light, as they brawled near the beginning of the show and then ended the show with a crazy brawl that went all over the place. I missed it the first time around, but the announcer pointed out that the production crew wasn't prepared for the wrestlers to go to that part of the building, so that's why they shot it that way. Claudio Castagnoli also came off well with a pre-match video package before he faced ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness.

When all is said and done, everyone will be talking about the last two matches on the card. Castagnoli came across really well during his match against McGuinness. He took the attack to McGuinness early and put him in the rare position of being on the defensive. McGuinness was great in his heel role, but Castagnoli seemed to be one step ahead of him each time he went for the jawbreaker lariat. This match will go a long way in elevating Castagnoli in the eyes of fans who don't think he deserves a top-tier push.

The Black-Danielson match stole the show. Black was in control for much of the match. Danielson had some great facials as he tried to gain the upper hand. The match really heated up once Black slapped Danielson across the face several times. Danielson finally made a fiery comeback and they went back and fourth from that point forward, as both men appeared to have the match won at several points. Everything just clicked in this match and lead to a great finish with the ref stopping the match due to Danielson's elbow strikes.

The brawl at the end of the show between Jacobs and Aries was chaotic and went all over the building. As I said before, I missed it the watching it the first time, but the announcers did a good job of putting over that the footage was being shot with dark lighting because the production staff wasn't prepared for Aries and Jacobs to brawl in that area of the venue.

Overall, I highly recommend ordering this show when it airs this Friday on Indemand, The Dish, and TVN cable systems. The crowd is red hot throughout, there's some great stuff from SNS Inc., and you have two fantastic matches to close the show. I'm glad ROH booker Gabe Sapolsky decided to add some video packages and promos for this PPV, as they helped clear things up for those behind or just beginning their ROH viewing.

We suggest these recent related articles...

KELLER’S WWE MSG SPECIAL REPORT 10/3: Lesnar vs. Big Show, Cena vs. Seth in a cage, Jericho vs. Owens in an IC Title match, Dudleys vs. New Day for tag titles

McNEILL's Late Night Deadblog - WWE Night of Champions: Bucklebombs, Light-up Jackets, Poachers, IcoPro, Eddie, more!

KELLER’S WWE NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS PPV REPORT 9/20: Ongoing “virtual time” coverage of event including Sting vs. Seth, Cena vs. Seth, Ryback vs. Owens, mystery partner with Reigns & Ambrose, Divas Title, Tag Title, more