CALDWELL'S TAKE CALDWELL'S DVD REPORT: ROH Glory by Honor VI Night One - 11/2/07 Mar 8, 2008 - 11:10:51 PM

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By James Caldwell, Torch columnist

ROH "Glory by Honor VI" DVD Report
Night One - Philadelphia, Pa.
Show date: November 2, 2007

In the latest installment of the Torch's VIP Audio series reviewing recent ROH DVD releases, I will be joined by Sean Radican and Justin Parker to break down this DVD with the headline match of Misawa & KENTA vs. Morishima & Marufuji. Check back later for our VIP audio update.

Headline Analysis: Mitsuharu Misawa debuted in Ring of Honor in an underwhelming, yet educational tag team match with KENTA against former ROH champion Morishima and his partner, Marufuji. The match went to a 30:00 draw without the all-too-expected round of desperation nearfalls, close calls, and big spots with an approaching time limit. It was different, which left the audience stunned before they ultimately gave all four men a round of applause.

The round of applause was a polite "thank you" for 30 minutes of action. They really should have been applauding for the education provided. The main event match showcased one simple theme that's lost on many wrestlers on the independent circuit these days: less means more.

Throughout the Glory by Honor show, wrestlers were trying to do more and it meant less. The key example was ROH presenting a "Faction warfare" moment where several men - actually, the cast of thousands - did flips, dives, and spots right before intermission. No one sold anything. Sure, the crowd reacted, but they weren't into the second-half of the show after seeing all the spots in the pro wrestler handbag five matches into the show.

The DVD gets my recommendation strictly for three matches: Austin Aries vs. Bryan Danielson for a great singles match, Nigel McGuinness vs. Chris Hero for an example of how to apply a story to a match, and the NOAH main event for how to put together a compelling match, where a broken down wrestler, Mitsuhara Misawa, showed why he is still considered one of the top wrestlers in the world because he does so much with so little.

After watching the first half of the show with far too many spots and a lack of selling, you will appreciate the final three matches on the card, especially the lessons found in the NOAH main event. The DVD is currently available for $20 on ROH's website.

***

DVD Report: They opened with Rebecca Bayless, so that's always a good start. She talked about Nigel McGuinness being off the show due to a torn bicep. Nigel then did an interview saying he tore the left bicep completely off the bone throwing so many dang lariats. He said he opted to let it heal rather than have complicated surgery.

Next up is a video on the Age of the Fall standing outside Independence Hall. Jimmy Jacobs, wearing a crazy Cowboy hat, talked about revolutions from past to present. Tyler Black said they might not be fighting another country, but they're fighting for their rights. Jacobs said they're not followers and they're forcing people to think, which is why people are against them. Necro Butcher simply walked around with his hands inside his sweatshirt while Lacey looked menacingly at the camera. What a great mix. The cowboy, the gamer, the brawler, and the valet.

(1) Kevin Steen & El Generico beat Brent Albright & B.J. Whitmer (w/Shane Hagadorn) in 9:00. I like this match set-up, as Steen & Generico can "return to earth" after their main event feud against the Briscoes to pick up a decisive win. It's worth noting that Kevin Steen is a very popular man with the ROH audience. The problem is that this match started with a brawl on the floor and had the indy-style Texas Tornado tag wrestling. It's the opening match! The finish was Steen hitting a top rope splash on Mr. Kenn...er Whitmer for the win. (*3/4)

After the match, Shane Hagadorn jumped the victors and Albright gave Steen a half-nelson suplex. They finished off Generico with a brainbuster. They cut to a backstage promo from the Hangmen 3. Albright said Generico & Steen might have won the battle, but they won the war. Just way too much for what should have been an opener to get the car warmed up without trying to slam on the gas in the garage.

(2) Claudio Castagnoli beat Hallowicked in 6:00. Hallowicked is quite the tall man, even next to Claudio. Claudio finished off HW with a hard European uppercut for the win. Fine undercard match that didn't overstay its welcome, but the key here was Hallowicked supposedly fighting to keep a spot on the roster. The storyline was not applied to the match, though, as there was no sense of urgency to win. (*1/2)

Larry Sweeney then came out on stage after Claudio's victory and offered to buy out Claudio from his ROH deal. He said he sold Matt Sydal to Vince McMahon, and he'll do the same thing for him. Claudio said Sweeney's contract will come in handy... for the next time he runs out of toilet paper. He promised to get his hands on him one day to give him the beating he deserves. Sweeney stormed off in a huff. The angle must continue!

(3) Davey Richards beat Delirious in 14:00. This is an interesting match-up. Davey was the aggressor early, as he worked over Delirious's arms to set up submission holds later in the match. After Delirious missed with a top rope splash, Richards nailed a tilt-o-whirl into a Tombstone Piledriver. He locked in the Kimora lock for the submission victory. Good match, but I couldn't take it seriously as Delirious is still a comedy figure as long as he wears the mask and green tassels. Fortunately, Delirious has evolved his character in the time since this DVD. (**1/2)

They went to a video on the Age of the Fall checking out all the mom and pop shops that have been shut down and left as empty lots and vacant buildings. Black said the mega-stores are taking over. Jacobs asked if people are going to wage a war of action or apathy.

(4) The Briscoes beat Roderick Strong & Rocky Romero in 18:00 to retain the ROH Tag Titles. The Briscoes are fluid in the ring and seem to always be in control of the situation, even if they're accepting offense from the opposition. Their star presence makes up for the spotty nature of these undercard tag matches. Strong waited until 13:00 to bust out one heck of a trademark chop to the chest. They should have put that spot over for a while, but they felt the need to get in more spots right afterward. Strong then hit a fallaway gutbuster at 17:00, but Jay popped right up and nailed a clothesline. Briscoes then finished off Strong with a doomsday device clothesline for the win. Good use of the Briscoes in this spot of the card to take the show to Level 2 after the first three matches. (**3/4)

After the match, there was mass screaming in the audience, leading to the Age of the Fall storming the ring to battle the Briscoes. After Lacey delivered low blows to the Briscoes, there was a stand-off between Strong & Romero and the Age of the Fall. The Vulture Squad then stormed the ring and a brawl broke out. And so commences a six-man tag.

(5) Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black & Necro Butcher (w/Lacey) beat Jack Evans & Jigsaw & Ruckus (w/Julius Smokes) in 7:00. Necro Butcher became the official timekeeper for this battle, as Jacobs forced Jigsaw to tap out to the guillotine choke hold and Necro rang the bell repeatedly. Just a bunch of spots that no one sold leading to the post-match. AoTF's program is to be leaders and anti-establishment, but they're falling in line with the spot-dependent matches on this card. (*)

The men from the fourth match stormed the ring leading to a giant brawl. Lacey then cut a promo for all the women in the audience to support the AOF's battle against the oppression of women. Someone in the audience shouted out that she's a whore, so Lacey shot back that everyone in the building comes from the womb of a whore. Daizee Haze had enough and ran out to attack Lacey. Suddenly, there were men everywhere brawling and doing spots. The SUPER FACTION SPOT SHOW ensued like a gymnastics exhibition, minus the 90-pound gymnasts. The announcers said it's faction warfare, then Smokes cut a promo to wrap up. Yes, a bunch of flips and dives must mean war! This was so counter-productive and mind-numbing.

Intermission - Rebecca Bayless talked backstage, then the Briscoes stepped in and said they want to take out the Age of the Fall. Daizee then stepped in and said she'll take care of Lacey. They decided to grab some brews to celebrate.

(6) Ernie Osiris beat Mitch Franklin in 3:00. They tried a complicated head scissors spot in the popcorn match, then Osiris crashed onto Mitch's back with a shooting star press for the pin and the win. Afterward, Mitch reluctantly handed over the Top of the Class trophy to Osiris. Bad habits on display, unfortunately. (1/2*)

(7) Austin Aries beat Bryan Danielson in 20:00 to win the best-of-three series. Now for some damn good wrestling. They went through the feeling out process in the first ten minutes, with Danielson trying to get early submissions. Danielson then slapped on the triangle choke popularized by Undertaker at 13:00, but Aries reached the ropes for a break. At 16:00, Danielson applied Cattle Mutilation, but Aries escaped and nailed ten elbows to the face. Danielson had enough of that and nailed the trademark elbow strikes to the neck, but Aries broke free. After several counters, Aries took a small package into a brainbuster. He then nailed the 450 splash for the pin and the win. Beautiful counters and reversals in the final five minutes, taking the show to an acceptable level for an ROH show. Two pros showing how it's done inside the ring. (***3/4)

Back to the Age of the Fall walking around Philadelphia. They looked at the architecture differences on a street block - the cookie-cutter rows of nice houses vs. the individually-designed houses that might not be as nice, but allow for individuality.

Back to the venue where Larry Sweeney interrupted with Hero, Dempsey, and Sara Del Ray. Sweeney said all eyes on Chris Hero, who will be the new ROH champion either by defeating Nigel or if Nigel forfeits the belt due to injury. Hero then asked for a moment of silence for Nigel McGimpyarm and said Nigel isn't injured; he's terrified. Nigel slowly strolled out in jeans and a t-shirt and said he nearly killed himself to get to the point of wearing the ROH Title, so he's not going to risk injuring himself further. Sweeney and Co. mocked Nigel's promo, then Sweeney said he has a contract that says Nigel defends the belt or he forfeits it. Hero gave Nigel a demonstration by attacking poor Bobby D. and forcing him to tap out to an arm breaker. Nigel had enough and said the heck with it and agreed to the match.

(8) Nigel McGuinness beat Chris Hero (w/Larry Sweeney) in 10:00 to retain the ROH Title. Hero nearly scored a pin with a roll-up in the first five seconds, then Nigel rolled to the floor to recover. Sweeney distracted Nigel on the floor, allowing Hero to smash Nigel into the guardrail. Back in the ring at 7:00, Hero slapped on a submission on the injured left arm. Nigel had his foot on the bottom rope forever, but the ref wasn't in position to see it. Nigel tapped out, but the ref saw the foot on the rope after he called for the bell, so he demanded the match re-start. The match continued with Nigel nailing a right-arm lariat before slapping on an elbow submission. Hero tapped out in about three seconds, giving Nigel the victory. Textbook application of the story to a shorter-than-usual title match. Good in-between match. (***)

Backstage afterward, Larry Sweeney screamed into the camera that they were robbed and lawsuits will be coming. Hero said he made Nigel tap, and everyone saw it. Hero said he's not done with Nigel just yet.

(9) GHC Hvt. champion Misawa & KENTA wrestled Morishima & Marufuji to a 30:00 draw. KENTA and Marufuji started things off, then Morishima took a tag and he demanded the presence of Misawa opposite him. Misawa took the tag and the crowd popped for the match-up of the man mountain bully vs. the legendary champion. Misawa is broken down, but he's so great in every little move he does in the ring. Everyone backstage should have learned a lesson in how to make a little mean a lot, because when you try to do too much, it means little. Eventually, Morishima and Marufuji isolated KENTA in their corner.

KENTA fought back at 20:00, but Morishima dropped him with a sidewalk slam. The action broke down at 24:00 when KENTA slammed Morishima onto Marufuji. Misawa then accidentally took a boot to the face from KENTA when Marufuji ducked. At 27:00, everyone hit signature finishers to bring the crowd to its feet. Marufuji then went for a Sliced Bread, but KENTA countered into the G2S for a two count when Marufuji got a foot on the ropes.

They restored order into a regular tag match, which works so much better than a match simply breaking down into Texas Tornado for the rest of the match following a hot tag. KENTA and Marufuji had an amazing pinfall exchange, then Misawa and Morishima took tags just before 30:00. Misawa took Morishima up top, but the bell sounded at 30:00 to signal the time limit had expired. The fans chanted for five more minutes, which they weren't getting. They booed before giving a polite round of applause to the competitors as they recovered to their feet.

The fans chanted Misawa and KENTA's names to close the show. A very good tag match. It was different, and a bit underwhelming for the live audience because they had been fed nothing but spot, spot, nearfall, spot, spot, spot, nearfall on the first-half of the show. This was just a great pro wrestling clinic on how to make less mean more. (***3/4)

Back to the Age of the Fall looking at the Liberty Bell to close the DVD. Jacobs said they have to pay to get in to check out the Bell. He said that used to represent freedom and greatness. Now, it's nothing more than a tourist trap. Black said they have more to offer - a real revolution; something to believe in. Necro is great just standing there half-asleep. Jacobs said they're not looking to take their money; just offering hope.

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