ROH Rewind: Week of 11/16/09

After weeks of preparing, it finally happened. The final ever match for Bryan Danielson within a ROH ring, so what better way to cap off an amazing career than having him main event against his long term rival Roderick Strong? In other news, would the Pick 6 system be changed by any of the matches? Could ROH continue to build upon the recent success? Only one way to find out!

ROH on HDNet: November 16th

The opening was totally dedicated to the final curtain for Bryan Danielson, with both a highlight package and the announcers talking non stop about his imminent departure. They said how tonight was going to be very emotional for everyone involved. You could say that again!

Chris Hero vs. Delirious

Whilst Delirious was making his way to the ring, he was jumped from behind by Sonjay Dutt, which really set the tone for the entire bout. After rolling into the ring, the referee called for the bell, allowing Hero to take advantage of a worn out Delirious. After a few minutes of Hero dominating, Delirious switched the tide of the match with a head to the gut of Hero whilst he was charging Delirious in the corner.

Delirious began to make a comeback by taking down Hero with a series of kicks and punches, but whilst attempting to pull off the Shadows over Hell, Hero rolled out of the way. He then connected with a rolling Elbow for the nearfall. Both men then went for an exchange of pins, with Hero getting the better of the series to gain the victory.

Winner: Chris Hero by pinfall (7:30)

After the match, Sonjay Dutt came down to the ring to taunt the fallen Delirious, before the cameras shot to the announcers who introduced the penultimate part of the Bryan Danielson countdown. This mainly focused on his 60 minute match against Colt Cabana at Gut Check 2005, with Danielson providing some commentary over the top. This was a pretty good way to build up some hype for his final match.

Going straight into the second match, we were welcomed by the arrival of The Embassy for the “Beard vs Beard” match. In this, if The Embassy lost, then Ernie Osiris was getting shaved, but if Necro Butcher and Grizzly Redwood lost, then Redwood wouldn’t so grizzly anymore.

The Embassy (Joey Ryan and Prince Nana w/ Ernie Osiris) vs. Necro Butcher and Grizzly Redwood – Beard vs. Beard match

Redwood and Ryan started off the match for their teams, with Redwood gaining the upperhand with a series of Arm drags and hurricanranas. Redwood then tagged in Necro, making Ryan scarper to his corner for the tag. Nana, however, had other ideas and jumped from the apron, leaving Ryan to be easily dominated by the duo.

This continued until Redwood decided that chasing Nana around the outside was more important than actually keeping an eye on Ryan, allowing Osiris to interfere on behalf of the Embassy. As Redwood then chased Osiris into the ring, Ryan was waiting ready to dish out a powerslam. This led to the isolated beatdown of Redwood for the next few minutes, with Ryan doing most of the work whilst Nana occasionally threw a few punches into the mix.

When Nana actually got into the match properly, he went for an attempted fist drop off the second rope, but Nana missed, allowing Redwood to tag in Necro, who proceeded to clean house until Ryan hit a beautiful spinning superkick for the nearfall. Necro quickly tagged Redwood back in, but was taken out by Ryan after a suicide dive to the outside left Necro in the front row.

Back in the ring, and Redwood and Nana squared off, with Redwood getting the better of the exchange. Ryan came in from behind to attempt a roll-up, but Redwood kicked out, before hitting a swinging DDT out of nowhere for the win.

Winners: Grizzly Redwood and Necro Butcher by pinfall (5:30)

After the match, The Embassy split, with Ryan and Nana running up the aisle whilst Necro kept Osiris in the ring. Redwood then hooked in a sleeper hold, allowing Necro to cut off the beard of Osiris. What simple fun!

We were shown yet another series of Bryan Danielson moments, first the highlights of his final New York match at Glor by Honor VII, then secondly with his top ROH moment. This was chosen as his 2006 match against KENTA at Glory by Honor V, where he talked about his return from injury to take on one of the best in the world. This led into commercial.

Returning from break, they showed the fireball attack from Aries on Tyler Black last week, before announcing that in two weeks time, Aries would wrestle against Colt Cabana. They also showed highlights from the Kenny King/Rhett Titus attack on Jerry Lynn, before informing us that Kenny King will take on Brent Albright next week.

“Skullkrusher” Rasche Brown vs. Cameron Matthews

He came, he saw, he conquered, enough said. One suplex, a shoulder-block, and a burning hammer later, and Brown gained the easiest of victories. Hoorah.

Winner: “Skullkrusher” Rasche Brown by pinfall (1:00)

Just before the start of the main event, they showed a final Bryan Danielson tribute package. This really got the crowd excited in the match, and they exploded when Danielson arrived. Strong also got a good little pop as well, but the fans were definitely pro-Danielson, with a “Thank you Dragon” chant starting up and streamers flying into the ring before the introductions even took place.

Bryan Danielson vs. Roderick Strong

The fight started with a really strong show of mat and chain wrestling from both men with neither gaining a distinct advantage until Strong hit a backbreaker. Strong then worked over the back, before sending Danielson to the corner for a series of stiff chops to the chest. Danielson gained the upperhand by ducking a chop and countering with a chain of strong kicks to the chest.

Danielson tried to maintain his advantage with a charge to the corner, but Strong reversed with a hard kick to the head, followed up with a second backbreaker. Strong then hit a couple of elbows to the lower back before locking in a Boston crab. Danielson, however, was able to reverse the pressure into an attempted pinfall. They continued back and forth for a few moves, before Danielson was able to put in a triangle choke, forcing Strong to go for the rope break.

Strong went to the outside, so Danielson went for a suicide dive through the ropes. Strong however was able to counter with a sharp elbow to the head. Strong tried to get back into the ring, but Danielson cut him off with a dropkick back to the floor, followed up with a baseball slide which put Strong into the front row seats.  Danielson then hit a beautiful springboard splash into the crowd. Rolling Strong back into the ring, Danielson landed a missile dropkick and a solid knee for the nearfall.

Danielson tried to lock in the Cattle Mutilation, but Strong reversed into the Stronghold submission, before being taken into the triangle choke again. Strong however got out of it with a third backbreaker, before hitting a string of them for the nearfall. Strong then set Danielson up for a superplex off the top, but Danielson was able to wriggle out of the predicament and hit a back superplex of his own.

Danielson again attempted the Cattle Mutilation, but Strong was able to hit a Gibson driver for yet another nearfall. Strong put Danielson on the top turnbuckle for a second time, but Danielson fought back with a set of elbows. This time though, it wasn’t enough, as Strong hit a hard kick to the head, followed up by the gutbuster/superkick combination for the pinfall victory.

Winner: Roderick Strong by pinfall (18:00)

After the match, Strong helped Danielson up before cutting a promo on him, describing Danielson as his brother. All the wrestlers came to the ring from the back and celebrated with Danielson whilst the show was going off the air.

Quick Hits

Chris Hero d. Delirious (3/5)

Necro Butcher and Grizzly Redwood d. The Embassy (3/5)

“Skullkrusher” Rasche Brown d. Cameron Matthews (1/5)

Roderick Strong d. Bryan Danielson (5/5, MOTYC)

Until next time, this was the ROH Rewind, and remember! You haven’t seen anything yet!

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