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Post by Brain Of J on Mar 8, 2009 20:41:17 GMT -5
Who said anything about Chris Hero being a face? Jed Shaffer ~Like Venkman and his laundry, my face/heel alignments have many subtle levels.
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Post by Brain Of J on Mar 15, 2009 15:30:22 GMT -5
January 12, 2009:Email:1) TNA got a 1.67 PPV buy rate for 'Final Resolution'. 2) CHI's 'CHI Nothing From Something' show was attended by 100 people. 3) CMLL got a 1.18 television rating for 'CMLL Sunday'. 4) CW's 'Cold Fury' show was attended by 272 people. 5) SW's 'SW Welcome To The Party' show was attended by 56 people. 6) CWL's 'CWL Hands Of Death' show was attended by 135 people. 7) Sophie -- Here is my weekly report on our battle with TNA. We are seen as having better workers, and this is causing fans to choose us over them. 8) TNA's TNA Monday has been renewed for a further 30 weeks. PI -- 1% was gained. Total -- 74% Global. Results for Throwdown: “This is your Monday night destination for the world’s #1 professional wrestling promotion! Good evening, everyone, welcome to Throwdown, live on The CW Network, Ring Of Honor’s Monday night battlefield! I’m Steven Manning, alongside Taz, welcoming you to the very best professional wrestling has to offer!” “Steven, there’s grudge matches tonight … Chris Hero’s gonna take on Austin Aries … and there’s a crazy tag match later … but I think everyone’s wonderin’ why Nigel McGuinness summoned Steve Corino here!” “The two have never liked each other, and right now, they’re on opposite sides of the ongoing war with The Honor Guard … who knows what McGuinness has in store. But also, don’t forget, finally, after more than two weeks, we’ll hear from Roderick Strong!” “Tonight, we see if Strong’s ever comin’ back, or if he’s done!” “Plus MQS defends his championship … it’s another action-packed Monday! Let’s kick it off with a grudge match!” 1st segment: “Champagne” Kory Chavis vs. Josh Prohibition Prohibition grabs a microphone before the ref can signal for the bell. “This is way past wrist-locks and suplexes,” he says. “If you got the stones, we can just piss on the rulebook and get it on street-style!” Chavis flashes a crocodile smile and indicates to the ref he’s fine with the change, and they immediately set in upon punching each other into oblivion. The fight travels outside the ring, through the crowd and back again. As it approaches the ring, Prohibition sends Chavis over the guard rail, crashing into the announce position. Manning and Taz scatter as Prohibition advances and Chavis pulls himself to his feet. As Prohibition jumps over the rail, Chavis grabs Manning’s cup of coffee, spins and throws it in Prohibition’s face. The scalding hot java brings Prohibition’s offense to a halt, and Chavis goes for a cover right there. The ref shrugs and makes the count. ***3/4 Winner: Chavis (pinfall, hot coffee) Quality: 85% Crowd: 81% Overall: 83% Notes: Josh Prohibition lost overness from this match. Kory Chavis gained overness from this match. 2nd segment: Chris Sabin & Jigsaw vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico Jigsaw and Sabin gel reasonably well, but still, no replacement for the insane chemistry with Alex Shelley. Steen and Generico, meanwhile, continue to show an arrogance far exceeding their standing in the company, treating Sabin and Jigsaw with no respect at all. But neither team stands tall in the end, thanks to The Elite running in and ruining the match with their interference, specifically targeting Sabin. Winners: Sabin & Jigsaw (disqualification) Quality: 75% Crowd: 72% Overall: 73% 3rd segment: On the Jumbotron, a picture appears of Roderick Strong as the announcers get some face time. “Ladies and gentlemen,” begins Steven Manning, “at Final Battle, we witnessed the dissolution of a friendship. There had been some rocky times between Roderick Strong and Austin Aries during the Faction Wars, but that changed towards the end of 2007, and the two found a peace. At Final Battle, Austin Aries shattered that peace by stabbing Roderick Strong in the forehead with a metal spike. Live, on the telephone, we have Roderick Strong, who has not been seen at a Ring Of Honor event since Final Battle, as well as Lacey, who was injured by Jimmy Jacobs in a grotesque attack several weeks ago. Roderick, first of all, let me ask about your injuries. What injuries did you sustain, and how are you progressing?” When Strong speaks, he is meek, almost shy. “Physically, I’ll heal. That doesn’t matter. What matters are the injuries on our hearts, and the injuries the lady beside me has suffered.” “Well,” says Manning, a bit thrown off, “we, uh, we’re all concerned about your physical health as well, Roderick. We hope that your injuries won’t keep you from the ring for too long.” “Steven, I appreciate the concern, but wrestling is the last thing on my mind.” Manning is thrown off again, so Taz jumps in. “Are you sayin’ you’re quitting?” There’s a series of noises, and suddenly, instead of Strong’s voice, the reply comes from Lacey. “Steven, this is Lacey.” “Oh, Lacey! Hello! We didn’t expect to speak with you yet!” “I know, but Roderick just isn’t in a place to talk right now.” “Well,” says Manning, “all we want to know is how he is—“ “I understand, Steven. I don’t think you get the situation, though. Austin blames Roderick for my injuries and leaving wrestling. He blames Roderick for ruining his life and not being there to save him. Austin is a damaged man. Austin became who he is now by getting sucked into the downward spiral of Jimmy Jacobs. He fed the monster until he got swallowed himself, and now, Austin is the monster. Roderick thinks that if he continues to wrestle and confronts Austin, he’ll feed Austin’s disease, and he could get caught in the cycle himself, and he believes there are more important things to do.” “Such as?” “Well, I’ve tried to convince him otherwise, but he feels he has a debt to repay to me, so he’s helping me adjust.” “Well, that brings me to your medical state. What is your condition and your prognosis?” “The doctors say my sight is damaged, and I may never get better, but I have to have faith. I can sort of see … but everything is very blurry, and I can’t see far away. It’s like looking through a lens covered in Vaseline.” “And Roderick? What is his condition?” “Physically, he has stitches and some bruising and soreness. But what’s really hurting him is in his heart. Austin is wrong – the only person responsible for what happened to me is Jimmy. But Roderick feels like he let me and Austin down, and I can’t change his mind about that. That’s probably the biggest thing, the thing that makes me ill: he thinks Austin’s right. He thinks Austin’s twisted, psychotic ‘logic’ is real.” Lacey sighs. “It’s sad. Roderick is a strong man. You should see him here; he’s been a rock when I’ve needed one. But deep down, he’s broken. He lost his best friend, and he feels like he has to throw away his passion and what defines him, because he has this anchor on his heart. I’d love to see him go back. His dream is to be Ring Of Honor World Champion … but I don’t know if that’s in the cards now. He thinks he has a karmic debt or something. I can’t convince him otherwise.” “So you don’t think we’ll see him ever set foot in a Ring Of Honor ring ever again?” Lacey sighs again. “I don’t know. I really don’t.” “And what about you?” “No. If Austin could be saved, if Austin wanted to be saved, maybe. But now … no. There’s nothing there for me. I don’t wanna come back and be the girl everyone cheers for out of sympathy.” “Well, we wish you both the best and speedy recoveries, Lacey. Please keep us in the loop regarding Roderick’s status.” “Of course.” Quality: Crowd: Overall: 75% 4th segment, ROH Bold Future Championship match : Michael Quackenbush Spillane (c) vs. Arik Cannon Cannon and MQS have a terrific fight, but MQS seems to be a bit lost without JBL to watch his back. Because of this, Cannon controls much of the match and seems to have the title within his grasp … until Claudio Castagnoli strikes, hitting everyone in the ring – from the wrestlers to the ref – with a steel chair. A second official has to come out and rule the match a no-contest. **3/4 Castagnoli hits both men a few more times before leaving the ring looking like a killing field. Winner: no contest (run-in) Quality: 82% Crowd: 74% Overall: 78% 5th segment: Murderdeathkill vs. La Raza vs. Jimmy Rave & Brian Kendrick, triple threat match Kendrick & Rave are introduced as The Wolfpack, wearing tights with wolves’ heads on them in addition to the Honor Guard insignia. They show a surprising amount of teamwork for having only teamed together for the first time tonight … but it isn’t enough to come out on top, as MDK continue to prove their dominance with merciless beatings and precision teamwork. ***1/2 After the match, Mysterio and Guerrero both approach MDK and offer handshakes … and indicate that they’ll meet again down the line. Winners: MDK (pinfall, Pain on Rave, Grave Filler) Quality: 86% Crowd: 82% Overall: 84% 6th segment: Steve Corino comes out to a thunderous ovation. He has to wait a full minute before the chanting and cheering finally stops before he can say anything … and even then, he seems puzzled. “I, uh … I thought I was supposed to be meeting Nigel McGuinness here,” says Corino. “But I guess it’s par for the course with The Honor Guard. They haven’t done one thing above board since they popped their heads out from under the rock they were hiding under months ago. Why should I expect Nigel to honor his own request? For someone who talks about honor so much and assumes he’s so far above the rest of us, he sure shows a different game.” “I don’t owe you the pleasure of anything remotely resembling honor, you outsider scum,” says McGuinness with a sneer as his face appears on the Jumbotron. “You’ve sullied this fine promotion from the day you set foot in it, and you’ve forever tainted the Ring Of Honor World Title. An outsider vagabond such as yourself should never have been allowed to compete for such a prestigious championship—“ “Blah, blah, blah, same s**t, different day with you!” says Corino, cutting of McGuinness. “Jesus, don’t you ever get sick of hearing the crowd shoot down your crap every time you try and sing it?” “One day, when we’ve purged Ring Of Honor of you and your kind, and they how we improve the promotion—“ Corino drowns out McGuinness with loud snoring noises. He then “comes to” with a shake. “Oh! I’m sorry! Did you say anything important? You were boring the hell out of me, as usual, so I bet not. Listen, I got an idea for ya … let me put a proposition under your nose, since your boss won’t give me the time of day. How about you and me, we rock and roll here in the ring, live, on Unleashed, in two days. You’re not doing this show any favors by keeping me off the air and out of the ring, you know; look at my merch sales. Listen to this crowd; they cheer for me, they cheer for Eddie K, they cheer for Whitmer and Strong and Ruckus and Joey Ryan and MDK, and I don’t know how this happened, but they’re cheering for Hero now. You’re shooting yourself in the foot here. So I’ll make you a proposition; we wrestle in two days. If you win, I’ll pull out of the main event of A New Level. If I win, though, I come back to work. Full time. And so does Chris Hero, and BJ Whitmer, and anybody else you’ve exiled.” McGuinness is aghast. “I can’t authorize such a repugnant deal, and I wouldn’t want to besides!” McGuinness suddenly smiles. “However, I do have a deal for you: if you can survive the next couple minutes, you can walk out of the ring under your own power and perhaps then we’ll discuss your offer.” Before Corino can question what he means, William Hunter Johnston slides in the ring from behind. Corino turns just in time to duck a clothesline. Johnston hits the ropes and runs back, but Corino catches Johnston with a superkick that sends Johnston stumbling out of the ring. Jimmy Rave slides in from the side, and Corino is right there, elbowing him in the mush. Rave’s partner, Brian Kendrick, tries as well, but is equally repelled. But McGuinness slides in, brandishing a chair, and hammers it down on the back of Corino’s head. The Honor Guard recoup and help McGuinness put the screws to Corino, holding him up so McGuinness can bash him over and over with the chair. McGuinness gets in Corino’s face and says; “Do you really think you’ll be able to compete with a concussion, outsider?” McGuinness winds up and lets loose with one more crushing blow that dents the chair over Corino’s head. The former champ crumples in a heap, and The Honor Guard leave him there for the medics. Quality: Crowd: Overall: 86% 7th segment: “Malibu” Tyler Black vs. Matt Cross Cross does not make the same mistake as his partner in changing the rules. The result is a great, fast-paced high-impact match that showcases the talents of both men. But Black isn’t content to just out-wrestle his opponent, and he keeps trying to humiliate Cross, pulling him up from pinfalls for more punishment and taunting him while he’s down. Cross makes a fantastic comeback, and it looks like he’s about to pull it off, until Black counters a double-axe-handle by Cross with a forearm to the crotch.**3/4 Winner: Black (pinfall, super-nutshot) Quality: 80% Crowd: 82% Overall: 81% 8th segment: Bryan Danielson vs. “Diamond” Joey Ryan Before either man come down to ringside, Shawn Michaels joins the announce team. Danielson burns a hole through Michaels as he enters the ring, but Michaels shows no emotion. When the bell rings, Ryan really steps it up and tries to wrestle Danielson’s game … but Danielson, ever the egotist, changes his style to one more like Shawn Michaels, only with the moves exaggerated. The result is an awkward, unconventional match, with Danielson openly taunting Michaels by mocking Michaels’ style. But doing so puts Danielson on the defensive, and Ryan looks like he may have the match won … until Larry Sweeney comes out and trips up Ryan as he goes for the Mustache Ride. Danielson pounces and starts hitting the repeated elbows until Ryan is out cold. *** Sweeney and Danielson discuss punishing Ryan some more, but Michaels throws down the headphones, slides in and superkicks Danielson in the mush. Sweeney considers his options, and Michaels gives him a couple seconds to decide if he wants to stay … and then kicks Sweeney anyway. Winner: Danielson (ref stoppage, MMA elbows) Quality: 81% Crowd: 81% Overall: 80% 9th segment: Ruckus & Paul Burchill vs. Edge & Homicide Ruckus and Burchill show good teamwork right from the get-go, which is the opposite of what Edge and Homicide do. In fact, Homicide refuses to even tag with Edge, and stands in another corner entirely, coming in when he pleases, to the dismay of everyone, including the ref. Finally, Edge can’t take it anymore; he tags in Homicide when the Wrestler’s Choice Champion isn’t looking, spears him when he gets in, and leaves. From there, Homicide’s time is short, and after a C4, Burchill tags in Ruckus, so he can put the choke out Homicide. Winners: Burchill & Ruckus (submission, 187) Quality: 91% Crowd: 84% Overall: 87% 10th segment: As Throwdown comes back from commercial, the cameras are backstage, where officials are huddled around somebody, calling for an ambulance. “Ladies and gentlemen, you’re looking at the aftermath of some kind of attack,” says Steven Manning, “and I … wait, here come the paramedics …” There’s a loud, enraged scream as the person in the middle staggers to his feet. It is Eddie Kingston, his head covered in blood. He tries to stagger out of the circle, screaming about Jimmy Jacobs, but immediately crashes to his knees. The medics encourage him to lay back and let them transport him to a hospital. Far off in the background, Commissioner JJ Dillon and Nigel McGuinness smile and clap. The medics get Kingston on a gurney and load him into an ambulance, leaving behind the ROH World Championship belt; Dillon approaches it and goes to pick it up … until Bryan Danielson forward and glares. Reluctantly, Dillon backs off, a sneer on his face. Quality: Crowd: Overall: 89% 11th segment: Chris Hero vs. Austin Aries Hero enters the crowd to the unusual and unaccustomed sound of cheering, which makes his him pause and raise an eyebrow. Nevertheless, he wrestles like he always does, with intensity and skill, while Aries continues to evolve into a brutal, abusive lunatic. For a good ten minutes, it continues on as a good back-and-forth contest, with the crowd really into every near-fall. But it all goes to seed when Jimmy Jacobs comes out and stabs Hero in the forehead with a metal spike while on the outside. Jacobs rolls Hero back into the ring, and Aries hits the cross-legged brainbuster for an academic pin. ***1/2 Aries rolls out and walks off, letting Jacobs enter the ring. Jacobs hovers over Hero’s fallen body, a microphone in hand. “Your sudden change of heart is as shallow as it is temporary,” says Jacobs. “And it won’t bring you anything but misery. You will not parlay this newfound position of nobility into a shot at the Ring Of Honor World Championship. It’s only destiny is around my waist, and I’ll burn this company to the ground before I let you get near the championship again.” Winner: Aries (pinfall, cross-legged brainbuster) Quality: 85% Crowd: 90% Overall: 88% Overall show rating: 82% Tuesday, January 13, 2009:Email:1) Chavo Guerrero -- I think i should be higher up the card. 2) Joey Ryan -- Bryan Danielson and me don't have much chemistry in the ring. How about putting me in a program with a worker like Edge? I think our styles would really work well together. 3) Road agents -- Edge and Homicide work well together as a team, it adds to their matches. 4) Adam Pearce -- I would like to work with The Messiah at some stage, i think you'd be impressed with the results. 5) Alex Shelley -- I would like to work with Austin Aries at some stage, i think you'd be impressed with the results. 6) We got a 5.05 rating for 'Throwdown', drawing 6404 for $256160. [Egad! What the hell?] 7) TNA got a 0.87 television rating for 'TNA Monday'. 8) IWC got a 1.32 television rating for 'IWC Monday'. 9) Kaz Hayashi, John Walters, Kid Romeo, Kohei Sato, Sonny Siaki, Shinsuke Nakamura, Susumu Yokosuka and Ultimo Guerrero have agreed to open contracts with WWE. 10) Rey Bucanero has decided to work for WWE rather than NWA-S. 11) TNA have released Andy Douglas. 12) HWA have released Brian Jennings. 13) CHI have released Shane Matthews. 14) CMLL have released Negro Casas. 15) IWA-PR have released Slash Venom. 16) WXW have released Havoc. 17) ECCW have released Memphis Raines. 18) WLW have released Heather Savage. 19) IWS have released Franky The Mobster. 20) CW have released Jason The Terrible. 21) IWC have released HENTAI. 22) FIP have released Cyber Kong. 23) Ai Fujita, Belle Lovitz, Yuki Miyazaki, Kana Mizaki, Valentina, Kyoko Ichikihas, Takako Inoue, Brandi Alexander and Asya have agreed to open contracts with SHI. 24) SW have released Gama Singh Jr. 25) 21CW have released Averno. 26) DAVE have released Darren Burridge. 27) CWL have released Bobby Quance. PI -- 1% was gained. Total -- 75% Global. Jed Shaffer ~I don't know what prompted either my precipitous drop in ratings, or the huge roster movement on Tuesday.
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Mr. X
Trying Out for Tough Enough
They can't sue me if they don't know who I am!
Posts: 175
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Post by Mr. X on Mar 16, 2009 10:22:26 GMT -5
Winning a match via hot coffee has made Kory Chavis my new favorite wrestler!
I also like how you touch on the lack of chemistry between Ryan and Danielson (even though the 81% quality is good...) and give a plausible explanation for it.
As for your rating drop, your last Throwdown was an off-show. Since TV ratings are partially determined by previous show quality, that would explain the drop.
As for the mass roster transactions, Monday is the first day of the game week (like how Sunday is the first day of the week in our calendar) and, for some reason, most of the transactions take place then. Or it could have been totally random. The game's funny like that sometimes.
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Post by Brain Of J on Mar 16, 2009 15:56:19 GMT -5
I would've had Danielson/Ryan be an awkward match anyway, to fit the story.
As for the rating, the previous show actually set a record. It was the previous Throwdown, two shows prior, that had a bad reaction. Still ... as long as I can rebound, that's all I care about.
Jed Shaffer ~As for the huge roster transactions, I'm used to seeing them at month's beginning. Not in the middle of the month. Seemed very weird.
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Post by Brain Of J on Mar 17, 2009 21:11:11 GMT -5
Preview for Unleashed, January 14, 2009:* The pay-per-view card has been updated! Please scroll below for details! * - Chris Sabin still searches for a partner to replace Alex Shelley. Tonight, he’ll wrestle alongside youngster TJ Wilson. Together, they’ll take on two people who’ve never tagged before either, in Conrad Kennedy III and Rob Conway. Tonight is the opportunity of a lifetime for Wilson; can he make the best of it? - “Sweet ‘n’ Sour” Larry Sweeney contacted our office to say he’ll be issuing a special challenge to “Diamond” Joey Ryan on Unleashed. - Ryan will be in action, tagging with Arik Cannon against William Hunter Johnston & Claudio Castagnoli. Castagnoli has Cannon seemingly on the ropes. Is tonight where he delivers the knockout blow? - We’ll be hearing from Austin Aries regarding Roderick Strong’s comments on Throwdown. What does this sad, pathetic human being have to say now that his former best friend may be moving towards retirement? - Shelton Benjamin has been chasing Michael Quackenbush Spillane since Vendetta. Tonight, the last hurdle has been set up: MQS has promised he will fight Benjamin if Benjamin can get past Charles Taylor Esq. … in under five minutes. - We saw two different sides of Bryan Danielson on Throwdown: one showed immense respect for the ROH World Championship and stood up to JJ Dillon and The Honor Guard’s “crown jewel”, Nigel McGuinness. The other side was a snide, mocking, disrespectful punk, “using” Shawn Michaels’ wrestling style in a match against Joey Ryan. Michaels and Danielson will be in the building tonight, and no doubt they’ll butt heads. - We have two huge main events tonight. The first will decide the fate of several of Ring Of Honor’s finest, as Steve Corino goes one on one with Nigel McGuinness. On the line are the careers of Corino, BJ Whitmer and Chris Hero. If Corino can pull it off, he’ll open the door for all three to come back full time. If he loses, the door remains closed, and Corino must bow out of A New Level. - The second is a huge 8-man tag match. On one side, the team will be the “field general” of The Honor Guard, Adam Pearce. His partners will be the ROH World Tag Team Champions The Elite, and their convenient ally, Jimmy Jacobs. On the other side of the ring will be Murderdeathkill, the ROH World Champion Eddie Kingston … and an unknown partner. Who will stand with Kingston and MDK? Plus, we’ll hear from Chris Hero, and more! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ring Of Honor presents A New Level Live, on pay-per-view Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Triple Threat Theatre match for the ROH World Title: Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Nigel McGuinness vs. Steve Corino
Shawn Michaels makes his ROH debut! If Michaels wins, Danielson is out of the Rumble. Bryan Danielson vs. Shawn Michaels
For the ROH World Tag Team Titles: The Elite (c) vs. Chris Sabin & ?
For the ROH Wrestler's Choice Championship: Homicide (c) vs. Ruckus
Four-corners survival match, winner faces the ROH World Champion on Unleashed!: Austin Aries vs. ? vs. ? vs. ?
Many more matches to be announced! Jed Shaffer ~Next episode's gonna have a lot of talking, but a lot of plot progression. And some of the best promos I've ever written, in my opinion.
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Post by Brain Of J on Mar 22, 2009 11:17:15 GMT -5
Wednesday, January 14, 2009:Email:1) Frank Reed has taken over control of CWL. 2) Due to new management's cost-cutting measures, Chris Michaels, Kennichiro Arai, Masahiro Indohara, Tony Jones, Anthony W. Mori and Chris Stylez have left CWL. 3) Jay Fury, Takashi Sugiura, Silver Tyger, Kintaro Kanemura Jardi Frantz and Anthony W. Mori have agreed to open contracts with CWL. Results for Unleashed: “We’re under two weeks away from the three-day extravaganza The Honor Guard are calling the Campaign Of Cleansing, and exactly two weeks from tonight, Ring Of Honor will hold its first Rumble match! Good evening, everyone, welcome to Unleashed! I’m Jimmy Bauer, and beside me is Colt Cabana, as always.” “Yup.” “Well spoken, Colt. Any thoughts on what we may see tonight?” “Yeah, I’m nervous as hell. Tonight, we may be seeing the last of some of this company’s finest wrestlers – love them or hate them – because, if Steve Corino can’t beat Nigel McGuinness, Corino, BJ Whimter, Chris Hero, and God knows who else … they’re out on their asses!” “And if that wasn’t enough, there’s a huge six-man tag in the main event tonight, and Eddie Kingston and Murderdeathkill are looking for a partner, but everyone is either spoken for or under lock and key. Will it turn out a 3-on-2 match?” “For their sake, I hope not.” “All this, and a lot more … and right now, we’re kicking it off with tag team action!” 1st segment: “Diamond” Joey Ryan & Arik Cannon vs. William Hunter Johnston & Claudio Castagnoli Cannon and Ryan, a long way from their vicious rivalry, work well together. But the Honor Guard team works better, especially at causing distractions. And Ryan is also distracted by the presence of Larry Sweeney. But Sweeney’s presence ends up irritating the Guard, and when Johnston drops down to attack Sweeney, that leaves Castagnoli vulnerable to a double-team by Ryan and Cannon. ***1/2 Sweeney gets run from ringside by Johnston, but can’t save his stablemate, and has to wait until Ryan and Cannon leave to collect his fallen friend. Winners: Ryan & Cannon (pinfall, Cannon on Castagnoli, Glimmering Warlock/dropkick to the face combo) Quality: 87% Crowd: 75% Overall: 81% 2nd segment: Backstage, Rebecca Bayless is about to speak when Larry Sweeney, wincing and wakling funny, approaches and snatches the microphone from her hand. “That’s it! I’m done! I’ve had it! Joey Ryan! For too long, you’ve been a roadblock in the road to the promised land for Larry Sweeney! A thorn in my side, brother! I can’t shake you! Every time I turn around, I see daylight burnin’ and money goin’ outta my pocket and into someone else’s, because you just can’t face facts: I’m onto the BBD, brother, the bigger, better deal! Fast cars, faster women, and you couldn’t get to the level I’m on with a rocket-fueled elevator! But it ain’t never enough, and I can’t get my share, if you keep hangin’ on me like one of Jimmy Bauer’s dollar-store neckties! So this it, brother, last time, last dance; I want you out of my life! You want a piece of Larry Sweeney? Let’s do it. The night after A New Level. But I want a little something-something on the line, chico. Like, 30 days of your job! Loser sits at home, watching Price Is Right and waitin’ for the mail! This is what you wanted, Ryan, and here it is; I’m givin’ ya the chance at what you’ve been buggin’ me about for weeks! I’m warning ya, pal; you don’t step on Superman’s cape, you don’t spit in the wind, and you don’t mess with ‘Sweet ‘n’ Sour’ Larry Sweeney!” As Sweeney struts away, Bauer says; “Um … did that make a lick of sense to you, Colt?” “The man’s always had a screw loose … well, except for your tie. It is pretty cheesy.” Quality: Crowd: Overall: 83% 3rd segment: La Raza vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico A smart, well-fought match that makes both teams look good. The speed and science of La Raza wins out, in the end. Steen starts yelling at Generico for failing yet again, but as Guerrero and Mysterio come over to stand up for Generico, they both turn on La Raza and pounce. When all is said and done, La Raza end up on the mat counting lights, and Steen and Generico strut away like champions. *** Winners: La Raza (pinfall, Guerrero on Generico, ) Quality: 84% Crowd: 74% Overall: 79% 4th segment: Ruckus is walking down the hallway when a production assistant runs up, very harried, and demands Ruckus follow him quickly. Together, they run back to the dressing rooms, where Team Ruckus is laid out. A couple are getting to their feet, but very dazed, but some are not moving. Jammed in the bench in the middle of the room is a fork. Ruckus sees it, rips it out, throws it and screams. When Unleashed comes back from commercial, Ruckus is standing in the hallway as two of Team Ruckus are being wheeled away in stretchers. Standing by Ruckus is Eddie Kingston and MDK. “Bro, you know I love ya,” says Kingston, “but I need a playa with his head in the game tonight. I see it in your eyes; you got the hate, and you got your head in that ambulance.” “What else you expect, Eddie? Those are my crew! That’s Team Ruckus! That’s--” “I didn’t say it was a bad thing, man! It’s just that your place ain’t in the ring tonight. Go with them. We’ll cover it.” Ruckus hesitates, but Kingston just nods, and eventually, Ruckus walks down the hall, following his crew to the hospital. Quality: Crowd: Overall: 83% 5th segment: Chris Sabin & TJ Wilson vs. Conrad Kennedy III & Rob Conway Once again, Rob Conway slows down everything with his grand entrance. Once in the ring, he demands a microphone. “This is the kind of treatment you can expect when you’re an A-Lister such as myself,” Conway says. “And this is the kind of lifestyle not one of you – okay, maybe CK3 – will ever experience! This is--” Conway stops himself, excuses himself, and pulls a cell phone out of his pocket. He talks on it for a solid minute, delaying the match, until TJ Wilson comes over and slaps the cell phone out of his hand. From there, the match begins … and for once, Sabin really gels with a partner. But in the closing moments, as Sabin has Conway ready to be finished off, Alex Shelley comes out … wheeled down to ringside by Matt Sydal and Jack Evans. The crowd collectively gasps at the sight of Shelley in ROH, and alongside The Honor Guard. Sabin’s jaw hits the floor, and he forgets all about the match. As the ref orders The Honor Guard to leave, CK3 runs up behind Sabin, hits the Chump Change, then intercepts Wilson while Conway crawls over and pins Sabin. **3/4 Winners: Conway & CK3 (pinfall, Conway on Sabin, CK3’s Chump Change) Quality: 83% Crowd: 63% Overall: 73% Notes: Rob Conway debuted his new gimmick (movie star). 6th segment: A video rolls on the Jumbotron, fading in on a dimly lit room. The bare light bulb hanging overhead shines a cone of light down in the middle of the room, and through it paces Austin Aries, rubbing his hands over his bald head. “You don’t get to do this, Roderick,” says Aries nervously. “You don’t run into a theater and yell fire.” Suddenly, Aries rushes the camera; the cameraman stumbles backwards and falls. Aries bends down, grabs the camera by the lens and fills his enraged face with it. “ You don’t get to walk away! I see ghosts everywhere! I see ghosts of children that won’t be born! I hear echoes of love and laughter that never happened! I see her everywhere, Roderick, in every happy couple, in every sunrise, in everything! Everywhere I look, I see ghosts of what won’t be, what you stole from me! You don’t get the luxury of walking away from the mess you made, you selfish, craven son of a b**tch! You don’t get to slip your head out of the noose! You don’t get to do that!” Aries turns away and starts screaming incoherently, kicking unseen furniture and breaking glass. The light gets hit, and it swings back and forth, sometimes illuminating Aries’ actions and sometimes leaving them in shadow. Suddenly, it stops, and Aries comes back on the camera, his face and voice now as still as deep space. “Walk away, and I’ll run after you. Run, and I’ll fly. Dig a hole, and I’ll flood the planet. Dive under the seas, and I’ll set the world ablaze to boil the waters. I will move – no, I will destroy Heaven and Earth to exact upon you my recompense. I will leave you looking over your shoulder even in your own grave. I will hunt you to the gates of Hell … and I’ll throw you through them, lock them shut and throw away the key. I may never banish these ghosts from my eyes … but I’ll be damned if I don’t make you join the dead.” Quality: Crowd: Overall: 81% 7th segment: Shelton Benjamin vs. Charles Taylor Esq. – Five Minute Challenge Benjamin is introduced first, but Taylor’s music runs through twice. As it cues up a third time, Edge walks out. “One thing I don’t understand,” says Edge, “is how I, a former world champion in WWE, am stuck clawing my way through jobbers and fighting off some jackass who used to dress up like the Gorton’s Fisherman, and you’re a ‘shining star’, or whatever that belt is called. Well that changes now, tonight. I am making it my mission to piss on every show this company puts on! I took out that chump Taylor, and I will keep taking out wrestlers, one by one, until this company puts me where I belong, in the main event!” Benjamin asks for a microphone. “This company ain’t like WWE, Edge,” says Benjamin. “It ain’t who you know or who you blow – and I bet you know all ‘bout that – but it’s about who you beat. So if you think you’re so much better then me, step on up and prove it!” Edge seethes, and starts to turn away, until Paul Burchill shows up behind him. Edge runs away, which takes him into the ring. The ref rings the bell, and Benjamin leaps on him, dizzying Edge with his high-speed, high-impact offense. Burchill stands in the aisle, arms crossed, watching Edge fight for his survival against an opponent he vastly under-estimated. Finally, Edge has enough and rolls out. Burchill approaches, prompting Edge to head back to the ring … just in time to see Benjamin executing a no-hands plancha over the top rope. Edge dodges, and Benjamin collides with Burchill instead. Edge rolls in to catch his breath, and the move benefits him, as Benjamin is unable to answer the 10-count. ***3/4 Winner: Edge (count-out) Quality: 90% Crowd: 85% Overall: 87% 8th segment: Video rolls on the Jumbotron; it’s outdoors, nighttime, and Chris Hero is standing in front of a building. From the outside, it looks like it’s seen better days … and yet, it looks familiar. “This building right here … looks familiar, don’t it?” he asks. “This is where the Chris Hero/Ring Of Honor ride kicked off. This is where hell froze over, and I stepped through the ropes of a Ring Of Honor ring for the very first time, and took on that albino Oompa-Loompa, Bryan Danielson. And from minute one, minute one, not a single person in the Ring Of Honor audience showed me any respect. Didn’t matter that I’d won belts all across the globe. Didn’t matter I’d proven my pure wrestling abilities in a company known for using weed whackers and fluorescent light bulbs instead of suplexes and submissions. None of it mattered, because I was CZW, and no matter what I did before or anywhere else, the stench of CZW made me a second-class citizen. Even when I put an end to the reign of Roddy and Aries and I dragged that Swedish slug to the only championship he’ll ever see in this company, I got nothing. Even when I went on to defeat Samoa Joe, Colt Cabana and Takeshi Morishima in one night, and went on a 13-month run and dragged this company kicking and screaming into television sets across the country … did the devil get his due? No, you all begged for someone to knock me down. You cheered for the Beejster to end my career. You cheered for Corino to end my reign. This is where all of this started.” Hero looks down and chuckles, then looks back up. “And because some midget espresso barista from hell puts down his Cure CD’s long enough to screw me out of my World Title rematch, suddenly I’m accepted? I’m in? I’m one of your precious chosen ones? Let me set each and every one of you straight: I still hate all of you. I’d hope BJ Whitmer catches an incurable case of crabs, but he couldn’t get laid in a whorehouse on free sample day. Steve Corino is still a fraud and a cancer, Bryan Danielson is still an ugly, annoying midget, Colt Cabana is still the worst birthday clown since John Wayne Gacy, and Eddie Kingston still makes Elton John look like Bruiser Brody. I’m not the lesser of two evils, and I’m not kissing anybody’s ass. Last week with Kingston was a means to an end; I got screwed, and when that happens, I screw back twice as hard. I don’t need their support, and I don’t want it, and I sure as hell don’t need the support of some fickle group of mush-heads who bark like Pavlov’s dog because somebody goes against the all-powerful Honor Guard. In fact, I have half a mind to quit this company and let it burn to the ground, because you all deserve it … but the last thing Chris Hero will be known for is being a quitter. So consider this my mission statement, ladies and gentlemen, the 2009 Chris Hero manifesto: I will take down The Honor Guard, and I will get revenge on Jimmy Jacobs. I will destroy them all, like only I can. I will, once again, show you why those chumps you call heroes are more impotent then Enzyte Bob without his happy pills. I will tear a path through The Honor Guard and establish, one more time, who the dominant wrestler in Ring Of Honor is, belt or no belt. And I will do it for me, and only me.” Hero gets in the camera lens. “And when Pearce and McGuinness and Castagnoli and Jacobs and all of them are broken at my feet … when I’ve done what Whitmer and Strong and Kingston and Ruckus couldn’t … when I’ve broken the back of the beast and chopped off his head … maybe you’ll line up to kiss my feet, to show me the respect I have always deserved and had to earn the hard way. I don’t really care. But I can assure you there’s one part of me you can kiss, starting right now.” Hero turns, filling the lens with his backside, and walks away. Quality: Crowd: Overall: 87% 9th segment: Nigel McGuinness vs. Steve Corino As the wrestlers are introduced, numerous wrestlers are shown around monitors, or in the case of Chris Hero, at home, watching on TV. Like Hogan and Andre, or Rock and Austin, the two approach one another in the center of the ring, standing nose to nose, glaring at one another … until they explode with flurries of punches. The match is a perfect back and forth contest, with both men exploiting mistakes and not wasting time with early pinfalls, focusing on solid game plans: for Corino, focusing on the neck, and for McGuinness working the arm. By the end, both men are nursing their injuries, McGuinness even moreso, with his neck injury limiting his mobility. Slumped in the corner, with Corino prepared to nail a superkick, McGuinness pulls the ref in front of him … but Corino stops. McGuinness shoves the ref towards Corino, but Corino side-steps, allowing the ref to stumble to safety, and McGuinness’ lariat attempt to miss. Corino reaches out, grabs McGuinness as he passes by, spins him around, and hits the northern lights bomb. JJ Dillon and The Honor guard run down, but it’s too late, and the official announcement makes Dillon fall to his knees. ***1/2 Winner: Corino (pinfall, northern lights bomb) Quality: 82% Crowd: 100% Overall: 94% 10th segment: The music of Shawn Michaels fills the arena, and a somber HBK makes his way to the ring. “When you’ve had a career like I’ve had, you see a lot of things,” says Michaels, “and you learn to tell the difference between what’s real and what makes the garden grow, if you know what I mean. And the good Lord knows I’ve shoveled my share of the latter and then some, so if anybody knows it when he sees it, it’s me.” Michaels pauses and chuckles. “I saw a couple things on Monday that gave me pause. The first was this.” Michaels gestures to the Jumbotron, where video starts to roll of Bryan Danielson during his match with Joey Ryan, focusing on the moves and gestures that openly mock Michaels. “Okay, first thing: Bryan’s a much better dancer then me.” This gets a laugh from the crowd. “But the important thing I wanted to bring everyone’s attention to was this whole schtick. ‘Oh, don’t even try bagging on him’, some people are saying, ‘you made fun of people back in DX way worse than that’. Yeah, you’re right. If I went to town on him for this, I’d sure be a hypocrite. It’s head games. Everybody does it. But here’s the thing: you only do it for one of two reasons. Either you’re trying to psyche out your opponent … or you’re hiding your insecurities. Now, I can’t believe he’d be dumb enough to think doing nip-ups and doing a decent cover of Sweet Chin Music would get my blood boiling, so that leaves one thing. But I couldn’t believe that an athlete so accomplished, so cocksure, and so well-respected could be insecure.” Michaels smiles. “And then I saw this.” More footage rolls, of the moments after Eddie Kingston was taken away by medics; Commissioner JJ Dillon approaches the left-behind ROH World Title belt as if to reclaim it physically, but the cold, icy glare of Danielson halts him in his tracks. The video freezes on that glare. “This may look like the same man.” Michaels shakes his head. “Appearances, friends, can be very deceiving. The fans who’ve been watching Ring Of Honor since it came about, they know who Bryan Danielson is. Bryan Danielson can be a ruthless, cold, mechanical, predatory, merciless human being. But this company’s championship, that is holy to him. The championship, and the man who wears it, he does not take that person lightly. And why should he? He wore that belt for, what, fifteen months? Up until Chris Hero, he was the most prolific champion in this company’s history. That man was a man of infinite strength. This man,” says Michaels as a still from the Ryan/Danielson match pops up, “is the man he’s become. He no longer relies on his ability and his reputation as his weapons, because he’s no longer sure they’re enough. He’s not sure of himself. Why would I, a wrestler in the twilight of his career, present a real threat to him? Self-doubt. His strength has been broken.” Danielson’s music hits, and he storms out, stomping into the ring and getting in Michaels’ face. “Do I look broken to you, old man?” Danielson says through gritted teeth. “You look into my eyes and tell me you see a man who doubts himself, and I’ll tell you you’re seeing your reflection” Michaels remains stoic, unfazed. “If you weren’t, you wouldn’t be out here trying to convince me otherwise, Bryan. And you wouldn’t be running with a bunch of thugs and lowlifes who are using you as an attack dog.” “ Nobody uses The American Dragon! I am nobody’s attack dog! When they ordered me to injure Steve Corino, I refused! He was the champion, and was not about to weaken the credibility of the championship of this company by rendering it vacant!” “What if they told you to injure me in two weeks?” Danielson stares a hole through Michaels. “If I injure you at A New Level, you can damn well bet it’s my choice, and not orders from Pearce or Dillon.” Michaels nods and steps back. “I believe you, I really do. But here’s the problem with this whole thing … you’re a former ROH World Champion. You defeated virtually everyone in this company, and a few outside of it, in your reign. Your superiority, it can’t be denied, Bryan. So why is it they try to get you to injure people like a hired goon, and they tout that McGuinness guy as their centerpiece? He couldn’t beat you, he couldn’t beat Corino, he couldn’t beat Hero, he needed a screwjob by Dillon to beat Whitmer, and he’s batting .500 against Ruckus. There’s five of this company’s biggest threats, and he can’t touch them, and you’ve beaten all of them! You tell me, if you’re not with them because you doubt yourself and you’re hiding in a group, and if you’re not the guard dog for their crown jewel, then what are you there for?” Danielson is so irate, his entire body shakes, and his eyes twitch. He can barely open his mouth, let alone his jaw, to say; “You’re not getting in my head, Shawn! Your mind games won’t work!” Michaels backs up, his expression nonchalant. He stands next to the ropes and, before he steps through, says; “I don’t need to play head games, Bryan. You’re doing it to yourself for me.” Michaels steps out, puts the microphone down on the apron and walks away, leaving Danielson seething in the ring. Quality: Crowd: Overall: 77% 11th segment: Adam Pearce, Jimmy Jacobs & The Elite vs. Eddie Kingston, Murderdeathkill & ? MDK and Kingston come down without a fourth, and Kingston takes the microphone to explain as The Honor Guard taunt him by holding up their fingers to display the mismatch (except for Jacobs, who just glares at Kingston). “You know damn well why we ain’t got a fourth man,” says Kingston, “and we don’t need one anyways. Ain’t nothin’ you got the three of us can’t take.” But the numbers game can’t be denied, and in good time, MDK and Kingston are suffering under the one-man advantage held by their opponents. And with the rest of the Guard at ringside, the odds look insurmountable. Until BJ Whitmer hops the rail, a baseball bat in hand, and starts swinging for the fences. Virtually every member of the Guard is left on their backs on the outside, leaving only the members in the ring. Whitmer looks up at the Guard, holds up one hand with four fingers and smiles a humorless smile. Kingston and MDK help keep them at bay while Whitmer slides in, baseball bat left behind, and the fight becomes a free-for-all. It isn’t long before Whitmer catches Pearce with the exploder and gets the pin, but the fight hardly stops there. As members of the Guard on the outside start to stir, the locker room empties: Chris Sabin, Steve Corino, Arik Cannon, Joey Ryan, Shawn Michaels, Paul Burchill and more, all run down to turn the tide. By the time Unleashed fades to black, the ring and ringside area is a war zone. Winners: Kingston, MDK & Whitmer (pinfall, Whitmer pinned Pearce, exploder) Quality: 86% Crowd: 83% Overall: 84% Overall show rating: 82% Thursday, January 15, 2009:Email:1) WWE Wednesday are trying to compete with us, but are being destroyed in the ratings. 2) We got a 5.48 rating for 'Unleashed', drawing 6405 for $256,200. 3) WWE got a 1.83 television rating for 'WWE Wednesday'. 4) IWA-PR got a 2.16 television rating for 'IWA-PR Wednesday'. PI -- 1% was gained. Total -- 76% Global. Friday, January 16th, 2009:Email:1) TNA got a 5.37 television rating for 'TNA iMPACT!'. Saturday, January 17th, 2009:Email:1) TNA got a 0.93 television rating for 'TNA Friday'. 2) CMLL got a 0.92 television rating for 'CMLL Friday'. 3) IWA-PR got a 1.17 television rating for 'High Impact'. Sunday, January 18th, 2009:Email:1) HWA got a 0.75 television rating for 'Main Event TV'. 2) CMLL got a 1.66 television rating for 'CMLL Saturday'. 3) IWC got a 0.28 television rating for 'IWC Ignition'. Jed Shaffer ~I like that show. I like it a lot.
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Post by Brain Of J on Mar 22, 2009 14:04:51 GMT -5
Preview for Throwdown, January 19, 2009:* The pay-per-view card has been updated! Please scroll below for details! * Ring Of Honor's first-ever Rumble Royale is only a week and a half away! 30 entrants have been chosen, and this week on Ring Of Honor television, we will see their position determined! There will be six four-way elimination matches and two three way elimination matches. Place in the Rumble Royale will be determined through these matches in a number of ways: The winners of these respective matches will compromise the last eight entrants. They will collide in two more elimination matches, and the winners of those will be the last two spots. Those who are eliminated in the first wave of matches will get spots based on the order and speed of their elimination. A person eliminated first in a match in a very short period of time will enter at a much lower number than someone who is the last person eliminated. Due to there being a #1 contender's four-way match at A New Level, and the World Title match having two challengers, those people have been excluded from the Rumble Royale. Should Eddie Kingston lose the ROH World Championship, he will not be allowed to enter the Royale. Should Shawn Michaels defeat Bryan Danielsno at A New Level, a new participant will take his place, albeit moved to the #1 seed (provided Danielson himself doesn't end up with the #1 seed). Commissioner JJ Dillon is keeping a lid on the entrants' names. You'll have to tune in to Throwdown to find out who's going into the Rumble Royale! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ring Of Honor presents A New Level Live, on pay-per-view Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Triple Threat Theatre match for the ROH World Title: Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Nigel McGuinness vs. Steve Corino
Shawn Michaels makes his ROH debut! If Michaels wins, Danielson is out of the Rumble. Bryan Danielson vs. Shawn Michaels
For the ROH World Tag Team Titles: The Elite (c) vs. Chris Sabin & ?
Grudge match: BJ Whitmer vs. Adam Pearce
Chris Hero vs. Jimmy Jacobs
For the ROH Wrestler's Choice Championship: Homicide (c) vs. Ruckus
Four-corners survival match, winner faces the ROH World Champion on Unleashed!: Austin Aries vs. ? vs. ? vs. ?
Murderdeathkill vs. La Raza vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico
More to be announced! Jed Shaffer ~I just hope I can escape three consecutive events with no injuries.
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Mr. X
Trying Out for Tough Enough
They can't sue me if they don't know who I am!
Posts: 175
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Post by Mr. X on Mar 26, 2009 21:35:41 GMT -5
~I just hope I can escape three consecutive events with no injuries. I'll be as surprised as you...the good news is that A New Level doesn't have a lot of stipulation matches (no cage or ladder matches, for example), so that lowers your chances of an injury. There's an idea in all this, though... Instead of predicting who will win the matches at A New Level, we could predict who will be next to get sidelined for 8-16 months!
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Post by Brain Of J on Mar 26, 2009 21:51:26 GMT -5
I'll be as surprised as you...the good news is that A New Level doesn't have a lot of stipulation matches (no cage or ladder matches, for example), so that lowers your chances of an injury. Very true. Exhaustion will be the only issue, but yeah, the lack of hardcore matches will reduce the odds. Funny, I didn't even plan it that way. Just sorta happened. Bite your tongue! Having both Briscoes, Dinsmore and Cabana out for long periods, and Albright in rehab, caused a lot of havoc. I need every warm body I have. Jed Shaffer ~You can bet I won't be making this PPV dating mistake again.
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Post by Brain Of J on Apr 6, 2009 16:18:34 GMT -5
On the first page, the first post has been modified with the list of entrance themes for my entire roster.
Jed Shaffer ~That's what fancy folks call am-bee-ance.
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Post by Brain Of J on Apr 10, 2009 14:17:07 GMT -5
[/u]Monday, January 19, 2009:[/b][/u] Email:1) CMLL have risen to National level. [Again.] 2) CMLL's 'CMLL Kick Start' show was attended by 2743 people. 2) IWA-PR's 'Histeria Boricua' show was attended by 2575 people. 4) IWS's 'Praise The Violence' show was attended by 13 people. 5) FIP's 'New Year's Classic' show was attended by 303 people. 6) DAVE's 'DAVE Black And White' show was attended by 92 people. 7) CMLL have signed Chi Chi Cruz ACW to a written contract. 8) Masato Yoshino has agreed to an open contract with CMLL. 9) CMLL have signed staff members Joe E. Slick, Pierre Vigneault, Keith Elliot Greenberg, Ryan Hayes, Chris DeJosephs, and Peter Brynner. 10) Here is my weekly report on our battle with TNA. We are seen as having better workers, and this is causing fans to choose us over them. ROH News: Tank Tolland has been released. PI -- 1% was lost. Total -- 75% Global. Results for Throwdown: “We’re eight days from A New Level, but tonight is all about the Rumble Royale! Good evening, everyone, welcome to a special Throwdown! Alongside Colt Cabana, I’m Steven Manning! Tonight, you’ll see every participant in the Rumble Royale collide in a series of matches that will set the order these men will enter the ring in nine days.” “Speed and when you get pinned are factors,” says Cabana. “If you’re the first man pinned, you’re in the bottom eight … but the faster you get pinned, the closer to #1 you’ll get.” “Thirty men will do battle in eight separate matches today, and from there, those eight men will square off on Wednesday to settle the last eight slots! The strategy for everyone will be speed, but going too fast is a great way to slip up. Who will draw short and get the first position? Who will outlast everyone and take the final spot?” “And that isn’t all, Steven. Steve Corino will be going face to face with Joey Ryan tonight, and Eddie Kingston will be in action against Austin Aries! Both these matches could have huge ramifications for A New Level” “Ten matches! No other wrestling company would put on ten quality matches on free television! And we’re set to kick off with one of the Rumble Royale determining matches!” 1st segment: ? vs. Scott Lost vs. TJ Wilson vs. Charles Taylor Esq. [/center] With the termination of Tank Tolland, there is an empty spot, and he is introduced last … and the crowd deflates when JJ Dillon comes out to make the introduction: “Returning to Ring Of Honor tonight, and wrestling on behalf of The Honor Guard … JAY LETHAL!!!” All traces of “Black Machismo” is gone; in his place is a very serious-looking man, his beard shaved to a goatee and his cornrows shorn off. He declares himself one of the two legal men in the ring by attacking the closest person near him, Charles Taylor Esq., kicking Taylor’s leg out from under him, then hitting a buzzsaw kick to the face. Just like that, Taylor is out in :19 seconds, setting the low-end benchmark for everyone to avoid. TJ Wilson hops in and immediately tries to mix it up with Lethal, but the youngster gets annihilated when Lethal ducks under a lariat and hits a release dragon suplex that takes the wind out of Wilson, and puts his elimination time at 1:40 into the second fall. Lost jumps in and unlike the previous two, keeps his cool with Lethal, wrestling him with his mind as well as his body. It pays off, and Lethal has to take a riskier course of action to catch up. In the closing moments, the risk comes up bad, as a double-axe-handle by Lethal ends up leading to a Superman spear by Lost, and Lethal doesn’t have the wind to kick out, qualifying Lost for the elite 8. **1/4 Winner: Lost (pinfall, Superman spear) Quality: 80% Crowd: 58% Overall: 69% 2nd segment: Conrad Kennedy III vs. Jigsaw vs. “Malibu” Tyler Black vs. “The A-Lister” Rob Conway CK3 starts off with Jigsaw, but immediately gets some assistance from Conway, who helps flatten Jigsaw in 1:31. The crowd is upset, with the only fan favorite now gone. Black comes in and takes it to Conway, so much so that CK3 gets involved. The crowd starts to cheer for Black simply because he’s the only one wrestling a clean match. CK3 finally leaves the ring after doing some damage, but Black manages to kick Conway in the face, and makes the tag to CK3 while his back is turned. CK3 tries to argue the fact, but the ref orders him in; before Black leaves, he kicks CK3 in the gut, hits Killifornia, and falls out to the arena floor to catch his breath. Conway gets to his feet, but the ref continues his 10-count, and when CK3 doesn’t answer it, he has no choice but to declare CK3 out of the match at 5:03. Black pulls himself back in and mounts a valiant fight, but Conway is fresher and is able to pick his shots. There is a moment when it looks like Black is on the brink of a comeback, when he pushes Conway off the top turnbuckle crotch-first onto the ropes. But after a brief offensive flurry, Conway uses a thumb to the eye to stop Black, and his finisher, the Box Office Bomb, keeps Black’s shoulders to the mat for good. **1/2 Winner: Conway (pinfall, Box Office Bomb) Quality: 80% Crowd: 66% Overall: 73% 3rd segment: Hallowicked vs. Chris Sabin vs. Jimmy Rave vs. MQS [/center] For the first couple minutes, it seems like it’s going to be a straight match … but as Jimmy Rave finds himself on the receiving end of a Chris Sabin flurry, Rave calls out reinforcements, and with some timely distractions and assistance, The Elite help Rave eliminate Sabin at 3:57. And it doesn’t take long for the next person to fall, as Hallowicked eats is mugged by The Elite and thrown back in for Rave to get the pin at 1:37 into the second fall. That leaves the obnoxious MQS and the loathsome Rave as the final two, and unlike the previous match, neither have a shred of something to cheer for. The crowd starts chanting “f**k this match!”, and it gets under the skin of Rave. This finally proves his undoing, as MQS gets Rave from behind while Rave is jaw-jacking with a fan at ringside, and eliminates Rave at 8:00 dead even in the final fall, advancing to the elite 8 on Unleashed. **3/4 Winner: MQS (pinfall, Quackendriver II) Quality: 83% Crowd: 70% Overall:76% 4th segment: Rey Mysterio vs. “Champagne” Kory Chavis vs. Claudio Castagnoli vs. The Messiah [/center] Once again, The Honor Guard come out to support their compatriot, but in a peculiar moment of cohesion, Mysterio, Chavis and Messiah unite temporarily to drive away the incursion of Castagnoli’s friends. The partnership continues a little further, as they all put a pounding on Castagnoli outside the ring, and leave him on the arena floor to get counted out at 5:00. With Castagnoli gone, the pretenses of partnership drop immediately, and there are a lot of fast tags in and out. Chavis manages to kick out of the Godsmack, and Messiah kicks out of the Smooth Operator, and it looks like Mysterio is in a golden spot to take advantage. But instead, his speed leads to a misjudgment of his opponent, and on an attempt at a 6-1-9, Chavis counters with a lariat that folds Mysterio like a lawn chair in midair. The Champagne Wishes is academic, and Mysterio buys the farm at 6:12 into the second fall. Despite taking more punishment, Chavis stands up against Messiah, and the two get into a knock-down, drag-out brawl, travelling all around the ringside area, pushing Steven Manning and Taz out of their seats as they travel the ringside area. The ref threatens to throw them out until he gets caught with a wild punch from Chavis and is knocked cold. With no ref, the two start battering one another with anything they can … and just as quickly, Kevin Steen runs out with a chair. But Messiah ducks, and Steen splits Chavis’ wig. Messiah sends Steen flying, hits the Godsmack on a chair, and a new ref runs out in time to make the count at 7:32 into the final fall. *** Winner: Messiah (pinfall, Godsmack) Quality: 83% Crowd: 78% Overall: 80% 5th segment: Josh Prohibition vs. Brian Kendrick vs. Adam Pearce vs. Homicide The crowd practically checks out as soon as the participants are announced, seeing as Prohibition is facing three-on-one odds. And as the minutes tick away, and The Honor Guard seem to be tormenting him, the ending doesn’t look to be a surprise. But as Pearce puts Prohibition up for a piledriver, Prohibition kicks Pearce in the face; Pearce falsl backwards with Prohibition on top of him. Prohibition grabs Pearce’s legs and holds on tight, and somehow, gets the three count at 5:19. Immediately, Homicide is on him, and goes to town. Prohibition refuses to stay down. But when Kendrick and Homicide team up, Prohibition doesn’t stand a chance. A Shiranui over Homicide’s knees keeps Prohibition’s Cinderella story from having a happy ending, sending him out 4:44 into the second fall. Kendrick approaches Homicide for a handshake and a civil discussion over what to do next, but Homicide replies by slapping Kendrick hard and going to work. Kendrick, caught off guard, mounts only a little defense as Homicide shows no mercy to his teammate. Kendrick gets a small comeback towards the end, but Homicide negates it and brings an end to things at 6:19 in the final fall with a Cop Killa. ***1/4 Winner: Homicide (pinfall, Cop Killa) Quality: 85% Crowd: 79% Overall: 82% 6th segment: Justice Pain vs. Arik Cannon vs. William Hunter Johnston vs. Chavo Guerrero [/center] This time, The Honor Guard doesn’t even try to interfere, as Pain, Cannon and Guerrero show a unity of sportsmanship from minute one. Johnston, however, won’t shut his mouth, even as his three opponents take turns beating on him. Johnston finally goes down to a Pain Thriller and a frog splash from Pain and Guerrero, who shake hands while Cannon makes the cover at 4:01. The second fall is fast paced, but unlike many of the previous matches, totally above board and loaded with people everyone likes. As a result, there isn’t a moment for the crowd to catch their breath, with near-falls happening at a fast pace, and everyone getting close to taking the next step up the Rumble Royale ladder. In the end, it’s Cannon who scores on the Glimmering Warlock after rolling out of the way of a Guerrero frog splash at 6:13. Pain enters the ring, shakes hands with Cannon, and immediately they lock up. The offense goes back and forth, at nearly a move-for-move pace. It takes another 7:17 before the deciding pinfall is achieved, scored off Cannon once again hitting his finisher after blocking the Mountain Powerbomb. Pain gets to his feet afterwards and shakes Cannon’s hand, raising it high to the cheers of the crowd. **3/4 Winner: Cannon (pinfall, Glimmering Warlock) Quality: 80% Crowd: 75% Overall: 77% 7th segment: Ruckus vs. BJ Whitmer vs. Jimmy Jacobs [/center] All three come out guns a’blazing, looking for the quick win with their own strategy: for Ruckus, he works towards a knock-out MMA blow. Jacobs plays a cagey, opportunistic strategy, picking shots and looking for an opening to hit something big. And Whitmer just comes unloading both barrels from the word go. But Whitmer’s strategy is short-sighted, and leaves a lot of opportunities for Ruckus and Jacobs to get in shots and keep themselves out of harm’s way. Whitmer’s fate is sealed when Adam Pearce provides some timely interference while Jacobs occupies the ref, and after that, The End Time is all but academic, and the ref calls Whitmer out at 5:14. As soon as Whitmer is out, Ruckus and Jacobs begin a surprising dance, trading submissions and counters like two old school shooters. Back and forth they go, neither establishing dominance, but neither giving an inch. But suddenly, Ruckus howls in pain, and the ref demands a break. When the ref gets in, Ruckus gestures to Jacobs and is very agitated about something, and there is a cut above his eye, bleeding a good bit. Jacobs pleads innocence, and submits to a spot check of his boots and tights. The ref finds nothing, and when Ruckus insists on continuing, the ref allows it … but Jacobs attacks the cut like a bullseye, punching and tearing at it. A DDT only rips it open more, and while Ruckus is stunned, Jacobs floats over and locks on an arm-trap crossface, putting the pressure on the flesh just above the cut, so the gash widens from being pulled back. As the cut tears, more blood pours out, and soon, Ruckus stops fighting back. The ref has no choice but to call it for Jacobs at 4:57. As Jacobs walks away, he smiles and shines his fingernails … which the camera now catches have been cut into spear-points. ***1/2 Winner: Jacobs (ref stoppage on blood loss) Quality: 86% Crowd: 82% Overall: 84% 8th segment: Bryan Danielson vs. Chris Hero vs. Paul Burchill [/center] The last of the qualifying matches takes a stunning turn in the opening minutes, as Burchill and Hero pair up to take out a very cocky, very obnoxious, with Hero hitting a Roaring Elbow that sends Danielson staggering into Burchill’s C4. The crowd is stunned as Danielson gets a three-second view of the lights after only 1:32. With that, Hero and Burchill engage in a stiff strong-style match, hitting each other with all their heavy artillery as fast as they can, in the hopes of landing the best spot, and burying their opponent. When Hero kicks out of a curb stomp, the crowd holds their breath. Likewise, the crowd almost comes out of their seats when Burchill kicks out of a rolling cravat cutter. The end comes when Hero eats a huge boot to the face, spins and staggers into position for the C4, but gets a knee up in Burchill’s gut, swings under Hero’s leg, and nails the Hero’s Welcome. At 5:31 in the final fall, Hero takes the final spot in on Unleashed in the two final four showdowns. ***3/4 Winner: Hero (pinfall, Hero’s Welcome) Quality: 88% Crowd: 85% Overall: 86% 9th segment: Steve Corino vs. “Diamond” Joey Ryan [/center] “I’ve just received word, Taz,” says Steven Manning as Corino walks to the ring, “that Roderick Strong is being offered a spot in the fatal four way match at A New Level for a shot the following night, and that if he declines, he has the right to name whoever he chooses as a replacement.” But as Corino waits, instead of Ryan coming out, someone else does: Edge. The crowd comes unglued. “I’ve played around with the dregs this company insists on calling wrestlers for long enough,” says Edge. “Obviously, if I’m going to make my mark here, I have to do something big, and if that means taking out one of your former champions, then that’s what I’ll do!” Corino asks for a microphone. “I was looking forward a good match with a good wrestler,” says Corino. “But I suppose I can live with kicking the ass of some Stamford reject who can’t be bothered to come at someone face to face. Hell, I could probably do this fast enough to be back in the locker room in time for the ten o’clock news.” Edge fumes and fusses, but he stalls. He doesn’t see Ryan coming out, holding a chair. Ryan bends the chair around Edge’s back, points at the fallen Rated-R Superstar, and yells out to Corino to kick his ass. Corino comes down, grabs Edge, drags him to the ring and starts putting the boots to him. Corino dominates the match, and for the first time, Edge really looks in danger of taking a legit loss. When Edge tries to cut and run, Ryan limps down to ringside to block his escape. But as Edge, Ryan and the ref argue, Nigel McGuinness sneaks through the crowd and hits a wicked lariat that puts Corino’s lights out. Edge is the only one who sees what happens, and he immediately disengages the argument to make the cover. The ref is obliged to follow and the Ultimate Opportunist once again scores a pinfall over a high-level opponent through deceit. **** Winner: Edge (pinfall, McGuinness-ference) Quality: 91% Crowd: 90% Overall: 90% Notes: Edge gained overness from this match. 10th segment: Danielson/HBK “Well, coming up next, we have—“ Manning puts his hand up to his ear and nods. “Okay, right now, we’re going backstage. Apparently, ‘American Dragon’ Bryan Danielson is causing a disturbance.” Cut to backstage in craft services, where Danielson is up-ending tables, throwing plates and cups, and generally destroying anything not nailed down, yelling in incoherent rage the entire time. A platter of cheeses is spilled when the table is turned over; a coffee pot is thrown to the ground; a bowl of salsa is hurled like a baseball. The only intelligible words coming from Danielson’s mouth are complaining about being screwed, and words that get bleeped by the censors. Until he turns and sees Shawn Michaels standing in the doorway, a stone-faced lack of expression under his cowboy hat. Danielson’s expression darkens considerably, and he approaches Michaels. “You’re happy as a pig in [bleep], aren’t you?” asks Danielson. “I get screwed by that CZW castoff and some guy who dressed up like a pirate, and you probably think it’s the greatest thing on Earth. Probably will teach me some kind of lesson, like how you won the Rumble 14 years ago, going coast to coast. You know what? To use something you used to say a lot, suck it. Suck it hard.” Michaels’ expression doesn’t change, and for what seems like forever, silence hangs in the air. “What happened out there doesn’t bother me a bit, Bryan. Because next Tuesday, when I kick your teeth down your throat and teach you that lesson you need to learn, you won’t have to worry about coming in the Rumble early. You won’t be in it at all.” Danielson steps up closer to Michaels, a sick smile on his face. “I can’t wait to see the look on your face when you have to look me in the eye after you tap out. Seeing your career dead and buried in your eyes after you tap out to me … nothing in my life, not winning the ROH World Title, or the FIP World Title … none of it will stack up to stabbing a dagger in your heart and bringing your career to a sudden and tragic end.” “And nothing I’ve achieved in my career will bring my greater joy then being right. I guess we’ll see who gets what they want.” Michaels turns and walks off, hands in his pockets, leaving Danielson stewing. Quality: Crowd: Overall: 77% 11th segment: Eddie Kingston vs. Austin Aries, non-title match “This is sickening,” says Steven Manning as Aries comes down the aisle; ”JJ Dillon using a mentally unstable man as a pawn, a weapon, against a champion he doesn’t like.” As soon as Kingston enters the ring, he drops the title belt and charges Aries, taking him down with a tackle. The opening minutes are a frenzied attempt by Kingston to finish off Aries before the madman can dig in his heels and start inflicting punishment. And for the first couple minutes, it works. But soon enough, Aries is making it a contest, and soon thereafter, by sheer force of will, Aries assumes control of the match, hammering Kingston with his abusive new wrestling style. As the minutes wear on, the crowd yells at Aries, calling him all sorts of names. But slowly, a chant starts to build that gets under his skin: “we want Lacey”. At first, Aries sneers at the crowd, but when the entire arena is chanting it, he flips out, covering his ears and telling everyone to stop. When they won’t, he tries to get the ref to order the audience into silence, but the ref shrugs. Frustrated, Aries drops to the floor and berates the front row for chanting it, which only makes the chant worse. He doesn’t even notice the ref administering the count, nor the bell to signal his count-out loss. Aries really flips out as it gets louder, and he runs around the ring, yelling for peace and quiet, and that “she’s dead”. But the crowd gets louder still. Kingston pulls himself to his feet, watching the weird scene unfold outside on confusion. Suddenly, Aries comes to a stop on one side of the ring, staring at a lady in the audience with a cocked head. She is a petite, attractive blonde with soft features, and she continues the chant at Aries, jabbing a finger with every syllable. And just as suddenly, Aries lunges and wraps his hands around her throat. Security finally jumps into action after the initial shock wears off, but Aries’ grip is tight. While everyone’s attention is diverted, Jimmy Jacobs comes down with a lead pipe in one hand and a bag in the other. He bashes Kingston in the back of the head with a smile, then opens the bag. “Oh God. Oh dear God,” says Manning in horror, as Jacobs pulls out a cheese grater. Jacobs drops it on the mat, then picks up Kingston in a front face lock and teases dropping Kingston into it. The crowd is out of their seats now, torn between watching Aries and the fan, and Jacobs tormenting a nearly unconscious Kingston. When security finally has to use a tazer to get Aries to release the fan and some of security notice Jacobs in the ring, Jacobs makes his move and DDT’s Kingston into the cheese grater. Kingston comes to, but only enough to roll around in pain and hold his face as blood pours through his fingers. Jacobs leaves the ring and hops the guard rail, as security calls over the medics for the fan and Kingston. Throwdown fades to black on Jacobs’ sick smile, and the two-fold carnage of Kingston and the unfortunate fan. ***3/4 Winner: Kingston (count-out) Quality: 86% Crowd: 89% Overall: 88% Overall show rating: 80% Tuesday, January 20, 2009: Email:1) Matt Sydal -- I was thinking, how about giving me some matches with Rey Mysterio? I think we'd be able to do some good work together given the chance. 2) We got a 5.04 rating for 'Throwdown', drawing 6408 for $256320. 3) TNA got a 0.92 television rating for 'TNA Monday'. 4) IWC got a 1.30 television rating for 'IWC Monday'. 5) James Maritato has agreed to an open contract with WWE! PI -- 0% was gained. Total -- 76% Global. Jed Shaffer ~Sorry it took so long. Planning the times so everything worked with the Rumble was a pain in the ass.
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Post by Brain Of J on Apr 10, 2009 20:36:44 GMT -5
Preview for Unleashed, January 21, 2009:* The pay-per-view card has been updated! Please scroll below for details! * All the competitors are set for the Rumble Royale, but the running order isn't, and two matches on Unleashed will decide the final eight! Plus, the build-up to A New Level continues! - In one match, you will see Scott Lost, Rob Conway, Chris Hero and Homicide square off. In the other match, it will be Jimmy Jacovs, MQS, The Messiah and Arik Cannon! - Edge upset another scheduled match on Throwdown. Tonight, he's scheduled in a match, tagging with Larry Sweeney against "Diamond" Joey Ryan and Paul Burchill. Has Edge overplayed his hand? - If Chris Sabin has found a partner for his tag title match at A New Level, he hasn't told anybody. In the meantime, he's in singles action on Unleashed, against MQS in a Bold Future Championship match. Can he capture singles gold in addition to his tag title shot? And what could this do to the tenuous relationship with Alex Shelley? - Two men have the opportunity of a lifetime: a slot in the fatal-four-way #1 contender's match is on the line. On one side, Claudio Castagnoli, the self-proclaimed "career killer". On the other side, the young firebrand Shelton Benjamin. One of these two will find a slot in the big match! - The end of Throwdown was a horrifying scene: Austin Aries snapped and attacked a fan, while Jimmy Jacobs attacked Eddie Kingston by DDT'ing him into a cheese grater. We expect to hear updates on both Aries and Kingston. All this, and much, much more! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ring Of Honor presents A New Level Live, on pay-per-view Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Triple Threat Theatre match for the ROH World Title: Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Nigel McGuinness vs. Steve Corino
Shawn Michaels makes his ROH debut! If Michaels wins, Danielson is out of the Rumble. Bryan Danielson vs. Shawn Michaels
For the ROH World Tag Team Titles: The Elite (c) vs. Chris Sabin & ?
Grudge match: BJ Whitmer vs. Adam Pearce
Chris Hero vs. Jimmy Jacobs
For the ROH Wrestler's Choice Championship: Homicide (c) vs. Ruckus
Four-corners survival match, winner faces the ROH World Champion on Unleashed!: Austin Aries vs. Roderick Strong? vs. winner of Castagnoli/Benjamin vs. ?
Murderdeathkill vs. La Raza vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico
Scott Lost vs. Larry Sweeney Jed Shaffer ~Man, I can't wait to get through this next show. The three-shot week has so much going on.
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Post by Brain Of J on Apr 28, 2009 21:20:00 GMT -5
[/u]Wednesday, January 21, 2009:[/b][/u] Email:none Results for Unleashed: “Ring Of Honor is six nights removed from a special Tuesday night pay-per-view event, the second in a three-night, three-show mega-event, and this is the last show before that trifecta! Good evening, everyone, welcome to Unleashed, live on The CW Network! I’m Jimmy Bauer, alongside Colt Cabana, and tonight, we have 8 huge matches on the card!” “That’s right, Jimmy … a spot in the four-way at A New Level is on the line … a huge tag grudge match, and the final 8 slots in the Rumble Royale have to be decided!” “And we’ll also hear from Austin Aries, who is at home, serving a week’s suspension stemming from last week’s heinous attack on a fan at ringside. And we understand Bryan Danielson is going to have some sort of public workout tonight in preparation for his match with Shawn Michaels. But right now, we kick off with tag team action!” 1st segment: “Malibu” Tyler Black & “Champagne” Kory Chavis vs. La Raza [/center] For the five minutes this matches gets in, it’s a solid five minutes, with plenty of solid tag action … but The Burning River Brigade run down and ambush their foes, causing a disqualification. And no sooner does that happen than Kevin Steen & El Generico, opponents of La Raza at A New Level, run down and attack their foes, leading to a wild mess of a fight that only disappears from the scene when the brawl leads the teams away from ringside. **3/4 Winners: Black & Chavis (disqualification) Quality: 80% Crowd: 75% Overall: 77% 2nd segment: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Shelton Benjamin With a spot in the #1 contendership on the line, Benjamin and Castagnoli put it all out there. Castagnoli uses his size and strength to his advantage every chance he gets, while Benjamin relies on his speed and agility to strike and fade. In the closing moments, Benjamin has control and goes for a springboard cross-body, but Castagnoli catches Benjamin on his shoulders and turns it into the Alpamera Waterslide. But Castagnoli is too tired to capitalize, and that gives Arik Cannon the opportunity to come to ringside. “Good lord, is this how Ring Of Honor is going to fight back?” says Cabana. “They’re just proving The Honor Guard’s case!” And with that, Cannon slides in and waits for Castagnoli to come to enough to see his enemy. Cannon flips off Castagnoli … then stomps Benjamin. The ref signals for the DQ against Castagnoli as Cannon jumps out of the ring, giving Castagnoli a pair of birds as he leaves the ring area. **** Winner: Benjamin (disqualification) Quality: 92% Crowd: 80% Overall: 86% 3rd segment [/center] The music of Eddie Kingston hits the PA, and the crowd comes to their feet to welcome the Ring Of Honor World Champion. A large bandage is wrapped around his head, but he doesn’t show a hint of weakness as he walks to the ring, the ROH World Title on his shoulder. Just as the audience reaction starts to die off, he stands in the center of the ring, looking towards the stage, and holds up the belt. The crowd again cheers, but instead of waiting, Kingston yells over them. “My name is Eddie [bleep]in’ Kingston, and I am the Ring Of Honor World Champion! Get a good look, Jimmy, cause you ain’t never gettin’ this back! You’re goin’ down in ROH history as this company’s Tommy Rich – some stupid, undeserving punk who sucked off the boss for a title reign!” Kingston drops the belt, turns to the cameraman standing on the apron and beckons him to come inside the ring. “C’mere, boy, c’mere, get up tight on me.” Kingston rips at the bandages on his forehead until his head wound is exposed; the flesh is still raw and torn from where he hit the cheese grater only two days before. “See this? Ya see this right here?” Kingston stays up close, filling the lens, his voice a deadpan. “Cut me, shred me, break my bones. Put me through a table, whip me with barbed wire, dump me on thumbtacks. It don’t matter.” Kingston bends down quick, snatches up the belt and holds it up in frame with his face. “Ya done dumped me face-first on a cheese grater, and ya didn’t get the job done, Jimmy, cause I still got this. You want it? You’re going … to have … to kill me. All you did two days ago was get my attention, Jimmy, and you done it in the wrong way. So now, after I get this bull[bleep] at A New Level out the way, item number one on my to-do list is gettin’ you fitted for one of them wheelchairs you drive with your chin. I--” The music of Oasis kicks in, signaling the arrival of Nigel McGuinness. Dressed impeccably, McGuinness slithers down to the ring, a smug smile on his face. “Edward, you needn’t be concerned by Jimmy Jacobs,” says McGuinness. “Your main concern will be finding a new job after I bring the ROH World Title home next Tuesday and summarily drum you out of Ring Of Honor forever!” Kingston steps up to go nose to nose with McGuinness. “Awful big set for a punk who’s choked at every chance he’s had. How’d ya do ‘gainst Bryan Danielson? Or Morishima? Or Hero? Or Corino?” McGuinness’ smug smile turns into a sneer. “Yeah, run your mouth, chump. You just as bad as Jimmy-boy, ‘cept at least he tasted the gold. You … you just today’s version of Ted DiBiase or Jake Roberts: the guy who shoulda, but never got it together to get it done! And lemme tell ya somethin’ else, McGuinness; when all’s said and done, when we’s all gone in rockin’ chairs and old folks’ homes, and some kid is lookin’ back at our times, you know who he’s gonna remember? It ain’t some wrestler who got skills but choked when the big lights shined on him. It’s the guy who wore the belt!” McGuinness gets so close to Kingston, their foreheads are touching. “And maybe the one history will forget will be you, when I end your title reign as abruptly as it began, and you become just another footnote champion like Ronnie Garvin and Kane! One thing I can tell you for sure, though, Edward, is that I don’t need to use profanity and talk for hours on end; everything I have to say, I’ll say it next Tuesday with a resounding victory for The Honor Guard!” Kingston smirks, then rears back and spits in McGuinness’ face. McGuiness’ eyes go wide, the glare he sends Kingston’s way absolutely lethal. But before McGuinness can spring into action, Jimmy Jacobs runs in behind Kingston and puts him on the mat with a lead pipe to the back of the head. Jacobs snatches the microphone out of McGuinness’ hand. “I don’t need to kill you, Eddie, when I can drive you to a point where you’ll beg me to take that belt off your waist!” McGuinness takes the microphone back out of Jacobs’ hand. “Toss off, you mewling little hob-knocker,” McGuinness says with unvarnished disdain. “You’ve had your moment, and your utter failure put us in this predicament. Next week, the era of Nigel McGuinness begins, and you can go back to the coffee shop where you belong. And a true champion will carry this company back to honor!” Jacobs steps up into McGuinness’ space. “Never forget, Nigel, whose machinations aligned the stars so you didn’t have to face Chris Hero or Steve Corino next Tuesday, two men who have roundly had your number for the past year and a half! You’d do wise to still your blasphemous tongue before it bought you trouble you can’t afford.” “Am I really being threatened by some diminutive teenager wearing mommy’s mascara?” Before the argument can come to blows, Steve Corino runs out with a steel chair and gives McGuinness and Jacobs a whack apiece before they scramble for safety. Corino dares them to come back, but neither show any interest in a fair fight. But just before it looks like the situation has been disarmed, Kingston gets to his feet, sees Corino with the chair, and immediately sees red. “Is this how you do it now?” yells Kingston. “Is this how you gonna play?” Corino tries to clear the air, but Kingston is too angry to listen. “You want this so bad, you don’t care who you backstab?” Corino again tries to explain, but Kingston puts a hand over Corino’s mouth, leans in close and kisses Corino on the cheek. “You try to roll up on the Devil from the backside, you get a piece of Ol’ Scratch’s spikey tail.” Kingston, holding the back of his head with one hand and his belt in the other, drops to the floor and leaves without a look back, leaving Corino standing there confused. Quality: Crowd: Overall: 74% Notes: Steve Corino lost overness from this segment. Nigel McGuinness lost overness from this segment. Eddie Kingston lost overness from this segment. 4th segment: Chris Sabin vs. William Hunter Johnston [/center] Johnston spends a lot of the match running his mouth, acting like a loose cannon, and that leads to him spending a lot of time on defense. But Johnston gets some back-up when Alex Shelley comes down on a crutch, glaring a hole through Sabin. The distraction is enough for Johnston to get the upper hand, but Sabin brings a dramatic halt to his progress in an unforgettable spot: Johnston tries Shadows Over Hell, only for Sabin to throw back an elbow up into Johnston’s face, then lifts up with Johnston on his shoulders and hits the Cradle Shock. Shelley shows no emotion as he limps away. ****1/2 Winner: Sabin (pinfall, Cradle Shock) Quality: 100% Crowd: 73% Overall: 86% 5th segment, Bold Future Championship match: Charles Taylor Esq. (proxy champion) vs. Hallowicked With MQS one of the two main events, he sends his proxy out to defend the Bold Future Championship for him, against Hallowicked. Hallowicked gives Taylor a lot of trouble, but in the end, Taylor gets the win. But MQS is right there to read him the riot act, saying he could’ve won the match a lot sooner if he’d taken shortcuts, and never to endanger the title again with such reckless behavior. ***1/4 Winner: Taylor (pinfall, Omeag Driver) Quality: 88% Crowd: 62% Overall: 75% Notes: Charles Taylor, Esq. gained overness from this match.
6th segment [/center] A video package rolls on the JumboTron, opening on Austin Aries, sitting on a chair in a darkened room, leaned forward, holding something in his hands. "I don't care what the authorities said," says Aries, "it was her. She's haunting me. I misplaced my trust, and she's punishing me for my transgression. And she was sent, sent by a man I once looked upon as more family than my own blood. She was sent because he won’t face his own harsh, ugly reality.” Aries pulls something out of his pocket as the camera comes closer; the item in Aries’ hands is a picture, and his other hand produces a lighter. “I must exorcise the voices in my head, by punishing the one whose burden of guilt is greatest.” Aries puts the lighter’s flame to the picture; slowly, it catches fire. “If you come to A New Level, Roderick, you will suffer for your transgressions. For your own safety, you’re better off staying home … but if you ever cared about me at all, if our brotherhood was more than just words, you’ll do the honorable thing and face your execution on your feet. You’ll come, and you’ll let me do what needs to be done. For your sake. For my sake. For … to restore the honor you cast aside when you allowed an angel to die.” Aries drops the picture on the floor, where the flame consumes the picture before flickering out. “Fire doesn’t hate, it doesn’t judge, and it doesn’t hold a grudge. It returns that which it consumes to its base element. It cleanses that which it kisses. You must face the fire, Roderick. Your atonement is to burn in the fire, Roderick, burn to the ground, just as my atonement is to be the one to ignite the fires that will consume a man I called ‘brother’. Your punishment will be profound but quick … mine will be a lifelong torment. In a way, I’m giving you the easy way out, Roderick; I could betray what is now my solemn duty, to hasten the justice and punishment that fate sometimes belabors. I ask you, as a friend, come to A New Level. Face your fire.” Aries looks up at the camera. His eyes stare out of a hairless skull, the living face of death. “Don’t make me bring the fire to you, Roderick. You can’t delay the inevitable.” Quality: Crowd: Overall: 89% 7th segment: BJ Whitmer vs. Matt Sydal [/center] Whitmer starts off the match like a bear fighting a puppy, tossing around Sydal at will and beating him senseless. The crowd is into every bit of it, but Commissioner JJ Dillon isn’t, and he comes out and tries to intercede. Whitmer pushes him away, and goes back to work on Sydal, but stops when the bell suddenly rings. Whitmer’s head whips around and his glare burns a hole in Dillon as the ring announcer proclaims Whitmer disqualified for ignoring warnings about closed-fist strikes. Whitmer suddenly breaks into a run, and Dillon scrambles to get out of the ring. When Dillon drops to the floor, Whitmer turns around, picks up Sydal, gestures to Dillon then makes a slash across his throat, and sends Sydal crashing into the turnbuckle with an Exploder. Dillon’s face is sheet white and flop-sweat forms on his forehead. ***1/2 Winner: Sydal (disqualification) Quality: 87% Crowd: 82% Overall: 84$ 8th segment: Edge & “Sweet ‘n’ Sour” Larry Sweeney vs. Paul Burchill & “Diamond” Joey Ryan [/center] From the start, Edge and Sweeney play a very cagey game that looks more like cowardice. They lure Ryan and Burchill towards their end of the ring, use illegal double-teams and dirty tactics to keep the advantage. But through sheer force of will, Burchill and Ryan begin to turn the tide, and Edge and Sweeney begin to panic. In the closing minutes, all four men are in the ring, and Edge ends up spearing Sweeney when Burchill moves out of the way. Ryan goes for the pin, but isn’t the legal man. Meanwhile, Edge turns around into Burchill, who hits the C4, but Edge isn’t the legal man either, and the ref won’t count the pinfall. By the time the ref restores order and gets Ryan and Edge out of the ring, Sweeney has enough left to hit a shot to the nuts on Burchill and tag out. Edge runs in, cuts off Ryan with a spear, then slaps on an inverted Sharpshooter. Burchill has no choice but to tap. *** Winner: Sweeney & Edge (submission, Edge on Burchill, inverted Sharpshooter) Quality: 81% Crowd: 82% Overall: 81% 9th segment [/center] “So, I guess we’re now going to see a public workout of sorts with Bryan Danielson,” says Jimmy Bauer as the former ROH World Champion makes his way to the ring. “From what I hear, it’s going to be a series of scrimmages against three opponents, each about three minutes in length. One guy is a brawler, one is a speed wrestler, and one is a technical wrestler. What he hopes to prove by doing this, I don’t know.” “Bryan Danielson is obsessed with being the best wrestler in the world, Jimmy,” says Colt Cabana with more than a bit of rancor in his voice, “and he’ll do anything to prove it. Ask my knee.” Before starting the first scrimmage, Danielson takes a microphone. “Some people think I’m taking this match against Shawn Michaels too seriously, and some people think I’m not taking it serious at all.” Danielson chuckles, then looks at the crowd with a sneer. “Personally, I think the same thing about all of you that I do of Shawn Michaels: none of you are capable of lacing my boots, let alone going toe-to-toe with me. Before we got on television, I was this company’s most prolific champion. Shawn defended his belt whenever he felt like it. I’m considered the best in the world … and he considers himself ‘the main event’. Eric Young was in the main event of a TNA pay-per-view once, and Hardcore Holly once main-evented the Royal Rumble, so that tells you how much being ‘main event’ is worth. The fact of the matter is, I don’t need to put 110% into training for this match, because even with his pedal on the floor, he can’t keep pace with me. He’s old, he’s broken, he hasn’t wrestled in at least two months, and he’s seen up close and first-hand how far I’ve eclipsed his teachings.” The smile returns to Danielson’s face. “And now, I’m gonna do it again, by beating the living hell out of three of his former students.” With that (and audible surprise from the announcers), the first scrimmage partner comes out, a guy in a ripped t-shirt and jean shorts. He comes out swinging, and Danielson takes him down so quick, the movement is a blur. Danielson slips behind the guy, locks him in position and hits the trapped MMA elbows, the guy’s head whipped around like a bobble-head toy. With barely sixty seconds elapsed, Danielson releases the guy, pushes him to the arena floor and signals for the next one. Another guy comes out, wearing a singlet, and immediately tries to shoot Danielson’s leg. Danielson toys with the wrestler, making it look like the wrestler is putting up a fight … but at will, Danielson turns the tables, and has the fellow TWA graduate tapping to an armbar so vicious, the man’s arm is almost 100% vertical. Danielson gets to his feet, smiling, and beckons towards the curtain, and through it steps Brian Kendrick. The crowd is stunned to see the fellow Honor Guard member step into the ring to take on a vicious Danielson. But before Danielson and Kendrick can lock up, Shawn Michaels runs down to ringside, stepping in between the two. “Alright! Alright!” he says, holding up his arms to keep Kendrick and Danielson back. “I don’t know what you’re trying to prove, Bryan … do you want me to say you’re my best student? That you can tear through the best TWA had to offer? Is this supposed to be some way of marking your territory, saying if you can beat the best students, you can beat me?” Michaels steps up to Danielson. “You’re sick. You’re sick and confused. You’re too busy complaining about the dirty water to notice that the reason it isn’t quenching your thirst is because it’s sand.” Michaels stops and cocks his head. “You know who you remind me of? Bret Hart. He had the same delusion you did: that the promotion he wrestled for was somehow his kingdom. He didn’t see he was one of a hundred wheels in a cog; he thought he was the machine itself. I hope I can kick some sense into you next Tuesday, because if not, you’re beyond all but the Almighty’s helping hands. But for tonight, I’m begging you, just stop this. It’s childi—“ Michaels is cut off as Kendrick smashes him in the back of the head. Together, Danielson and Kendrick put the boots to Michaels, but they show special attention to Michaels’ back, targeting it with hard strikes and impact maneuvers. As Kendrick sets up Michaels for Sliced Bread #2, Danielson asks for a microphone again. When Kendrick brings Michaels crashing down, Danielson stands over him, looking down at Michaels writhing in pain and almost unconscious. “What I’m proving here is that you have no hope, Shawn. No hope, and no prayer. Every student you have is a facet of you … and I can beat every one of them. That means the only question for A New Level isn’t if I beat you … it’s to what degree.” Danielson gets down on one knee so he can speak in Michaels’ ear. “What I do to you next Tuesday,” says Danielson, “will keep you retired this time, Shawn. I hope your lovely wife likes having a hall-of-fame cripple for a husband. Not even God will be able to undo what I plan to do to you.” Quality: Crowd: Overall: 79% 10th segment: Jimmy Jacobs vs. Michael Quackenbush Spillane vs. The Messiah vs. Arik Cannon, four-way elimination match First decision: MQS makes no friends with anybody with his haughty attitude, earning himself a three-way ass-kicking. MQS gets in a couple licks, but not enough to maintain any kind of advantage, and at the 5:01 mark, Cannon hits a Glimmering Warlock to put out MQS’ lights. Second decision: The unity between the three disintegrates immediately, as Jacobs, Cannon and Messiah unload on one another, with the best spot in the Rumble Royale on the line. It’s one stiff shot after another, and near-falls happen at a rapid pace, as the match becomes almost a triple-threat in its speed and fluidity. In the closing seconds, Jacobs gets Messiah in the End Time, but out of nowhere comes Cannon with a punt to the side of Jacobs’ head. Jacobs is rocked, and as he tries to get to his feet, Cannon comes off the ropes and hits another Glimmering Warlock, ending Jimmy Jacobs’ time in the match at 7:11 into the second decision. Final decision: Cannon lets Messiah get to his feet, and after a handshake, the two square off, beaten but determined to win. Messiah and Cannon trade the offense in a well-balanced, hard-hitting match that has the crowd split down the middle. In the closing seconds, Messiah misses with a clothesline, and Cannon kicks his knee from behind, dropping Messiah to one knee. Cannon hits the ropes and comes running, set to hit the Glimmering Warlock, but Messiah hears Cannon coming and ducks it. Cannon sails right over, and Messiah is able to get to his feet, grab Cannon from behind and hit the Fall From Grace at 10:57 to take a spot in the final two. ***1/2 Winner: Messiah (pinfall, Fall From Grace) Quality: 86% Crowd: 79% Overall: 82% 11th segment: Scott Lost vs. “The A-Lister” Rob Conway vs. Homicide vs. Chris Hero, four-way elimination match First decision: It doesn’t take long for Homicid to delve into his bag of street-fighting tricks. The ref catches him on two occasions, trying some short-cuts on Hero, but the third time, against Scott Lost, the ref is out of position, and doesn’t see Homicide use his fork in between Lost’s eyes. At 3:16, Lost counts the lights. Second decision: Once again, Homicide goes for the plunder, but this time, the ref catches him, and Chris Hero uses that to start an offensive volley. Homicide fights back as best he can, but as Hero asserts his dominance, Homicide tags out to Conway, who isn’t looking. Conway yells at Homicide, which allows Hero to come from behind and hit the Hero’s Welcome for the pin at 6:14 in the second fall. Final decision: Homicide comes right back and he and Hero pick up where they left off only minutes before. Hero kicks out of a Cop Killa and a diamond cutter, and Homicide kicks out of a Hero’s Welcome and a Rubik’s Cube. As the end of the show nears, the two seem no closer to finishing the match, when Homicide hits a wicked lariat that puts Hero down on one knee. A second lariat does the same, but Hero gets back to both feet quicker, and lets out a primal scream, daring Homicide to try it again. A third time and Hero barely even staggers back, and he dares Homicide one more time. As Homicide comes on, Hero spins and clocks Homicide in the jaw with a roaring elbow, quickly follows up with a power bomb, then rolls over Homicide onto his stomach and, in one smooth move, locks on the Hangman’s Clutch. There’s nowhere to go for Homicide, and he has to tap. *** Winner: Hero (submission, Hangman’s Clutch) Quality: 83% Crowd: 77% Overall: 80% Overall show rating: 81% [ u]Thursday, January 22, 2009[/u][/b]: Email:1) Road agents -- Charles Taylor, Esq. and Hallowicked work pretty well together due to their similar styles. 2) Charles Taylor Esq. -- I think I should be higher up the card. [Agreed, welcome to the midcard.] 3) WWE Wednesday are trying to compete with us, but are being destroyed in the ratings. 4) We got a 5.48 rating for 'Unleashed', drawing 6416 for $256,640. 5) WWE got a 1.86 television rating for 'WWE Wednesday'. 6) IWA-PR got a 2.14 television rating for 'IWA-PR Wednesday'. PI -- 1% was gained. Total -- 77% Global. Friday, January 23, 2009:Email:1) TNA got a 5.09 television rating for 'TNA iMPACT!'. Saturday, January 24, 2009:Email:1) TNA got a 0.91 television rating for 'TNA Friday'. 2) CMLL got a 0.98 television rating for 'CMLL Friday'. 3) IWA-PR got a 1.21 television rating for 'High Impact'. Sunday, January 25, 2009:[/b] Email:1) HWA got a 0.74 television rating for 'Main Event TV'. 2 CMLL got a 1.61 television rating for 'CMLL Saturday'. 3) IWC got a 0.22 television rating for 'IWC Ignition'. Jed Shaffer ~The Crusade Of Cleansing is upon us!!!
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Post by Brain Of J on Apr 28, 2009 22:23:30 GMT -5
Preview for Throwdown, January 26, 2009:* The pay-per-view card has been updated! Please scroll below for details! * Three days ... three big events in a row ... and it all starts here, on The CW Network and Throwdown!!! - Edge has stalked and tormented Paul Burchill since Vendetta in November. Tonight, they'll finally go one-on-one. Edge will finally answer for his sneak attacks ... assuming he doesn't have another trick up his sleeve. - TJ Wilson and Chuck Taylor had a partnership, until JBL and MQS came with big money promises for Taylor. Tonight, Wilson is stepping up to the plate, facing MQS in a non-title match. Can Wilson make a huge splash here with a win over the Bold Future Championship, or is Wilson biting off more than he can chew? - Speaking of Charles Taylor Esq., he'll be defending his boss' title as a proxy again, in a rematch against Hallowicked. The masked mystery man lost only due to dirty tactics by Taylor. Was it a fluke, or can Taylor hold his own? - Claudio Castagnoli lost his shot for a spot in the fatal-four-way #1 contender's match thanks to interference from Arik Cannon. Tonight, they'll finally go one-on-one, after months of back-and-forth attacks! And Commissioner JJ Dillon has decided to put the last spot in the four-way on the line! - Our main event will be huge, and from a talent standpoint, you can't ask for a bigger match. But nothing about it will please the fans. Because Commissioner Dillon is flexing his muscle and putting six of the audience's favorites in one six-man tag match ... and on both sides, the deck is stacked. On one side, BJ Whitmer, Ruckus and Chris Hero will be partners. On the other side, it'll be Steve Corino, Eddie Kingston and Chris Sabin. Mistrust and long-simmering hatreds abound both across the ring, and within the teams themselves. It isn't enough to wonder who will win ... it's more appropriate to wonder if someone CAN win. - We read the internet and the forums. We hear the critical backlash. People are getting fed up with the lawlessness, the run-ins, the interference, the chaos ... and Commissioner JJ Dillon will be addressing the issue live on Throwdown. A major announcement is expected in regards to a crackdown on the situation in ROH. - Plus, we'll hear from Roderick Strong on if he'll accept the spot in the fatal-four-way, Bryan Danielson and Shawn Michaels will be in the building, and more! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ring Of Honor presents A New Level Live, on pay-per-view Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Triple Threat Theatre match for the ROH World Title: Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Nigel McGuinness vs. Steve Corino
Shawn Michaels makes his ROH debut! If Michaels wins, Danielson is out of the Rumble. Bryan Danielson vs. Shawn Michaels
For the ROH World Tag Team Titles: The Elite (c) vs. Chris Sabin & ?
Grudge match: BJ Whitmer vs. Adam Pearce
Grudge match: Chris Hero vs. Jimmy Jacobs
For the ROH Wrestler's Choice Championship: Homicide (c) vs. Ruckus
Four-corners survival match, winner faces the ROH World Champion on Unleashed!: Austin Aries vs. Roderick Strong? vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. winner of Cannon/Castagnoli
Murderdeathkill vs. La Raza vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. The CHIKArmy
Scott Lost vs. Larry Sweeney Jed Shaffer ~One show to go! And after that, the Rumble Royale!
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Post by Brain Of J on May 6, 2009 20:25:04 GMT -5
[/u]Monday, January 26, 2009:[/b][/u] Email:1) WWE's 'Royal Rumble' show was attended by 2280 people. 2) HWA's 'Cold As Ice' show was attended by 360 people. 3) CMLL got a 1.10 television rating for 'CMLL Sunday'. 4) WXW's 'Night Of Retribution' show was attended by 69 people. 5) ECCW's 'New Years Revolution' show was attended by 56 people. 6) WLW's 'WLW The Ego Has Landed' show was attended by 28 people. 7) NWA-S's 'Fatal Attraction' show was attended by 254 people. 8) IWC's 'IWC Deadly Game' show was attended by 3015 people. 9) SHI's 'SHI Global Warfare' show was attended by 32 people. 10) 21CW's '21CW Balls To The Wall' show was attended by 141 people. 11) Here is my weekly report on our battle with TNA. We are seen as having better workers, and this is causing fans to choose us over them. 12) CMLL have fallen to Cult level. PI -- 2% was lost. Total -- 75% Global. Results for Unleashed: “The Honor Guard’s three day Crusade of Cleansing begins tonight, 24 hours before Ring Of Honor presents a special Tuesday pay-per-view event called A New Level! Good evening, welcome to Throwdown, live on The CW Network! I’m Steven Manning, alongside Taz! Thank you for making Ring Of Honor the #1 wrestling promotion in the world!” “Bigger than any other company, anywhere! Ring Of Honor is the king, baby! And you’re gonna see why, in that very ring, tonight!” “A lot of action tonight, and let’s not waste any more time. Let’s send it to the ring for our first contest, a championship defense!” 1st segment, Bold Future Championship match: Charles Taylor Esq. (proxy champion) w/Michael Quackenbush Spillane vs. Hallowicked [/center] Once again, Taylor and Hallowicked have a decent match, and Hallowicked gives Taylor more than he bargains for. From the corner, MQS berates Taylor for not taking shortcuts to end the match faster. In the end, Taylor gets the job done, this time clean as a whistle, but MQS still comes in the ring and reads Taylor the riot act. ***1/4 Winner: Taylor (pinfall, Omega Driver) Quality: 88% Crowd: 63% Overall: 75% 2nd segment: Michael Quackenbush Spillane vs. TJ Wilson “If you can’t take care of a scrub like that, maybe you’re not the junior associate I thought you were, boy!” yells MQS. “Watch and learn, and maybe maybe, I’ll just think about keeping you on in The Industrial Revolution!” Wilson comes out, and much to MQS’ chagrin, gives the businessman more than he bargained for, stretching MQS to almost ten minutes. At one point, MQS throws Wilson to the outside, but Wilson backs off, and MQS has a conniption fit. Nevertheless, MQS exploits some of the youngster’s exuberance and anger and gets the pinfall. ***1/4 Winner: MQS (pinfall, Quackendriver II) Quality: 88% Crowd: 62% Overall: 75% 3rd segment [/center] “I understand we now have a videotape message from Roderick Strong and Lacey,” says Steven Manning. A video fades in, with Lacey –just Lacey, no Roderick Strong—sitting on a couch in a nice home, her eyes covered by dark glasses. “Good evening, Ring Of Honor fans,” she says. “Tomorrow night, there is a fantastic opportunity available for four men, with a shot at the Ring Of Honor World Champion on the line in a four-corners survival match. It is an opportunity many fight for, few earn, and even fewer are able to turn into a success.” Lacey sighs. “Sadly, tomorrow, Roderick Strong won’t be pursuing that opportunity. Despite the generosity of Commissioner Dillon to put him in the match, Roderick is firm in his decision to remain on indefinite hiatus. I can’t say I’m happy with his decision, but that’s neither here nor there. His decision is final, and I must respect that. I’m sure many of you will be disappointed, but this is what he believes he has to do, so please support him. “However, he was granted another privilege, and that is to nominate a replacement for himself in the four-corners match, and tonight, I am pleased to announce that he has selected ‘Diamond’ Joey Ryan. Roderick has been impressed with the way Ryan has evolved as a competitor, and believes he could be the man to take Roderick’s place, both in the match and in the locker room. We wish Joey the best of luck and will be watching from home, live on pay-per-view tomorrow.” Lacey takes a deep breath and hangs her head for a few seconds. “About two months ago, Jimmy Jacobs’ one cowardly act changed three lives forever. A friendship was destroyed, a light of love was extinguished, a man’s sanity was taken from him … and three careers were derailed. Austin, I don’t think he’ll ever be a wrestler again; all he sees is pain, and he wants to share it with the world. Roderick … I don’t know think even knows what he plans on doing.” Lacey looks up, and even though her damaged eyes are obscured, her gaze can be felt as powerful as a sledgehammer. “But I won’t let fear or indecision paralyze me. The world of professional wrestling is no place for someone with my disability, but there is plenty left I can do in this world. On the 31st of this month, my contract with Ring Of Honor comes to an end, and I won’t be renewing it. I want to go back to college, and I want to not only overcome my disability, but find a way to use it to make the world a better place. I want to turn that horrific moment into as much a positive as I can. So, in two days, Roderick is going to bring me to Unleashed, so I can say goodbye to the fans of Ring Of Honor, the greatest fans in the history of wrestling.” Quality: Crowd: Overall: 70% 4th segment: Jigsaw vs. Conrad Kennedy III vs. Scott Lost, triple threat match [/center] Before the timekeeper can ring the bell, Adam Pearce comes out. “On behalf of the office of the Commissioner of Ring Of Honor, allow me to introduce to you the fourth participant in this match.” “Fourth?” say Taz and Manning simultaneously. “The fourth participant, and now, a full-time and exclusive member of The Honor Guard and Ring Of Honor roster … former ROH Pure Champion, JAY LETHAL!!!” Lethal comes out, exchanging handshakes with Pearce, before heading to the ring with a cool persona. Gone is any trace of “Black Machismo”; he is an athlete first and foremost, and he proceeds to show it off in the match, now a four-corners survival match. Lethal dominates the match, getting the most fight from Lost … but Lost and CK3 start to get personal, and Lethal is able to turn that into the winning opportunity on Jigsaw. ** Winner: Lethal (pinfall, on Jigsaw, Lethal Injection) Quality: 78% Crowd: 60% Overall: 69% 5th segment “Okay, right now, we have a special video package,“ Steven Manning begins to say, “looking back at--” His voice cuts off as he cups his ear. “What? Quick! Switch to backstage! Switch, now!” The shot jumps to backstage, where Nigel McGuinness, a steel chair in his hand, is standing over Steve Corino. Authorities rush up, but McGuinness scares them away by threatening them with the chair. “Run your mouth now, Corino,” says McGuinness. “You’ll not stand in the way of my destiny, my birthright! In fact … standing may be something you’ll find you can’t do by the end of the night.” McGuinness squats, wraps the chair around Corino’s ankle and grins as he stands up. Voices around him beg, plead, warn him not to go through with it, but McGuinness hears none of it. He jumps and comes down, full force, shooting his legs down like a shotgun onto the chair, twisting Corino’s ankle in unnatural ways. McGuinness Pillmanizes Corino’s ankle thirce more. Corino’s screams echo in the hallways in horrific ways. Satisfied with himself and the damage done, McGuinness walks away, laughing, while medics come to check on Corino. Quality: Crowd: Overall: 96% Notes: Steve Corino gained overness from this segment. Nigel McGuinness gained overness from this segment.
6th segment: “Diamond” Joey Ryan vs. William Hunter Johnston [/center] “Joey Ryan is suddenly on the doorstep of the opportunity of a lifetime,” says Manning, “but before he gets to tomorrow, he’s gotta survive Ring Of Honor’s loose cannon.” And “survive” is the right word, as while Johnston doesn’t wear the green and black mask anymore, he’s still mentally unbalanced, and still comes at Ryan like a crazy person. Still, Ryan fights like a champion and weathers Johnston’s unorthodox wrestling style. But the match goes off the rails when Austin Aries makes his way to the ring, holding a large lead pipe. Aries tosses Johnston out of the ring like a sack of potatoes, then clobbers Ryan. For a few moments, Aries stands over him silently, staring down at Ryan trying to catch his breath. Then Aries, his lip slightly snarled, says; “This is your warning, boy. Roderick Strong is not the company you want to keep if you value your life. Back out of A New Level, for your own good.” ***3/4 Winner: no contest (interference) Quality: 90% Crowd: 78% Overall: 84% 7th segment: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Arik Cannon [/center] As soon as Arik Cannon steps in the ring with Claudio Castagnoli, he hangs back, seemingly stalling for time. Castagnoli tries to press the moment, but Cannon ducks, counters, pulls away and just generally stone-walls. When Castagnoli comes running at Cannon in anger, Cannon drops out of the ring, grinning and tapping his temple. Castagnoli fumes, but from the corner, JJ Dillon yells at Castagnoli to stay in the ring and take the count-out victory. Instead, Shelton Benjamin hops the guard rail, and gets in Cannon’s face, jabbing a finger in Cannon’s chest, yelling about the attack on Unleashed that gave Benjamin the title shot through a disqualification. Cannon shoves Benjamin, and Benjamin responds with a stiff slap to the face, followed by some chops to the chest. The ref signals for the bell, and both Dillon and Castagnoli stand with their mouths open in huge O’s. As soon as the bell rings, Castagnoli and Benjamin stop, turn to look at Castagnoli and give him four middle fingers. Benjamin exchanges a handshake with Cannon and is about to depart … … but Castagnoli drops down and runs full-speed into Cannon from behind, sandwiching Benjamin between Cannon and the guard rail. With both Cannon and Benjamin on the ground, Castagnoli, his eyes wild with rage, kicks off the top potion of the steps and lays Cannon out on them. He then grabs Benjamin, doubles him over, and with the crowd on their feet begging for him to stop, Castagnoli Ricola Bombs Benjamin onto Cannon, to the delight of Dillon. Castagnoli and Dillon walk away, satisfied with their revenge, as medics rush to ringside to check on Cannon, who is spitting up blood. ***3/4 Winner: Cannon (disqualification) Quality: 92% Crowd: 78% Overall: 85% 8th segment [/center] “Sexy Boy” starts pumping, ushering out Shawn Michaels to a thunderous ovation. After basking in an “HBK” chant, Michaels begins to speak in a humble tone. “I don’t mind telling you guys, I’m nervous,” he starts out. “Not having wrestling in a couple months doesn’t put me off. And wrestling Bryan Danielson isn’t scaring me so much. But wrestling for you guys, the toughest wrestling audience on Earth … I’m hoping I can live up to the challenge.” The crowd bursts into another chant, this one “you still got it”. Michaels humbly allows the chant to play out … … but instead, it morphs into boos, as Bryan Danielson steps out onto the stage. Danielson struts down to the ring, a huge grin on his face, and when he gets in the ring, he chuckles every time he tries to talk, even with the crowd booing him mercilessly. Finally, after numerous intentional teases and delays, Danielson starts in, a smile still on his face. “It’s funny. You and me. It’s funny, isn’t it?” Danielson pauses, looking at the confusion on Michaels’ face. “You, you’ve been in the business, what, twenty years? First WWE Grand Slam winner, two-time Royal Rumble winner, future Hall Of Famer … and me, your former student, just some guy in a promotion that used to run in armories and VFW halls. Two men on a collision course.” Danielson chuckles again. “You say you’re not scared, and maybe you’ve told that lie so many times you’ve convinced yourself it’s the truth. Not like you’re not one of the industry’s best liars. But, see, there’s a problem with all that.” “And what would that be?” Danielson loses all humor all of a sudden. “The fact is, Shawn, for two months now, you’ve approached our match without a shred of sincerity. You referee a couple matches –one of which you totally screw me in—you sit in the audience and watch like some kind of talent scout, you come out here week after week, show after show, and yammer on for what feels like hours.” Danielson gets up in Michaels’ face. “And that’s all you’ve done, Shawn. You come out here, and you go on about honor and teaching me a lesson, and all sorts of crap that sounds all good and noble—two traits that nobody would associate with Shawn Michaels—but when it comes down to it, you’ve been nothing but hot air and stalling. Who’s wrestled just about every week? Who works the house shows, night in and night out? Who’s trained non-stop for this … and who’s coasted on legacy the entire time?” Danielson moves back, but keeps up the verbal assault. “The fact is, Shawn, all you’ve done for weeks … is talk a good game. But I know what you’ve done since we signed our contract. Remember, Shawn, I know the same guys you do, and they talk. And they told me the cold, hard facts: you haven’t been into the dojos for training. You haven’t been working out. And that isn’t gonna fly here, Shawn. You don’t get to punch and kick and do a kip up and a superkick and call it a four-star classic here. This is Ring Of Honor. Jimmy Rave or Jimmy Jacobs, it don’t matter who it is, you gotta be better than your best, and that’s if you want to tread water. And you’re simply not there.” The smile returns to Danielson’s face. “And now, you’re out of time. Tomorrow’s the big day, Shawn. Master versus student. Young versus old. The past versus the future. All the time you’ve wasted, and now, you’re 24 hours from the biggest match of your career. The last match of your career. And you’re doing exactly what another broken down old man said someone should never do: you’re bringing a rock to a gunfight.” Danielson moves close enough to pat Michaels on the chest. “I want you to go home tonight. Go back to San Antonio. Think about calling in sick. You could be severely embarrassed tomorrow. And the Shawn Michaels I know won’t be able to mentally survive what’s going to happen tomorrow. Go home. Spend time with your wife and kids. Think about your career, and ask if you want to go out with your head held high, or if you wanna go out like Ric Flair did: looking like a broken down old man who couldn’t recognize the time to hang it up had come well before he realized it. Ask if you want your kids to grow up and see daddy’s last match, and it’s ol’ Uncle Bryan, beating the ever-loving hell out of you because you trained for it like a competitive video gamer instead of a professional wrestler.” Danielson steps up close one more time, looking Michaels dead in the eyes. “Ask yourself … do you have what it takes, not to keep up with me, but to defend yourself enough to walk away from the ring under your own power?” Danielson drops the microphone, turns away and starts to leave. Michaels’ fists ball, and he takes a step back, revving up for Sweet Chin Music. Danielson pauses at the ropes, smiles, and turns around in time to catch the kick. Danielson uses the leg to spin Michaels to the ground on his stomach, but as he tries to clamp on the triangle lock for his trapped MMA elbows, Michaels reverses out of it and tries to apply it himself. Danielson slips out of it, coming up behind Michaels, and goes for Cattle Mutilation, only for Michaels to maneuver out of it, end up behind Danielson, and goes for a trapped-arm crossface. Danielson gets out of that and tries for a simple headlock, but Michaels reacts too quick, and pulls Danielson down to the mat with an cross-legged armbar. Michaels holds it long enough for Danielson to feel a little pain, then releases, and rolls right back to a ready position, while Danielson scoots back, his eyes wide with horror. Michaels reaches for his discarded microphone. “And you have ask yourself two questions tonight, Bryan: one, is it possible maybe I did my training in secret? And when I taught you everything you know, did I teach you everything I know?” Michaels drops the microphone, rolls out of the ring and backs up the ramp, never taking his eyes off the very shocked Bryan Danielson. Quality: Crowd: Overall: 82% 9th segment: Paul Burchill vs. Edge [/center] The match kicks off in high gear, as Paul Burchill leaps over the top rope and crashes into Edge like a missile as the Rated-R Superstar is making his entrance. From there, it’s a knock-down, drag-out fight; for the first three minutes, Burchill introduces Edge to every surface, obstacle and object around ringside, pausing only to break the count. By the time Burchill rolls Edge into the ring, Edge’s head and body have bounced off virtually everything in sight, including a couple chairs held up by fans, and he’s been busted open (courtesy of meeting the ring bell up close). From there, Burchill systematically dismantles Edge with some of the most aggressive offense possible without crossing the lines of legality. But after another few minutes of Burchill absolutely dominating and punishing Edge – including two curb stomps and a punt to the head – the ref steps in to check on Edge’s condition. Burchill doesn’t like the intrusion and tries to push his way back in. The ref pushes him away, which is like a match to gasoline with the mental state of Burchill. The Ripper pushes the ref on his backside, and immediately the zebra pops up, berating Burchill and jabbing a finger in his chest. While this is going on, Edge crawls over to the nearest corner, pulls himself up and buries his face in the turnbuckle. Finally, the ref, having read Burchill the riot act and seeing that Edge has gotten to his feet, allows the match to continue. Burchill sees Edge slumped in the corner and charges; Edge, having turned around, is utterly defenseless, having been bloodied and beaten for six straight minutes … … but Edge side-steps, and uses his head to guide Burchill’s head into the turnbuckle Edge had exposed while he was “resting”. Burchill connects with a sickening hollow clonk!, and drops like an oak tree. Edge wastes no time making the cover, scores the pin, rolls out and stumbles to the back, groggy but still the winner, and still undefeated in ROH, while the ref tries to revive Burchill. ****1/4 Winner: Edge (exposed turnbuckle) Quality: 93% Crowd: 91% Overall: 92% 10th segment: Eddie Kingston, Steve Corino & Chris Sabin vs. BJ Whitmer, Ruckus & Chris Hero The team of Kingston/Corino/Sabin is introduced first, and right off the bat, there’s trouble, as Corino tries to explain what happened on Unleashed, while Kingston just tells Corino – whose hobble is very pronounced – to hold up his end of the match, and Sabin is left to stand in the middle, trying to keep them from coming to blows. Things are no better when the Whitmer/Hero/Ruckus team comes out; Whitmer and Hero won’t even look at each other, but Ruckus and Hero – old “friends” from CZW – have plenty to say to one another, most of it sending the censors running for the dump button. “This is just ridiculous,” says Manning as the ref tries to get the teams to work together long enough start the match. “These are the enemies of The Honor Guard, and they can’t even function on teams long enough to have a match? What hope does Ring Of Honor have to survive this Crusade Of Cleansing if these six men can’t cooperate long enough to have an honest six-man match without blood hatreds taking over?” “Whoever this architect is, he’s done a hell of a job,” says Taz. “Ring Of Honor’s gonna blow up by itself before he ever has to do a thing if this keeps going, and The Honor Guard’s gonna be the only guys standing!” Finally, Sabin and Ruckus volunteer to start off the match, just to silence the bickering … except that leaves pairs of men who despise each other trapped together on the apron in their corners. But before they can lock up, the entire Honor Guard pours out of the back and fans out on the apron, watching with huge smiles. Dillon gestures for Sabin and Ruckus to get on with it, and so they do, a high-flyer versus a hybrid MMA-wrestler. They put on a good back-and-forth match, all clean and above board for a few minutes … until Sabin tags out to Kingston. The champ flashes a look of irritation at Sabin for tagging him in against his old BLKOUT running buddy, but, with reluctance, steps in the ring. Ruckus and Kingston talk for a bit before Ruckus decides to tag out to Hero. Like Kingston did to Sabin, Hero sends a death-glare at Ruckus, who responds with some pretty blue language. Once Hero and Kingston are in the ring together, the match goes from the spirited exhibition of Sabin/Ruckus to a super-stiff slugfest. This continues for a couple minutes, until Kingston nails a spinning backfist that sends Hero almost stumbling out of the ring. Quickly, Hero tags out to Whitmer, and the fight begins anew. When Kingston is in jeopardy, he tags out to Corino, and the two old rivals come face to face for a few seconds before degenerating into a fistfight. Finally, the match starts to settle into a groove, as Whitmer goes after the weak point of Corino’s ankle … but he never tags out, either, much to the frustration of Ruckus (Hero couldn’t care less, judged by him turning his back on the match and leaning on the turnbuckle). Finally, after a protracted offensive volley, Corino hits a superkick out of nowhere – kicking with his bad foot, which makes Corino collapse into screaming pain on the mat – that stops Whitmer in his tracks. Corino crawls for the tag, but never makes it, as Nigel McGuinness and The Elite come down and pull Sabin and Kingston off the ring apron. The ref goes for the bell, but Dillon runs in and clobbers the ref from behind, and with that, the entire Honor Guard floods the ring and overwhelms everyone in the ring. One by one, the six men are dissected by the Guard, taking finishers, chair shots and driven through tables. After a couple minutes of punishment, Dillon orders Kingston laid out and has Ruckus laid on him. Dillon makes the three count and, under threat of termination, orders the timekeeper to ring the bell and making the pinfall official. Then, Dillon commands security to come out and back up the Guard in assisting with “trash disposal”, ordering the six men be thrown out of the arena so he can make his announcements after the commercial break in peace. One by one, the unconscious bodies of Whitmer, Kingston, Hero, Corino, Sabin and Ruckus are carried from ringside behind the curtain. ***1/2 Winners: Ruckus (pinfall, over Kingston, damage too numerous to summarize) Quality: 86% Crowd: 85% Overall: 8% 11th segment When Throwdown comes back from commercial, only Commissioner Dillon is in the ring, beaming with pride. “Today marks the dawn of a new era in professional wrestling and for Ring Of Honor!” he announces boastfully. “No stable in professional wrestling’s long history has ever achieved in such short order what The Honor Guard has done; not the Four Horsemen, not the nWo, not D-Generation X, nobody! The Honor Guard have taken their rightful place in guiding the destiny and shaping the future of this promotion, and the purging of the poisons of this company has begun in earnest!” The crowd is vociferous in their disapproval, but Dillon shrugs it off. “There are growing pains, yes, that’s bound to happen. People aren’t used to change. But after these next few shows are behind us, and men like Steve Corino and Eddie Kingston are gone, you will all see how much better this company is for our efforts!” Dillon clears his throat and dodges a well-thrown cup of soda before continuing. “Now, these next two days will be crucial to our success; two of our championships are on the line tomorrow, and we seek a third, the greatest prize of all. Wedneday is Ring Of Honor’s first-ever Rumble Royale. There are many opportunities for our enemy to throw a wrench into our machinery, but by standing together – something the outsider plague is incapable of doing – we shall be victorious, and we shall run our enemies back to the vermin-ridden hellholes they came from! We shall purge them from our ranks, and we shall replenish with our prodigal sons, men like Xavier, and Trent Acid, and Dan Maff, and Doug Williams, Paul London, Special K, the Havana Pitbulls, the Ring Crew Express and James Gibson! We shall spare no expense to bring home our captive brothers, and as the name of tomorrow’s event states, we shall take this company to a new level!” Dillon takes a deep breath, his face growing somber. “Sadly, though, there may have to be some harsh actions taken, actions that prove unpopular. We’ve finally drawn in Alex Shelley, but Roderick Strong remains on the fence; the time will come for him to decide. Men like Mark Briscoe and Colt Cabana have decisions to make about their post-injury career in ROH. There is room for Austin Aries among our ranks, but he will have to get his mess sorted out before we can consider it.” The crowd starts to chant for BJ Whitmer, something which brings a chuckle to Dillon. “Yes, we haven’t forgotten about Mr. Whitmer. If he’s willing to stop this nonsense of his and tow the party line, of course we’d welcome him into our rank and file again!” Suddenly, the crowd breaks into a rousing cheer, as Whitmer comes through the curtain, limping slightly, blood on his forehead and a two-by-four in his hand. Dillon turns sheet white when he sees Whitmer approaching. “W-w-what … how did … who let … what do you …” Whitmer slides in the ring and approaches Dillon like a robot, his face twisted with raw hatred, backing Dillon into a corner. “I’m going to break you and The Honor Guard,” growls Whitmer through gritted teeth. “Every single one of them … Jimmy Rave, Jay Lethal, Claudio, Nigel, Adam, all of you. One by one, I’m gonna take a pound of flesh out of your ass for every sin you’ve committed. It’s gonna be one hell of a diet, JJ.” Dillon forces himself to show some bravado. “Y-you can’t beat us, redneck! You’re just one man, and one incredibly stupid man at that! You can’t even get along with the guys who might be able to help you! You’re dead already, BJ, and you’re just too stupid to lay down! You couldn’t even beat Chris Hero, so why should a group of our stature be afraid of you? Do yourself a favor and take your place licking my bootheel, before you push past the point of no return. You don’t want the full force of my army breathing down your neck!” Whitmer gets nose to nose with Dillon; if Whitmer heard anything Dillon said, he doesn’t show it. “Mark my words, fat man: you and your friends are dead. Get involved with my match tomorrow …” Whitmer holds up the two-by-four. Dillon responds by spitting in Whitmer’s face … and as soon as the spittle hits Whitmer’s face, Dillon’s mouth drops in an O. Whitmer grabs a handful of hair, drags Dillon into the middle of the ring, forces him down and spikes him dead with a piledriver. He gets off a second one before security runs out and stops everything. Whitmer volunteers his wrists, and he is led away in handcuffs as medics put Dillon on a stretcher and haul him away. Throwdown fades to black on Whitmer being taken away in the cop car, a big smile on his face. Quality: Crowd: Overall: 72% Notes: J.J. Dillon lost overness from this segment. Overall show rating: 79% Jed Shaffer ~A NEW LEVEL IS NEXT!!!
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