ROH 2K8: It Return'eth ... For the last time!

ROH: Glory by Honor VII; Night 1 (September 12th; Manhattan, NY)

-Jimmy Rave came to the ring to set up the show. He would talk about is ROH World title shot, as well as the person that attacked him during intermission at Revolution: Beginning. Before he could go any further, Morishima hit the ring and their World Title match started, kicking Glory by Honor VII Off with bang.

ROH World Title: Takeshi Morishima © def. Jimmy Rave
Very physical matchup between these two; Morishima dominated for the most part however Rave was given every opportunity to impress. Rave would survive a vicious Morishima onslaught and even came close to victory with that move formerly known as Ghanarhea and the Heel Hook. It would not be his night however as Morishima would alter counter a Pedigree attempt, connect with a Lariat and finish Rave off with the Backdrop Driver.

The Briscoe’s def. The Osirian Portal
The Osirian Portal were given another look in ROH with this match, they tried all of their usual tactics however they would not work against the rough and tough Briscoe Brothers. Amasis and Ophidian would attempt the Snake Charmer on Mark, his response was a series of throat thrusts to Ophidian and a Superkick for Amasis. The Portal would pick it up later on and Ophidian nearly surprised Jay with a rolling Prawn hold for a close near fall. Similarly, Amasis would connect with the Twist of Funk for a near fall of his own. However The Briscoe’s, as you’d expect walked away victors, connecting with the Springboard Doomsday Device.

Delirious def. Claudio Castagnoli w/Larry Sweeney
Claudio Castagnoli looked to continue his winning ways against the man that has outwrestled him and his Kings of Wrestling partner Chris Hero as of late. In the early going Castagnoli fared far better than he has in recent weeks however things would soon take an abrupt turn and it would be Delirious walking away with victory, following a Panic Attack and Shadows over Hell.

-After the match, Claudio Castagnoli had seemingly reached the end of his tether. He delivered a Bicycle kick to Delirious as Sweeney cheered him on. Eventually Hero joined the assault until Hallowicked and Jigsaw made the save. Eddie Kingston would soon join the fray beginning the schedule Four Corner Survival Match.

Four Corner Survival: Eddie Kingston def. Jigsaw, Hallowicked & Chris Hero w/ Larry Sweeney
Hero has seemingly pissed everyone off in this match at some point, and it showed as all of the other participants went to work on him. The match would gradually settle into a more tag like formula with Kingston and Hero paring up. Their partnership would not last long however as Kingston turned on Hero only minutes later. Hallowicked and Jigsaw would work together throughout and both men nearly took victory, with the Graveyard Smash and Jig N’ Tonic respectively. It would be Kingston’s night however as he laid Jigsaw out with a brutal Spinning Backfist.

--Intermission--

-Steen, Generico, Austin Aries & Mike Quackenbush were backstage. All four men made it clear they’re going to right the wrongs done by Davey Richards and his Revolution.

--End Intermission--

Grudge Match: Jimmy Jacobs & BJ Whitmer def. Bryan Danielson & Tyler Black
Tyler Black and Bryan Danielson charged to the ring to start the match and the two teams immediately began brawling. Things did not slow at all and continued to escalate as they made they way into the crowd. Tyler Black and Jimmy Jacobs brawled all over the building as Whitmer and Danielson eventually made it back to the ring. Danielson would take Whitmer down with a huge running knee to the face before connecting with repeated elbow strikes to the side of Whitmer’s head. Jacobs would make the save having dispatched of Tyler in the crowd. Momentarily he and Whitmer would double team Danielson until Black hit the ring. He cleaned house on Jacobs and Whitmer at looked set to pick up the victory after the Paroxysm. He headed up top for the Phoenix splash however Jacobs cut him off, pushing him from his perch into the rails below. As the ref checked on Black’s condition, Jacobs would once again pull out the chain used in the Dog Collar match, using it on Danielson. This would be enough to pick up the victory.

-After the match, Jacobs continued his assault, hammering away at Danielson with the chain. Whitmer and Jacobs beat down Dragon before Jacobs got on the microphone. Jacobs begged Lacey to come out and throw in the towel like she did at Death Before Dishonor. Lacey would not show however a recovered Tyler Black would enter the ring. He ran off Jacobs and Whitmer before telling Jacobs he’ll see him tomorrow night.

Special Attraction Match: Nigel McGuinness def. Go Shiozaki
Really good, hard hitting match here; story of the match was pretty much the chop vs. the lariat. Go would go after Nigel with chops, trying to wear him down whilst McGuinness would wipe Shiozaki out with Lariat after Lariat. Go refused to stay down and came close to victory following a German Suplex Hold. However the Lariat would win out eventually, after Go delivered a huge chop to Nigel, McGuiness would seesaw in the ropes before exploding back at Go with the Jawbreaker.

Fight without Honor: The Revolution def. Austin Aries & Mike Quackenbush
Brent Albright and Roderick Strong represented The Revolution here, in a match very similar to the early contest between black, Danielson, Whitmer & Jacobs. These two teams brawled around ringside earlier where Strong attempted to replicate the Gibson Driver onto the guard rails spot with Quack. Aries would make the save this time and gain the upper hand for long. He did not keep it for long as Albright destroyed both opponents like the beast he is. This allowed The Revolution some time to re-arrange the furniture, setting up tables at ringside and introducing steel chairs into the ring. Strong set up a pair of chairs, back to back before driving Quackenbush back first across it with the a back breaker. Quack was the Awesome bombed from inside the ring to tables on the outside by Albright, effectively taking him out of the matchup. Aries thought bravely and even came close to victory after a Brainbuster on Strong. However The Revolution would once again get stand tall, following an Albright Half Nelson Suplex.

ROH World Tag Team Titles: El Generico & Kevin Steen def. The Revolution ©
El Generico & Kevin Steen gave Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards the match of their lives here. Steenerico just absolutely refused to lose and it made for an extremely exciting affair that the fans were on their feet for. These four men busted out nearly every move in their arsenal to keep the other day, and both times came excruciatingly close only for advisories to kick out. For the most part of the matchup, Davey and Edwards would work over Steen’s knee taking him out of commission leaving Generico to go it alone. Generico came out of this looking like an absolute star, just refusing to stay down. Edwards connected with the 2K1 Bomb, Generico kicked out; Davey hit the DR Driver, to no avail. Eventually, The Revolution became frustrated and elected to try and cheat their way to victory. Davey retrieved one of the ROH World Tag Team Title belts and prepared to use it, however Aries would run in and prevent it. Austin would take the belt and level Richards with it himself. Aries followed up with a Punt/Brainbuster combination, setting Richards up for the Swanton/Frog splash combination by Generico & Steen for the victory.

-After the match, Steen & Generico celebrated with their titles.