Danielson/Hero rewatch

This is a tough one. The beginning was ok, but went too long. The middle is still awesome wit the arm work and Dragon’s selling was great. The ending was fine, but it is just that Dragon’s victory came off as pretty easy. It wasn’t as great as I thought it would be, but this match is just barely good enough to reach the list. Yes.

Styles/Sydal rewatch

This match works because of Sydal’s counters and escapes. Sydal’s neck selling however, is still throwing me off. It is not that it wasn’t acknowledged, because he was selling his neck. It’s just that it didn’t seem to hamper him. Other then that, everything was fine for what it was. It goes the right amount of time and AJ kicked ass in it. List.

Bryan Danielson vs. Homicide. Final Battle 2006 12/23/06

This was pretty incredible. Just really well built from beginning to end with the story of Danielson’s reign and Homicide coming together pretty seamlessly. The selling of each one’s arms was outstanding as well. Top 3 at least. Now on to the rewatches.

Austin Aries, Roderick Strong & Delirious vs. CIMA, Shingo & Matt Sydal. Final Battle 2006 12/23/06

This match works for its beginning and ending, but the middle went too long and there really wasn’t anything of note from it. From first watch, this did not have the issues that the DG 6-mans from March had. I feel there is enough stuff to give this another chance. Rewatch.

Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal VS CIMA & Shingo International Challenge 12/22/06

It was good. The match seemed to have direction in it with Blood Generation going after Sydal’s leg. Weirdly Sydal doesn’t really do a good job of selling the leg. Finishing stretch was fine, but was kind of back and forth with the lack of any type of selling. I’ve seen worse, but I just can’t do it. No.

Delirious, Colt Cabana, Nigel McGuinness & BJ Whitmer vs Bryan Danielson, Jimmy Rave, Shingo & Jimmy Jacobs Elimination Match The Chicago Spectacular Night 2 12/9/06

I liked this. Highlighted all the feuds going on and didn’t really have any bad eliminations. I do think the 2 on 1 could have been cut by a couple minutes. Other then that I can’t complain too much. Rewatch.

Jay Briscoe vs. Davey Richards. Chicago Spectacular Night 2 12/9/06

Good, but kind of by-the-numbers. Perfectly fine for a storyless singles match, but not something you need to go out of your way for. No.

Adam Pearce vs Homicide Steel Cage Match Chicago Spectacular Night 2 12/9/06

Good match, but way too back and forth. It at least had a sense of urgency and both at least wanted to kill the other. However, the heat wasn’t there because people don’t really care about Pearce and the ending just sort of happened. It was better then I thought it would be, but I still have to say no.

Samoa Joe vs. Bryan Danielson Steel Cage Match Chicago Spectacular Night 1 12/8/06

This match was worked like half a hate filled match and half a regular title match. To the match’s credit, both halves were good. It’s just that it is a steel cage match and for a steel cage match, the match lacked urgency. I keep waiting for Joe to really lay the asskicking in on Dragon like he would against KENTA, but it has felt like throughout the second half of the year and here that he is going through the motions. This match is good, but with the wrestlers involved in this match and feud, I was expecting more. No.

Austin Aries & Roderick Strong VS Shingo & Matt Sydal Chicago Spectacular Night 1 12/8/06

It was OK. Took way too long to get going and even then I just didn’t care anymore. It looked good on paper, but was disappointing in the end. No.

Matt Cross VS Christopher Daniels VS BJ Whitmer VS Davey Richards Chicago Spectacular Night 1 12/8/06

For what it looked like on paper, this was good. Has the usual fun spots that these mathes have, it just doesn’t really have the story or anything blowaway that makes me think that this would be more then just fun. No.

Briscoes vs Homicide & Samoa Joe Falls Count Anywhere Elimination Street Fight Dethroned 11/25/06

Good, but I was expected much more. Hard to really call this a Falls Count Anywhere match or an Elimnation match when they really didn’t bother to highlight it. I was also expecting the match to have more hate, and thus be more brutal because it was a feud ender. I just wasn’t feeling this which has been the trend for the last third of 06. No.

Davey Richards vs Austin Aries Dethroned 11/25/06

Very good match. Aries carried the match with his selling of the arm similar to his match against Jay Briscoe, but Davey didn’t really embarrass himself either. What did suck however was the crowd heat. If it was better, I would be giving it more accolades. Still, it is the best match I’ve seen in a while and is on the rewatch list.

Kings of Wrestling vs. Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal Dethroned 11/25/06

It was fine, but I really have to question why Daniels was the FIP. Hell, I have to question that control section on Daniels by the KOW. I like the KOW antics, but I keep expecting more from them like in the GBH match against Gen Next. Fun at points, but I’ve seen these types of “no story” worked better earlier on in the year that I could let this off the list. No.

Jimmy Jacobs vs. BJ Whitmer Dethroned 11/25/06

It was good, but not the underrated match I was led to believe. Still felt like a wrestling match disguised as a fight. I think it needed less time and more chaos in order to really be called a fight. No.

Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal VS Davey Richards & Delirious Black Friday Fallout 11/24/06

Again I’m liking these Davey tag matches more then I probably should be. Probably could have been shortened, and it’s hard to say if this will hold up on rewatch. I’m sorry if this is coming off as redundant, but I’m running out of things to say about these Davey tags. They are fun safe matches that are not cream of the crop material because there is no match that really differentiates from one another. But I did like and will give it a rewatch.

KENTA vs. Matt Sydal The Bitter End 11/04/06

I really liked this. KENTA kicked Sydal’s ass and Sydal sold the asskicking like a million bucks. Plus, it didn’t go ridiculously long so it was nice and tight. I don’t think it is best of the best, but I dug this match plenty. Rewatch.

Kings of Wrestling vs Austin Aries & Roderick Strong The Bitter End 11/04/06

Good match but I can’t help but think if you brought the best elements of this match and the GBH match, it would be something worth rewatching. I saw it as the GBH match was a better match for the KOW, while this match was a better Gen Next match. Started off well, but they just were giving me nothing to work with. If you are going to give me nothing, then you better do it faster then other spotfests. Sadly, no.

Austin Aries & Roderick Strong vs KENTA & Davey Richards. Honor Reclaims Boston 11/3/06

Tough call. It is one of those spotfest tags with no story and a lot of restholds. Still this doesn’t really do anything to really irritate me. KENTA ruled, and everybody else was alright. I’ve seen worser matches in October so I don’t really feel bad about giving this a rewatch.

Bryan Danielson vs Delirious Honor Reclaims Boston 11/3/06

I feel this is the best match these two have had. The beginning was actually pretty brisk, however I feel the match was hurt by it going too long and the crowd not caring. But, for some reason, I’m going to show remorse for this match and give it one more shot. Rewatch.

Samoa Joe vs. Bryan Danielson No DQ Irresistable Forces 10/28/06

This is non-title. I liked parts of this match, but man was Joe going through the motions. Joe wasn’t treating this as a hate filled feud and he didn’t really make much of an effort to sell the arm. The crowd was pretty lukewarm although I don’t blame them because with the exception of the use of the belt at the end, this really didn’t feel like a No DQ match. So there nothing to really go out of your way for in October 06 ROH. No.

Jay Briscoe vs Matt Sydal Irresistible Forces 10/28/06

Better then the last match, but it is too by-the-numbers. It was also a bit to no-selly at points. Good match, but nothing more. No.

Matt Sydal vs Delirious Suffocation 10/27/06

This wouldn’t fuckin end. It had a good beginning with there being some good comedy, but neither were in top form in this match. Just no heat and had no right going 25 minutes. Skip.

Jay & Mark Briscoe vs Homicide & Samoa Joe Streetfight Motor City Madness 10/7/06

Flawed match. Very fun match at points, but there were issues. One issue, they decide to have a regular tag match for the first 5 minutes. So dumb. They finally street fight and it is really good. However, the selling just wasn’t good. Especially the final 5 minutes where Joe got taken out. Homicide and the Briscoes were put through tables at points, but none of it was sold at all. I probably could have put this on my rewatch list, if only they didn’t waste my time in the first 5 minutes. As is, there just isn’t enough good to justify doing that. Slight no.

Bryan Danielson vs. Austin Aries Motor City Madness 10/7/06

Out of 4 ROH matches, this is the 3rd best match up between these two. Aries back was worked over which was OK, was sold OK, but really didn’t matter in the end. The end was definatly the best part, but this matchup has been way better in the past. No.

Austin Aries vs Matt Sydal vs Jay Briscoe vs Mark Briscoe vs Delirious Elimination Survival of the Fittest 10/6/06

This was good. A million times better then 05 finals, although I feel that time could have benn shaved from it. The issue is that it took a while to get going. The beginning stunk with Sydal/Delirious matwork which I felt really didn’t belong there. The middle got better with Delirious and Sydal deciding to work together to eliminate the Briscoes. The end was really fun with the finisher kickouts and Delirious finally pulling it off. This has good ideas, but from beginning to end, this match was just good. No.

Bryan Danielson vs KENTA Glory by Honor 5 Night 2 9/16/06

Definatly very good at the least. They had a consistent story with KENTA kicking at Dragon’s legit injured arm and going after it all match. Danielson sold well, although I was way more impressed with him fighting with only one arm. Still this went about 33 minutes and Danielson’s figure four work could have been dropped along with the fighting spirit stuff. I don’t think it’s perfect, but it has held up reasonably well. Rewatch.

Naomichi Marufuji vs. Nigel McGuiness Glory By Honor V Night 2 9/16/06

It was better then I thought it would be. I still wouldn’t recommend it, but it was good in a brainless way. Nigel was carrying this with his leg selling and the eventual work on Marafuji’s arm. Marufuji did sucky leg work, actually made somewhat of an effort to sell the arm which I’m surprised he’s capable of, and with the exception of his superkicks and a body punch, had some really shitty strikes. But nevermind the first 2/3rds why don’t we hit finishers? So yeah, doesn’t work for me.

Chris Hero & Claudio Castagnoli vs. Austin Aries & Roderick Strong Glory By Honor V Night 2 9/16/06

There was just something off about this match. I understand what they were doing, but I have seen it done better. KOW had good ribwork and had entertaining schtick, but for some reason it wasn’t mixing well in this match. Aries selling, yet again, left a lot to be desired. So I’m glad Gen Next lost the belts, but this match doesn’t work for me. No.

KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji vs. Jay & Mark Briscoe Glory By Honor V Night 1 9/15/06

Pretty unremarkable until the end, but it was too little too late. Too much half-assed no selling and back and forth. At least in other Briscoes matches in 06, the selling wasn’t bad and there wasn’t really any back and forth. No.

Samoa Joe vs. Roderick Strong Glory By Honor V Night 1 9/15/06

I liked it. The avoiding of the chops was fun, and the ending with Joe’s selling and the top rope DVD was good shit. Joe was pretty methodical during the middle. It is better then most and deserves a rewatch.