Jimmy Rave vs. Matt Sydal ROH The Final Showdown 5/13/05

Good solid match. Rave had some nice midsection work Sydal was alright with the selling, but it feels like something’s off with it. Like it feels like he hits all of his moves way too easily at times. Rave kicking out of the moonsault belly to belly tipped the scales in favor of No.

Jimmy Jacobs/BJ Whitmer vs. CM Punk/Ace Steel ROH The Final Showdown 5/13/05

I may be overrating this, but this was pretty damn good. The pre-match scuffle between BJ and the SCS was useless, considering nothing came from it. The beginning was your usual headlock and head scissor fare, but it got better in the middle and end. JesHuss win actually came off as organic without any of the no selling. The match is not deep in story, but there is enough there where I can barely put on the list. #33.

CM Punk vs. Jimmy Rave ROH 3rd Anniversary Celebration Part 3 2/26/05

Except for the bootlace hiding, this did nothing for me. I thought this should have been shortened with Rave controlling from the get go without any control from Punk. It is not that Punk is bad, but it felt like he went through the motions in his control section. At least in the cage match, when Punk was going through the motions, it was at least under the guise that Nana wouldn’t interfere. It just doesn’t work here. No.

Bryan Danielson vs. Homicide (Falls Count Anywhere) ROH 3rd Anniversary Celebration Part 3 2/26/05

This was … amusing. It isn’t as bad as some people may say, but seriously, small packages and backslides on the floor in a match that I thought was going to be hate filled. What really kills the match for me is how back and forth it was. No.

Bryan Danielson vs. Homicide (Taped Fist) ROH 3rd Anniversary Celebration Part 1 2/19/05

On the low end for this rivalry. It was still fun when they were fighting in the crowd, but when they were in the ring, the match kind of dragged. Only for those who really need to see the entire Danielson/Homicide rivalry. No.

CM Punk vs. Spanky ROH 3rd Anniversary Celebration Part 1 2/19/05

Good, I guess. Good leg selling from Punk and even Spanky was fine selling the neck. It’s just that the match was kind of basic with nothing really standing out as being memorable. I also felt there was no momentum to the match at points because of Punk not getting any move off because his leg was hurt. I understand it was the story, but it got repetitive after a while. No.

Alex Shelley vs. Jimmy Jacobs ROH 3rd Anniversary Celebration Part 1 2/19/05

Weird match. It looked like they were trying to do this grudge match, but the crowd was just quiet throughout it. It’s a shame because they was some good stuff in the beginning and then it became a no selling clinic to pop the crowd and I just don’t dig those types of matches. No.

Austin Aries vs. Colt Cabana ROH It All Begins 1/15/05

Better match then Scramble Cage Melee but only good. It got off to a nice start, but Colt was just coming back way too quickly at points. The match just got worse from there with the somewhat clever ending. Still, I’m not in love with it. No.

Samoa Joe vs. Nigel McGuinness ROH It All Begins 1/15/05

This was pretty damn good. Every bit as good as there encounter at “The Future is Now”. Nigel tries to neutralize Joe with the cravat until Joe eventually uses his strikes to take control. Nigel eventually fires up and ended up being better then I thought it would be. The crowd sort of hurt the match because they didn’t buy the upset happening. There were also two bad set-ups for moves down the stretch. One with Joe deliberately going to the top rope for the Tower of London, and Nigel doing the headstand in the corner for a third time and predictably being taken out. This match is the tighter of the two and is going on the list. #16.

Bryan Danielson vs. Low Ki ROH Final Battle 2004 12/26/04

This was a good match, but disappointing considering who was involved. Danielson was pretty awesome while Ki wasn’t bad but his control section on Danielson’s arm left a lot to be desired. Danielson took control and fucked Ki shit up just as much as he did Homicide last show. It was just too bad there weren’t enough moments like that. No.

I have watched all the missing matches minus the Weekend of Thunder shows. I may have to get back to that later. Here is the revamped list for ROH 04.

1. ROH Title Cage Match Samoa Joe vs. Jay Briscoe ROH At Our Best 3/13/04
2. ROH Title Match Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk ROH Joe vs. Punk II 10/16/04
3. ROH Title Match Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk ROH World Title Classic 6/12/04
4. ROH Title Match Samoa Joe vs. Low Ki vs. Dan Maff vs. BJ Whitmer ROH Second Anniversary Show 2/14/04
5. Tag Titles Match Briscoe Bros. vs. CM Punk & Colt Cabana ROH Reborn Stage 2 4/24/04
6. I Quit Match Alex Shelley vs. Jimmy Jacobs ROH Joe vs. Punk II 10/16/04
7. 2/3 Falls Match Austin Aries vs. Bryan Danielson ROH Testing the Limit 8/7/04
8. Homicide vs. Bryan Danielson ROH Reborn Stage 2 4/24/04
9. Pure Title Match Finals Alex Shelley vs Doug Williams ROH Reborn Completion 7/17/04
10. ROH Title Match Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk ROH All Star Extravaganza II 12/4/04
11. ROH Title Match Samoa Joe vs. Austin Aries ROH Final Battle 2004 12/26/04
12. Alex Shelley, Austin Aries, Roderick Strong, & Jack Evans vs. Briscoe Bros., Jimmy Rave, & John Walters ROH Generation Next 5/22/04
13. Alex Shelley, Austin Aries, & Roderick Strong vs. Jimmy Rave, John Walters, & Matt Stryker ROH World Title Classic 6/12/04
14. Havana Pitbulls vs. BJ Whitmer/Dan Maff vs. Roderick Strong/Jack Evans vs. The Carnage Crew Ultimate Endurance ROH Glory By Honor III 9/11/04
15. Doug Williams vs. Chris Sabin ROH 2nd Anniversary Show 2/14/04
16. Colt Cabana/Jimmy Jacobs vs. Roderick Strong/Jack Evans ROH All Star Extravaganza II 12/4/04
17. Nigel McGuiness vs Jimmy Rave vs Rocky Romero vs Austin Aries ROH Reborn Stage 2 4/24/04
18. Bryan Danielson vs. Homicide ROH All Star Extravaganza II 12/4/04
19. Austin Aries vs Low Ki ROH All Star Extravaganza 12/4/04
20. CM Punk vs. Hydro (Jay Lethal) ROH Survival of the Fittest 6/24/04
21. ROH Title Match Samoa Joe vs. Bryan Danielson ROH Midnight Express Reunion 10/2/04
22. Hardcore Match CM Punk & Ace Steel vs. Dan Maff & BJ Whitmer ROH Death Before Dishonor II Pt. 2 7/24/04
23. Altar Boy Luke vs Outcast Killaz vs Fast Eddie vs Dunn & Marcos vs Carnage Crew vs Jack Evans vs Dan Maff/BJ Whitmer vs Trent Acid ROH Scramble Cage Melee Match Scramble Cage Melee 8/28/04
24. Doug Williams vs. Austin Aries ROH Death Before Dishonor 2 Night 2 7/24/04
25. The Briscoes vs. The Havana Pitbulls ROH Reborn: Stage One 4/23/04

Bryan Danielson vs. Homicide ROH All Star Extravaganza II 12/4/04

Damn, another sweet match from this show. Hell another sweet match from this rivalry. This was the Danielson that people called the best in the world and not the 06 version. Danielson was just fucking up Homicide and just being a total ass kicker. Homicide seemed to have legit sprained his ankle when he got body slammed on the entrance. It actually affected the match in a positive way because his bad tendencies were kept to a minimum although there were glimpses of it. Probably went too long considering his condition. Not as good as there match in April, but another listable match. #18 for now.

Colt Cabana/Jimmy Jacobs vs. Roderick Strong/Jack Evans ROH All Star Extravaganza II 12/4/04

This was damn fun. The shenanigans with Jim Cornette and Bobby Heenan ruled and was a damn good match in its own right. There were some execution issues with Evans but from a pure fun perspective this is certainly on the list. #17.

Austin Aries vs Low Ki ROH All Star Extravaganza 12/4/04 (rewatch)

Just as tough of a judgment as last time. The first couple minutes weren’t necessarily bad, but I felt like the feeling out process ran too long. Ki working on Aries chest was awesome. He was a bit methodical because of the draw, but all of his offense was great. Aries selling was more along the lines of “I’m worn out” as opposed to “My chest is crushed”. The ending was still obvious. This held up well on rewatch and it is listable. #17.

CM Punk & Ace Steel vs. Austin Aries & Roderick Strong No DQ ROH Weekend of Thunder Night 2 11/6/04

It was fine at points, but as a whole, it just didn’t click. Some will look at Ace not getting the chair under the leg with the second rope Arabian Face Buster botch and Evans short the 630 through the table botch as hurting the match. I think more of the issue was just there being too much dead time between set ups and the crowd being cold in the middle. No.

CM Punk vs. Austin Aries ROH Weekend of Thunder Night 1 11/5/04

Damnit. I can’t find the Weekend of Thunder shows. Maybe I can find the shows later on. However, I did get two of the five matches.

Good match, but would have been great with better circumstances. Those circumstances being the lights going out in the middle of the match and the crowd heat being terrible. I feel bad because Aries was tremendous picking apart Punk’s leg. Punk’s selling was ok in that it wasn’t atrocious. Add in a bit of awkwardness here and there and I have to give this a slight no.