Episode #4
1. ACH over Tadarius Thomas w/ Jimmy Jacobs & Adam Page. Another simply incredible match. ACH made the offense of Thomas look like a million bucks! ACH also bled from the mouth in this one. There was some tremendous, high-energy offense as well, ACH nailed a 450 Splash for the pinfall.
Post-match, Jacobs told Thomas that losing was not acceptable and was joined by BJ Whitmer in “punishing” both Decade “Young Boys” with a physical beatdown. Both Page and Thomas appeared ready to stand up and fight back, but opted to heed the directives from the veterans.
2. Tyson Dux over Takaaki Watanabe. Not much more than a chance for fans to catch their breath before the main event. Dux won with a sliding lariat.
3. “Mr. Wrestling” Kevin Steen over Steve Corino.
Steen was showed with streamers upon his entrance into the ring. He rolled in them, did snow angels and much more, having a great time. As Bobby Cruise started the intros, he was stopped by Corino, who handed him a paper ala 2003 when Cruise was Corino’s personal ring announcer. This was classic! It was a list of previous greats, who like Steen, had gone on to much more after their ROH runs: Austin Aries, Claudio Castagnoli, Colt Cabana, El Generico, Kerry Von Erich….no, Kevin Von Erich….no, No Von Erich brothers, Eddie Edwards, Eddie Edwards’s Partner (a shot a Davey – ouch!), Tyler Black, Samoa Joe, Bryan Danielson and CM Punk. This was over HUGE with fans soaking it up, and Steen too. Midway through, Corino offered Cruise a refresher from a bottled water, but Cruise pulled out an airplane bottle of liquor (vodka maybe) and threw that back before concluding and intro’ing Corino, then Steen with great emphasis and dramatic pause. Steen really was holding it together well, as fans, in unison, chanted many pro-Steen chants.
Corino threw the first punch and it was on. Fists were flying early, then it went to the floor. Steen grabbed a Generico mask from a fan and put it on. Doing so allowed him to channel “The Generic Luchadore” and nail a nice pair of Ole’ Kicks! Unmasked and back into the ring, Steen continued on offense and paid homage to Colt Cabana, with a Flying Asshole onto Corino in the corner.
The match spilled back on the floor and both men met with a double clothesline, that resulted in a long 19 count for both men. Steen continued to attack and Corino fought back, neither man giving in. Steen was unsuccessful in attempting a Package Piledriver, but did nail F-Cinq and finally was able to hit the Package Piledriver to get the win!
As soon as the pinfall was counted, you could see and tell the wave of emotion that washed over him. It was really special. He eventually helped Corino up and they hugged. Jimmy Jacobs hit the ring and stared at both men, just about a year removed from the end of the SCUM era. Jacobs jumped onto to Steen and hugged him too! Jacobs, Steen and Corino all then hugged, but Roderick Strong & BJ Whitmer hit the ring, showing Jacobs’ move to be a set-up, and they attacked Steen & Corino. Steen fought them off and sent them off with a double clothesline.
At this point, the entire locker room minus The Decade hit the ring, with balloons, party hats, champagne, silly string and more. Steen gave a great speech, thanking Cary Silkin for there being a ROH and place to call “home,” he thanked Christopher Daniels for being a strong vet 10 years ago to teach Steen the “right” way to act in pro wrestling and do so in a positive way, he thanked for Briscoes for their role in solidifying the spots of Steen & Generico in early 2007 with their great match, he thank Nigel McGuinness, he thanked the ring crew, he thanked each and every one of the fans, he thanked Todd Sinclair and called him the best referee, he put over Michael Elgin and called Cedric Alexander “The Future” of ROH. He thanked Sinclair Broadcasting for helping ROH move ahead and thrive. He was then toasted by the wrestlers and others in the ring and hugged everyone to close the show.
This might have been the most genuine celebration and send-off for a wrestler from ROH ever. I had the fortune of being their for Punk’s in Chicago and Dragon & Nigel’s in NYC and this was just extremely special. A one-of-a-kind, you had to be there-type moment. Steen did one final lap around the ringside area with fans and that was the night!
So, after a good but somewhat flat at times first two episodes, Episodes 3 & 4 were virtual “grand slams” and must watch when they air. A really fun, memorable, great night with ROH.
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
