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Ring of Honor heads down south and breaks into a new market!
-Taped from Louisville, Kentucky
-Your hosts are Joe Dombrowski and Dave Prazak
-Jim Cornette comes out to rile up the crowd. Unlike in most cities, this makes a lot of sense because it’s Cornette’s hometown, and he has a lot of history in Louisville. He doesn’t say anything all that extraordinary, but the crowd certainly seemed enthusiastic throughout the promo.
-Beef Wellington vs. Paredyse
This would be an Ohio Valley Wrestling showcase. Announcers spend more time thanking people instead of calling the match and identifying the participants. Wellington controls the rather odd-looking Paredyse early in the bout until Paredyse deposits Wellington outside the ring and uses some basic stuff to keep Wellington at bay. Wellington catches Paredyse coming off the second rope with a shot to the gut. The flower that was in Paredyse’s head gets knocked off. That’s a shame. That’s definitely not good. Paredyse hits a horrendous neckbreaker for a nearfall. As he tries to lift Wellington up, Wellington dead weights him. Finally a roll-up gets three for Wellington.
-Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Beef Wellington/7:41/*
– I’m assuming neither of these two guys will ever be on a Ring of Honor show unless it’s in Kentucky or some other spot below the Mason Dixon line. Pretty basic match with some minor botches. No reason for this match to be on the DVD other than being a showcase of the local talent, and Ring of Honor has always made an effort to do this in the undercard matches of a new market.
-OVW Southern Tag Team Championship: The Elite (Ted McNaylor and Adam Revolver)(champions) vs. Sucio and Fang)
Announcers do a terrible job making it clear which team is which. Too busy talking about how great it is for them to perform in front of Ring of Honor fans and also how they’re now competing in one of the best team divisions in the sport. Thankfully, this is a better showcase for what OVW is capable of doing as opposed to the previous match. Challengers appear to be the babyfaces. Tremendous hurancanrana by Sucio on the outside of the ring. Sucio and Fan are a Young Bucks/Rockers type team. McNaylor and Revolver work on Fang’s neck as part of the heat segment. Very southern style match as you might expect with the heels slowing the pace down. Sucio knocks McNaylor off the top rope, gets a crossbody, and makes the hot tag to Sucio. He is a house of fire on both heel champions but is overwhelmed as his partner can’t help him. Fang knocks Revolver off the top rope. We get a double hurancanrana as Fang hits Revolver. We get another double hurancanrana attempt, but McNaylor hits a spear. Cover. McNaylor holds the tights and puts his feet on the ropes while his partner holds them in place. That’s some high quality cheating right there.
-Winner (s)/Time/Rating: STILL OVW Southern Tag Team Champions-The Elite/9:09/**1/4
-I’d like to see these two teams wrestle again in a longer match. Good work from both teams for the most part. I think the heel tactics fit in moreso in this match because it’s an OVW title match and not really a Ring of Honor match. I accept a different type of match and booking here. Doesn’t mean I want to see it on every show though.
-Sara Del Rey (w/The Kings of Wrestling) vs. Daizee Haze
What’s up with Del Rey using Daniel Bryan’s WWE theme music? I’m offended. Speaking of offended, I feel like I’ve seen these two girls wrestle one hundred million times. Del Rey competed for OVW some time ago and she’s competing in a six man tag the next night. Makes sense to give her a bit of a warm-up. Del Rey dominates to start, but Haze sends her to the floor. To the top and a dive on Del Rey, Claudio, and Hero. She is caught by the Kings and put back in the ring. Del Rey goes back to work. She applies a scorpion deathlock, and the crowd wants Haze to tap. Even the Louisville crowd doesn’t get the whole heel/babyface thing. Big swing turned into a roll-up by Haze. Huge boot quickly by Del Rey. She applies almost an arm nelson before swinging her around. Haze to the ropes. Del Rey continues on offense, and this is rapidly becoming an extended Squash. Haze works a crucifix submission. Del Rey takes her in the corner. Haze sent into the mat off the top. She catches herself. Facebuster. Heart punch. Boot to the face. German suplex attempt goes nowhere. Rey into the corner again. Haze with a boot. To the top. Claudio grabs the leg of Haze. Kings are tossed from ringside. Into a fireman’s carry. Haze out. Del Rey with another kick. Powerbomb turned into a sunset flip for Haze. 1-2-3 and we have a mild upset.
-Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Daizee Haze/8:15/*1/2
-Horrendous finish. Del Rey is about to face Amazing Kong the next two nights. Why is she losing to anyone? In addition to the stupidity of Del Rey losing, Haze getting a flash three count despite being dominated for much of the match means nothing. It’s not like there’s a Ring of Honor women’s title for her to go after. It’s not like the Shimmer title is even acknowledged by the company anymore. What a counterproductive match this turned out to be.
-Delirious vs. Mike Mondo
Mike Mondo used to be “Mikey” in WWE’s Spirit Squad. Delirious gets a huge ovation from the Louisville. Bit of a surprise I’d say. Mondo is much bigger than I remember. Stalling to start. Guess who the crowd goes crazy for. Here’s a hint. Not the former cheerleader. As basic and borderline mediocre as the match is, the crowd is so into Delirious, I can’t totally bury the work involved. I’m wondering if Delirious’ overness with the crowd in this market would translate into Delirious being over with more mainstream audiences like you’d find with WWE and TNA. Mondo hits a somersault plancha to gain the advantage as he draws some major league heat from the crowd. Delirious tries using his head to no avail. Mondo works a chinlock after using some solid offense. Delirious counters out into a vertical suplex. Swinging neckbreaker by Mondo for two. Slowly, Mondo goes to the top. He takes years to try a headbutt. Delirious of course moves. Series of strikes. Off the ropes with a back elbow. Back drop and atomic drop. Headbutt. Swinging neckbreaker gets two. Cobra stretch broken up. Into a fireman’s carry slam. Face plant for two. Mondo prevents Delirious from hitting Shadows over Hell. Over the top headscissors by Mondo. Headbutt hits. Crucifix gets two. Dropkick to the back of the head. PANIC ATTACK! Shadows over Hell.
-Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Delirous/12:22/**1/2
-Ending made this slightly better than average. Mondo looked far better than he ever did in WWE. If the announcers hadn’t mentioned it, I would never have figured out who Mike Mondo was. He looks very different, and I guess that makes sense since anyone who was affiliated with the Spirit Squad should want to get as far away from them as possible.
-Pick 6 Challenge: Chris Hero (ROH World Tag Team Champion) vs. Colt Cabana
Mat work to start. Cabana seems to be in one of his goofy moods. See how this translates into the match. Exchange of roll-ups get two. Some comedy as each man tries to call themselves Superman. Hero heads outside. Cabana continues having his fun until Hero gets a well-placed elbow. Then it’s back to more comedy. Chops by Cabana along the ropes. Referee is shoved. Hero uses the elbow. Dropkick to Caban on the outside. Into the ring face first goes Cabana. Strikes with his arms and knees. Running kick to Cabana on the bottom rope. Cover for two in the ring. Shot to the throat. Snapmare into a chinlock. Cabana sent into Hero’s boot. Running boot. Dragon sleeper. Cabana kick to the side of the head. Roaring elbow for a long two count. Elbow combinations. Cabana with some of his own. Cravat into a snapmare into a senton for two by Hero. More elbows. Cabana with a backslide for two. Hero tries to toss Cabana. Another backslide. Boot to the face. Running clothesline. Both men down. Hero misses a charge. Cabana with jabs. Elbow to the face. Cabana wails around and delivers another closed fist. Irish whip leads to a back drop. Roll-up for two. Go for the Billy Goat’s Curse. Cabana headbutts Hero in the midsection. Off the ropes but Hero gets a flash kick. Running forearm in the corner. Elbow gets two. Hero cravats Cabana on the top rope. Cabana continues shoving him off. He nails Hero with his ass. 1-2-NO! Sent into the corner. Flying asshole met with a vicious elbow by Hero to the back. 1-2-NO! Crowd wants Cabana to be knocked down. Hero goes for the death blow. Cabana gets a modified roll-up for three.
-Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Colt Cabana/12:56/**1/4
-Both guys exhibited some of their worst traits as Cabana spent a lot of the match being his wacky self while Hero used elbow smashes… a lot. Not impressed by either guy’s work based on their experience and amount of time they received.
-Roderick Strong and The House of Truth (Josh Raymond and Christian Able)(w/Truth Martini) vs. Austin Aries and The All-Night Express (Rhett Titus and Kenny King)
Give you one guess who cut a promo before the match. Austin Aries talks about his hatred of Kentucky and calls Truth Martini a ripoff of himself while also making sure to demean the wrestling members of H.o.T. Way to put all the heels that actually need help over there Austin. Martini says enough is enough and the match is on. Aries and the All-Night Express clear the ring. I just love two heel groups meeting in a six man tag. Makes so much sense for five out of these six men (Aries being the lone exception) who need all the help they can getting over as hated by the fans to be wrestling each other. House of Truth comes in and clears the ring themselves. Strong with a sliding kick on Titus. Series of chops and back in the ring goes Titus. H.o.T goes to work. I have no idea who the default babyfaces are supposed to be. Things are kept pretty basic as we don’t get a lot of the interesting team work House of Truth is known for. As I say that, they hit a nice double team powerbomb. Thanks for proving me wrong guys. Titus finally gets a tag after an O’Connor roll. Atomic drop leads to a clothesline by King. Heat segment on Able now. Absolutely nothing wrong with the execution or technical aspects of the match, but how in the blue hell am I or any other fan supposed to care about who wins? Able makes a hot tag to Strong. Aries also in. The former tag team champions battle. Chop exchange. Aries with a poke to the eyes. Off the ropes anda knee by Strong. Enziguri. Gutbuster for two. Half nelson backbreaker turn into a roll-up. Aries out of it and goes for a last chancery. Inside cradle by Strong. Backslide by Strong. Gibson driver turned into a rana. Running dropkick into a nearfall. Pace has certainly picked up. Both men go for a brainbuster. Titus hits the muff driver. Things break down. Raymond with a corkscrew dive on King and Aries. Martini goes for a shot with the book. Titus knocks him out of the ring with one punch. He goes for a dive, but Strong sick kicks him. Cover for the three count and Strong continues his road to a world title match with Tyler Black.
-Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Roderick Strong and The House of Truth/12:25/**1/4
-I’ve said my peace about this match. This was alright but nothing too significant. Aries and Strong finally picked up the action to make the match interesting. Nothing I’d go out of my way to see as neither team came out looking all that impressive.
-Non-title: Tyler Black (ROH World Champion) vs. Claudio Castagnoli (ROH World Tag Team Champion)
These two had a great match at AAW’s Point of No Return in October 2008 and a pretty good match at Aries vs. Richards back in November 2009 for Ring of Honor. Claudio pushes Black in the corner and flexes his muscle. Claudio takes him down with a waistlock. Black shoves him. Claudio wipes himself with a flag of some sort outside the ring. That was different. More feeling out by both men. Lock-up in the corner. Claudio teases a clean break before elbowing Black in the face. Whip but Black steps over. Armdrag attempt fails. Claudio heads outside again. Black with chops. Claudio in the corner with knees. Black fires back with chops. Boot and uppercut by Claudio. Black comes back with punches. Headlock by Claudio. Shoulder tackle and some flexing. Off the ropes. Scoop up but Black gets an O’Connor roll. Black tosses Claudio this time to the outside. Black beats Claudio up outside. Into the ring apron and guard rail goes one half of the tag champions. Black goes for a vertical suplex. Claudio nearly gets one of his own. Claudio sent into the steps. Knee by Claudio and the world champion is sent in the guard rail. Claudio heads back in the ring. Sliding dropkick but Black gets a knee lift. Running boot. Leg lariat coming back in the ring. Stomp to the face. Series of stomps. Claudio sent in the corner by the head. Black with 10 punches in the corner. Snapmare and kick to the back. Black wraps the legs in a modified Indian deathlock. Claudio with a headlock. Off the ropes. Claudio puts the referee in his to prevent being drokicked. Dropkick of his own. Stomps on Black. Choking on the middle rope. Tease of a big swing but Claudio delivers a slingshot instead. Backbreaker but Claudio continues stretching the back out. Off the ropes. Tilt a whirl backbreaker by Claudio. Modified camel clutch. “USA” chant by the crowd. Must be in the south. Some of the crowd actually starts chanting “Switzerland” when encouraged by Claudio, Amazing. Gutwrench suplex. Knee in the back. Japanese stranglehold. Black has another dropkick blocked. Second time works. Tope con helo. Back in the ring. Springboard clothesline. He gets himself all fired up. Running forearm. Dropkick to the leg. Lionsault misses. Standing shooting star press does the job. Black goes for the F-5. Shot to the back and a clothesline by Claudio. Japanese strangehold. Deadlift German suplex. Roll-up by Black for two. Kick to the back of the head. Claudio rips Black down to the mat. Torture rack turned into the UFO. Two count only. Ricola bomb misses. Bicycle kick missed. Pele and F-5 by Black. 1-2-NO! Forearm exchange as both men rise to their feet. Claudio rakes the eyes. Black with a forearm. Claudio tosses him in the air and NAILS a European uppercut. Ricola bomb. 1-2-NO! Crowd going crazy. Claudio goes for a title, but the referee takes it away. Cradle by Black for two. To the top. Elevated bicycle kick. Uppercut. Claudio climbs up for a top rope ricola bumb attempt. Bucklebomb by Black. Superkick misses. Claudio tries to springboard. Black gets a superkick to finally put Castagnoli away.
-Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Tyler Black/20:35/***1/2
-Good match as you’d expect for these two. They got time to tell a story. Would have been even better with the championship on the line because the drama would have been more tangible. As it was, these two delivered a good solid wrestling match with a cool finish and a definitive winner.
-The American Wolves (Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards) vs. The Briscoe Brothers (Jay and Mark Briscoe)
These two teams met thrice before for the Ring of Honor world tag team titles. Crowd behind Davey Richards to start. Lock-up between Richards and Mark. Some mat work to start. Edwards and Jay’s turn next as they lock up hard. Shoving match. Edwards with a side headlock . Briscoe counters into a headscissors. Edwards out of the hold. Davey comes in. Volume picks up as we get some double teams from the Briscoes on both Richards and Edwards. Edwards sent o the outside. Double beel on Richards. Running boots from the brothers. Briscoes take turns delivering shots. Jay’s gum ends on the mat.. He picks it up and puts the gum back in his mouth. Yeesh. Richards ducks a charge, nails Mark off the apron, and comes allows Jay to catapault himself into the boots of Edwards. Jay outside. Edwards with a bodyslam on the outside. Heat segment on Jay continues inside the ring. Jay sends Edwards into the middle rope face first before quickly tagging in his brother. Mark goes for a vertical suplex. Edwards out of it, but Mark gets a running neckbreaker. Mark wins a fist exchange. Double team shoulder block. Richards knocked off the apron. Jay with a chop and stomp in the corner. Irish whip and leg lariat. Forearm. Jay sends Edwards into his brother’s elbow. Springboard senton by Mark off the second rope. Two count. Mark applies a modified camel clutch. Richards kicks Mark in the back to break the hold. Tag to Jay. Edwards quickly sends him over the ropes. Jay battles both members of the Wolves, but that doesn’t work out so well. Edwards dragon screw legwhips Jay. Heat segment on Jay now. Edwards rams Jay’s knee into the post. Continues leg work in the ring by Richards. Davey with a cloverleaf, but of course Jay doesn’t give. Wolves are heels for those who like to keep track of those things. Jay gets a spinebuster. Edwards yakuza kicks Mark to prevent a tag. Edwards with a figure four leglock. Jay manages to reverse it. Unfortunately, Richards is smart enough to send Mark flying, only to get a headbutt off the top rope. This reverses the reversal. Jay gets to the ropes. Wolves try another double team. Jay battles back. Back to the leg. Edwards with an Achilles lock. Mark punches Edwards in the face. Mark goes off the ropes but is pulled out by Richards. Something happens off camera. Jay reaches the ropes. Jay with strikes. Does nothing. Charge by both of the Wolves. Jay sends them over. Numbers game overwhelms Jay again. Todd Sinclair actually enforces the legal man rule. Backdrop driver by Richards over two. Not sure if that was planned or not. This heat segment has been going on forever. Edwards goes for a powerbomb. Mark comes from behind to clothesline Richards. Jay with a rana. Enziiguri and a hot tag. Clotheslines for everyone. Off the ropes with a crossbody on Edwards. Redneck kung fu on Richards. Strikes by Edwards. Wolves go for a double team move. Exploder by Mark on Richards. Cutter on Edwards. Slap to Edwards. Edwards placed on the top rope. Mark pulls him down the hard way. Fist drop. Mark to the top. Richards holds the leg. Eddie climbs up and delivers a superplex. Richards with a dropkick off the top. Running kick. 1-2-NO! Mark with back elbows and forearms. Irish whip. Hand spring enziguri. Richards with strikes in the corner. Whip in the corner but Mark leaps over him. Running boot. Tag to Jay. He actually sells the leg before using strikes. Miss of a charge. Jay gets a death valley driver for a nearfall. He calls for the Jay driller. Leg won’t support his efforts. Richards takes him over. Couple of counters. Jay gets a roll-up for two. Richards with an enziguri. Mark comes in with a half nelson. Edwards with a dropkick from the top. Boot exchange turns into a superkick exchange. Double clothesline and all four men are down. Edwards and Jay with an extended forearm exchange. Slap exchange. Back to forearms. Jay comes off. Alarm clock by the Wolves. Superkick/German suplex combination. Edwards roll-up gets two. Edwards places Jay on his shoulders as Richards heads to the top. Mark gets a cutter from the top. Jay with a victory roll for two. Edwards with a superkick. Jay gets a clothesline for two. Spike Jay driller. Cover and the Briscoes finally pick up the win.
-Winner (s)/Time/Rating: The Briscoes/25:54/***3/4
-Really good stuff as we’ve come to expect from these two teams. Lots of good back and forth action. I liked the ending sequence because it wasn’t pure insanity like a lot of these types of tag matches tend to be, but it delivered the kind of action Ring of Honor is known for. Not good enough to save the show completely, but a solid way to at least end the show.
Final Thoughts: I recall reading some fairly positive reviews about this show. Not sure what show the fans were watching, but this was a fairly mediocre effort from Ring of Honor. Everything except the final two matches didn’t feel special at all. Nor did I feel like any storylines were advanced either. I enjoyed what I saw in those two last matches but not enough to recommend Bluegrass Brawl. Felt like more of a set-up for the “real” house shows taking place in St. Louis and Chicago.
