Welcome back readers. Chris GST here with another ROH DVD review. If this is the first time you’ve read my reviews let me say that this is not a play by play style review. We have other excellent reviewers on this site who can provide those. This is more of an overview of the DVD. Thanks for checking it out let’s get right to it.
“Rise & Prove”
Taped on February 17, 2012 in Cincinnati, OH
First off Kevin Kelly is the only commentator and really he does nothing for me. He shows no real passion in the product and while he’s just there and provides the insight, it doesn’t come across to me as a guy who can sell me on the product and why I should be buying into the feuds.
Adam Cole vs Michael Elgin
After a short promo about Cole and Elgins history, Cole states that this time instead of a sneak attack he’s fresh and ready to show what he can do. It starts off hot and heavy as both men go into this full speed. No wrestling moves to start this off just hard hitting brawling moves. Cole though distinctly using a different style than the powerful Elgin. Future Shock at this time was already over as O’Reilly was teaming with Richards to go against the Briscoes in the main event for the ROH Tag Titles so Cole was on his own and wanting to prove what he could do. Lots of fun action here including Cole trying to come over the tope rope but being caught by Elgin straight into a power slam. Cole showed his superiority when it came to the technical aspects including several times averting Elgin’s power moves but Elgins power would always come back with either a clubbing forearm to the back or slams. In the end the spinning power bomb would spell the end of Adam Cole as Elgin gets the win here in a great opener for the show.
Rise & Prove Tag Team Tournament- Match #1: Shiloh Jones & Rudy Switchblade vs. Sean Casey & Chris Silvio
This event was themed by the Rise & Prove Tag Team Tournament which also meant that it was short on ROH talent. ROH did their best by bringing in guys from OVW and other promotions to fill these gaps and of course it was a chance for them to get a look at fresh talent which I can’t really criticize. ‘Sexy’ Sean Casey & The ‘Psychadelic Superstar’ Chris Silvio were very colorful in their promo contrast to Jones and Switchblade who were just clean & cut to the chase kinda guys.
All four guys I have seen before but this would be the place for them to really impress (let’s be honest, Cornette obviously picked them for a reason) the ROH fanbase as no doubt you’ll be seeing them either on TV or on even more ROH bookings. Silvio is very skilled though, very crisp in what he does. Jones and Switchblade were decent though both men could really try to stand out more with their personas in my opinion. I will say the timing from both men was decent and that they did their best to bring the crowd into the match and they responded well. Of course some of the comedy spots here were pretty fun albeit NSFW in terms of description. Shiloh Jones & Rudy Switchblade would move on.
Rise & Prove Tag Team Tournament- Match #2: TMDK (Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls) vs. Alabama Attitude (Mike Posey & Corey Hollis)
TMDK, The Mighty Don’t Kneel who I remember semi well from their time in NOAH (check out this interview done in March 2012 from our partners over at PuroresuSpirit.com) of Haste & Nicholls against Alabama Attitude of Posey & Hollis. I’m aware of Hollis mostly from his time in Pro Wrestling EVO and Posey I’ve seen on and off but really I have to give the advantage to Haste & Nicholls. This match was decent with the main story being TMDK really controlling most of it with their technical abilities. Honestly this was the type of wrestling I would have expected and while some of it wasn’t flashy it was still entertaining. TMDK could really do some great stuff in ROH if they were able to be booked more. Not to take away from Posey or Hollis either who sold like champs and showed some very good things here as well. You probably didn’t buy the DVD for this match but I think you got some excellent work from it. TMDK got the win here after a vicious finishing sequence.
No Holds Barred Match: Eddie Edwards vs. Roderick Strong
Truth Martini being handcuffed to a ringpost before this match begins. Truth’s physical comedy timing is gold, really you guys have to check him out in AAW as well. What we have here is a fight between two guys who for a long time were playing second fiddle to top ROH talent in Aries & Richards. I have to say they have really brought out the best in ROH and currently are in the top five of the reasons I still watch the product. Pretty brutal stuff here including lots of fighting outside of the ring almost as much as in the ring. Powerbombs to the ring apron, moonsaults to the outside, gratuitous use of the guardrail, & the use of a steel chair on the groin, everything you could ask for in a No Holds Barred match. This was one of the matches I bought the DVD for and so far it has lived up to expectations. Elgin would come out to help Strong (my how things have changed) and Cole came out to back up Edwards but while this happened Truth got free while Sinclair was knocked out. Truth got a superkick for his troubles but Strong used the Book of Truth to knock out Edwards. A great match.
Mike Mondo vs. Samson Walker
Match in five words or less: Not even bothering
Honestly nothing against the talents. This match was basic as basic could be. Who in the hell brought streamers to use on Mondo? Mondo at this point was a heel and he would do the small things such as distract the ref and use his wrist tape as a weapon and I’ll give him his due, he did get the crowd to cheer for Walker. Mondo would win with his feet on the ropes. Sinclair would come out and tell the ref that Mondo’s feet were on the ropes. So why didn’t a ref come out and tell Sinclair that Truth had gotten free? These types of things are so dumb. A restart of the match and Samson wins via a spinebuster.
Rise & Prove Tag Team Tournament- Finals: Shiloh Jones & Rudy Switchblade vs TMDK Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls
This was a very disappointing match. A true story of the crowd really wanting to see something and the talents in the ring not sure how to respond. Nicholls & Haste won which was the good thing seeing as how the crowd was hot for them but Jones & Switchblade were supposed to be the faces and were getting booed every time they had the upperhand. Obviously they had a match in their minds but still, when you’re in the moment you should try to tell the story that the fans want to see. That just didn’t happen in my opinion. Not a great match.
Proving Ground Match: World TV Champion Jay Lethal vs. BJ Whitmer
Whitmer has always been a favorite of mine. He was one of the guys that really brought me into the product and it was great to see him being used in ROH again if for a short time. This match really delivered in my opinion. The crowd was clearly behind Whitmer as he at this time was a refreshing face to see though he had been in ROH before. Lethal and Whitmer told a great story of Lethal really pulling out everything including Lethal’s kick combinations over and over. Whitmer showed that toughness he was known for in the past and won the crowd over with it. Seventeen minutes in Lethal got the win with the Lethal Injection but it showed that Whitmer took Lethal almost to the limit and I think the fans really appreciated the Whitmer but also appreciated Lethal more as he took in a hard fought victory. Sportsmanship shown here between the two competitors and I was really hoping this would turn into a lengthy stay in ROH for BJ.
World Tag Team Title Match: Jay & Mark Briscoe vs. ROH World Champion Davey Richards & Kyle O’Reilly
Just the opening moments alone between Jay & Davey are fantastic chain wrestling moments. It solidifies my want for Jay Briscoe to really go singles at some point and take a serious stab at the ROH World title. Richards being a former champ now and showing what he can do in the ring could be a hot singles feud with Jay while Mark perhaps goes after the TV title. O’Reilly vs Mark as they enter the ring also really was a lot of fun in a different way as it was the technician versus the brawler who can also break out a high flying move when he wants. A very good match with lots of classic ROH style in it. Dueling boots to the face, submission holds, & just a lot of fun. While I can’t say I ever believed Richards or Kyle had a chance, the crowd really got into it and I could see why. Awesome match with the champs retaining but really it helped put Kyle onto a new level.
Overall: I’d have to give this event a good 7/10. A lot of good matches, nothing though that had any far reaching effects on the landscape of ROH but this show had 3-4 good to very good matches and with the Underground bonus event tacked on you get your $15 worth. I’d definitely say it was worth the purchase.
Let me know what you think either by leaving a comment below or tweeting me at http://twitter.com/CGSTONG or now you can email me @ cgstong@pwponderings.com I want to know what you think and feel free to criticize as well. All the writers here want to get better and we want to know what you want. Thanks for reading.