Holy CRAP. I was kind of looking for something to get me primed for Wrestlemania tomorrow, so I checked out the second part of the ROH IPPV (which, by the way, looked great on the replay, so any technical issues were strictly the live showing), and if ever there was a match to justify the $9.99 price tag, this was it. I had never seen Michael Elgin before and now he gets the honor of a ***** rating in his first match seen by me. Just an amazing piece of business, made all the better by Nigel going crazy on commentary. And the best thing is that none of it was the overly dangerous head-kicky stuff like in the Edwards-Richards matches, it was all safe spots that were made insane by both guys showing FIRE. Perfect example: Very late in the match, they're trading crossface v. anklelock reversals and Elgin is literally biting his own hand to keep himself from tapping, and you can read it in his face, until he finally powers out. Richards promptly hits him in the face with a Shining Wizard, but Elgin (40 minutes or so into the match) immediately pops up, SPITS IN RICHARDS' FACE, and then gets leveled by a head kick again because both guys are just so pissed off and want that fucking title so badly. By the end of the match you're actually cheering for Elgin just to see how much punishment he can absorb and keep coming. It was an exhausting match in the best way and well worth of the praise and the full monty.
Also, Strong winning the TV title from Jay Lethal was really good albeit with a bit of a fuck finish for ROH, and Kevin Steen continues his weird rise to top heel in the company in a good brawl with Eddie Edwards. Plus Maria and her boyfriend indulge in a SHOOT makeout session in the ring that goes from annoying to over-the-top awesome. Totally recommended show.
Also, Strong winning the TV title from Jay Lethal was really good albeit with a bit of a fuck finish for ROH, and Kevin Steen continues his weird rise to top heel in the company in a good brawl with Eddie Edwards. Plus Maria and her boyfriend indulge in a SHOOT makeout session in the ring that goes from annoying to over-the-top awesome. Totally recommended show.
Absolutely the best match since Taker/Michaels WM25. Nigel was breathtaking here, calling the match with tears in his eyes. Can't really come up with any other words to describe it. Just 30 of the best pro wrestling minutes of my life.
ReplyDelete"And the best thing is that none of it was the overly dangerous head-kicky stuff like in the Edwards-Richards matches"
ReplyDelete"Richards promptly hits him in the face with a Shining Wizard, but Elgin
(40 minutes or so into the match) immediately pops up, SPITS IN
RICHARDS' FACE, and then gets leveled by a head kick again"
If you've seen the Edwards matches, you'll know there were way to many head kicks involved. If they are spaced out, they make far more sense.
ReplyDeleteI've been singing Elgin's praises since I saw him back in IWA-MS. He can truly go for a larger guy, almost a Kevin Steen like agility for a big man. I'll be stunned if he's not WWE bound by the end of 2012.
ReplyDeleteThis. The reason I stopped watching ROH was Richards vs. Edwards. It was basically a kickboxing match with ankle lock attempts by Richards in all of the buildup matches. HIs style bores me to deah, but maybe I should take another look at him.
ReplyDeleteI've set aside some time this morning to check this one out, because Richards/Elgin is growing in legend. I really gotta see the emotion coming out of Elgin in this one because normally that's his biggest downfall: he doesn't have a lot of charisma, not just in mic skills but physically in his body language. I'm glad to see him rise to the occasion because he's pretty unique in style compared to most of the rest of the ROH roster. One match he'll be doing big power moves and slams, and then he'll mix it up and start doing big judo throws & suplexes. Talented guy, for sure.
ReplyDeleteWhat's funny is that in ROH he's treated like a giant when, really, he's 5'11 and 245, all muscle. In a literal sense he's smaller than Bret Hart in his prime.
I don't know if this is ROH playing it up or this guy is just legit freaky-strong. I saw him wrestle a live show in Richmond where he tagged with Roddy against the American Wolves and he did a samoan drop/fallaway slam spot with both the Wolves that blew my mind.
ReplyDeleteSounds like Davey Boy Smith - 5'11, ~240, power moves, suplexes, speed...
ReplyDeleteElgin is awesome, best guy in ROH, I think. He's too short for the WWE, but I'm willing to bet that he's TNA world champ this time next year. Not too happy with Strong winning the TV title, I'm long ago sick of the Richards/Strong/Edwards wankfest that has dominated ROH. At least that match had a finish as opposed to the usual time-limit draw.
ReplyDeleteI'd say he's more like a shorter Vader or Bam Bam than DBS. Guy has amazing agility for a guy his size, and doesn't have that juiced-up look.
ReplyDeleteI heard some rumblings from JD Dunn about discovering Elgin from this match this morning and now with Scott raving about it I'm even more excited now to check the match out, I saw the first night of shows but didn't order the second night, now I can't wait to watch it. Perfect way to kill some time before 'Mania starts today.
ReplyDeleteElgin is freaking amazing, and it's really only a matter of time before Vince and the WWE have their hands on him I think, the guy has insane power and strength along with the agility of Rey Mysterio, it's just unnatural.
I can't wait to watch this match. I've been watching ROH pretty consistently for the past year and Elgin has always seemed to be a guy who could be good if he got focused on putting together a good match. It sounds like he has so I'm *really* excited to see it. ROH badly, badly needs more guys who are main eventer types, so this is definitely a win.
ReplyDeletePlease permit me a moment to rant about the Lethal/Strong match. Ciampa is undefeated and took Lethal to the time limit at the last show. Presumably this means he had another shot coming his way and he had a good chance of winning this time. So why would he bait Lethal into defending against Strong the title against Strong? It makes sense that he decided to cost Lethal the title because of his pride, not wanting to hand him the title and call him the better man, but he had no reason to want Strong to get the shot in the first place. It's not like his feud with Lethal had reached the point where it seemed like his hatred for Lethal eclipsed his desire for gold. The booking was just so transparent; Strong's done with the World Title scene so they hotshotted the midcard title around his waste. Maybe they also just felt like the weekend needed a title change.
ReplyDeleteAlso, having recently had that Worst Finisher thread, I think that title belongs solely to Lethal. The Lethal Injection is a clever spot at an appropriate time, but it's ridiculous watching him try and use it as practical offense. He was standing there right next to a dazed Strong; if he wanted to give him a Diamond Cutter he had all the time in the world to do it, but for some reason his version is only effective when it comes out of a handspring despite the fact that the physics totally disagree with the momentum used to execute the move in that fashion?!?! Randy Orton would say that is "Stupid, stupid stupid..."
I completely agree, probably the match of the year unless Vince gives the American dragon 30 minutes with hbk on a ppv this year
ReplyDeleteSize wise he's a compact power guy like Tazz or, on a smaller scale, Scott Norton. He's all torso.
ReplyDeleteYeah I don't really know why he's finishing with that instead of the Lethal Combination or the old belly-to-back-into-neckbreaker version of the Lethal Injection. I think the handspring cutter gets reversed more than it hits.
ReplyDeleteThe Taz comparison sounds pretty accurate to me. Glad to hear his stock is rising.
ReplyDeleteCheck out DragonGate USA's "Open the Ultimate Gate" as well, when you get the chance. I have both the Mochizuki/Tozawa match and the main event tag at ***** as well. This has apparently been a REALLY good weekend for wrestling. Let's hope WWE keeps that trend going.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Norton would be the best comparison, I think, only Elgin is actually willing to sell for his opponents.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking he's legit strong. He wouldn't look out of place in one of those World's Strongest Man contests on ESPN.
ReplyDeleteThere's a match Elgin had with Brodie Lee for some indy company that's on YouTube. It's pretty crazy. It's the first time I saw either guy as a legitimate wrestler instead of indy circuit side show attraction.
ReplyDeleteCiampa's undefeated. He couldn't beat Lethal. He's worried about keeping his undefeated streak, but he stills wants the title. He thinks he has a better shot with Roddy. He helps Roddy beat Lethal.
ReplyDeleteBrodie Lee got signed by WWE recently.
ReplyDeleteStrong is one of the top guys in the company though. I don't see why Ciampa would view him as an easier challenge than Lethal. Maybe if he'd cost Lethal the title against one of the Bravado brothers or Andy Ridge this would make sense, but nothing suggests that he's going after Strong now. It seemed like he just did it to mess with Lethal, despite the fact it was a completely illogical move.
ReplyDeleteAm I the only one that noticed the crowd chanting "Yes! Yes! Yes!" all night long?
ReplyDelete