Here we are for another DVD review. After seeing Jushin Liger’s little spat with Samoa Joe in my Bound For Glory review, I decided to look at Liger’s ROH debut. Will Liger’s first ROH match be more successful than his TNA’s? As you know, my reviews focus on the most important thing any buyer is thinking about: is this DVD Worth My Money.

Weekend of Thunder: Night One

Revere, MA

11/5/2004

“American Dragon” Bryan Danielson is here to talk about his greatest, and most legendary challenge of his career in the form of Jushin “Thunder” Liger. Danielson wanted to show why he is the best wrestler in the world.

Jimmy Rave w/The Embassy vs. Ace Steel

Prince Nana, knowing how polluted the air is in Revere, got the Outcast Killaz to use air fresheners to help Jimmy enter. Also helping Jimmy enter is Angel Williams (TNA’s Angelina Love), who played Rave’s ring steps for the evening. “The Angry Troll” Ace Steel (he calls himself that, not me. I’ve learned never to anger a troll) dominated Rave for a majority of this opening contest. After hitting the Widow’s Peak, Ace is distracted by Nana, who grabbed the microphone, rambling incoherently. The distraction worked as Rave is able to put Steel in the Styles Clash to pin the Second City Saints member. CM Punk, who is on commentary, is furious over his boy getting robbed of a sure victory.

Lacey, who appeared to be trying out for a live version of the cartoon show Jem, is upset that her man Izzy isn’t allowed in ROH until he sobers up.

Fast Eddie w/o good eyesight vs. Angel Dust w/o entrance music, w/Special K vs. Dunn w/Marcos vs. Homicide w/The Rottweilers

Homicide got into it with a fan before the match can even start. Everyone, but Homicide, tried to show what it takes to be in a ROH ring. When ‘Cide actually does make it in, he ripped off one of the turnbuckle pads (back when they had those full corner covered ones like in boxing). Homicide, seemingly pissed off for being tagged in, just field goals Dust’s back and head. Punk informed us that Becky Bayless isn’t here tonight because she peed on a Santa Clause statue. TMI, Punker. When Angel Dust was able to knock Homicide to the floor, Dust Liger dove on top of the leader of The Rottweilers. Dunn followed suit, stage diving on everyone. Fast Eddie decided to outdo everyone by doing a moonsault into a 450 to the floor. Being legally blind and all, Eddie barely hit Homicide, jacking his own jaw on the guardrail. Poor Eddie. When the action returned to the ring, everyone started hitting their big moves. Homicide hit the most effective move, the Gringo/Cop Killa, on Angel Dust to get the win. The fans got on ‘Cide’s case, stating the Yankees suck. Homicide don’t take too kindly to that noise, decking a fan that has the guts to come into the ring with one punch to the jaw. They beat this poor man back into the audience. This was JBL sized beating on this kid. Low Ki actually came from the back, getting in on the fight until security breaks it up.

Allison Danger, playing psycho lady #2, promises to get Dan Maff & BJ Whitmer for turning on her.

Boston Street Fight: BJ Whitmer & Dan Maff vs. Carnage Crew

Maff & Whitmer were able to get the jump on the Crew in the early going, busting them wide open. But once the action spilled to the floor, it was all Carnage Crew. Allison Danger helped the Carnage Crew get the win after bringing them a couple of trashcans. They used those cans to unleash the con-trashcan-to on Maff to get the victory. Danger got a little disturbing after the match, licking the blood of Maff off of her hands. Talk about a doctor’s checkup waiting to happen

Low Ki vs. Chad Collyer

As you’d expect from these two, this match was wall-to-wall mat wrestling. Ki was able to work around everything Chad had in mind, but hurt his right ankle during the match. The ref abruptly stopped the match due to this injury, sending us to the back with Jack Evans & Rowdy Roddy Strong

The Gen Next members talk about bringing the first piece of gold in the form of the Tag Team title to the faction tonight when they face the Havana Pitbulls. One of the most interesting things about this promo is young Roderick. Strong, at the time, would read the lips of Jack Evans, mouthing every word he said until it was his cue to speak. Sometimes I catch him doing it to this day. But it’s not as obvious as right here.

We cut back to the ring, where Ki is being helped out of the ring. When Low Ki got to the ropes, he kicked back, kneeing Chad to prove he was faking the whole time.

Low Ki vs. Chad Collyer pt. 2

With Ki getting the jump on Chad, Low Ki had the ability to just punish him. But Collyer made Ki pay for it, going after his legs to make sure that if Ki had to be helped out of the ring, it would be because of him. Ki had to fight out of several Texas cloverleafs, getting a little help from the Havana Pitbulls. Collyer had Ki set up on the top for something when Rocky Romero interfered after a distraction by Ricky Reyes, helping Ki double stomp his way to victory.

John Walters & Nigel McGuinness vs. Samoa Joe & Jay Lethal

John Walters, by the graphic of his name, is the “Prue” champion. Samoa Joe is 20 months into his reign as ROH champion, with Jay as his protégé. Jay showed that Joe ain’t a slouch when it comes to teaching as Jay had both of his opponents running for safety. When Joe came into the ring, he abused Walters, who holds, in Joe’s eyes, an inferior title. Nigel got a piece of the action in the form of Joe’s face wash/running boot combo. From that point on, Nigel got beaten like a rag doll until he made the tag to Walters, who lit in on Lethal. Joe saved Lethal; taking Walters to the floor to ole kick the fellow champion. Joe’s focus of Walters left Nigel with an easy prey in Lethal, who he made tap out in a unique grounded top wristlock clutch.

Sugar Sean was backstage with Maff & Whitmer, who tomorrow night will take on the ROH Tag champs. Maff, swearing to God himself, promised to bring those tag title belts to him and Whitmer

Davey Andrews & Shane Hagadorn vs. Outcast Killaz w/Prince Nana

The ROH student kids get killed after showing a couple of minutes of talent. That’s the match. Fast forward if possible. 

Austin Aries vs. CM Punk

The war between Generation Next and the Second City Saints rages on in this match. Before we can get to the match, Punk decided to make fun of a TNA t-shirt wearing, unibrow having dude in the front row. Punk warned Samoa Joe that he’s coming for that ROH gold for the third time. The match began as a contest of one ups-man-ship as both try to embarrass the other by outwrestling each other. Punk seemingly won as Aries bailed to the floor. Punk didn’t want this contest to end, following Austin. Punk goes all crazy, hitting the ring post with shining wizard. Just as the action returned to the ring, the lights go out. Under the blinding spotlight, Aries continued to work on Punk’s left leg. When the lights do return we find Punk is bleeding. Punk tried to fight through the pain, but Austin’s game plan worked to perfection as he made Senior Punk tap out in a single leg Boston crab (in Boston no less) after hitting a 450 splash on the leg.

ROH Tag Team title: Havana Pitbulls (c) w/Homicide vs. Roderick Strong & Jack Evans

The mix of speed and power from Gen Next were more than the champs could handle in the early going. Roderick & Jack used some thrilling double teams to hold Ricky down. But it was Rocky’s kicks to Jack, and some help from Homicide, that turned the tides in the favor of the Pitbulls. Jack was able to flip his way into his corner, tagging out to Roderick after being obliterated by the champions, and Homicide. Strong entered, back breaking everyone from the opposing side, even getting a couple of shots on Homicide. Jack came back in, hitting the 630 splash on Ricky. When the ref dropped down to count, he slapped the mat by accident, making the fans think that, that was the one count. On the official two count, the fans went nuts, thinking they had new champs. Instead, they watched as the match continued, with the Havana Pitbulls tombstoning Jack to retain the gold.

Bryan Danielson vs. Jushin “Thunder” Liger

Liger gets an amazing pop before confronting Danielson, who was decked out in that long velvet coat. The early portions of the match saw Danielson trying to show his superior mat abilities over the masked man, only to find that Liger was just as good on the mat as he is in the air. Bryan gave up on wrestling, deciding to brawl. Liger didn’t know how to fight Danielson from that position, getting dragged around the ring. It wasn’t until Danielson’s cockiness got the best as him when Liger stared unleashing palm strikes. But the palm strikes would come back to haunt the junior heavyweight legend as Danielson caught Liger’s incoming arm with a dropkick. Danielson worked the arm until he had Jushin Liger in Cattle Mutilation. Liger refused to give up, breaking the hold with the ropes. Liger, shaking off the pain, went palm strike crazy before hitting some of his classic moves, including the Liger Bomb for a near fall. Danielson, hurting from the Bomb, was taken to the top before being super Brain Busted, giving Liger the win in his first ROH match. Bryan Danielson agrees to lower his ego to shake the hand of the better man. 

The Carnage Crew graced us with a closing promo, refusing to become hated because they’re siding with Mick Foley in Foley’s war against Ricky Steamboat. The Crew warned both Maff & Whitmer and Alison Danger that they are entering the ring of hardcore.

Jushin Liger tells us thanks for our support tonight.

Prince Nana, with the Embassy, told whoever has a belt better watch out because Jimmy Rave is coming for that gold. When the Outcast Killaz want some recognition for their win tonight, Nana informed them to get the car ready for a night on the town. As this promo is happening, Angel Williams was forced to shine Rave’s sneakers. 

Is It Worth Your Money: As solid as this show is, the whole thing is really just a backdrop for the main event. I have no problems with this since the main event was incredible. Liger hit all of his big moves to the delight of the fans. Danielson looked like a huge jerk during the match, giving the match so much more heat as Liger made his comeback. The Tag title match was another hot contest that’s worth at least one viewing; especially after the controversial two count. Punk and Aries was nothing more than a precursor for what they were going to do in a few months, but still a solid encounter. A lot of people have been wondering what happens if the show is good, but not good enough to be worth twenty dollar price tag. Well, this show answers that question. Any show that I don’t feel is worth getting at full price, I suggest waiting until it’s on sale, or when you can find it cheaper somewhere else. Weekend of Thunder: Night One Is A Bargain Bin Purchase.

To order this DVD, check out rohwrestling.com, or my opinion, Ebay

If you have a show you’d like me to review, e-mail me at fasjab@aol.com , or look me up on the WWI forums under “jakeb”