Welcome to another review. This time we’ll be looking at the night Ring of Honor witnessed the day hell froze over as Chris Hero made his ROH debut. Hero, who the ROH fans had wanted to see in a ROH for some time, came in, not as a ROH hopeful, but the leader of the raging Combat Zone Wrestling army. Will Hero’s long awaited ROH debut be Worth Your Money?

Hell Freezes Over

Philadelphia, PA

1/14/2006

The new ROH Tag Team champions Austin Aries & Roderick Strong were formally introduced to kick off the first show of the New Year. Aries bragged that this was the second year in a row that he walked out to the first show of the New Year as a champion. Both men promised to make those belts world-renowned. Strong also had ROH World champion Bryan Danielson on the brain. Aries had someone on the brain as well. Ricky Reyes, who has made a habit of beating down the ROH students that Aries helped train, was that man Austin wanted tonight. Aries, showing that he was ready to fight, did a little strip show for the ladies as Reyes made his way down the ramp.

Austin Aries vs. Ricky Reyes w/Julius Smokes

Aries immediately got the jump on Reyes, beating him around the ring like Reyes had been doing to Aries’ students. It wasn’t until Aries got too friendly with the fans did Reyes get an opportunity to pick Aries off the mat, hitting a sick belly to back suplex. Reyes focused on the upper body of Aries to knock the wind out of ½ of the Tag champs. Aries was too weak to get Reyes up for the Brain Buster due to the work, allowing Reyes to slip behind the champ, locking in the Dragon Sleeper. Aries began to work his legs until he was arching backwards, forcing Reyes’ shoulders against the canvas. Reyes didn’t know it, but he had just allowed himself to be pinned by not letting go of the Sleeper. When the referee ordered Reyes to let go, Julius ran in, shoulder tackling the ref. Roderick Strong had to make the save, tossing Smokes out by his balding head. Reyes grabbed the microphone, laughing that Aries couldn’t escape the Dragon Sleeper, just like his punk students.

A scruffy Colt Cabana was still feeling the mental effects of Homicide attempting homicide by pouring Drano down Cabana’s gullet. When Cabana got up to leave, Adam Pearce magically appeared, taking Cabana’s seat to talk about feelings. Those feelings involved Pearce not getting the shots that he feels he deserves. “Scrap Iron” wants one on one affairs, not Six Man Mayhem matches like the one he’s involved in tonight.

Pure title: Nigel McGuinness (c) vs. Tony Mamaluke

Pure wrestling matches involve a three rope break rule, no closed fists, and other pure rules. Mamaluke quickly lost a rope break after getting locked in a full nelson. In a seated version of the full nelson, Mamaluke used up his second rope break to save himself. Mamaluke was able to turn it around, putting the champ in a front guillotine choke. But the power and size advantage Nigel had allowed him to power out of the hold with a slam. Nigel decided to taunt the smaller Mamaluke, leaving himself open to be put in an arm bar. The champion scurried to the ropes, losing his first rope break. Nigel, showing that the arm work didn’t do anything, nearly took Tony’s head off with a series of lariats. Mamaluke, showing the spirit that made him a former Tag champ, fought back, hitting the frog splash into a cross arm breaker. Nigel had to use the ropes to break the hold, losing his second rope break. Mamaluke got so fired up that he just started pounding Nigel as he laid prone on the mat. In reality, this made Tony prone to a kimora lock, ending this contest for the poor Mamaluke.  

Alex Shelley & Jimmy Rave w/Prince Nana vs. Claudio Castagnoli & Azrieal w/Colt Cabana

The Embassy was greeted with their usual toilet paper confetti. Rave & Shelley didn’t have a great start in this one, with Rave being outclassed by Claudio before Shelley’s interference turned against his own partner. Azrieal, felling good that he actually got an ovation, jumped around like he had hot feet. This would cost him as Shelley & Rave caught him with a clothesline/spear combo for a near fall. The Embassy members used some quick tags and double teams to keep Azrieal grounded, taunting Claudio at the same time. Azrieal used Shelley’s cockiness against him, turning a superplex attempt into a front blockbuster. Azrieal jumped over to his corner, tagging in the Swiss Money Man. Showing his international strength; Castagnoli delayed his vertical suplex on Shelley for 45 seconds. Rave felt it too, getting dropped on top of Shelley. Azrieal was able to come off the top, double stomping the back of Rave’s head. Somehow Rave kicked out of the follow up pin attempt. Claudio came in to give Rave the Waterslide for another near fall. Claudio, imitating his partner, ran to the top for something. Castagnoli was stopped by Alex, who hurricarana’ed Claudio into the middle of the ring for a Rave elbow off the top for another near fall. Jimmy was able to hit the running knee strike, but couldn’t get the victory due to Azrieal. Azrieal just went crazy, kicking Rave in the back four times before dropkicking Jimmy in the face. Azrieal, feeling like a star, started hitting everything in his repertoire. Then Shelley hit Azrieal in the back of his head, leaving Azrieal open for a modified front guillotine choke to make the high flyer tap out.

In Florida, for Full Impact Pro, Roderick Strong defeated Jack Evans in a classic. With that match, Strong earned a shot at Homicide’s FIP title tonight.

In front of the FIP banner, Gary Michael Capetta explained how Full Impact Pro runs. Or should I say how the wrestlers run FIP, as in the inmates run the asylum in Florida. Homicide is introduced to a babyface reaction, even though he is a full-blown heel in ROH. Homicide is hurting bad with a right shoulder injury, but refuses to vacate the title. Roderick Strong does a little promo before his title shot about showing no mercy, or remorse (foreshadowing). Before the match could happen, DP Associate members Dave Prazak and Bryan Danielson enter the arena to add Danielson to the match.

FIP title: Homicide (c) vs. Roderick Strong vs. Bryan Danielson

As Strong and Danielson fought in the crowd, Colt Cabana jumped into the ring from the crowd, attacking Homicide from behind. Cabana was here to wreck Homicide’s shoulder more by whipping him into the guardrails. The Rottweilers had to run Cabana off as Danielson and Strong went back and forth in the audience. The spotlight shown down on Danielson as he tried to choke Strong out with someone’s jacket. When the action finally made it into the ring, Strong hit a gut buster/tiger driver combo before locking in the Strong Hold. Before Danielson cold tap out, Homicide slipped in, knocking Strong out. Homicide waited until Bryan turned around to go for the Lariat. Danielson sidestepped it, pulling Homicide down with a fujiwara arm bar, forcing Homicide to tap out to become a duel champion in ROH & FIP. That’s three submission finishes in a row tonight.

Jay Lethal vs. Christopher Daniels w/Allison Danger

Lethal tried to show Daniels that youth and speed is far greater than age and experience in the opening minutes of the match. Lethal finds out that he’s wrong as Daniels almost pins Jay several times after countering Lethal’s holds. Lethal did, however, prove that he could fool the wise Daniels, luring “The Fallen Angel” in by playing possum, thumbing him in the eyes before northern lariating Daniels when Daniels fell for it. Lethal stayed on top of Daniels, working over the back of “The Fallen Angel.” It wasn’t until Lethal went to the air did Daniels catch him, driving Lethal into the mat with the STO. Daniels used this time to recover, and hit Lethal with some big moves once Lethal got up. A blue thunder power bomb would usually put someone away, but Daniels’ back didn’t allow him to hold Lethal down. Lethal pushed Daniels out of the ring after kicking out, taking Daniels back first into the guardrails via a tope. Jay was able to get another near fall after an Arn Anderson style spine buster, causing the fans to comment on how much Lethal sucks. Instead of staying on the mat, Lethal tried to go to the sky again. This time, he flew into a Death Valley Driver that nearly gave Daniels the win. But the tides quickly turned as Lethal avoided the Best Moonsault Ever, hitting a nice super kick. Lethal followed that up with the running vertical suplex, and a flying head-butt attempt. Daniels avoided the head-butt, rolling Lethal up to get the pin. Before we could get the honorable handshake, Samoa Joe, with patch colored orange hair, rushed the ring, going after Lethal who turned on him a couple of moments ago. Daniels intervened, leaving Joe open for a low blow by Jay. BJ Whitmer hit the ring as Daniels and Lethal argued, attacking Daniels for walking out on him and The Prophecy some two years ago. Whitmer moved on to Joe, who he’d be facing tonight. Joe, furious that his balls were hurt, attacked Daniels, leaving him lying.

Backstage was AJ Styles, who tonight gets his requested match with Matt Sydal, who Styles feels needs to be tested. Once again, Adam Pearce steps in for the leaving wrestler, demanding to know where Jim Cornette was. Pearce promised to send a resounding message to Mr. Cornette.   

Six Man Mayhem: Jack Evans vs. Adam Pearce vs. Sal Rinauro vs. Jason Blade vs. Kid Mikaze vs. Trik Davis

Evans is thankfully here to turn this match from an indy-rific stalemate into a dance contest with Pearce. Pearce had some moves, but couldn’t imitate the nip up part of Evan’s dance, flopping like a turtle on his back before running out of the ring. It became indy-rific once again until Pearce reentered, grabbing Davis, using him for the big swing. The other wrestlers came, only for Pearce to use Davis as a swinging baseball bat into their bodies. Davis was able to fight back, locking Pearce in a front guillotine. Before “Scrap Iron” had to tap, Rinauro slipped in, kicking Davis in the back of his head. Sal downed Pearce with the rocker dropper, but couldn’t get the pin due to Evans. With Pearce on the top, Rinauro went for a hurricarana. Pearce blocked it, tossing Sal to the mat before coming off the top with the Superfly splash. Once again, Evans was back in, breaking up the pin. And once again, it was Sal who tossed Jack to the floor. Sal tried to somersault plancha Evans, but nearly killed himself by slipping. Back in the ring, Blade & Mikaze ran to the top after dropping Pearce, coming off with a double back flip into a splash/moonsault. Pearce moved, leaving Mikaze open for the piledriver after Pearce pitched Blade out of the ring. Before Pearce could get the pin, Evans came off the top with the 630 splash, knocking Pearce off of Mikaze while crushing Kid. Jack jumped on top of Mikaze, winning this frantic six way.

BJ Whitmer w/Lacey vs. Samoa Joe

Joe got upset early after Lacey beat the mat in support of BJ, causing Joe to leave the ring and chase her around in. In the ring, Whitmer upset Joe by getting some cheap shot forearms in, causing Joe to go crazy, kicking Whitmer’s chest red. Once Joe was tired of kicking, he got slappy. The action spilled to the floor, with Joe Ole Kicking Whitmer over the guardrail. Joe decided to set up the timekeeper’s table near the railing. Samoa Joe wanted to whip Whitmer into table, but BJ reversed it. Joe avoided getting put through the table. Before Joe could move, Whitmer hooked Joe for the Exploder Suplex. Whitmer was aiming for the table, but tossed Joe pass the table, onto the concrete on Joe’s head. Sick! Whitmer finally saw his chance, staying on top of Joe with attacks to the head. Instead of staying there, Whitmer ran up the ropes, looking for the frog splash. Joe moved in time, giving Joe the ball again. Joe rocked Whitmer’s jaw with that running knee in the corner before face washing him. Somehow Whitmer jumped out of the corner as Joe went for the running boot, tossing Joe with another Exploder Suplex. Joe kicked out, clotheslining Whitmer before going for the Kokina Clutch. Whitmer ended up biting Joe’s arm to free himself. Joe became furious, slapping BJ loopy. With BJ standing there out of it, Joe’s right leg swung up, driving his kick pad covered shin into Whitmer’s face. The sight is just plain sick as the sick smack of shin and forehead rings across the arena, leveling Whitmer. Realizing Whitmer was hurt, Joe jumped on top of him, pounding the back of Whitmer’s head until the referee stopped the match.

Jimmy Jacobs, courtesy of ROHvideos.com, talked about his history in ROH, where he’s evolved from some little kid wearing furry purple boots, to a former Tag Team champion, to the hope of being Lacey’s one and only. Jimmy sat on his bed during the end of this promo, with a picture of Lacey lying beside him. Creepy.

AJ Styles vs. Matt Sydal

Some really solid mat work opened the match. Styles just outclassed Sydal on the mat, causing Matt to change his plan. Sydal used a head scissors to pick up the pace. But Sydal forgot that Styles is just as happy moving fast across the ring than sitting on the mat. Styles hit his high/low/dropkick combo before sending Sydal to the floor. Styles followed Matt onto the apron, causing a fight on the apron over a suplex. Styles powered Sydal off the mat, brain-busting Sydal on the apron! Styles followed up by working the neck of Sydal, ending up with both men on the top rope. Sydal fought AJ to the mat, jumping off the middle rope; spin-kicking Styles into a 360 flip. Sydal stayed on top of Styles, showing his technical abilities by locking in several modified bow & arrows. AJ tried to fight back, going for his springboard forearm. Sydal dropkicked Styles out of the sky before heading to the top. Sydal was looking for a tornado DDT off the middle rope. Styles broke free of the DDT, spin-kicking Sydal off the top, to the floor. Styles ran out after Sydal, wanting to spring off the guardrail with a strike. Sydal pushed Styles into the crowd before he could jump. Sydal ran up the ropes as Styles rose from the crowd. Sydal moonsaulted off the top rope, into the crowd on top of Styles! Instead of Sydal having the advantage coming in, Styles fought back, face-busting Sydal. Sydal blocked a side Russian leg sweep, leaving Styles prone for the standing moonsault. When that didn’t finish AJ off, Sydal came off the top with the shooting star press. AJ caught Sydal, with Styles using his own back to back break Sydal. Styles pulled Sydal up for the Styles Clash, only for Sydal to hurricarana his way out of it. Sydal forced Styles onto the top, going for another hurricarana. Sydal pulled Styles off, only for AJ to roll through the hurricarana, turning it into a sunset flip, holding Sydal down for the three count. Styles was really pleased after this hard-fought contest, asking for Sydal’s hand…as a tag team partner. Yeah, a lot of people joked that it was a marriage proposal, causing AJ to go all politically incorrect, promising no “pile of sticks” stuff, if you get what I’m saying. Sydal accepts the proposal.

Samoa Joe, amazing hairdo and all, tells Christopher Daniels that what he did to BJ Whitmer tonight would be just a little bit of what he had in store for “The Fallen Angel.” Well dang Joe, you might as well just give Daniels a hacksaw so he can take his own head off. As the running theme of the evening, Joe leaves, Adam Pearce enters. But Pearce is really horse this time around. The reason: Pearce got kicked in the throat during his match tonight. Pearce was one kick away from his Adam’s apple being crushed. Pearce could care less as “The Scrap Daddy” promised to come back and take more abuse to make his name in ROH.

Chris Hero, with his band of CZW cohorts, stands in the crowd, waiting for the CZW theme song to be played before making his entrance. Necro Butcher beats his head until it bleeds, getting a little “Necro” chant. Hero talks about ROH, and its superiority complex that’s similar to the Adolf Hitler led Nazi party. Wow! I think that’s the first time I’ve ever heard Hitler brought up in a wrestling promo. ROH World champion, and the new FIP Heavyweight champion, Bryan Danielson interrupts the hate speech, going forehead to forehead with Hero.

ROH World title: Bryan Danielson (c) vs. Chris Hero

Danielson just abused Hero with holds to prove to Hero, and CZW, that the best wrestler in the world was in ROH. Hero tried to brawl his way into a fight, but got slapped around in that too. The CZW contingent watched on as Hero was being twisted in the middle of the ring. Danielson pulled Hero off the mat after working Chris’ legs, starting to a chop exchange that led to Hero being put stomach first against the mat. Bryan tried to elbow the back of Hero’s head. Hero spun around, grabbing the incoming arm, slamming it against the canvas. Hero began wrenching the arm, putting Danielson in a cross arm breaker. Hero used a unique over the knee arm breaker to keep the hope of ROH down. Danielson tried to roll through several arm bars, but couldn’t. So Danielson worked his way to his feet, running toward the turnbuckles. Danielson used them to run up, flipping over Hero while freeing himself. Danielson used his right hand, slapping the taste out of Hero before hitting his flying head-butt off the top. This didn’t work too well as the impact caused Danielson to pause from following up, giving Hero the opening for a double stomp off the top. Danielson rolled out of the way, knocking Hero down before locking in Cattle Mutilation. With his arm hurting, Danielson wasn’t able to hold Hero down from getting to the ropes. Hero, once again, used Danielson’s arm against him, pulling Bryan in for the cravat-plex. Hero rolled through the slam into a cravat crossface. Danielson fought out of the move, making it to the ropes. Danielson pulled himself to his feet, into the Hero’s Welcome. Hero was in shock when Danielson kicked out. Instead of staying on top of Bryan, Hero tried to slap some humiliation into him. Danielson ducked a slap, dragon suplexing Chris before putting him in the crossface chicken wing. Hero worked his way to his feet, but Danielson wouldn’t let go, grapevining Hero to pull him back to the mat. Hero looked at his CZW backup before tapping out, keeping the ROH title in Ring of Honor.

As Danielson got up, Prince Nana made his way down the ramp, offering a big piece of change for the ROH World title. Danielson saw that the currency was in Ghana dollars, figuring the exchange rate wouldn’t make the deal worth it. Nana got insulted, slapping Danielson. Danielson grabbed Nana, bringing out Alex Shelley and Jimmy Rave to make the save. Jimmy was about to pedigree Danielson, but Shelley wanted to use a new move, possibly Danielson’s kryptonite, the sliced bread #2.       

Is It Worth Your Money: Well I guess not even the ROH debut of Chris Hero could break the string of mediocre new year shows ROH had been putting on up to that point. From a historical sense, this is a must have show. The first meeting of Sydal and Styles, the first FIP title change in ROH, and of course, the beginning of the ROH/CZW war that would continue until June. But with that ends what’s worth having on this show. Yes, Styles vs. Sydal is a heck of a match, be it a little lacking in long-term psychology. And Hero/Hero is solid, and a nice pace setter for what Danielson would do for the rest of the year. But this is one of those shows where the mediocre outweighs the good. And there’s nothing must see here from a wrestling stand point. I hate to say it, being the ROHbot that I am, but Hell Freezes Over Is Not Worth Your Money.

If you still want to order this DVD, check out rohwrestling.com, or in 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”