You know what time it is. No, this isn’t Flavor Flav. This is your resident ROHbot here with the ROHbot Report. All roads lead to Toronto and beyond for the men and women of Ring of Honor. Everything in italics is the news/headlines provided by rohwrestling.com (unless otherwise noted).

We are less than two weeks away from ROH's huge debut in Toronto and pay-per-view taping in Detroit. Another unbelievable match has been signed for Toronto. It will be Erick Stevens vs. Go Shiozaki!!! You got a taste of what this one will be like at "A New Level" and now they will collide one-on-one on 7/25 in Toronto.

Add that match to this already pay-per-view worthy card.

ROH World Title Match
Nigel McGuinness defends vs. Kevin Steen
No Disqualification Tag Team Match
Austin Aries & Jay Briscoe vs. ROH World Tag Team Champions Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black
Rematch From "Vendetta II"
Bryan Danielson vs. Claudio Castagnoli
First Time Ever Match
FIP World Heavyweight Champion Roderick Strong vs. Naomichi Marufuji

ROH always tries to go all out for debut shows, especially in places they hope to expand their territory in. NYC was a great test that’s turned into one of their most profitable decisions. Chicago has hosted some of the greatest shows and matches since their debut in 2006. Toronto might be the international movement that could push the PPV buyrates through…the 36 purchases roof.

Toronto isn’t the only big deal for ROH that weekend. Detroit will host the next pay-per-view taping. Lets look at that card.

It is sure to be a special night when ROH tapes PPV on 7/26 in Detroit. There is nothing like witnessing ROH pay-per-view live and seeing it months before everyone else. Due to the nature of PPV, ROH might not announce anymore matches in advance for the 7/26 card. However, you can rest assured this will be a memorable night with great matches from top to bottom. Afterall, this is ROH on PPV and ROH will deliver.

Pay-Per View Taping
July 26th
Detroit, MI

ROH World Title Match

Nigel McGuinness/Kevin Steen 7/25 winner defends vs. Claudio Castagnoli
Special Challenge Match
Bryan Danielson vs. ROH World Tag Team Champion Tyler Black
Tag Team Grudge Match
Chris Hero & Go Shiozaki with Larry Sweeney vs. Roderick Strong & Naomichi Marufuji
Plus much more with:
-Special guest Lance Storm (he will be available for autographs), ROH World Tag Team Champion Jimmy Jacobs & The Necro Butcher of The Age Of TheFall, SHIMMER Champion MsChif, Austin Aries, Jay Briscoe ,Delirious, Erick Stevens, Ruckus Of The Vulture Squad, Sara Del Rey, Daizee Haze, Rhett Titus, Shane Hagadorn & Bobby Dempsey of Sweet & Sour Inc., Silas Young, Kenny Omega, Plus others!!!

The card has already shaped up to be one of the best top card PPVs this year. But I don’t like the idea of them possibly not announcing any more matches. It doesn’t make the rest of the card look too hot. I’ve always had a problem with pay-per-view cards not being announced before the show, or just being put together by the time the first bell rings. I know there’s a reason for this, but I just don’t like it. Hopefully they’re not just banking on the three top matches to pull this show from mediocrity.

Jigsaw is off the 7/25 & 26 shows with a rib injury. He will return to action on 8/1 & 8/2.

Hopefully it’s nothing too serious for him to be rushing back too soon. The man might become the face of the Vulture Squad if he can stay as focused as he has been. Just remember Jiggy, you’re not Jack Evans. Your neck and back isn’t made of rubber like the Prince of Parkland.

ROH's great debut in Virginia for "Southern Navigation" in May saw the team of Naomichi Marufuji, Go Shiozaki & Takeshi Morishima come out victorious. Super agent Larry Sweeney, who has recently signed Go Shiozaki as a client, told ROH officials that this has earned the NOAH contingent a shot at the ROH World Tag Team Titles. The Pro Wrestling NOAH office agreed. ROH officials see the opportunity to promote a great match and also agree. ROH's return to Manassas, VA on 8/1 will see ROH World Tag Team Champions Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black put the belts on the line against Naomichi Marufuji & Go Shiozaki. This is going to be an incredible night of tag team wrestling with this title bout and the dream match of Austin Aries & Bryan Danielson vs. Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin. Is it possible that Shiozaki & Marufuji win the ROH World Tag Team Titles leading to a return match in Japan at ROH's shows in Tokyo in September?

ROH went big in their Virginia debut, bringing in some of the biggest talent from NOAH in the main event. This time around, they want to give Manassas a tag team classic, non-title and with the belts on the line. I can’t wait to see both matches. But there’s something that doesn’t sit well with me. Go Shiozaki signing with Sweet & Sour Inc. just doesn’t seem right. Yes, there is a hostile takeover, and having an international star in the group helps Sweeney’s master plan, but how does it help Go? Maybe more title shots. Maybe more main event slots. I just hope they know that Go might have to work a little differently. The man is a babyface through and through. Maybe a thumb to the eye or two could ensure that the people see Go isn’t the nice guy he’s cracked up to be. But Shiozaki isn’t the only Japanese star having a busy time in ROH.

Naomichi Marufuji's tour of ROH is now complete. A first time ever match has been signed for 7/25 in Toronto. It will be Marufuji vs. FIP World Heavyweight Champion Roderick Strong in a non-title match. This gives Marufuji the following schedule for his four show tour:
-7/25 in Detroit with Roderick Strong vs. Go Shiozaki & Chris Hero with Larry Sweeney
-7/26 in Toronto vs. Strong
-8/1 in Manassas with Go Shiozaki vs. Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black for the ROH World Tag Team Titles
-8/2 in Manhattan vs. Shiozaki

So it’s team, then fight that teammate every night. Marufuji has been a highlight of any show he’s been on, and these slew of shows with his name on it won’t be any different. All four matches should be hard-hitting and memorable to say the least.

There was nothing like when ROH reached "A New Level" with its first show in the Hammerstein Ballroom. Now ROH's return to Manhattan on 8/2 will be even bigger and better. If Kevin Steen wins the ROH World Title on 7/25 in Toronto he will wrestle twice against The Motor City Machine Guns and then in the Four Way Elimination Match. Here is the current lineup for "Death Before Dishonor VI" on 8/2 at the Hammerstein with much more to be announced soon:

ROH World Title Four Way Elimination Match
The ROH World Champion vs. Bryan Danielson vs. ROH World Tag Team Champion Tyler Black vs. To Be Announced
NWA World Heavyweight Title Match
Adam Pearce defends vs. Brent Albright
Dream Tag Team Challenge
Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. The Motor City Machine Guns of Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin
Pro Wrestling NOAH Special Attraction
Naomichi Marufuji vs. Go Shiozaki

Also signed to appear: ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness; ROH World Tag Team Champion Jimmy Jacobs & The Necro Butcher of The Age Of The Fall; FIP World Heavyweight Champion Roderick Strong; Austin Aries; Bryan Danielson; The Necro Butcher; The Vulture Squad of Ruckus & Jigsaw; Sweet & Sour Inc. of Chris Hero & Eddie Edwards with Larry Sweeney, Sara Del Rey, Shane Hagadorn & Bobby Dempsey; Claudio Castagnoli; Delirious; Daizee Haze; Rhett Titus; Jay Briscoe; plus others!!!

Three out of four ain’t bad (no offense to the NWA title match. It’s just hard for me to get behind an Adam Pearce match that isn’t in the early part of 2006). As good as the main event sounds, I have to go on a little bit of a tangent here. As most of you know, Nigel McGuinness told Bryan Danielson that he wouldn’t be getting a World title shot until he defeated everyone Nigel has successfully defended the title against. If that’s the case, then why is he getting a World title shot in NYC? Gabe posted this on the ROH message board: Just to clarify something, the deal where Nigel says that Bryan has to beat everyone he has beaten to get a title shot is for PPV only. Bryan wants his a World Title Match on PPV. Nigel says he has to beat everyone he has beaten on PPV. There seemed to be some confusion on this.

Alright, that’s just wonderful. I have to say that this is pretty stupid. I understand that Danielson running through a lot of the roster in hopes of getting the title shot is counter productive, but that means that over the next three PPV tapings, Danielson will be going through some of the top wrestlers in ROH, including Austin Aries, Tyler Black, and Go Shiozaki. If that’s the case, then Danielson shouldn’t be getting that title shot before the beginning of next year. That’s a long time to have a storyline to run if Nigel and Danielson finally do have that title match. That would mean that no one who faces Nigel for the belt from now until that match has no chance of beating McGuinness. Now there’s the possibility that Danielson’s shot never takes place. If that happens, then you’re out of a big time PPV main event. ROH has been mixing their live show storylines with their PPV storylines since the beginning of their pay-per-view run. This shouldn’t be any different.  

In case you missed it on the main page of ROHwrestling.com, the 9/20 Philly event has been moved from the National Guard Armory to the former ECW Arena now known as the New Alhambra Arena. The National Guard will be mobilizing troops for Iraq now that weekend. We wish our troops the best and want to thank the New Alhambra Arena for giving us a new home on 9/20. All tickets that have already been sold will be honored at the door. This will be a big day of wrestling as Velocity Pro Wrestling will have a 2pm show that day and the ROH event will begin at 8pm. For more info on VPW go to VPWrestling.com.

Sounds like a tremendous weekend for the fans in Philly. ROH has done only one show in the old ECW Arena. They did a double show with CZW in 2006, which ended with BJ Whitmer getting his back weed whacked. Hopefully we can avoid another disturbing sight like that. Like I, and many people before me, hope nothing but the best for the men and women of the Armed Forces, and hope they make it back home sooner than soon. God bless them and their families.

ROH will make its long awaited return to Cleveland on 8/15. A Tag Team Grudge Match has been signed as Roderick Strong & Brent Albright join forces to take on Go Shiozaki & Chris Hero of Sweet & Sour Inc. with Larry Sweeney!!!

Very strong (no pun intended) sounding match. The big question is where is Pearce? You’d think that his story with Albright probably won’t end in Toronto, so where does the NWA champion fit? Or will he be the champion when this show comes around? NWA is really high on Albright, and I can easily see him walking into Cleveland as NWA champion. I know you’re thinking I’m crazy that the NWA would allow their title to change hands in another company. Maybe you’re right. But that doesn’t mean the NWA title won’t change hands between Detroit and Cleveland.  

ROH will make its long awaited return to Cleveland on 8/15. A good crowd will mean more shows in Cleveland. We will bring the goods, now it is time for Cleveland to give us a good showing. The first match has been signed and it is main event quality. Austin Aries is out for revenge against The Age Of The Fall. He will face Tyler Black in Cleveland.

I guess Aries beating the snot out of Jimmy Jacobs isn’t enough. Aries has said he wants to dismantle the entire group…except Necro Butcher. Necro was the only man not in the car that Jimmy used to film the probable kidnapping of Lacey. Aries also wants Necro to leave the AOTF in hopes of the wildman becoming his own man.

It is always a great night when ROH heads to Chicago. 8/16 will be no exception unless your name is Roderick Strong. Larry Sweeney has challenged Strong to run the Sweet & Sour Gauntlet. Strong accepted only if a match against Sweeney was involved. Sweeney has agreed, but only if he is last in the Gauntlet. Strong is confident he'll get to Sweeney and has signed for the match. What exactly is the Sweet & Sour Gauntlet?

Well, S & S Inc. has a slew of jobbers for Roderick to run through before making it to the big guns of Chris Hero and Go Shiozaki. My guess is Bobby Dempsey starts off. Roderick better be careful as he might break his own back by trying to lift the incredible shrinking Dempsey (hey, he’s lost a pound).    

We have another match to announce for the 8/16 return to Chicago. The Age Of The Fall keeps putting obstacles up to keep Kevin Steen & El Generico from earning a ROH World Tag Team Title Match. Last time in Chicago, Necro Butcher & Tyler Black put the block on Steen & Generico. August 16th will see a rematch of sorts as El Generico will face ROH World Tag Team Champion Tyler Black in singles competition. Could this be the victory that finally leads to a title shot for Generico & Steen?

You know what, I think 2008 will be remembered as “Steen’s Road To The Gold” when the year is over. Even though Aries against the AOTF is the hottest storyline going in ROH, Steen’s journey to championship gold has been a piece of hot business that’s headed toward something that could change the course of ROH. I know that’s a big claim, but Steen has all the tools to be the next big money player in ROH. Steen said on the Injustice show (a DVD review that will be up shortly after this report goes online) that he’ll become “The most unlikely World champion in Ring of Honor history.” And unless ROH pulls something weird, like Bobby Dempsey winning the gold, I truly believe this will happen before the end of 2008.

Did you get your ROH Toolbar yet? If not go to rohmedia.com/toolbar.htm and get it for exclusive podcasts, special deals on merch, news and more!!!

I’ve added the Toolbar, and I have to say that it’s merely alright. Right now it’s in its infant stages, and some of the kinks haven’t been fully worked out yet (including the problem with the podcasts). But from what I’ve experienced so far, I think ROH is really onto something with this. If it can provide more exclusive news and deals before they post it on the website more than a couple of minutes later, then this will be a must have for any ROHbot.

New WWE World Champion CM Punk is showing the world what ROH fans knew all along. In fact, for all the new CM Punk you can't say you know CM Punk until you have learned about his ROH career. Check out this article for details on the legacy of CM Punk and a link to a FREE CM Punk match on rohvideos.com at: http://www.rohwrestling.com/news/article.aspx?id=2153

I don’t know why, but I’m still buzzing over Punk’s win. I know it could end as quickly as this weekend to Batista, but it’s been fun just knowing that Punk won the fifteen pounds of gold. I got a little nostalgic, and decided to rewatch Punk’s last appearance in ROH back in 2006. So here’s a special ROHbot Report edition of Worth Your Money: Unscripted 2.

This show was loaded from one end to the other. But a huge snow storm prevented Low Ki, Jay Lethal, Claudio Castagnoli, Alex Shelley, and others form appearing. Thus a phone call was made, and a special guest was brought in to get the fans something to remember. Huge surprises are promised on wrestling events all the time. But will this one be Worth Your Money?

Unscripted II

Long Island, NY

2/11/06

Colt Cabana stands in front of us tattered and worn from his feud with Homicide. Cabana talks about his life from birth until now, and how his whole world was changed when Homicide tried to pour Drano down his throat a couple of months ago. Cabana didn’t want to die in a wrestling ring like so many others in the past. Just as Cabana began to ramble, a familiar voice echoed from the shadows. Refusing to be shown on camera, this mysterious golden man asked for Cabana to walk and talk with him.

Mitch Franklin vs. Pelle Primeau

Jimmy Bower is here on commentary to replace the flight stopped Dave Prazak. Before we can get the battle of the dwarfs, Adam Pearce entered the ring to prevent us from seeing this match between the two short green horns. Instead of leaving, Pelle grabbed the mic, showing his skills by verbally sparing with “Scrap Iron.” This only leads to…

Adam Pearce vs. Pelle Primeau & Mitch Franklin

Just a squash that ends with Pearce pinning both men with the superfly splash. Pearce decided to take a seat ringside to watch the huge surprise happen.

After getting a run down of the top five rankings, we shoot to the back with Prince Nana and Jimmy Rave, who also had a big surprise. This surprise was for ROH World champion Bryan Danielson. We go from the back to the ring, where some skinny white boy is standing with Julius Smokes. We find out that it’s the Grim Reefer. Wow. Cabana’s music hit to bring out…CM Punk! Punk, who had his last ROH match back in August of 2005, was now a WWE developmental talent. Smokes calls Punk a “fake ass Barry Windham.” What? I think that’s the first time I’ve ever heard a comparison between the two. Punk snatches the microphone from Smokes before running down The Rottweilers. Punk proclaims love for Cabana, and that’s why he’s here tonight. Punk is worried about Cabana’s mental status, and needed to check on him. Before he could, Adam Pearce jumps Punk. Cabana was able save his former Second City Saint partner from a further beating, bringing out Nana to laugh over the situation. The SCS reunion doesn’t last long as Cabana felt Punk had no business being in Cabana’s business anymore. Cabana used this time to accept the challenge of the Grim Reefer, by himself. Punk leaves, but tells anyone who wants to fight that he’s got his gear with him.

Colt Cabana vs. Grim Reefer w/Julius Smokes

Reefer got the jump on Cabana from behind, but couldn’t maintain the momentum. Smokes tried to help his partner, setting Cabana up for a springboard somersault plancha. Cabana recovered, fending Smokes off with a chair before throwing Reefer back in the ring. Even with all of Reefer’s offense, Cabana’s anger won out after a sick Lariat.

Kid Mikaze vs. Ricky Reyes w/Julius Smokes

Reyes tried to end the match fast like usual, but Mikaze used Reyes’ one track mind against him…for a couple of moments. Reyes caught the running Mikaze with a belly to belly suplex before kneeing Mikaze in the face. Ricky was shocked when Mikaze kicked out of the spinning sit-down power bomb. Julius got involved, but it didn’t stop Kid as he dropped Reyes face first with a reverse code red. Mikaze tried to do a flippy move, but flipped into the Dragon Sleeper, giving Reyes another win.

Pure title: Nigel McGuinness (c) vs. Austin Aries

Pure wrestling matches involve a three rope break rule, no closed fists, and a twenty count on the floor. Of course we get the early feeling out process, which sees Aries focusing on the left arm of the champion. McGuinness proved Aries’ invulnerability to head scissors wrong by blocking the escape by the challenger several times before going to the eyes of Austin. Aries was able to finally dropkick his way out of the head scissors after being twisted like a pretzel. Aries followed up with the low tope/hilo/flying elbow drop combo for only a near fall. Nigel recovered after hitting the turnbuckles, kicking Aries in the back before driving his forearm into the challenger’s chest. Nigel wanted to employ Aries’ strategy,   focusing on the left arm of Austin. Nigel forced Austin near the ropes before covering him for a pin. When Aries would kick out, Nigel would fall back on top of him. Austin fell for Nigel’s plan, using the ropes to stop the pin, losing his first rope break. Nigel got a little cocky, raking the face of Aries before stomping on Aries’ hands. Aries got the advantage back after Nigel tried to suplex him into the ring. Aries flipped out of the move, belly to back suplexing Nigel. Aries hit a roaring elbow/pendulum elbow combo, but with the pain running through his left arm, couldn’t get the pin. Aries followed up with the frog splash for another near fall. With Nigel stuck in the corner, Aries rushed the champ. Nigel back dropped Aries, crotching him on the top rope for a lariat. Instead of immediately pinning him, Nigel pushed Aries near the ropes, forcing him to use them to break the pin. With Aries down two rope breaks, McGuinness hit the Jawbreaker Lariat. This time Nigel went for the pin in the middle of the ring, but couldn’t hold the Tag champion down. Nigel had Aries wobbly after a European uppercut, thinking that Aries was out for the kill, a.k.a. the Tower of London. Aries had to use his final rope break to save himself, something Nigel didn’t want as he was becoming very winded. Aries powered off the mat, putting Nigel in an inverted front face lock. Nigel had to use the ropes to save his title. Aries ran to the top, but Nigel was able to stop the challenger, sending Aries face first into the mat with the Tower of London again. Aries surprisingly kicked out, causing the crowd to get behind the challenger. Aries dropkicked the hand standing Nigel before executing the Brain Buster. For some reason, Aries dragged Nigel from the middle of the ring   to the edge of it, allowing Nigel to use his second rope break. Aries landed on the stunned Nigel with the 450 Splash, but the impact rattled his left shoulder long enough for McGuinness to muster up the strength for a kick out. As Aries bent down to pick Nigel up, Nigel grabbed the hurting left arm, rolling through into an arm bar. Aries was in the ropes, but had no rope breaks left to save himself. The referee called for the bell, giving Nigel another successful defense.

Roderick Strong entered the ring to demand his shot at the ROH World title. Instead of Bryan Danielson, Strong got BJ Whitmer, who was happy to give Strong a match tonight for the #1 Contendership for the ROH title. Before Strong could answer, Bryan Danielson, draped in the ROH and FIP titles, stepped out. Strong decided to accept Whitmer’s challenge before Danielson could talk. So you give up the possibility of a shot when the champ is here to give it to you? Danielson didn’t really feel like defending the title against Strong anyway, causing a scuffle. Since there’s a scuffle in the ring, Prince Nana decided to come out an watch. Nana also had Danielson’s opponent for the evening. Originally Danielson was to defend the belt against Embassy member Alex Shelley. To replace him is the second man to hold the ROH World title, Xavier.

ROH World title: Bryan Danielson (c) vs. Xavier w/Prince Nana

No handshake to start this match off. Danielson tried to wrestle Xavier to the mat, but the former champ’s power kept him vertical. It wasn’t until Danielson got the speed up did Xavier go flying through the ropes, allowing “The American Dragon” to down Xavier with a plancha. Danielson focused on the arms of the challenger, causing Xavier to take the sky, dropkicking the champion out of the ring. Danielson got up angrily after Nana stomped him a couple of times. Danielson ran into the ring, slapping the taste out of Xavier’s mouth before raking his eyes. Danielson turned Xavier onto his stomach, stomping on the back of the challenger’s knees instead of locking in the surfboard. Xavier ran to the floor, with Danielson in pursuit. Xavier used the guardrails to turn the tides before trying to use a chair to avalanche splash Danielson. The champion moved, sending Xavier’s chin into the rail. Danielson threw Xavier into the ring, running to the top for the flying head-butt. Xavier avoided it, sending his knees into Danielson’s chest. Xavier pulled Danielson out of the corner, trying to make him tap out. Danielson fought out of the submission, European uppercutting Xavier before superplexing him for a near fall. Xavier recovered, hitting a gut buster/German suplex combination before locking in the cross arm bar. Danielson was able to make into to the ropes to save the title. Xavier pulled Danielson off the mat, hitting Kiss Your X Goodbye. Instead of going for the pin, Xavier headed to the top for the 450 Splash. Danielson avoided the splash, using a roaring elbow/German suplex combination to force Xavier out of this world. Danielson rolled through, locking in Cattle Mutilation. Before Xavier could tap out, Jimmy Rave ran out, causing a disqualification. Rave put the boots to the champion until CM Punk hit the ring. Adam Pearce entered the fray, helping Rave with double spine busters. Nana enjoyed this action, commentating on the beat down. Punk grabbed the microphone after Pearce and The Embassy leave, cutting a promo of fury and sell-out anger (according to the guy in the front row who refuses to stop shouting “sell-out”) Punk offers Danielson the chance for a special tag main event of himself & Punk vs. Rave & Pearce. Danielson doesn’t like the idea because the fans love the idea. But Danielson agrees to it because he doesn’t take beat downs lightly. Be prepared to be broken Embassy.

Backstage from the last show “Dissension” was Jim Cornette with a pre-taped promo. Cornette reveled he has anger problems (like we didn’t know about that after he slapped Santino nearly out of the business). Cornette is furious, not because of Santino’s idiotically, but because some CZW guys invaded ROH, and knocked out one of Cornette’s front teeth. Kinda sick sight. Cornette promises to bring hardcore to the hardcore CZW.

Jason Blade vs. Jerelle Clark vs. Azrieal vs. Jimmy Yang    

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like one of these men don’t belong. We get a very indy-rific opening between Clark and Azrieal that ends when Blade decides to intervene. Yang followed, only to get head scissored into a near fall by Blade. Yang recovered, belly to belly suplexing Blade into the turnbuckles. After a super kick, Yang had Blade grounded, only for Azrieal to tag himself in and work over the body of Blade. Blade made a comeback, dropkicking Azrieal before blue thunder power bombing him. Azrieal kicked out, running into a messed up tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Clark replaced Azrieal, dropping the fired up Blade with a series of kicks. Yang was able to make it into the ring, kicking Blade in the face several times. Blade had to save himself from the abuse after Azrieal tagged in. Yang tagged Blade, leading to a fight between Yang and Clark. Clark hit a standing shooting star press on Yang, but couldn’t finish Jimmy off. The action spilled to the floor, with Blade downing Yang and Azrieal with a Swanton plancha. Clark followed by hitting a springboard moonsault on Blade. Clark pushed Blade back in, using a handspring twisting splash to get a shocking two count. Just as Blade got a few moves in, Azrieal came flying off the top, double stomping the back of Blade’s head. Clark was up, grabbing Azrieal before dropping him on his head with Last Train To Clarksville. Before Clark could get the pin, Yang ran in, pinning Clark with Yang Time.

#1 Contender match: Roderick Strong vs. BJ Whitmer

Whitmer showed a nice amount of agility in hopes of getting the early advantage. But the wrestling quickly deteriorated into a chop brawl. And you know how heavy Strong’s hands are. After sending Whitmer to the floor, Strong dove on top of him before whipping BJ into the guardrails. Since Samoa Joe couldn’t make it to the show, Strong decided to give the fans a couple of ole kicks to make them happy. Whitmer used Strong’s crowd adulation time to recover, neck breaking Strong when the ROH Tag champ neared him. Whitmer hit a few suplexes before locking in a sleeper when the action returned to the ring. Strong fought out of it, but a thumb to the eyes and a DDT hurts everyone. Whitmer tried to follow up with the frog splash, but missed, allowing Strong to dropkick Whitmer several times. Strong hoisted Whitmer off the mat, hitting the half nelson backbreaker. That didn’t stop Whitmer as he avoided another backbreaker, power bombing Strong for a two count. Whitmer tried to run to the top, but got caught, getting superplex. Strong used Whitmer’s hair to pick him up for another half nelson suplex, but Whitmer turned it into a clothesline. Strong recovered, using BJ’s momentum to hit the gut buster/big boot combo before using the Tiger Driver to pin Whitmer to keep his ROH World title shot.

We get a video package proclaiming the return of The Briscoes.

Jimmy Rave & Adam Pearce w/Prince Nana vs. Bryan Danielson & CM Punk

During Rave’s intro, the fans proclaim that he likes male genitalia. Pearce consoles him by telling Rave, “It’s okay that they know.” During Punk’s entrance, the OVW’er gets in the face of the man calling him “sell-out” all night. We appear to be getting an honorable handshake from Pearce, but he wipes his balls with his shaking hand. Pearce, sweaty hand and all, started off with the champ. Danielson, as usual, tried to outwrestle Pearce. Like Xavier, Pearce used his size and power to keep that from happening. So, just like his previous match, Danielson used his speed and agility dropkick Pearce. CM Punk, to a roaring ovation, tagged in, asking for Rave. Punk had to force Rave in, tagging out to Danielson after slamming Rave a few times. Danielson abused his future opponent, hitting the flying head-butt. Punk was able to come back in, as did Pearce. Punk caught the incoming Pearce, leaving Pearce open for Danielson to attack as well. Danielson and Punk worked well together, keeping Pearce grounded while making quick tags. Rave tried to pull Punk out of the ring, but got beat for it. When the action did hit the floor, all four men brawled as Nana screamed for his crew to do something to stop the onslaught of the past and present ROH champions. Rave was all alone in the ring, getting smacked like…well, you know how, by Danielson. Pearce was able to help his partner by pulling Danielson out to the floor before slamming him back first into the steel barricades. Like Punk and “Dragon” earlier, Pearce & Rave made quick tags after using a couple of attacks to keep Danielson down while keeping themselves fresh. It seemed to be all over for Danielson after the doomsday device, but Punk was there to save his partner. They went for the move again, but Danielson flipped out of it, getting free to make the tag to Punk. Punk was hot, taking it to both men. Punk executed Welcome to Chicago on Rave before tope’ing on Pearce. Danielson ran to the top rope after Punk dumped both opponents into the front row. Danielson dove off, landing on both with the plancha. Punk locked in the Anaconda Vise on Pearce, only for Rave to stop the submission. Punk was stuck in no-man’s land after a superplex/big splash double team. Rave locked Punk in a front butterfly lock, setting up for the Pedigree. Punk spun into it, pulling Rave down with the Vise. On the other side of the ring was Danielson putting Pearce in Cattle Mutilation. The fans rose to their feet as both men made it to the ropes. Danielson & Punk put Rave on the top for a double superplex, but Pearce stopped it from happening. Rave drilled Danielson with the Pedigree before hitting the knee strike to Punk’s face. Punk fought back, putting Rave in the Vise after a save from Danielson, making Rave tap out.

Bryan Danielson thanked Punk for performing, not like a sports entertainer, but like a wrestler, a ROH wrestler. Danielson handed the mic over to Punk after offering Punk a shot at the ROH World title anytime he wants to come back. Punk decides it’s the time to call out the “sell-out” fan, asking him why he stayed around if he hated Punk so much. All he had to do was walk to the office and get his “parent’s hard-earned money back.” The fans oohed and awed as Punk just roasted this poor kid in a Rush hoodie. Punk got serious after making this kid look like the biggest piece of spineless trash ever, stating that he wasn’t suppose to be here, but the whole thing came up, and he got a chance to make it. Punk called this his farewell to the east coast fans. And what better way to end his farewell tour than to go outside and make snow angels. Punk, sweaty in his ring gear, ran outside with the fans, and made snow angels. Tell me this kid’s not on drugs now.

In the ROH Wrestling school, Austin Aries, with his trainees doing the ropes behind him, Aries tells Matt Sydal that he better understand his decision to go after Aries & Strong’s Tag title won’t be very beneficial to his career.    

Is It Worth Your Money: This is going to be a toughie. You look at this show and you see one of the most interesting nights in ROH history with CM Punk’s unscheduled, one night only, return. And he didn’t let us down with a slew of great promos (including the one on that fool in the audience), and a very good main event. Danielson wasn’t a slouch either as he pulled a very solid match out of Xavier before heading the show. Then there was the Pure title match, which was a blast to watch. A couple of issues bothered me, like Aries pulling Nigel to the ropes for Nigel to use a rope break when Aries was barely able to cover him in the first place. Why risk not being able to follow up due to exhaustion and pain just to make sure Nigel loses a rope break? The rest of the show was just kind of there. Nothing stood out, except Jerelle Clark (who deserved a bigger shot in ROH), outside of the things I’ve already stated. As cool as it was to see Punk again, even his surprise appearance couldn’t save such a mediocre show. If you’re a completist, or a huge Punk mark (color me PM [Punk Mark]), I can’t give this show the go ahead. Unscripted II Is Not Worth Your Money.

Sorry Punker. Well, that’s it for another edition of the ROHbot Report. Keep your eyes open for some more DVD reviews, as I’ve hit the mother load over the past few weeks with all the sales going on at rohwrestling.com. From old stuff (Sign of Dishonor, Nowhere To Run) to their most recent releases (Southern Navigation, A New Level), I really have to make time to watch all of this stuff. If you have the money, go to rohwrestling.com now. They know your wallet is getting tight, and are giving you as many breaks as possible to make sure you get the wrestling you deserve.   Also check out the latest Videowire to follow Aries’ saga to get Necro away from the AOTF, and Mark Briscoe’s crazy return. Speaking of AOTF, their website (ageofthefall.com) has a new video. The ending has the message boards going crazy with speculation. And while your there, read some of Tyler Black’s blogs. Stuff’s heavy.

For more information on James Bullock, a.k.a. Me, visit the WWI Forums (I’m under the name “jakeb”), or my myspace at myspace.com/jakeab