After many years of waiting, Ring of Honor made its debut in my home state. And I made the trek north to see if the live experience is as incredible as the one on DVD. With a star studded card, ROH promised to put on a great debut for this new territory. Will ROH make another home in Manassas? Will this show come across any different on DVD than it did live? And most importantly, will Southern Navigation be Worth Your Money?

Southern Navigation

Manassas, VA

5/9/08

The No Remorse Corps look from the low skybox on Takeshi Morishima and Go Shiozaki training for their main event match with the trio. Davey Richards asks if Strong or Rocky heard from Larry Sweeney for a financial offer. Strong informed Davey that he turned Larry down upon hearing the proposition. Davey muttered that he did as well. Or did he? Foreshadowing.

Sweet & Sour Inc. is in the ring, with Bobby Dempsey, topless! Bobby is forced under the ring when the crowd gets behind the ever-shrinking man. Sweeney told us that he arranged that all of S & S Inc. wrestlers would be in the first half of the show so he could make a quick exit of this low down town.

Chris Hero w/Sweet & Sour Inc. vs. Pelle Primeau

Before I get to the match, I have to say that ROH does a marvelous job making the building look bigger than it is. Hero gets the jump on Pelle, beating the much smaller Pelle around the ring. Pelle was able to slow down Chris with a slew of head scissors that sent Hero flying to the floor. The floor wasn’t safe for Hero as Pelle head scissored him there as well. Pelle’s high flying cost him as Hero caught the incoming Pelle, big booting him off the apron, to the floor. Pelle tried to fight back again, but it was to no avail as Hero nearly decapitated him with a right hook to the face/yakuza kick combo to finish little Pelle off. Just as it seemed this exhibition of brutality was over, Sara Del Rey, who had recently left S & S Inc., made her way to ring. Sara, sporting a new full body black singlet and Kevin Sullivan like eyebrows, beat the crap out of the security helping Pelle’s lifeless body out of the ring. Sweeney explained that this new evil looking Sara was back in Sweet & Sour Inc.

Rhett Titus & Rex Sterling vs. Mitch Franklin & Sean Denny

For those who don’t know, Titus is like a new age Jimmy Garvin, just without the body hair. We get a lot of those wrestling rookie, “Come on,” yelps. For some reason, the crowd threw in streamers to welcoming the later team. After some indy-rific action between Denny and Sterling, Titus was able to slow down Midget Mitch long enough for all of his patented moves, such as “The Sexiest Suplex Ever”(a snap suplex with a hip swivel), and “The Sexiest Bodyslam Ever”(a regular bodyslam with a hip swivel). Come to think of it, all of his moves have hip swivels. Franklin finally made the tag out, allowing Denny to toss Titus around the ring. When Mitch reentered, he went head scissor crazy. This didn’t help him as Titus caught him in the Razor’s Edge to get the win for his team.

We shoot to a parking lot out of an Xsport Fitness. In a random car are all the male members of the Age of the Fall except Zach Gowen and Necro Butcher. Seemingly, Lacey is in the building, and Jimmy wants to have one last talk with her. When Lacey came out, Jacobs approached her. The talk didn’t go over well from what we can see because the film ends with Jacobs pulling out that spike from his walking cane.

ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness vs. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Damian Wayne vs. Brent Albright

Wayne is a Virginia wrestler getting one heck of a ROH tryout with three of the top talents in Ring of Honor. Wayne holds his won with Albright to kick off this match. It wasn’t until Nigel cheap shot the man from behind did Wayne get slapped around. Wayne tagged out to Claudio, who wanted his opponent for the next night, ROH World champion Nigel McGuinness. Claudio got his wish, all five seconds of it as Albright blind tagged his way back in. Claudio finally got Nigel in after beating Albright down. Nigel was able to use Claudio’s momentum against him, using that kick to the back/forearm to the chest combo in the corner. Wayne was there to help Claudio, tagging himself in. Nigel made the Wayne pay, working over the left arm of Wayne while making quick tags to Albright. Wayne took it all, mustering up the strength to tag out to Claudio. Castagnoli came in like a house of fire, knocking Albright to the floor before face planting Nigel. Claudio wanted to use one of those European uppercuts, but ran into a Lariat. Nigel, unsuccessful in his pin attempt, went for the Jawbreaker Lariat. Instead, the champ ran into the Big Swing, followed by a running uppercut. Albright saved the champion from being pinned, back breaking Claudio before going after Wayne. Wayne was ready, dumping Albright to the floor. All of a sudden, Nigel popped off the mat, slapping Wayne down. Wayne was in position for the Tower of London, but Claudio saved him. Claudio and Nigel fought on the floor as Wayne flew with the elbow off the top directed towards Brent. Albright moved, using those rapid-fire knees to knock Wayne out for the win. Nigel actually patted Wayne on the back in a show of sportsmanship, not noticing Claudio had the ROH title belt. As the fans chanted, “Next World champ,” Nigel explained that Claudio hadn’t proven anything to him.

Somewhere near a creek, Tyler Black & Jimmy Jacobs stood to cut a promo about leading by example. Black was going to lead through Bryan Danielson in Black’s road to power.

Austin Aries was scheduled to fight Erick Stevens, but came out in his street great instead. Aries wanted Jacobs. Erick Stevens, in his ring gear, answered Aries’ challenge instead. Aries tried to tell Stevens that tonight wasn’t about them, but Stevens wasn’t hearing it. So…

Austin Aries vs. Erick Stevens

Aries opened the match by decking Stevens with a hard right. Aries was so concerned with Jacobs showing up that Stevens beat him from the ropes, across the ring. After a fist drop, Aries had to fight back. Aries used his clean dress shoes to choke Stevens. Stevens didn’t like the taste of shoe polish in his mouth, punching Aries in the stomach before whipping him from turnbuckle to turnbuckle. Stevens was unable to hit the Choo-choo rush, following Aries to the floor before beating him down again. Aries got back ring, forcing the entering Stevens down with the heat-seeking tope. Aries tried to knock Stevens out when he pushed the big man in, but got press slammed instead. Stevens was looking for the TKO, but Aries blocked it. Stevens powered Aries up, with Aries kneeing the top of his head, TKO’ing Aries. Shouldn’t that be it? Nope, as Aries stopped the Doctor Bomb, belly to back suplexing Stevens on his head before dropkicking him in the corner. Aries connected with the Brain Buster, followed by the Last Chancery. It didn’t stop Stevens as he powered Aries over with the German suplex, into the Choo-choo rush and the toss & swat. Stevens went for the Doctor Bomb again, but Aries turned it into a backslide that ended with Stevens getting kicked in the face. Aries grabbed the wobbly Stevens by the head for the Brain Buster. Instead, Aries dropped down, using Jimmy Jacobs’ End Time to make Stevens tap out. Aries grabbed a mic, explaining that it was Jacobs’ fault that Lacey left him for Aries. A “sloppy seconds” chant broke out, causing Aries to tell the fans its “seconds” they’ll never get. Aries told Jacobs to watch his back, because Aries was going to get a piece of him before the night’s over.

Jay Briscoe promised tonight he would get revenge on Jimmy Jacobs for putting his brother out with a wrist injury.

No DQ match: Necro Butcher vs. Jack Evans

Butcher tried to get the jump on the much smaller Jack, but the leader of the Vulture Squad had those flippy moves ready to take Necro to the floor. Evans knew that he had to fight Necro like Necro, using chairs to level the AOTF member. This didn’t work out too well for Jack as the action went to the floor, where Evans was back broken across the guardrails before being slammed on the unprotected floor. Necro just toyed with Evans, clawing him in the eyes and back. Necro also paid Evans back with a chair shot to the back. Butcher followed that up with the chair slam for a near fall. Necro set up two chairs back to back in hopes of backbreaking Jack across the top of the chairs. Jack blocked it, bulldogging Necro into the top of the chairs. With Butcher down, Evans came off the top with the 630 Splash…for a near fall! When Jack tried to capitalize, Necro knocked him out of the sky with one of those heavy rights. Necro hoisted Evans up, backbreaking Evans across the chairs to get the pin.

A clip from the Return Engagement event was shown of Mark Briscoe being injured by Jimmy Jacobs. We are informed that Mark will be out for three to six months due to this attack.

No DQ match: Jimmy Jacobs vs. Jay Briscoe

Before Jacobs could enter the ring, Austin Aries jumped him. Tyler Black ran out, pulling Aries to the back as Jay fought with Jimmy into the ring. Jay was ready for anything Jacobs had in mind, blocking dropkicks off the guardrail and chair shots. Jay even rung Jimmy’s bell with the ring bell. It wasn’t until Jay went to take Jacobs out with a chair shot did the Briscoe fall into Jacobs’ clutches. Jay was stuck in the corner, being stomped on. Jacobs picked up the chair Jay had, whacking Briscoe on the top of his head. Jacobs added insult to injury by spitting on Jay before stomping him some more. Even more injury and insult to the situation was Jimmy using the testicular claw when Jay tried to punch his way out of the corner. Jay was able to reverse and Irish whip into the corner, pulling Jimmy face first into a chair Jacobs had set up in the corner. Jay finally clocked Jacobs on the top of his head with a chair after Jacobs came flying off the ropes. Jay followed up with the Death Valley driver, getting a near fall. Jay stacked a slew of chairs in the middle of the ring, preparing to super Jay Drill Jacobs into them. Jacobs blocked it, knocking Jay to the mat. Jacobs jumped off the top for the senton splash, but hit nothing but chairs. Both men got up swinging chairs. Jacobs lost his, allowing Jay to knock him silly. Jacobs shook away the mental cobwebs, rolling through the Jay Driller into the End Time. Jay powered out of the move, spine busting Jacobs on the chair. Jay set up a couple chairs so they’d be facing each other. Jay was going to Jay Drill Jacobs through the chairs, but Necro ran out to stop that from happening. Necro allowed Jacobs to DDT Jay through the chairs, into the End Time to choke Jay out for the win. Before this could become a two on one affair, Austin Aries hit the ring. Aries cracked Necro in the head with a chair before wrestlers ran from the back, breaking up this wild situation.

Bryan Danielson vs. Tyler Black

No handshake between the two. The feeling out process quickly ends when Black started throwing hooks. Black picked up Danielson, slamming him over the top rope, to the floor. Black used the floor to help do some damage to the “American Dragon” before sending him back into the ring. Danielson tried to brawl his way out of the bad situation, but Black was one step ahead of him. Like their previous contest at Breakout, Black became very cocky after getting Danielson to stumble. Danielson used that cockiness once again to turn the tides, kicking Black in the face when Black went to splash him in the corner. Danielson hooked Black for the surfboard, but stomped on his knees instead. After some kicks to the torso of the AOTF member, Danielson locked in the surfboard. Danielson hooked the head on the roll, turning it into Cattle Mutilation. Black was able to slide to the ropes to break the hold. Danielson used a few hooks of his own to drop Black in the corner. Danielson enjoyed tying up Black, going from an Indian deathlock to the bow & arrow, ending with the single leg Boston crab. Danielson showed he could be cocky too, allowing Black to throw some horrible trajectory punches and kicks. Every time it ended with Danielson dropping Black with an uppercut or a kick. Black was in great pain as Danielson tried to cave his chest in with kicks. Somehow, Black was able to get behind Danielson, belly to back suplexing him over the top, to the floor. Black followed up with a somersault plancha that gave Tyler momentum. Black followed up with a spinning heel kick when the action reentered the ring. Black used a kick to the back o the head/springboard clothesline combo to nearly pin the former ROH champion. Black was looking for another springboard maneuver, but got pushed to the floor instead. Danielson got a running start, diving on top of Black. The momentum sent both men flying into the front row. Danielson leapt off the top, missile dropkicking Black after pushing him back into the ring. After a couple of kicks to Black’s head, Danielson locked in the Cattle Mutilation. Black rolled through, going for a hurricarana. Danielson rolled through, sunset flipping Black for a very close near fall. Black used a pinning combination of his own to ground Bryan, kicking him in the back of his head. The fans began to clap as they got up, slugging forearms. Black ended it, power bombing Danielson into the turnbuckles before turning him inside out with the running boot. Before Black could go for the Phoenix Splash, Bryan crotched him on the top. Danielson tried to pull Black off with the super belly to back, but Black knocked him to the mat three times before leaping off the top. Danielson avoided the Phoenix Splash, locking in Cattle Mutilation again. When Black began to roll out of it, Danielson unleashed those elbows to the jaw. Black took it all, forcing Danielson into the corner before hitting the ropes. Black went for a spin kick, but Danielson ducked it, heel hooking the leg. Black struggled to the ropes, causing Danielson to turn it into a single leg Boston crab. Black struggled, but ended up with no other option but to tap out.    

We get some still photos of MsChif’s win over Sara Del Rey to win the Shimmer title, making it known she’d be defending the belt in ROH very soon.

Takeshi Morishima, Go Shiozaki, Naomichi Marufuji vs. No Remorse Corps (Roderick Strong, Davey Richards, Rocky Romero)

Go and Davey started the match off, with Richards trying to humiliate Go by slapping him. Go didn’t take too kindly to it, chopping Davey off of his feet. Rocky Romero took Davey’s spot, as Morishima tagged out Go. Morishima liked how he towered over Rocky, pretty much toying with him by knocking Romero down with one forearm. Rocky got dance happy after dropkicking Morishima off his feet. Takeshi paid Romero back, dropkicking him before doing a hip swivel of his own. Marufuji tagged in as Roderick did the same. They went shoulder block to shoulder block, with neither going down. It wasn’t until Naomichi went high did Roderick chop him down. Marufuji picked up the speed, dropkicking Strong before forcing him into his corner to tag out to Go. The battle of the knife-edge chops was on. Romero got in on the chop battle, going all Kenta Kobashi on Go. Go was able to pitch the incoming Richards to the floor, allowing Morishima to crush him between his butt and the guardrails. Morishima hung Richards out for Marufuji’s sliding dropkick on the apron. The Japanese superstars forced Richards into the corner before sitting on top of him. Morishima bowled over Richards with his butt again before tagging Go in to administer some punishment. Davey was able to push Go into his corner, tagging out to Romero, who led the charge in triple choking Go in their corner. Go fought out of it, tagging Marufuji, who began assaulting Strong with a flying elbow before going for the Shinrunia. Strong blocked it, hanging Marufuji in the tree of woe for the springboard dropkick by Romero. Richards looked to be following Romero’s lead, but ended up slapping Marufuji in the testicles. They do proclaim no remorse. The NRC used quick tags to wear down Marufuji while keeping themselves fresh. Strong even used Romero as a projectile. Marufuji was able to avoid an enzuguri by Richards, tagging out to Morishima. Morishima came in like a house of fire, double suplexing Strong and Romero before cartwheel avalanching Richards in the corner. Morishima followed up by missile dropkicking Davey to prepare for the Backdrop Driver. Richards blocked it, kicking Morishima down. Strong was able to German suplex Morishima after a high knee by Romero. Richards frog splashed Morishima for a near fall. Strong tried to power Morishima off his feet, but got dropped instead. Go tagged back in, suplexing Strong before clubbing his chest with forearms and chops. Strong was able to avoid a chop, backbreaking Go for a near fall. Romero came in, kneeing Go in the face before going for that skull crushing kick. Go avoided it, chopping him down as well before tagging Marufuji in. Marufuji was barely in when he got kicked in the face. But the NOAH star was able to recover, hitting that flashback clothesline before bringing his partners in to triple team Romero. Romero recovered, DDT’ing Marufuji. Romero locked in the Cross Arm Bar, but it was broken up by Go. The NRC began their own triple team on Marufuji before downing Morishima on the floor. They used the Doomsday Knee Strike on Marufuji, but couldn’t pin him. Romero was looking for the tiger suplex, but Marufuji blocked it. Romero countered his block, head scissoring Marufuji to the floor. When Romero went to dive, Go stopped him, fisherman busting him. Richards helped knock Go out of the ring, bringing Morishima in. Strong, in an impressive show of strength, used the gut buster on Morishima. But Strong ran into Marufuji’s Code Breaker. Romero caught Marufuji with another DDT on the rebound. Rocky grabbed Naomichi for the tiger suplex, but Marufuji flipped out of it, super kicking Rocky for a near fall. Marufuji caught him with a slew of spin super kicks before using the Shinrunia to finish of Rocky for 1, 2, 3.

Is It Worth Your Money: ROH did a marvelous job in putting together an impressive debut in one of their newest territories. But, as with most first night shows in an ROH weekend, this wasn’t the most memorable before the second half. The first half of the show did have some nice storyline progression between Aries and Jacobs, as well as solid four way. It also moved very quickly. But it’s nothing we haven’t seen in the past that would make the undercard stand out anymore than any other. Then the second half kicked in. While the brawl was good between Jacobs and Jay Briscoe, it’s become such a watered down concept in ROH over the past year that the spark uniqueness isn’t there anymore. Almost every ROH show has a hardcore brawl now. And this show had two, back to back. Cut back on the brawls for a little while, ROH. Thankfully, Black and Danielson entered the ring, and tore it up like only they can do. With each match, the chemistry grows, and I know that a five star classic is just waiting to be unleashed from these two. The main event was just as exciting as Danielson/Black, with all six men bringing their very best. Morishima even showed, gasp, personality! And that brings me to the predicament. While the show was great live, on DVD, it seems pretty mediocre thanks to the first half. While the second half of the show is amazing, I can’t give this a full recommendation. Southern Navigation Is A Bargain Bin Purchase.