Ring of Honor Reports
Worth Your Money? ROH The Homecoming 2 Featuring Jerry Lynn vs. Colt Cabana, Chris Hero vs. Tyler Black, And More
By James Bullock
Oct 31, 2009 - 11:25 AM

Almost two years to the date of Colt Cabana’s Ring of Honor exit, Cabana comes back home. Not only is this a homecoming for Cabana in his home state in front of his most recognized group of fans. This is also another chance for Cabana to follow up on his promise his made that night before leaving ROH for WWE-to become the ROH World champion. Also, in a weird pairing, Kevin Steen and Jay Briscoe will team up to take on The American Wolves for the belts. Then there are two of ROH’s rising stars clashing in the form of Chris Hero and Tyler Black. A lot could, and will happen. But the most important thing is if The Homecoming II is Worth Your Money.

The Homecoming II
Chicago Ridge, IL
4/25/09

　 Chris Hero is here to greet us to talk about the great men that come out of Chicago. Tonight, two more great men face off when Tyler Black and himself meet up. Hero always felt they were on a collision course since Black’s debut. Hero expressed their differences in and out of the ring, including the fact that Black will have to bring out all the big moves while Hero will only need one knockout shot.

　 Rasche Brown vs. Egotistico Fantastico
Ego got a huge chant of his name before his entrance. Brown tried to turn the handshake into a clothesline. Ego was ready, ducking and dodging whatever Brown had in mind until he was shoulder blocked off his feet. Brown followed up with a clothesline that almost turned Ego inside out. Brown thumbed Ego through the eyeholes of his mask when Ego tried to fight back. Ego recovered, chopping his way out of the corner. Brown stopped Ego’s momentum, whipping him into the turnbuckles again. Brown caught Ego across his shoulders when Ego tried to moonsault off the ropes, slamming Ego on the back of his head for a two count. Military press slam on Ego pleased Brown. Ego threw his boots up, knocking Brown far enough back to dropkick Rasche into the corner. Springboard clothesline by Ego got him a two count. Ego hit the ropes, but ended up getting pushed down with ease. Ego didn’t tap in the torture rack, so Brown tossed him across the top rope abdomen first for the rack position. Ego turned a power bomb attempt into a horrible looking sunset flip to shockingly pin Brown.

　 Austin Aries & Rhett Titus vs. Alex Payne & Silas Young
Aries got a little laugh over the fans chanting for “Sugarfoot”. Aries easily outwrestled Payne. Then Aries out-powered and outthought Alex until Aries just asked him to leave. Young tagged in to oblige Aries’ request. Young faired a little better than his partner, catching Aries in a few pinning combinations, all unsuccessful. Aries jumped to his feet, demanding Alex to come back in. When Silas refused, Titus was tagged in. Disgusting usage of Young’s arm on Titus’ crotch fired Silas up, who turned a head scissors into a half Boston crab. Titus kicked Young off of him, actually helping Silas connect with the sliding clothesline. Payne tagged in, dropkicking Titus. Double team flapjack on both opponents. Titus stopped the double suplex, leaving Young and Payne wide open for Aries’ double back rake. Young was fighting with Aries on the floor as Payne clotheslined Titus to the same area. Aries slipped in, catching Payne on the top rope before working over Alex’s left foot. “It’s never gonna be the same,” Dave Prazak declared as Aries stomped on the unofficial “Sugary foot” (Prazak again). Titus held the leg for Aries’ knee to drop across. STO by Aries stopped Payne’s attempt to tag out. Aries unleashed the power drive elbow for a near fall. Rhett became the legal man, missing the dropkick. Alex turned around, elbowing Aries off his feet before tagging in Silas. Silas used an enzuguri to set up for the bulldog. Titus got up, running into a series of clotheslines, and a power slam. Young whipped Titus into Payne’s boots to set up for Alex’s diamond dust, and another two count. Aries stopped whatever his opponents had in mind for Titus. Titus tried to frog splash Young, but hit nothing but canvas. Backbreaker on Aries by Young. One for Titus as well. Sliding clothesline only got Young a two count on Titus. Payne executed a German suplex on Titus in a shocking show of strength. Aries and Titus got dumped on the floor, allowing Payne to dive on top of them. Young used the Finlay roll, but Aries stopped the handstand moonsault by dropkicking him to the floor. Aries missed the dropkick in the corner on Payne. Payne caught Titus running with a crucifix. Aries got up, kicking Payne in the head before the three count. Titus got thrown on top of Alex after Aries used the Brain Buster to put Payne out of his misery.
Silas attacked little “Sugarfoot” after the match.

　 The Dark City Fight Club were here to talk about the history of tag team wrestling in ROH, and how they’re going to change it for good.

Claudio Castagnoli vs. Jimmy Jacobs vs. Roderick Strong
Strong was in a two-on-one situation, and was successful at batting them off with chops until he ran into a boot to the face from Jacobs. Strong caught Jacobs, pitching him into Claudio. Claudio ended up getting back dropped over the top rope. Strong followed up by dropkicking Jacobs to the floor. Strong whipped Jacobs barricade to barricade. Claudio came out of nowhere, bicycle kicking Strong in the side of his head. Strong was attempting to fight back as Claudio and Jacobs took turns abusing his chest…with chops and uppercuts. Jacobs tried to catch Claudio with a roll up as it looked they were on the up and up, angering Claudio long enough for Strong to come back in and forearm Jacobs into a position for the gut-buster. Instead, Strong helped pitch Jacobs into Claudio’s European uppercut. Claudio grabbed the falling legs of Roderick, putting him in the Stronghold. Jacobs jumped up, putting Claudio in the End Time to help free Roderick while trying to make Castagnoli tap out. Roderick exploded off the ropes, kicking Jacobs off of Claudio. Claudio got distracted by the loud “Hey” chants, allowing Strong to almost knock him out with an enzuguri. Claudio used the snake eyes on Roderick, but ended up getting dumped to the floor by Jacobs. Jimmy ran over, making Roderick submit through the End Time.
Jimmy decided to cut a little promo about Delirious stabbing Jimmy in the eye. Before Jimmy could continue, Tyler Black came to ringside to make fun of the pirate looking rooster boy in the ring. Jimmy interrupted Black’s mockery by reminding him that Jacobs is the one who made him, and everyone else. Jimmy proclaimed himself a god. And that’s where his problem lies, according to Tyler. Everyone that was in the Age of the Fall saw no truth of Jimmy Jacobs, a man too afraid to realize what he truly is. Jacobs is truly a scared little boy. Jimmy bent over, pulling out that railroad spike. Black gave Jimmy an open shot, but Jacobs didn’t have the strength to follow through with the swing, allowing Black to grab his arm and hold him back. Black proclaimed Jimmy a disappointment before leaving.

　 Dark City Fight Club vs. Phoenix Twins
Jon Davis’ left arm was heavily tapped up after what happened to his wrist last night. Chavis got the jump on his opponents, taking it to Tweak until Dash tagged in, using a sunset flip. After Chavis kicked out, Dash rushed him into the turnbuckles, using a couple of shoulder tackles. Chavis avoided the running stomp, allowing Davis to sideswipe him with a back elbow. Chavis followed up with the swinging face plant. Davis came in, helping his partner double hip toss Dash. Dash was stuck on the ropes, getting stomped on. Kory Chavis became the legal man again, with no change in his offense. Dash fought his way out of the corner, tagging in Tweak, who knocked Davis off the apron before attempting to level Chavis. He wasn’t able to, but Tweak did propel Chavis to the floor with his partner, allowing Dash to dive on top of them. Dash tagged in, running into a kick to the abdomen. Dash avoided the clothesline, leading to a double super kick by the Twins. Running double team stomp from the Twins got Dash a near fall. Davis pulled Tweak to the floor with him, slamming Tweak into the guardrails. Chavis stopped Dash’s flurry of punches, using their version of Total Elimination after Davis came in to end the Twins’ night.

　 Jimmy Rave w/The Embassy vs. Bryan Danielson
Before Rave could get in the ring, Prince Nana had grabbed the microphone to ask why his good friend, “Barack Olabama” would deal with people like the fans in this audience. This was done to introduce the “crown jewel,” Jimmy Rave. Danielson had to aware Rave of a piece of toilet paper on his boot. Danielson turned a wristlock into a stomp across Rave’s arm. Danielson almost locked in a rear naked choke when Danielson countered the heel hook attempt. Rave avoided the elbows to the face by rolling to the floor. Danielson got a series of one counts by countering the side headlock. Nana booed the fans as Danielson took Rave down by his wrist. Rave kneed Danielson when he tried to break clean in the ropes. Danielson paid him back by kicking him in the back of the leg when Rave spent time posing. Danielson had Jimmy twisted in the middle of the ring, working over the shoulder and arm of The Embassy member. Shoulder tackle sent Rave to the mat after Bryan got pushed into the ropes. Danielson was able to drop toe hold Rave into the surfboard to the delight over everyone outside of The Embassy. Danielson floated over into a series of elbows strikes, causing Rave to scurry outside again. Rave feigned a tie up, going for a cross arm bar. Danielson quickly countered, putting Rave in a modified triangle choke. Rave was able to catch Danielson in a swinging neck breaker as Nana yelled at referee Todd Sinclair, “Buddha head!”
Rave started to punch Danielson on the nose after he couldn’t make him tap. Danielson fired back with kicks, knocking Rave off his feet. Running forearm dropped Rave in the corner for a running dropkick. Danielson ran up the turnbuckles, back flipping over Rave after Jimmy reversed the whip. Danielson used a running knee strike afterwards to get a two count. Rave was stuck in the middle of the ring, giving Danielson the chance to lock in Cattle Mutilation. Rave scooted to the ropes to break free. Rave tried to avoid the tope when he rolled to the floor, but Danielson just followed him until he could connect. Rave rolled through the sunset flip upon reentry, executing the running knee strike before Danielson could move. Jimmy quickly went for the Heel Hook when Danielson kicked out of his follow up pin. Bryan turned it around, putting the hold on Rave. They were trading Heel Hooks, and neither would submit. Rave kicked Danielson in the face to finally get the hold on with full effectiveness. It didn’t last long for Rave as Danielson clawed his way to the ropes. Danielson used Rave’s obsession to gloat against him by jumping on Rave’s back to elbow him in the side of the head. Rave stopped it, but his From Dusk Till Dawn allowed Danielson to lock him in the triangle choke. Rave refused to submit, but Danielson started to rain down elbows to the top of Jimmy’s head. The referee saw Jimmy wasn’t moving, causing the referee to call for the bell.

　 Chris Hero w/Shane Hagadorn vs. Tyler Black
Honorable handshake before the bell. Both men tried to get an advantage over the other’s arms. Black switched his target to Hero’s head. Black got shoulder tackled Hero to the mat before snapping him over for the big stomp to the throat. Hero moved in time to avoid it. Black led Hero in to chasing him until Hero was on the mat so Black could stomp him on the throat. Hero was reeling after a couple of strikes. Black was in complete control after a few slams. Hero stopped the back body drop with an elbow to the back of Black’s head. Using Tyler’s hair, Hero pulled Black to the mat, dropping him on his head. Hero had the head and neck targeted after the slew of kicks and forearms. When Black tried to fight back, Hero hit the ropes for some momentum. Instead, Hero ran into a dropkick. Hero had Black scouted, avoiding both the caperana and the standing shooting star press. This left Black wide open for a senton splash for a two count. Black got whipped into an elbow, and a twisting senton. Hero popped Black in the face, so Black started paying him back with some of his own. Black back flipped to stop from missing the dropkick, catching Hero with a spinning heel kick. Hero came off the ropes, right into a back drop. Black stopped the elbow when Hero back dropped him over the top rope and landed on his feet. Black jumped up, kicking Hero in the back of his head. Hero stumbled out of the corner, into a springboard clothesline that got Black a near fall. Hero got the boot up to stop the running forearm. Hero tried to follow up with another kick, but Black sidestepped it, hoisting Hero up for the turnbuckle bomb. Hero slipped free, hitting a forearm/Liger bomb combo. Black kicked out before the three count, rolling to the floor. Hero followed, throwing the ring mats on top of the prone Black. Tyler saw the senton coming, moving at the last second before somersaulting on top of Chris. Tyler hit the running forearm in the corner, but ended up running into a flash kick right after. Hero was a little frustrated that Black kicked out. Hero decided to use some sweet forearm music. Black followed Hero after taking the blow, kicking Chris in the back of the head again when Hero tried to jump to the middle rope. F5 out of the corner by Black put Hero on his knees, wide open for the super kick. Hero was able to get his left boot on the bottom rope to stop the three count. Hero forearmed Black before he could jump off the top rope, pulling him off with the sit-down super bomb. But Black somehow got his shoulder up before the three count. Hero grabbed the green elbow pad as Hagadorn distracted the referee. Black spun into Hero’s Rolling Elbow attempt, executing God’s Last Gift to pin “That Young Knockout Kid”.
As Black went up the aisle to leave, Jimmy Jacobs jumped him, jabbing Black in the face with that railroad spike until Black was bleeding profusely. Afterwards, Jacobs licked the blood off his hands, drooling it on some annoying fan’s shoes. Black promised to kill Jacobs after he was helped to his feet.

　 ROH World Tag Team title, 2 Out of 3 Falls match: The American Wolves (c) w/Shane Hagadorn vs. Kevin Steen & Jay Briscoe
Shane Hagadorn distracted the challengers so the champs could get the jump on Steen and Jay. Kevin reversed the whip into the guardrails as Jay did the same to Eddie. Steen stopped Richards’ escape up the aisle. Jay slapped hands with the fans after whipping Eddie from one end of ringside to the other. The action finally made it into the ring, with Jay just stomping Eddie until he was in position for Steen’s cannonball. Face buster by Jay got him a two count. Eddie was able to back Jay into the champs’ corner so Davey could tag in. Jay reversed an Irish whip, dropkicking Davey on the rebound. Steen tagged in, ping ponging Davey with his partner. Steen clawed Davey’s face, leading to a double team shoulder tackle by the challengers. Jay followed up with a leg drop to set up Steen’s senton splash. Like his partner, Davey rushed Jay backwards when he got to his feet, tagging out. Eddie just ended up getting caught on the wrong part of town, being double choked and face raked. Jay used the drop toe hold on Eddie to hold him down for Steen’s somersault leg drop. Sternum crushing chop by Steen. Eddie thumbed his way to freedom via Steen’s eyes. Steen paid him back by spitting Edwards in the eyes. Jay followed up with one loogie of his own. Blind tag by Davey when Steen went for the roll up. With Steen pressing Eddie’s shoulders to the mat, Davey ran in, kicking Steen’s chest. Davey pitched Steen to the floor so Eddie and Shane could do some damage. Modified camel clutch by Davey just softened him up for Eddie’s running big boot. Snap mare into a kick to Steen’s back. The Wolves were doing everything in their power to ruin Steen’s face with their fingers. Steen used an Irish whip to lure Davey into a power bomb after Jay ran in, clotheslining Eddie to the floor with him. Sharpshooter by Steen on Davey, but the ref informed Steen Davey wasn’t the legal man. Just as Steen understood that, Eddie came flying off the top rope. Steen caught him, putting him in the sharpshooter. Eddie tapped out to end the first fall.
The Wolves wanted to leave, but Steen and Jay weren’t letting that happen. Steen kicked Hagadorn in the butt on his way back in. Steen got caught in the ropes, allowing Eddie to dragon screw leg whip him. Smelling the blood, The Wolves honed in on Steen’s hurt left leg. Davey feigned a figure four leg lock to the fans disdain. Steen slapped Eddie backwards, allowing Edwards to knock Jay off the apron before Steen could tag out. Steen tried to block a kick, but ended up in an ankle lock. Running forearm by Davey helped him get some momentum. It didn’t help Davey when he ran into the super kick. Steen leapt from the mat, tagging out. House of fire Briscoe had both Wolves reeling. Big spine buster on Davey after hitting that downward spiral in the corner on Eddie. Davey ran up the ropes, kicking Jay in the back of his head. Jay responded with a boot of his own on Eddie. Eddie recovered, kneeing Jay in the face when Briscoe tried to get a running start for something. Backpack chin breaker by Eddie almost got the champs the second fall. Jay blocked the roll up, getting German suplexed. Fighting spirit by Jay led to a yakuza kick that gave him the chance to tag out. DDT by Steen on Davey. Davey turned the Package Piledriver into a dragon screw leg whip. Davey tried to rush Steen, but got back dropped over the top rope. Richards landed on his feet on the apron, allowing himself and the running Eddie to kick Steen in the back of his head, and forearmed his face respectively. Eddie belly to back suplexed Steen into Davey’s missile dropkick. Eddie floated over into a half Boston crab on Steen, forcing him to tap out, evening this contest.
The Wolves stopped Jay before he could check on his partner. Steen recovered, going for the Package Piledriver. Steen’s leg gave away, allowing Davey to lock in the Texas cloverleaf just as Jay spine busted Eddie on the edge of the ring. Jay ran in, kicking Davey in the head. Jay tagged himself in, going forearm to forearm with Davey. The exchange moved to kicks until Jay clotheslined Davey for a near fall. Richards got flipped to the floor, allowing Steen to somersault on top of both champions. “Mr. Wrestling” executed the Swanton on Davey, leaving Richards wide open for Jay’s guillotine leg drop. And Davey somehow kicked out. Steen grabbed the incoming Eddie, attempting a sharpshooter. Steen looked up to find Jay locked in Davey’s cloverleaf. Steen gave up on submitting Eddie, Package Piledriving Richards. Eddie leapt across the ring, stopping the three count. Jay accidentally had the referee distracted long enough for Eddie to low blow Steen. Big boot for big boot by Eddie and Jay. Jay and Eddie traded standing switches as Steen ran in. Steen mistimed his swing, kicking Jay in the testicles instead of Eddie. Edwards kicked Steen in the face before doing the same to Jay, allowing Davey to German suplex Jay into Eddie’s jackknife pin. Davey was smiling before realizing that Jay had kicked out before the three count. Doomsday Ace Crusher on Jay to give The Wolves another successful title defense.

Jay slapped Steen after telling Kevin he cost them the belts after Steen kicked him in the balls. This led to a slew of insults between the two.

　 ROH World title: Jerry Lynn (c) vs. Colt Cabana
I know you’re probably guessing who’s the most over guy in Chicago. Not Todd Sinclair, that’s for sure. Nor the guy in the front row who heckled Jerry Lynn. Stalemate to say the least during the opening moments. Cabana turned a test of strength into a Japanese stranglehold. Lynn flipped over Cabana, leading to a quick exchange of counters and reversals. Jerry was able to escape the head scissors, nipping into a side headlock. Jerry turned it into a hammerlock, which Cabana used to send Lynn sailing through the ropes, to the floor. The pace picked up when Lynn came back in. Lynn was able to sidestep the incoming challenger, dumping him outside. Lynn wanted to assist Cabana, but Colt didn’t trust him all the way. Head scissors by Lynn only gave Cabana the opportunity to elbow Lynn for the flying @$$hole. The clothesline afterwards got Cabana a near fall. Cabana knocked Lynn loopy after slamming Jerry on the back of his head, going for a series of two counts. Unique stretch by Cabana after a side Russian leg sweep. The champ elbowed his way out of the hold, but didn’t keep the momentum. Lynn did turn an Irish whip into a reverse DDT. Lynn used the skull f***er on Cabana when Colt tried to reverse a figure four headlock. Sidewalk slam into the guillotine leg drop by Lynn for another close count. Colt got out of the side headlock, leading to a forearm exchange. Lynn won, but ended up running into some Texas jabs. Bionic elbow from Cabana. Lynn recovered, whipping Cabana into the ropes. Cabana jumped up before colliding with the ropes, using a caperana to press Lynn’s shoulders down for two seconds. Colt felt the match was going well, hitting another flying @$$hole. Lynn blocked the Colt 45, attempting to turn it into an air raid crash. Cabana flipped out of the attack, using an air raid crash neck breaker. Lynn somehow kicked out before the three count as the fans got behind the hometown boy. Junkyard Dog style head-butt by Cabana sent the champ to the floor. Cabana tried to dive on top of Jerry, but hit nothing but ring mats.
Cabana made it on the apron, attempting to shoulder ram Lynn. Jerry jumped up, leg dropping the back of Colt’s head. With Cabana stuck on the apron, Lynn DDT’ed him on the wood and steel. Cabana somehow kicked out of Lynn’s follow up cover. Colt stopped the Cradle Piledriver, so Jerry just used a regular one. It wasn’t successful enough to pin the challenger. Cabana turned the Cradle Piledriver attempt into Billy Goat’s Curse. Lynn inched his way to the ropes to save himself and he title. Big clothesline from Cabana softened Lynn up for Colt 45. Jerry somehow kicked out before the three count. Pepsi plunge by Cabana to the awe of the crowd. What stunned them more was Lynn kicking out afterwards. Lynn turned whatever Colt had in mind into a reverse hurricarana. Cradle Piledriver, and this one is over.
After some honorable sportsmanship, Jerry handed Cabana the microphone to speak to his people. Cabana was a little disappointed that he didn’t win the title as he had envisioned. He even had a speech ready to celebrate his win. Colt was amazed about the caliber of talent that has invaded ROH since his time in “some little company somewhere else.” Cabana put over Ring of Honor as the best wrestling company in the world, led by the best wrestling going right now, the champion Jerry Lynn. Cabana promises to get him next time. Lynn was given the mic to talk about how great the fans of Chicago have treated him throughout his career. Jerry thanked the fans, telling them to keep ROH alive.

　 Is It Worth Your Money:
What can I say about ROH’s return to Chicago? Well, let me focus on the match of the night for me-Tyler Black and Chris Hero. This fresh match up not only felt unique, but also looked this is a preview for the future. And it was a great preview. It just felt like the old days of ROH when the fans were talking about matches that were as high octane as this one. They showcased the style that Ring of Honor made its name off of, and I can only hope that one day, when one of these men gets on top, they’ll set the standard that those before them did. That’s not to say Jerry Lynn isn’t holding his own. He and Cabana had a solid back and forth contest that also felt like Samoa Joe’s old defenses with a guy you knew couldn’t beat him, but gave him a good push. But Joe usually didn’t look as vulnerable as Lynn. I must say that so far, Jerry Lynn has been an exceptional champion, providing a work rate that is ROH is known for. The Tag title and Rave vs. Danielson matches were also solid, but weren’t that memorable. I think that’s the problem with this show. The crowd was hot. The wrestling was solid to great. But nothing truly stood out, or made me think that I’ll be watching this DVD six months from now to reflect on something big. It just felt like a show. But a very good show none the less. ROH The Homecoming II Is A Bargain Bin Purchase.