Death Before Dishonor VII: Night Two
Toronto, Ontario
7/25/09

D-Lo Brown is trying to have a conversation with his wife when he’s confronted by a camera for an interview. Brown ended his phone call in anger to talk about his involvement in the Toronto Gauntlet involving Davey Richards, Necro Butcher, Jerry Lynn, and Jimmy Rave. Brown made sure the cameraman zoomed in on the eyes of Brown because Brown wants us to know that these eyes are the eyes of the next ROH World champion.

Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. Super Smash Brothers
Generico felt the fat men of the teams should handshake while the skinny ones do the same. Steen didn’t like the idea because he thought the masked men should shake instead. Both Player Uno and Generico had their eye holes on each other as Steen ordered Uno out of the ring so he and Player Dos could kick this one off. Steen easily shoulder blocked Dos off his feet before using the snot rocket. Dos didn’t like that, using an enzuguri to stumble Steen. Dos didn’t keep the momentum, having to roll over to his corner to tag in Uno as Steen did the same. The masked men had a battle of holds and agility, with Generico winning by arm dragging Uno to the floor. Dos tagged in, head scissoring Generico across the ring. Steen tagged in, chopping Dos before thumbing him in the eyes Roddy Piper style. Drop toe hold by Generico into Steen’s somersault leg drop on Dos’s head. Uno got the blind tag, allowing Dos to trick Generico and the referee, who caught the incoming of Generico, holding him long enough for Uno to use a neck breaker on his fellow masked man. Uno lost his grip of Generico, letting Steen tag in. Steen ran into a double team shoulder ram/clothesline combo that left him wide open for Dos’ cross body block. Unfortunately for Dos, Steen caught him-using Dos’ legs to knock Uno out of the ring before backbreaking Dos.
Generico became the legal man again; body slamming Dos to the joy of the crowd. Generico used two more body slams, causing the wrestling purist fans to clap. Steen came in, wanting to slam Dos as well, only to give up and just forearm him instead. Dos stopped the stereo Irish whip, double enzuguring Steenerico. Uno tagged in, tilt-a-whirl backbreaking Generico before pitching Steen over the top rope. Rubik cube neck breaker by Uno only got him a near fall. The SSB caught Steen coming by whipping Generico into him. Steen accidentally hooked Generico’s head, allowing Uno to grab Steen and drive both men into the mat. Alabama slam into the backstabber by Uno and Dos, but Generico kicked out before the three count. Series of forearms from Dos only fired up Generico so he could use a Michinoku driver before tagging out. Steen attempted to Swanton bomb the prone Dos, but Dos got his knees up. Steen stumbled to his feet, right into a double stomp to the back of his head from Uno. Uno spent too much time celebrating, allowing Generico to yakuza kick him. German suplex by Generico on Uno. Before Generico could move, Dos came off the top rope with a frog splash. Dos rushed Steen, but got power bombed into the sharpshooter for his trouble. Uno ran over, saving his partner before tagging himself in. Uno charged into a super kick from Steen, but avoided the moonsault. Generico ran across the ring, yakuza kicking Uno in position for the Swanton. Somehow, Uno kicked out of Steen’s follow up pin. Steen’s knee gave out on him when he went for the Package Piledriver, leaving himself wide open for Dos’ double knees. Uno jackknife cradled Steen, picking up an upset victory.
Steen wanted to attack his opponents, but Generico made him shake hands.

Bison Smith w/Prince Nana vs. Frankie the Mobster
Imagine if Tyson Tomko and UFC’s Frank Mir had a son that had slight mental problems; that’d be Frankie. Huge forearm exchange to kick this one off. Frankie used a clothesline, then a big boot to level Smith. In an amazing show of strength, Frankie t-bone suplexed Bison. Missile dropkick by Frankie gets him a two count. Frankie executed a vertical suplex, but couldn’t get a pin off of it. Frankie ran into a stiff clothesline as Nana screamed, “How do ya like it?” Bison reeled back his right hand before locking Frankie in the Iron Claw. Smith used the submission hold to toss Frankie to the floor so he could ring Frankie’s bell…literally, with the ring bell. Frankie dove through the ropes when Bison tossed him back in. Bison Smith bounced off the barricades, shoulder blocking Frankie. The action moved into the crowd-where Bison used a chair. Bison reentered the ringside area to get a running start. Bison dove over the guardrails, tackling Frankie. As Bison posed, Frankie grabbed a chair. Bison punched the chair into Frankie’s face before pulling him over the barricades. Frankie grabbed referee Todd Sinclair as a shield, causing the fans to cheer, “Hit the ref!” Bison followed their command, getting himself disqualified.
Nana stopped Smith from power bombing Sinclair to a chorus of boos. Then the fans decided, “It’s okay!”

Claudio Castagnoli-and his cup of coffee-is in a garbage yard to show us what Brent Albright is. Tonight, it’s Claudio and Brent in a European rules match.

Toronto Gauntlet: D-Lo Brown vs. Jerry Lynn
The winner of this gauntlet gets a future World title shot. Brown jumped Lynn before the bell, DDT’ing him as Lynn stepped through the ropes. Lynn tried to fight back, but was already hurting. Lynn reversed the snake eyes, but still ended up hitting the turnbuckles face first. Sliding clothesline gets Brown a two count. Shaky head leg drop from Brown. Brown ran to the top rope, missing the Low Down. Lynn hit the ropes, looking to cross body block Brown off his feet. Brown caught him, swinging Lynn for a slam. Jerry countered Brown’s counter, crucifying Brown before getting a shocking three count.

Toronto Gauntlet: Jerry Lynn vs. Sonjay Dutt
Dutt went on the attack quickly, springboard dropkicking Lynn. Dutt hit the ropes after a failed pinned off the standing shooting star press. Jerry caught him, tilt-a-whirl backbreaking Dutt. Dutt recovered, sending Lynn into the ropes. Sonjay kicked Lynn in the face on the rebound before leg dropping the back of his head. A springboard splash didn’t get Dutt the pin, so Dutt went for a submission. Jerry made it to the ropes to stop the octopus stretch. Head scissors by Dutt. Dutt attempted to follow up, but Lynn moved from the corner. Dutt caught himself, blocking the sunset bomb. Lynn turned it around, using the TKO for a two count. Sonjay went for a hurricarana, but Lynn blocked it, hitting the Cradle Piledriver to eliminate another competitor.

Toronto Gauntlet: Jerry Lynn vs. Jimmy Rave w/Prince Nana
Running knee by Rave under a shower of toilet paper. Lynn kicked out, rolling to the floor. Rave reversed a whip, sending Lynn back first into the barricades. Rave locked in a neck crank on the visibly tired Lynn when the action returned to the ring. When Lynn didn’t give up, Rave stomped on Lynn’s face. Lynn turned Rave’s body slam into a reverse DDT. Rave stopped the roll up, but not the DDT. Rave kicked out, walking into the Cradle Piledriver setup. Rave blocked the match ender, using Gonorrhea to finally end Lynn’s night.

Toronto Gauntlet: Jimmy Rave vs. Necro Butcher
Rave is not pleased to hear Necro’s music. Rave fled to the floor, causing Necro to give chase. Necro knocked Rave upside his head before undoing the ring mats. Necro whipped Rave face first into steel ring post. Big slam on the concrete by Necro. Necro grabbed a couple of chairs. When Necro tried reenter to follow Rave, Nana grabbed Butcher’s foot out of the view of the referee. The referee counted Necro out, causing Butcher to go on the rampage; beating up the ring crew, including a crowning of Gossipier with a chair. Necro threw chairs and barricade covers before calming down.

Toronto Gauntlet: Jimmy Rave vs. ROH World Tag Team champion Davey Richards w/Shane Hagadorn
Rave tried to get the jump on Davey at the sound of the bell, but ended up running into the handspring flying chuck. Texas cloverleaf had Rave screaming in agony as Nana screamed at Hagadorn. Davey started unleashing kicks after Rave freed himself from the submission by grabbing the ropes. Rave took the strikes, going face to face, strike for strike, saliva for saliva with the American Wolf. Rave bounced off the ropes as Davey rushed him. Rave sidestepped whatever Davey had in mind, hitting the flashback STO. Davey stopped the superplex, going for a missile dropkick. Rave countered with a power bomb into the running knee strike. Davey kicked out of Rave’s follow up pin, getting caught in the Heel Hook. Davey kicked his way to freedom, throwing a slew of strikes before going for a running kick to Rave’s head. Rave ducked, but ended up being put in a shoulder lock. Rave fought out of it, Heel Hooking Davey again. Davey was close enough to the ropes to save himself. Rave wanted to knock Davey off the apron. Davey stopped that with a kick before, missile dropkicking Rave upside down. Richards called for the DR Driver. Rave got out of it, only to get hit with the Alarm Clock, then a clothesline. DR Driver…for a near fall! Davey hooked Rave in the Kimura, forcing Rave to tap to earn a future shot at the ROH World title. Nana is not pleased.

Here comes Ric Flair. From the looks of it, he’s not sweaty tonight. Ric wanted to tell us a little story about his days in Toronto, and how he showed the women of Toronto his Niagara Falls through multiple fake marriages. “Canadian women can go.”-Ric Flair. Flair explained that at Wrestlemania 18, in Toronto, Flair found himself as a wrestler again. Flair put over the Ring of Honor locker room as sophisticated and respectful. Flair thanked the fans for coming out, and ROH for allowing Flair to have a place to work. Flair emphasized his love for Canadian women, and I couldn’t help but notice one fine looking Latina or Italian in the front row that I wouldn’t mind finding out if Flair’s quote is true.

European Rules: Claudio Castagnoli w/Prince Nana vs. Brent Albright
A European Rules match has some interesting stipulations. There are ten three-minute rounds in this contest-with a thirty-second rest between those rounds. No closed fists. A yellow card is handed if a fist is thrown. A red card is given, signaling a disqualification. You have ten seconds to recover from a knockdown. There is no standing eight count like in boxing. Since this is very similar to a worked MMA fight, I’ll be giving my scores at the end of each round.
Round One: Forearms upon forearms in the opening seconds. Brent had Claudio on the ropes after the first minute, causing multiple breaks in the action so the referee could count Claudio down. Claudio couldn’t shoulder block Albright down. Brent could clothesline him though. A monkey flip by Albright set up a clothesline that sent Castagnoli to the floor. Albright followed up with a plancha before rolling Claudio back in. Before Albright could continue his assault, the round ended. I’ll give it a 10-9, Albright.
Round Two: Brent came out swinging at the top of the round, leading to another forearm exchange. Claudio rushed Albright into the ropes, causing the referee to get between them. Claudio connected with a right fist to Albright’s jaw as the ref looked down. Claudio threw a couple of open hand strikes, using them to get Albright out of position of the ref’s eyesight so he could punch Albright again. Albright reversed a whip into the Crowbar, almost making Claudio tap. Castagnoli recovered quickly, attempting to suplex Albright. Brent reversed it, only to get rushed into the corner again. With the ref bent in hopes of separating to the two, Claudio clocked Albright with another right fist. Albright exploded out of the corner, punching Claudio o the jaw. Sinclair pulled out the yellow card, scorning Albright at the sound of the bell to signal the end of round two. 10-8, Castagnoli for the simple fact he got all of his illegal shots in without the ref seeing them.
Claudio jumped Albright as Brent walked to his corner. Claudio knocked Albright to the floor, whipping him into the barricades, causing Sinclair to give Claudio a yellow card. But the damage had been done as Albright was bleeding from his forehead. I bet you Paul Daley is sitting in England, wishing he could have done that to Josh Koscheck.
Round Three: Claudio chin locked Albright before raining down palm strikes. Albright fought out of it, only to run into a boot. Albright got up before the ten count, only to get slapped by Nana off the Castagnoli distraction. Gutwrench suplex by Claudio left Albright on the mat for eight seconds. The fans were starting to boo as Claudio put Brent in a sleeper. Brent broke free; using an uranage a few seconds before the end of round three. Once again, 10-8, Claudio. Would’ve been 10-7 if Brent didn’t hit the uranage at the end of the round.
Round Four: Brent yelled for Claudio to come on. Claudio missed the bicycle kick, getting suplexed. Clothesline dropped Claudio on the top of his head. Brent stopped the springboard European uppercut, hitting the swinging backbreaker. Half nelson suplex by Brent had Claudio swinging at nothing. Claudio stumbled into the Crowbar, causing Nana to jump onto the apron. The referee approached Nana, allowing Jimmy Rave to come to ringside. Albright knocked Rave off the apron, leaving himself prone for Castagnoli’s cradle, which involved hooking a handful of tights. Castagnoli held Brent down to remain undefeated in European Rules matches. Claudio did the smart thing and didn’t leave it in the hands of the judges.
A furious Albright pulled Rave in, beating him. This brought out Joey Ryan and Bison Smith. Albright tossed out Ryan before fighting off Smith. The numbers became too much for Albright until Necro, Grizzly Redwood, and Colt Cabana hit the ring. Necro had a broom as his weapon of choice. In a horrible, bush-league moment, a camera follows Albright to the back, where he just walks pass Joey Ryan like nothing ever happened. Albright entered the locker room to cut a promo to talk about how he was winning in Claudio’s match. Albright wanted his match to end this war. And the only way to stop the interference of The Embassy and the fleeing of Claudio is by putting them in a steel cage.

Tyler Black vs. Tyson Dux
Arm drag exchange leads to a stalemate, causing some random chick to cheer for Black to the approval of Tyler. I guess I’d do the same thing if some random chick cheered for me by wringing a dude’s arm. Back to the action-Black dropkicked Dux off his feet, leading to that leaping stomp to Dux’s face. Black tried to yes a springboard attack, but Dux was ready. Dux tripped Black before shoulder tackling him off the apron, into the front row. Dux executed a suplex on the floor in hopes of getting the count-out victory. Tyler wasn’t letting that happen. Tyson locked Black in a camel clutch after the backbreaker. Dux used Black’s hair against him by yanking Black down after Black broke free of the submission. Black nipped up as Dux hit the ropes, Pele kicking Tyson to a nice ovation.
Black was on fire with a slew of clotheslines, including a flying one. Dux thought he lured Black into the corner, but was the one set up as Black flew over the top rope, kicking Tyson in the back of his head before using that springboard clothesline. No three count for Black off the clothesline, causing Black to go for the turnbuckle bomb. When Dux slipped out of Black’s attack, Tyler went all Randy Savage by using Savage’s over the top rope hot shot, then the flying elbow. Unlike “Macho Man”, Black didn’t go for the cover immediately after. Instead, Black used his series to get fired up for that running forearm in the corner. Black tried to follow up with a running attack off the ropes, but Tyson trailed Black out of the corner. Before Black could turn around, Dux grabbed Black’s waist, German suplexing him. Black shows fighting spirit as he immediately jumps to his feet…only to run into a clothesline. Death Valley Driver by Dux gets Tyson a near fall. Dux wanted to use the superplex, but Black slipped out of it. Black used it to set up a near fall exchange between the two. Black kicked out of Dux’s cradle, kicking Tyson on the top of his head. God’s Last Gift, and Tyler doesn’t allow Dux to follow in the SSB’s Canadian upset weekend.

No Disqualification match: Colt Cabana vs. Joey Ryan w/Prince Nana
Cabana came out in his own version of Nana’s headdress. Cabana mocked Ryan’s chest hair. Cabana also mocked Ryan’s abilities before getting the fans to boo everything at the end of Cabana’s sentences. Cabana gets referee Todd Sinclair to make this match a No Disqualification contest. Cabana was ready for Ryan, punching him in the face over and over as Dave Prazak made fun of Cabana’s singlet onesie. Joey tried to throw some chairs in, but Cabana stopped that from happening. Cabana took a seat before using the chair to drop toe hold Ryan’s face into. Ryan sent Nana to the back for something, giving Cabana the chance to use his ninja skills. Nana returned with a hockey stick, causing a tug of war between Cabana and Nana. Colt let go, only to turn around to get speared. Ryan showed his punching prowess to the disapproval of “Colt Cabana’s best friend,” referee Todd Sinclair. Ryan whipped Cabana into a dropkick before posing to show off…well, little “Magnum.”
Joey tried to set up the timekeeper’s table for something, but Cabana stopped that. Cabana went as far as to reset the area for the often-abused ringside personal. Joey grabbed the ring bell, causing Nana to yelp, “Ding, ding, ding!” Cabana stopped the bell ringing with a sunset flip. Cabana was able to toss Sinclair the hammer and the bell so Todd could remove them. Nana used his scarf to trap Cabana. Or so Nana thought. Cabana broke free of Nana’s grip, sending Ryan into Nana. Ryan spun around into a lariat. Cabana had the fans behind him as he unleashed a slew of jabs. Atomic drop by Canada before Colt gave Ryan a free chest wax. Cabana grabbed Sinclair, pushing him into Ryan for the flying @$$hole! Cabana ran to the back as Sinclair recovered. Cabana returned with two garbage bags. Cabana bag beat Ryan to a thunderous ovation. Cabana rung Joey’s balls with the ring bell. Cabana took too much time playing with Nana’s crown, allowing Joey to recover. Cabana blocked Ryan from choking him with Nana’s scarf, wrapping it around Ryan before unraveling Ryan into a bionic elbow. One chair shot later, and Colt Cabana had gotten one over on The Embassy. Nana was almost having a breakdown in the corner.

The ROH World champion Austin Aries was introduced. Why? To show off the World title belt. Aries put some loudmouth in the place before telling the fans that they’re fat, weak losers just like the guy he punked out. Aries heard that the fans wanted Kenny Omega to get a World title shot. Omega hit the ring to answer for himself. Austin felt Omega could only get a shot after Omega grows a little bit. Aries then thought about the chance he’s offering, and told Omega that he could get a shot tonight if he could come up with one good reason why Omega deserves a match with the champ. Before Omega could give him a reason, Rhett Titus and Kenny King jumped Omega from behind. Kenny O. needed some held, and he got it in the form of The Briscoes. Omega recovered to give his reasons: 1-Omega’s already beaten Aries. 2-The fans deserve a real title defense in Toronto. 3-The fact that Aries wears Skittles a package for tights. Omega threw out the challenge for a six-man tag, and Aries and crew accept.

ROH World champion Austin Aries, Rhett Titus, & Kenny King vs. Kenny Omega & The Briscoes
All six men were brawling around ringside until Jay Briscoe pushed Rhett Titus in, almost getting the three count off a dropkick. Mark entered, double shoulder tackling King and Titus. Aries avoided the move that put his partners down, but not the double clothesline. Kenny King clipped from behind Jay after Titus pushed Mark off the top rope. Aries became the legal man after King worked over the leg of Jay. Aries follow suit, using quick tags with his teammates. King told Jay to man up. Jay did when he used that downward spiral in the corner. Omega tagged in as Titus did the same. Omega flipped over Titus, using a hurricarana. Omega posed, leaving himself wide open for a sneak attack from King. Omega reversed the Irish whip, sending King into the same corner with Titus. Aries tried to save his partners, but got caught in the collision of Omega’s flying back elbow. Double bulldog by Omega had the fans cheering for the home country boy. Omega knocked Aries off the apron in hopes of diving on top of him. Omega took too much time posing, allowing Titus to come in and dropkick him. Slingshot leg drop by King after the tag.
With Omega on King’s knees, Aries used a slingshot elbow drop to crush Omega’s torso. Omega stopped the Brain Buster attempt by the champ, but not the STO. Omega avoided the power drive elbow, leaping for the tag. Aries stopped Omega’s jump, giving Titus the chance to run in and knock The Briscoes up side their heads. Sexy suplex by Titus after getting the tag. Gutwrench suplex from the champ before he clamped the white Kenny in a nerve hold. Omega fought out of the epic hold, but couldn’t make the tag. Omega attempted to get out of the corner, but Aries stopped that. Aries wanted to use the IED. Omega threw his boots up, knocking Aries out of the air. Kenny O. jumped off the mat, tagging in “Crazy” Mark Briscoe.
Hillbilly kung-fu theater on both Kenny King and Rhett Titus. Exploder suplex on King after he jumped off the top rope. Aries stopped the double team neck breaker on King. But Aries couldn’t stop the double hip toss out of the corner by the Delaware duo. Aries used the back rake to end The Briscoes hope of using the Doomsday Device. Titus, King, and Aries singled out Jay, using a triple team in the corner that ended with those shotgun knees from King. Aries ducked Jay’s clothesline, only for Aries to sail through the ropes, taking out King with the heat-seeking tope. Aries went for a roll up when he reentered, only to push Jay into a tag from Omega. Aries stopped the Electric Chair German Suplex, grabbing the referee on the way down. Aries threw his legs back, mule-kicking Omega in the junk. Omega somehow recovered quickly, kicking Aries in the head. Omega got hoisted up by Titus, allowing King and Titus to use that Doomsday Blockbuster. On the other side of the ring, The Briscoes executed the Doomsday Device on Aries. The Briscoe took it to King and Titus, only for all four men to hit their signature moves. Aries was too late in stopping Mark from diving on Titus and King. Shin breaker/belly to back suplex combo on Omega by Aries. Aries wasn’t done with Omega after the IED/Brain Buster combination. Omega used Aries’ smack talk against him, rolling up an arrogant Aries to get the pin for his team.
A frustrated Aries took it out on a Canadian flag that some fan had strewn up. That fan fought with heart of a patriot against Aries and Titus…and he won! Omega hadokened the flag in support of that fan, and his country.

Lance Storm vs. Chris Hero w/Shane Hagadorn
The match one year in the making. For those who don’t know, Storm has the buzz cut going with an amateur wrestling style red & black singlet. Hero gave Storm fair warning during the honorable handshake. Storm was able to shoulder block Hero off his feet, leading to an exchange of holds. Hero tried to elbow his way out of the hammerlock, only for Lance to turn it into a stretch after hooking the incoming arm. Storm used the ropes to flip out of an arm wringer, dropkicking Hero to the outside. Hero gave the hand to the Canadian flag fan before reentering. Hero knuckle locked Storm off his feet, but that didn’t last long. Hero decided to switch it up, using his strength by slamming Storm down before senton splashing Storm. Running dropkick to the rising Storm. Storm tried to fight back with some chops, so Hero went to the eyes. Storm kicked out of the crucifix pin, only to succumb to a head scissors on the mat. Hero hesitated after the elbow, giving Lance the chance to kick out of Hero’s follow up pin. Hero pitched Storm to the floor so Hagadorn could choke Storm out of the ref’s view. Lance rose to his feet, sidestepping the baseball slide. Hero took a whip into the barricades, only to pay Storm back right after. Hero covered Lance in the ring mats, using another senton on the blinded Storm. Chris couldn’t get the pin off that move after they reentered, so he went for the submission via a cravat.
Lance got free and started chopping and punching Hero until he got a grip of Hero for the side Russian leg sweep. Leg lariat by Storm only gets him a two count. Hero tried to Rolling Elbow Storm, but ended up getting taken down by a springboard clothesline. Storm hit the ropes for something, but Hero sidestepped the attack, connecting with a Rolling Elbow for a shocking near fall. Running elbow by Hero to set up for the Liger Bomb. Storm blocked the bomb, hitting the ropes after a couple of forearms. Hero started running as well, flash kicking Storm for another two count. Storm ducked the Rolling Elbow, super kicking Hero. Storm couldn’t believe it when Hero kicked out. Storm slipped through Hero’s legs after Hero whipped him for another elbow. Hero got pulled down into the Maple Leaf. Hero clawed his way to the ropes in an impressive show of heart. Hero rolled onto the apron, catching Storm by the neck before tossing him face first into the top turnbuckle. Hero ran to the top rope. Storm stopped whatever Hero had in mind; power slamming Hero to the mat after some fan yelled, “Bring him down the hard way!” He sure did, son. He sure did.
But it wasn’t enough to keep Hero down for the three count. Storm made his ascent up the ropes. Hero avoided the frog splash, Rolling Elbowing Lance on the back of his head with a sick smack. Somehow, Lance kicked out before the three count-causing Shane Hagadorn to jump on the apron in protest. This was actually a distraction so Hero could remove the emerald elbow pad of Misawa-ness out of Hagadorn’s jacket. Storm stopped the Rolling Elbow, back sliding Hero. Hero kicked out, connecting with the Rolling Elbow again when both men made it to their feet. A running elbow downed Storm. Hero jumped on top of Lance, picking up the win to the shock of everyone, including Hero.
Lance got a standing ovation, followed by a, “Thank you, Lance,” chant. Lance grabbed a mic to ask if he could be serious for a moment. Lance thanked the fans for supporting him and Ring of Honor. Storm said he didn’t know if he’ll ever have another match, but is happy to know he’s a part of a company that still knows that wrestling sells tickets. Lance explained how much work he put into his career, and how much wrestling means to him, and obviously, to the fans that support the business. Lance was visibly choked up as he thanked the fans one last time.

Is It Worth Your Money: Death Before Dishonor has become one of those shows on the ROH calendar that everyone expects nothing but the best. Lance Storm and Chris Hero truly went out and gave us their very best. While it didn’t live up to the caliber of Storm/Danielson from three years ago, but it was incredibly good. It really felt like a battle of young and old, with neither doubting the abilities of themselves or their opponent. It really came down to who could land that knockout blow, or lock in that unstoppable submission. Thankfully for Hero, he was able to hit that final elbow to pick up one of the biggest wins in his career.
Another man picking up a huge win here was Kenny Omega. The six-man tag involving Omega was a very good bout that saw King, Omega, and Titus look like true stars in the making. All three looked like true stars by hanging with three of the biggest stars in ROH history. The Toronto Gauntlet should’ve been off the wall good, but the first half was marred by men holding back. It makes sense since they want to keep something for later on in the Gauntlet. Once Jimmy Rave made his way out, everything changed, and the match turned up a perfect notch. Yes, Jimmy Rave turned a match around, and by the time he and Davey started, the Toronto Gauntlet was looking like sunshine.
Like the impressive showings of the aforementioned comes a great performance from the Super Smash Brothers against Steenerico. One of the best openers in recent memory. Cabana and Ryan did what they do best with their comedy; adding a nice change of pace to the show. Black vs. Dux, while short, was impressive. Bison Smith looked like a real monster against a man who actually looks more like a monster than he does. If only Frankie was a psycho hillbilly, his gimmick would work better. The weakest part of the show was the European Rules match. That’s not to say it was a bad match. Actually, they worked a smart match, but the rules just took away any momentum they made due to the time limit. Unlike MMA and boxing, the story being told in a pro wrestling ring is hurt by commercial breaks and time limits like in those sports. Even with the stumble, this show definitely lived up to the legacy ROH has created with this event. Death Before Dishonor VII: Night Two Is Worth Your Money.