World Wrestling Insanity...DOT COM!

Ring of Honor : First Anniversary Show : 2/8/03 from Queens New York

By Adam Barnowski

This is an excellent dvd for fans who are new to RoH. It is set up for the fans who don't know a lot about the product. It has plenty of highlights from year one, which gives you a good sense of their early history.

The show opens with a shot of a cheap looking cake that says "Happy Birthday Ring of Honor".

Fade ~ Outside : Low Ki promo. When you hear this guy speak for the first time, you wonder why they are modifying his voice. He talks about how he made RoH. He pushes the words Respect, Honor, Discipline, and Dedication. We watch as he enters the "historic" Queens N.Y. bingo hall.

Fade ~ Black and white flashback footage from year one (2002) when RoH had 13 events total. We see highlights from those 13 events including footage of : Paul London; Bryan Danielson; Eddie Guerrero; Loc and Devito (Carnage Crew); Low Ki; Mark and Jay Briscoe; Super Crazy; Brian Kendrick; Tommy Dreamer; Homicide; AJ Styles; Dan Maff; Xavier; Jimmy Jacobs; Masato Tanaka; Somoa Joe; Steve Corino; Colt Cabana; Abdulla the Butcher; Jimmy Rave; Amazing Red; and Michael Shane.

Fade ~ Flashback : Highlights from Low Ki vs. Christopher Daniels vs. Bryan Danielson for the title. Danielson and Ki compete to see who can kick the Fallen Angel harder. Danielson gets Cattle Mutilation on Daniels. Ki goes up top and hits a Twisting Phoenix Splash on both guys. Ki Crusher - Three count - Low Ki is your first ever RoH champion.

Fade ~ Outside again : Paul London is just arriving. He tells us that he plans on giving "one hundred thousand percent" and promises that tonight he's "walking home with some gold". Walking home Paul? You'd like to hope that, if he does win the title tonight, maybe he'll splurge and catch a cab.

Fade ~ Ringside : Match # 1 : Chad Collyer vs. EZ Money vs. Michael Shane vs. "Classic" Colt Cabana

The announcers welcome us and introduce themselves, but I can't figure out what they are saying. It's Chris and Ray.... I think.... Chris Love? Ray Morrow? Something like that. Either way, I'm pretty sure that we are listening to Gabe Saplosky and Rob Feinstein

They push Michael Shane's training in San Antonio with Shawn Michaels. They mention that he is a "blood relative" of Michaels, and say that his attitude is similar to Shawn's as he "doesn't care about the fans, and the fans don't care about him" (when talking about Michaels, that statement is only half true). Later they say that he's "just an asshole" (which is a little more on target).

There's a blow handspring elbow spot from EZ which brings about the infamous "You Fucked Up" chant. Cabana hits a Double Underhook Butterfly Powerbomb on Shane. EZ hits the "Money Clip" on Cabana. Shane misses a "Picture Perfect Elbow Drop" from the top. Colt goes for a "Colt 45" on Shane but is stopped by Collyer. Shane tries a "Sweet Shane Music" Superkick but Collyer moves and Cabana takes it on the chin. Collyer then hooks Shane in the Texas Cloverleaf. EZ makes the save.

With Cabana and Shane down, EZ hits the "Cha-Ching" (Vertical Suplex into a Powerbomb) on Collyer and gets a surprising three count. Everyone shakes hands after the match, even the "asshole".

Fade ~ Flashback : Tommy Dreamer is walking down the RoH isle, and the crowd is super hot for him. Dreamer grabs a mic and rants about how RoH reminds him of another special place that he was once part of. He eventually puts down the mic and hits the Dreamer DDT on some poor fool.

Fade ~ Backstage : AJ Styles is just arriving (good thing he wasn't in the curtain jerker). Styles says he is here to take the RoH title "away from the Prophecy". Short, to the point, promo from AJ

Fade ~ Ringside : match # 2 : "The Texas Wrestling Academy" of Fast Eddie, Don Juan, and Hotstuff Hernandez with Rude Boy Gonzalez vs. "The Carnage Crew" of Loc, Devito, and some big stiff called 'Masado'

The announcers tells us that Fast Eddie is legally blind and "doesn't even know if you are standing right in front of him". I have to assume that they are exaggerating slightly. The Masado guy looks like a giant, green as hell, Matt Hardy. It's like Matt Hardy Version Hulk. Hotstuff Hernandez is a another big, green guy who comes in and stiffs everyone for a while. He attempts a "Dominator" on Hulk Hardy, and drops him directly on his head.

Devito hits Don Juan with an ugly looking release Northern Lights suplex into the corner. The famous lover falls directly on his head. Someone's going to get crippled in this match.

The two green guys get in together and the match falls to pieces. Everyone dumps to the outside where the guy who "doesn't even know if you are standing right in front of him" hits a perfect Asai Moonsault.

The Crew decide to give up on the match here. They grab hubcaps, which they use to plaster everyone in sight. The Fat Ugly Hardys then hit a Super Spike Piledriver on poor Fast Eddie. The bell rings A LOT.

Suddenly some strange music hits and Mace and Bumpy(?) saunter in slowly for the save. The announcers tell us that it is the reunited Christopher Street Connection and say that "the queens are back in Queens". They do some gay porn with the Carnage Crew for a while, eventually finishing off Loc with a kiss followed by a top rope "Gay Basher". Mace and Bumpy then make out.

Awful match. Awful finish. Awful post match angle. Just awful. This is RoH at it's worst in my opinion. If you buy the DVD, just skip this match. You'll be better off for it.

Fade ~ Flashback : Mark Briscoe vs. Jay Briscoe in Boston. Mark's debut match. He hits his older brother Jay with a "Cutthroat Driver" (looks like a "Burning Hammer" to me) and scores the upset three count.

Fade ~ Ringside : Match #3 : (18 year old) Mark Briscoe vs. (19 year old) Jay Briscoe

Mark prays in the corner as Jay makes his way into the ring ("Dear god, please give me the strength to beat the holy hell out of my older brother, you know he deserves it"). The announcers inform us that this will be the last time the Briscoe boys will ever wrestle against each other.

Mark uses a faux knockout spot early in the match to fool the ref, the announcers, and his stupid brother. They do a lot of the trading holds, back and forth, mirror type action. The crowd chants for "Briscoe". Why not just chant "wrestler"?

The "Code of Honor" is brought up here and we are told that there are five rules to the code. They are listed as : No outside interference ; No involving the ref in the match (I.E. ref bump) ; Must shake hands before and after the match; and no DQs (clean winners and losers). That's only four rules. He tells us that if you break the code you get "heat with the boys". God forbid. Shouldn't there be some sort of monetary punishment involved?

Mark hits an insane moonsault from the top rope to the floor. Ouch. Jay comes back and hits a stiff Death Valley Driver. Mark hits a Climbing Shinning Wizard. Both boys hit Springboard Ace Crushers.

They stand in the center of the ring and chop and kick the shit out each other as the announcers compare the match to "Fight Club". Jay hits a Liger bomb and a Senton bomb. The crowd gets the duelling "Mark/Jay" chant going.

Mark counters out of the Jay Driller, hits one of his own (Mark Driller?) and gets the vaunted "2 and 7/8ths count". Jay then hits a Rolling Jay Driller X3. Mark is dead. Jay wins.

Fade ~ Outside : We're on the roof with "Da Hit Squad". This promo is hysterical because it's really windy on the roof, and whenever the wind blows it fucks with the audio so bad that you can't understand what these guys are saying at all.

Homicide's old buddy Dan Maff rants and raves about the 14 man scramble match coming later. He gets excited about performing in front of his hometown crowd, which he calls "Our Mecca of Manhood". He then says that they are going to "sacrifice (wind blows) body, blood (more wind) Ring of Honor (more wind) thank you".

Fade ~ Flashback from 6/22/02 : Low Ki vs. The Amazing Red. The crowd is absolutely rabid here. Not the cliched 'rabid' you hear about all the time from wrestling announcers. This crowd is actually foaming at the mouth rabid.

Fade ~ Backstage : Homicide tells us that it is "an honor" to be part of the RoH first anniversary show "in my home town". He goes on to say that he feels "sorry for Steve Corino" and then drops this vague and prophetic statement : "I got my thugs out there. You're going to the hospital. You bring your thugs with you. I got my crew out there". If you've seen this show before, than you believe him.

Fade ~ Ringside : Match #4 : Homicide vs. Steve Corino

Corino comes out with Simply Luscious and Samoa Joe. `Cide is out with his "Notorious 187" jersey and "Scarface" shirt. The announcers tell us that this is a grudge match, so the Code of Honor has been lifted.

Corino gets on the mic while `Cide and Joe go nose to nose. The crowd tells Corino to "shut the fuck up" to which he answers : "I would, but no crackhead in here has the guts to shut me up". Classic.

Corino intros Joe and Luscious, calls out "Feinstein" and "Gabe" (who are shown on camera briefly), brings out C.W. Anderson and Michael Shane, and finally calls out Low Ki, who does not come out.

Homicide finally interrupts Corino by taking the mic and calling him and his friends "punk ass bitches". He jaws on the mic for a few more seconds before he hits Corino with it.

The crowd starts a "N.Y.C." chant and the announcers describe them as "about to erupt". The announcers liken Corino's group of buddies to the WWE's "Clique", saying that the "whole group are assholes".

Corino gets no discernable offense while Joe gets into it with the group of conspicuously big guys in the back of the crowd. Corino, CW, and Luscious all get into it with this same group at different points during the match.

`Cide places Corino in a chair and goes for his Tope Con Hilo, but Corino moves. Homicide sells crashing thru the chair as if it was death. `Cide barely kicks out of a cover and the announcers say that `Cide HAS to win because "otherwise the mood in this building could erupt".

Corino hits the "Old School Expulsion" Neckbreaker/DDT combo (inverted "Twist of Fate") `Cide kicks out. Corino with a Northern Lights Bomb. Homicide barely kicks out. Corino locks in a Dragon Sleeper and Homicide makes the ropes. Corino drags him back to the center, locks in the Dragon Sleeper again and..... Homicide....... is............. out.

Uh oh.

If you don't know what is coming next, than you haven't been paying enough attention for the past twenty minutes.

Corino goes back to the Dragon Sleeper while Shane, Joe, CW, and Luscious bait the angry crowd. Not surprisingly, the group of conspicuously big guys charge down and jump the guard rail. The camera man goes into "shaky footage mode" to increase the feeling that things are breaking down.

Another guy jumps the rail, near the camera, and thanks to the power of frame by frame slow motion, this man is easily identified as the future Julius Smokes - manager of the modern day Rottweilers. Julius eventually makes it over the rail as another "fan", on the other side of the ring, jumps over as well.

The wrestlers throw out the storylines and mob all of the "fans" who have leapt the rail. A few of the "fans" take a healthy beating from the boys. Joe especially seems to delight in pounding on these guys.

The locker room empties, the announcers say that "kayfabe means nothing in this situation" and then they bail. Just when things start to settle down, Joe goes nuts again turning over a table, and attacking some huge "fan". There is chaos everywhere. Feinstein yells about how "we're going to get banned" (no Rob, just you). There is tons of random cursing and fighting. Devito looks right into the camera with a big smile and says "I love this shit". The non-rioting fans chant for Low Ki, RoH, and NYC.

Homicide, Ki, Maff, and Saplosky end up in the ring with Feinstein yelling "you did this" at them from the floor. Homicide freaks out and dives out of the ring yelling "Fuck you Motherfucker", "Fuck you Rob", and "I don't give a fuck if I get fired". A bunch of guys separate the two as they yell at each other.

The fans chant "RoH" as the show fades to a sudden intermission.

We then get alternate footage of the same event with no commentary. This footage is labeled "RoH exclusive". In this version we again see Julius Smokes strutting around at ringside and, in a moment that will become relevant a few years down the road, we see Homicide stopping Low Ki from attacking him. The idea that Homicide is going around and pulling the wrestlers off of "his boys", who had jumped the rail to get at Corino, comes across clearer in this footage.

Without the announcers we can hear Homicide tell Low Ki to calm down. We also hear someone yelling about how "that guy's got a hammer in his hand". Its also clear in this footage that the majority of the crowd is sitting there calmly watching as this whole thing goes down.

Fade into another RoH exclusive angle of the same footage. This final camera angle is static, and too far off to reveal any new details but it does catch the overall feel of chaos very nicely. This is some pretty compelling shit. An unconventional angle to be sure. "Must see DVD" if you will.

Fade ~ Flashback : 9.21.02 Danielson and some guy vs. Daniels and Donovan Morgan. Daniels hits the "Last Rites" and picks up a three count to win the tag titles. This gave "The Prophecy" all of the titles in RoH, but the American Dragon smashes the trophy ala Bret Hart after he lost that battle royal to Bad News.

Fade ~ Backstage : The Fallen Angel rubs his hands and preaches from his "gospel". Daniels cuts an awesome promo here on Steve Corino for stealing Joe from the Prophecy. He tells Corino that things have gotten personal and dares him to "cast the first stone". By far the best promo of the show so far.

Fade ~ Flashback : 7/27/02 Williams vs. Ki vs. Kendrick vs. Daniels. Spanky taps to the Dragon Sleeper. Later Daniels has Ki in the Dragon Sleeper but Ki wont give it up. Ki counters and hits Daniels with the "Last Rites" as time expires. Low Ki remains champion. They show a Ki promo from backstage, after the match, where he gets a little bit emotional.

Fade ~ Ringside : Match # 5 : The Outcast Killas vs. Dunn & Marcos "The Ring Crew Express"

This looks like a bad match. Gary Michael Capetta interrupts it and, for no reason at all, he introduces C.W. Anderson. C.W. says he didn't come to talk, but then he does just that for three to four agonizing minutes. He lays the four guys in the ring out, and then continues to talk trash until he is interuppted by some strange looking, skinny dude with...... oh....

That's C.M. Punk.

C.M. says in ten words what CW couldn't get out in five hundred (including a nicely placed rip on CW's home state - South Carolina). CM goes on to say that "you actually had the balls to show up, unlike someone else (?), so let's do it". G.M.C. does the intros and it's on

Match # 5 : C.M. Punk vs. C.W. Anderson

The announcers inform us that the Reckless Youth, or "Technician" Tom Carter, was scheduled to be CM's opponent but that he was in an "auto accident". This makes CM calling him a pussy moments earlier seem like kind of a shitty thing to do.

They try to paint Anderson as a modern day "loose cannon", which seems kind of silly. There are some early "boring" chants as Anderson works on CM's arm. We are told that CM is coming off a recent string of victories over Colt Cabana and Michael Shane. The announcers tell us that CM "defiantly could be a guy who could have a huge impact in RoH".

There are some more "boring" chants as the announcers call the match an "old school wrestling contest". Punk hits the Shinning Wizard for a crowd pop and a two count. The announcers chat about Punk, Cabana, and Ace Steele - the future "Second City Saints". Finish comes when Anderson goes for the Spine Buster but Punk counters, slides down into a Sunset Flip, and picks up the three count. Punk wins and does the "X" gesture with his arms.

Fade ~ Flashback : London vs. Michael Shane from the 9/21/02 ladder match. London is shown taking a crazy ass dive off the ladder to the floor. Then he hits a "London Star Press" off of the top of the ladder. Damn! Crowd chants "match of the year".

Fade ~ Ringside : Match # 6 : "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe

This match is billed as a "strong style showdown". Apparently Joe is up 1 0 in the series so far. Both of them want into the top 5 rankings.

Match is full of stiff forearms, stiff chops, and multiple leg and body submissions. Joe hits that Spiked STO out of the corner and the crowd chants"holy shit". The announcers tell us that "Joe could be the ROH impact player of 2003..... who can stop this guy?"

This is easily the best match of the night so far. More stiff chops and kicks. Joe uses a Face Wash, an STF, some Knee Strikes, a Step Up Enzuguri, and a stiff Power Bomb. However Danielson rolls thru and cradles Joe for a flash 3 count.. Joe is pissed. Both guys sell for a while before the requisite handshake.

Fade ~ Flashback : 9/21/02 Xavier vs. Low Ki. Daniels teams up with Xavier to wear Ki out. Xavier hits the 450 and wins the RoH title in Saploski's worst booking moment from year number one. The Prophecy bury Low Ki under an RoH banner. Nice visual but ...... Xavier? Terrible idea.

Fade ~ Ringside : Allison Danger (Steve Corino's Sister apparently) introduces Xavier. He tries to cut a promo but fails miserably. Fans tell him to "shut the fuck up" so he takes a seat at ringside so he can watch the next match which is.....

Match # 7 : Low Ki vs. AJ Styles vs. Paul London (winner gets a title shot at Xavier)

Low Ki is the clear crowd favorite even though they like all of these guys. Match opens with hundreds of stiff chops and kicks from everyone. AJ and Ki end up on the floor and London hits his first crazy ass dive, smashing both of them with a Frog Splash on the floor. London then takes a flat back bump off of the apron to the floor. Ouch. That looks like it hurt, but London only sells it for a few seconds before getting back in the ring.

London is locked into a deathlock by AJ and then takes a series of SICK unprotected kicks to the head, face, and chest from Low Ki. Ouch.... Damn! However again, London only sells this for about 30 seconds before he is back up and in the match.

They pull off a Dragon Neck Clutch Sleeper 3 way submission hold that looks pretty sweet. Low Ki hits a sick looking Crush Rush on Styles in the corner. Styles takes an awesome looking hurricanrana off of the top from Low Ki and flies directly into a Power bomb from London. London covers but Ki makes the save.

Ki kicks everyone in the head repeatedly and then all three end up on the top rope in the corner. Ki hits the top rope Ki Crusher on AJ but London follows immediately with a London Star Press on AJ and picks up the 3 count before Low Ki can recover.

An awesome and innovative match with a sweet finish. Match of the night to be sure. The crowd thinks that it is a "match of the year". All three guys sell near death for a long time. Eventually they get up and there are handshakes all around.

Xavier grabs the mic and demands that London wrestle him immediately. London agrees and then is blind sided by Xavier.

Match # 8 : Paul London vs. Xavier : RoH World Title Match

The story of this match is London fighting off exhaustion and constant interference from Allison Danger. Eventually Alexis Laree comes out to even things up and there is a brief cat fight. London bumps like a man possessed and gets some color off of the steel post, as he attempts to save this match from an apathetic death.

London "will not die" and the announcers really push the idea that London could pull it off. Eventually the crowd starts to believe it, and they start getting invested in the match.

Dropsaults, flying lariats, and insane dives to the floor a plenty. Allison takes some bumps of her own before London finally hits the London Star Press and gets what is clearly a three count.

Then there is some chaos as Allison drags Xavier to the floor and the announcers claim that Xavier has been disqualified for outside interference..... Hmmmm? The guys then roll back in and the match is apparently restarted, which confuses the hell out of me and the crowd.

They do some quick moves and Xavier scores a flash pin off of a roll up where he grabs the tights. Xavier is announced as the winner and he and Allison hightail it out of town.

Uh....... ?????????

A decent match but a terrible finish that has left the crowd confused and angry.

~ Fade : Flashback 4/27/02 : Amazing Red and Eddie Guerrero vs. The SAT (Jose and Joel Maximo). Red/Guerrero hit a Launching Super-rana off of the top rope. Eddie teases a Frog Splash but puts the other SAT guy away with a Splash Mountain Powerbomb. Post match Latino Heat hits a Frog Splash on some poor schlub.

Fade ~ Ringside : Match # 9 : Scramble Madness

600 guys come out for the next match which makes me wonder exactly how many guys are in this thing. They are : Monsta Mac, Maffia (Dan Maff), Mickey Whipwreck, Jose and Joel Maximo, Chris Devine, Quiet Storm, and Trinity vs. "Special K" of Deranged, Izzy, Dixie, Hydro, Angledust, Slim J, Yeyo, Slugga, Jodie Fleisch, and Brian XL

Rob Feins.... Err... "Ray Morrow", on commentary, offers this gem : "I think I must be on acid because I see 30 people in this match". He goes on to say : "This match will be nothing but a ridiculous display of spots". When Gab...uh...Chris... tries to explain why these teams would be fighting each other, he offers this insight: "They're high, so it doesn't matter right?"

The announcers then launch into a LONG, no I mean REALLY LONG, commercial for all of the local promotions, RF video, and RoH. This commercial takes up pretty much all of this match and they make no effort to call it at all, except for stopping occasionally to make fun of it. I'm not saying this was an awesome match or anything, but they treated it like a total joke, which did it no favors at all.

The match itself is all bad comedy spots, and weak selling. All the heels sell for Mickey Whipwreck's terrible looking left hand punches until the Special K kids offer Mickey drugs to turn on his team. Naturally he takes their offer and gives everyone on his team Whipper Snappers before leaving.

During this, a large black man (Slugga) attacks, and knocks out a small white woman (Trinity). He then kidnaps her, carrying her off to the back, while everyone watches.

Terrible wrestling; pointless violence toward women; awful announcing; kidnap and implied rape? I get confused for a moment, thinking that I must have accidently switched over to Monday Night Raw.

I'm brought back into the match when Quiet Storm suddenly hits a running "Canadian Destroyer" totally uncalled by the announcers who see it, but then go back to the long winded commercial. Deranged hits a "Code Red" which is called "a nice move".

This match goes on for FAR too long. Storm wants a "Storm Cradle Driver" but it's blocked so he hits a "Spinal Shock" ("Widow's Peak") instead. Maff hits a "Muscle Buster". The SAT hit an awesome looking "Spanish Fly" off of the top rope. Dan Maff finally brings this debacle to an end with a middle rope "Burning Hammer" on Deranged.

"Chris Love" and "Ray Morrow" say their thank yous and sign off.

Fade ~ Flashback : Low Ki gets revenge on Xavier. Daniels takes a wicked Style's Clash off of the ring apron and thru a table. Ki and Styles shake hands.

Fade ~ Backstage : Chris Daniels with Allison Danger. Daniels is heated. He rails on Steve Corino, running down the history of both of their careers. He says "the line has been drawn" and once again begs Steve to "cast the first stone".

Another awesome promo from Christopher Daniels here. He wasn't even at this show, but he still cut the two best promos of the night. Thank god they put this after that horrible match we just saw. This promo saves this DVD from ending on a terribly flat note.

But wait.....

Fade ~ Locker Room : CM Punk is here looking all serious. He wants to talk about "respect". He respects all the guys in the RoH locker room (even Colt Cabana) but there is a guy who's coming to Ring of Honor that he does not respect. A guy who "doesn't belong". Raven (who Punk calls "a weak individual who can't even control his own demons") is coming and Punk wants a match with him. He wants to show Raven why "Straight Edge means I'm better than you".

Fade ~ Parts Unknown : Raven accepts Punk's challenge and suggests that Punk is only Straight Edge because he "doesn't have the balls to take a walk on the dark side". He says he is in the best shape of his life and will prove it to Punk. "Quote the Rave : Nevermore"

Fade to black. ~ This is where the DVD should have ended. However.......

There is a stupid little skit, where Feinstein gets the RoH birthday cake in his face. It's stupid and should have been left off the dvd, but what can you do?

Until next time gang.

Questions, comments, threats, or bribes to abarnowski@gmail.com

~ ajb......ajb.......ajb........ajb........

Click Here to Purchase ROH's Anniversary Show

Think you can do better? Prove it. Send your review of this or any other DVD to:

Review@WorldWrestlingInsanity.com

Back to the People DVD Review Section