Retro Rowe: ROH on HDNet

Ring of Honor on HDNet- April 18, 2009
by SamoaRowe

-Our hosts are Mike Hogewood and Dave Prazak. They hype tonight’s main event which will be Brent Albright vs. Claudio Castagnoli.

-Smack talk with Jimmy Jacobs! He calls Necro Butcher a dumb animal who was too stupid to know what the Age of the Fall were fighting for. Necro Butcher responds in a separate video, threatening to use a staple gun on his former running mate.

Jimmy Jacobs vs. Necro Butcher
A graphic declares that Jacobs is “violent and evil.” Necro Butcher’s graphic reminds us that he had a big role in The Wrestler (now available on DVD). The referee has to pry the staple gun from Butcher’s hands, allowing Jacobs to jump him on the opening bell. Jacobs targets the head. Irish whip and backdrop by Butcher. Jacobs hides behind the referee for a breather. Jacobs offers a handshake, which Necro Butcher accepts as a means to cheap shot. Jacobs is stomped into the corner and gets driven into the turnbuckles. Butcher tosses Jacobs to ringside. Necro Butcher drives the ring bell into the gut, which surprisingly doesn’t draw a DQ. Necro Butcher chokes with a shirt and uses it to toss Jacobs across the floor. Necro Butcher tries a power bomb through a table, but Jacobs blocks and drops him to the floor. Jacobs pulls a plastic bag from his pants and tries to suffocate Necro Butcher! Jacobs seats Necro in a chair and dives onto him over the ropes! That spot never gets old. Back to the ring, Jacobs targets the head. Second rope elbow drop by Jacobs (who mocks Randy the Ram’s mannerisms). Necro Butcher counters a spear with a closed fist to the head. Chokeslam by Butcher and a Tiger Driver, but no cover attempt. Necro Butcher grabs the staple gun, but Brodie Lee runs in for the save. The match is thrown out at 5:49. Fun garbage match, more violent than what we usually see on televised wrestling in 2009, **.
Winner by DQ: Necro Butcher

Retro Rowe: ROH Rising Above 2008 Review

Ring of Honor: Rising Above 2, November 22, 2008
by SamoaRowe

-This was taped in Chicago, Illinois. Dave Prazak introduces the show.

-Jay and Mark Briscoe are in the ring, talking on the microphone. They tear apart Kevin Steen and El Generico, reminding them that they dominated them in their feud last year. Steen and Generico come out and Steen runs them down on the mic. Steen brings up Mark’s injury and says that beating the Briscoes at 50% won’t prove anything. Steen offers the Briscoes the chance to walk away, but the Briscoes take offense and jump the champs.

ROH World Tag Team Championship:
Kevin Steen and El Generico © vs. Jay and Mark Briscoe
Jay and Steen collapse to ringside, leaving Mark to pummel Generico in the ring. Generico fights back but hesitates, allowing Mark to attack the head and tag Jay. Generico counters with a knee lift and big kick for 2. Steen tags and slugs it out with Jay. Mark cheap shots, allowing Jay to nail a big boot. Mark tags and nails a suplex for 2. Jay tags, with Steen having to fight off both Briscoes. Scoop slam by Jay and a leg drop. Jay knocks Generico off the apron and tags Mark for a double shoulder block. Cover by Mark gets 2. The Briscoes keep the tags coming, isolating Steen. Steen drops Mark with a super kick and Jay’s attempt to block a tag fails. El Generico cleans house on the Briscoes. Generico tries to run the ropes, but Jay blocks with a clothesline. Exploder suplex by Mark gets 2. Steen makes the save, allowing Generico to hit a Yakuza kick. Generico takes out Jay at ringside, while Steen gets a frog splash on Mark for 2.9! Mark blocks a package piledriver and attempts a cutthroat driver. Steen blocks and nails the package piledriver to retain at 6:41. Hard hitting and entertaining for the time allowed, **½.
Winners and still ROH World Tag Team Champions: Kevin Steen and El Generico

Retro Rowe: ROH Supercard of Honor II Review

ROH: Supercard of Honor II

March 31, 2007

-Not really sure when I wrote this one either, but I'd guess sometime in 2007 when I'd just moved into my first apartment and was using my girlfriend's hilariously old computer.

-This was night two of a double shot weekend in Detroit, Michigan during Wrestlemania 23 weekend. Our hosts for the evening are Dave Prazak and Lenny Leonard.

- The DVD opens with Jimmy Jacobs talking about his hatred of BJ Whitmer. He accuses Whitmer of walking out on him, and worrying about his career and legacy more than anything else. Jacobs says that tonight, in their steel cage match, he will be fighting for the greatest cause of all: love. Camera pans to the lovely Lacey, whom Jimmy has been obsessed with. Jacobs wants his innocence and purity back, and he will accomplish that by taking out Whitmer. "In my mind, you've already lost, big brother" claims Jacobs, which sends a chill running down my spine. Jacobs has developed into one of the best characters in all of wrestling, highlighted with this excellent promo.

-We are treated to highlights from last year's Supercard of Honor Dragon Gate match. Many considered that match to be the Match of the Year for 2006, so the stars of Dragon Gate are looking to repeat tonight.

-Jay Briscoe comes down to the ring to a monster pop. Last night in this same venue, Jay single handedly won back the ROH Tag Team Championship after his brother, Mark, botched a shooting star press to the floor and landed on his head. Jay says that Mark is recovering in the hospital and is looking forward to returning and having a great reign as tag champions. Jay is joined by former tag champs Christopher Daniels and Matt Sydal. Daniels is heeling it up. The fans are chanting "Fallen Angel" to which Daniels cuts them off with "I know I'm here, shut the hell up and listen!" Daniels wants Jay to forfeit the tag titles to him and Sydal right now. Instead, Jay brings out his surprise partner, Delirious. If Sydal and Daniels can beat them, they can have a future shot at the titles.

Christopher Daniels and Matt Sydal vs. Jay Briscoe and Delirious
Daniels set the tone for the match by hitting a cheap shot on Delirious as the bell rang. Jay ends up dumping Daniels to the floor, causing the Fallen Angel to consider leaving the match. For the record, Daniels is wearing that same face paint that can be seen every Thursday night on Impact. Daniels reconsiders and tags in Sydal, who demands Delirious. Those two have had one of the higher profile indy feuds as of late, which is always good to see, especially during a time when the wrestling world has been going through so much hard time. The match continues in a spotty, yet intense fashion, with a highlight being Jay Briscoe drop kicking Delirious into Sydal and Daniels, who were holding him at ringside. From there, Delirious becomes the face in peril for several minutes. Briscoe eventually cleans house, but Daniels hits a Death Valley Driver and goes for the Best Moonsault Ever, which is dodged. Delirious gets involved again, hitting the Panic Attack and Shadows Over Hell on Daniels, which still wasn't enough to put him away. After some chaos, Sydal is tagged in and misses the shooting star press. Delirious hits the chemical imbalance and pins Sydal at 18:08. Daniels and Sydal seem to be in a rut in their quest to reclaim tag team gold. Good opening match that probably didn't need to go as long as it did, but was enjoyable nonetheless, ***1/4.
Winners: Jay Briscoe and Delirious

Retro Rowe: ROH Death Before Dishonor V Night 1

ROH: Death Before Dishonor V Night 1
by SamoaRowe

August 10th 2007
Roxbury Crossing, MA

-Not really sure when I wrote this, my best guess is sometime around 2008.

-Ring of Honor's annual Death Before Dishonor spectacle kicks off in the slums of Boston, MA. There is a double main event of Takeshi Morishima defending the ROH World Championship against Claudio Castagnoli and the war between the Briscoes and Kevin Steen and El Generico will reach new heights of violence as they battle in a Boston Street Fight!

-The DVD opens with the Briscoes rambling on about how they are going to kill Steen and Generico. They use some fun medical props to make their point, as they anticipate their foes will resemble a human skeleton by the night's end. The Briscoes are such fun drunks.

Davey Richards vs. Jack Evans
Evans is extremely over with the Boston crowd. Richards is sporting that vest that New York fans seem to think resembles Chris Benoit a tad too much. This turns out to be a fine opener, as it is very spotty, but very sharply executed. Evans hits a lot of his trademark flying moves, including a standing moonsault. Evans attempts a springboard move, but Richards catches him with a powerbomb. Richards applies some submission holds for Evans to fight out from. Evans ends up missing his first 630 splash attempt and gets hit by a nasty German suplex from Richards. Evans attempts the 630 splash a second time, but Roderick Strong and Rocky Romero run in and attack, forcing the disqualification finish at 11:22. This was a fine exhibition match that also managed to advance a feud, **3/4.
Winner by DQ: Jack Evans

Retro Rowe: ROH Black Friday Fallout

Ring of Honor - Black Friday Fallout
November 26, 2006

by SamoaRowe

-From Lake Grove, NY. Our hosts are Dave Prazak and Jimmy Bauer (Gabe Sapolsky).

-Backstage interview with ROH Tag Team Champions Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli. They are staging a phony press conference. Since they are the champs, they feel they can say whatever they want, whenever they want. They dismiss the other teams chasing after them. Tonight, they defend their newly won titles in a “No DQ” match against Austin Aries and Roderick Strong.

-Brent Albright introduces himself to the ROH audience. He’s coming off a lackluster run on Smackdown. Albright is here to make money and beat people up. Tonight, he gets the opportunity to beat five people up in the gauntlet match.

Four Corner Survival:
Daizee Haze vs. Nikki Roxx vs. Lacey vs. Allison Danger

That’s right, they’re opening with a women’s match, what are you going to do about it? Hot start with participants tagging themselves in, as everyone hates Lacey. Danger turns up the aggression, attacking Lacey with hard strikes. Roxx assists Danger in a double team against Lacey. Haze tags in and puts Roxx down with a Tornado Daizee Cutter. Allison misses a curb kick and Haze locks on an STF. Danger looks for a tag but Lacey refuses. Roxx tags and works over poor Allison. Lacey tags herself in and blindsides Danger. Allison makes a comeback but Haze sneak attacks with a drop-kick. Roxx and Haze gets tags and Roxx gains the upper hand with a tirt-a-whirl backbreaker. Barbie Crusher on Danger by Roxx! Daizee jumps Nikki and nails a Hart Punch. Lacey shoves off Daizee and puts Roxx down with an Implant DDT. Lacey gains the victory at 8:27. Solid match that really gave Lacey a chance to get over, **½.
Winner: Lacey

Retro Rowe: ROH Honor Reclaims Boston Review

ROH -Honor Reclaims Boston - Nov 3,2006

by SamoaRowe

-I still haven’t gotten my WWE tapes in the mail (damn holiday weekend) so here’s the second live ROH event I ever attended.

-From Braintree, MA. Our hosts are Dave Prazak and Jared David.

-Nigel McGuinness comes to the ring and puts over ROH’s return to the Boston area. His mystery opponent is local boy, John Walters.

Nigel McGuinness vs. John Walters

They show off their chain wrestling skills in the early going. Nigel leap frogs and runs into an arm drag. Walters delivers a slingshot arm drag to take control. They trade hip tosses and Walters scores yet another arm drag. They trade uppercuts and Walters scores with a flying cross body. Nigel throws a suplex and goes after the arm. Walters is also favoring arm attacks. Walters powers out of a cobra clutch only to eat a lariat. Walters counters with a big spinebuster. Walters unloads a flurry of offense but can’t get the pinfall. Hammerlock takedown by McGuinness cuts off Walters’ momentum. Walters comes back with a Codebreaker and an arm submission. Neckbreaker by Walters only gets 2. Nigel bounces back with the Tower of London for only 2. Nigel counters into the big lariat for a very close near fall. The crowd goes nuts for that one. McGuinness hits the lariat off the ropes but Walters gets a rope break. A second Tower of London ends it at 13:54. It was getting hard not to root for Walters at the end, ***.
Winner: Nigel McGuinness

Retro Rowe: WWE Night of Champions 2011

WWE Night of Champions 2011
by Samoa Rowe

September 18,2011

-From Buffalo, NY. Our hosts are Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and Booker T.

WWE Tag Team Championship:
Air Boom! © (Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth)

Truth and Miz rapping on their way to the ring is so pathetic it’s not hard to see why their main event run flopped so badly. Air Boom get a hot start, with Kofi bridging Miz for flying knees from Evan. Truth tags, but Kofi tosses Evan onto him for a DDT. Air Boom connect with stereo top rope dives to the floor. Right on cue, the Awesome Truth turn it around and isolate Bourne for the heat segment. Bourne impressively counters and rolls through the Skull Crushing Finale to make the hot tag to Kofi. Miz eats the Boom Drop and SOS but kicks out. Truth hangs Kofi on the ropes, setting up a Miz DDT that Kofi barely kicks out of. Bourne makes a phantom tag and dives in with flying knees to the chest of Miz. I love it when baby faces cheat. Bourne misses Air Bourne and takes the Miz DDT, but Kofi breaks the cover. Skull Crushing Finale on Bourne, but the referee is arguing with Truth. Miz loses his temper and shoves the official down, earning a DQ at 9:48. This was better than expected, as it rose above the usual formula, though the finish hurts, **¼.
Winners via DQ and still WWE Tag Team Champions: Air Boom!

Retro Rowe: WWE Summerslam 2011 Review

WWE SummerSlam 2011

by Samoa Rowe

August 14th 2011

-From Los Angeles, CA. Our hosts are heel Michael Cole, Booker T, and Jerry Lawler.

-Adam Jones, from TOOL, is here to play the National Anthem on the guitar. WWE earns 10 cool points.

-The story leading into Summerslam 2011 is that there are two WWE Champions. CM Punk won the title from John Cena at Money in the Bank and proceeded to walk out of the company. This might seem like a big problem, as now there is no WWE Champion present in WWE (though there WAS a World Heavyweight Champion in Christian, but it’s not like they could promote him to top star status or anything). A tournament to crown a new champion was held and Rey Mysterio emerged victorious. Rey had an emotional celebration, but apparently he just had to defend it against John Cena the night he won it, because it had only been something like 8 days since Cena had last held the title and he has a Gollum-like need for it. Cena defeated Rey Mysterio and took the title like an opportunistic bully, and had they wanted to turn Cena heel, there would have been no better way to do it. Once Cena was WWE Champion again, CM Punk returned (less than 2 weeks after leaving forever) and made his claim to be the true WWE Champion. And that’s how we got to Summerslam 2011.

Retro Rowe: WWE Money in the Bank 2011

WWE Money in the Bank - July 17, 2011

by SamoaRowe

-From Chicago, IL. Your hosts are Booker T, Michael Cole, and Jerry Lawler.

Smackdown Money in the Bank Ladder match:
Sin Cara vs. Wade Barrett vs. Justin Gabriel vs. Sheamus vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Heath Slater vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Kane

Absolute chaos erupts as the bell rings. Kane is the last man standing as the ring gets cleared out. Bryan drop-kicks a ladder into Kane but Gabriel and Slater do the same. Sin Cara tries to follow the act but ends up eating a ladder shot from the former Corre members. Gabriel tries shifting the ladder into position by hopping by Bryan knocks him off. Sheamus blocks Rhodes (to a face pop) and finds himself in a potential winning situation. Kane cleans the ring again. The high fliers take turns hitting their patented dives to the floor in spectacular fashion. This sort of thing doesn’t happen very often in WWE, so it feels fresh. Sin Cara hits the moonsault slam on Bryan to a huge ovation. Sadly, Sin Cara ends up taking a power bomb off the apron onto a propped ladder, courtesy of Sheamus. Sin Cara sells the attack as if it was death itself and is stretchered out for a wellness policy violation vacation. All three former Corre members triple-team Kane. Rhodes sprints up the ladder but the Corre strikes. Bryan suffers a similar fate. It doesn’t take long before Barrett tries ordering Slater and Gabriel to stand back and the alliance dissolves. Bryan and Sheamus battle on the ladder, with Kane clothes lining Bryan off the shoulders of Sheamus. Kane goes on a chokeslamming spree. Bryan counters the choke slam with an arm submission and counters again with a DDT! Sadly, Daniel suffers a neck breaker off the ladder thanks to Heath Slater. Innovative spot with Sheamus and Barrett using the ladder to awkwardly push Slater off the turnbuckle! Sheamus drops Gabriel on a propped ladder and hits the Brogue kick. Kane choke slams Kane off the ladder onto a second bridged ladder! Kane takes a series of finishers, capped off with Gabriel hitting a 450 splash off a propped ladder! Barrett climbs but Rhodes pulls him down. Bryan and Rhodes fight at the top and Barrett sneaks up and reaches over Bryan for the case. Bryan knocks Rhodes off but Barrett looks for Waste Land. Bryan kicks Barrett in the head and grabs the case for the win at 24:27! I can honestly say, this is the best WWE match I’ve seen in months. Also, this is one of the best MITB matches I’ve ever seen. They worked in some new tricks and everyone had a chance to get over, ****½.
Winner: Daniel Bryan

Retro Rowe: WWE Capitol Punishment 2011 Review

WWE Capitol Punishment

June 19, 2011

by Samoa Rowe

-Follow me on Twitter: @SamoaRowe

-From Washington D.C. They put some extra effort into the stage, with the set dressed up to resemble the White House. Our hosts are Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and Booker T.

United States Championship:
Kofi Kingston © vs. Dolph Ziggler (with Vickie Guerrero)

That’s right, another round of Kofi vs. Dolph. I’m predicting another 13 minutes of good, but formulaic action. After an even exchange, Kofi builds some momentum with a monkey flip. Dolph counters Trouble in Paradise and nails the Fame-asser to take control. Kofi sneaks in some near falls but Ziggler remain in control with a German suplex (!!!). Kingston counters the sleeper to create an opening for a comeback. Kofi delivers the SOS for only 2. Kofi blocks the Zig Zag and nails a double stomp! High cross body by Kingston still isn’t enough. Dolph’s sleeper is countered but Vickie grabs Kofi’s hair. Ziggler reapplies the sleeper for the win at 11:02. Lively opener here, as they busted out some unusual moves and Dolph actually won with the sleeper, **¾.
Winner and new United States Champion: Dolph Ziggler

Retro Rowe: WWE Over the Limit 2011 Review

WWE Over the Limit

May 22, 2011

by Samoa Rowe

-Follow me on Twitter: @SamoaRowe

-From Seattle, WA. Our hosts are Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, Josh Mathews, and Booker T.

-In memory of “Macho Man” Randy Savage.

-R-Truth (with no entrance music) cuts a heel promo before his match. He’s mad because he couldn’t find a parking spot at the arena. It forced him to park with the stink-filled hippies in the crowd tonight. He’s done playing games and threatens to take Rey Mysterio’s spot. This went on a bit too long but I love Truth’s insane A-hole personal from this time period.

R-Truth vs. Rey Mysterio

It doesn’t take long for Rey to set up a hurricanrana off the apron to the floor. Truth trips Rey up on the turnbuckles to take control. Truth shakes off a drop toe hold into the turnbuckles to regain his momentum. Rey counters with a bulldog off the ropes. Springboard cross body by Mysterio, who is unable to get a pinfall. Truth retaliates with a spinning elbow but misses the axe kick. Truth crotches Rey with the ring skirt. Truth plants Rey with the STO for the win at 8:08. Painfully formulaic Rey Mysterio match here, **.
Winner: R-Truth

Retro Rowe: WWE Extreme Rules 2011 Review

WWE Extreme Rules

May 1, 2011

by Samoa Rowe

-From Tampa, FL. Our hosts are Josh Mathews, Booker T, and Jerry Lawler.

-Before the Randy Orton/CM Punk match begins, Josh Mathews announces that the General Manager computer has banned New Nexus members from ringside. If you’re going to have an obnoxious heel GM, just go all the way with it, don't have it randomly rule in favor of the babyface for no reason!

Last Man Standing:
Randy Orton vs. CM Punk

Punk removes some turnbuckle padding before entering the ring. Orton dominates the early brawl. Punk delivers a low kick and remembers that weapons are legal. Punk connects with some kendo stick shots. Back suplex by Punk isn’t enough to keep Orton down. Punk springboards into a kendo shot and Orton gets some revenge. Punk rebounds by catapulting Orton into the exposed turnbuckle. Punk props a chair in another corner but his bulldog attempt is countered. They trade finisher counters and Orton drives Punk into the chair! Orton bats Punk around ringside and nails a hard power slam! Punk is competitive but suffers a back suplex onto the barricade. Punk blocks the RKO in the ring and hits the GTS. Orton barely breaks the count so Punk administers a side Russian leg sweep onto a chair. Orton counters with the RKO out of nowhere. Punk survives long enough to wrap Orton’s head in a chair and drives him into the ring post! Punk attempts a GTS on the announce table but Orton counters with the RKO (but the table doesn’t break). They both struggle to their feet and Punk drops Orton onto the steps. Orton knocks Punk off the top ropes with a series of kendo shots. An RKO off the top rope finishes Punk at 20:00. A main event style brawl feels so out of place as an opener. The match was fine, I just had zero investment in this feud, ***.
Winner: Randy Orton

Retro Rowe: WWE Wrestlemania 27 Review

WWE WrestleMania 27 - April 3, 2011

by SamoaRowe

-I can’t believe I didn’t review this until now (sometime in late 2011). I ordered the show live and about five minutes later learned that the advertised Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus match took place as a dark match. And ended with a no contest when the lumberjacks got involved. And turned into a battle royal. And then The Great Khali won said battle royal. Needless to say, I was pissed off, as the thought of seeing Bryan Danielson compete at Wrestlemania was what pushed me over the line into ordering it. I was then in a grumpy mood for the first hour of the show and had less patience for all the filler than I would have on a normal night. Anyhoo, on to the show!

Retro Rowe: WWE Elimination Chamber 2011 Review

WWE Elimination Chamber

February 20, 2011

by Samoa Rowe

-From Oakland, CA. Our hosts are Michael Cole, Josh Mathews, and Booker T.

Alberto Del Rio (with Ricardo Rodriguez) vs. Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston

Del Rio cuts a promo beforehand, mainly insulting Oakland, bragging about his Rumble win, and destiny. Del Rio hides from an aggressive Kofi in the ropes as the fans chant for him. Ricardo distracts, allowing Del Rio to pop out of the corner and attack Kingston. Kofi retakes control briefly before Del Rio shoves him into the ring post. Del Rio establishes his control by driving Kingston into the ring steps. Alberto wears Kofi down for a while. Desperate flying cross body off the turnbuckles by Kofi. Kingston makes his patented comeback, complete with the Boom Drop. Trouble In Paradise misses, but Kofi improvises with a swinging kick. Del Rio counters a flying cross body. Missile drop-kick by Kingston gets 2. Gut buster by Alberto, but Kofi comes back with a swinging DDT. Ricardo distracts the referee, costing Kofi the win. The SOS connects for only 2. Del Rio counters with a neck breaker off the turnbuckles. The cross arm breaker ends it at 10:26. I like the chemistry here. Good opener, ***.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio

Retro Rowe: WWE Royal Rumble 2011 Live Review

WWE Royal Rumble - Jan 29, 2011

by SamoaRowe

-From Boston, MA.

-This is a first-time review for me, as it’s based on my live experience at the show. I would say that it ranks fairly high on the list of live events I’ve been to. The TD Bank Garden was legitimately sold out with a great mix of young and older fans. I saw a lot of excited little kids in John Cena gear and a lot of 30 something year olds decked out in ROH merch.

-Our hosts for the evening were Michael Cole (who received great heat during his entrance), Jerry Lawler, and Matt Striker.

-The dark match was R-Truth beating Curt Hawkins in about two minutes.

World Heavyweight Championship:
Edge © vs. Dolph Ziggler (with Vickie Guerrero)

This started as a fairly cookie cutter match. Edge was in full control for the first few minutes until Ziggler tricked him with a kick to the chest while getting back into the ring. After a standard first half, this match really picked it up several notches. What stands out in my mind is how comfortable Ziggler looked here, as if he belonged. That should go a long way in his continued push and elevation in the company. The final stretch was full of convincing near falls. The story of Edge’s spear being illegal in the match was a nice touch as well. The crowd groaned later on when the referee took a bump, but it gave Edge to be the anti-hero and deliver the spear anyway. It was also nice to see Edge break out the sharpshooter and Edgecution. Ziggler hit his Zig Zag finisher and got the type of near fall that you usually see in Ring of Honor main events. Basically, this was a great showing for both men, especially when you consider how rare successful title defenses are for Edge, ***¾.
Winner at 20:45 and still World Champion: Edge

Retro Rowe: WWE TLC 2010 Review

WWE Tables Ladders and Chairs

by Samoa Rowe

December 19, 2010

-From Houston, TX. Our hosts are Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and Matt Striker. Cole is clutching his recently won Slammy awards.

Intercontinental Championship (Ladder match):
Dolph Ziggler © (with Vickie Guerrero) vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Jack Swagger

After a typical triple threat beginning, Ziggler is the first to attempt a climb. Kingston and Swagger have a brief exchange with the ladder before Dolph returns with a smaller ladder. Swagger seems to have injured his hand as Kofi takes a bad spill onto a ladder in the turnbuckles. Swagger returns to slingshot Ziggler into the bridged ladder. Kingston springboards through a ladder for a drop-kick. Ziggler sneaks in to deliver the fame-asser onto the ladder! With everyone down, Vickie climbs the ladder and Kofi tips it back. Ziggler pleads for mercy, but it’s Swagger that actually saves Vickie from taking a sick bump. Kofi manages to climb despite being stuck in Swagger’s ankle lock, and Ziggler climbs over all of them to almost get the belt. Kingston fights off a sleeper at the top and knocks Dolph down. Swagger prevents a Kofi victory and they trade shots and the Intercontinental title falls to the mat. Ziggler pounces on the belt and is declared victorious at 8:53. I’m going out on a limb to assume that was not the planned finish. This was quite an entertaining spot-fest until the abrupt finish, **¾.
Winner and still Intercontinental Champion: Dolph Ziggler

Retro Rowe: WWE Survivor Series 2010

WWF Survivor Series 2010
by SamoRowe

November 21, 2010

-From Miami, FL. Our hosts are Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and Matt Striker.

United States Championship:
Daniel Bryan © vs. Ted Dibiase (with Maryse)

They exchange some wrist holds and the lights go out as Bryan nails a drop-kick. The lights are back as Bryan kicks Dibiase square in the gut. Dibiase suplexes Bryan over the ropes to the floor. Double axe handle off the top by Dibiase! Dibiase absorbs some hard shots but pummels Bryan back into the canvas. Cue the chinlock! Bryan desperately hits a running drop-kick. Bryan forges a comeback and dumps Dibiase to the floor for a suicide dive! Bryan seems to injure his shoulder in that spot. Bryan scores a missile drop-kick anyway. Dibiase blocks the Labell Lock and nails a hard clothesline. Bryan counters Dream Street but runs into a spinebuster. Back superplex by Bryan! Dibiase rebounds with a slingshot into the turnbuckles. Bryan counters into the Labell Lock. Dibiase taps at 9:53! Bryan was making the entire WWE mid-card look good during this period, **¾. 
Winner and still United States Champion: Daniel Bryan

Retro Rowe: WWE Bragging Rights 2010 Review

WWE Hell in a Cell 2010

by Samoa Rowe

October 24, 2010

-From Minneapolis, MN. Our hosts are Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and Matt Striker.

-Vickie Guerrero is the first person through the curtain. She is the proud girlfriend of Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler.

Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler (with Vickie Guerrero) vs. United States Champion Daniel Bryan

Ziggler holds his own while exchanging holds with Bryan. Bryan leaps over Vickie to wipe Ziggler out at ringside. Running drop-kick by Bryan, but Ziggler snaps Bryan into the ropes to take control. Bryan counters a backbreaker and sneaks in some pinning predicaments. Ziggler delivers an inverted body slam to regain control. Cue the chinlock! Bryan misses a running drop-kick and crashes into the turnbuckles. Ziggler wears down Bryan for a while until suffering a chin breaker counter. Bryan mounts a comeback with hard kicks. Leg lariat by Bryan gets 2. Springboard drop-kick by Bryan but Ziggler kicks out. Super-kick by Ziggler gets a near fall. The Zig Zag is blocked and Bryan delivers a nasty head kick. Bryan creatively sets up a back superplex, but Ziggler counters in mid-air! Bryan counters the cover! They wipe each other out with cross body attempts. They trade pinning predicaments until Ziggler nails the Fame-asser. Ziggler thinks he’s won, but Bryan had the ropes. Cue the sleeper! Ziggler spends too much time talking smack and gets trapped in the Labell Lock! Ziggler taps at 16:11! Bryan and Ziggler pulled out all the stops to have a good match within the confines of the WWE mid-card formula, ***¼.
Winner: Daniel Bryan

Retro Rowe: WWE Hell in a Cell 2010 Review

WWE Hell in a Cell 2010

by Samoa Rowe

October 3, 2010

-From Dallas, TX. Our hosts are Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, and Matt Striker.

United States Championship (Submissions Count Anywhere):
Daniel Bryan © vs. John Morrison vs. The Miz

Looks like we’re getting this show off on the right note. Miz cuts a promo on his way to the ring bitching about how Bryan and Morrison wouldn’t have made it without him. Miz gets overwhelmed quickly and takes a break. He gets chased around the ring , forcing Morrison and Bryan to work together. Bryan and Morrison show off some chain wrestling while Miz is down. They roll to the floor with their legs locked and Miz finds an opening to attack both of them. Morrison ties Miz up in the ropes but Bryan breaks it up with a drop-kick. Bryan locks Cattle Mutilation on Miz! They reverse heel hooks in entertaining fashion until Morrison breaks it with Starship Pain. Morrison almost makes Bryan tap to a modified Haas of Pain and connects with a corkscrew plancha on Miz. They brawl into the crowd with Miz in the driver’s seat. Miz brings a production cart from the back and rams it into Morrison. Bryan gets placed on the cart and Miz drives it into the stage! Morrison counters and leaps over the cart for a drop-kick. Miz bounces back with the Skull Crushing Finale on Morrison on the concrete! Bryan and Miz square off on the stage and wipe each other out with clotheslines. Morrison climbs the lighting and perches on the cage wall on the stage. Morrison delivers a flying cross body onto the stage! Morrison applies a Texas Cloverleaf on Miz, but Alex Riley runs in for the save, tossing Morrison down the ramp. Bryan throws Riley into a cameraman. Bryan forces Miz to tap out to the Labell Lock at 13:30! I know I wasn’t paying close attention to WWE during this time, but I didn’t hear a thing about this match. This was a wildly inventive outing, worth checking out, ***¾.
Winner and still United States Champion: Daniel Bryan

Retro Rowe: WWE Night of Champions 2010

WWE Night Of Champions 2010

September 19, 2010

by Samoa Rowe

-From Chicago, IL. Our hosts are Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and Matt Striker.

-Vickie Guerrero and Kaitlyn come out to introduce Dolph Ziggler. I’m reminded that Kaitlyn is still an NXT rookie.

Intercontinental Championship:
Dolph Ziggler © (with Vickie Guerrero and Kaitlyn) vs. Kofi Kingston

Oh goodie, THIS match again. Kingston and Ziggler seem doomed to forever feud against one another in a perpetual limbo of hitting the glass ceiling. Vickie is insecure that Dolph is more attracted to Kaitlyn and sends her away when Dolph gets tossed and therefore needs tending to. Ziggler rebounds and goes to work on Kofi’s head. Ziggler nails the Fame-asser for 2 and continues the head attacks. If you like rest holds, this is the match for you. Dolph’s chinlock is what we’d normally be missing during a commercial break. Kingston goes ballistic and makes a comeback. Trouble in Paradise misses but Kingston blocks the sleeper. Ziggler uses a rope break to save himself. Kofi dives off the apron and loses his cool pummeling Ziggler on the floor. Dolph locks on the sleeper and Kingston dramatically reverses. Dolph orders Vickie not to interfere and dodges Trouble in Paradise. The Zig Zag finishes it at 12:35. This was the usual effort you get from WWE mid-carders these days. I don’t want to see Kingston and Ziggler ever face each other again, unless a World title is on the line, **½.
Winner and still Intercontinental Champion: Dolph Ziggler

Retro Rowe: WWE Summerslam 2010 Review

WWE Summerslam - August 15, 2010
by SamoaRowe

-From Los Angeles, CA. Our hosts are Michael Cole, Matt Striker, and Jerry Lawler.

Intercontinental Championship:
Dolph Ziggler © (with Vickie Guerrero) vs. Kofi Kingston

Ziggler is the newly crowned IC Champion, having won the belt from Kingston with an assist from Vickie. Kingston cuts off Vickie’s mic work before the match. Kingston wants revenge and is aggressive in the early going. Kingston misses a suicide dive and takes a nasty spill into the guard rail. Ziggler is eager for a count-out but to no avail. Ziggler goes to work on Kingston’s neck. Kofi dodges a corner splash and mounts a comeback. Ziggler rolls through a springboard cross body for a near fall. Fame-asser by Ziggler also gets 2. Kofi catches Dolph with his educated feet and delivers a flying shot to the head. Trouble in Paradise misses and Ziggler applies the sleeper hold! It’s about this time when the Nexus runs in and draws the DQ at 7:04! The group tosses Ziggler over the ropes and surrounds Kingston. This was a solid opener until the non-finish, **¼.
No contest.

Retro Rowe: WWE Money in the Bank 2010 Review

WWE Money in the Bank

July 18, 2010 by Samoa Rowe
-From Kansas City, MO. Our hosts are Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and Matt Striker.

Smackdown Money in the Bank Ladder match:
IC Champion Kofi Kingston vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Christian vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Matt Hardy vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Kane vs. Big Show

It’s hard not to notice that the WWE mid-card of 2010 bears a strong resemblance to the WWE mid-card of 2012. That’s not good, for crying out loud, WWE, elevate someone! The match starts with the usual chaos of everyone brawling at once. Kane and Big Show clear the ring so they can rekindle their part-time rivalry. Big Show tries to climb, but the ladder breaks under him. Everyone teams up to put Big Show down. Hardy knocks McIntyre down by swinging a ladder. Christian prevents a Hardy victory and Kingston stops Rhodes. Ziggler knocks Kofi off and gets to the top only to be knocked off by Christian. Hardy and Christian show off their ladder match experience by dominating the field. Cody pushes Everyone seems bent on keeping Show and Kane down. Nobody seems overly fond of Drew McIntyre either, least of all Kofi, who puts Drew through the announce table with a Boom Drop off the ladder! Show prevents a Ziggler climb with a choke slam. Show and Kane resume their war. Show counters an attack from Hardy and Christian, splashing a ladder onto both men. Show has a hard time dragging his specially designed monster ladder into the ring. Show is finally ready to climb, but Rhodes attacks with a step ladder. Ziggler plants Rhodes, but is too slow to climb and Show is back up. Kofi springboards onto the ladder and DDT’s Big Show. Cody drop-kicks Kofi off and nails a Cross-Rhodes onto a ladder. Ziggler Zig-Zags Cody into the giant ladder! Show climbs the plus-size ladder but Kane pushes it over. Show gets buried under a pile of ladders at ringside. Way too many people try to climb at once and Kane swats them all down. Ziggler climbs over Kane and applies a sleeper! Kane counters and sends Ziggler onto the pile of ladders on Big Show. Kane choke slams Kofi on the pile and smashes Cody’s head into the armored truck near the stage. Kane returns to the ring and suffers a double power bomb from Hardy and Christian. They ladder vets knock each other off the top. McIntyre sneaks in and heads to the top. Kane meets Drew and dishes a choke slam and claims the case at 26:11! This was quite the unexpected outcome at the time. Sadly, this match was far too long and had way too much down time, **¾.
Winner: Kane

Retro Rowe: WWE Fatal 4-way 2010 Review

WWE Fatal 4-Way - June 20, 2010

by SamoaRowe
-Live, from Uniondale, NY. Our hosts are Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, and Matt Striker.

-One championship, four contenders. That is the “innovative” theme of tonight’s show. The opening montage highlight’s Kane’s quest to find out who injured his brother, The Undertaker.

-The show kicks off with Mr. McMahon on the stage. He is “sad” to inform us that Bret Hart will not be here, as a result of the attack he suffered at the hands of the Nexus. Well, actually, the Nexus repeatedly crashed Bret’s limo while Bret was trapped in the backseat. Keep in mind, this is in the aftermath of Daniel Bryan being fired for CHOKING SOMEONE WITH A TIE. Vince brings out his current pet project, Drew McIntyre and puts him over by shaking his hand.

-We are treated to a montage of Drew McIntyre putting the hurt onto Teddy Long, Kofi Kingston, and Matt Hardy on Smackdown. Mr. McMahon leaves the arena in his limo (which I keep waiting to explode again). Drew calls out Teddy and throws some more insults his way. Long is ordered to sit and watch the match, and will be forced to hand Drew the IC title when it’s over.

Intercontinental Championship:
Kofi Kingston © vs. Drew McIntyre
Back and forth action to start. Suicide dive by Kofi! Drew trips Kofi off the apron to take control. Drew spends several minutes attacking Kofi’s arm. Kingston counters with a flowing DDT! Kofi builds some steam with his controlled frenzy offense. Drew hits a knee to the head but Kofi rebounds with a side Russian legsweep. Drew comes out on top after a series of reversals. Kofi blocks the Futureshock and nails a springboard tornado DDT. Kofi mounts on the corner but Drew counters with a power bomb! Drew kicks out of S.O.S. Drew counters a head scissor by driving Kofi into the referee. Futureshock DDT by Drew, but there’s no official. Drew pulls Long into the ring and forces him to wear the referee shirt. Long starts counting but can’t bring himself to get to 3. Drew threatens Long and sets up another DDT when Matt Hardy runs in and delivers the Twist of Fate! Kofi nails Trouble in Paradise and Long counts to 3 at 16:25. I’m surprised by how much time this got. They were able to tell a strong story and build to a satisfying finish, with Long, Kingston, and Hardy getting their retribution, ***½.
Winner and still Intercontinental Champion: Kofi Kingston

Retro Rowe: WWE Over the Limit 2010 Review

WWE Over the Limit - May 23, 2010

by SamoaRowe

-Live, from St. Louis, MI. Our hosts are Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, and Matt Striker.

Intercontinental Championship:
Drew McIntyre © vs. Kofi Kingston
Hot start to pop the crowd by Kofi. Drew injures Kofi’s back and takes advantage. Kofi finds an opening with a hip toss, but Drew kicks the midsection and proceeds to target it. Drew goes top rope and is countered. Kofi goes on the offense and speeds things up. Kofi botches a landing on the ropes but delivers a flying cross body. Big gut buster by Drew. Kingston nails the boom drop on Drew, who is propped on the ropes. Drew blocks Trouble in Paradise but eats the S.O.S. Kofi wins at 6:23! This was basically an abbreviated version of the WWE midcard formula match, **.
Winner and new Intercontinental Champion: Kofi Kingston