Retro Rowe: ROH Survival of the Fittest 2005 Review

ROH Survival of the Fittest - Sep 24, 2005

by SamoaRowe

-I’m waiting for some WWE tapes to arrive in the mail, so I figured I’d review the first ROH event I ever attended. For those of you who are familiar with DWS, I took this event in with Viceroy Virus and GreatWhiteChoate.

-From Dorchester, MA. Our hosts are Lenny Leonard and Dave Prazak.

-Austin Aries and Roderick Strong can hardly believe it’s been a whole year since the first Survival of the Fittest tournament. Aries had a star-making performance last year, but came up short in the finals, so this year will be his redemption. Strong politely disagrees, saying it’s going to be his year.

Survival of the Fittest Qualifier:
Sal Rinauro vs. Jay Lethal

They exchange wristlocks in the early going. Rinauro counters into an armlock, but Lethal reverses into a pinning predicament. Rinauro goes after the arm some more. Lethal rebounds with a spinebuster for 2. Lethal targets the back, but Rinauro surprises with a drop-kick. Belly to back suplex by Rinauro gets a near fall. Hip toss backbreaker by Lethal! Back suplex by Lethal isn’t enough for the win. Sal counters out of a crucifix submission. Rinauro gets caught on the ropes but counters with a flying bulldog. Rinauro nails a springboard DDT. German suplex by Rinauro still isn’t enough. Lethal rebounds with a running suplex. Flying head butt by Lethal gets 2. Sal gets some near falls but misses a springboard kick. Lethal pops up with the Dragon Suplex for the win at 11:35. Perfectly good opener here, they made that look easy **¾.
Winner: Jay Lethal

Kendrick gets axed.

From WWE.com: World Wrestling Entertainment has come to terms on the release of Raw Superstar Brian Kendrick as of today, July 30, 2009. WWE wishes Brian the best in all future endeavors.


Anyone else getting tired of this? I'm sick of talented and promising superstars getting released for no apparent good reason. Why release Kendrick? Was he untalented? No, he was a skilled high flier and a sound ring technician. Was he boring? No, he is loaded with charisma. Was he not connecting with the crowds? Again, not the case, he was gaining crowd heat despite being treated as a complete joke.

I find it even more frustrating that this comes just days after Chris Masters makes his triumphant return to Monday Night Raw. In the past, Masters has proven to be a mediocre worker, uncharismatic, and it took almost an entire year of pushing him down our throats before he got over, drawing cricket chirps from the live crowds before that.

This isn't a fair trade.

I like to take comfort seeing the continued push of CM Punk, as he was someone who I feared would be getting the treatment Kendrick has received. Instead, Punk was allowed to keep his identity and is a two time World Champion. Punk hasn't achieved anything that Kendrick couldn't have had Kendrick been given the same opportunities. Likewise, in the last year we've seen Evan Bourne become a strong fan favorite, but at the same time I shake my fist that Paul London was never allowed to do what Bourne does.

And don't get me started on Scotty "Colt Cabana" Goldman. If WWE is completely uncapable of making stars out of London, Kendrick, and Goldman, yet insist on trying repeatedly with hacks like Masters, Vladimir Kozlov, and many others, then they shouldn't be surprised in a few years when the well of young superstars dries up.