Show got off to a late start with the showcases matches starting around 7:50 and the proper show starting around 8:20 (main show was supposed to start at 8). Attendance seemed way down from ROH's last appearance in April. Probably only 400 people there. Also, there were way more kids in the audience than any other ROH show I can recall.

a. Kyle O'Reily and Tony Kovina beat the Bravato Bros.

b. Tony Donst and Bobby Dempsey beat Jordan McIntyre and Andy Ridge.

c. Sal Rinuaro beat Alex Sugarfoot Payne with a roll up and pull of the tights. Match was notable for Sal getting his pants pulled down during a sunset flip attempt and mooning the crowd for a very long time, including a vertical splash on Payne.

1.) Eddie Edwards (1/2 of Tag Team Champions) pinned Brent Albright. Longer match than you'd expect, probably close to 15 minutes. I heard it was stretched out because others were running late, don't know if this is true. They did do a lot of stalling at the beginning with repeated lockups that went nowhere. Match got pretty good down the stretch with lots of nearfalls. Crappy ending where Brent hit the half nelson suplex but Shane Hagadorn jumped on the apron and distracted the ref for a long time, letting Davey Richards run in and the Wolves give Albright a german suplex/superkick combo for the pin. The interference took so long, it was ridiculous and hurt the match.

2. The Dark City Fight Club beat the House of Truth. Bizarre match. It started as a DCFC squash with the Fight Club no selling everything. Then it became a competitive match about five minutes in. Truth did some bizarre spots like one guy apparently trying to powerbomb his partner onto a Fight Club guy but missing him completely. Fight Club won when a Truth member came off the top and they caught him in a double slam thing for the pin.

3. Grizzly Redwood beat Jimmy Rave via DQ. Rave dominated Griz for a bit. Griz came back so Rave hit him with a chain he had, promoting his chain match with Necro in Chicago tonight. Rave worked Redwood over until Necro Butcher ran out to make the save. The two brawled all over the arena. Total chaos. It really got the crowd into things and helped the show.

4. Davey Richards (1/2 of Tag Team Champions) pinned Claudio Castagnoli. Fantastic match, probably second best of night. It appeared CC was trying to work as the face, but the crowd was solidly behind Davey. These two really gave it their all. Davey won when he escaped the Ricola Bomb and got a roll up. Crowd chanted "Next World Champ" as Davey left.

5. The Briscoe Brothers beat the Young Bucs. Despite being called a "dream match" this was something of a let down. Briscoes took the majority of the match and it went 15 minutes. Young Bucs would hit a couple moves then the Briscoes would come back, repeat. Finally Bucs both missed moonsaults and the Birsoces pinned one after a doomsday device. I think having to follow Claudio/Davey hurt this match.

intermission

6. Rasche "Skull Crusher" Brown pinned Silas Young. Pretty much a squash for Brown. He's got good charisma.

7. Petey Williams and Colt Cabana beat World Champion Austin Aries and Addicted to Love Rhett Titus. Another really good match, lasting about 18 minutes. Cabana's ability to mix comedy and serious competition is remarkable. Cabana kept trying to get Petey into his act, but Petey would demur. Titus got busted over hardway by Williams at one point and bled a ton. Aries worked over Williams leg to try and stop him from hitting the Canadian Destroyer. Petey was able to his AA with the destroyer and Colt pinned Titus with the Colt 45.

8. Chris Hero pinned Bryan Danielson. Incredible match, easily best of the night. Match went about 25 minutes, so close to the time limit I thought ROH may have booked a draw. Both men gave each other both their own signature spots and each other's signature spots with Danielson trying a roaring elbow and Hero even going for Cattle Mutilation. Danielson hit all his trademark finishers with Hero barely surviving. Finally Hero hit a roaring elbow to the back of Danielson's head for the pin. Danielson in no way dogged it on the way out.

Afterwards, "Final Countdown" played through the arena. Crowd gave Danielson a curtain call and Danielson responded by posing on each corner. No speech but still a very nice sendoff.

Justin McClelland

Dayton OH