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RING OF HONOR ON CHICAGO RIDGE, IL LIVE REPORT: JERRY LYNN VS. COLT CABANA AND MORE

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ROH – The Homecoming II – Frontier Fieldhouse - Chicago Ridge, IL 

By Mike Sempervive via Dr. Keith Lipinski’s Blackberry

Dark Matches: 

(A) Grizzly Redwood def. Andy “Right Leg” Ridge with a double axe-handle. 

A “fuck ‘em up Grizzly Redwood” chant. The ghost of gmc announced that ten minutes had elapsed, about two seconds in. The great and mighty beard of the Griz is matched only by his whacky charisma. He also wrestles barefoot, making him that much mightier. The two traded holds, with Andy no-selling the double axe handle. Ridge used a suplex into a double foot stomp for a two count. Match ended when Redwood used a double axe handle off the middle turnbuckle for the three. A nice five-minute opener, that saw the two shake hands afterwards. That's what happens when you are trained WITH HONOR.

(B) Aaron Scott & Brandon Moreno def. Tony Kozina & Ernie Osiris when Kozina was pinned. 

The homeless and dirty Osiris came to the ring panhandling with a shoe. He also came to the ring to the sounds of DMX’s “(Party) Up In Here,” which made Davey Richards quite joivial, as he peeped out from behind the curtain. Other team had matching black tights and I had no clue who was who. Lots of Osiris selling, until he started to make a come back, including hitting an odd backwards Mind Trip that caused his shoe to come off – and yes, change popped out of it – following that up with the PITY CITY.  Kozina tagged in, and he's quite the barrel-chested man, and has a good look for a 1950’s-era shooter or strongman character. Man, this match is taking a long time. Finish saw Kozina go up to the top rope, but Osiris was celebrating by shaking the ropes, which caused Tony to fall, and get cradled by one of the other two bald men in the match. Ernie was sad, but he somehow had Grizzly’s log which made everything alright.

(c) “Big, Bad” Bobby Dempsey def. Stevo Molinski with a Death Valley Driver

Bobby was way fricking over in Chicago, and – don’t panic – but he's looking like he dropped some weight. He told Stevo to "get on your feet" and then hit the Death Valley Driver for the quick victory. A number of referees came out to help him to the back.

Dave Prazak opened the show by running down the card on a piece of torn out spiral notebook paper. The paper was stolen from a Trapper Keeper that Dr. Keith had stolen from Alan Counihan while in Ireland.

1. Egotistico Fantastico def. “Skullkrusher” Rasche Brown with a roll-up.

Rasche is still huge, but looks a lot slimmer than he has in the past. He let us know that “I hate everyone,” when he made his way to the ring, and he played a crazy jerk very well. Ego had his name chanted, as both wrestlers are known local indy names, with Ego working in CZW, and Skully being one-half of the NWA tag team champions. When he saw Ego’s horned mask, he declared that “I like Satan,” and actually used a Ric Flair strut, during the match, as well.

Rasche hit a huge lariat a minute in, and worked on his neck for the majority. After a chin lock, Ego broke free – only to be gorilla-pressed, and covered with one leg, as Rasche let everyone know he was number one. The Skullkrusher is quite the entertainer. Ego came back with speed, dropkicks, and a springboard clothesline for two. Oh my god, Rasche hit the torture rack. After Ego started to fight back, Rasche put him up for the spinning powerbomb. Ego was supposed to roll through, but the top of his pants got caught on Rasches’ head so it looked botched, but Ego rolled him up for the awkward pin, anyway. Fun opener, but not for the wrestling. Everyone applauded Rasche (star of the match), and he looked touched, only to then say “screw you all” and leave. Tremendous.

2. Austin Aries & Rhett Titus def. Silas Young & “Sugarfoot” Alex Payne when Aries used a brainbuster on Payne, before rolling Titus on top for the pin.

Payne and Young came to the ring with a very lame pop punk entrance song. Austin had the greatest pink furry jacket ever, claiming “that's a rare animal, buddy” while giving it to the cowboy-booted timekeeper, Lorenzo. Sugarfoot was over. Welcome to Chicago. People chanted “You’re a virgin,” at Rhett, whose angry reactions were outstanding. Silas resembles Jim Duggan, if Duggan was jacked. He furthered this resemblance by calling Aries “Tough guy.”  Silas then used small packages and backslides for nearfalls to frustrate Aries.   People chanted “hepatitis” at Rhett. The woman next to me, and her young kids, enjoyed that line. Rhett said “This one’s for you, brother" as he stood above Silas and worked over his forearm like it was a male member. Aries was not pleased. Sugar and Silas tried a double suplex, but Aries raked their backs with his salon perfect nails. Rhett attempted his Sexiest Suplex.  

Payne went to the top rope, but Aries attaked his Sugar foot, hitting a powerful punch on the foot. They worked on the foot, until he finally came back for the hot tag to Silas. Aries took a Flair Flop on the outside. Sugar hit a dropkick and a Buff Blockbuster for a near fall on Titus. The foot has been heal-ed. Near falls from both teams. Sugar hit a German on Rhett, and threw Austin out the ring. Austin tried to skin the cat but got caught by a Silas dropkick. Dive on Sugarfoot as Silas tried his Arabian Press with headstand. Aries came out and dropkicked the shit out of him for trying, and hit the brain buster. He put Titus (who had a wedgie) on top of Payne for the win. Very good finish. Afterwards, Rhett put his hands down his pants, and mocked Payne on the ground by shaking his head. Silas helped Payne to his feet, out to clothesline him and leave him laying.

3. Jimmy Jacobs def. Roderick Strong & “The VERY EUROPEAN” Claudio Castagnoli in a three-way match when he forced Strong to submit to The End Time. 

The referee was Todd Sinclair, who actually got two streamers and boos. Claudio was actually announced as being Very European. Strong (who looked very fit, despite having a huge bandage on his head) tried to shake both men’s hands. The eye-patch wearing Jimmy kicked it, and the crowd kept on saying “Hey” whenever Claudio moved his hand.  

Whenever Jacobs hit anything, the crowd would chant “ARRRRR.” This was outstanding. Jimmy lost his patch, but backed it up with a bandage over his eye.  Backbreaker attempt on Jacobs, but Claudio hit a euro uppercut causing Roddy’s bandages to fall off. Claudio submission hold on Strong, Jacobs hit End Time, followed by Strong hitting a Yakuza kick, in an awesome series. Jacobs threw Claudio out, and used the End Time on Strong for the win. Very entertaining match. Jacobs got on the mic, and the crowd chanted “Rufio” which shows ROH is all about the current events. Tyler came out and gave applause for “The Pirate,” Jacob. “You are looking at your God, brother.” They talked about the Age of the Fall, and helping themselves. Tyler said Jimmy couldn't look at himself in the mirror (does he mean pre-eye patch?) and called him “a façade,” and a “scared little boy.” He talked about Jacobs crying over Lacey and being Alex Shelley’s punching bag. Jimmy took out his spike, and attempted to hit him, but Black stopped him, calling him a disappointment. Jacobs left disheartened. 

4. The Dark City Fight Club def. The Phoenix Twins

Very short match. Twins were jumped pre-bell, and they looked small vs. DCFC. Small and pale. One of the DCFC claimed, “Someone’s gonna die tonight.” The other member was wrestling with a cast on, as DCFC was slow in delivering the pain to the young twins. Twins used speed and quickness to counter the power game, and hit a dive to the outside. Double superkick for two. Then the big member of Dark City (John Davis) used his non-cast hand and pushed Twin one into the guardrail hard. Very hard. They then did the Dark City version of the Total Elimination (but with a lariat elbow smash as opposed to enziguri) for the win.

5. “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson def. Jimmy Rave 

Prince Nana wondered where Barak Obama was pre-match. The toilet paper fight was very much missed. Dragon came down and threw a roll at Rave. His aim was awesome, and Rave ended up with some t.p. on his shoe.  

Lots of god mat work to start, and Danielson working the left arm. Nana gave him good words of advice like “give him time, Jimmy” and “breathe, Jimmy, breathe.” Danielson stayed on the arms with submissions, and kicks to the elbow, as the crowd advised him to “break it.” Awesome variety of submissions by Danielson.  Rave came back, kicking Danielson’s head and worked on the neck. He went for the Cattle Mutilation, but Rave got to the ropes. Nana and Ernie Osiris pulled Rave out. Dragon hit a dropkick, and then looked like he’d attempt a tope on the outsiders. Instead, he stopped and went to the other side and hit Rave with one, instead.  Heel hook on Danielson, he rolled it over, and then kicked Danielson in the head while keeping the hold on. Rope break. Rave said he had ‘til five and an angry Danielson jumped up on Rave’s back, and hit elbows in a brief exchange. Danielson got the triangle and the submission win in about 16:11. Nana took his headdress off to show Booker T. like dreadlocks, before using some of the toilet paper to pat down Jimmy’s head.

Intermission 

6. Tyler Black def. Chris Hero  

There was a standoff at first, then really good back and forth, with both guys rolling around, and hitting the occasional move or two. Hero worked on Black’s head using elbows, kicks and a sit-down dropkick for two. He than hit some outstanding elbows while yelling “Next world champ.” Black rallied, and hit a dropkick – but missed a Lionsault. Hero hit a running senton for two. Hero choked Black with his boot, as well as his hand, as he yelled “stay down boy.” Elbow war, with Tyler getting the advantage. He followed with a dropkick, high back body drop, and a springboard clothesline for two. Black then walked into the Yakuza, a young knockout kid elbow, and a running Lyger bomb for two. They went outside the ring, where Hero removed the floor mat, and hit another running senton on the floor. Tyler went on to regain the advantage; hit an elbow and then both men crisscrossed the ropes, where Hero hit an elbow of his own. Tyler hit a huge kick to a downed Hero, but the count was broken up at two by Shane Hagadorn). Tyler went up for the Phoenix but Hero hit a huge elbow, and then hit a power bomb off the top rope for the first big “ROH” chant tonight. As Hagadorn distracted the ref, Hero grabbed his Misawa elbow pad and went for the roaring elbow. Tyler ducked, and hit God’s Last Gift for the win at 13:47. It was a very good match (and the best thing on the show so far). As Black was leaving, Jimmy Jacobs attacked him with the spike, bloodying him up.  

7. The American Wolves def. Kevin Steen and Jay Briscoe in a two-out-of-three falss match to retain the Ring of Honor tag team titles.  

Fall one: Hagadorn came down with both belts which allowed the Wolves to come from behind with their matching tights and leather vests. All four men began by brawling on the outside, but it settled down into a straight tag.  Briscoe hit a suplex Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Davey Richards attempted a time-out, but it was not allowed and he was suplexed for a one count.  Leg drop by Briscoe and a senton by Steen for a two count. The two double team on Eddie Edwards, cutting the ring in half. Steen was playing Richards for a fool, getting the ref involved, and a little dance by PUTTING UP HIS DUKES. Steen hit a super harsh chop. He attempted this again, only to get eye raked by Edwards. Eye rakes all around. Tag to Richards, who spit at Jay, and asked “Where’s your brother at?” Steen and Edwards were back in a short time later, with Steen using the Sharpshooter on Edwards to win the first fall (1-0).  

Fall Two: The Wolves tried to leave, with Richards telling Hagadorn to “Get the belts.” Steen and Briscoe took chase. Wolves took advantage on a double-team on Steen, and targeted his left knee. Single-leg Boston crab. Then Davey set up for a figure four, but stopped and flicked off the crowd for whooooooing. Richards used Steen as his kicking dummy. Steen caught one, but Richards rolled thru for a leg submission attempt. Jay got the tag after a super kick on Richards. Briscoe spinebuster (grab the guy’s neck and throw it down). Edwards hit his Kryptonite Crunch for a great near fall. Then Edwards hit a German on Briscoe who got up for a massive superkick. Tag to Steen, but then the Wolves took over, and Richards used a cloverleaf after a top rope dropkick for the second fall (1-1).  

Fall three: Steen tried a package piledriver, but knee was too bad. Richards went back to the cloverleaf. Briscoe stopped it and carried Steen back to the corner. Richards and Briscoe traded moved with alternating “yeas” and “boos.” Steen with his bad knee did a dive to the outside on both Wolves. Steen used a frog splash, followed by a move off the top by Briscoe on Richards for a two count. Later, Richards put Briscoe in the cloverleaf, while Steen had a sharpshooter on Edwards. Richards and Steen were facing, and they spit at each other. Steen let go, and hit a package piledriver on Richards for two. Huge “ROH” chant for that. Later, Steen accidentally hit Jay low. Edwards then superkicked Jay into Richard’s German suplex with bridge, with two Wolf rollup for a two. Insanely great. Top rope doomsday Ace Crusher on Briscoe by Richards for the pin (2-1). Fantastic last five minutes. Afterwards, Briscoe and Steen fought, thus ending the makeshift team of BRISCOSTEEN.

8. Jerry Lynn def. Colt Cabana to retain the ROH World Title. 

Lynn came out first followed by Colt’s homecoming, which was quite great. Lots of love, streamers, and “welcome back” chants. Cabana was announced as being from Maxwell Street. Chinlock with bridge by Cabana which Lynn reversed. Cabana and Lynn played around with a head scissors, and some side headlocks. Cabana used speed to break out of a hamerlock and held the ropes open for the champ. “Here you go kid, you'll make it in the business someday,” he told Lynn. Lynn must have said something about the ex-Scotty Goldman looked hurt and serious. Another standoff. Cabana ended up outside as Lynn held the rope open now. He was making sweet love to the ringpost while crowd chanted yes and no about him going to the other side. Cabana hit the Flying Asshole, (BUTT-THRUST) and then a submission attempt, followed by hard elbows. Match saw Cabana getting momentum only to have Lynn come back. At one point Lynn did Alex Shelley’s face plant. Lynn hit a guillotine leg drop and his metal voice for two.  

Punches by Cabana, a flip bodypress for two, and another Flying Asshole. Colt 45 attempt, but Lynn came down for a sunset flip. Cabana hit an Air Raid Crash for two. Cabana got Lynn outside the ring, and and attempted a dive. And he missed. Hard. DDT on the apron by Lynn for two. Package piledriver attempt, but Colt used legs and it was just a regular piledriver for a two count. Cabana used his backwards Boston Crab aka The Billy Goat’s Curse (sup Cubs) for a near submission. Colt 45 attempt, Jerry rolled through but Cabana hit a clothesline, and finally a Colt 45 for a near fall. Sadly, a huge lack of what should have been a surprise pop for that. Cabana went up top rope was caught by Lynn, but he used a Pepsi Plunge (top rope pedigree) for a great near fall, and the crowd woke up. Cabana got Lynn in an electric chair, Lynn countered with backwards ‘rana and package piledriver for the win at 17:23.  Decent main event.  

Both men shook hands. Cabana got on the mic and talked about his dream of coming back tonight and winning the title. He said he had a speech planned, and praised how good the talent has gotten in ROH “In the two years I have been gone in some little promotion.” He said the greatest wrestlers are from ROH, and they are led by the greatest pound for pound wrestler in the world today. He put over Lynn, and said he would get him next time. Jerry got on the mic, put over Colt and the Chicago fans, and finished by saying "Thank you, and keep ROH alive."

Ric Flair was also announced to appear in Chicago Ridge on June 27.