By Chris Vetter, Torch Contributor

Ring of Honor held “Glory By Honor IV” on Sept. 17, 2005, in Long Island, N.Y. The crowd is perhaps 600, and with all recent ROH releases, sound quality and lighting are really good.

The tape opens with Gary Michael Capetta interviewing Lacey. Lacey said she has suspended the current roster of Lacey’s Angels, and she is looking for new members. She scolds the camera man for panning down on her body.

In the ring, Jay Lethal grabs the mic and demands that Low Ki come to the ring right now! Commentary opens with Dave Prazak and Jimmy (Gabe Sapolsky) Bower… they were caught off guard by Lethal’s demand to start the show. Julius Smokes came out first and made several racial comments at Lethal. Smokes said he wants Low Ki reinstated permanently.

(1) Low Ki defeats Jay Lethal at 16:22. Low Ki jumped Lethal and hit several chops. Lethal fired back with a spin heel kick and a back body drop, then his own chops. Prazak talked extensively about the need for an authority figure in ROH. Lethal hit a guillotine legdrop on the ring apron. Ki hit a dropkick to the back. They traded chops on the ring apron at 5:30, and they brawled to the floor, and Ki hit a bodyslam on the floor.

Low Ki tossed Lethal through a table on the floor. Lethal was bleeding at 9:30, and Ki grabbed a piece of the broken table and raked it across Lethal’s forehead! In the ring, Low Ki applied a Camel Clutch, and he tried to paint a sign, using Lethal’s blood as his ink. Ki missed his Tree-of-Woe doublestomp. Lethal hit a gutwrench suplex. The crowd is fairly split, and a loud “Low Ki” chant began.

Lethal couldn’t hit the Dragon Suplex. Lethal hit Smokes. Ki hit a dropkick onto Lethal, while using a chair. Ki hit a top-rope doublestomp to the chest for a believable nearfall. Ki hit several chairshots to the chest, then another doublestomp, on the chair, on Lethal’s chest, for the pin. Wow, what a hot opener. Ki offered to shake Lethal’s hand, but he pulled it back before Lethal could shake it.

A video package played, showing the history of the Lethal-Ki feud.

American Dragon cut a backstage promo, saying he was really frustrated after his loss to Aries in May, and he needed to take time off to regroup. But he’s back, and ready to win the ROH title. “I’m stronger, I’m faster,” he said.

(2) Austin Aries defeats Azrieal at 11:16. Good match. Lenny Leonard joined Prazak on commentary. Aries immediately went for the right arm, and he hit a dropkick to the face, and kicks to the chest. Azrieal hit a springboard crossbody block and a dropkick, and Aries bailed to the floor. Aries hit a nice neckbreaker over his knee at 3:30. Aries took control, hitting a back suplex and a left-arm clothesline. Lacey is watching from the entrance ramp, and she’s taking notes.

Aries hit a jumping elbow drop for a nearfall, then a spine kick, and he worked Azrieal’s back. Azrieal came back with an enziguri and a dropkick to the face for a nearfall at 7:30, then a springboard clothesline and a doublestomp on Aries’ head for a nearfall. Aries hit his running dropkick to the face in the corner. Azrieal blocked a Brainbuster and he hit a DDT, and both men were down. Aries finally hit the Brainbuster, then a 450 Splash, for the pin. Aries rightfully dominated this match.

James Gibson cut a backstage promo, saying that he made it clear from day one, when he debuted in February, that he wanted to be ROH World Heavyweight champion. He said the title is precious to him. Good promo.

(3) Nigel McGuinness defeats Roderick Strong at 12:13. Good build throughout this match. Nigel is booed heartily. Nigel promised he would bring honor back to the Pure Title; the crowd doubted his claim. Nigel blocked a chop, and he went to a headlock on the mat. Strong hit a backbreaker over his knee. Nigel did his headstand in the corner, and he kicked Strong as he charged in. Strong was charged with two quick ropebreaks, as Nigel pushed Strong into the ropes; Strong was upset at the referee’s ruling.

Strong hit a Lungblower at 7:00, then some chops and a dropkick. Nigel came back with a clothesline and some European Uppercuts. Nigel went to a headstand again, but this time, Strong hit a dropkick. Strong went for the Stronghold/modified Boston Crab, and Nigel used his first rope break at 10:30. Strong hit a supersplex for a nearfall, then his Gorilla Press Gutbuster over his knees. Nigel nailed the Tower of London/Ace Crusher in the ropes, for the pin.

There was a clip of Roderick Strong vs. James Gibson from FIP in September. The lighting in that venue looked much better than some of the early FIP shows I’ve seen.

(4) Colt Cabana defeats Homicide (w/Julius Smokes) via DQ at 14:29. The crowd is hot for both men. Cabana mimicked Rick Steiner, and he jawed with Smokes. Homicide hit some punches to the face and chops. Cabana hit a nice dropkick to the face. Smokes got angry at ringside, and he took his shirt off. The crowd chanted for him to put it back on. Homicide tossed Cabana to the floor at 6:00, and Smokes beat up Cabana on the floor.

Homicide dove through the ropes onto Cabana, and they crashed into the barricade. Homicide hit a hard clothesline on Cabana, who was sitting on a chair on the floor. In the ring, Homicide hit a Tornado DDT for a nearfall, but he missed the top-rope Benoit headbutt, and both men were down. Cabana hit a vertical suplex. Homicide hit an Exploder Suplex. They traded punches, and Homicide hit the Ace Crusher/stunner. Cabana got in a nice cradle suplex for a nearfall at 14:00. Homicide got a chair and he hit Cabana in the head with it, causing the DQ. Good intensity throughout this match.

After the match, Grim Reefer, Ricky Reyes and Low Ki helped beat up Cabana, until Samoa Joe made the save. Low Ki was the last person standing in the ring, and he got on the mic, saying that “The real champ is here.” Jay Lethal came out, and he challenged Low Ki to another match!

(5) Jay Lethal (w/Samoa Joe) defeats Low Ki (w/Julius Smokes) at 9:19. They brawled immediately, trading punches, and Ki hit a spine kick. Ki slapped Lethal in the face and he too hit a spine kick. They traded chops, and Lethal hit a Standing Side Kick for a nearfall at 3:00. Ki applied a Dragon Sleeper. Outside the ring, Joe beat up Smokes.

Low Ki hit his Tree-of-Woe doublestomp for a nearfall. Lethal hit a Dragon release suplex for a believable nearfall. Ki got crotched in the corner. Lethal hit an awesome, dangerous-looking top-rope Dragon Suplex for the pin. Good, non-stop brawl.

Intermission. Capetta interviewed Nigel McGuinness. Capetta questioned Nigel’s in-ring tactics. “I won it the most pure way possible, with a wrestling hold,” Nigel told Capetta.

(6) Davey Andrews defeats Eric Matlock at 2:28. Matlock applied a cross-armbreaker, and they traded mat holds Matlock hit some chops, but they didn’t look or sound impressive. Andrews hit a running knee to the arm, then he hit a German Suplex. Andrews applied a Dragon Sleeper, and Matlock tapped out. Eh.

SIDE COMMENT: I’d like to rant about how much I dislike East Coast crowds – they didn’t know Matlock, and they gave up on him less than 90 seconds into the match. When Matlock debuted in the Midwest for IWA-MS in August, the crowd gave him a far more positive reaction, even though they didn’t know him either. It’s worth noting that Matlock has competed in ECWA’s Super Eight tournament, and he’s a solid competitor. So, the crowd reaction here really disappointed me.

(7) Samoa Joe defeats B.J. Whitmer and Ricky Reyes and Adam Pearce in a four-way at 18:38. Good match. Pearce came out in his Flair-like blue robe. In a funny spot, Whitmer did his Shawn Michaels pose, while the ref filled in for the absent Jimmy Jacobs, doing the Diesel pose. Whitmer and Reyes started and traded mat holds. Pearce and Joe entered at 2:00, and Pearce stalled repeatedly, refusing to tie up. Joe slapped Pearce.

Pearce hit a belly-to-belly suplex, a shoulder tackle, and he applied a Camel Clutch on Joe, then he choked him with tape from his wrists; overall, Pearce is dominating. Joe fired back with an enziguri, then his back slap/front kick/knee drop combo at 9:30. Reyes tagged in, and he stomped on Joe and planted some kicks to the thigh. Lacey is again watching and taking notes. Reyes and Pearce are double-teaming Joe.

Joe hit a senton on Pearce at 14:30, and he finally made the hot tag to Whitmer. Whitmer entered the ring, and he hit a Northern Lights Suplex on Reyes. Joe immediately came back in, but he hit B.J. with a uranage. In a hot series of moves, Reyes hit a DDT on Joe, B.J. hit an Exploder on Reyes, Pearce it a piledriver on Whitmer, and Joe hit a clothesline on Pearce, and all four men were down.

Joe hit a musclebuster on Reyes at 17:30, and Joe hit Whitmer with kneeshots to the head. Joe applied a rear-naked choke on Whitmer for the win. After the match, Joe said his goal is to be tag champion.

Austin Aries cut a promo backstage, saying that no one is going to stand in his way from winning this year’s Survival of the Fittest. There are commercials for ROH merchandise, and a new commercial for the ROH wrestling school. (Tape 1 ends here, at 2 hours, 24 minutes.)

(8) American Dragon Bryan Danielson defeats James Gibson at 32:23 to win the ROH World Heavyweight Title. A very good match, and some will consider it as a match of the year candidate. Dragon came out to Europe’s “Final Countdown.” The fans chanted “Welcome back.” Bower is back on commentary. They trade arm holds and have some friendly exchanges. Dragon went for a Cattle Mutilation/double armbar, but Gibson got to the ropes. Gibson hit a Northern Lights Suplex at 7:30.

Gibson hit a back suplex for a nearfall. Gibson cheated a bit, which led to a “Dragon” chant. Dragon planted some European uppercuts. Gibson suplexed Dragon to the floor. On the floor, he threw Dragon into a barricade. Back in the ring, Gibson hit a neckbreaker over his knee, then he tied Dragon in the Tree of Woe at 15:00, and he cranked back on Dragon’s head. Dragon fired back with a spin heel kick to the head. Dragon took control with more European uppercuts, a slingshot suplex and an airplane spin for 19 rotations, but Dragon missed the Benoit flying headbutt at 19:00.

Gibson applied the front guillotine choke, but Dragon got a nice package suplex to escape it. Bower popped for Dragon’s reversal, and he talked about Dragon’s leg strength to get the move. Dragon hit the top-rope headbutt for a nearfall. Dragon connected on a Victory Roll that sent Gibson to the floor. Dragon dove through the ropes on Gibson, and they both were down at 22:00. Back in the ring, Dragon worked on Gibson’s left arm and he hit a Northern Lights suplex, and went into a cross-armbreaker.

Gibson applied a Texas Cloverleaf at 27:30, but Dragon reached the ropes. Gibson hit a Tombstone Piledriver and a top-rope guillotine legdrop. Gibson applied a Front Guillotine Choke, and the crowd begged “Please don’t tap.” Gibson hit a Tiger Driver/butterfly powerbomb for a nearfall at 29:30. The crowd is insanely hot now.

Dragon hit a roaring forearm, then a Dragon Suplex with a nice bridge for a nearfall. Dragon applied the Cattle Mutilation, then a Crossface Chickenwing, and Gibson tapped out! The crowd popped for the title change, and Dragon celebrated with the title. The crowd chanted “ROH!” Dragon put over Gibson in a classy promo. Dragon promised he would not leave for TNA or WWE while holding the ROH title. “I will stay here and defend the title like a man.” Excellent match.

There is a commercial for Survival of the Fittest, then a video package on Rave’s run in the Embassy. I really, really like these brief breaks between big matches; it allows the viewers to catch their breath!

(9) A.J. Styles (w/Mick Foley) defeats Jimmy Rave (w/Prince Nana) at 18:42. This is a finisher’s match, that ends when one wrestler hits the Styles Clash/Rave Clash; no pinfalls needed. “Die, Jimmy, Die,” chants fill the building! Lenny Leonard is back on commentary with Prazak. Rave attacked Styles from behind. Styles is quickly in control, with a back body drop, kicks to the chest, stiff forearms, a plancha to the floor, and he tossed Rave into the barricade at ringside.

A mystery person distracted Styles, allowing Rave to take control. Rave hit a reverse suplex, dropping Styles stomach-first. Rave choked Styles on the floor, and they brawled in the aisle. Rave went for the Rave Clash on the floor, but Styles reversed it into a backbody drop at 8:00. In the ring, Styles hit his Kip-Up Rana, then a German Suplex. Rave hit the Ghana-Rea swinging neckbreaker, and they were both down. Rave brought a table into the ring. At 15:00, both guys crashed off the corner turnbuckle through a table set up on the floor.

A.J. hit a brainbuster onto an open chair in the ring! The crowd is hot. Several masked wrestlers hit the ring, but Foley cleared the ring with chairshots on them. Styles and Rave brawled on the top turnbuckle, and Styles hit the Styles Clash, through a table in the ring, for the victory. Foley hit his butterfly DDT on Nana. Good action.

Foley got on the mic and said this was his last time in ROH, and he acknowledged he was close to signing with TNA. He said that wherever he goes, he will put over ROH.

Backstage, Cabana said he has a friend in Steve Corino, and he will bring him to ROH to help in the feud with the Rottweilers.

Capetta interviewed Lacey again. Nothing much was said.

Dragon cut a promo, saying how much he loved wrestling. A nice video segment aired, showing Dragon’s history in ROH, with clips from matches with Styles, Low Ki, Spanky, Aries, Jack Evans, Justin Liger, Joe and Homicide. Nice.

(10) Tony Mamaluke defeats Jay Fury and Sal Rinauro at 9:29. This is a bonus match from a June 2005 Full Impact Pro show. This match was selected to show off the skills of Mamaluke and Rinauro, who have earned spots on the ROH roster.

All three fought in the ring at the same time. Fury dove on both opponents. This commentary is obviously dubbed just for this release, as Bower talked about Rinauro and Mamaluke and their impending matches in ROH. Mamaluke hit a running kick to Fury’s face. Fury hit some nice kicks on Mamaluke. Out of nowhere, Sal rolled up Fury and pinned him at 4:00, and this is now just one-on-one.

Mamaluke hit a Divorce Court armbreaker, and he worked over the left arm. Sal hit some offense, but he sold his injured arm. Mamaluke applied a Fujiwara armbar, and Rinauro tapped out. Eh, nothing spectacular, and hardly a ‘showcase’ match for debuting new talent.

Tape 2 runs 1 hour, 40 minutes.

Final thoughts: This is the best of the four “Glory By Honor” shows in ROH history. Dragon-Gibson delivered a big match, and the crowd was totally into it. Styles-Rave and the nice pair of Ki-Lethal matches also are standouts. The lone low spot of the show was the Matlock-Andrews match.

I really enjoy the ROH double-tape releases. This format allows for full ring entrances, and multiple backstage segments, and even some commercials, to separate the matches. This was a satisfying, entertaining show. Purchase it at www.rohwrestling.com for $25.

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