By Chris Vetter, Torch Contributor

Ring of Honor headed to Edison, N.J., on Aug. 5, 2006, for “Fight of the Century.” As the show’s title suggests, this event is centered around the heavily promoted and highly anticipated ROH World Title match between champion Bryan Danielson and challenger Samoa Joe.

Lighting as usual is ok, but sound quality has slowly slipped on these releases. There were a handful of times when I couldn’t make out the words said by the commentators. Sound from the mic on anything said in the ring also was sub-par. Back on commentary is the fantastic duo of Dave Prazak & Jared David.

* The DVD opened with a short clip of fans lining up outside, waiting to get inside. (The crowd had to be 800 or so in the building.)

* Samoa Joe cut a backstage promo, saying the war of words is now over. He proclaimed himself the greatest champion in ROH history.

* American Dragon cut a backstage promo as well! “No one in this business is in better shape to wrestle than me,” Dragon said.

(1) Colt Cabana defeats Sal Rinauro (w/Prince Nana & Jimmy Rave) at 7:33. Solid opener. Rave wore street clothes; Prazak gave a reason that Rave wasn’t wrestling, but I honestly couldn’t understand the garbled words, as the sound quality is really disappointing! The match began with some comedy tie-ups, and Cabana did the spot where he kept lifting his shoulder on the one-count, forcing the ref to count “one!” repeatedly. Colt hit a headscissors takedown and a kneelift, sending Sal to the floor at 3:00. Rave and Nana both slapped Sal!

Rave hit Colt! As the ref was distracted, Nana jumped in the ring and hit a flying buttbump on Colt, and Sal got a nearfall. Colt hit a series of Dusty Elbows at 6:00, then a Tornado Fisherman’s Suplex for a nearfall. Sal fired back with a superkick for a nearfall. Colt gave Sal a ‘Whirley Bird’/overhead spinning toss to the mat. Colt applied the inverted Boston Crab, bending Sal in half, and Sal tapped out. Basic match.

(2) Shane Hagadorn defeats Bobby Dempsey (w/Derrick Dempsey) at 0:06. Shane put his hand in his trunks as they shook hands. The ref turned to signal for the bell. Hagadorn pulled a weapon out of his trunks, and he nailed Dempsey with the weapon. Hagadorn applied a Crippler Crossface. The ref saw that Dempsey was out, and he signaled for the bell!

* Adam Pearce came to ringside, and he congratulated Hagadorn on his victory. The crowd chanted, “Homicide!” Hagadorn got on the mic, sucking up to Pearce, but the crowd shouted him down. Pearce talked about Steve Corino making the “greatest return in ROH history” last night. Pearce called Whitmer to the ring. Pearce told Whitmer that they won the war against CZW “for Jim Cornette.” Pearce told Whitmer that he’s either with him or against him! Corino jumped in the ring and attacked Whitmer.

(3) Nigel McGuinness defeats Jay Lethal and Christopher Daniels (w/Allison Danger) and Claudio Castagnoli at 11:48. Good four-way action. Castagnoli came to ringside with a mysterious briefcase. Daniels immediately attacked Claudio, and they traded punches. The match began with Daniels and Nigel trading nice mat wrestling holds. Daniels applied a headscissorslock, and Nigel escaped at 3:30. Lethal entered, and the crowd was hot and split, as he traded offense with Nigel. Nigel nailed a hard short-arm clothesline on Lethal, then Nigel applied a Cobra Clutch on the mat.

Lethal fired back with a nice enziguri on Nigel, and he tagged in Daniels. Daniels hit a nice leg lariat for a nearfall at 6:00 on Nigel. Claudio entered and hit a European Uppercut and some stomps on Daniels. Nigel hit a cool running European Uppercut in the corner on Daniels. Nigel & Claudio worked together to beat up Daniels. Danger used a water bottle to squirt water in Claudio’s eyes, and Daniels hit an enziguri on Daniels. Lethal made the hot tag, and he hit a springboard dropkick on Nigel, then a basement dropkick at 9:30.

Lethal hit a Northern Lights Suplex for a nearfall on Nigel. Daniels hit the STO Uranage on Claudio, then a Death valley Driver on Nigel, and the crowd was HOT! Daniels went for the Best Moonsault Ever, but he missed. Nigel hit a Superkick on Daniels. Claudio tossed Lethal in the air and hit a European Uppercut as Lethal came back down! Daniels hit a Flatliner on Claudio, and all four men were down, as the crowd chanted, “ROH!” Nigel nailed his clothesline bouncing out of the second rope on Claudio to score the pin. This was hot action; I wish it had gone longer!

* Davey Richards cut a brief backstage promo, saying he came to ROH to compete with the best, like KENTA. KENTA was standing next to Richards, and he said, “Tonight, I test you.” (Good job of establishing that Richards is KENTA’s “apprentice” or “understudy.”)

(4) Austin Aries & Roderick Strong defeat Jay & Mark Briscoe and Dave & Jake Crist (Irish Airborne) and Jack Evans & Matt Sydal at 17:02. Good match, as all eight men fought in the ring immediately! The Crists and Evans & Sydal traded some nice offense. The Crists hit simultaneous dropkicks and double corkscrew planchas to the floor. Strong hit a backbody drop, sending Jay tumbling to the floor! Strong dove to the floor. Aries also hit a dive! Mark dove onto everyone at 2:00, and the crowd chanted, “ROH!” In the ring, the Briscoes worked over Jake, and they hit their football double shoulder tackle. Evans entered and hit a nice Northern Lights Suplex, then some right & left kicks.

The Briscoes nailed the overhead powerbomb & neckbreaker combo, then they hit a Death Sentence/elevated guillotine legdrop for a nearfall. Strong nailed a back suplex on one of the Briscoes on the ring apron! The Crists hit the Irish Air Raid/missile dropkick & DVD combo to pin one of the Briscoes at 5:10! The crowd was quite displeased with this, chanting, “Bullsh!t!” The action continued with Evans hitting a nice standing moonsault on Dave Crist. Evans & Sydal hit a double running dropkick on Dave Crist. Strong entered and hit a loud chop, then a backbreaker over his knee at 7:30. Strong nailed a Samoan Drop on Dave.

Aries tied up Dave Crist; for whatever reason, Evans made the save. (Again, why would he do that? If the Crists are eliminated, it’s one fewer teams that Evans has to defeat to win this match? Ugh!) Aries applied a Camel Clutch on Dave at 10:00. Jake Crist made the hot tag, and he hit a leg lariat on Strong, then he put Strong in a cross-armbreaker. (Jared David insists on calling this something else every time a cross-armbreaker is done. The joke got old really quick, Jared!) The Crists went for the Irish Air Raid (which they just used to pin the Briscoes!), but Strong was able to avoid it. Strong hit a backbreaker, and he applied the Stronghold/vertical Boston Crab, and Dave tapped out at 11:40!

It is now down to former “Generation Next” teammates of Aries & Strong vs. Sydal & Evans! Strong slapped Evans! Evans nailed a cartwheel kick. Aries hit a clothesline that flipped Evans off his feet at 13:30. Sydal and Evans each hit dives to the floor, and the crowd was hot, chanting, “ROH!” In the ring, Evans hit a corkscrew standing moonsault on Strong, and Sydal hit his standing moonsault for a nearfall on Strong. Strong picked up Evans and tossed him back-first into a turnbuckle. Aries nailed the running dropkick to the face in the corner for a nearfall.

Aries & Strong hit the chop & brainbuster combo on Evans. Evans fired back with a springboard flip back elbow on Aries. Sydal hit his Floatover Famouser on Aries, but he missed the Shooting Star Press, landing on his feet. Strong immediately NAILED a running boot on Sydal, then he hit a backbreaker over his knee. Aries hit the top-rope 450 Splash on Sydal for the pin! Good match; the crowd was disappointed when the Briscoes were pinned early, but the fans rallied as the action really picked up when it was down to all Gen Next members.

* Aries got on the mic, and he again wondered where the tag title belts were. Sound was terrible here, and Aries was hard to hear.

* Backstage, Colt Cabana was cutting a promo, when Lacey walked up to him, and she wanted to know if he was spreading rumors about them. “Put a stop to these rumors,” she said to him, and she walked away in frustration.

(5) Homicide & B.J. Whitmer defeat Adam Pearce & Steve Corino via DQ at 16:35. Corino got on the mic and made fun of the fat people in the crowd. This started with Pearce & Corino beating up Homicide for a minute, before Whitmer joined the fray. Pearce and Whitmer stood nose-to-nose! “You made me do this,” Whitmer said, and he punched Pearce! The fighting spilled to the floor, and Homicide tossed a chair at Corino’s head at 3:00. Corino whipped Homicide into the hockey boards, and they fought back to ringside.

In the ring, Pearce begged for forgiveness, but Whitmer held Pearce’s arms behind his back, and Homicide nailed a running basement dropkick to Pearce’s unprotected face at 6:00! However, just seconds later, the heels took control of the match, as they began to work over Whitmer. Pearce & Corino made some illegal switches, and they hit a double faceplant. This match had great heat. The crowd taunted Corino about his haircut (short brown hair on the side of his head, longer blonde hair on top.) Pearce hit some punches and he jawed with the fans. Whitmer nailed an Exploder Suplex at 11:30, and they were both down.

Homicide and Corino made hot tags, and they traded HARD punches, and the crowd was HOT! Homicide hit an ugly-looking Blockbuster on Corino. Corino hit a low blow. Homicide hit a second-rope Ace Crusher on Corino, but he pulled up Corino before the three-count! Homicide grabbed a pair of scissors, but Pearce attacked Homicide before he could use them. On the floor, Whitmer whipped Corino into the guardrail. Meanwhile, in the ring, Homicide hit a second-rope DDT on Pearce for a believable nearfall, and Homicide yelled at the ref! Homicide placed Pearce’s head on an open chair in the ring! Suddenly, the Briscoes hit the ring and attacked Homicide, causing the DQ. Good stand-up brawl with great crowd heat.

* The Briscoes continued to beat up Homicide and they hit a guillotine legdrop on Homicide’s arm, as the arm was trapped in a folded metal chair!

(6) KENTA defeats Davey Richards at 19:27. An intense, hard-hitting match, and the crowd was hot from the start, and never cooled off! Richards bridged backward and hit the quick kick to the arm. KENTA applied a headscissorslock on the mat, then he hit a powerslam and three spine kicks, and some roundhouse kicks to the chest. They traded stiff forearms, and Richards hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker at 3:30. Richards unloaded some hard kicks to the chest, then a snap suplex and a running Mafia Kick that sent KENTA to the floor. They traded more hard kicks on the floor. KENTA nailed a Mafia Kick that sent Richards over the guardrail and into the crowd at 6:00.

In the ring, KENTA hit his ‘baseball dust’ mule kick to the head, and he applied a Camel Clutch, hit some more kicks, and eh was in control. KENTA hit some Kawada kicks to the head and a top-rope knee strike on Richards’ head as Richards was tied in the ropes at 9:00. KENTA applied a bodyscissors lock on the mat. Richards rallied and hit a running powerslam and a guillotine legdrop for a nearfall, then a nice T-Bone Suplex. Richards dove through the ropes onto KENTA, and they were both down. The crowd was hot and split! Richards hit a springboard dropkick for a nearfall. He tied up KENTA’s legs in the corner and hit a flying boot to the face! They traded Mafia Kicks!

Richards nailed a Saito Suplex, dumping KENTA on his head at 14:00! KENTA hit a headscissors takedown. KENTA went for a springboard move, but Richards caught him and hit a powerbomb. Richards applied the Horse Collar/leg wrapped around the neck, and the crowd was hot, as KENTA eventually reached the ropes. They traded Kawada Kicks, then slaps to the face! Richards hit his handspring-back-enziguri, but KENTA immediately hit a flying boot to the face, and they were both down, and the crowd again chanted, “ROH!”

Richards hit a belly-to-belly overhead suplex, a running forearm, and a hard clothesline for a nearfall at 16:30. Richards tried for the butterfly piledriver, but KENTA blocked it; KENTA went for the Go To Sleep kick, but Richards blocked that! KENTA hit a Tiger Suplex for a nearfall, then a running Liger Bomb for a believable nearfall. Richards went for a top-rope Shooting Star Press, but KENTA got his knees up to block it! KENTA hit another running boot, and fans chanted for him to hit the “Go To Sleep!” KENTA got Richards on his shoulders (setting Richards up for the Go To Sleep), but Richards rolled down KENTA’s back for a Crucifix Takedown for a nearfall! Nice! KENTA hit an Ace Crusher/stunner, then he hit the Go To Sleep, with his knee striking Richards in the shoulder, for the pin! Awesome, intense action.

* The crowd chanted, “Thank you KENTA.” Richards and KENTA posed together on the ramp before leaving, and the fans were very appreciative of the effort by both men.

(7) American Dragon Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe ended in a time-limit draw at 60:00. Dragon had himself introduced as “the best champion in ROH history.” The crowd was HOT, taunting Danielson with a “Joe’s gonna kill you” chant. They opened with some intense action, and Dragon got a nice suplex out of a knucklelock, and he absorbed the boos. The sound was a bit off early, too. Joe hit a series of kicks, and Dragon bailed at 4:30. Back in the ring, Joe hit a hard knee strike to the head, and Dragon bailed again! Back in the ring, Joe unloaded some blows to the body, and Dragon bailed once more!

Joe hit a shoulder tackle and a spine kick at 8:00. They traded stiff forearms, and Dragon collapsed. Dragon dove for Joe’s left leg and began to twist it; Joe hit some chops as they fought on the mat. Dragon nailed some European Uppercuts. Joe hit some more spine kicks, and Dragon bailed again at 11:30. Joe hit an Electric Chair in the ring. Jared David said that “Samoa Joe is the man who made that belt famous.” Dragon choked Joe in the ropes. Joe hit an enziguri in the corner for a nearfall at 15:00, then some bootscrapes. Dragon hit some bootscrapes of his own! Dragon began to work the left arm, and he applied a modified cross-armbreaker. Prazak noted that Danielson was softening up the arm for a Crossface Chickenwing.

Dragon hit (Joe’s version!) of a chop & punch combo in the corner, so Joe fired back with his own punch & chop combo! Joe nailed a powerslam for a nearfall at 19:30. Dragon came back with a Benoit Flying Headbutt for a nearfall, then he applied a Japanese Stranglehold, with his knees in Joe’s back, and the crowd rallied for Joe. Joe applied a Figure Four Leglock at 22:30, but Dragon was able to turn it over. They traded hard strikes, and Dragon went back to working on the left arm. Joe hit a backbreaker over his knee, and he applied a Boston Crab, but Dragon reached the ropes at 25:30. Dragon nailed a roaring forearm.

Dragon went for the Surfboard, but Joe was able to shrug it off and escape! Joe hit a Samoan Drop for a nearfall, a running boot, and a senton for a nearfall. Dragon fired back with a flurry of elbow shots to the side of the head & neck in the corner. Joe went for the Musclebuster at 29:00, but Dragon escaped, and he clipped Joe’s knee from behind! Dragon wrapped the leg around the ring post! Dragon hit some chairshots on the knee, and he was now in charge, as he applied a modified Figure Four, as he shouted out, “The world’s most boring wrestler!” He slammed the knee repeatedly on the mat, and he applied a Figure Four Leglock at 34:30.

Joe hit some kicks in the corner, bootscrapes, and a Facewash! Dragon fired right back with a Dragonscrew Legwhip, and he went back to his leglocks. Joe nailed a mid-air Ace Crusher at 38:30. Joe nailed a dive through the ropes to the floor, and they were both down. Joe hit an Ole Kick on the floor, and they brawled on the floor. Dragon hit his own running dropkick as Joe was sitting on a chair at ringside. They fought over a guardrail and into the crowd. Dragon hit a springboard flip dive, over the guardrail, and into the crowd at 43:00! The fans chanted “holy sh--!” after the big move!

Back in the ring, Dragon hit a missile dropkick. Joe came back with an STO uranage in the corner. Joe got the Rolling Cradle pin attempt. Danielson hit a Dragon Suplex for a nearfall. Joe applied a rear-naked choke, but Dragon reached the ropes at 46:00. Dragon hit a nice standing dropkick, and he applied the Cattle Mutilation! Joe reached the ropes. Dragon applied the Cattle Mutilation again, and again Joe reached the ropes. Dragon, for a third time, applied the Cattle Mutilation, and this time he rolled Joe over for a nearfall at 48:00.

Joe applied a single-leg crab, and he sat down on Dragon’s lower back! They traded stiff clubbing forearms, as the crowd chanted, “This is awesome!” Joe hit a hard clothesline, and they were both down. Dragon hit a running dropkick. Joe hit the standing powerbomb, and he turned it into an STF at 52:00, as many in the crowd chanted, “Please don’t tap!” The crowd got on its feet, and Dragon hit a hurricanrana! Joe went for a Musclebuster again, but Dragon somehow turned it into a Crucifix Takedown for a nearfall! Joe hit a second-rope flying knee for a nearfall at 55:00.

Joe hit a brainbuster for a nearfall. Danielson applied a single-leg crab, but Joe reached the ropes. Joe hit the Musclebuster! However, Dragon got his hands on the ropes at 57:30. Prazak noted that Joe’s knees hurt too much for him to take the extra couple steps to the center of the ring on the move. Dragon hit a top-rope back suplex for a believable nearfall. Dragon hit several elbow shots to the side of Joe’s head, then he applied the Crossface Chickenwing! Somehow, Joe escaped! Dragon went for the Ocono Roll, but Joe reversed it and applied the rear-naked choke! It appeared that Dragon was fading, as the ref lifted Danielson’s arm once, and it fell to the mat. Then, the bell sounded (at 60:00 exactly), and we have a time-limit draw!

* The crowd chanted for “five more minutes.” Dragon shook Joe’s hand, and he scampered out of the ring. KENTA stood on the ring apron! Suddenly, the Briscoes appeared, and they attacked KENTA! Homicide made the save, so the Briscoes instead beat up Homicide. Joe saved Homicide! The Briscoes bailed to the back, leaving just Homicide and Samoa Joe in the ring. Joe has a growing welt under one of his eyes! They stood nose to nose, and Joe said he saved Homicide, because Homicide helped ROH in its war with CZW. Joe offered to be Homicide’s partner, and they agreed to join up to take on the Briscoes!

* A clip aired of the ROH ring in a huge empty arena in the U.K. The ring looked cool with a black canvas and a drawing of the world in the center of the ring. I can’t wait to watch that show!

Final thoughts: DVD runs 3 hours, 19 minutes.

Believe the hype. Yes, Joe-Dragon is stiff, fun, and non-stop action. I was at Joe-Punk II in Chicago, and they didn’t do nearly as much as these two did in the first 20 minutes. The action slowly built throughout this marathon match, and the crowd was going nuts for the final 10 minutes, as neither man could quite put their opponent away. This is the highest rating I’ve given to ANY match I’ve seen in 2006.

KENTA-Richards was stiff, stiff, fun, action. With KENTA running through every opponent he’s faced so far in ROH, there was little doubt he would win. That said, Richards’ Crucifix Takedown in the final seconds of the match was well done, and made me think he could win! If I had a complaint about the match, it would be that KENTA’s “Go To Sleep” struck Richards in the shoulder, not in the head or chest, so it didn’t look quite as devastating as some of his prior finishing blows in ROH.

The crowd energy really dipped in the Ultimate Endurance match once the Briscoes were eliminated, but I really liked the decision to have them out first. The Briscoes are hot and it didn’t hurt them one bit to lose first. However, it was an immense boost for the Crists to get a big pinfall in ROH! The crowd rebounded when it was down to all former Gen Next teammates. I still don’t understand the logic of breaking up pinfalls in an elimination match…

Cabana is so wildly over in the Midwest, but he’s just opening match fodder on the East Coast. It feels like I’ve seen Cabana vs. the Embassy a dozen times since ROH began. (Seriously, how many ROH matches has Cabana faced Rave?)

Lethal looked good, and he still has his supporters (which is no surprise when ROH is in New Jersey.) I do hope he comes back into the ROH fold someday. I liked the slow build for a Daniels-Castagnoli rematch in the fourway.I didn’t care about the students’ match, so I was pleased with the quick ending! Because I barely glance at results when this show occurred, I had no idea it was a six-second match!

This DVD gets a huge thumbs up, and is highly recommended. Purchase a copy at www.rohwrestling.com for $20.

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