By Chris Vetter

Ring of Honor returned to Philadelphia on Nov. 2, 2007, for "Glory By Honor VI, Night 1." This show is back at the armory, and the crowd here is perhaps 1,000, and maybe even more, and they were hot. This show, of course, will be known for the ROH debut of Japanese wrestler Misawa.

As per usual, the commentary team is Dave Prazak & Lenny Leonard, and they do click well together. Like most 2007 releases, sound, lighting, and editing are fairly good.

* The show opened with Rebecca Bayless standing in the corner of the building, where it appears that Nigel McGuinness is signing autographs. Nigel said he has torn the bicep off his arm.

* The first of several clips from the Age of the Fall aired. In this clip, Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black & Lacey & Necro Butcher stood in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Jacobs talked about starting a revolution.

To the ring!

(1) Kevin Steen & El Generico defeat Brent Albright & B.J. Whitmer (w/Shane Hagadorn) at 8:53. Good opener. Lenny Leonard wondered where was Adam Pearce, the leader of the Hangman Three. Albright & Whitmer attacked their opponents from behind, and all four men brawled on the floor. The heels whipped Steen into the guardrail. In the ring, Generico hit a Kidman Dropkick. Steen hit a flipping guillotine legdrop on Whitmer for a nearfall at 2:30. Steen hit a diving elbow to the back. Albright hit a delayed vertical suplex on Generico for a nearfall.

Whitmer tagged in and hit some chops, a headbutt, and he suplexed Generico into the corner, then he hit a second-rope elevated kneedrop for a nearfall. Albright nailed his wrap-around-the-ropes kneestrike. Whitmer hit a German Suplex with a bridge for a nearfall at 6:00. Steen finally got the hot tag, and he hit an enziguri on Albright. Generico hit a top-rope crossbody block on Whitmer. Albright hit a nice overhead belly-to-belly suplex on Steen.

Whitmer hit a frogsplash for a nearfall. Generico came back with a Tornado DDT on Whitmer. Steen hit a neckbreaker over his knee on Whitmer. Generico hit a Mafia Kick on Whitmer, then a plancha to the floor on Albright, leaving just Steen vs. Whitmer in the ring. Steen hit a Swanton Bomb on WHitmer for the pin.

* Immediately after the match, Hagadorn threw powder in the eyes of Steen & Generico. Albright hit a half-nelson suplex, and Whitmer hit a brainbuster on Generico.

* Backstage, Albright & Whitmer talked about their match. Whitmer said that Steen & Generico found out what happens when someone gets into their business. Whitmer then promised that he was coming for Delirious.

(2) Claudio Castagnoli defeats Hallowicked at 5:56. Solid, short squash. The crowd chanted, "Heyyyy!" on cue, whenever prompted. They opened with some basic reversals, and they traded armdrags, rollups, and had a standoff. Hallowicked hit a headscissors takedown and a running kneestrike to the head for a nearfall at 2:30. The crowd was hot! Hallowicked planted his knee in the back, and he hit a chop.

Claudio fired back with a bicycle kick and a second-rope elbowdrop for a nearfall, then he nailed the Giant Swing at 5:00. Hallowicked fired back with the (D-Lo) Sky High powerbomb for a nearfall, then a Mafia Kick for a nearfall. Claudio nailed a reverse Samoan Drop, dumping Hallowicked stomach-first to the mat. Claudio then nailed a running European Uppercut for the pin. Not bad at all, but no one thought that Hallowicked had a chance, and that hurt the heat here.

* Larry Sweeney walked out onto the ramp, and he offered to buy out Claudio's ROH contract, just to make him go away. Claudio said that he loves ROH, will not leave, and he promised he would get his hands on Sweeney.

(3) Davey Richards defeats Delirious at 13:31. Good match. Delirious went crazy at the bell, and they traded some quick mat reversals. Delirious hit some shoulder tackles, he paused to jaw, then he hit an armdrag. Delirious couldn't get on the Cobra Stretch, and Richards bailed at 2:00. Delirious hit a back senton in the ring for a nearfall. Richards fired back with an STO uranage. They brawled to the floor, and Richards whipped Delirious into the guardrail. Richards then nailed a bodyslam on the floor at 4:30. In the ring, Richards hit a back suplex. Delirious fired back with several clotheslines in the corner.

Richards hit a Thesz Press and punches to the face, and he went for the cross-armbreaker, but Delirious got to the ropes at 7:00. Richards hit a nice Northern Lights suplex for a nearfall. Richards applied a hammerlock with a bridge, as he put pressure on the lef arm. Richards hit a snap suplex for a nearfall. Delirious fired back with the Panic Attack/running knee in the corner, and they were both down. Delirious hit some clotheslines and the BAM leaping lariat for a nearfall at 10:00. Delirious then hit the (Sydal) "Here It Is" Driver for a nearfall, and the crowd was hot!

Richards hit some chops and headbutts in the corner, then a running forearm in the corner and an enziguri, then a German Suplex for a nearfall. Richards applied the Kimera Lock/submission hold, but Delirious reached the ropes. Delirious hit a Cobra Clutch Suplex for a nearfall, and he applied the Cobra Stretch, but Richards rolled over and Davey got a nearfall at 13:00. Delirious went for the Shadows Over Hell backsplash, but Richards avoided it and hit a kick to the stomach! Richards then hit a Tombstone Piledriver, and he again applied the Kimera Lock, and Delirious tapped out. Good match.

* Another clip from the Age of the Fall, as they stood outside a dilapidated building. Jacobs asked people if they were into action, or apathy. Fun promos to push their "movement."

(4) Jay & Mark Briscoe defeat Roderick Strong & Rocky Romero at 17:56 to retain the ROH Tag Titles. Very good match. The crowd taunted Strong with the slow "Rod-A-rick" chant, and he stalled, and looked quite angry. Romero and Mark started and traded standing reversals. Rocky applied an Octopus. Jay and Strong entered at 2:39, with Jay hitting a headscissors takedown and a spin heel kick. Mark made a quick tag, and the Briscoes worked over Strong. Jay and Rocky traded overhead chops! OUCH! Mark hit a kneedrop for a nearfall, then a headbutt on Romero. Strong entered and hit a dropkick on Mark.

The Briscoes nailed double Facewash kicks in the corner on Strong at 6:30, and the crowd chanted, "Man Up!" Romero entered and he traded forearms with Jay, then Rocky hit a nice kneedrop to the face for a nearfall. Mark hit a Samoan Drop for a nearfall on Strong. The Briscoes hit a double football shoulder tackle. Mark hit his catapult doublestomp on Romero, then some karate thrusts on both opponents. Mark hit a moonsault press onto both opponents at 10:00. However, the heels began to work over Mark. Rocky hit a dropkick as Mark was tied in the Tree of Woe. Rocky then hit a back suplex for a nearfall.

Mark hit a belly-to-belly suplex on Strong. Jay made the hot tag, and he hit a nice dropkick on Strong, then some chops. Strong landed a LOUD chop on Jay. Jay hit a Gordbuster on Romero, then a Death Valley Driver on Strong for a nearfall at 13:30. Romero hit some spin kicks to Jay's chest, then a nice DDT. Romero hit a running kneestrike for a nearfall. Jay hit a DVD on Romero. Mark hit a springboard Ace Crusher on Strong, and he dropped him on Romero! Cool spot.

Romero put Jay in an anklelock, but Jay reached the ropes at 16:00. Strong hit his Gorilla Press Gutbuster over his knees. The Briscoes came back with a team Splash Mountain powerbomb & neckbreaker combo on Romero. Strong and Mark traded chops, with Mark hitting a leg lariat and a moonsault for a nearfall. The Briscoes then hit the springboard Doomsday Device clothesline, and Jay covered Strong for the pin. Very good match.

* Tyler Black & Necro Butcher & Jimmy Jacobs hit the ring, and they attacked the Briscoes. The Age of the Fall had a standoff with the No Remorse Corps. Suddenly, the Vulture Squad (Ruckus & Jigsaw & Jack Evans) hit the ring, which led us right to the next match!

(5) Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black & Necro Butcher defeat Ruckus & Jigsaw & Jack Evans at 6:26. Good scramble action, but still way too short. Ruckus hit a hurricanrana on Black. Ruckus hit a Shooting Star Press off the apron to the floor. Evans hit a spin heel kick to Black's face, then Evans hit an assisted moonsault on Black. Necro nailed a punch to Jigsaw's face! Necro then nailed Evans with a punch at 2:00. Evans gave Necro a Flair Toss off the ring apron to the floor. Meanwhile, Jigsaw and Jacobs traded some mat holds in the ring. Ruckus hit a cartwheel-back-elbow on Jacobs, then a rolling suplex. Jacobs & Black hit double dropkicks on Ruckus as Ruckus was in the Tree of Woe.

Jacobs hit a spear on Jigsaw. Black hit a Mafia Kick on Ruckus. Evans missed a 630 Splash. Necro hit a backbreaker over his knee on Evans. Jigsaw hit a Superkick for a nearfall on Black at 5:00. Ruckus hit a corkscrew neckbreaker on Black. Jacobs went for a Contra Code/Sliced Bread #2, but Jigsaw blocked it. Jacobs hit an elevated back senton on Jigsaw, as Jigsaw was lying across Black's shoulders. Jacobs then slapped on the Front Guillotine Choke, and Jigsaw tapped out.

* The Briscoes ran back to the ring to brawl with the Age of the Fall. The NRC returned to the ring and fought. Lacey got on the mic and shouted for people to support them, saying that all women should join the Age of the Fall. Daize Haze ran into the ring, and she brawled with Lacey. Haze hit the Mindtrip/snapmare driver.

Delirious entered the ring and he attacked Richards. Albright & Whitmer hit the ring, and they attacked Delirious. Steen & Generico ran in to make the save. Delirious hit a top-rope dive to the floor on several wrestlers. Black hit a backflip plancha to the floor. Haze hit a top-rope dive. Necro Butcher hit a top-rope flip dive onto several wrestlers, and that drew a big pop. Jay hit a flip dive, then Richards hit a dive, and Strong hit a dive. Then, the three Vulture Squad members hit simultaneous dives. This was FUN. "Faction warfare is red hot here in Ring of Honor," Prazak said. In the ring, Ruckus & Evans each hit top-rope dives to the mat, and the Vulture Squad posed together in the ring.

* It's intermission time, and Rebecca Bayless talked with the Briscoes. Mark said that he's healthy. Daizee Haze walked up, and she told the Briscoes that she would take care of Lacey for them.

(6) Ernie Osirus defeats Mitch Franklin at 2:58 to win the Top of the Class Trophy. Yuck, yuck, yuck. These are my two least favorite ROH students squaring off in the popcorn match. The announcers couldn't pretend to be interested either, as they decided to chat about the ROH school, it's trainer (Delirious), and the possibility of having special guests stop in to help train.

They opened with basic mat reversals. Osiris hit a headscissor takedown, then some rolling suplexes. Franklin hit a gutwrench suplex for a nearfall, then a sloppy headscissors takedown. Osiris hit an overhead wheelbarrow suplex, then a running Shooting Star Press for the pin. Ok, I guess ... I just find these guys really, really boring.

(7) Austin Aries defeats Bryan Danielson at 17:18 to win their three-match series. Another excellent match from these two. They opened with an intense lockup, and the crowd was hot and split. Aries hit a headscissors takedown. Danielson worked the left wrist. They both applied headscissorslocks, and they had a standoff at 2:30. Aries hit a monkeyflip and some Japanese Armdrags. Danielson couldn't get on the Crossface Chickenwing. Aries went for a dive through the ropes, but Danielson got his knees up to block it! OUCH! Danielson hit a standing neckbreaker for a enarfall, a nice dropkick, a butterfly suplex for a nearfall, and he applied an abdominal stretch at 5:30.

Danielson applied a headscissorslock, and Aries reached the ropes. Danielson couldn't apply the Surfboard, so he ripped at Aries' face. Aries got an O'Connor Roll for a nearfall, then a running kneestrike. Danielson quickly took back control by applying a half-crab, but Aries reached the ropes at 9:00. Aries clutched at his lower back in pain. Danielson hit a headbutt. Aries was tied in the Tree of Woe, but he hit a Stunner while escaping it, and the crowd rallied for him. Aries hit a backbody drop, a (Jarrett) Stroke, and a Power Drive elbow for a nearfall. Aries hit his dive through the ropes, and he barreled into Danielson. In the ring, Aries hit the catapult corkscrew press; he went for the Lionsault, but Danielson got his knees up to block it at 12:00.

Danielson applied a Triangle Choke, but Aries reached the ropes. Aries hit the shinbreaker & back suplex combo. Aries went for the running dropkick to the face in the corner, but Danielson got a boot up to block it. They traded forearm shots in the corner. Prazak wondered who would become the first man to ever win the ROH title a second time. (Hint: it won't be Low Ki!) Danielson hit a missile dropkick, but they both kipped up to their feet. They nailed simultaneous roaring elbows, and they were both down at 14:30. Cool spot.

Danielson went for a top-rope back suplex, but Aries landed on top for a nearfall. Danielson applied the Cattle Mutilation, but Aries escaped, and Austin hit some elbows in the corner. Danielson hit a Tiger Suplex, and he began ramming repeated elbow shots to the side of the head! The crowd chanted, "This is awesome!" Aries hit a sharp kick to the head, but he couldn't hit the brainbuster. Aries hit a DDT, and he cranked back on Danielson's head (this is how he won the first match in the series!). Moments later, Danielson got a small package rollup for a nearfall (that's how he won the second match!). However, Aries hit the brainbuster and a 450 Splash for the pin!

* Age of the Fall were still wandering the streets of Philadelphia. Jacobs spoke distastefully about the "cookie cutter" houses he saw in the distance.

* Larry Sweeney & Chris Hero & Bobby Dempsey & Sara Del Rey came to the ring. Sweeney said he was there to "strike while the iron is hot." Hero wore a "Survival of the Fittest" T-shirt. Dempsey wore a "Survival of the Fattest" T-shirt. Sweeney said that Hero has earned a title shot, whenever he wants it, and he wants it now! Sweeney ordered Nigel McGuinness to come out and defend the title now, or forfeit the title!

Hero got on the mic, and he said that Nigel isn't really injured, but rather, he's terrified of getting in the ring with Hero. Nigel came out, dressed in bluejeans. He said he's been wrestling for seven years. "I have given my heart and my sould for this business," Nigel said. However, he said he was too injured to wrestle. Hero grabbed Dempsey and put Dempsey in a hold, showing Nigel how easily he will beat up Nigel. Sweeney called Nigel a "fluke champion." Nigel got on the mic, said he is not a coward, and he agreed to the match.

(8) Nigel McGuinness defeats Chris Hero (w/Larry Sweeney) at 9:04. Great heat for this short match. Nigel’s arm was heavily taped. Hero hit a Mafia Kick and got a rollup for a believable nearfall right away! Hero hit some punches and blows to the back. Hero put on Nigel’s T-shirt, mocking the champ. Hero stomped on the injured arm, and he hit a basement dropkick to the head at 2:30. Nigel couldn’t hit the left-arm clotheslines. Hero yanked Nigel to the mat by the left arm, and Hero hit a second-rope Buff Blockbuster. Nigel fired back with some chops, European Uppercuts, and a short-arm clothesline for a nearfall at 5:30.

Nigel hit another short-arm clothesline on the floor. However, Sweeney distracted Nigel, allowing Hero to attack from behind. In the ring, Hero tied up the left arm. The crowd was HOT! Nigel got to the ropes, as the referee called for the bell at 7:30, so the match was restarted. Nigel hit the Tower of London/hangman’s Ace Crusher off the apron to the floor. Nigel slammed Hero’s left arm into the guardrail. In the ring, Nigel hit a clothesline, then he applied a nice keylock/submission armbar, and Hero tapped out! The crowd popped, and didn’t seem to mind that this match was fairly short, as the fans chanted, “Thank you, Nigel!”

* Larry Sweeney & Chris Hero spoke backstage, and they were angry at the loss. Sweeney rambled about how the loss was an ROH conspiracy, and he would be going after the referee. Hero said that Nigel tapped out.

(9) Misawa & KENTA vs. Takeshi Morishima & Naomichi Marufuji went to a 30-minute time-limit draw. Very good match. However, I didn’t ‘love’ this match as much as others undoubtedly did. LOTS of green & white streamers thrown at Misawa, and fans chanted, “This is awesome!” before the match even began! KENTA and Marufuji started and they traded forearm shots, and KENTA hit a nice dropkick. They avoided each other’s moves. Naomichi applied a cross-armbreaker, and KENTA got to the ropes. Misawa and Morishima entered at 2:30, and this building is HOT! Morishima hit a shoulder tackle. Misawa hit a running forearm, and Morishima bailed. KENTA tagged back in (already?), and he hit some spin kicks to Morishima’s chest, taking the big man off his feet.

Marufuji hit a jumping dropkick as KENTA was on the top turnbuckle. KENTA hit a back suplex on Marufuji at 6:00. Misawa and Marufuji traded forearms. KENTA dropped Naomichi stomach-first across the top rope, then he hit a kneestrike to the head as Marufuji was still lying on the ropes. Misawa gave Naomichi a monkeyflip across the ring at 9:30, and they continued to work over Marufuji. KENTA hit a hard slap to the face, and he applied an STF. Misawa hit some leaping Field Goal kicks to the chest, then a senton on Marufuji for a nearfall at 12:00. Morishima finally got the hot tag, and he hit his cartwheel-into-a-Stinger Splash on Misawa, then a missile dropkick for a nearfall at 14:00.

Morishima traded forearms with Misawa. KENTA entered and hit two Mafia Kicks on Morishima, but they had no effect. KENTA hit another Mafia Kick that finally leveled Takeshi. However, KENTA couldn’t hit a brainbuster. KENTA tried a bodyslam, but Morishima landed on top. Marufuji whipped KENTA into the guardrail on the floor, then Naomichi hit a running Ole-style dropkick on the floor. Morishima hit a buttbump against the guardrail on KENTA. In the ring, Naomichi worked over KENTA and stomped on his nose. Marufuji applied a Cobra Clutch at 17:30, but he couldn’t lock in a Crossface Chickenwing. Both Morishima & Marufuji stood on KENTA’s chest in the corner. Marufuji hit a catapult elbowdrop for a nearfall. Morishima hit a (Boss Man) sidewalk slam for a nearfall at 20:00.

Morishima applied a modified Camel Clutch. KENTA hit a running kick to Morishima’s chest. Misawa finally made the hot tag, and he hit some forearm shots, then a top-rope forearm on Morishima, but he couldn’t get him up for a Tiger Driver. Morishima hit his rolling buttbump as Misawa was sitting on the mat. Marufuji hit a basement dropkick on Misawa’s knee, a running clothesline, and a Superkick. Misawa came back with a butterfly suplex on Marufuji. KENTA hit a running kick on Marufuji’s face, then a springboard dropkick for a nearfall on Naomichi at 23:00. KENTA gave Morishima a bodyslam onto Marufuji! WOW!!

KENTA accidentally hit Misawa with a Mafia Kick. KENTA went for a German Suplex, but Morishima blocked it and sat down on KENTA’s chest. KENTA hit a Tiger Suplex on Marufuji. Marufuji hit a Superkick on KENTA. KENTA hit a Tiger Suplex on Marufuji. KENTA couldn’t get the Go To Sleep kneestrike. Marufuji hit a Sliced Bread #2 on KENTA, and they all hit quick moves, and all four were down. The fans chanted, “NOAH!” Naomichi hit a clothesline on KENTA at 27:00, and they were both down again. Naomichi hit another Superkick, then he slammed KENTA’s head into the mat. Naomichi again hit a Superkick for a believable nearfall on KENTA.

KENTA nailed the Go To Sleep kneestrike for a believable nearfall, but Naomichi got his feet on the ropes. Marufuji hit a Dragonscrew legwhip for a nearfall. They traded rollups. Misawa got the hot tag at 29:00, and he traded more forearms with Morishima. Morishima hit a hard clothesline for a nearfall. The bell rang, announcing this match had gone to a draw. As expected, the fans chanted for “Five more minutes!” The wrestlers all shook hands, and the fans applauded them.

* In the final segment, the Age of the Fall stood outside the Liberty Bell, but Jimmy Jacobs said it is nothing but a tourist trap now. Jacobs said his group will give people the right to believe what they want.


Final thoughts: DVD runs 2 hours, 55 minutes.

This was another very good ROH show, but it wasn’t one of my favorites either.

I must preface my next comments by reiterating that I had never seen Misawa wrestle before. I certainly know the name, and I respect the name. All that said… I was underwhelmed. He was barely in the ring. He hit some forearm shots. And he stood on the ring apron. A lot. For months, no, for years, I’ve heard my fellow ROH forum fans tell me how wonderful this guy is. So, it was hard for me to be jazzed about a main event in which he did, frankly, next to nothing. Luckily, KENTA and Marufuji were on top of their game, as always, and they made the match really entertaining. Before anyone bashes me… I reiterate that I gave it a good ‘star rating,’ even if others think it should be higher.

So, I’ll give best match to another classic between Austin Aries and Bryan Danielson. I really liked how they built off their prior matches, and the crowd was totally into this match and split between supporting the two wrestlers. Great action, good drama, and a hot crowd, made this the top match.

The Briscoes delivered yet another really strong match, this time against Strong & Romero, and that earned third-best match of the night. Strong really works well in tag matches, and that was no different tonight. The Briscoes, of course, are the best tag team going.

What didn’t work: My two least favorite ROH students nearly put me to sleep. I don’t care about the Top of the Class Trophy, and this didn’t help one bit.

This show earns a thumbs up. While I didn’t love the main event, it was still quite good. There is plenty of good wrestling on this DVD, and the Philly crowd was hot and into the entire show, and that hasn’t always been the case here. Purchase this DVD at www.rohwrestling.com for $20.

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