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By James Caldwell, Torch columnist

ROH "Undeniable" PPV #4 - Edison, N.J.
Originally aired: January 18, 2008

Hey, it's halftime of Patriots vs. Chargers. Take a break and read a review!

They opened with a few crowd shots of the fans ringside waving white towels. What is this, an NFL playoff game with the Terrible Towels making an appearance? Dave Prazak, Lenny Leonard, and Claudio Castagnoli were already in the ring. Prazak mentioned Takeshi Morishima to a round of boos. They cut to a locker room shot of Morishima. Prazak said he will defend the ROH Title against Nigel McGuinness, which drew cheers. They cut to a show of Nigel in dress clothes backstage. In the background, Claudio kept throwing wild uppercuts to get ready for his match with Chris Hero. And off we go...

Larry Sweeney led his group out on stage, where Sweeney said his client, Chris Hero, isn't happy with the terms of the match. He said they're holding out until they get what they want. Claudio was seriously mad in the ring. Knowing how chill and laidback Claudio is out of character, I almost want to crack up at him playing serious, but he pulls it off well. Sweeney told Claudio to hit the showers because Hero's not wrestling tonight.

After a video recap of the last PPV, back to the ring where Age of the Fall was in the ring. Jimmy Jacobs cut a promo about the AOTF being a movement, not a faction. They intertwined some clips of the Age of the Fall taking out the Briscoes at the previous PPV. Not exactly top-notch production value to tell the story. Jacobs said ROH management told them they have to beat some tag teams before they can challenge the Briscoes for the belts, so bring it on. This comes across like a minor league storyline with the "fighting within the system", when this audience knows they're contracted ROH wrestlers. Julius Smokes then led the Vulture Squad out for the opening match.

1 -- AGE OF THE FALL (JIMMY JACOBS & TYLER BLACK w/Necro Butcher and Lacey) vs. VULTURE SQUAD (RUCKUS & JACK EVANS w/Jigsaw and Julius Smokes)

They quickly started to brawl in the ring and on the floor. After brief isolation on Ruckus, Evans took a tag and the action broke down on the floor. Evans went for a dive onto Black, but Black caught him and powerbombed him into the ringside guardrail. Evans takes some nasty bumps. Back in the ring, AOTF with their tag team combos leading to Jacobs forcing Evans to tap out to the "End of times" submission.

WINNERS: Black & Jacobs in 6:00. Quick match that didn't allow either team to showcase much more than a bunch of spots so everyone could "get their stuff in" for six minutes. Black & Jacobs are a very good tag team, from what I saw in PWG a few weeks ago, but I don't think this was a good presentation of the team. (*1/2)

They went backstage where Morishima was talking to one of his advisers. Morishima saw the cameras and became angry. His adviser said Morishima doesn't want any trainers, so Morishima intimidated the cameraman by chucking a chair into a locker. Nice replacement for a promo that conveyed the intended message.

They aired a video package on Erick Stevens, who did a voice-over promo about being baptized by fire in ROH.

Back in the ring, Sweet 'n Sour was holding court. Sweeney said ROH has not met their demands, so the holdout continues. Sweeney said they're going to offer the first women's match on ROH PPV. They did a quick graphic on Sarah Del Rey and Daizee Haze's goals for this match.

2 -- SARA DEL RAY (w/Sweet 'n Sour Inc.) vs. DAIZEE HAZE

Sara, the heel, started the match on the offensive. Daizee came back with a heart punch, though, and nailed a running boot to the head for a nearfall at 3:00. Claudio then came to ringside and started throwing around some European uppercuts. He then grabbed Sweeney by the neck, but Hero came to his manager's aid. They quickly went back in the ring where Daizee scored a bridge pin for the win. On the floor, Hero attacked Claudio ringside and laid him out.

WINNER: Daizee in 4:00. Really disappointed in how this match was presented for being ROH's first women's PPV match. Not a strong endorsement of two good women's wrestlers. (3/4*)

Suddenly, the lights went down and Bryan Danielson's entrance music hit. Danielson came out and said Sweeney's group represents everything that is wrong about professional sports. Danielson challenged Hero to a match while the fans chanted at Hero, "You're going to get your f'in head kicked in." And repeat.

3 -- BRYAN DANIELSON vs. CHRIS HERO (w/Sweet 'n Sour, Inc.)

Hero stalled early on, doing his traditional opening minute calisthenics and lucha libre dance moves to irritate his opponent, the announcers, and the fans. Hero did a back flip and posed for the crowd, which led to Danielson stretching Hero on the mat with a textbook Mexican surfboard. Hero took control at 6:00, then mocked Danielson's eyepatch from his Morishima injury by lowering his own headband into pirate position. Danielson had enough and came back at 8:00 with a charging forearm and snap suplex. He landed a German suplex with a bridge pin for a two count before transitioning into Cattle Mutilation. Hero, being a big dude, escaped to his feet and nailed a suplex into neckbreaker for a nearfall. Hero got more heat by doing Danielson's Cattle Mutilation into a somersault to pose. Danielson had enough and kicked Hero square in the face before landing multiple kick strikes to the neck. The ref came in and stopped the match before Danielson could inflict more damage.

WINNER: Danielson in 11:00. Very nice pro wrestling match. Hero played a great heel by simply being a cocky s.o.b. to lead into Danielson's wrestling holds and strikes. Great stuff. (***)

Adam Pearce was in the ring following an ROH video package. He called out Kevin Steen. The announcers talked up the ladder war between The Briscoes and Steen/Generico at the last PPV. Steen slowly emerged from the back, but we couldn't see his face because of the bright lighting. Pearce told him to take a seat in a chair. He gave him a sales pitch on The Hangmen 3, while also saying they would do the same thing to Steen's tag partner, El Generico, that they did to Delirious because he also hides behind a mask.

B.J. Whitmer and Brent Albright dragged Generico into the ring and placed him at Steen's feet. Pearce, playing the devil, whispered in Steen's ear about Generico holding him back. He told him to take Generico out. Steen stood up and surveyed the decision facing him. Instead, he turned around and punched Pearce. He tried to fight a battle by himself against TH3, but they quickly subdued him. Suddenly, Delirious's music hit and he stormed the ring to make the save. Delirious then did a mumbo-jumbo promo. Steen said he has no idea what that meant, but said there's only one guy in ROH who is going to have fun smacking around Generico, and that's him. Steen announced a six-man tag match, so off they went.

4 -- EL GENERICO & KEVIN STEEN & DELIRIOUS vs. THE HANGMEN 3 (ADAM PEARCE & B.J. WHITMER & BRENT ALBRIGHT w/Shane Hagadorn)

After a brawl ringside, the match eventually started in the ring. TH3 worked over Delirious for the first half of the match before Generico took a hot tag. Steen and Generico then cleaned house, leading to Steen with a big dive on the floor. Generico then measured Whitmer in the corner for a running Yakuza kick. Steen followed with a top rope Swanton bomb. He saw Steen coming to break up the pin, so he moved and Pearce accidentally dropped an elbow on Whitmer. Delirious then started his series of Ultimate Warrior clotheslines on Pearce before dumping Albright to the floor. The action completely broke down at this point. Delirious even pulled a Mike Tyson on Pearce's ear. Albright eventually won the match in the midst of the confusion with a half-nelson suplex on Delirious. Afterward, Pearce checked on his ear, which was bleeding profusely.

WINNERS: TH3 in 8:00. Above-average brawl for the next chapter of the feud between Delirious and TH3. (**1/4)

They went backstage where Nigel complained about his crappy locker room to set up the tone of his promo. He said it's not about being a TV star or making millions of dollars; it's about wrestling a lot of matches. Nigel said he's paid his dues, so he feels this is finally his opportunity to face Morishima for the belt. He said he's a tough wrestler, but he's also that 15-year-old kid sitting at Wembley Stadium for Summerslam '92. Nigel closed that the ROH Title means something in this business, and for him, it means his dream at 15-years-old finally came true.

They went to a video package from last year's Fifth Festival when Roderick Strong turned on Austin Aries, which set up their lengthy feud. Back to the PPV, Strong came out for a grudge match against Aries while the announcers set up the history together and eventual rivalry.

5 -- AUSTIN ARIES vs. RODERICK STRONG

Strong, the heel, took control to start things off to build to Aries's first comeback. Aries made his comeback on the floor at 5:00 by knocking Strong around ringside. He then tossed Strong back into the ring and nailed a springboard dive into charging elbow drop for a nearfall. Strong then went back on the offensive to build heat for another comeback for Aries at 9:00. Aries had control with ten punches in the corner, but Strong dumped him to the floor and Aries crashed hard. Strong paced around the ring to give Aries a breather before ramming him into the guardrail at 10:00. Aries then reversed a second whip into the guardrail and Strong ate some steel. So, I'm assuming there are no count-outs in ROH.

Phase 3 of the match developed back in the ring where Aries nailed a running kick to the face for a nearfall at 13:00. The crowd stomped their feet in anticipation, then Strong caught Aries with a back breaker across his knee for a nearfall. Strong then took Aries up top and slammed him back-first across the top turnbuckle. Strong went to the outside again, and found a table to prop up between the ring apron and the top of the guardrail. Strong teased a table spot, but Aries knocked him to the opposite side of the floor and landed a suicide dive forearm strike. Back in the ring, Aries wore out Strong with ten or fifteen elbow strikes to the neck. He then nailed a brainbuster for a close nearfall at 17:00. Aries couldn't believe it when he connected with his 450 splash finisher for yet another close count.

At 20:00, they went into a rapid-fire series of quick-hit attacks and pin attempts for close nearfall. Strong nailed a Gibson Driver, but Aries kicked out just in time. Now they're even on kicking out of each man's finisher. Strong teased a table spot again, but Aries kicked him and nailed a brainbuster through the table. Fortunately, there was padding on the floor to protect both men's heads on the way down, but that's a real dangerous spot considering what we know about concussions. Back in the ring, Aries went for a 450 splash, but it was more like a 460 splash with his knees crashing onto Strong. Oh well, Aries made the pin for the win.

WINNER: Aries in 23:00. The final ten minutes was excellent. They didn't hold my attention early on, but the story of each man wanting to prove he is the better man in the grudge match made for great action in Phase 3. The brainbuster spot through the table is something I don't particularly care for in any context in 2008, despite both men being great professionals to protect each other. (****)

I would have liked to see more time spent on the post-match reaction to Aries-Strong, as it was presented as the grudge match blow-off. Instead, they quickly went to a match taped in Dayton, Ohio between The Briscoes and Richards/Romero. The announcers explained that the Age of the Fall and Briscoes can't be in the same building right now, so they're presenting a Briscoe match from a different locale to showcase tag wrestling.

6 -- ROH tag champions JAY & MARK BRISCOE vs. NO REMORSE CORPSE (DAVEY RICHARDS & ROCKY ROMERO) -- ROH Tag Title match

Briscoes didn't waste any time straight-dominating Romero and Richards. After the Briscoes got their early match shine with a big dive on the floor, the NRC took control of Jay back in the ring. The fans chanted, "Man Up" as Jay was isolated in the heel corner. Mark eventually took a hot tag, leading to the action breaking down in the ring. NRC dumped Jay to the floor, then landed a double suplex in the ring. They tried to set up dual kicks, but Jay suddenly re-entered the ring and kicked Richards to the floor. Briscoes nailed a double-team neckbreaker on Romero for a believable nearfall that got the heat on...the ref.

Briscoes set up their springboard Doomsday Device move, but Mark whiffed on Romero. So, they appeared to improvise by doing more big tag spots, leading to an awesome mid-ring slap exchange between all four men. Romero then caught Jay off the top rope with a rolling head scissors into his great Diablo armbar, but Jay grabbed the ropes to break the hold. With half of the action in the ring and half on the floor, the crowd went silent in anticipation of something big to happen. They got another nearfall following a top rope facebuster by Jay on Davey. The Briscoes then set up the Doomsday Device again, and this time, Mark nailed it for the win. After the match, they included some "video glitches" of the Briscoes hanging upside down at the end of the last PPV, thanks to Age of the Fall.

WINNERS: Briscoes in 18:00 to retain the ROH Tag Titles. A lot of good tag spots in this one to showcase tag team wrestling. It's still very indy-like for the matches to start off with traditional tag team rules, then break down into a Texas Tornado match. Briscoes carry themselves more like rock stars than this time last year, so their progress has been great to follow the last 12 months. (***1/4)

The video glitches eventually went to a quick clip of the Age of the Fall smeared in the Briscoes's blood from after the last PPV. Jimmy Jacobs said, "This is only the beginning."

Back to the Edison PPV where Nigel McGuinness came out for the main event title match. Morishima came out next and stared down Nigel. Before the match, Prazak built up the significance of the ROH Title in locker rooms from big organizations to small independents.

7 -- ROH champion TAKESHI MORISHIMA vs. NIGEL MCGUINNESS -- ROH Title match

They started with a quick "false finish" sequence where Morishima went for a lariat that Nigel blocked, and Nigel went for a rebound lariat that Morishima blocked. They had a stand-off, then repeated a similar sequence, except Morishima took Nigel down with a sidewalk slam. Nigel then went to the floor for a quick breather. Back in the ring, Morishima rocked Nigel around the ring, which finally fired up Nigel, who tried to come back with a slap to the face, but Morishima simply forearmed him to the mat. Morishima then caught Nigel in the corner with a running boot to the face. Nigel made a comeback at 6:00 with a standing lariat that was good for a two count. He tried a rebound lariat at 8:00, but Morishima saw him telegraph it, so he blocked and clotheslined Nigel to the mat. Morishima did more damage, though, by blocking a sunset flip and sitting on Nigel's chest for a two count. If Bret Hart saw that move, he'd surely have flashbacks to his matches against Yokozuna.

At 10:00, Nigel went for a headstand in the corner, but Morishima kicked him right in the head and nailed the back drop driver for a two count that got a big ooooh! from the crowd. Morishima inexplicably went up top, but Nigel blocked and nailed a superplex. I think the ring moved. Nigel only got a two count, then he picked up Morishima and rocked him on his feet with short-arm lariats. Nigel went for a running start for a lariat, but Morishima waited and smashed him with a lariat. He went for another back drop driver, but Nigel rolled through and nailed a smashing rebound lariat. The crowd counted, one...two...thr... ohh! What a nearfall after that sequence. Now up top, Nigel with a sunset flip powerbomb for a two count. The crowd clapped and stomped its feet as both men went into a standing exchange. Goodness, this is great. Nigel then nailed a lariat off the ropes, but Morishima kicked out at one! He came to his feet like an angry bear and nailed a hip attack. Nigel bounced off the ropes from the hip attack, then hit a lariat out of nowhere for the pin and the win to capture the ROH Title.

WINNER: Nigel McGuinness in 15:00 to capture the ROH Title. Wow. An absolutely great pro wrestling match that both men should be very proud of. There was no lull, there was no rest, there was nothing but hard-hitting action, believable nearfalls, and great psychology for 15 minutes. Unbelievable action with both men working together to produce beautiful wrestling art. (****1/2)

After the match, the ROH locker room spilled out to congratulate Nigel. They did an angle with Bryan Danielson being upset about Nigel holding the title. Aries showed leadership by shoving Danielson out of the way so Nigel could have his moment. Morishima then took the ROH Title belt and presented it to him. He bowed, then Nigel returned the bow. The fans clapped, then chanted for Morishima on his way out of the ring. Nigel posed in the ring to cap off the show.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: This wasn't ROH's best PPV of the four so far, but Nigel vs. Morishima may have been the best match on any of the four PPVs. I recommend this PPV for that match because it's time and money well-spent as a wrestling fan. Nigel-Morishima was like two great artists working in perfect harmony for fifteen minutes to create a beautiful wrestling match. The reason why I'm so high on the main event match is because there was always a sense that the finish could come at any time. They were in third gear the entire match, with believable nearfalls sprinkled in early in the match to hold your attention.

Some of the other matches on the PPV didn't have that believable feel; that the finish could come at any point. Strong vs. Aries was a great undercard singles match, where the final 10 minutes was superb after a methodical opening sequence build-up. The tag title match was spotty, but the Briscoes are so good as a tag team, that they can cover for a highspot fest by playing up their "rock star" status. The other matches on the card were hit-or-miss, being driven more by storylines than in-ring action. Actually, that worked out well in the end, as ROH put together a PPV that saved all the great wrestling drama for the main event.

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