By Sean Radican, Torch columnist

RADICAN’S ROH DVD REVIEW SERIES
“MANHATTAN MAYHEM V”
AUGUST 17, 2013
MANHATTAN, N.Y.

(1) Silas Young beat Adam Page. Young dominated most of the action until Page made a nice comeback that brought the crowd alive. They went to a nice sequence where Page countered Young's signature backbreaker/clothesline combination and eventually hit a standing SSP for a 2 count. Young fired back and caught Page with a huge kick to the head and finished him off with the Fujiwara plunge for the win. This was good late, but things started slowly. (**1/4)

Young shook hands with Page after the match.

Steve Corino came down to ringside to a big reaction from the fans. Kelly yelled at him when he tried to come in on commentary. Nana apparently not understanding current storylines asked what Corino did to get fired. Several officials came down and removed Corino from ringside.

(2) Caprice Coleman & Cedric Alexander beat ACH & Tadarius Thomas in a Scramble Rules match. They started with some rapid-fire exchanges that lit the crowd on fire thanks to the Scramble Rules. Alexander and Coleman finally slowed things down and worked over ACH for a long period of time. ACH finally hit a diving clothesline on Coleman in the corner and slid out of the ring allowing Thomas to come in and run wild on Coleman and Alexander. There was a scary moment when Coleman got Thomas and draped him over his knees. Alexander then slipped going for a springboard and landed on Thomas awkwardly.

The pace picked up and they went to a big exchange between all four men that ended with Alexander hitting a huge clothesline on Thomas and everyone was down. ACH sent Alexander to the outside a short time later and nailed Coleman and Alexander with Air Jordan. The crowd exploded and ACH went up top, but Alexander dragged him down to the apron. They went to a crazy finish where Coleman countered a double team and then he and Alexander hit overtime on ACH for the win. They had a couple of rough spots and Nana was grating on commentary, but this was very exciting to watch. (***1/4)

(3) ROH TV Champion Matt Taven (w/The HOT) beat Mike Mondo in a Proving Ground match. They went at it early with both men going for their finishers right off the bat. The pace slowed down once Taven took control of the action. The crowd chanted for Taven as Mondo mounted a comeback. Taven continually cut off Mondo when he tried to make a comeback. Eventually the HOT started to interfere and one of the Hoopla Hotties hit a hurricanrana on Mondo off the second rope and then Taven hit a frog splash with the ref distracted for a nearfall. Mondo thwarted another attempt to interfere by the HOT and ended up hitting a stomp off the second rope that sent Taven's head into the Book of Truth for a 2 count. Taven ended up getting his boots up when Mondo went for a splash and he followed up with the climax for the win. (**)

(4) Forever Hooligans (Rocky Romero & Alex Koslov) beat The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson). The Hooligans worked over Nick early until the Young Bucks took control and worked over Romero for a long period of time. The crowd was hot and favored the Bucks over the Hooligans. Koslov got the hot tag and ran wild on the Young Bucks before hitting his dancing kicks on Matt. The crowd fired up as the action broke down and the Young Bucks got a nearfall on Koslov after a series of double team maneuvers. They went to an insane rapid fire sequence near the apron with everyone exchanging moves. Koslov ended the sequence with a flip dive over the top to wipe out the Young Bucks.

They went to another big exchange that ended with Matt hitting a superkick on Romero. The fans chanted superkick. Matt put on Koslov's hat and began hitting Koslov with dancing kicks while playing air guitar. Koslov fired back sign an enzuguri and everyone was down as the fans went nuts. The action down the stretch was red hot. Koslov managed to get his knees up to block more bang for your buck. Romero wiped out Matt with a dive through the ropes a short time later. Koslov then lifted up Nick in the torture rack position and Romero nailed him with a springboard knee strike for the win. Awesome match. (****1/4)

The Young Bucks shook hands with the Hooligans after the match and all four men posed in the ring as the fan applauded.

Marshall Law came out to the ring. Kelly mentioned they weren't advertised for a match on the card. He talked about the injustice of Nigel McGuinness and mentioned Veda Scott's injury. The fans booed. Evans talked about the different tag teams wrestling on the show and said it was an injustice Marshall Law wasn't wrestling. Evans said he wasn't leaving the ring until they had a match.

Prince Nana got on the mic and ran down Evans and Marshall in a very vulgar manner. Nana said he had signed to men and they were going to take out Marshall Law. The lights went out and two men came out wearing clown masks with shirts and ties. The bigger clown wiped out Marshall Law from behind with a double clothesline. The clowns unmasked and it was Homicide and Eddie Kingston.

The fans went nuts and chanting for Kingston and Homicide.

(5) Homicide & Eddie Kingston beat Q.T. Marshall & R.D. Evans. Evans and Marshall got in a lot of offense and the match was fairly even until Kingston tossed Evans out of the ring. He countered Marshall and sent him into an ace crusher from Homicide. Kingston then finished off Marshall with a running forearm to the back of the head. This was an odd way to debut Homicide and Kingston if they're meant to be taken as a big threat and the crowd was dead for most of the action.

Nana said they were wearing shirts and ties to show they were good citizens. Homicide shook hands with Evans, but then he grabbed his hand and snapped his finger. Kelly said they were going to be called Outlaws Inc.

(6) Tomasso Ciampa beat Michael Bennett in a Quarterfinal Round ROH Title Tournament match. The match started with Ciampa tripping Bennett. He then grabbed his legs and swung him into the guardrail. Later in the match, Ciampa hit a series of running knee strikes on the outside against the guardrail on
Bennett. Bennett tried to counter one, but Bennett hit a German into the guardrail and followed up with another running knee strike that sent him flying into the crowd after impact. Bennett fired back and began working over Ciampa's knee. The crowd was flat as Ciampa made a comeback. He went for a running knee strike, but his leg gave out and Bennett nailed him with a spear. Bennett grabbed a leg submission, but Ciampa managed to escape. Some fans chanted boring and Bennett smiled at the crowd and blew kisses. Ciampa blocked a GTS and hit one of his own for a nearfall. They ended up on the apron and Bennett went for a piledriver, but Ciampa blocked it and nailed him with a knee strike and the fans booed. Ciampa hit kryptonite crunch on the floor and rolled Bennett back into the ring for the win. This match was mostly flat and the crowd just wasn't into it at all. (*1/2)

(7) Kevin Steen beat Roderick Strong in a Quarterfinal Round ROH Title Tournament match. Steen got a huge pop and streamers making his entrance. Strong hit a jumping knee strike right after they shook hands and followed up with a pop-up backbreaker for a near fall. He went for a dive trough the ropes, but Steen caught him and hit a powerbomb on the apron. Steen then connected with a Swanton off the top for a nearfall. Steen worked over Strong for several minutes much to the delight of the crowd, but Strong fired back and hit an Olympic slam to get the upper hand. They went to a big exchange that ended when Steen nailed Strong with a big clothesline and both men were down.

Steen got up and hit the Steenalizer for a 2 count. They battled up too and Strong hit a superplex for a 2 count. He applied the Stronghold, but Steen quickly grabbed the ropes. Steen countered a double knee guy buster a short time later into the sharpshooter after another big exchange, but Strong got the ropes. Strong hit a double knee gut buster and the sick kick, but Steen kicked out and the fans fired up. Steen went for the package piledriver, but Strong slipped out. Steen then hit a sleeper suplex and a package piledriver for the win. This was very good with good crowd heat for most of the action. (***3/4)

(8) Michael Elgin beat Karl Anderson in a Quarterfinal Round ROH Title Tournament match. They exchanged strikes early and then went to a nice exchange of counters when Elgin went for the Elgin bomb and Anderson countered it and went for an ace crusher, but Elgin slipped out and they went to a stalemate. Elgin was wearing Jim Duggan style tights and the fans began chanting "Hoooo" at him and holding their thumbs up in the air. Elgin lifted up Anderson and hit a 60 second delayed vertical suplex and the fans went nuts. Elgin went for a dive off the apron, but Anderson caught him with a spine buster to the floor. Anderson followed up with an enzuguri to Elgin's head that appeared to daze him.



Anderson began working over Elgin's leg inside the ring for a long period of time. Elgin finally managed to roll out of the way of a running senton. Elgin mounted a comeback and hit a running power slam for a 2 count. Elgin hit a series of clotheslines against the ropes and went for a running clothesline, but
Anderson caught him with a big spine buster for a 2 count. Anderson went for a charge into the corner, but Elgin caught him and slammed him to the mat. Elgin then gave the crowd the Duggan thumbs up and they went nuts as he went up top. Elgin went for a corkscrew splash, but Anderson got out of the way. They went back and forth and Elgin hit a dead lift German with a bridge for a 2 count. Elgin went up top again, but Anderson nailed him with a kick. Anderson lifted Elgin onto his shoulders and hit a TKO for a nearfall. Anderson then lifted Elgin onto his shoulders and drove him down to the mat with a sit down piledriver for another nearfall. They went back and forth and Elgin got the crossface on Anderson, which drew a Benoit chant from the crowd. Anderson managed to get the ropes to break the hold. They had some great exchanges down the stretch. Elgin ducked a running kick in the corner and hit two spinning back fists, a buckle bomb and then the Elgin bomb for the win. (***3/4)

Elgin went to the camera after the match and pointed at Anderson. He said he'd lost to Anderson before and now he would get his win back against Steen. Anderson and Elgin shook hands after the match as the fans applauded.

(9) ReDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly) beat ROH World Tag Team Champions The
American Wolves (Eddie Edwards & Davey Richards) to become the new ROH World Tag Team Champions. The action was good early, but neither team could gain an advantage. Edwards and Richards finally got the upper hand and began tagging in and out to work over Fish's arm. Fish managed to catch Edwards with a dropkick. He tagged in Kyle, who began exchanging kicks to the back with Edwards. They continued to go back and forth until Edwards caught O'Reilly with a shining wizard. The Wolves were working over O'Reilly, but Fish ran in and nailed Edwards with a kick. O'Reilly then applied a cross-arm breaker, but Edwards got the ropes.

Fish and O'Reilly began tagging in and out to work over Edwards. They knocked Richards off the apron and hit Edwards with a flurry of maneuvers capped by a knee strike off the second rope from O'Reilly after a back breaker from Fish for a 2 count that was caused by Richards breaking up the pin. ReDRagon kept knocking Richards of the apron to prevent Edwards from tapping out. Edwards finally hit a double code breaker off the second rope to cut off ReDRagon. Richards finally got the hot tag and ran wild.

The action broke down and all four men ended up in the ring. Fish and O'Reilly hit stereo suplexes on the Wolves. The Wolves got the upper hand and nailed Fish with a double kick to the head. They then got O'Reilly in the corner and hung him upside down before nailing him with stereo kicks to the head. The action picked up and Fish wiped out Edwards with a dive to the floor. Fish nailed Richards with a moonsault off the top, but Edwards broke up the pin. The crowd woke up after Richards and O'Reilly began exchanging slaps to the face. Richards ended the exchange with a big clothesline that left everyone down on the mat. The Wolves went up top for a pair of double stomps, but Fish shoved Edwards off the top and he crashed through a table at ringside. Richards wiped out Fish with a five through the ropes. He nailed O'Reilly with a double stomp off the top for a 2 count. Fish held Richards's arm on the outside and O'Reilly nailed his arm with a running dropkick against the guardrail. The action continued at a rapid pace with Richards fighting off ReDRagon on his own. Richards kicked out of chasing the dragon. O'Reilly then applied the cross-arm breaker and Richards tapped out. This was very good, but the crowd heat wasn't good until the end. (***3/4)

Cary Silkin and Todd Sinclair put the titles on Fish and O'Reilly. Outlaw Inc.’s music played and they came down to the ring. Fish got tossed out of the ring and Homicide snapped O'Reilly's fingers.

Overall thoughts: (8.0) – “Manhattan Mayhem V” was a very good show with a lot of good matches up and down the card. The ROH Title Tournament rolled along on this show with three Quarterfinal Round matches. The Title Tournament hit a bit of a bump in the road with the lackluster Bennett-Ciampa match, but Steen-Strong and Anderson-Elgin were both very good matches. The highlight of the show was the Young Bucks vs. Forever Hooligans showcase match, which is well-worth going out of your way to see.


The show picked up steam early with the Adrenaline Rush vs. Alexander & Coleman match, which was contested under Scramble Rules and delivered a lot of fast-paced back and forth action that got the crowd fired up. It was teased that Alexander & Coleman were in title contention after picking up the win.

The show kicked into high gear with an excellent match between the Young Bucks and Forever Hooligans that had the crowd red hot for most of the match. There were some great exchanges in the match and the Young Bucks dished out their signature superkicks, but ultimate Forever Hooligans came out on top in the end. My favorite part of the match was Matt putting on Koslov’s hat and imitating his dancing kicks and then playing air guitar.

Homicide and Eddie Kingston debuted on the show as Outlaws Inc. a new tag team signed by talent scout Prince Nana. I really liked their entrance and the crowd was going nuts as they came down to the ring dressed in shirts and ties wearing clown masks with loud horns and flashing lights for their entrance. Homicide & Kingston came across like heels and were presented like heels on commentary, but it was baffling that they were placed in a match against another heel team in Evans & Marshall. It was even more confusing as to why Evans & Marshall got in so much offense. You could see the crowd die down during the match after being red hot when Kingston and Homicide came out. They attacked ReDRagon, another heel tag team, to end the show, so I’m not sure where this is going, but this debut could have meant so much more if presented in a different way.

The only disappointment on the card was Bennett-Ciampa. The crowd was dead for this match and chanted boring. It wasn’t a very exciting match and it dragged in parts, but I felt the crowd was really harsh on the match.

Kevin Steen got the biggest reaction of the night coming out for his Quarterfinal Round ROH Title Tournament match against Roderick Strong. The match was very good and got off to a red hot start before slowing down. The crowd died down a little during the middle portion of the match, but things picked up quickly leading into a good finishing sequence with Steen taking the match with a package piledriver.

Anderson-Elgin also had a good Quarterfinal Round match. It dragged in a couple of spots, but they put together some really nice exchanges with both men countering each other’s finishers. Elgin hit some nice power spots in the match and showed good fire mounting a comeback down the stretch and putting away Anderson.

The main event with ReDRagon challenging the American Wolves, which saw the tag titles switch once again, was very good. The match was flat at times and the crowd seemed a little burned out, but things picked up down the stretch and there was a really good sequence with Richards and O’Reilly exchanging strikes in the middle of the ring with their partners down on the outside. Edwards ended up getting pushed off the top through a table and Richards showed good fire trying to fend off both members of ReDragon before O’Reilly tapped him out with a cross-arm breaker. The finish made sense given O’Reilly and Fish had worked over Richards’s arm during the match and late in the match Fish held Richards’s arm out against the guardrail and O’Reilly nailed it with a running dropkick off the apron.

Outlaw Inc. attacked ReDragon after they won the tag titles and Homicide snapped O’Reilly’s finger. It made a better impression than when they came out and had a fairly even match with Marshall & Evans, but I still feel they would have had more heat at the end of the show just squashing Evans & Marshall.

This show is well-worth picking up for the quality of action. Prince Nana was grating on commentary at times, as he seemed unaware of current storylines and blurted out a lot of cheesy clichés. Other than that, the show was mostly very good and the ROH Title Tournament has been fun to watch.

You can purchase “Manhattan Mayhem V” by clicking HERE or by visiting ROHWrestling.com

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