PWTorch.com - ROH RETRO - Loaded ROH Show 10 yrs. ago today: Last five matches won by Lethal, C.M. Punk, Joe, Aries, Bryan; more details

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ROH RETRO - Loaded ROH Show 10 yrs. ago today: Last five matches won by Lethal, C.M. Punk, Joe, Aries, Bryan; more details

Apr 16, 2015 - 2:34:33 AM

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A Ring of Honor show 10 years ago today reads like an all-star list of current WWE, TNA, and independent stars.

The last five matches of the show were won by current ROH TV champion Jay Lethal, C.M. Punk, Samoa Joe, current TNA wrestler Austin Aries (then ROH World champion), and current WWE IC champion Daniel Bryan (Bryan Danielson in ROH).

Also, the show opened with current NXT champion Kevin Owens (Kevin Steen) losing. The second match then featured current NXT star Sami Zayn (El Generico). Later in the show, Aries beat James Gibson (Jamie Noble of J&J Security), and Danielson beat current TNA wrestler Homicide in the main event.

ROH Live Report
April 16, 2005
Dorchester, Mass.
Originally Published PWTorch Newsletter #858

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(1) Vordell Walker defeated Kevin Steen. Good back and forth match for about 10 minutes with Steen getting a lot of nearfalls. Good opener.

(2) Roderick Strong defeated El Generico by submission. Typical Strong match with backbreakers and ground submission work.

(3) Lacey’s Angels (Deranged & Cheech) defeated Azreal & Dixie.

(4) Jay Lethal defeated Spanky (Brian Kendrick) by submission to retain the Pure Title. First match the crowd was loudly into. They brawled on the floor and flirted with a 20 count before returning to the ring. Spanky used all of his ropebreaks and then was caught in a Boston Crab–like move and he quickly tapped out. Really good match.

(5) C.M. Punk defeated Mike Kruel. Punk came out, introduced Bobby Heenan as his manager, and worked a short match with Kruel. The Embassy then jumped Punk and Jimmy Rave came out of the opposite end of the crowd to jump Punk. They brawled all around the crowd and back to the ring. Rave got a chain and they hung Punk with it. The locker room emptied out to make the save and clear the ring of the Embassy.

An exhausted, barely breathing Punk then cut a promo saying he “Hated Jimmy Rave more than anyone else ever.” (Hmm, Raven?) Also notable for this match, Punk received taunts for being part of a losing tag match at the WWE Heat taping in Chicago on Apr. 11.

(6) Double Stakes Four Corner Survival Samoa Joe defeated Colt Cabana to earn a Pure Title shot in a match also featuring Alex Shelley and Nigel McGuinness. Great match, probably 25-30 minutes altogether.

(7) Austin Aries wrestled James Gibson to a double pin draw in an ROH Title match. Incredible. For the finish, they both just draped an arm over the other man and a double pinfall occurred. When the referee raised Gibson’s hand first the place went absolutely nuts. He then countered that by raising Aries's hand and the announcer declared it a double pinfall.

The crowd chanted “five more minutes” and the ref agreed if both men would agree. Aries got on the mic and exhaustedly said, “Well, I’m the champ and you have to beat me. And you didn’t.” As he said that, Alex Shelley snuck up behind him and hit him with the Shell-Shock. Gibson attempted to jump Aries and start the match, but the referee pulled him off and Aries left to the back with his title belt in hand. Gibson got an even bigger ovation on the way out. Great match.

(8) Bryan Danielson beat Homicide via Cattle Mutilation in a Lumberjack match to tie their Best of Five series 2-2. Another great match. Three in a row to close this awesome show.

After the match, Danielson, Joe, and Lethal posed in the ring for the crowd. Homicide got on the mic and demanded a cage match for the fifth match of their series. Danielson accepted and declared: “Anywhere. Anytime.”