MR. THOMAS' WILD RIDE - PART TWO

For those who missed Part One, earlier this year, I decided I would attend many of my favorite wrestling promotion's shows, so I figured what better way to promote Ring of Honor and write about strong wrestling than to create a multi-part travel log feature in Beauty in Wrestling. Keep in mind that these are not play-by-play reviews of the shows. Those can be found anywhere else on wrestling news websites. While my previous trips to the company's shows have been within my home state of Maryland or just a hop, skip, and a jump to New Jersey, this time I packed up and travelled North to Massachussetts. Doesn't look too far in the little map below? Believe me, it is. From Timonium, Maryland to Braintree, Massachusetts, it's a good seven to eight hour drive after gas and food breaks. That isn't counting the long drive home either. It was a very tiring ordeal.

How could I resist? Ring of Honor promised to produce one of its greatest shows ever with the Pure Wrestling Tournament to crown the first ever ROH Pure Wrestling Champion. What does "pure wrestling" mean? Matches with rules that discourage brawling including no punching or staying outside the ring too long. Also, rules that encourage a more technical style with a limit on rope breaks, which makes for great submission wrestling. I was salivating at the chance to see the Pure Champion be named, so I bought a front row ticket online, waited patiently, and packed up my rental car for the long trip to Braintree.

I learned a lot on my extended trip. I learned that leg cramps are massively painful. I learned how far I could push a Volkswagon Jetta before it needed to be refueled. Most importantly, I learned that Braintree is one weird town. Its main street is a huge circle full of oncoming traffic, dangerous exits, and confusing signs. After some searching, I finally found the National Guard Armory. I negotiated my way through the overcrowded parking lot ("plenty of spaces" my ass) and reached the front door. Soldiers in full camo military wear were guarding the entrance. A large fellow patted me down in case I was concealed a weapon. After the too-familiar-for-strangers touching was over, I was free to sit down and relax until the show began. I did not have to wait long. The lights went out, the theme music hit, and Ring of Honor's Second Anniversary event was under way.

Seven of the eight tournament participants were announced long before the day of the show, but that left one mystery entrant. The music played, and it was "Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels...right? Well, that is what we were led to believe. "Daniels" came to the ring in the standard over-theatrical priest get-up, but the hood completely obscured his face. I had a feeling we were about to be fooled, but I wasn't certain. The masked wrestler made his way to the ring, pulled off the hood, and revealed himself to be CM Punk. I looked around at the other ROH fans and pretended I knew it all along.

Once the masquerade was over, CM Punk told us that he was sure to capture the Pure Championship tonight and go on to take all other ROH belts this year. The fans, angry that ROH favorite Christoper Daniels wasn't appearing and being mocked by Punk, boo'ed him heavily. Punk is, arguably, Ring of Honor's top heel. His heat was amazing. Everyone despised him. Everyone except me. I love Punk. At the three previous ROH shows I've attended, he was involved in my favorite match each night.

Punk's opponent in this first round match? John Walters. The man I picked to win the tournament. The Pure Championship seemed made for Walters. He has such a technical and submission style. The match was a very strong opener. Punk countered Walters' submissions with those of his own. When Walters reached for the ropes and the referee gave the five-count to release the hold, Punk counted along with the ref in marvelous heel arrogance. I didn't know who to cheer in this match, as I wanted them both to be champion. When Walters brought down Punk, I'd cheer Walters. When Punk asked us "Who's the man?" I replied in the positive. I am the waffling fan. In the end, Punk scored the pinfall and advanced to the semi-finals.

Next up was NWA-TNA X Division sensation Chris Sabin vs. Doug Williams, one of the greatest wrestlers in England. I had seen Williams face the likes of Eddie Guerrero and Jodie Fleish on tapes, but this was my first chance to see him live. The fans were evenly split on who they wished to win. Some cried "Hail Sabin!" while others screamed "Let's go Williams!" Personally, I sat back and enjoyed the show. Williams won with a variation of a German suplex. He leaped over Sabin with a sunset flip, brought him down, spun over him while still latching on, and nailed a German into a bridge for the win. Words do not do it justice. It must be seen. I am told it is called the Chaos Theory.

I'll go through the next couple matches quickly, as they were relatively short. Matt Stryker vs. Josh Daniels was a strong, technical clinic. Some fans have criticized Stryker for being unspectacular in the ring, but I don't see him that way. He is a solid worker who has never bored me at all. Stryker won by submission. The final first round match was AJ Styles vs. Jimmy Rave. A little brief for my tastes, but still a good showing. At one point, Styles looked as if he had hurt his knee. I kept saying to myself "Please be a work. Please be a work." Sure enough, it wasn't legit. He sold it well, though. Styles was seated #1 to win the tournament, so he came closer to that goal with a win over Rave.

As the first round ended, I looked around ringside. It seemed that some fans who were displeased with their second and third row seats moved their chairs up a bit to the front. In doing so, it pushed many who were reserved for the front row, myself included, back a little. It was only a couple feet, but I think I have reason to be upset. I drove so far and paid so much to have my front row position, only to be pushed aside by seat thieves. I considered speaking with security, but I figured it wasn't worth the trouble. I also was not interested in pissing off a bunch of rowdy fans. With that rant aside, back to the show.

Ring Crew Express, a tag team with an 80's hair band enthusiast gimmick, was set to have a match, but before they could begin, another team interrupted them. The Outkast Killahs were not pleased that RCE, a smallish duo, would be given a match on this show while they were not. RCE said that they were tired of being pushed around and that they weren't going to take it anymore. A melee ensued with RCE upsetted the Killahs as "We're Not Gonna Take it" by Twisted Sister playing through the Armory. It was hilarious. Wrestling comedy is often terrible, but Ring Crew Express makes it work.

In what I found to be most absurd match of the night, Special K defeated the Carnage Crew and Justin Credible in a County Whipping Match. Frankly, it was a gore-fest that didn't mix well with a Pure Wrestling Tournament show. A fan in the crowd remarked "This is pure wrestling?" Hydro, a talented cruiserweight, never had much of a chance to show that. Practically everyone was either bleeding on covered in someone else's blood before the match was over. There was a puddle about one foot away from my feet. Hardcore matches with strong psychology (Mick Foley) or athleticism (Rob Van Dam) can work for me. Not this, though. This I didn't like at all.

The semi-finals had two of the best bouts of the evening. CM Punk came out to his standard theme music this time, a song by AFI. I'm not usually a punk rock fan, but I can't deny that this song makes Punk's entrance the best in ROH. CM Punk vs. Doug Williams was intense, despite both wrestlers having already worked a match earlier. My favorite part was Punk suicide diving through the ropes at Williams. In his first match, Punk successfully performed that move against John Walters. This time, Williams caught him and smacked him to the floor. Great continuity. Punk won when Williams "accidentally" had his shoulders down when he tried to pin Punk.

AJ Styles vs. Matt Stryker was the match of the night, even though it wasn't the finals of the tournament. Stryker and Styles, while not meshing 100% of the time, put on some excellent mat work into a twenty-minute marvel. Stryker worked Styles' knee and twisted him like a pretzel throughout much of the match. More continuity from earlier. Simply wonderful. When it was all said and done, Stryker won with a 450 degree springboard splash. It was phenomonal.

Time for intermission. I was starving. Unfortunately, all that was offerred was pizza, pizza, and more pizza. So, I had a slice and a bottled water. What happened that made water expensive? In my day, it was free and that's the way we liked it.

The show started again with the Briscoe Brothers vs. Backseat Boyz. Too short to be anything great. I love the Briscoes, though. They did a lot with what little time they had. The Four Corners match for the Ring of Honor Championship was better. It featured ROH Champ Samoa Joe, BJ Whitmer, Dan Maff, and a returning Low Ki. Last year, Low Ki was "banned" from Ring of Honor for his behaviour. Whether it was a work or shoot depends on who you ask. I don't care. He's back. Low Ki was slapped off the ring apron onto the ground by Samoa Joe at one point, causing the fans to chant "You got bitch-slapped!" Charming. Joe retained the belt.

After what was turning into a very long show, it was time for the main event: CM Punk vs. AJ Styles for the Ring of Honor Pure Wrestling Championship. I had seen Punk and Styles face each other before in a show in Glen Burnie, Maryland. It was my favorite match that night, and they came very close to repeating that. Stryker vs. Styles was better, but this one came very close. Even though both wrestlers had already been in the ring twice that night, they still put on one hell of a show in the main event. That takes stamina and a drive to be the best. My favorite part was after Styles had already used all his rope breaks (remember the Pure rules?) and couldn't get out of Punk's leg submission hold. Instead, he grabbed the ropes and pulled himself up to the top so that while Punk was holding onto him, Styles became horizontal and began kicking Punk in mid-air with his free leg.

Later, Punk kicked out of Styles' finishing move, the Styes Clash, but couldn't escape a second Clash. This one was off the top ropes. Punk put his leg on the ropes to break up the pin, but he had already used up all his rope breaks earlier in the match. See how the different rules created unique situations? The pinfall was counted and AJ Styles became the first ever Pure Champion.

Best. Show. Ever. At around eleven o' clock, I made my way to my car and drove for eight hours until I reached my home. Now that it sufferring for your passion. My leg still hurts.

Thank you for reading this week's Beauty in Wrestling. I will return soon for a look at the WWE's championship belts and the history behind them. So long for now.