I ordered ROH All-Star Extravaganza VIII

[Mr. Nerfect]

I used to really enjoy loosely following the ROH product, but at some point, things began to lose their appeal a bit. I'm not sure if it was a change in creative, a lot of the major players moving on, or the general ring style around the world kind of adapting a lot of what ROH was presenting, but the overall product seemed to lose its luster.

Then I saw this promo:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/55Y_RKL4dK8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I want to reward this man for grabbing my attention in a world where it would seem easier to do it with loud noises, silly gimmicks or ridiculous matches. As a fan of professional wrestling, I want to show my appreciation for this man. I've been a general fan of Christopher Daniels, but have only witnessed him in the quintessential classics from TNA's glory years. I will now get to see a more mature Daniels put his body, livelihood and legacy on the line in a Ladder War.

The Young Bucks are also in the match, and they're an act that annoys me, and there's an irony to me ordering a PPV to support Daniels' old-school, grounded, emotional promo when two of his opponents at the event are the opposite, but I'm giving it a shot.

My expectations for the show are...rather non-existent. I'm expecting solid matches and perhaps something similar to the WWE style with a bunch of guys I have never seen before. I am hoping that having this blank slate and not being too hyped for it will help surprise me. Wish me luck.

[Mr. Nerfect]

My secret hope for the PPV: Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian lose and Daniels turns on Kazarian. We'll see.

[Simple Fan]

My secret hope for the PPV: Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian lose and Daniels turns on Kazarian. We'll see.

You shut your mouth with that splitting up the Addiction talk. My favorite tag team in wrestling at the moment. Don't really see anything for either with a singles run other than the short feud they could have with each other like you mentioned. ROH has the best tag teams on the planet though and wouldn't hurt it if they split but I don't want to see it.

[Simple Fan]

Should be a good show. Big Mike vs Adam Cole for the ROH World title. The Ladder Wars match should be good as well. Dragon Lee vs Kamitachi, Bobby Fish vs Donavon Dijak for the TV title, and Hangman Page vs Kyle O'Riley. Never liked Kyle O'Riley but the guy has put on some muscle and doesn't look bad. I think he will eventually be the one to take the World Title off Cole.

[Simple Fan]

6-Man Championship tournament starts as well. Briscoes and Yano vs Kushida, ACH, and Jay White who I haven't been impressed with.

[slik]

Is this their WrestleMania?

[Simple Fan]

I'd say no. Final Battle is usually their biggest showxas it the last of the year and the seem to end a lot of year long feuds. Kind of like Starrcade for WCW.

[Heisenberg]

Two matches that stick out to me as instant bangers:


HANGMAN PAGE VS. KYLE O'REILLY


O'Reilly makes some of the best sounds when in the ring. Should be one not to pee during.


4 CORNER TAG SURVIVAL FOR SHOT AT ROH TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP


ANX (RHETT TITUS & KENNY KING) w/ CAPRICE COLEMAN VS. SHANE TAYLOR & KEITH LEE VS. <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:pDALTON </st1</st1:city>CASTLE & COLT CABANA VS. WAR MACHINE (RAY ROWE & HANSON)







Dalton Castle has a bright future, enjoy him and the many maneuvers that will take place during this.

[Heisenberg]

that's about as serious as I'm going to get here in the wrestling forum. Back to moderating for me, bye

[Simple Fan]

To bad ROH isn't in on trying to buy TNA anymore. I think it be more valuable to ROH than it will be to WWE. ROH would benifit from their TV deals both here and internationally. ROH will benefit either way with no TNA around though. One less competitor to compete for talent for and might be what ROH needs to take that next step.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I'll give some play-by-play thoughts as I progress through the show today:

* Cool, they're calling the Ladder War the main event.

* Bobby Fish has a hipster beard and a cool "Infamous" shirt.

* Prince Nana is back!

* Donovan Dijak has a good look and cool finisher. Like a Reverse Fireman's Carry into a GTS.

* Tale of the Tape and in-ring introductions for the TV Title match. Cool touch.

* Commentators actually focusing on things like experience, size and strategy.

* Bobby Fish telling Dijak what he plans to do to him makes this tremendous already.

* Fish is in Dijak's hometown and, while Dijak is supposed to be the heel (I imagine), Fish is playing the cowardly, patient, veteran strategist.

* A kick out at one? What a novel concept.

I really liked Fish vs. Dijak. I've never seen Dijak before and it's been years since I've seen Bobby Fish. There's something Daniel Bryan-esque about Fish, and he did a good job steering this match with the rookie. He knew how to play the crowd and get under Dijak's skin.

Dijak's inexperience costing him was the story of this match, and it's something I quite enjoy as a device. It's something I'd like to see them employ with Big Cass in WWE. It makes sense that he and Enzo don't win as much as they could, because they're still finding their footing against more experienced opponents. When the rookies piece it together, you then feel part of their journey.

Dijak is a blue chipper. I was really impressed by him, and working with guys like Fish is only going to make him better. I think the Kneebar could have been the finish to the match, and it felt "very WWE" to soldier past this point, but in future matches, they can build off the rear naked choke. It felt like Dijak could have powered up and out if it wasn't for the leg.

I'd have put Fish over in their first match with the Kneebar, with Dijak challenging Fish again (against Nana's advice) because he let his hometown crowd get into his head, and next time he won't listen to "these idiots." Fish says he's not in the business of just handing out title matches to people, but if Dijak can earn it, he'll take him the School of Fish again. Dijak wins a television match against a scrub no one cares about, sells that the leg is still hurt, giving Fish a clear target for their next match. In match #2 you do the choke finish. Match #3 is where you do the "Dijak goes full face" thing, where he powers up out of the choke, but still gets caught in the Kneebar. Prince Nana then dumps Dijak, because he's not listening to the advice Nana has been giving, and you've got a feud set up with Nana and Dijak.

[Mr. Nerfect]

God damn it, Corino, dress up a little for PPV? Yikes.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Shane Taylor and Keith Lee have some of the most generic names ever, but I like their look.

[Mr. Nerfect]

This is my first time seeing War Machine, and I'm a little excited. Hanson looks like a killer, but I don't like him calling himself just "Hanson," because it makes me think of "Mmm Bop" and he's harder than that.

[Mr. Nerfect]

War Machine go right up to Taylor and Lee at the start, because they're already telling a story.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Dalton Castle is a fucking star. By the way, ROH's production values have gone WAY up.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Okay, this Cabana and Dalton are both legal thing is really stupid. Comedy as a place in wrestling, and this is inventive and cute, but the referee should not allow it. Caprice Coleman should tear it up on commentary.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Holy shit, these guys can fucking go. This is a fun little match. Things just broke down and these guys are bumping to put over each other's shit. Dalton Castle just did a slow German suplex to either Lee or Taylor and it looked fucking sick.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Keith Lee is fucking huge and just did a tope con hilo. Imagine Mark Henry doing a plancha.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The big guys taking each other is the right move. The Cabinet seem to still be in the Six-Man Tag Tournament, so sending Castle & Cabana after the belts is a good idea.

[Mr. Nerfect]

"The Boys" are fucking hilarious.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I love how seriously ROH takes its Ladder Matches.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The commentary on this show is pretty amazing.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Kamaitachi and Dragon Lee are impressing me. Some of the psychology behind these spots is bullshit, but I'm enjoying the effort they are putting in. Something about the pacing is more WCW Cruiserweight than WWE Cruiserweight.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I like the rolling Northern Lights suplex spot. I secretly always wanted to see that.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Okay, they're starting to lose me now. Two Destroyers? Why? And I've got no fucking clue what that move that ended the match was. There was the framework for a really fantastic match here. I'm not a fan of the spotty style, so I can only really describe it as "fun" up to a certain point. If you're a fan of Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens kicking out of everything on RAW, this was a better version of that.

I doubt CMLL would be a fan of this sort of booking, but I'd have put Kamaitachi over Lee here. I'd have shot a backstage interview with Kamaitachi that is subtitled later, where he says that Dragon Lee took his mask, but he just proved that Lee is no champion. This gives Lee a redemption story in ROH and some honor to win back in CMLL -- but that might be "too American" for lucha.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Holy fuck. For some reason I didn't know Kyle O'Reilly looked like such a little boy.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Adam Page has really started to put things together as far as his gimmick and presentation goes.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The commentators are talking about O'Reilly trying to bulk up. I kind of like that.

[Mr. Nerfect]

That neckbreaker onto the ring apron was unnecessary.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Holy shit, Corino is bringing up Hangman Page's history as a character. I'm not used to that.

[Mr. Nerfect]

O'Reilly's losing me. He's got the wrestling down, but he's got negative charisma.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Hangman Page just pulled the mouth-guard out of O'Reilly's mouth and then hit a super-effective forearm. Okay, that was inspired. This is followed up by a fucking pointless shooting star headbutt off the apron though. Why?

[Mr. Nerfect]

He just almost knocked O'Reilly out and now he's rolling around on the ground holding his knee. The fuck?

[Mr. Nerfect]

McGuinness jumping on it is good though.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Crowd feels cold. Maybe they're just "captivated" by O'Reilly, but I think he's the drizzling shits. Bobby Fish impressed me earlier and seems like the overall better worker. I'd put them against each other and have Fish win.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Good piece of business after the match with Page going after the arm, but it's hard to feel sorry for O'Reilly, because he looks like such an asshole.

[Mr. Nerfect]

O'Reilly's now got an out to job to Cole, so you can run that match, Fish could finish his stuff with Dijak, O'Reilly challenges Fish when he can't win the big one, turns heel and aligns with Prince Nana.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The World Six-Man Tag Team Championship is completely unnecessary.

[Mr. Nerfect]

For that matter, the TV Title is too.