ROH – Do Or Die II/Do Or Die III – 13th April/17th July 2004


Right, I got this free with my latest batch of ROH DVD’s (Trios Tournament, Back To Basics and Best of American Super Juniors) since Stalemate wasn’t released in time, and it’s quite a strange ROH review to be doing, since neither of these events are actually full, “real” shows. Instead, they were afternoon cards taking place before At Our Best and Reborn Completion aiming to demonstrate some of the top talent (mostly younger guys) from around the country that you don’t see all too often on full shows. Basically they took the concept from the original Do Or Die show, where a load of ROH regulars were out so they took a gamble and threw out a load of new talent to see what they could do. CM Punk broke out in a major way that night. We also saw debuts for Frankie Kazarian (then-TNA star, now a WWE developmental prospect) and John Walters amongst others. So yeah, expect to see some good stuff and some bad stuff here. However, this is a big chance for a number of people, and I’m looking forward to seeing a number of top prospects compete here. Sal Rinauro, Jerrelle Clark, Rainman, Caprice Coleman, Super Dragon, Excalibur, Shawn Daivari, Matt Sydal, Delirious, Josh Daniels and B-Boy. That’s a lot of talent…and you’ll be seeing regulars such as Colt Cabana, Jimmy Jacobs, Dunn & Marcos, Austin Aries, Roderick Strong, Jay Lethal and Allison Danger. Anyway, we’re in Elizabeth, NJ for both events. There’s no commentary on either show.


Do Or Die II – March 13th 2004


Jerrelle Clark vs Mellow

Mellow is representing Special K, and as such has a Special K gimmick, but you might recognise him from such promotions as Wildside, IWA-MS and others as Sal Rinauro. He has some talent, but I’ve never really seen him given a real chance to produce an absolute classic. He always seems good at putting on sub-10 minute filler matches anyway. Clark is a fairly big name on the indy-scene. Famous for his 630 Senton finisher (just like Jack Evans, only he’s a much bigger guy) he’s appeared in TNA a few times, and is really big down in Florida.


The crowd looks fairly decent for an afternoon show, but it’s pretty quiet as they go through their opening exchanges. Clark springboards off the ropes into a cross armbreaker, but Mellow gets the ropes. Rinauro with a back suplex for 2. He kicks at Jerrelle’s back, but the Floridian comes back and puts him in a crucifix stretch in the ropes. Springboard swinging DDT from Clark. Is Jerrelle aware his wrestling gear is terrible? Sal pushes him off the top and drops a beautiful elbow right to the back for another 2. He follows that with a neck-wrench backbreaker. Pumphandle facebuster from Clark, then a handspring moonsault headbutt for 2. But he lowers his head and Mellow comes back with a double stomp into a Rocker dropper. Cutthroat driver from Clark, and that leaves Rinauro in prime position for a 630 SENTON! But Jerrelle can’t capitalise right away – since he’s had his back worked on and Sal rolls him up using the ropes to win at 05:45.


Rating - ** - Short, and really spotty, but I gave it an extra star for the finish that made Mellow’s back-orientated offence make a lot of sense. Neither man looked ready for the jump to the full roster – especially Jerrelle, who even in this short time really didn’t impress me too much. If CZW’s Ruckus gets criticised for being an overweight, overly spotty worker, then I’m going to label Clark the same.


Jared Steel/Todd Sexton vs The Solution

I’ve never seen Steel before so this is a first time experience. Todd Sexton has made appearances in a few notable indies, and can be seen regularly down in Wildside. He’s supposed to be a technician of some repute, but I find him to be tedious and limited. He made a main show appearance at Battle Lines Are Drawn, in a fourway also featuring Caprice Coleman, Rainman and Jimmy Rave. The Solution are a notable team on the north-eastern scene, despite the fact they suck. They’re regulars in JAPW. I haven’t seen enough of their work to establish the difference between Havok and Papadon.


Papadon (I think) and Sexton start, with Todd attempting to ground the bigger man and negate his power. Steel comes in and floors Havok with a shoulder tackle. Sexton with a leg drop to the back of his head for 2. Samoan drop from Havok, before he tags Papadon back. Sexton takes some stiff kicks to the spine. Papadon hits a jumping heel kick, then tags in his fatter tag partner. Standing headbutt drop from Havok for 2. He hits a press slam for another near fall, then slows it down with a chinlock because he’s probably gassed already. Todd gets thrown to the floor where Papadon assaults him whilst Havok distracts the referee. Sexton finally gets in an enziguri, and now both men struggle to their corners for a tag. Jared comes in and floors everyone, getting a 2 on Havok with a reverse DDT. Sexton floors Havok again with a superkick, as Steel gives Papadon a vertical suplex. Double splash mountain bomb on Sexton from The Solution, before they give Steel a powerbomb/blockbuster combination to win it at 05:35. It’s ok though, Dunn & Marcos kicked their ass on the main show later that night.


Rating – DUD – I want to be positive about it, but I really don’t like The Solution so I’m not going to. They’re more charismatic than any of the other four performers we’ve seen tonight, but they’re also crap. They’re too fat and slow to be useful to ROH, even with the promotion’s tag scene in such disarray. Sexton and Steel were really there to do nothing more than job sadly. Sexton took a decent beating, and as he’s probably the better talent, avoided taking the pinfall. Out of 6 men so far, I make that five “dies” and Mellow doesn’t really count as a “do” since he’s already in Special K.


Caprice Coleman vs Rainman

Two men with main show experience, and this is one of the matches I’m most looking forward to on this Do Or Die 2 card. I’ve been impressed with Coleman in his three main show appearances (Battle Lines Are Drawn, The Last Stand, World Title Classic) so hopefully he’ll continue to impress me here. Rainman is a decent talent, and with the right opponents can put on some fun matches. He shocked everyone by going so far in the 2004 Ted Petty Invitational, before getting squashed like a b*tch by Samoa Joe, but whatever. These men know each other from NWA-Wildside.


The first action both men take is to simultaneously give each other right hands. Coleman goes for Rainman’s arm in a fairly neat chaining segment. Springboard spinning heel kick from Coleman, and that’s the first significant offence. He goes for a punch flurry in the corner, but quickly has to avoid a running boot from Rainman. He scores another big knockdown with a spinning axe kick for 2. The two men mess up a corner spot, with Rainman landing square on top of Caprice, but we continue, and Rainman gets 2 with a spinning dropkick. Forearms from Rainman, then a big lariat. Rolling northern lights suplexes from Coleman, into a flatliner, and that gets a lot of applause from the fans. Rainman with a low blow, then he nails a Sky High powerbomb for 2. He attempts a piggyback stunner, but Coleman escapes and rolls him up for the win at 05:12.


Rating - * - Caprice had some neat spots, but this was too messy and too brief to mean anything or get some decent ratings. There wasn’t a lot to say about Rainman’s performance in that. He looked more accomplished than Coleman, but at the same time much less exciting, and therefore has far less to offer.


But this segment isn’t over yet. Julius Smokes makes his way to ringside. Remember, this is during Homicide’s brief absence from ROH (he missed the Second Anniversary Show and At Our Best) so he doesn’t have an enormous amount to do. He convinces Coleman and Rainman to tag with each other in the Scramble Match that main events this show. They shake on that…and are they the newest Rottweilers?


Allison Danger vs April Hunter

Great, women’s action. April Hunter is way overrated. She’s particularly unattractive, and nowhere near as good in the ring as people give her credit for. Meanwhile, Allison isn’t particularly special between the ropes herself. She’s an excellent valet, but lets face it, she’s hardly Misawa. April seems to be by herself (which is odd), whilst Danger has BJ Whitmer in her corner.


Danger doesn’t shake hands because she’s in The Prophecy, and almost rolls Hunter up right away. Hairmare from Hunter, followed by a swift punt to the spine. Now she works an armbar, stretching the neck as well, but Allison makes the ropes. German suplex from Hunter for 2. Whitmer has had enough and he interferes with a powerbomb as the referee checks on Allison. She somehow manages to roll on top of the unconscious April to win at 01:55.


Rating – DUD – Mercifully short. Allison would get a lot better (as her SHIMMER work would testify), but she really wasn't great here. I’d complain about the finish, but I’m all for BJ powerbombing April Hunter. I really REALLY don’t like her. Hell, he should’ve given her the damn Wrist Clutch Exploder.


CM Punk charges out and brawls into the crowd with Whitmer after all that. Meanwhile Tracy Brooks comes in for some cheap shots on Allison Danger until Dan Maff runs her off.


Jimmy Jacobs vs Brad Bradley

It’s not like Jacobs hasn’t been in ROH before. He’s just stranded on this Do Or Die card because he just can’t secure that big win that finally cements himself a permanent place on the roster. Bradley is a big guy, that I’ve only really seen in IWA. He’s never really done anything for me, but I imagine the WWE would pick him up if he began to show any real signs of talent. What I notice (given that this show took place over a year ago) is that Jacobs has put on a lot of muscle over the past year. It’s good to see he’s working hard on improving both his wrestling skills and his physique.


The first thing Bradley does is throw Jacobs all the way across the ring. Jacobs goes for the leg next, since he can’t reach Brad’s hand for a test of strength. Bradley with a massive biel that sends Jimmy across the ring again. Jacobs with mounted headbutts in the corner, but he keeps getting thrown off. He counters a press slam with a hurricanrana, then they seem to mess up a springboard crossbody attempt. Bradley dominates again with more tedious clubbering. Jacobs with a sunset flip attempt, but that’s blocked…so he slaps on a triangle choke. Unfortunately, Bradley is way stronger, so that just ends up in him getting powerbombed. Bradley with a big running boot in the corner, then a bootscrape to leave Jimmy practically dead. He decides it’s time to head to the top rope, but he misses a messy splash attempt, and now both guys take their time getting up. Chopblock from Jacobs, then dropkicks to both legs, and that floors the big man. He hits a boot to the head, then an incredible double stomp to the neck for 2. Bradley blocks the Contra Code and counters with a British Bulldog running powerslam for 2. He kills Jimmy with a lariat, and the ref almost stops the match. CONTRA CODE out of nowhere at Jacobs gets the win at 07:10.


Rating - * - Bradley sucks, and Jimmy can only do so much for him. They didn’t work enough comedy into the match to draw the crowd in, hence the lengthy beatdown segment on Jacobs, rather than emotive, came off as somewhat boring. Still, at least they gave Jacobs the win, I was dreading them putting Bradley over an established ROH talent.


Roderick Strong vs Hydro

This isn’t Roderick Strong’s debut, since he’s made at least one afternoon card appearance – in a great fourway at on Glory By Honor 2’s afternoon event. Anyway, given that I’m watching in hindsight we now know what he’s all about. Devastating backbreakers and more power offence besides. Hydro meanwhile, is respected as one of the best wrestlers in the Special K group. Now he gets a rare chance to prove it with a chance to shine in a singles match.


Fireman’s carry takedown from Hydro, into an armbar, but Strong is just too powerful for him to keep down. Roderick scores with a big dropkick for 2. Strong breaks out some of his now trademark stiff chops, but Hydro comes back with a jumping heel kick. Backbreaker from Hydro for 2, and he follows that with a back suplex, then a snap suplex. Half nelson suplex backbreaker from Strong, and now he attacks the back with a big kick. Scoop slam from Hydro, then a leg drop for 2. They pelt each other with stiff shots, before Strong nails Hydro with a cradle backbreaker, into a back suplex. Double knee gutbuster from Rod, then a Yakuza kick for 2. Hurricanrana from Hydro, before he scales the ropes, only to get crotched. Strong scores with a superplex, but it leaves both men down in a heap. More stiffing ensues with chops from both men, but Hydro hits a clothesline out of nowhere for 2. ROLLING GERMANS from Strong, into a stranglehold camel clutch. Hydro doesn’t tap though, so Strong gives him a cutthroat backbreaker for 2. Dropkick in the corner from Hydro, before he goes upstairs to hit the DIVING HEADBUTT…but only for 2! He looks for the dragon suplex, but Strong scores with an Ace crusher. That would be it but Becky puts Hydro’s foot on the bottom rope. Bridging dragon suplex from Hydro, and that puts Strong away at 08:35.


Rating - *** - Good match, and I imagine it was this kind of performance that got both men their notable pushes in 2004. Strong would go on to be a part of Generation Next and shake up the entire ROH roster, whilst Hydro would break away from Special K, become Jay Lethal and be continually pegged as the “the future” of ROH. I enjoyed both men attacking the back in preparation for their finishes, even if Hydro’s selling could’ve used some work. Plus there were some brutally stiff shots flying around. Consider that a ‘do’ for both men…


Austin Aries vs Danny Daniels

The man that would end the year as ROH Champion makes his debut right here. I think this is Daniels’ first appearance too, unless he’s made an afternoon show appearance that I’ve just forgotten about through not thinking he’s particularly good. He’s a former IWA-MS Champion and Ted Petty Invitational winner…I just think he’s pretty overrated. He’d go on to crap in the Carnage Crew’s bags with Masada then disappear.


Aries singles out the arm early, dropping a leg then a knee over it, sending Daniels scrambling for the ropes. After that they’re pretty even until Danny scores with a dropkick to the head. Aries fires back with a gutbuster into an STO, then hits his swinging elbow drop for 2. Rolling front slam from Austin, but Daniels gets the knees up after his frog splash attempt. Double knee strike in the corner from Daniels, before dropping the double stomp senton for 2. Inverted suplex over the top rope from Danny, but his charge at Aries is met by a shoulder to the ribs. Cross-legged abdominal stretch applied by Daniels, and he follows it with a shoulder to the ribs in the corner. Aries looks for a comeback but gets floored with a gutbuster, then a swinging version of a gutbuster for 2, as Daniels continues to work the ribs. Shinbreaker into a back suplex from Aries, and now both men are down. Roaring elbow from Aries scores, but still both men are slow to their feet. Aries with a jumping guillotine over the top rope, and he re-enters the ring with a slingshot corkscrew splash. He gets 2 with an Asai moonsault. Judo DDT from Aries, after a running forearm strike in the corner. Daniels blocks a brainbuster and hits a urinage. He sends Aries across the ring with a cradle back suplex, then covers for 2. Aries blocks a powerbomb then NAILS the brainbuster. Both men fight on the top rope, but Daniels drops down…RUBIX CUBE…only for 2! Daniels takes Aries back to the ropes but gets shoved off. 450 SPLASH missed, but Aries recovers with the crucifix driver into the Rings of Saturn, and Daniels submits at 11:22.


Rating - ** - Wow that felt almost brutally long. In flashes, both guys actually looked pretty decent. I enjoyed the explosive spots of Austin Aries, whilst Daniels’ attack on the ribs was pretty impressive. The problem was, they didn’t click with each other at all. There were numerous times when they were visibly thinking of what to do next, and the crowd was just dead as the match seemed so truncated and stunted. Still, it’s pretty significant, given that it’s Aries debut, and compared to some of the talents on this show, both men looked good enough to ‘do’.


Super Dragon vs Excalibur

This is one of the biggest selling points of this entire DVD surely. Super Dragon is one of those guys that always gets requested when discussing ROH bringing in new talent. He’s one of the people many ROH fans are desperate to see. He’s been all over the indy scene – CZW, IWA, XPW, MLW, of course, he owns PWG too. But the drawback is he lives on the west-coast, and is a damn expensive fly in. Here he’ll be competing against fellow west-coaster Excalibur. He regularly teams with Ex all over the place, and Excalibur is in PWG too…in fact I think it’s him that does commentary. Can they do enough to justify their lofty fees and earn a more permanent spot on the roster?


The fans are pretty jacked for this, with a loud ‘Super Dragon’ chant. There’s some neat chaining to get us underway, with neither man able to establish any real advantage. Cross armbreaker from Dragon out of nowhere, but Excalibur fights out and takes Dragon down into a jujigatame of his own. Brutal mounted forearm strikes from Dragon, and he looks to force a submission with a half crab. Next he pelts Ex with knee strikes, then DOUBLE STOMPS THE CHEST for 2. Grounded headscissors from Dragon, which provides him with the chance to reel off more damn stiff shots to the head. CURB STOMP!! Excalibur is just taking a beating right now, but still manages to kick out. Dragon misses a shoulder tackle in the corner and falls to the outside. SOMERSAULT PLANCHA nailed by Excalibur, as he takes to the air to get back into the match. Next he climbs to the top rope to hit a knee drop for 2. Excalibur misses a knee strike in the corner and falls to the floor. TOPE CON HILO FROM DRAGON! Back in the ring Excalibur again has to face a barrage of stiff strikes and chops. Dragon looks for the Psycho Driver but it’s blocked, and Excalibur gets 2 with a Tiger suplex. MASSIVE LARIAT from Excalibur. HEAD DROP pumphandle suplex follows, but Dragon falls to the floor so Ex can’t capitalise. Excalibur takes Dragon to the top but gets headbutted down…DOUBLE STOMP TO THE HEAD! Excalibur is a deadman now, and he falls victim to the PSYCHO DRIVER!! That’s it, and Dragon gets the win at 09:35.


Rating - *** - Screw the haters, I thought that was great. Admittedly Dragon gets over by being stiff as f*ck and having a load of brutal moves…but I like watching that! I’d love to see him back in ROH, even if only for a one-shot deal…I really don’t see him being brought in long-term. Excalibur, for his part, made Dragon look good, which I imagine is what be was brought in to do. Best match of the DVD thus far.


Outcast Killaz vs Fast Eddie/Don Juan vs Caprice Coleman/Rainman vs Dunn & Marcos

It’s the same Scramble Match as the one we saw at Empire State Showdown, except taking out Alex Shelley and Jimmy Jacobs and subbing in Rainman and Caprice Coleman. Dunn & Marcos and the Killaz should be fairly used to matches like this now. Fast Eddie and Don Juan have similarly made a number of main show appearances without really establishing themselves as yet, whilst this is the first time Coleman and Rainman have teamed – and they have Smokes in their corner. Expect this to be a really spotty match to round off the afternoon on a high.


Marcos and Eddie start and they actually exchange a few holds rather than breaking out the spots right away. Lucha armdrag from Marcos, and he manages a pin on Eddie for 2. They trade flipping escapes on arm wrenches, with Marcos out-smarting Eddie and almost pinning him again. Press slam from Eddie, and in comes Diablo and Don Juan. Dropkick from Don, but Santiago comes back with a backbreaker. Next in are Coleman and Dunn, with Caprice dominating. Dunn responds with some armdrags, but gets a superkick and goes down hard. Rainman and Tortuga are last in, with Oman leg dragging Rainman, but then getting kicked in the face. Santiago dropkicks Rainman into a cradle half nelson suplex. Dunn & Marcos ground the Killaz and lock them into…AIR GUITAR! Eddie and Juan start dancing and that pisses the Express off. DVD/backbreaker combo by the TWA boys on Marcos. Rainman and Coleman are back, and Rainman gives Eddie a swinging atomic drop. We get a six-way submission spot, which Eddie and Diablo break with big boots to various people’s faces. Eddie hits a cradle back suplex on Santiago, but then gets spiked by the BARRY WHITE DRIVER from Coleman for 2. Dunn with the Gory Driver on Juan but Tortuga breaks the pin. Inverted Catatonic from Oman to Marcos. Everyone bails to the floor meaning Coleman can hit his SPRINGBOARD PLANCHA! SOMERSAULT PLANCHA FROM RAINMAN FOLLOWS! The TWA guys go upstairs…MOONSAULTS TO THE FLOOR! Next up is Dunn & Marcos…STAAAAAGE DIIIIIIVE! The Killaz are oddly going to the top but they get stopped by Eddie and Juan. They trap Oman on the top and give him the fallaway moonsault slam/neckbreaker combo to win it at 09:18.


Rating - *** - Your classic Scramble really, but it was fairly well executed, and after seeing wrestlers like Bradley, The Solution and April Hunter on this show, the talents of the eight men in this match was much appreciated. It won’t go down in history as the greatest Scramble ever, but there are some fun spots, some fun dives, everyone does everything you’d hope to see and that’s all you could really ask for. It’s a shame ANY of the other three teams couldn’t win though, since I hate Don Juan muchly!


And since that ends Do Or Die II, I won’t give it as a rating in itself since the show was only 75 minutes long. I will pause to rate the Top 3 Matches of it though…


Do Or Die II Top 3 Matches

3) Fast Eddie/Don Juan vs Outcast Killaz vs Caprice Coleman/Rainman vs Dunn & Marcos (***)

2) Hydro vs Roderick Strong (***)

1) Super Dragon vs Excalibur (***)


Do Or Die III – 17th July 2004


Gabe Roach/Mike Foxx vs Outcast Killaz

Roach and Foxx are more students from the Texas Wrestling Academy, and in fact, have their trainer Rudy Boy Gonzalez with them at ringside – the first time Rudy Boy’s been spotted at an ROH show for a while I reckon. The Killaz, meanwhile are now part of The Embassy, but still haven’t really broken out enough to escape being booked in matches like this. Anybody know which one is Roach and which one is Foxx?


I assume it’s Foxx and Oman starting out. They trade armdrags, but eventually Tortuga takes control with a dragon screw. Roach in with Santiago, and they blast each other with forearms. Alabamaslam from Diablo for 2. Roach comes back with a belly to belly suplex. Foxx comes in but takes a double hiptoss facebuster from the Killaz. Tortuga gives him a sit-out inverted DDT for 2. Foxx counters a crucifix attempt with a powerbomb, but Tortuga almost puts him away with a northern lights suplex. Diablo avoids an Asai moonsault and gives Foxx a half nelson facebuster. Double lucha armdrag om the Killaz from Foxx, and he makes the tag to his big partner. Oman takes a big spinebuster, but Santiago boots Roach into a Russian legsweep and that puts the TWA youngsters away at 04:10.


Rating - * - I give that a star for the surprising amount of promise the two guys Rudy Boy brought actually showed. It wasn’t like they set the world on fire, but they hung in there and looked competent with the Outcast Killaz, a team with vastly more experience than them. Foxx actually broke out a few decent little counters and showed flashes of promise (and the occasional flash of inexperience) whilst Roach looked ok as a power guy. Good luck to them and their future career…


Daizee Haze vs Allison Danger

Yes, Allison is in more women’s action at a Do Or Die show, but at least, unlike with April Hunter, she’s going to be in there with a pretty talented female worker. Daizee has been showing her stuff on the Midwestern scene for some time, such as in the IWA where they’re awful proud of their women’s division. This is her in-ring debut, although by this point she’d already been spotted in the corner of Matt Sydal a few times. Danger, meanwhile, is languishing after Maff and Whitmer finally turned her backs on her and The Prophecy after World Title Classic. She still owns their contracts though…


Rather than shake hands Allison pie-faces Haze, and that sends her mental. She slaps on a cross armbreaker, then a wristlock, looking to force a quick submission. Danger hangs on to a headlock, but gets wiped out by a couple of hard clotheslines then a double leg takedown. Allison gets in some offence at last, with a Russian legsweep then some mounted right hands. She hits a couple of flipping necksnaps for 2. Danger goes for a DVD but Daizee escapes then bridges out of a pin. Drop toehold over the bottom rope by Allison, followed by a big knee to the back of the head. Second rope crossbody from Haze, but it’s a desperation move and it leaves both women on the mat. Haze is the first up and she hits a few forearms then polishes Danger off with the Stroke. 4:28 is your time.


Rating - * - A decent introduction to Daizee Haze. It was a hard-fought, competitive match which got the crowd pretty excited, and the right talent won. If ROH is serious about a women’s division, they need to book a lengthy Daizee/Lacey feud…since they’re both talented grapplers.


Tony Kozina vs Angeldust

Angeldust is representing Special K here, although he’s pretty subdued since they’re in the midst of the post-At Our Best losing streak. He is accompanied by Becky and Hijinx. Kozina is making his first ROH appearance here. I think he competes a lot down in Florida, but obviously don’t quote me on that. He looks like a hobo…


Kozina goes to work, trapping Angeldust in a hammerlock, and dragging him around by the arm. Dust tries to mount some offence in the corner, but gets grounded by a series of armdrags from Tony. He misses something in the corner though, and Angeldust uses a rolling cradle to get a 2. Dropkick from Angeldust after Kozina misses a Yakuza kick. He starts molesting the ref whilst Hijinx and Becky slap his opponent around. Cobra clutch backbreaker from Angeldust gets 2. Angeldust unleashes a series of kicks to the back, then rolls into a dropkick to the face. Standing facewashes on Kozina, and then he gets punted to the floor. Angeldust prepares for a tope, but Tony cuts it off with a kick through the ropes…THEN UNLEASHES A TOP ROPE HURRICANRANA TO THE FLOOR! That ruled, and he scales the ropes again to hit a springboard bulldog for 2. Springboard swinging DDT from Kozina, but again Angeldust kicks out. Kozina looks for a brainbuster but it’s escaped, and Dust hits back with a gutbuster. SOUTH OF HEAVEN scores, and that would be it but Angeldust is too beaten up to capitalise. Kozina hits a Shellshock out of nowhere as Angeldust argues with the ref to snatch the victory at 08:12.


Rating - ** - Meh, after all was said and done, there just wasn’t enough in them to justify giving them this long. Kozina’s hurricanrana to the floor spot was sweet, and he looked decent as a flier, but ROH already has enough of them. Angeldust didn’t really shine either, proving that unlike Jay Lethal, he’s not quite ready to start his breakout of Special K. Don’t get me wrong, this was hardly a bad match, but neither covered themselves in glory, or if you prefer – neither ‘did’.


Don Juan/Jared Steel vs Dunn & Marcos

Hey, Steel is back from Do Or Die II, and I guess it turns out he’s from the TWA, since now he’s teaming with fellow TWA-trained Don Juan, and accompanied to the ring by Rudy Boy. Don Juan has never impressed me. It’s not like he’s a bad talent, but the fact is, he’s nowhere near good enough to have made as many appearances in this company as he has. Hopefully Dunn & Marcos rock the TWA grads…like a hurricane.


RCE are over, so the crowd are way more into this than anything else thus far. Juan and Dunn start, and Don tries to dance, so Dunn comes back with the power of air guitar. It’s the obligatory ‘look, we can wrestle’ exchange, before Dunn busts out some armdrags and Steel is tagged in. Marcos blind tags, and Dunn kicks Jared into a sunset flip for 2. Cradle half nelson slam from Steel gets 2. Juan in to hit a dropkick to the side of the head, then work a chinlock. Marcos looks to fight back but gets a cheapshot from Don, then gets planted with a facebuster. Steel in with a big spinebuster for 2, then he stretches Marcos out with a surfboard. Juan comes back, and Marcos rocks him with a headscissors into the turnbuckles, before making the hot tag to Dunn. Dunn with the Gory driver on Juan, but Steel counters the electric chair senton with a flatliner, planting both opponents. Juan inadvertently moonsaults his partner and gets laid out with the kick flurry. Assisted Shiranui on Steel, then the electric chair senton, and that’s him staring at the lights again at 06:18.


Rating - * - Difficult to rate, because it’s not like the four men did anything wrong, it just wasn’t particularly exciting. I wasn’t digging the restholds from Juan and Steel – in a six minute match there’s just no need, but apart from that, they did nothing to seem like they’re “bad” wrestlers. Not a lot to write home about though sadly.


Shawn Daivari vs Rainman

You can see Daivari with a stupid gimmick on RAW these days managing Mohammed Hassan, although in the eyes of many, he’s the more talented wrestler of the two. He didn’t make many appearances for ROH, in fact I think this is one of just three. But he’s against a solid opponent in Rainman, who might even be on the brink of more bookings with ROH – he’s done ok every time he’s made an appearance.


Rainman powers Daivari into the corner and gets berated in Arabic for it. Rainman fakes a roaring elbow then stomps Shawn’s foot, before dragging him into an armbar. Spinning dropkick from Rainman for 2. He lifts Daivari into the apron, but gets caught with an inverted guillotine over the top rope. Daivari works the back, driving elbows home then planting a dropkick right to the spine. He gets 2 with a back suplex, before grinding in a chinlock. Rainman blocks a clothesline, but Shawn spins and pelts him with a clothesline from the other side. Daivari whips Rainman into the buckles hard, piling more pressure on the back. The back work has all led up to the camel clutch, which Daivari applies and looks to gain a submission. Rainman finally escapes that with a double knee to the groin, and now it’s a race to a vertical base. They slug it out, and Rainman scores with a clothesline. Inverted enziguri from Rainman for 2. He gets caught on the top, and Daivari takes him down with a super rana, then scales the ropes again. MARGIC CARPET RIDE MISSED! Suplex front slam from Rainman for 2. Daivari with a jawbreaker, but he takes Rainman to the ropes again, and that’s his undoing. Rainman wins it with a sitout powerbomb off the top at 07:56.


Rating - ** - Good effort from both men, and one that deserved a little more time. Solid would probably be an apt term for this. It was never overly exciting, and the smarky crowd annoyed me, but they looked a class above anybody else who’s been through the curtain thus far.


Colt Cabana is out next, fresh off pinning ROH Champion Samoa Joe at Survival Of The Fittest. ‘What is this, like Do Or Die 12?’ – Cabana. Sections of the crowd are giving him a lot of heat, and this prompts Cabana to go heel, and threaten to walk out. Anyway, he claims to be the master of the roll-up, and has the unbreakable pinning combination. He wants to prove it by issuing an open challenge…which gives us


Colt Cabana vs Christopher Street Connection

This will be a handicap match obviously, and I’d expect it to be pretty funny. The last time the CSC made an ROH appearance they were getting massacred by Generation Next (the stable) as they made it’s very first appearance by taking over Generation Next (the show). They were pretty involved with the promotion back in 2002, but since then the direction of the company has changed, and there’s really not that much of a spot for them anymore. Still, for one-off comedy like this, surely they’re not too bad. For Cabana this is all preparation for the World Title match he earned by pinning Joe.


Buff E. is in first, and he claims Colt has a foreign object in his tights. The ref isn’t checking, so Buff does it for himself and confirms Cabana has a big dick. Colt wants to wrestle, Buff E. kisses his hand. Finally they shape up for a test of strength, which Buff escapes by burying his head in Cabana’s crotch. Mace comes in for a hug and kiss, and Buff almost steals a win with a schoolboy. Testicular claw from Buff, and he brings Mace in to grind all over Cabana. Sunset flip from Colt, but Mace enjoys it a bit too much. Butt-butt by Cabana, which in this situation probably isn’t the wisest of moves. Buff E. comes in to drop Colt into Mace’s lap and kiss him again. ‘I think I’ve got AIDs’ – Cabana. The CSC make out, and Colt takes advantage by dropping Mace on his head with his unbreakable roll-up combination of total death. Mace is counted down at 05:03.


Rating - * - It’s not especially mature, and certainly not the kind of comedy that has aged well. Cabana was a good sport, and when push came to shove, that furthered the angle with him being the master of the roll-up so.


Cabana isn’t finished though. He brings the CSC’s valet, Ariel, into the ring and rolls her up for another three. But he’s not done yet, somebody else wants to run his roll-up challenge.


Colt Cabana vs Caprice Coleman

Yep, Caprice is back for another slice of the Do Or Die action. This really could be do or die for him, in fact. He’s looked decent when booked in spot matches, but ROH has its fair share of spotty workers, and they can be brought in much more cheaply than ‘Ice’ can. If he’s to secure a more permanent spot on the roster he really needs to impress against the established Cabana.


Coleman takes it to the mat early with a hammerlock, and almost rolls Cabana up out of nowhere. Caprice busts out the pinning combination he used to beat Rainman at Do Or Die 2, but Colt gets his shoulder up again. Cabana looks a little winded, and he slows the pace down by ringing Caprice’s bell and playing to the crowd. He eats a springboard heel kick from Coleman, but manages to strike back with a knee lift. Grounding Caprice, he again slows the pace, this time with a rear chinlock. Spinning axe kick from Coleman for 2, but he gets floored by the power of Cabana’s reverse elbow. Colt tries to trade jabs with Caprice, which is a mistake, and he eventually gets tagged with a superkick to the back of the head. Jumping flatliner from Coleman, then he hits a somersault senton straight into an Asai moonsault for 2. He comes off the ropes with an Edge-O-Matic for another nearfall. Cabana goes for his unbreakable roll-up, but Caprice kicks out! More boxing strikes from Ice, before he locks in a cobra clutch. He rolls it over into a COBRA CLUTCH CROSSFACE! Cabana makes the ropes though, and when Coleman looks to reapply the hold, he gets caught in the unbreakable roll-up, and this time is pinned at 08:11.


Rating - ** - Good little match from these guys. It had a solid story of Cabana trying to slow down his quicker and athletic opponent, and Coleman had the in-ring charisma and impressive move-set to get his babyface act over, even with the incredibly entertaining Colt as his opponent. It’s your call whether you think Coleman did enough to be given more of a shot with the company. I’d argue he’s maybe not quite ready to be pushed as a serious prospect, but I’d love to see him brought in for a few spot-matches anytime ROH runs in his locality and he can be booked for cheaper. I like the guy…


Delirious vs Matt Sydal

These guys are now semi-regular in ROH. They certainly get booked anytime ROH ventures to the Midwest, and you rarely see a show with one on and not the other. But this was July of 2004 and they were still establishing themselves and looking to climb the ranks. They had a fun little exhibition match at Reborn Stage 1, and earned a callback for Stage 2, where Delirious teamed with Shawn Daivari, and Sydal teamed with Jack Evans (in separate matches). I’d imagine they’ll get slightly longer than paltry six minutes they got on a main show to demonstrate what they can do with each other.


They’re pretty cautious to start with, and damn even as well, unsurprising given they’ve wrestled each other so often. If anything, Delirious seems to have a slight edge when they take it to the mat, but it’s Sydal that is the first man to grab an arm. Both men counter each other’s hiptoss attempts, and Delirious sweetly drags Sydal down into a headlock. Rolling double underhook from Delirious, but Sydal escapes and scores with a dropkick. He avoids a dropkick attempt from Delirious and almost wins with a Cabana-esque roll-up. Delirious looks for a roll-up but Sydal rolls through and kicks him square in the lizard-face. Twisting Asai moonsault from Sydal for 2. Delirious catches him in the ropes as he looks to fly again, but Sydal drills him with the MUSHROOM STOMP! Delirious sends Sydal out then sails through the ropes after him with a tope. Delirious catches Sydal as he goes for a superkick, and rolls him into an awesome stretch, complete with bootscrapes as well! Cobra clutch from Delirious, but Sydal gets out. Stiff forearms and chops from both guys in the corner, then they start tagging each other at the same time. Both men connect with running dropkicks, and they all fall down. Enzicanrana from Sydal, before he just launches Delirious to the floor with a monkey flip. TWISTING MOONSAULT PRESS OFF THE TOP! Back in the ring they fight to hit some bigger moves now, and it’s Delirious that connects with the chest punches, then a German suplex. Ace crusher from Delirious for 2. Pumphandle powerbomb from Sydal for 2…and they’re both pretty worn down now. Delirious blocks a top rope hurricanrana attempt to hit SHADOWS OVER HELL…but Sydal kicks out at 2. He tries it again, but Sydal meets him up top and they trade headbutts. MOONSAULT BELLY TO BELLY! Sydal takes it at 13:01.


Rating - *** - What a little cracker that was. Both Delirious and Sydal really showed what they’re respectively capable of there. Sydal hits everything with a beautiful crispness and agile grace, whilst some of Delirious’ chaining is a joy to behold. Seriously, I’d like to see him thrown in with someone like Nigel McGuiness, Doug Williams or Colt Cabana, to see how he fairs. Beyond that, it’s just a straight-up, hard-fought battle. There are some stiff forearms and big spots. I can’t remember if this was shown in it’s entirety on the Reborn Completion DVD, but it’s well worth checking out.


Joshua Masters vs Brian Gamble

This is right after Gabe took over the booking reigns for FIP, hence these guys, current members of the FIP roster are booked on this show to put over the company and it’s talent. Ironically, neither of these guys are featured particularly prominently (if at all) on FIP’s releases once Gabe has truly started running the show. Not sure what that says about them. Anyway, there here to make names for themselves and for FIP.


Masters and Gamble are both a decent size, and it’s Masters that’ll be working the heel here. Nothing much doing to start with as they work through a standard sequence, but lack the fluidity of Delirious/Sydal, so the impact is lessened. Masters traps Gamble in a full nelson (Masterlock perhaps??) but that really leads to nothing. He slaps Gamble in the face, but gets punished with a volley of chops. Across the ring we go, and Gamble starts kicking away at his opponent. DDT from Masters, then a series of shortarm clotheslines for 2. He hits a decent gutwrench suplex, then nails a fist drop. Swinging neckbreaker from Masters for 2 before Gamble starts a fightback. He boots Masters in the face for a cover, but Homicide interferes and throws him out of the ring. That’s a DQ at 04:46. Masters and Gamble both eat lariats for their troubles, before Homicide puts FIP on alert – he’s coming to ‘kick some f*cking ass’.


Rating – DUD – Nothing much doing here, and certainly not a great way to put over the FIP roster and product. It’s not terrible, just pretty dull. After the exciting, entertaining and/or solid work of Daivari, Rainman, Cabana, Coleman, Sydal and Delirious, they’re a real come down. Don’t come back.




Josh Daniels vs B-Boy

Do Or Die II brought us the ROH debut of Super Dragon, a west-coast talent that fans have long-called for. This time round it’s B-Boy getting a rare ROH booking. The difference with him is, he’s recently relocated to the Philadelphia area, so he really could be booked on a more frequent basis if he impresses here. Is he worth the hype, and the price? Josh Daniels is one of those guys that has a lot of talent, but just can’t get over in a roster packed with equal talent and more character. Maybe one day he’ll break out, but his time just hasn’t come quite yet.


Just like Super Dragon last time, B-Boy is as over as you’re going to get with the small afternoon crowd. Daniels takes an early look at B-Boy’s leg, but gets a big kick to the side of the head as punishment. Dropkick from B-Boy, then a series of stiff kicks to the back for 2. Next out of his bag of stiffness are some mounted crossface forearms. Daniels comes back with a snap suplex for 2, before going to a headscissors to wear B-Boy down. Big chops from Daniels (he can hit hard too), but B-Boy comes off the second rope with a flipping neckbreaker to even things up. Big forearms from B-Boy, then a vicious slap. He nails the brainbuster, but Daniels kicks out at 2. Josh catches B-Boy on the top rope and brings him down the hard way with a superplex. Daniels would love to be Chris Benoit, and to prove it he goes for a diving headbutt, and misses. CROSS-ARMED PILEDRIVER FROM B-BOY…for 2. Duelling ‘lets go B-Boy’ and ‘lets go Daniels’ chants…and Daniels responds with some big forearms. Jumping enzi from B-Boy, but Daniels comes back again with a bridging dragon suplex for 2. SHINING WIZARD from B-Boy…THEN the big dropkick to the face in the corner, but still Daniels kicks out. He rolls B-Boy up out of an abdominal stretch to get the shock win at 10:06.


Rating - ** - It was fun in flashes, but it was too much of a styles clash to work on many levels. Daniels is just too much of a technician for B-Boy to hang with. I like the New Age Punisher, but he was out of his element here. He’s not a great wrestler (at least in my opinion) and he’s at his best when he can throw spots and strikes out there with big-hitters. Daniels tried his hardest but never quite delivered on that front, the same way B-Boy couldn’t wrestle with him. It didn’t do a lot for either man, but it’s a reasonable introduction to them both. Daniels will continue making bit-part appearances every once in a while throughout 2004, whilst it’ll be March 2005 before B-Boy finally gets another booking – making his main show debut at Trios Tournament 2005, despite leaving the ring to ‘please come back’ chants.


Do Or Die III Top 3 Matches

3) Colt Cabana vs Caprice Coleman (**)

2) Josh Daniels vs B-Boy (**)

1) Matt Sydal vs Delirious (***)


Tape Rating - ** - You have to bear in mind, I got this DVD for free, hence I’m so positive about it. I got it for free, not expecting a lot of it, and fair enough, there was some rubbish here, but hey, there was some good stuff too. Hydro/Strong, Dragon/Excalibur, Sydal/Delirious and the Scramble were all pretty solid. The comedy of Colt Cabana was fun, and the show also features decent performances from the likes of Rainman, Caprice Coleman and Shawn Daivari. Nobody really sets the world on fire, but if you’re willing to sit through some crap, you’ll be rewarded. Obviously, I’d maybe feel different had I paid money for this, since, compared to almost all of ROH’s stuff, this is well below par. Still, if you’ve got a free DVD lying around in a buy 3, get 1 free deal like I did, maybe check this out. As for the biggest doers and diers. I’d give big thumbs up to Matt Sydal, Delirious, Excalibur and Super Dragon, and argue that Coleman and Rainman made strong cases for themselves as well. On the dying side, never ever bring back people like The Solution, Masters, Gamble, Bradley or April Hunter. I could live without ever seeing them again. To sum up, top to bottom it’s not great, but it’s an interesting look at some different talent from around the indy scene, a glimpse into the future of ROH in some cases, and there’s some decent matches around too. The completists amongst you will find some value I’m sure.


Top 3 Matches

3) Hydro vs Roderick Strong (*** - Do Or Die II)

2) Super Dragon vs Excalibur (*** - Do Or Die II)

1) Matt Sydal vs Delirious (*** - Do Or Die III)


 

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