Ring of Honor Grim Review: 10/08/11 A Lone Wolf's Hunt Continues

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen, my name is Alex "Grim" Baker, and I would like to start off by thanking you for reading this article.

Because of the time it took me to finish last weeks article, I've decided to make a slight change in how I review the show. From now on I'll only provide the winner of each fight, my thoughts on the fight and the rating, dropping the play by play of the fight in favor of a more condensed, easy to read summary.

As always, feel free to comment bellow because universal agreement doesn't exist, and I always find it interesting to hear others opinions on things, especially wrestling.

I will grade each match from one to five stars, with one being Sting vs. Jeff Hardy at Victory Road and five stars being Eddie Edwards vs. Davey Richards at Best in the World (or Cena vs Punk at MITB if you "don't watch indy wrestling," despite the fact that 1. ROH isn't independent and 2. your reading an ROH review).

We open up this weeks Ring of Honor show with a video package of last weeks main event, which saw Jay Lethal become the new TV Champion after he beat El Generico in a great match.

The show then kicks off with Jim Cornette introducing the Briscoe Brothers. Jim explains that this is the first time he's talked to them since he fined them $5,000 for their actions at Best in the World. Mark Briscoe says that that money could have bought them a lot of beer and bullets, but it's not a big deal. What is a big deal, Jay Briscoe adds, is that they haven't been given a shot at the ROH tag titles yet.

Cornette says that if they want a title shot they have to earn it, so next week the Briscoe Brothers will meet the All Night Express to determine the new No. 1 contenders.

The crowd loves this announcement.

The Briscoes say they will destroy ANE next week and then they're coming for their belts

My Thoughts: Once again, ROH has announced their main event the week before the next show, which is something that is missing in wresting today—building shows up and getting fans to tune in. Most weeks on SmackDown Teddy Long just comes down, makes some random tag match for the main event, says "Holla!" a few times, and leaves. I hope TNA and the WWE some how pick up this noble approach to booking.

As far as the segment itself goes, I thought it was good, I'm not looking forward to a Brisicoe/WGTT feud and would rather see ANE/WGTT, but I guess I'll take it.

After commercial break we get a ROH Focus On segment featuring the only undefeated man in Ring of Honor, Tomasso Ciampa. The video package is pretty good with Ciampa, Prince Nana and the Embassy being introduced to new ROH viewers.

Match 1) Andy Ridge vs. Tommaso Ciampa w/Prince Nana

Steve Corino was on commentary for this match, i hope he maybe gets brought in to be the third guy more often, because he and Nigel have good chemistry. Also, it gets a new face announcer so Nigel can explore his hand at being a heel announcer, while Kevin Kelly maybe plays the straight man.

Winner by pinfall Tommaso Ciampa via Project Ciampa

My Thoughts: This was basically a glorified squash match, but it did get Ciampa introduced, and as far as squash matches go it could have been worse. A little slow for my taste, but overall a decent opener.

Rating: 2.5 Stars

After the break Nigel asks a fan to pick a winner for tonights match, but instead the fan uses the time to beg Kevin Steen to come back to ROH. I for one agree, Kevin Steen is the reason I started watching Ring of Honor, and seeing him back would be a huge mark out moment for me.

We then get a video package with Strong and Richards basically talking about what the championship means to them. This is an important segment because it lets new viewers know who they're about to watch. Segments like these are being handled perfectly by ROH in my opinion, and I think it's one of their strongest points so far.

Match 2) ROH World Championship Match: (Champion) Davey Richards vs. Roderick Strong w/Truth Martini

Winner by Submission, and still ROH World Champ, Davey Richards via Ankle Lock

My Thoughts: This match was amazing, to the point where it quite literally might be the best TV match we see all year. It was over 20 mins, put the champion over as being strong and overall was everything great about Ring of Honor's Heavyweight Division.

If I have any complaints, it slowed down a bit in the middle, but that's only because it was just so long, and so, so good, with the closing moments being some of the best storytelling I've seen in a long time.

The crowd loved it and so did I, this was ROH's best match so far on TV.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

The show closes with Richards celebrating in the corner with the belt.

Final Thoughts: I thought this show was ROH's best so far, that being said I still have to dock it a few points for production. The Richards/Strong match was awesome, and the video packages and interviews were once again handled with the type of quality you'd expect from a company trying it's hardest to break through. I'm still not a big fan of Ciampa, and I think they have to start highlighting the House of Truth more, but for now this show was solid.

Show Grade: A-

Match of the Night: Richards/Strong

Move of the Night: The Entire Finish to Richards/Strong (Runner Up: Ciampa's Finisher, it is sick)

Performance of the Night: Davey Richards, he's the face of Ring of Honor for a reason.

Thanks for reading and as always comment bellow.

See You Space Cowboy....