ROH THIRD ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION - PART 3

 

ROH THIRD ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION - PART 3

Falls Count Anywhere
Bryan Danielson vs. Homicide
Match #3 in their best of 5 series. I think it's the weakest of this series so far, but it's still very fun. They honor the stipulation very nicely by spending most of the match fighting outside with good brawling & fun spots. I do think some of that section loses its impact since they already did it in their previous match though. The finishing stretch inside the ring is pretty good. Oh & gotta give a shoutout to Homicide's Cattle Mutilation - looked terrible, which fits him & his character perfectly. It's a good match. ***1/4

CM Punk vs. Jimmy Rave
This rules. I love Rave's heel work here with the constant cheating scumbaggery - the entire shoelace thing, which lead to the match being restarted, was so much fun. Punk is also terrific at being the ass-kicker at the 2 beginnings of the match, first at the very beginning & then when it gets restarted. He is also class at selling for Rave's work on top. It's a great match with both guys playing their roles wonderfully. ****

ROH World Championship
Austin Aries vs. Samoa Joe
Big time rematch for the title here. I must say that at first I wasn't feeling Aries acting like a comedic cowardly heel at the start of this match (even though it is fitting given how they built the match up), but it actually ended up working as the match built on that. Once Aries gets busted open & starts fighting as the bleeding underdog? Ooh it's so good. Joe's monster performance is just amazing here: nasty killer work over the cut & in general everything he unloads is vicious as hell. I do dislike the finish though, especially hate the low-blow by Aries, but it's still a terrific match. Well worth the watch, especially if you're into some prime murder-mode Samoa mothafuckin' Joe. ****1/4