Your beloved ROH WORKRATE REPORT for 4/25/09~! Options

[DEAN]

Sorry I'm late. Waited for the Cowboys to pick and they traded out of the second then I started watching YOJIMBO with my wife and here in the Valley of the Death Driver, THE LADIEEEEEEEESSSS RULE ALL.

Don't forget CRZ's recaps at http://the-w.com before he tells ROH ON HDNET to go piss up a rope. Over/under is episode 12 before he tells them to go fuck themselves.

WHAT WORKED-

- Nigel isn't William Regal ON THE STICK! or anything. Goes beyond mere squash by becoming a Jim Break Armdrag Variation clinic- and Hogewood is really fucking awesome getting over Alex Payne- "He's AMERICAN! and he wrestles CLEAN!" I dunno. This worked because if they gave it five more minutes, it would have resembled an actual studio match- as opposed to a squash.

- Briscoes and STEEN! WOO-HOO! I wanted more Briscoes on the stick- though Steen was really good at getting over the situation. Hoge is PISSED at the attack before the bell! They AAA Jay lariating Hero over the top but I dug the close-up. Jay Briscoe on the HD is MAGIC. Aries and Briscoes every week is a MUST. God, Briscoe looked great merely throwing a fuckin shoulderblock. Hero is really coming off as enhancement talent so far in this TV run. His offense just doesn't translate well. I dunno, I can't quite figure out why. Jay is fucking Ricky Morton Overdrive with the struggle to get the tag. It is beautiful. Hero and Edwards don't really bring enough assbeat to make this match transcendent or anything- but Briscoe is carrying it by himself. FACEBUSTER INTO HERO'S JUNK! to get the hot tag! Steen's use of his fat ass to crush Hero's face in the corner was TRES SWANK- as Hero leans into it to make it look fucking beautiful and the fat boy moonsault was really nice. God, the whole sequence where Hero hits a truly crappy rolling elbow to where Steen goes back on offense was soooooo fucking weak and indie. Steen's offense (offence) and especially Briscoe's offense is so much nastier at every level and it shows up on the HD. Sweet fucking piledriver. Kevin Steen fucking RULES. All Briscoes TOTALLY RULE. POSTMATCH~!, Hoge is absolutely fucking tremendous with the cautionary tale of succumbing to evil. Prazak misses the opening to add to his growing douchiness.

- I saw this match in Manassas a few months back and since then, I've come to the conclusion that Tyler Black is a Bryan Danieson Creation- as I was torqued about Black after the match but he is nothing close to that level against anyone else. Danielson knows his opponents strengths and knows how to make them look fucking great by beating a great match out of anybody who is game. He is the Anglo Negro Casas. This match is pretty much that. Highlight Black's athleticism and highlight that Black sells better than most guys in ROH. God, Danielson on offense is so fucking awesome- so reminiscent of One Who Shall Not Be Named Ever Again in total mastery of every aspect of wrestling. God, that Dragon Sleep Out Of The Mexican Ceiling Hold was BEEYOUTIFUL. Black sells the proceeding assbeating with panache and Danielson is his Vader to Black's Sting. Danielson with the smacks to the face set up Black's hope spot was great use of something simple to get the beginning of the finish. Black pusses out on the Tope and isn't crushed against the rail like a MAN would have. Black's big flurry at the end exposes his offense a bit- as being this close to the world class offense of Danielson would tend to do. Tope Con Hilo and Danielson pusses out and doesn't get crushed against the rail like a MAN would have. God, we need to retire the Springboard Lariat. Actually, let's retire the Springboard Anything. Nice procurement of the kneelock after Black goes for the Bicycle Kick. Danielson hits the ankle lock again and Black sold it better in Manassas- though this is pretty much the match they did. Counter to the Toprope Superplex was fucking NASTY and they punch each other in the face and opt for a thousand finishers and ONE MINUTE LEFT! BROADWAY?!?!! TRIANGLE CHOKE! Kobashi Powerbomb to the turnbuckle! AND. IT. GOES. BROADWAY!! That was better than the Manassas match. Not perfect by any stretch but I'll take it on my basic HD package every week of the year.

WHAT DIDN'T WORK-

- GRIZZLY REDWOOD IS HILARIOUS! If there is one thing I love in my wrestling is HILARITY! DCFC are not compelling with their prematch oratory. They all shake hands like pussies. The counter out of armdrag was neat and knocking a 120 pound guy across the ring was neat, I guess. BUT. This was a squash. BUT. EVERYBODY KNEW THEIR ROLE~! BUT. Squashes suck unless there is a Mulky, Lee Scott or Lorenzo involved. So. Sorry, Rob.

THERE YOU HAVE IT.

DEAN RASMUSSEN.

[ProWrestlingLove]

- I saw this match in Manassas a few months back and since then, I've come to the conclusion that Tyler Black is a Bryan Danieson Creation- as I was torqued about Black after the match but he is nothing close to that level against anyone else. Danielson knows his opponents strengths and knows how to make them look fucking great by beating a great match out of anybody who is game. He is the Anglo Negro Casas. This match is pretty much that. Highlight Black's athleticism and highlight that Black sells better than most guys in ROH. God, Danielson on offense is so fucking awesome- so reminiscent of One Who Shall Not Be Named Ever Again in total mastery of every aspect of wrestling. God, that Dragon Sleep Out Of The Mexican Ceiling Hold was BEEYOUTIFUL. Black sells the proceeding assbeating with panache and Danielson is his Vader to Black's Sting. Danielson with the smacks to the face set up Black's hope spot was great use of something simple to get the beginning of the finish. Black pusses out on the Tope and isn't crushed against the rail like a MAN would have. Black's big flurry at the end exposes his offense a bit- as being this close to the world class offense of Danielson would tend to do. tope con GIRO and Danielson pusses out and doesn't get crushed against the rail like a MAN would have. God, we need to retire the Springboard Lariat. Actually, let's retire the Springboard Anything. Nice procurement of the kneelock after Black goes for the Bicycle Kick. Danielson hits the ankle lock again and Black sold it better in Manassas- though this is pretty much the match they did. Counter to the Toprope Superplex was fucking NASTY and they punch each other in the face and opt for a thousand finishers and ONE MINUTE LEFT! BROADWAY?!?!! TRIANGLE CHOKE! Kobashi Powerbomb to the turnbuckle! AND. IT. GOES. BROADWAY!! That was better than the Manassas match. Not perfect by any stretch but I'll take it on my basic HD package every week of the year.

I thought the match was good about as good as you can do with Black. I am assuming "One Who Shall Not Be Named Ever Again" is the child killer and I don't really see the comparison Danielson is 50 times the worker he ever was and as far as his offensive style I think it is a lot more like a mixture of Regal and Kanemoto. Hog is starting to grow on me.

[martysugar]

I found a lot of the offense repetitive: as in, Hero threw the same forearm and/or one-legged dropkick 10-20 times, and then Black hit about 45 consecutive hurricanranas. I really dig Kevin Steen, though.

And Danielson's promos are better when he is high and with Paul London. The lack of buzzing swarms and/or two-man pods was disappointing.

[ProWrestlingLove]

Well the elbow strike is kind of his gimmick now.

[Bix]

I am assuming "One Who Shall Not Be Named Ever Again" is the child killer and I don't really see the comparison Danielson is 50 times the worker he ever was

Please elaborate.

[strobogo]

Danielson is pretty much Benoit, Regal, Eddie, and Dean rolled into one mean little package.

[Mr. Papaya]

Danielson is more Regal with some Benoit intensity. He isn't really much like Eddie. Strong is more Malenko than Danielson is, in fact if there were a Dean Malenko Jr. I'd expect him to wrestle like Strong.

[DEAN]

I am assuming "One Who Shall Not Be Named Ever Again" is the child killer and I don't really see the comparison Danielson is 50 times the worker he ever was

Please elaborate.

Yeah, I'm not quite grasping that.

[Mike_2511]

I'm BEGGING someone to make a multi-disk Briscoe Brothers comp with their best matches and pretty much every promo from when the 'Man Up' era began. I can't justify buying ROH or anything else to buy them, they're two of the perhaps ten wrestlers who I watch anymore.

[ProWrestlingLove]

I am assuming "One Who Shall Not Be Named Ever Again" is the child killer and I don't really see the comparison Danielson is 50 times the worker he ever was

Please elaborate.

Yeah, I'm not quite grasping that.

I never had a Benoit fetish I liked the guy as a wrestler over a long period of time but he was never Flair or Hansen. Danielson has far more great matches under his belt and doesn't need to stick within a box to have them Benoit basically had to do that new japan junior match to have a great match outside of a couple hardcore brawls he had. I can't think of any great match he had with mediocre to decent workers Danielson carries guys left and right to great matches. I'd say Danielson's title reign and the Morishima feud were more compelling and had better wrestling matches than any stretch of Benoit's career his world title storyline was a feel good thing to me not epic storytelling and heat. Danielson alters his character and offense basically every year now too keeping his matches with the same people fresh Benoit was doing the same shit for forever. How many people gave more of a fuck about Benoit/Booker T being revisited than Danielson/Aries? I don't think there is any question that Danielson has better selling, crowd interaction, psychology, offensive selling, and charisma.

[doubtingELDANDY]

My DVR cut off the main because of that MMA show going too long, which sucks. Other than that I enjoyed this show. Mitch Franklin has to be a legit Midget, as his boots give him three inches and he's still so tiny. First time seeing Ridge and he was servicable as a wimpy, and I kind of dig the "right leg" deal. Also is Alex Payne to Silken what Hijinx was to Feinsten?

[walkingdeadrise]

Really digging the shows so far, its nice just to have semi good wrasslin on the ol picture box again. Briscoes, Aries and AmDrag are all pure gold. Danielson reminds me more of Dynamite Kid than Benoit which my sound redundant, but he seems a little more tech and lacks the beastly ferocity/roidrage/power/impact Benoit used to have. I mean you know Danileson is gonna break you down and work you with superior mat skills, which Benoit possesed too, but he also looked like he could tear you apart at any moment, and destroy you with a big power move.

Quick question as Im on a visionquest watching all the ROH shows from 2006 in order so I havent watched all that much 2008/2009 ROH. Is this the "new" ROH? I mean does this flow like a full show, with squashes/less high spots/ shorter matches and the new supposed old school style booking or is it a little watered down/altered to make it a better fit for T.V. I guess im asking, does this have the same feel as a full show from the current ROH?

[Bix]

I can't think of any great match he had with mediocre to decent workers

Kevin Sullivan.

Danielson carries guys left and right to great matches.

Carrying isn't everything-Dean Malenko could carry anyone with his formula but that doesn't make him the best.

Danielson alters his character and offense basically every year now too keeping his matches with the same people fresh Benoit was doing the same shit for forever. How many people gave more of a fuck about Benoit/Booker T being revisited than Danielson/Aries?

How many people were watching SD then vs how many were watching ROH?

[Mr. Papaya]

Benoit had a really good match with Kane at JD 2004. The triple threat with HHH and HBK was great and that was in between two awful HHH/HBK matches. Also Angle developed his match formula from wrestling him at the 2003 Rumble.

And Booker T was a worse wrestler than Aries in his prime and the rehash of Benoit/Booker was happening after his prime while Aries was still in the smae shape as he was in the earlier matches.

[ProWrestlingLove]

I can't think of any great match he had with mediocre to decent workers

Kevin Sullivan.

Danielson carries guys left and right to great matches.

Carrying isn't everything-Dean Malenko could carry anyone with his formula but that doesn't make him the best.

Danielson alters his character and offense basically every year now too keeping his matches with the same people fresh Benoit was doing the same shit for forever. How many people gave more of a fuck about Benoit/Booker T being revisited than Danielson/Aries?

How many people were watching SD then vs how many were watching ROH?

I am pretty sure Kevin Sullivan was a good brawler outside of the Benoit stuff. Danielson does it without using only one formula and I disagree with Malenko being able to carry anyone to a good match within his and the lack of importance you put on it. Your third point is irrelevant.

Benoit had a really good match with Kane at JD 2004. The triple threat with HHH and HBK was great and that was in between two awful HHH/HBK matches. Also Angle developed his match formula from wrestling him at the 2003 Rumble.

And Booker T was a worse wrestler than Aries in his prime and the rehash of Benoit/Booker was happening after his prime while Aries was still in the smae shape as he was in the earlier matches.

HHH is a good enough wrestler and HBK is a great wrestler there would have been no excuse for it not being good. Angle getting his match formula from Benoit can be seen as almost as much of a negative as it is a positive. I disagree with the notion that Aries has been or ever was better than Booker T.

[USAUSA1]

Of course people care more about Benoit matches because he wrestle in WWE and WCW. DUH!!!!!

Times have change, it's hard to get a chance now. Its even harder with OVW gone,you think CM Punk would of done great in FCW? These days you either have to sign with TNA or go to FCW for a development contract. There's no more Paul Heyman's or even Eric Bischoff's to take a chance on new talent. I believe Danielson would of been in ECW or WCW by now easily. He could go to TNA but TNA is the WORSE promotion to go to in your prime. Wrestling in Japan and Mexico is not going to help your legacy these days. I'm not a big fan of indy wrestling, I don't rock with Chikara,PWG,etc. but am always impress when I see a Danielson match.He's really that damn good.

[doubtingELDANDY]

TNA has never offered Danielson a contract, have they? Even when they were bringing everyone in during the weekly Nashville days he never even got a call.

[harry, archie an...]

The confusion of the former Benoit fan, now in the closet on his love of 'the Crippler', is really amusing. Benoit was great. Danielson is great. They both have or had great matches with good and bad workers.

But again, I'd like to say (and it feels good) I liked Benoit (a lot), and still enjoy watching his old matches much more than most anybody of his era or today. One of the all time best!

[Rev]

TNA has never offered Danielson a contract, have they? Even when they were bringing everyone in during the weekly Nashville days he never even got a call.

Didn't they offer him one when there was the various companies looking at Joe and Punk?

[gorilla piles]

I'll take a comp of Dragon's 10-15 best matches over anyone. That includes Benoit. Call me crazy.