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| Posted by: Tree
- Donor [472520] Sun, Aug 03, 2003, 09:26
For those of you who don't/can't/won't keep tabs on the indies, i urge you to keep an eye on ROH.
i've seen two of their shows, and both blew me away.
They've got a legit World Champion in Samoa Joe, who is definitely among the best Strong Style wrestlers in the world, and i would watch him go toe-to-toe with Angle or Lesner any day.
They've got some of the best non-WWE workers around, including NWA World Champion AJ Styles (who turned down a WWE developmental deal a couple years ago), Christopher Daniels, Amazing Red, Steve Corino, and Low-Ki, just to name a few.
They've got some of the best up-and-comers in the biz, including CM Punk, Colt Cabana, Tom Carter, Danny Maff, Hotstuff Hernandez, and Homicide.
They've got entertaining tag teams like the Carnage Crew, Special K and the Christopher St. Connection (where else put in NYC could two guys in an EXTREMELY gay gimmick get over as faces).
They've got great vets misused by the WWE so badly it boggles the mind, like Raven and Justin Credible.
They even had Jeff Hardy in his first appearance post-WWE, last month.
They've graduate some amazing talents to the WWE, including Spanky and Paul London.
And they've got what i think is the best feud in wrestling this year, in Raven vs. CM Punk.
The storyline and psychology behind the feud is great, as CM Punk is a "straight-edge" punk, who as a heel says things like "i'm better than all of you, because i'm straight edge. and that means i don't drink, and i don't smoke, and because of that, i'm better than you!"
While Raven is the face, playing the still dark character, only he is recovering from his past drug and alcohol issues, which are legit severe.
at the last ROH show, these two fought in an old school Dog Collar match - the ending came when Punk taped Raven to the ring ropes, opened a can of beer, and forced it down his thrown, pushing Raven "off the wagon."
then, out of the crowd, Tommy Dreamer shows up, attacks Punk, hugs Raven and helps him out, and then they together tie up Punk and pour beer down HIS throat, thusly, making him no longer "straight edge".
well, if you like old school stuff, Raven and Punk take it to the old school limit - what culminated feuds in the old days.
On Sept. 6, they're going to fight in Boston in a steel cage, hair-vs-hair match. it honestly doesn't get much better than that.
there's a bus trip from nyc on that day, and there's a solid chance i'll be on it.
ok, i'm done raving. :o)
peace,
Tree
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