Philadelphia, PA – 12.28.2002

Commentary is provided by Chris Lovey & Ray Murrow.

This show ran against a double header of CZW and 3PW at the ECW Arena. Jody Fleisch and the Backstreet Boyz were on the CZW matinee show. Special K member Joey Matthews was on the 3PW show that went head-to-head with ROH, as was Abdullah the Butcher, the special guest from earlier in the month. According to the Wrestling Observer, ROH drew double the 3PW crowd (500 to 250 fans.)

We start with footage of CM Punk and Colt Cabana driving to the venue. Cabana is talking about how good their match is going to be tonight and all the moves he plans to do. Punk wants Ace Steel to turn off the camera – he didn’t like that they showed the footage of them in the car last month, and is also getting frustrated that Cabana isn’t helping with directions to the venue. Cabana says that won’t matter next month when he’s flying with the hot American Airlines flight attendants. Punk parks and aggressively exits the car. He says 13 hours in the car with Cabana is like going to the dentist. He says if Cabana is going to double cross him to take a flight instead continuing to have the both of them drive so that they can continue to represent the Midwest together, then Cabana can drive home by himself after he pins him tonight. This was pretty much a rehash of their argument in the car from last show.

After the opening video, we see Gary Michael Cappetta backstage with Steve Corino. GMC says there is buzz around Corino looking to form a group of elite wrestlers to take all of the gold in Ring of Honor. GMC then introduces him as the King of Old School. Corino says that nickname came from a company that put him in debt and was simply a gimmick to get him over with the fans. He said he doesn’t need to get over with the fans anymore – they weren’t there for him when he needed their support most. Instead, they criticized him online while he needed their dollars and cents. Corino says he has reinvented himself in ZERO-ONE Pro Wrestling in Japan. In Japan, you get over by being a true professional wrestler and an athlete. He doesn’t care about the ROH fans, he only cares about proving that he is the best, which is why he is going to become the ROH Champion. GMC asks Corino who is going to be in his group, and before he can answer, Allison Danger interrupts saying there is a call from home. Corino admonishes Danger for interrupting him but does take the call off screen. Typical, annoying internet rage bait that we’d come to expect from Corino at this time, but at least it was delivered well.

We’re shown highlights from an ROH High Impact TV taping that took place earlier in the day, where Homicide took on the debuting Jay Lethal. Homicide defeated Lethal with the Cop Killa. Knowing how big of a part of this promotion Jay Lethal is going to be, I wish we could have seen his debut match in full.

CM Punk vs. Colt Cabana

This is a rematch from “Night of the Butcher.” The winner of the match receives an ROH contract and will be flown to and from ROH events going forward. Punk hurriedly throws offense at Cabana looking for a quick win. Cabana blasts him with a lariat, turning Punk inside out to end his momentum. Cabana taunts Punk about flying the next month just before he goes for double knees in the corner. Punk initially escapes, but Cabana shuts him down with a corner lariat. When Cabana pulls Punk out of the corner, Punk uses the momentum to pull off a sunset flip. Cabana blocks the Shining Wizard and muscles Punk up into a Doctor Bomb for two. A strike exchange leads to Cabana going for a leaping clothesline to Punk on the apron. Punk counters by pulling Cabana throat first onto the top rope to block the attack, and then suicide dives Cabana into the barricades. Back in the ring, Punk takes They fight on the top rope where Cabana brings Punk down with a reverse superplex for two. Cabana wants another top rope maneuver but Punk belly-to-belly superplexes him instead. Punk appropriately airplane spins Cabana before Finlay rolling him into a split-legged moonsault for two. Punk goes for a reverse Frankensteiner just as he did last show. This time, Cabana is able to dump Punk off of his shoulders. Punk flips out of a belly-to-belly suplex and stuffs Cabana with a Shining Wizard for two. Cabana gets to his feet when Punk looks for a facewash kick, only for Punk to knock him down in another corner and connect with it. Punk then pulls Cabana up to the top rope and brings him down with the Pepsi Plunge for the pin at 9:24. With how desperate both competitors came off in the match, you can feel that winning an ROH contract was a huge deal for both of them. I appreciate that. I also like that they showed growth from their first ROH singles contest. This was a rock solid opener for the inaugural Final Battle event. **¾

Homicide runs into The Backseat Boyz backstage. Johnny Kashemere apologizes for how their first tag team match went, saying they wanted a straight up tag match. Homicide tells him not to worry about it, and that he will have a different partner next time they meet. Trent Acid stares down Homicide while Homicide and Kashmere shake hands and hug. Homicide tells them to kick Special K’s ass and to watch out for Da Hit Squad.

Gary Michael Cappetta calls Christopher Daniels to the ring for an interview. Simply Luscious comes to the ring with him, and she is referenced, for the first time, as Ronnie Stevens. Daniels says he wants to right a wrong from the last time ROH ran the Murphy Rec Center, a show Daniels was not present for. Daniels says that during Xavier’s ROH Title defense, Alexis Laree attacked Simply Luscious from behind. In reality, Laree was preventing her from interfering. Daniels says Laree has no honor and says they can settle things right now if she wants. Simply Luscious asks if Laree is scared. Laree makes her way to the ring. Daniels issues a challenge for Laree to face Simply Luscious when ROH returns to Philadelphia on March 22nd. Laree says they can do it now, and Daniels agrees. Luscious attacks Laree from behind.

Alexis Laree vs. Simply Luscious

Despite Luscious’ pre-match attack, Laree is able to take her down with a spear. Luscious claims her eye is injured as Laree is pummeling her. As the referee checks on Luscious, Daniels sneaks in and drops Laree with Last Rites. Luscious then pins her at 0:41. GMC and the referee assist Laree out of the ring. This was all to set up an angle. These poor women in ROH.

Steve Corino then comes to the ring with a microphone. He tells Daniels that they have business together and gets into the ring. Corino says 2002 was a banner year for him, as he became an international superstar. He had to do hardcore crap and bleed to get a reaction from the fans in America, but in 2002, he made more money than Paul Heyman owed him by wrestling in Japan. He yells at the fans that are cheering him, because they were nowhere to be found when ECW folded and he needed their help. Corino then tells Daniels that he is putting him on notice in 2003. Corino is putting together a group of elite wrestlers who will take over ROH, meaning they will be taking all the ROH titles. Corino then turns his attention to Luscious, his real-life girlfriend, and breaks up with her, saying he can’t have her telling Daniels all of his secrets. She leaves upset, but reminds Daniels that it isn’t personal, it’s just business. He invites Daniels to take the first shot in the war by sticking his chin out for him. Daniels turns the offer back on Corino, but then decides he isn’t going to deal with this now. He heads backstage and Corino picks the microphone back up. He craps on the fans and the people in the locker room a little more before finally calling out Homicide, who he says is a “disrespectful young boy.” Homicide comes to the ring and the two of them trade blows. Just as Homicide is about to fork him, Corino bails and heads to the back. A lot of this promo was the same as what we saw backstage, but actually better. I don’t think the “family call” mentioned in that segment goes anywhere, so you would’ve been better off cutting that for the sake of redundancy.

We see footage from earlier in the day where Dunn and Marcos are setting up the ring. They claim they’re going to rock Christopher Daniels and Donovan Morgan like a hurricane on High Impact TV. We’re shown highlights from that match, where they get destroyed. Daniels pins Dunn with Last Rites and at the same time, Morgan pins Marcos with Sayonara (his version of Angel’s Wings).

Gauntlet Match

This match was not on the Final Battle VHS or DVD release. It was included as part of the “ROH Uncensored Vol. 1” DVD.

Konnan vs. Chris Divine

This is Konnan’s ROH debut. Konnan is dressed in his traditional Lucha attire (as opposed to Wolfpac) and is maskless. His goal was to bring “true Lucha” to ROH. After trading a lot of different armdrag variants, Divine misses a slingshot senton. Divine scurries away before Konnan can get him in the Tequila Sunrise. Konnan misses a mid-air dropkick on Divine and the crowd turns on him. It does not go over well when he pins Divine after a cradle DDT at 3:33. The crowd is mostly quiet for that result, though some boo Konnan.

Konnan vs. Quiet Storm

The crowds boo intensify when Konnan tries to roll under Storm’s leapfrog and ends up crashing into him. Storm gets two with a Japanese armdrag. He then brings Konnan off of the middle rope with a reverse Blockbuster. Konnan blocks the Storm Cradle Driver. When he pops up Storm, Storm comes down with bodyscissors takedown, and then Magistral cradles Konnan for the pin at 5:27 (total). Well, I can see why this was cut. The unforgiving crowd chanted “don’t come back” at Konnan for missing two spots and moving slower than guys nearly twenty years younger than him. I’ve seen worse. I also don’t know if “true Lucha” is what these fans wanted, nor that a three person gauntlet with Divine and Storm is the best way to show that style*

Backstage, Konnan tells The SAT, The Amazing Red and Divine Storm that he wants to wrestle the lucha style, but that it will take him a few matches to get back in the groove. Konnan will get that chance on the first show of 2003.

Da Hit Squad are amped to take out Special K tonight, and Monsta Mack is especially amped to get his hands on the Backseat Boyz. Mafia says they will get revenge on behalf of their trainer Homicide for the defeat the BSB gave him in October. I just saw them squash that beef! You don’t need to get revenge! Mafia goes on for a little while longer and it is just a bore.

Three Way Scramble Match
Da Hit Squad (Mafia & Monsta Mack) vs. The Backseat Boyz (Johnny Kashmere & Trent Acid) vs. Special K (Angel Dust & Deranged)

Special K members Dixie, Hydro (Jay Lethal), Izzy, and Yeyo are in Dust and Deranged’s corner. The crowd goes nuts for the BSB as they take down Special K. Dust tries to bail when Magia comes in, but instead is dropped on his head in a dragon suplex. Dust is thrown into Deranged and the other teams go face-to-face. DHS ram the BSB into each other, and then powerbomb Kashmere onto Acid. Special K send everyone to the floor, with Dust and Deranged each diving onto them. Hydro cuts off a dive from Mack and ends up being powerbombed onto everybody on the floor. The BSB land stereo tope con hilo’s, and Mafia tope’s onto everyone. In the ring, The BSB catch a dive from Deranged and toss him into a powerbomb/neckbreaker combo. Dust makes the save but then falls victim to the Dream Sequence. Yeyo trips and pulls Acid to the floor. Dust and Deranged double superkick Kashmere and Dust flips Deranged onto him. The DHS pummel on Special K. Mafia lands a top rope splash onto Dust and Acid breaks up his pin. Acid mafia kicks Mafia to the apron. Acid dazes Mack with a mafia kick, and Mack responds with a lariat. Mafia brings Deranged off the top with a super release dragon suplex. When Mafia lifts up Deranged for a Burning Hammer, Dixie and Izzy hit Mafia with a chain and cast respectively, and that leads to Deranged pinning Mafia at 10:24. Mostly a mindless spotfest but it ended well enough with Special K pissing off DHS by cheating to win. It got really old seeing so many dives, but once things got settled they got into a solid groove. **

Ace Steel, the trainer of both CM Punk and Colt Cabana, made his ROH debut on the High Impact TV Taping before the show. We are shown highlights of his match with Jay Briscoe. It looked like a typical Jay Briscoe 2002 singles bout. Briscoe won with the Jay Driller. Another match I wish we could have seen in full since.

ROH Tag Team Championship Match – Best 2 Out Of 3 Falls
The Prophecy (Christopher Daniels & Donovan Morgan) vs. The SAT (Joel Maximo & Jose Maximo)

The Prophecy have been champions since 9.21.2002 and this is their second defense. We also now have title belts instead of the trophy, and there is no mention of this fact. Simply Luscious is in The Prophecy’s corner. The SAT earned this title match by winning a four way contenders match at “Night of the Butcher.” The Prophecy also defeated the SAT in the opening round of the tag title tournament back at “Unscripted.” Morgan sends Jose into the barricades before he and Daniels wear him down in their corner. Jose eventually escapes their grasp by giving Daniels a tornado DDT. Joel tags in and runs up the ropes for a crossbody onto Daniels. Morgan dumps Joel to the floor during corner punches. Jose comes back in to keep on the punches, but the Prophecy quickly turns things around. The Prophecy pin Jose with Revelations (powerbomb/neckbreaker) at 8:18. Commentary rightfully admonishes referee Paul Turner for counting the fall when Jose was not the legal man, but do insinuate he may know who is who. Yikes! Joel ends up back in the Prophecy’s grasp as Jose recovers. After several minutes, Jose catches the Prophecy with a double clothesline and tags in Jose, who enters the match with a double springboard dropkick. Jose blocks Sayonara from Morgan and kicks him in the groin. Daniels saves Morgan from being pinned after a Doomsday DDT. The SAT captured Daniels on the top turnbuckle and brought him down with the Spanish Fly for the pin at 15:01, tying the match at one fall a piece. Jose botches a dive to the floor, inadvertently taking himself out of the match. Morgan blocks Joel’s Maximo Explosion with the Golden Gate Swing for two. Jose jumps back in with a splash to break up Morgan’s fisherman’s suplex pin on Joel. Daniels drops Jose with the Angel’s Wings, and Joel repays his brother by saving him from being pinned. Daniels misses a BME and is dropped with Maximo Explosion for two. The SAT go for another Doomsday DDT on Morgan, but Morgan catches Jose mid-air with a spinebuster. Daniels drops Joel with a STO. He maneuvers his way into Last Rites, which pins Joel and wins the match for the Prophecy 2 falls to 1 at 19:12. These teams had no idea how to fill the time. They just beat on the SAT forever in the first and second fall before putting together a really fun final fall. All of that is to say it should’ve been one fall. The good I do think outweighs the bad but it was just too long. Slowing down the SAT was also a mistake. I don’t think the crowd or company gets behind them as much as they had before this match again. Commentary was outright burying them for being out of shape and blown up (and mentioned it in a later match too) which is never a good sign. **½

We get highlights of Samoa Joe defeating The Outcast Killaz in a handicap from the High Impact TV Taping before the show. From the clips, Joe was too charitable, and should have beat these guys with greater ease. He eventually pins Oman Tortuga with the Island Driver.

We get a quick look backstage, where the Special K invite Jody Fleisch to hang out and he accepts.

We get a clipped up match of The New Christopher Street Connection (Eddie Guapo & Mace) vs. The Carnage Crew (DeVito & Loc). Allison Danger is in the new CSC’s corner. Mace kisses DeVito’s hand during the Code of Honor and they beat on the CSC for it. There’s more gay panic later when Mace smooches DeVito. The Carnage Crew pummel them some more and then attack them with hub caps, resulting in the New CSC winning by disqualification. They continue to attack the new CSC, busting them both open, and also attack the referee. This probably could have been cut too.

Homicide says everything is on the line tonight. He is on probation, and every time he leaves the city, he has to tell his parole officer. That prevents him from his dream of competing in Japan as well. He’s a single father who can’t hold a job because of the scars on his head. When he becomes ROH Champion, he is going to make enough money to give his son a better life than he had. He says nobody is going to get in his way, and says that we’re looking at the next #1 Contender.

The Amazing Red vs. Jody Fleisch

This is Fleisch’s first time in ROH since “Road To The Title”, and this match was promoted as an “International Dream Match.” Red scores big by sending Fleisch outside with a rolling gamenigiri and a tope con hilo. Back in the ring, however, Fleisch blocks a tiger feint kick and lands an enzuigiri. When Red rolls to the floor, Fleisch follows with a springboard shooting star press. They end up on the top turnbuckle at the same time and land stereo Code Red’s. All of Special K makes their way ringside as both men lay flat. Red gets two with a facebuster and kicks away at Fleisch. Fleisch moonsault presses Red for two. Red knocks Fleisch off of the top rope with a rolling enzuigiri. When he goes for the Infrared, Special K pulls him out of the way and Red crashes and burns. Fleisch capitalizes by hitting Red with the Phoenix DDT (720 DDT) for the pin at 6:14. Well they threw that dream match away to advance an angle. Apparently, Red was hurt and thus it was going to be short anyways, but it still could have ended better. It was fun while it lasted. I’d be less salty if we got a make good down the line, but sadly, these two would never have another singles match again anywhere . **¼

The SAT and Divine Storm try to save Red, but they succumb to the overwhelming numbers of Special K. Da Hit Squad and JT Smith come out to the ring to even the odds. The mysterious Slugger then enters the ring, and Smith tells Da Hit Squad he’s with them since he helped Smith last time Special K attacked him. This time, however, Slugger chokeslams Smith. All of Special K beat down everybody else in the ring, punctuated with a Phoenix DDT from Flesich to Monsta Mack.

ROH Championship
Xavier vs. Paul London

Xavier has been champion since 9.21.2002 and this is his third defense. London earned this match by winning the #1 Contender’s Trophy at “Night Of The Butcher.” Even though Xavier stomps away at London when he slides into the ring to start the match, London gets the better of Xavier during the opening exchange, sending him to the floor with a headscissors. He’s embarrassed when he misses a slingshot senton as a method of getting back in the ring, but does get in a cheap shot with a forearm while referee Paul Turner doesn’t notice. He also counters a headscissors from London into a facebuster. When London begins to get the better of him in a chop exchange, Xavier thumbs him in the eye. When London surprises him with an O’Connor Roll for two, Xavier lariats him back down. Xavier does a lot of damage to London’s back and neck. They fight on the top turnbuckle, where Xavier smashes London’s face into the top turnbuckle. London is able to recover and shove Xavier, crotching him on the top rope. London helps Xavier free himself right into a Hot Shot, transitioning right into a dropsault for two. London fights for and pulls off a sit-out powerbomb. London slams Xavier before going to the top turnbuckle. Xavier rolls to the floor to avoid the London Star Press, but London simply turns around and instead lands a London Star Press to a standing Xavier on the floor! Back in the ring, London goes for it again, but this time he misses. Xavier quickly Oklahoma rolls him for two. London ducks a clothesline and gives Xavier a cravate facebuster for two. London halts the momentum behind Xavier sending him into the turnbuckle, but London hits the pad to fake out Xavier. It works, as London surprises him with a leg-capture DDT. Referee Paul Turner counts three, but it’s after the count that Turner notices that Xavier’s foot was on the bottom rope. The crowd chants bullshit as Xavier locks London in a Cobra Clutch. London kicks off the ropes, bridging back on Xavier into a pin for two. Xavier then gives London a Cobra Clutch suplex and the X-Breaker for the pin at 17:05. Xavier going after London’s back and neck and it paying off was terrific. London showed his tenacity throughout the match, fighting through the pain and taking big risks to try to win the title. They also did an amazing job making it seem like London had the match won twice. When the crowds that pissed, you know you got them. With hindsight, part of me wonders if they should have capitalized and given it to London here. This has to be Xavier’s best title defense. ***¾

Gary Michael Cappetta then tries to interview Special K backstage. They’re too messed up on drugs to give him anything. The camera man catches Angel Dust and Deranged huffing a green balloon and Slugger escorts him out of the dressing room. Slugger also tells Da Hit Squad, who approach the locker room, that they need special VIP passes to get into the locker room. He finally introduces himself as Slugger and as Special K’s special security. Just as it looks like Mafia and Slugger are going to come to blows, Mack holds back Mafia and says they have a “VIP” pass for them.

Steve Corino makes his way to the ring in his wrestling attire. He tells the crowd that you can’t have a main event without Steve Corino. He sits in a chair in the middle of the ring, more or less hijacking the show. Homicide comes to the ring for the match. When he gets into the ring, Corino attacks him with a fork, gives him a Northern Lights Bomb, and then a piledriver. Samoa Joe enters next, and as he is making his way down the aisle, Corino gives Homicide another piledriver. Joe stays outside the ring as Corino gives Homicide a third piledriver. Corino has Homicide hooked for a fourth piledriver when Low Ki comes to the ring. Ki is unaware of what has been ensuing until he looks in the ring. He yells “what’s wrong with you?” and throws the fork at Corino who is now outside of the ring, as is Joe. Ki is checking on Homicide as Bryan Danielson makes his entrance. He and Joe go face-to-face with one another on one of the turnbuckles while Rob Feinstein and ROH officials are checking on Homicide. Determining that Homicide cannot compete, Feinstein tells the official to put Corino in the match. Corino is pleased. Homicide is helped to the back, his dreams of getting a title shot and giving his son a better life dashed.

ROH Championship #1 Contender’s Trophy Match
Bryan Danielson vs. Low Ki vs. Samoa Joe vs. Steve Corino

The winner of the match will change for the ROH Championship at ROH’s One Year Anniversary show. This match has a 45 minute time limit. The Code of Honor is obeyed by all, except Corino refuses to shake Ki’s hand. When Ki goes to strike Corino, Joe cuts him off and clotheslines him instead. Ki and Danielson start off. At one point, Danielson teases tagging in Joe, but before Joe can accept, Danielson brushes him off. When Ki pushes Danielson to the corner moments later, Joe tags himself in so he can wrestle Danielson. They end up rolling to the floor, and when Danielson gets back into the ring, he tags out to Corino. Despite being friends outside of the ring, they have no problem going at each other with everything they have. Corino powders after taking a suplex and being pinned for two. Joe kicks him back to the floor when he goes for a figure four. Ki tags in, looking to go against Corino and get revenge for what he did to Homicide. After Ki kicks him in the head and gives him a Muta elbow drop, Corino quickly retreats to Danielson and tags out. A series of tags leads us back to Corino back with Ki, but Corino is willing to do so since Ki is on defense. Corino gets in some shots before Ki responds with chest kicks and Mongolian chops. Joe kicks Ki in the back, allowing Corino take the match back in his favor with crossface strikes to the face. Danielson blind tags in, and Joe unwittingly helps Ki with a Pele kick to Danielson by throwing Ki off of him to block the Tidal Wave. Corino pins Danielson, looking to capitalize, but only gets a two. Ki is the brunt of everyone’s offense for quite awhile, eventually escaping with an enzuigiri to Corino. Danielson gets Joe in a Cattle Mutilation. Ki looks to break it with a stomp, but amazingly Danielson’s bridge holds. Corino knocks Ki off of Danielson and to the floor. Ki has Danielson down with a Crush Rush and Ki Krusher. Danielson, though, rolls to the floor before Ki can attempt a pin. Corino clothesline Danielson into a German suplex from Joe, with Joe getting a two count after. Danielson clobbers Joe with a forearm smash, giving himself the opening to tag in Ki. Joe quickly takes him down with Mongolian chops. Corino gets his licks in as well, including choking Ki on the middle rope. Ki blocks Old School Expulsion and nails the Tidal Crush in the corner. Corino tags Joe, who facewash kicks Danielson before going to Ki. Ki catches Joe’s foot when he tries. Corino surprises Joe with a dragonscrew leg whip and then a figure four leg lock. Ki and Danielson deliver stereo diving headbutts to Joe and Corino. A five minute warning is given, and that warning kicks the competitors into another gear. Ki wipes out Corino with a Tidal Wave. Danielson knocks down Ki with a rolling forearm for two. Joe lariats Danielson before snapmaring Ki into a back kick. Ki gives him one in return. They take their wrist tape off and pull down their knee pads, just like they did at “Glory By Honor” and get into a forearm and open hand strike exchange. Danielson and Corino intercept before it gets too deep. Corino t-bone superplexes Ki and Danielson DDT’s Joe. A two minute warning is given as Corino pursues Danielson on the top turnbuckle. Joe brings Corino down with a Hamachan cover. Danielson then dives onto Joe to break Joe’s pin attempt. Danielson and Corino both break Joe’s post-enzuigiri pin on Ki as well. Ki drops Joe with a Ki Krusher. Corino pulls him up looking for Old School Expulsion. Ki turns that into a Dragon Sleeper. The 45:00 time limit expires as Corino taps out. The referee says the submission happened too late, and the match is a draw. Post match, the Code of Honor is once again allowed by everyone, including Corino shaking Ki’s hand.

Commentary asks “what kind of way is this to end 2002?” and I agree. This was as close to phoning it in as you’ll get from these four. Given how good these guys are, that still makes for a good match, but not a good 45 minute match. This thing just went on and on. They did enough tags to keep things fresh, and had little stories going between people to keep it interesting, but it was a slog and the result was NOT well received. Things like Ki and Joe harkening back to their incredible Glory By Honor match just made me wish I was watching that instead. You may see these four names and be intrigued, but trust me, you really don’t need to watch this. ***

We then go backstage where Monsta Mack tells Slugger that they have their VIP pass. He is then charged by Da Hit Squad, Divine Storm, The SAT, JT Smith, Trinity, and Amazing Red, who successfully knock him into the door and gain access to the locker room. All of them attack Special K, who make a mad dash out of the locker room. Slugger tells all of the New York crew that they don’t know what the hell they got themselves into. Slugger then goes after Special K as the New Yorkers celebrate. The Carnage Crew cut the same promo about their crappy lives and ugly wives and letting their anger out on their opposition. They don’t care if they technically lost, they celebrate getting to hurt somebody. They’re looking forward to hurting Da Hit Squad in a Weapons match next month. They almost crippled them before, and plan to finish the job then. Low Ki says what we just witnessed was four athletes doing what they love, competing, in front of the greatest fans in the world. He says 2002 is coming to an end, and that he has three goals in 2003. First, he will hurt Xavier. Second, he will destroy The Prophecy. Third, he will once again have the ROH Championship around his waist. Whatever obstacles come his way, they need to remember, it is not the size of the fighter, but the size of the fight they will bring. All they can do is be ready. Ki’s disingenuous promos make me like him less.

Gary Michael Cappetta asks Steve Corino who will be the first member of his unnamed group. He presents Simply Luscious as the first member. She says she loves Corino and would take him over the Prophecy any day. He says he will deliver member number two next week and makes out with Luscious to end the video.

This show was almost entirely utilized to set up the first two shows of 2003. Really, only the ROH Title match is worth watching (an opinion reaffirmed by the fact that it is the only match on the Year One compilation), unless you’re a big Punk or Cabana fan and want to check out the opener as well. 2002 goes out with a whimper.

Rewatching 2002 was interesting. You could see ROH figuring out their identity and what does and does not work as the year progresses. They haven’t shed all of their bad habits (all twelve shows had pointless man on woman violence this year, for example), but the shows feel more balanced and less overwrought. They have fleshed out a core roster and established a pecking order. I think the best way to experience ROH in 2002 is the Year One compilation. It features nine of what I consider to be the top ten of the best matches from the year, and then some. Speaking of:

Top 10 ROH Matches of 2002

10. Low Ki vs. The Amazing Red, Road To The Title (6.22.2002)
9. ROH Title: Xavier vs. Paul London, Final Battle 2002 (12.28.2002)
8. Bryan Danielson vs. Paul London, Night of the Butcher (12.7.2002)
7. ROH Title: Low Ki vs. AJ Styles, Honor Invades Boston (8.24.2002)
6. American Dragon vs. AJ Styles, All Star Extravaganza (11.9.2002)
5. Street Fight: Michael Shane vs. Paul London, Unscripted (9.21.2002)
4. American Dragon vs. Low Ki, Round Robin Challenge (3.30.2002)
3. Fight Without Honor: Low Ki vs. Samoa Joe, Glory By Honor (10.5.2002)
2. ROH Title Iron Man Match: Christopher Daniels vs. Doug Williams vs. Low Ki vs. Spanky, Crowning A Champion (7.27.2002)
1. American Dragon vs. Christopher Daniels vs. Low Ki, The Era of Honor Begins (2.23.2002)