In Honor Of ROH's 5th Anniversary This Friday....

[MGH]

I don't know if this will get to 2 pages or 30, but what the hell eh?

Ring of Honor will celebrate its 5th anniversary this Friday night in Dayton headlined by BJ Whitmer challenging Morishima for his newly won ROH World Championship. I think that match right there can show someone how far ROH has come in the last 5 years. The company has continued evolving at a rapid pace. Just pop in a show from 2002 and then a show from 2006 and that becomes very apparent. The making of new stars on the indy scene, running the Manhattan Center, going over to Japan this summer for shows...

So from that I ask you, what are some of your favorite memories from ROH's first 5 years?

Favorite feuds, wrestlers come and gone, factions, wins, losses, venues, moments, title reigns etc.

You get the idea. I'll post mine a little later, but let's see what you have to say!

[The Scuba Guy]

Holy hell in Dayton?

Man, I never thought Dayton was so popular

[Ass Dan]

We need several Top 5 lists for this thread.

[HMARK Center]

-Match: It was hearing about the second Joe vs. Punk 60 minute draw that initially drew me to ROH. I ordered it along with a few 2002 DVD's in the classic Buy 3, Get 1 Free sale, and that was it. From Punk's promo to open the DVD, all the way to Joe's tired, worn, but still confident promo to end it, I was hooked.

-Venue: I still remember going to the RexPlex in Elizabeth for my first live ROH show. Saw DSR there, in fact, which was definitely cool. Turned out to be the last show at the 'Plex, as well. Also, the New Yorker ballroom was BEAUTIFUL.

-Memories: A few really still stand out, like seeing the Double Stomp/Cop Killa live at Manhattan Mayhem, and being in the second row for Punk's epic heel turn and Daniels' return to ROH. Amazing enough that I got to see the World Title change hands, I also got what turned into the single best storyline in wrestling in 2005.

EDIT: Oh, almost forgot: getting a smile from Daizee Haze after telling her "Hey, have a great show!". I'm not one to get bowled over by something like this, but my heart nearly melted. Good Lord, that girl has a smile that could end war, poverty, and famine.

[Deleted]

They gave me my first exposure to Samoa Joe, Jack Evans, CM Punk, Bryan Danielson, Alex Shelley and, Austin Aries. They also showed me Low Ki, Raven, Christopher Daniels and Paul London in a new light. All are among my favorites.

The there are the matches.
The Joe/Punk series
Raven/Punk feud
Paul London/Michael Shane
Low Ki/Samoa Joe.

My favorite moments, London doing a Shooting Star press off of the broken ladder and Punk signing his WWE contract on the ROH title.

[Solid Stryk-Dizzle]

The Rottweilers stable stands out to me as the thing that got me into ROH.

I went to my first ROH show a few years ago and it turned out to be the show where The Rotts teamed against Joe and The Briscoes, It was a pretty good match but what got me hooked was Low-ki's Heel turn.

Plus, I mark for New York wrestlers like Homicide and Ki.

[samachine]

I'm really not the biggest fan of ROH, but it did introduce me to some indy people on the East Coast I didn't know about that I now like. Such as Ricky Reyes and his bitching finisher, Homicide, Gibson winning the title, Kenta Kobashi in the states.

[chibidiablo]

It's strange I hated RoH at first thanks to ridiculous 6 man with Special K v someone or other, the no-selling pissed me off. I have no idea why I gave it another try but I'm glad I did if only for Good times/Great memories.

[Shy Guy]

generation next vs. the embassy=effing amazing.

[pezsoup]

I will be there live Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gopher Mod]

I had the chance to go there on Friday. HOWEVER, I will be unable to do so since I'm helping out at my local gaming convention (BASHCon here in Toledo). However, if you see 4 guys, ranging from somewhat overweight to OMG huge sporting Toledo gear, tell them Statboy says "Hi." Those guys are my co-hosts on my radio show.

[Ishmeal Loves BBL Bayley]

My favorite memories come from the shows I attended.

Round Robin Challenge (3/30/02) - Being at the second show ever and watching the Round Robin Challenge was awesome. The main event of American Dragon vs. Low Ki was phenomenal.

Beating the Odds (9/6/03) - The Raven/Punk cage match (Raven's House of Fun cage match) in Boston...that match was a joke but the rest of the night was great, including the awesome Homicide/Trent Acid altercation (and the match that ensued) while we were in line for Raven's autograph

Final Battle 2003 (12/27/03) - Muta/Arashi vs. Daniels/Whitmer. Kaz Hayashi/Styles. Kojima/Homicide. Joe vs. Mark Briscoe in a stiff fest. Altogether the best show I attended until...

Arena Warfare (3/30/06) - An awesome afternoon show, capped off by CZW running in and war breaking out. The battle outside the building was nuts. The most fun I've ever had.

[THE Dinobot]

ROH gave us what I consider to be the best wrestling match of all time in James Gibson Vs. Bryan Danielson at Glory By Honor IV.
There are other neat matches and so forth that has happen as well, but that one match owns my soul.

Only been to one show live, and while it wasn't by any means a classic looking back, being there live was a total hoot. Much better than any other even I've attended live, (most notably King of the Ring '96).

Favorite faction within this first five year span has been The Embassy. Jimmy Rave is the complete emphasis of a top heel if I've ever seen one. And along with Nana, those two complimented each other perfectly.

And, Buffalo Stampede is a very unappreciated show. Not that anyone cares, just sayin' is all.

Oh, and I believe it's the company where I truly fell in love with Nigel McGuinness, in a pure hetero way, of course...maybe.

[MGH]

Ok, I'll do mine before ECW comes on.


In a way I'd like to thank ROH for really drawing me back in to wrestling again. I was still watching, but not caring. TNA was pretty good, but Raw was s***, ECW was lame, and Smackdown at the time was terrible. I was seriously beginning to lose interest again around July of last year and had considered taking another extended break. Then on this internet wrestling radio show, Sunday Night Submission, they kept talking about ROH. So finally after hearing about it so much I decided to go and buy a DVD. Hey, it was only $10, worst case scenario is I'm out 10 bucks. So I picked up Glory By Honor II headlined by Samoa Joe v Chris Daniels for the ROH title, Raven v Steve Corino, and CM Punk vs Terry Funk.

I thought the show was ok, but in no way deserving of the hype the SNS guys gave it. Looking back I wish I had picked out a different show, because I had no clue about the backstories going on. I didn't know about the history of Joe and Daniels, nor did I know about Punk v Raven. But after I watched that show I put it to the side and didn't really think about it anymore.

Then around Summerslam of last year, a friend of mine hooked me up with a torrent site and I found a ton of ROH on it. Deciding to give it another chance I downloaded Death Before Dishonor III. Needless to say after watching that show I was hooked for good. The angle with CM Punk at the end was fantastic, and the overall card was great. Since then I've seen over 70 shows and have an ever growing DVD collection of their shows.

As for matches, this is why I think this is the best wrestling organization going today. So many matches to choose from. Almost any Bryan Danielson match from his title reign, the Punk v Joe trilogy, Second City Saints v The Briscoes, Do Fixer v Blood Generation, Cabana v Homicide, McGuinness v Castagnoli, Steel Cage Warfare.

Anyone who can't understand why this board has so much love for CM Punk should go watch the 6 shows we always refer to as The Summer of Punk. One of the most well done heel turns/heel runs with a title I've seen in years. The culmination with Gibson winning the title made for a great emotional moment.

Despite my very strong dislike for any and all things Jimmy Rave, The Embassy v Generation Next feud was phenomenal. Could be the best faction feud the company has ever had. Like I mentioned earlier, steel cage warfare was a great blow off match.

Looking at the growing relationships with Dragon Gate and NOAH, the making of new stars like Matt Sydal, The Briscoes, BJ Whitmer, Davey Richards, I have every reason to be optimistic for the future. Regardless of who TNA does or doesn't pull, they've survived worse.

From what I've watched it's been a fantastic first 5 years, and I hope the next 5 are even more entertaining.

[BlackHoleMark]

I've really been a new fan to ROH, I first heard of them in the Summer of '06 and decided to give one of their shows a try, because I had started going to independent shows in my area. I went to Generation Now and remember thinking it was the best wrestling I had seen live, and ending up picking up Death By Dishonor III and while not LOVING it, definitely liked what I saw. While I was at GN, I decided to pick up a ticket for the next show, SOTF '06. I went to SOTF '06 with my friend, and during the main event, I swore it was the best match I had ever seen. Everyone was on their feet and it was crazy and I was hooked. I'm going to Dayton and cannot wait. So excited.

[samachine]

ROH still hasn't booked my favorite wrestler, which I'm surprised about considering how many of their wrestlers he inspired and how he's still a damn good wrestler, Tenzan.

[MetalGearDizzle]

Rob Feinstien.

[Big DSR Energy]

hitmanmark said:

-Venue: I still remember going to the RexPlex in Elizabeth for my first live ROH show. Saw DSR there, in fact, which was definitely cool. Turned out to be the last show at the 'Plex, as well.

Ah, the Rexplex. That day was, indeed, the coolness. Austin Aries waved to me there, as I ate pizza. ;D And receiving the "DSR! DSR!" chant was quite cool, man.

Anyway...

Favorite Matches: I haven't seen a lot of the "must see" matches, but I love stuff like that first Main Event (Daniels/AmDrag/Ki) which got me hooked, Austin Aries/Colt Cabana steel cage match (3rd Anniversary, Night One), Joe/Ki vs. Kobashi/Cide, AJ Styles vs. Matt Sydal (hate if you want, this match is greatness) Punk vs. Aries from Weekend of Thunder Night One. I could go on...

Memories: The aforementioned Austin Aries wave, being greeted by Prince Nana in the parking lot of the Nat'l Guard Armory in Philly, the Ebessan/Joe "Holy S***!" spot from 3AC, chanting "THAT'S DIS-GUS-TING!" as Cabana twisted up Jack Evans, and yeah, I could go on...

[Nite-Owl Marks For Bloc Party]

dinobotbprime said:

ROH gave us what I consider to be the best wrestling match of all time in James Gibson Vs. Bryan Danielson at Glory By Honor IV.
There are other neat matches and so forth that has happen as well, but that one match owns my soul.

Only been to one show live, and while it wasn't by any means a classic looking back, being there live was a total hoot. Much better than any other even I've attended live, (most notably King of the Ring '96).

Favorite faction within this first five year span has been The Embassy. Jimmy Rave is the complete emphasis of a top heel if I've ever seen one. And along with Nana, those two complimented each other perfectly.

And, Buffalo Stampede is a very unappreciated show. Not that anyone cares, just sayin' is all.

Oh, and I believe it's the company where I truly fell in love with Nigel McGuinness, in a pure hetero way, of course...maybe.

You and I seem to have two things in Common Bob Dylan and how great Jimmy Rave actually is.

But about ROH, the first dvd I got since getting back into wrestling (August 2005), was the best of AJ styles and I've been hooked ever since.

["Sweet & Sour" ImSoFudginGreat]

I've been hooked ever since I saw the first ever ROH show on The Wrestling Channel, even with the Prince Nana vs Towel Boy match and the Christopher Street Connection. I was able to look past all that to see the greatness that was AmDrag vs Chris Daniels vs Low Ki & Super Crazy vs Eddie Guerrero (I really should dig out that tape).

As for favourite matches, AmDrag vs Nigel McGuiness at Unified, the Cage of Death at Death Before Dishonor, the entire Homicide vs Colt Cabana feud, the entire Summer of Punk, Samoa Joe vs Homicide at Do or Die, The 4 corner survival featuring Ebbesan vs Delirious vs Jack Evans vs Samoa Joe at Final Showdown all 3 of the CM Punk vs Samoa Joe trilogy.

I could go on for ever more with favourite matches