ROH Reborn: Completion
ROH Reborn: Completion (7/17/2004)- Elizabeth, NJ
SAMOA JOE & HYDRO SEGMENT- GREAT! This is the moment that lead to the end of Hydro… and the beginning of Jay Lethal in ROH.
IZZY & DIXIE (w/the rest of Special K) vs. JACK EVANS & RODERICK STRONG (w/Austin Aries & Alex Shelley)- 5.5/10. Good, spotty opener. After the match, Generation Next beats Special K down, ending with Roderick Strong hitting Becky Bayless with a backbreaker. Aries then cut a good short promo.
DAVE PRAZAK INTERVIEWS THE NEW AND IMPORVED CARNAGE CREW (Masada & Danny Daniels)- good promo explaining their motivations and say that they want to add a stip to their match tonight- the losing team must split up.
ROH PURE TITLE TOURNAMENT 1ST ROUND FOUR CORNER SURVIVAL MATCH: Jay Lethal vs. Nigel McGuinness vs. Doug Williams vs. John Walters- 7.75/10.
I LOVED this match! It told a great story (which was really two separate stories) with Lethal and Walters going after each other, and Nigel and Doug just trying to see who the better wrestler was.
Jay Lethal got a nice pop in his hometown.
WEAPONS MATCH IN WHICH THE LOSING TEAM CAN NEVER TEAM TOGETHER AGAIN IN ROH: The Carnage Crew (Loc & Devito) vs. The New and Improved Carnage Crew (Masada & Danny Daniels)-6/10. Nothing too cool, and slightly disappointing for a blow-off, but this feud didn’t have much build to it, so it isn’t really that much of a disappointment.
ROH PURE TITLE TOURNAMENT 1ST ROUND FOUR CORNER SURVIVAL MATCH: Matt Stryker vs. CM Punk vs. Austin Aries vs. Alex Shelley- 7.5/10
This match told a really good story, with Punk and Stryker being forced to work together to counter the teamwork of the two Generation Next members, but they eventually fell apart. The finish was a bit confusing, though. Punk cut a good promo after the match, though.
FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE MATCH: Ace Steele & Colt Cabana vs. Dan Maff & BJ Whitmer-6.25/10.
A lot of teases of people going over railings, and Cabana eventually does… out of sight, though, but Gabe sells it as if Cabana died, and Punk’s heel whining on commentary got annoying. I just didn’t enjoy this very much.
After the match, Alison Danger goes to the ring and cuts an AWESOME promo, reminding Maff and Whitmer that she owns their contracts… so if Maff and Whitmer want to leave the Prophecy, she will bring people in to take them out… “THE PROPHECY WILL NEVER DIE!”
SPECIAL K GETS INTO AN ARGUMENT- good segment
Prince Nana and the Outcast Killaz come to the ring, and Nana introduces the newest member of the Embassy… JIMMY RAVE
JIMMY RAVE (w/the Embassy) vs. TRENT ACID- 6.25/10.
Good match, with Nana doing is stuff, distracting Acid at multiple key junctures. Rave gets the win with the Styles Clash, setting up for his feud with AJ next year.
PURE WRESTLING MATCH TO CROWN A NEW ROH PURE CHAMPION: Doug Williams vs. Alex Shelley- 7.5/10.
I LOVE Pure Rules matches, and this one did its job perfectly by highlighting the rules (which the first few matches of any gimmick title should do). They told a very good story in the ring as well, with Shelley working over Williams’ neck and Williams working over Shelley’s previously injured arm.
THE FINAL CONFRONTATION BETWEEN CM PUNK & RICKY STEAMBOAT- PERFECT segment! The fans just ATE THIS UP! They popped for every last one of Steamboat’s spots, and popped for his promo, during which, standing over the defeated Punk, he lectured him, telling him that he is a great wrestler, but his douche bag attitude is holding him back from fulfilling his potential…
Then Generation Next came out and jumped Steamboat, beating him down 4-on-1. They surround Steamboat and give Punk the mic. Now Punk stands over Steamboat, and talks about joining Generation Next… THEN TURNS FACE AND KICKS THEIR ASSES!...
But the numbers game is too much for Punk, despite a valiant effort… until Steamboat recovers, and together Punk and Steamboat clear the ring of Generation Next! I usually don’t rate segments, but this one was 10/10!
THE BRISCOE BROTHERS & SAMOA JOE vs. THE ROTTWEILERS (Homicide, Rocky Romero, & Ricky Reyes) (w/Julius Smokes)- 7.5/10.
The match ends in a DQ after Homicide throws a fireball. The fireball was aimed at Joe, but it hit Mark Briscoe instead. Jay took his brother to the back, allowing the Rottweilers to beat Joe down until Jay comes back to make the save. The numbers game catches up to Jay as well, and the beatdown continues. Homicide gets on the mic and says “There is nobody… and I mean nobody… gonna stop us!”…
LOW KI’S MUSIC PLAYS, AND THE FOUNDING FATHER RETURNS TO ROH! THE CROWD GOES F*CKING NUTS! Ki grabs a mic and the ROH World Title belt. “For everything that I have worked for… for everything that I poured my heart and soul into… how dare you disrespect me… HOW DARE YOU disrespect this title! NOBODY will disrespect this title… except me” KI HITS JOE IN THE FACE WITH THE BELT! The beatdown resumes, as Ki cuts a promo crapping all over the company. Homicide rips the ROH banner off the side of the ring, and drapes it over Joe, recreating the scene from ROH Unscripted when the Prophecy interfered to help Xavier win the ROH World Title from Low Ki.
Looking at it from a purely in-ring perspective, this show pretty good, but nothing special. None of the matches on here are must see, but there is nothing terrible, either. What makes this show worth buying are the great segments between Steamboat and Punk, and the Low Ki return and heel turn. What makes this show an absolute must-buy, though, is the that is marks the end of a very important transition period in ROH’s history.
Thematically, this show, (as well as the series of 7 shows from Reborn: Stage 1 until now), have fit the “Reborn “ concept perfectly. ROH needed a change after TNA pulled its contracted talent (including ROH main eventers ROH Pure Champion AJ Styles and Prophecy leader Christopher Daniels) due to the Rob Feinstein arrest. ROH NEEDED a fresh start. It NEEDED to create new stars VERY quickly… and it managed to do this. After these shows, the company looked MUCH different than it did before.
The Code of Honor was revamped, and Contenders’ Ring system was introduced. Reborn: Stage 1 and Reborn: Stage 2 were ROH’s second ever double shot (two shows in one weekend), which would become the standard scheduling model for ROH in the future (to the point where single shots almost never happen anymore). Top heel stable the Prophecy dissolved, and Maff and Whitmer turned face. CM Punk went from a giant douche bag heel feuding with Ricky Steamboat to turn face. Jimmy Rave joined the Embassy (thus turning heel). Top babyface Homicide went CRAZY and turned heel after he thought he won the World Title in a VERY well done, EXTREMELY close call, including hitting Samoa Joe with a fireball. Former Tag Team Champions Special K started to dissolve, including one member, Hydro, leaving the group and going out for himself under the name Jay Lethal. Austin Aries, Alex Shelley, Roderick Strong, and Jack Evans, most of whom had wrestled less than 3 ROH matches before this, formed Generation Next, and instantly became both stars and top heels, especially Aries and Shelley. One of the hottest tag teams on the indies, the Backseat Boyz, the first team (and only one of two to this day) to hold the ROH and CZW Tag Team Titles simultaneously, broke up, with Kashmere leaving the company, and Trent Acid starting a singles career. Masada left the Carnage Crew, and feuded with the group, and most shockingly at the time, ROH Founding Father Low Ki returned to the company… but returned as a heel, going so far as to spit on the World Title, and joined up with Homicide’s stable, the Rottweilers.
SAMOA JOE & HYDRO SEGMENT- GREAT! This is the moment that lead to the end of Hydro… and the beginning of Jay Lethal in ROH.
IZZY & DIXIE (w/the rest of Special K) vs. JACK EVANS & RODERICK STRONG (w/Austin Aries & Alex Shelley)- 5.5/10. Good, spotty opener. After the match, Generation Next beats Special K down, ending with Roderick Strong hitting Becky Bayless with a backbreaker. Aries then cut a good short promo.
DAVE PRAZAK INTERVIEWS THE NEW AND IMPORVED CARNAGE CREW (Masada & Danny Daniels)- good promo explaining their motivations and say that they want to add a stip to their match tonight- the losing team must split up.
ROH PURE TITLE TOURNAMENT 1ST ROUND FOUR CORNER SURVIVAL MATCH: Jay Lethal vs. Nigel McGuinness vs. Doug Williams vs. John Walters- 7.75/10.
I LOVED this match! It told a great story (which was really two separate stories) with Lethal and Walters going after each other, and Nigel and Doug just trying to see who the better wrestler was.
Jay Lethal got a nice pop in his hometown.
WEAPONS MATCH IN WHICH THE LOSING TEAM CAN NEVER TEAM TOGETHER AGAIN IN ROH: The Carnage Crew (Loc & Devito) vs. The New and Improved Carnage Crew (Masada & Danny Daniels)-6/10. Nothing too cool, and slightly disappointing for a blow-off, but this feud didn’t have much build to it, so it isn’t really that much of a disappointment.
ROH PURE TITLE TOURNAMENT 1ST ROUND FOUR CORNER SURVIVAL MATCH: Matt Stryker vs. CM Punk vs. Austin Aries vs. Alex Shelley- 7.5/10
This match told a really good story, with Punk and Stryker being forced to work together to counter the teamwork of the two Generation Next members, but they eventually fell apart. The finish was a bit confusing, though. Punk cut a good promo after the match, though.
FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE MATCH: Ace Steele & Colt Cabana vs. Dan Maff & BJ Whitmer-6.25/10.
A lot of teases of people going over railings, and Cabana eventually does… out of sight, though, but Gabe sells it as if Cabana died, and Punk’s heel whining on commentary got annoying. I just didn’t enjoy this very much.
After the match, Alison Danger goes to the ring and cuts an AWESOME promo, reminding Maff and Whitmer that she owns their contracts… so if Maff and Whitmer want to leave the Prophecy, she will bring people in to take them out… “THE PROPHECY WILL NEVER DIE!”
SPECIAL K GETS INTO AN ARGUMENT- good segment
Prince Nana and the Outcast Killaz come to the ring, and Nana introduces the newest member of the Embassy… JIMMY RAVE
JIMMY RAVE (w/the Embassy) vs. TRENT ACID- 6.25/10.
Good match, with Nana doing is stuff, distracting Acid at multiple key junctures. Rave gets the win with the Styles Clash, setting up for his feud with AJ next year.
PURE WRESTLING MATCH TO CROWN A NEW ROH PURE CHAMPION: Doug Williams vs. Alex Shelley- 7.5/10.
I LOVE Pure Rules matches, and this one did its job perfectly by highlighting the rules (which the first few matches of any gimmick title should do). They told a very good story in the ring as well, with Shelley working over Williams’ neck and Williams working over Shelley’s previously injured arm.
THE FINAL CONFRONTATION BETWEEN CM PUNK & RICKY STEAMBOAT- PERFECT segment! The fans just ATE THIS UP! They popped for every last one of Steamboat’s spots, and popped for his promo, during which, standing over the defeated Punk, he lectured him, telling him that he is a great wrestler, but his douche bag attitude is holding him back from fulfilling his potential…
Then Generation Next came out and jumped Steamboat, beating him down 4-on-1. They surround Steamboat and give Punk the mic. Now Punk stands over Steamboat, and talks about joining Generation Next… THEN TURNS FACE AND KICKS THEIR ASSES!...
But the numbers game is too much for Punk, despite a valiant effort… until Steamboat recovers, and together Punk and Steamboat clear the ring of Generation Next! I usually don’t rate segments, but this one was 10/10!
THE BRISCOE BROTHERS & SAMOA JOE vs. THE ROTTWEILERS (Homicide, Rocky Romero, & Ricky Reyes) (w/Julius Smokes)- 7.5/10.
The match ends in a DQ after Homicide throws a fireball. The fireball was aimed at Joe, but it hit Mark Briscoe instead. Jay took his brother to the back, allowing the Rottweilers to beat Joe down until Jay comes back to make the save. The numbers game catches up to Jay as well, and the beatdown continues. Homicide gets on the mic and says “There is nobody… and I mean nobody… gonna stop us!”…
LOW KI’S MUSIC PLAYS, AND THE FOUNDING FATHER RETURNS TO ROH! THE CROWD GOES F*CKING NUTS! Ki grabs a mic and the ROH World Title belt. “For everything that I have worked for… for everything that I poured my heart and soul into… how dare you disrespect me… HOW DARE YOU disrespect this title! NOBODY will disrespect this title… except me” KI HITS JOE IN THE FACE WITH THE BELT! The beatdown resumes, as Ki cuts a promo crapping all over the company. Homicide rips the ROH banner off the side of the ring, and drapes it over Joe, recreating the scene from ROH Unscripted when the Prophecy interfered to help Xavier win the ROH World Title from Low Ki.
Looking at it from a purely in-ring perspective, this show pretty good, but nothing special. None of the matches on here are must see, but there is nothing terrible, either. What makes this show worth buying are the great segments between Steamboat and Punk, and the Low Ki return and heel turn. What makes this show an absolute must-buy, though, is the that is marks the end of a very important transition period in ROH’s history.
Thematically, this show, (as well as the series of 7 shows from Reborn: Stage 1 until now), have fit the “Reborn “ concept perfectly. ROH needed a change after TNA pulled its contracted talent (including ROH main eventers ROH Pure Champion AJ Styles and Prophecy leader Christopher Daniels) due to the Rob Feinstein arrest. ROH NEEDED a fresh start. It NEEDED to create new stars VERY quickly… and it managed to do this. After these shows, the company looked MUCH different than it did before.
The Code of Honor was revamped, and Contenders’ Ring system was introduced. Reborn: Stage 1 and Reborn: Stage 2 were ROH’s second ever double shot (two shows in one weekend), which would become the standard scheduling model for ROH in the future (to the point where single shots almost never happen anymore). Top heel stable the Prophecy dissolved, and Maff and Whitmer turned face. CM Punk went from a giant douche bag heel feuding with Ricky Steamboat to turn face. Jimmy Rave joined the Embassy (thus turning heel). Top babyface Homicide went CRAZY and turned heel after he thought he won the World Title in a VERY well done, EXTREMELY close call, including hitting Samoa Joe with a fireball. Former Tag Team Champions Special K started to dissolve, including one member, Hydro, leaving the group and going out for himself under the name Jay Lethal. Austin Aries, Alex Shelley, Roderick Strong, and Jack Evans, most of whom had wrestled less than 3 ROH matches before this, formed Generation Next, and instantly became both stars and top heels, especially Aries and Shelley. One of the hottest tag teams on the indies, the Backseat Boyz, the first team (and only one of two to this day) to hold the ROH and CZW Tag Team Titles simultaneously, broke up, with Kashmere leaving the company, and Trent Acid starting a singles career. Masada left the Carnage Crew, and feuded with the group, and most shockingly at the time, ROH Founding Father Low Ki returned to the company… but returned as a heel, going so far as to spit on the World Title, and joined up with Homicide’s stable, the Rottweilers.