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SECOND ROH HOMECOMING 2012 LIVE REPORT: CHIKARA INVASION AND MUCH MORE

By Joshua Higham on 2012-01-21 01:07:57
Ring of Honor returned to the National Guard Armory in Northeast Philadelphia tonight for “Homecoming 2012,” the first ROH event held there since the Respect is Earned II pay per view taping in June 2008.

At the start of the show, Bobby Cruise announced that Eddie Edwards was not medically cleared to wrestle tonight. Edwards came out to explain that he was not a fan of this particular doctor.

Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team vs Future Shock. Paul Turner is your referee. Prior to the bell, WGTT cut the typical “hate the city you’re in to build heat” promo. After Cole was hit by an inadvertent forearm from O’Reilly, he was pinned after a double powerbomb.

"Right Leg" Andy Ridge vs. Grizzly Redwood vs. Tommaso Ciampa w/ Embassy Limited vs. Mike Bennett. Bryce Remsburg is your referee. Ciampa and Bennett teamed up for most of the match to beatdown on Ridge and Redwood before going after each other. Ciampa wins after hitting Project Ciampa on Redwood.

Steve Corino came out to talk about his injured shoulder and how he finally won the battle for respect. Kevin Steen—whose amazing entrance intro is now a wolf being shot—came out saying that Corino shouldn’t have to earn respect especially from someone like Cornette, who Steen said 1. ran a hick company in hick towns until it went broke; 2. managed Vader in a failed run in New York; 3. slapped Santino; and 4. threatened a former coworker with death. Steen then said Corino was respected when he was stabbing people with forks. Steen opened his arms, telling Corino to “hit me or hug me, but do something.” Corino just leaves, and Kenny King comes out with Rhett Titus on crutches.

Kevin Steen vs Kenny King w/ Rhett Titus. Paul Turner is your referee. Steen wins with an F5 after teasing the package piledriver. After the match, Steen put Titus in the sharpshooter after attacking his injured knee.

Michael Elgin w/ Truth Martini vs Chris Hero. Todd Sinclair Is your referee. Before the bell, Shane Hagadorn came down to get in Hero's corner to "watch out for Martini." Hero told Hagadorn to return to the back, because he needed to do this himself. Just before the time limit expired, Elgin hit his powerbomb combo to get the win. Postmatch, Hagadorn congratulated Hero on doing it himself, claiming that he was the reason for the Kings of Wrestling's success and that nobody wants Hero anymore. Shane got KOed by an elbow for his trouble.

Intermission.

Roderick Strong comes out wanting Paul Turner to award him the match via forfeit. Adam Cole comes to the ring and says that he respects Eddie Edwards and wants to take his spot in the no holds barred match. Truth takes the mic, saying that with no holds barred, Cole would basically be in a handicap because Truth would interfere liberally. For that, Truth eats a superkick, and the match begins.

No Holds Barred: Roderick Strong vs Adam Cole. Paul Turner is your referee. A back and forth match with multiple chairs being destroyed. Michael Elgin comes down to interfere but is ran off by Eddie Edwards. Strong finally pins Cole after a suplex back breaker. A standing ovation for Cole after the match. I wouldn’t say he was “made” tonight, but he was most definitely elevated. An atmosphere very reminiscent, for me at least, of Take No Prisoners in 2008 where Tyler Black was elevated after an amazing match against Nigel McGuinness.

Proving Ground: The Briscoes (ROH World Tag Team Champions) vs Jigsaw and Hallowicked. Bryce Remsburg is your referee. During the match, the Briscoes (didn’t notice which one) had untied a portion of Hallowicked’s mask and tied him to the bottom rope and then double stomped Jigsaw through a table. This brought out Mike Quackenbush. Quack and Cary Silkin exchanged words at ringside as Fire Ant, Soldier Ant, Green Ant, Saturyne, Dasher Hatfield, Frightmare, and Ultramantis Black all came out and surrounded the ring. As Jay went after Saturyne and was distracted by Dasher Hatfield and Fire Ant, Mark got caught by Jigsaw with a rollup.

After the match, the Briscoes grabbed a mic that Jigsaw and Hallowicked would receive their title shot in Chicago in April. Ultramantis Black then cut a promo saying that since the Briscoes don’t respect the mask, which is sacred to the Chikara roster, Chikara will take what’s sacred to the Briscoes the ROH Tag Titles.

ROH World Championship: Davey Richards (ROH World Champion) vs Jay Lethal (ROH Television Champion). Todd Sinclair is your referee. An excellent back and forth match with the crowd doing the dueling chants thing. Roderick Strong comes out to attempt to distract Jay Lethal, but gets attacked for his troubles. Davey gets the win after his series of kicks. Davey thanks the crowd for supporting ROH and challenges Lethal for a rematch at a television taping soon.

Notes and thoughts:

A Really excellent second half, propelling a good show into a great show. I think this is the first ROH show I’ve been to that clocked in at exactly 3 hours.

As a Chikara fan, the “invasion” was incredible to see, but there were definitely some detractors in the crowd. It was interesting to see them set an angle for a show three months away in a different city, but it makes me want to go to Chicago for that doubleheader.

The Briscoes and Chris Hero did a preshow signing and photo session.

Former WWE star Gene Snitsky was in attendance.

Estimated crowd size: 750-800. No return date was announced.

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