ROH DVD Review: Night of the Butcher (Remastered) - Part One

It's time for yet another installment in our weekly reviews of RING OF HONOR DEE-VEE-DEEZ! This week we bring you "Night of the Butcher (Remastered)" from December 7th, 2002. Ironically this DVD features the first ever ROH appearance of Colt Cabana, while this weekend in Chicago Ridge he'll be making his LAST appearance for ROH. Given the title and the creepy horrorcore hip-hop music that plays for the opening title (all I can make out for sure is "they trembling... you're getting pistol whipped, when that trouble starts") I'm surprised ROH didn't do this as a Halloween show. Nonetheless this does fulfill the promise made during Scramble Madness that Carnage Crew would face the team of Homicide and Abdullah the Butcher at the next show. If you're not familiar with "Abby" you can check out this link from Obsessed With Wrestling, or remember these three pertinent facts: Abdullah has been competing since 1958 and has won numerous titles, he is considered to be one of the originators of HARDCORE, and his weapon of choice is a fork right to your forehead - that is if he's not serving it to you with a plate at Abdullah the Butcher's House of Ribs & Chinese Food. One of these days I'm going to Atlanta just to say I had chinese at Abdullah the Butcher's restaurant. He's reputed to be very personable with guests, it's only his opponents in the ring who need to be trembling.

We open with Hit Squad backstage checking to make sure they're ready for tonight. Divine & Storm arrive to give them dap and appear to be accompanied by TNA (and almost ECW) star TRINITY of all people. They all leave to go workout and stretch together, but following not far behind them are the pillheads from Special K. They hit the lockerroom, throw all the bags out, start flashing the lights and dancing around - one member appears to be ingesting some clear liquid but we won't go into detail about that. The Code of Honor rules scroll down the screen along with footage of ROH highspots, all while the horrorcore hip-hop plays in the background. The footage ends with a shot of Abby repeatedly stabbing a wrestler in the head with a fork.

Before we can ponder that too long Michael Shane cuts a promo. "There's nothing better than when a defeated man has to look up in my eye and shake my hand. Jeremy Lopez unfortunately for you that's your fate tonight. You come with impressive credentials, I can even say you're pretty damn good, but I guarantee you are not better than me. 2002 was a great year for Michael Shane. I pinned Spanky 1-2-3 to end our feud, I carried that Paul London to a match of the year, but 2002 is nothing compared to what I'll do in 2003. I've learned something, everybody has their cliques, Rudy Boy and his little students, Christopher Daniels and his Prophecy, and the New York guys, and so on and so on. I try to associate myself with a little chump but he didn't cut the mustard, at Scramble Madness he lost the street fight so he's out. I need to associate myself with winners and I will. Nothing will stop my destiny of becoming champion in 2003."

Hit Squad and Divine Storm return to see Special K partying in the lockerroom and all their bags thrown around. "You're freakin' drug addicts, not wrestlers!" Hit Suqad tell them to get out before they get thrown out the hard way. Time for our first match!

* Jeremy Lopez v. Michael Shane

Shane offers Lopez a handshake and we're underway. Things start off slow with Michael Shane working the wristlock, but Lopez gets an armdrag takedown and works over Shane's arm. Shane gets to the ropes and forces the break. Shane goes behind Lopez and gets him down to the canvas, they trade positions a couple of times, and back to their feet with a full nelson, and Shane finally has to bail outside of the ring for a breather. Lopez offers him a second handshake, Shane is pissed now and refuses, Lopez shrugs it off. Shane catches Lopez with a side headlock and falls to a knee, Lopez tries to shoot him off the ropes but Shane keeps the headlock on. Lopez succeeds on the second try, hits a boot and a neckbreaker and gets 2. Punches in the corner but Shane reverses for some of his own. Shane tries to float over in the corner but Lopez pulls up, waits, and then nails Shane with an elbow. Lopez tries to baseball slide him on the outside but Shane steps out of the way. Both back in the ring, Shane nails a back suplex and gives the double finger to the ROH crowd. Delayed vertical suplex gets 2. Boot choke in the corner before the ref counts 4. Snapmare and chinlock by Shane. Shane wants a submission but Lopez won't tap out. Back to their feet, crucifix leads to a crossface on Shane. Now it's Shane who won't tap, hooking the ropes with his feet for the break. To their feet, boot to the gut, backbreaker drop by Shane and the count is 2 even though he argues it was 3. Knee to the back and another chinlock on Lopez, the crowd tries to will the babyface Lopez to his feet, there's a weird camera fade transition and we don't see it but suddenly Lopez is on offense with clotheslines and the ten punches in the corner. Shane reverses a whip but eats a boot, Lopez hits a double underhook DDT and a powerbomb but can't get the 3. Lopez tries to hit his finisher but Shane counters for Sweet Chin Music, faking it the first time, hitting it the second, but it's still not 3. Shane signals for a picture perfect elbow off the top but Lopez knocks him down and hooks him for a superplex. Shane fights out, knocks him off, delivers the elbow and gets the pin. WINNER: MICHAEL SHANE. Not a super stellar match to open the show, but a very solid outing overall, particularly for Shane.

* 'Classic' Colt Cabana v. CM Punk

We may see this match in ECW again in the near future. Punk and Cabana start off fast, crisscross, Japanese armdrag by Cabana takes Punk off his feet. The announcers put over the two as already having an established rivalry and jealousy of each other. Armdrags are tradeded, Cabana takes Punk off his feet, sets him up for a powerbomb, Punk counters and Cabana lands on his feet. Punk signals to the crowd and gets them to start clapping, the announcers put over his straightedge lifestyle, then Punk holds up a hand for the test of strength. Punk gets it and starts knocking Cabana down with headbutts and kicks, followed by a 'rana, Cabana charges him but Punk's on the top rope with the arm and does double the old school for the price (he walks the whole way, not just half like Undertaker). Punk continues to work the arm and then gives Cabana a series of facewashes worthy of Samoa Joe. Punk hits the ropes but Cabana gets up and catches him coming with a clothesline to the outside. On the apron Cabana jumps to the second rope and hits an Asai moonsault so pretty they give us a replay. Cabana throws Punk back in, climbs to the top, and nails Punk with a frogsplash. 2 count. Now Cabana with heatbutts to CM Punk's back, a knife edge chop, and eventually Cabana nails a snap suplex and covers Punk for 2. More chops and punches by Cabana. Running knee strike by Cabana. The announcers put over how much respect the Rec Center is giving Cabana even though he's never been here before. Cabana tries to rip Punk out of the corner but he hits a European uppercut and a top rope crossbody for 2. "CM Punk is becoming kind of a regular star here" - damn straight. Punk with a double underhook and another 2 count. The announcers put over the 'Classic' nickname as a response to Punk's Pepsi tattoo, i.e. Classic Coke. Cabana hits a fisherman buster and rolls over for the pin but only gets 2. Cabana works over the back, trying to set up the Colt 45, Punk hits a neckbreaker to backbreaker, charges the ropes, and Cabana takes his head off with a clothesline. Hooks the leg, 2 count only. Cabana misses the clothesline and Punk nails a devestating 'rana from behind. Punk crawls over selling the back and gets 2. Both get up slow, Punk and Cabana trade chops to a big series of WOOS, Cabana gets psyched up but Punk knocks him down and gets 2. Punk blocks a roll-up attempt, hits a shining wizard, 2.5. Both men up slow again to a round of applause. Cabana whipped off the ropes, counters, Cabana calls for the Colt 45, Punk rolls through, Cabana tries a second time, gets out, third try he connects and gets the three count. WINNER: COLT CABANA.

Announcers: "He goes to 1-0, Punk goes to 0-2! Are they going to pull Punk's booking for Decembet 28th and give it to Colt?" Punk is in disbelief that he lost but comes over to shake Cabana's hand. Gary Michael Capetta hits the ring. "December 28th ROH returns to Philadelphia and we've signed a rematch for that night between the two of you. This is going to be a match with more on the line than you've ever had before. Our one year anniversary is coming up. We bring in the top talent but there are limits, and you both fly in from Chicago. The winner of the match will win a contract with Ring of Honor and will be flown in for every show, and the other guy will have to drive in." Punk: "That's fine, a rematch on the 28th is fine with me, in all honesty Cabana one hell of a talent just like everybody in that lockerroom, and when not if I beat you on the 28th I'll forfeit my plane ticket for the gas money so we can both drive in." Cabana: "Punk I can't wait 'til the 28th, but I'll tell you what, I want to fly baby, travelling sucks, I want those friggin' plane tickets!"

* Paul London v. EZ Money (#1 Contender's Trophy Tournament Match)

Handshake to start. AJ Styles has given up the trophy because he's taking a title shot tonight against Xavier. Money starts with wrstilock, London flips out and reverses, the two duck each other's kicks, London with a one count, Money sweps the legs and the two get back to their feet to applause. Money drops down and does a statue pose. London with the collar and elbow, Money pushes him into the corner, ref calls for the break, London reverses with punches, Money goes for the whip, London ducks, but Money turns around into a reverse Boston crab pendulum hold. London is dropped and Money gets a two count. London floats over on a whip, hooks the ropes to avoid Money, Money comes over and hits the Money Clip. Two count follows. Money hooks a leglock and armbar trying for a submission, lets go of it, tries to pull London up, London fights out but gets monkeyflipped, Money charges him in the corner but London gets out of the way and then dropkicks him right into the turnbuckle. Money rolls out for a breather. London to the top, the fans chant "PLEASE DON'T DIE" and he hits a somersault plancha dive onto Money all the way out in the aisleway. London throws him back in, head scissors takeover, spinning heel kick and a 2. Money counters London and nails an driver for two. European uppercut. London responds with a boot. Money whips him off, hooks London, nails the EZ driver and it's another two count. London nails an enzuguiri and Money sells the hell out of it falling dow. Second rope moonsault by London misses. Money hits a backspring elbow better than any Carlito ever has, kicks London in the gut, London flips out of a suplex and goes for a kick, Money catches him and hits a blue thunder driver for 2. London with a faceplant DDT and a 3 count out of nowhere! WINNER AND ADVANCING IN THE #1 CONTENDER'S TOURNAMENT: PAUL LONDON. Very solid match between these two, in all honesty almost too short, I could have watched this for five more minutes.

* Chad Collyer v. American Dragon (#1 Contender's Trophy Tournament Match)

The winner of this match will go on to face Paul London later in the evening for the trophy. This is also Chad Collyer's first ever match in ROH - it's amazing the names and reputations all of the guys on this DVD have made over the last five years. Handshake to start, show of strength broken, collar and elbow into a side headklock. Announcers: "Collyer had a little bit of a run in WWE but they want guys who can cut promos, not wrestle, and he may not be the best promo but he's one hell of a wrestler." Collyer knocks Dragon to the canvas and works over the arm and wrist, Dragon reverses it to a side headlock and hits palm strikes to the forehead. Collyer reverses, Dragon counters with an armdrag, and we have a respectful stalemate between the two. They lock hands again, Collyer with the leg trip takedown, he works the arm and flips it with his body, and Dragon gets up slow selling the pain. Collyer and Danielson with a test of strength again, Collyer gets caught in a wristlock by Danielson, he drops the leg on it and gets on top of Collyer in what looks like a pin but the camera's on the wrong side to see. Back to their feet, Dragon with a shoulderblock, Collyer gets up and shakes it off. Collyer with another leg takedown and he gets the North-South, back to their feet. they're in the ropes and the ref calls for a clean break. Collar and elbow into a full nelson by Dragon. Collyer reverses it into one of his own. Danielson reverses it again, let's go for a second, gets him right back in it, arm drag toss off and both men are on their feet again. Danielson appears to have a triangle choke on Collyer, he pounds on Collyer's back, Collyer gets free and gets the headlock. To their feet, snapmare, counter, snapmare, wristlock, headlock, Collyer breaks free, deep arm drag and a cross armbreaker. Dragon tries to grab the head to break free and the ref warns him to watch the hair. Dragon tries to power him up and can't but it's still enough for him to escape. Collyer rolls out for a breather and the two start exchanging blows on the outside. Both men back in, double underhook suplex by Collyer, Dragon rolls out to the floor selling his knee. Dragon rolls back in and Collyer goes right for that left knee, following with a stepover toehold into a scissor stomp. He appears to be looking for a crab, Dragon tries to block, Collyer grabs the arm to stretch him out then goes back to the knee. Dragon finally kicks him in the face to break free. Collyer trips him and goes right back to Dragon's left leg. Dragon tries to chop him in the chest to break free. Dragon ends up with his shoulders to the mat and the ref counts 2. Dragon gets the ropes for a break. Collyer goes for the leg again, Dragon tries to break out with closed fists even though the ref warns him about it. it works and Dragon goes for European uppercuts but Collyer knocks him down again and hits the hamstring pull. Collyer to the leg AGAIN and Dragon counters with an enzuguiri and a reverse boot to the chest. To their feet, Dragon with three European uppercuts, whip into a stiff clothesline, he only gets a one count. Headbutt. Running knee appears to hurt Dragon more than it did Collyer. Dragon with a chop, Collyer with a boot, Dragon with a german suplex for 2. Backslide by Collyer gets 2. Announcers put over Collyer's similarities to Dean Malenko. Series of standing switches, Collyer goes for a cloverleaf, Dragon reverses it for a two count. Collyer and Dragon with elbows to the head and chops to the chest. Collyer gets a modified powerbomb for two and goes for the cloverleaf again, this time he gets it and Dragon screams in pain. Dragon calls for the ropes and manages to get one just by the fingertips. Both men to the ropes, Dragon throws Collyer off, jumps off, standing switches, dragon suplex, three count! WINNER AND ADVANCING IN THE #1 CONTENDER'S TOURNAMENT: AMERICAN DRAGON.

We'll be back later with PART TWO of this review so please... stay tuned!!