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The show would begin with a number of important individuals dressed in suits and ties. Rob Feinstein (owner of ROH), Jeff Jarrett, Robert Trobich (owner of NWA) & Jeff Gorman (ROH's ring announcer). It would be announced that the National Wrestling Alliance would continue to have a working relationship and that the following titles would be permitted to be defended at Ring of Honor shows based on booking decision by ROH: NWA World Heavyweight Championship, NWA World Tag Team Championship, NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship & NWA World Women's Championship. It wasn't made clear how important these belts would be or how they would be valued in comparison to Ring of Honor's own title belts. It would be confirmed that apart from the World Heavyweight Championship, the other three belts would be defended at upcoming ROH events.
Jeff Jarrett would then speak about the important of securing a television deal and that he was confident in the coming months he and his father would secure a slot being shown to a national audience that would really raise the stock and show the world that ROH was more than just another indie dreamer hoping to capture the American Dream following the collapse of WCW. Jeff would affirm he wouldn't step back inside the ring with his gear on to compete until he knew he had secured the promotion the TV slot it deserved.
* * *
- Match One - Tag Team Match -
| CM Punk & Colt Cabana vs. Joey Matthews & Christian York |
The bout started with Joey Matthews and Christian York trying to use their experience as a team to keep Colt Cabana grounded. They cut the ring in half, isolating Cabana with quick tags and double-team offense, wearing him down with slams and holds while taunting Punk on the apron. The tide turned when Cabana slipped free of a suplex attempt, ducked under a clothesline, and hit a desperate enzuigiri before diving across the ring to tag Punk. The Chicago upstart exploded into the match, peppering both Matthews and York with strikes, and nailing Matthews with a running knee into the corner. York broke up the pin attempt, which led to all four men brawling in the ring. Cabana sent York over the top rope with a clothesline, leaving Punk and Matthews legal. Punk caught Matthews with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, then tagged in Cabana for a double-team finish, Cabana lifting Matthews for a powerbomb as Punk came off the top rope with a dropkick, smashing Matthews down for the emphatic three-count.
Winners: CM Punk & Colt Cabana
In victory Punk and Cabana would look very pleased with themselves with Cabana grabbing a microphone and stating that they were coming for the NWA tag team titles and they were looking to take the belts from The New Heavenly Bodies (Casanova Chris & Vivacious Vito) and spare the fans of irrelevant wrestlers nursing previous glorious belts before they had fallen into a state of disrepair.
* * *
Shane Helms would talk backstage with Pamela Paulshock and speak of the importance of being a role model not just for fans, but for other members of the roster and that putting the Furious Bloody Italians in their place was the most important thing on his mind. And that he was selecting another man who was yet to make their ROH debut, but who was a young man he had a lot of confidence and felt would be a perfect man to have his six. Although we wouldn't be introduced to him, Helms would call him Amazing Red and they would get to see what he was all about - NEXT!
* * *
- Match Two - Tag Team Match -
| Tony Mamaluke & Big Vito vs. Shane Helms & Amazing Red |
The match opened with a clash of styles: Mamaluke and Helms trading crisp chain wrestling on the mat while Red frustrated the larger Vito with his lightning-quick speed. Helms and Red showed surprising chemistry as a new team, tagging in and out to keep the pressure on Mamaluke with double dropkicks and fast-paced sequences. Vito eventually slowed things down, using his size to catch Red out of mid-air and drive him into the canvas with a huge spinebuster. From there, the FBI duo of Vito and Mamaluke took control, working over Red with punishing strikes and submission holds. Just as Red looked to make a comeback, slipping free of Mamaluke’s clutches to hit a desperation tornado DDT, the crowd roared for Helms as he got the hot tag. Helms exploded into the match, hitting a neckbreaker on Mamaluke and a Shining Wizard on Vito that nearly scored the three. But before the referee could finish the count, Little Guido and Tony DeVito stormed the ring. Armed with kendo sticks wrapped in barbed wire, they brutally assaulted Helms, drawing immediate gasps from the crowd. The referee had no choice but to throw the match out, declaring a disqualification.
Winners: Shane Helms & Amazing Red
The beating would continue with Amazing Red being targeted by all four members of the F.B.I. with Helms very much down for the count as he was a bloody mess on the mat. The villians though would flee the ring when out of the back would emerge Bryan Danielson, who was joined by Chris Hero, Paul London & Brian Kendrick who would cause attackers to flee the ring and escape into the coward. There would be a rage in Danielson's eyes that hadn't been seen at all at any point since the creation of his 'Pure Ideals' for Ring of Honor.
* * *
- Match Three - Women's Championship 1st Round Match -
| Allison Danger vs. Sumie Sakai |
Both women came in determined to advance in the tournament. Sakai used her agility to control the pace early, catching Danger with arm drags and a crisp dropkick that sent her opponent to the floor. Danger regrouped and slowed things down, grounding Sakai with hard strikes and targeting the neck with calculated precision. Sakai fought back with a flying crossbody and nearly scored the upset with a quick inside cradle, but Danger powered out and cut her off with a sharp forearm. From there, Danger nailed a swinging neckbreaker and made the cover, scoring the three-count to secure her place in the next round.
Winner: Allison Danger
* * *
- Match Four - Women's Championship 1st Round Match -
| Sara Del Rey vs. Alexis Laree |
The crowd was hot for this first-round clash, as Del Rey’s raw power met Laree’s resilience and fiery underdog style. Del Rey imposed her will early, overpowering Laree with stiff strikes and a crushing backbreaker. Every time Laree tried to build momentum, Del Rey shut her down with sheer strength. But Laree refused to quit, rallying back with a series of forearms and a running clothesline that staggered Del Rey. Escaping a suplex attempt, Laree surprised Del Rey with a sudden roll-up, holding tight for the shocking three-count.
Winner: Alexis Laree
* * *
Low Ki would feature in an angry backstage promo that AJ Styles was a cocky little loudmouth and tonight he was going to put him in his place and show the Philadelphia crowd that he truly was the man who would becoming Ring of Honor's first ever World Champion. Low Ki would also sound annoyed by the introduction of men from Mexico and Japan being invited to take part, as he felt these were the sort of people that would never fully commit to ROH and were nothing more than journeymen looking for a pay day. Whether people like him or not, he was someone the fans should be chanting for and one way or another he would win claim their support.
* * *
- Match Five - Women's Championship 1st Round Match -
| Mercedes Martinez vs. Trinity |
Mercedes wasted no time showing why she’s one of the most feared competitors in the field. From the opening bell she blitzed Trinity with stiff strikes, a crushing spinebuster, and a brutal fisherman’s buster. The referee counted the three at just ninety seconds, leaving no doubt that Mercedes Martinez was here to make a statement.
Winner: Mercedes Martinez
After such exclamation point victory Mercedes would say just two words 'Double Champion!' before heading towards the back with a smug look across her face.
* * *
- Main Event - ROH World Championship 1st Round Match -
| AJ Styles vs. Low Ki |
In a bout that lived up to every bit of its main event billing, AJ Styles and Low Ki put on a breathtaking display of athleticism. From the start, the pace was blistering, AJ’s crisp dropkicks and lightning counters meeting Low Ki’s stiff kicks and explosive aerial attacks. The crowd erupted as both men traded reversals, each barely escaping the other’s signature offense. AJ nearly sealed the win with a springboard Spiral Tap, but Low Ki rolled clear at the last moment. Ki answered back with a devastating flurry of strikes, capping it off with the Ki Krusher ‘99 that planted AJ in the center of the ring. Exhausted but determined, Low Ki draped an arm across AJ’s chest for the hard-fought three-count.
Winner: Low Ki
As Low Ki celebrated in the win, one thing that would be noticed was that Samoa Joe was standing on the top of the entrance ramp and had a smug grin on his face and was clapping his hands and offering silent praise for Low Ki.
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