ROH Presents Race To The Top Tournament Night 2
New Alhambra Arena. Phillidelphia, PA.
September 20th 2008. 7:30 P.M
Race To The Top Tournament: Block A Finals
Delirious Vs. Chuck Taylor
Taylor is mega over in PA. This one is pure comedy gold. Delirious and Taylor lock up to start off the match and chain wrestle for the opening minutes. Taylor catches Delirious going for a Hurricanrana and throws him into the turnbuckles for a powerbomb. Delirious stumbles forward as Taylor goes for the Awful Waffle, but Delirious slides back into a schoolboy for 2. Delirious hits a leg lariat then drags Taylor over to the corner. Delirious climbs up high and goes for Shadows Over Hell, but Taylor gets to his feet and hits a running big boot. Delirious flips to the mat, which allows Taylor to pick him up and hit the Awful Waffle for the win.
Winner: Chuck Taylor(7:56)
Post match, Chuck Taylor raises his arm in victory. Delirious extends his hand for a handshake but Taylor leaves Delirious high and dry. Taylor gets on the microphone and proclaims himself the winner of the match and future winner of the tournament.
Race To The Top Tournament Block B Finals:
El Generico Vs. Kenny Omega
Both of these men put it all in the ring. Generico and Omega start off with some impressive high impact moves, each one trying to out do the other to prove they belong. Omega goes for the Aoi Shoudou early on in the match but Generico manages to roll out from behind and hit a bulldog on Omega. Generico goes for the Brainbustah~! but Omega rolls out and rolls Generico up from behind with a bridge but Generico manages to escape. Omega goes for the Dragon Rush Suplex but Generico pushes him into the corner and hits the running Yakuza. Omega stumbles forward and is hit the the Brainbustah~, which does the job.
Winner: El Generico(8:04)
Generico pulls Omega to his feet and extends his hand, which Omega accepts.
Claudio's Farewell Address:
Claudio Castagnoli makes his way out to the ring with a saddened look on his face. Claudio raises his arms which elicits a "Hey!" from the crowd. The crowd breaks out in a "Please Don't Go!" chant. Claudio grabs a microphone and soaks in the environment. Claudio states he has been in Ring Of Honor for 3 years, and throughout all the time he has been here, he has been told he has had "it". He says that he has been unable to prove it to himself, and that he is dissapointed in himself because of it. Claudio says that althought his time in Ring Of Honor has come to an end, you will be seeing him around. The crowd awaits his response, but he takes off his suit jacket and dress shirt to reveal a Sweet And Sour Inc T-Shirt! Claudio begins to laugh as the crowd begins to boo mercilessly. Claudio says he is done in ROH, but his time in SNS is just beginning. He says that he is a buisness man through and through, and he has had no success since aligning with the fans. Claudio says that some may say that he has sold out and that he hates SNS. He says that they betrayed him, but he has seen the light. Larry Sweeney comes out from the back with a huge smile on his face. Sweeney hopes in the ring and raises Claudio's arm high into the air and announces Claudio will be taking Tank Toland's spot in tonights 4-on-4 tag team match. Claudio and Sweeney go to the stage, where the rest of SNS have gathered, except Chris Hero.
Race To The Top Tournament Block C Finals:
Jimmy Jacobs Vs. The Necro Butcher
Necro starts out the match running at Jimmy Jacobs, but just as he does, he stops and looks at Jacobs. Necro takes a step back at the leader of the AOTF. Necro then takes a step back, looks at Jacobs and leaves the ring. Jacobs stands confused as the ref counts to 10.
Winner: Jimmy Jacobs(1:20)
Post match, Necro goes to the back, Jimmy follows.
Race To The Top Tournament Block D Finals:
Kevin Steen Vs. Erick Stevens
Steen and Stevens just brutalize each other here. Steen tries for the Package Piledriver early on, but Stevens managed to reverse and hit sick lariat. Stevens maintained control for the majoirty of the match until he missed a running spear into the corner, sending him into the ring post. Steen takes advantage for a few minutes before the ending stretch comes, which is awesome. Steen hits the Steenalizer for 2. Stevens hits a release German for 2. Stevens goes for the Doctor Bomb but Steen manages to hit an STO for 2. Steen goes up top for a Steenton Bomb but Stevens moves out of the way and hits a massive Belly-To-Belly upon both men reaching their feet. Steen manages to counter a Doctor Bomb into a small package for the win.
Winner: Kevin Steen(10:02)
Post match, Steen and Stevens shake hands as Steen makes the belt motion around his waste, going to the back. Stevens shakes his head in disappointment as he walks to the back after Steen.
Semi-Final Match
El Generico Vs. Chuck Taylor
This one was all kinds of awesome. Taylor and Generico do some awesome stuff on the mat before Generico picks up the momentum, knocking Taylor to the outside, then hitting a beautiful Moonsault from the top rope to the outside. Generico throws Taylor back in and attempts a cover, but only gets 2. Generico takes Taylor up but Taylor hits an overhead belly-to-belly suplex out of no where! Generico curls up as the ref begins a 10 count. Both men get to their feet at 7 as Taylor takes control. Taylor goes for a Backcracker but Generico escapes. Taylor backs up into the corner as Generico hits a running Yakuza! Generico takes him up for the Brainbustah~! but Taylor alls behind and takes Generico up for the Awful Waffle! Taylor hits it and covers but only gets 2.999!! Taylor can't believe it, because no one kicks out of the Awful Waffle. Taylor takes Generico up again but Generico rolls through. Taylor turns around and Generico hits a Brainbustah~! out of no where! Generico covers and gets the win!
Winner: El Generico(15:20)
Post match, Generico celebrates, holding his head in pain from the Awful Waffle. Taylor leaves the ring frustrated, almost running to the back.
Semi-Final Match: Kevin Steen Vs. Jimmy Jacobs
Jacobs comes out still confused from the previous events. Steen goes to work on Jacobs in the early goings of this match. Jacobs manages to counter the Steenalizer into a DDT for 2. Jacobs begins to dictate the pace manically. Just as Jacobs sets up for the Contra Code, Steen pushes him to the outside. The ref gets to 6 before Jacobs re-enters. Steen goes to take him up but Jacobs rolls back into a sunset flip for 2. Jacobs takes Steen up, but Steen nails Jacobs with a powerbomb! Steen quickly takes Jacobs up and hits the Steenalizer! Steen is feeling momentum as he goes up to the top rope and leaps off for the Steenton Bomb but Jacobs manages to get his knees up. Jacobs goes for the Contra Code but Steen catches him coming back, puts him on the ground and quickly hits a package piledriver for the win!
Winner: Kevin Steen(14:02)
Post match, Generico comes out on the ramp and see's his tag team partner and future opponent.
Team ROH comes to the ring. Sweet and Sour come to the ring as Sweeney announces Eddie Edwards can't be here tonight, so Jigsaw will be his replacement. Claudio, Jigsaw and Pearce come out as Hero comes out last, sort of isolated.
$10,000 Annual Tag Team Match: The Briscoes, Austin Aries and Bryan Danielson Vs. Claudio Castagnoli, Chris Hero, Jigsaw and Adam Pearce
M. Briscoe starts things off here with Jigsaw. Mark gets the upperhand prior to Hero getting the tag and dominating the poor Briscoe. Briscoe eventually manages to make the Hot tag to Aries. Aries unloads but Claudio stops the momentum and goes to work on Austin. Austin gets isolated for the majority of the match before Dragonson gets the tag. Dragon cleans house before Jigsaw hits a missile dropkick to the back of Dragon's head. Dragon goes down and Jigsaw covers for 2. Jigsaw tags in Hero as Hero comes in and begins to beat down on Dragon. Dragon won't have it as he fights back. Claudio comes in the ring and looks at Hero and smiles. Hero doesn't have much emotion though. Claudio grabs Drago in a full nelson and tells Hero to Dragon. Hero runs with a roaring elbow but Dragon ducks as Hero hits Claudio! Hero looks down at Claudio as Dragon hits the Dragon Suplex on Hero, Aries distracting the rest of the team as Dragon gets the win!
Winners: Austin Aries, Bryan Danielson, Mark Briscoe and Jay Briscoe(17:02)
Post match, Larry Sweeney tells Hero if he messes up one more time, he is out of Sweet and Sour. Claudio shoves Hero as Hero is left alone in the ring.
Race To The Top Tournament Finals: El Generico Vs. Kevin Steen
Prior to the match, the two tag team partners shake hands. This one starts off very technically sound, as the two exchange holds on the mat, reluctant to hurt one another before the tag title match next weekend. Finally, Steen breaks the ice and begins pounding away on Generico. Genrico manages to fight back and the two begin to brawl. Generico hits a beautiful dive to the floor, taking Steen down. Generico manages to maintain control for the next couple of minutes before he misses a running Yakuza and walks into a Powerbomb. Steen goes up and hits the Steenton Bomb, but Generico kicks out! Steen begins to work on the lower midsection of Generico over the next couple of minutes. Steen tries for the Sharp Shooter but Generico pushes him out of the way and into the ropes. Steen comes back as Generico takes Steen down into a small package but only manages to get a 2 count. Exhaustion obvious, Generico throws Steen into the ropes. He takes a while but manages to hit the running Yakuza. Generico hits the Brainbustah~! but Steen kicks out! Generico is in disbelief has he takes Steen up again, but Steen falls back, kicks Generico in the midsection and hits the Package Piledriver! He covers, but it has taken him too long as Generico manages to kick out at the last second! Steen tries for the Sharp Shooter and gets it locked in! Generico struggles and manages to reach the ropes after a long struggle! Steen tries to re-apply the hold but Generico shoves him into the turnbuckle. Generico runs for a Yakuza, but Steen moves out of the way and hits a Lariat! Generico is turned inside out as Steen climbs up, but Generico digs deep down and climbs to the second rope and delivers a BRAINBUSTAH~! to the top turnbuckle on Steen! Generico covers and wins the Race To The Top Tournament!
Winner: El Generico(22:55)
Post match, Generico and Steen have an awkward moment as Steen is visibly angry he couldn't get the job done. Generico extends his hand and Steen accepts, raising Generico's hand in mid air. Steen's look of jealousy is apparent, but Generico celebrates as the show ends.
