Review for Sign of Dishonor
The set up is kind of different as they cut all non CM Punk related promos and edit a couple of matches to fit it all on the disc.
We start off with CM Punk (it is the Summer of Punk, remember) and he cuts a great promo about how awesome he is. He then decides to give the ultimate slap in the face to ROH and the fans he has contempt for by signing his WWE contract on top of the ROH World Championship. Gibson comes out and tries to attack Punk, who runs out of the ring and tries to make his way to the back only to be stopped by Christopher Daniels, who attacks him and forces him to leave through the crowd.
And then we start with the actual matches.
Jay Lethal & Dixie vs. The Heartbreak Express
Yeah, it's those FIP guys who I cannot understand how anyone had any love for. Apparently the match is so bad they cut a lot of it out when they have two 'technical difficulty' moments to build up the coming of Matt Hardy. Lethal wins with a Dragon Suplex.
* 1/4. Even edited this match was bad. Thank god the HBX never popped up again in ROH
Roderick Strong vs. Azrieal
They try pushing Az as the next Strong, who was a breakout star from last year. They are wrong. After an average match Strong makes Az tap. But what happens after the match is more entertaining as Alex Shelley comes out of the crowd and Shellshock's Roddy. The war with Gen Next still rages on
** 3/4
World Tag Team Title Match: BJ Whitmer & Jimmy Jacobs (c) vs. Lacey's Angels (Cheech & Deranged)
I guess Izzy is gone as second stringer Cheech is thrown in the match, making an average team below average. Cheech really drags this match down, and Lacey's Angels get way too much offence in. Luckily BJ & Jacobs end things with the Doomsday Rana and walk away with the belts.
** 1/4. And it's all Lacey's Angels fault. They cannot disappear fast enough from the promotion.
AJ Styles vs. Jimmy Rave
Before the match, in a move that no one cares about, the OCK quit the Embassy. Luckily it's only in highlight form. After this the match begins. Now AJ hates Rave for his cheating his way to victory at the 3rd Anniversary Show Part 2 and for claiming AJ stole his finisher, which was originally the 'Rave Clash'. Last card Nana hired Petey Williams to soften up AJ. But it does no good as, after a pretty good match, Styles eventually gets a measure of revenge by pinning Rave. However the feud is not over as a postmatch beatdown on Styles commences.
***1/4. Enjoyable match, and the best one on a pretty bland card so far, and it looks like things aren't going to get any better as...
Nigel McGuinness vs. Vordell Walker
They try to build up Walker, but I think deep down inside Gabe realizes this is a lost cause (unlike with Az, whom it takes him *much* longer to realize the crowd will never like). This match was so bad they edited it as well. Nigel wins, mercifully. And I believe Walker will only be heard from one more time in the ROH squared circle after this.
**. I can't imagine how bad it was unedited.
Next up, oh thank god this one can't possibly suck
4 Corners Survival: Samoa Joe vs. Homicide vs. James Gibson vs. Austin Aries
Here we have four men who were/would be World Champion. Aries will fight Joe at the next card for Joe's Pure Title, and he already has two victories in championship matches with Joe. Gibson and Homicide hate one another from Homicide low blowing Gibson at the Future is Now card. And Joe and Homicide, well, you know.
This is a great match from start to finish. Possibly the best 4 corners survival ever. I mean it is awesome. Ending comes with Aries pinning Joe, then getting attacked by Shelley after the match.
***3/4. And the card is starting to be salvaged.
Colt Cabana vs. Christopher Daniels
Now Punk signed Cabana into this match to soften up Daniels for him, which Cabana was not wild about since he wanted to further his own feud with Nigel. But Cabana is a trooper, and he and Daniels provide us with an excellent match. But eventually Punk hits ringside, and tries to interfere in the match, only to have Cabana tell him to back off. Then, when the ref is distracted, Punk tries to nail Daniels with a chain, only to hit Cabana instead, resulting in the pinfall victory for the returning Fallen Angel
*** 1/2.
And on to the finale. Punk postures a lot, calls out several guys who aren't in back tonight, then announces he'll just be leaving since no one will face him. This brings out Mick Foley, who has a hate for Punk for being, well, a punk. After a verbal exchange between the two Punk eventually says there's one guy he wants to beat, one who pinned him in a tag match at Back to Basics: Jay Lethal
World Championship Match: CM Punk (c) vs. Jay Lethal.
Definitely Jay's best match to date. Punk is so great in that ring as well. Jay has a great advantage early on, but Punk gets back into things and starts dominating Jay. Joe comes out for encouragement, which helps Jay get the advantage back, but the young gun is eventually overpowered and outclassed. Punk taunts Joe by giving Jay a muscle buster then makes him tap in the choke.
****. Matches and promos like this are why the Summer of Punk is still talked about.
Post match action has Foley saying he talked to Vince and Punk had better defend the title again tomorrow or he'll be in OVW hell for the next year. Foley and Joe then shake hands, ending their feud.
Overall rating of the card: *** 1/4. Honestly, the only saving graces on the card are the 4 corner's survival and Punk, Punk, glorious Punk. It's worth buying, but not at top dollar.
