[1996] Ring of Honor: Pure

08.04.1996 - Ring of Honor announces debut event + several wrestlers promoted
    The Flagstaff, in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, will be the home of ROH’s first event. The Era of Honor Begins is going to be held at August 13th and there are several wrestlers already announced for the show, in a mix containing established names and hot prospects of the wrestling business. Here’s the full list of promoted names thus far:
    Brad Armstrong
    Doug Gilbert
    Doug Williams
    El Puerto Ricano
    Fit Finlay
    Lance Storm
    Rick Martel
    Rey Bucanero
    Rob Van Dam, with Missy Hyatt
    Super Crazy.

08.06.1996 - Name behind Ring of Honor revealed + stars of the past in the creative team
    A mere week away from the official in-ring birth of ROH, there’s the confirmation: Harley Race is the owner and the name behind the creation of the promotion. To add to the mix, Dave Meltzer reported that ‘The King’ has invested 100.000$ in Ring of Honor.
    With a small budget, it is unlikely that the company will aim to reach a big level soon, however, the backstage team features some powerful names. Harley Race himself will work as a road agent, but he won’t be alone, as he’s joined by the likes of former British Bulldogs’ Dynamite Kid and Jim Crockett Promotion’s alumni Mike Graham.

Brad Armstrong vs. ‘The Model’ Rick Martel

Rob Van Dam (w/ Missy Hyatt) vs. The Great Sasuke [Michinoku Pro]

Doug Gilbert vs. Michael Modest

Doug Williams vs. Lance Storm

El Puerto Ricano & Super Crazy vs. Rey Bucanero & Shiryu [Michinoku Pro]

Dark Match: Chris Harris vs. Christopher Daniels
No commentary, no video for this bout. Just two wrestlers and a black and red mat. However, the 300 fans present at The Flagstaff got to witness a clash of styles between the hungry young up-and-comers that will forever go down as the first match in Ring of Honor’s history. Far from a classic, it was a solid showcase with both being given time to work. The match ended with an impressive Double Springboard Moonsault by Daniels. Both shook hands respectfully at the end.
Result: Daniels def. Harris - 9:53
Rating: 34




1. El Puerto Ricano & Super Crazy vs. Rey Bucanero & Shiryu [M-Pro]
To prove that ROH is all or very much about in-ring wrestling, the first show kicked off with action between the ropes… and over the ropes. A crazy international showdown between two teams of four flyers under 25 years of age, where Super Crazy and Shiryu shined particularly bright.
In fact, the masked man of Kai En Tai scored the pinfall win with a great Bridging Dragon Suplex on El Puerto Ricano. The match will be remembered, however, by a minor, although nasty, injury, as Super Crazy’s eye popped off its socket after a miscalculated Springboard Lariat by Bucanero, who couldn’t have cared less afterwards.
Result: Bucanero & Shiryu def. Puerto Ricano & Super Crazy - 12:43
Rating: 41


2. Doug Gilbert vs. Michael Modest
Two matches: one nasty injury and a bloodbath. “Not bad” for a technical wrestling promotion. Michael Modest got busted open by a violent Doug Gilbert after no longer than five minutes following a collision with the ring post in one of the many occasions where Gilbert took the fight to the outside.
From then on, Modest tried to take the match to the ground, where he is arguably better than Gilbert. However, portraying the ruthless behavior that made him famous, Gilbert insisted on beating Modest to a bloody pulp, rather than putting him down for a three. At some point, the referee had no choice but to stop the match after some vicious mounted strikes. Some fans liked it, others… obviously didn’t.
Result: Gilbert def. Modest - Ref. Stoppage - 15:03
Rating: 39




3. Doug Williams vs. Lance Storm
Another pair of young athletes being given a lot of time to work. Storm came in as one of the most popular ROH wrestlers, due to his time in Jim Cornette’s Smoky Mountain Wrestling alongside Chris Jericho. However, Doug Williams came in as an unknown to the American crowd, as ‘The Anarchist’ was making his USA debut.
Both pleased the crowd with Storm commanding the match and working heavily on Doug’s legs with a mix of submissions and stomps. Williams’ offence came in a form of Suplex variations and transitions, while fighting the pain of the holds suffered. As a result, the fans present at The Flagstaff began to feel sympathy for the British and cheered both workers.
The match reached and surpassed the 20-minute mark. Soon, it ended after a great counter by Lance Storm. Williams went for his Chaos Theory Suplex (his last resort at that time, really), though, after the “never-before-seen in America” backroll-through, Lance caught Doug with a deadly Leg Screw. After an excruciating Single Leg Boston Crab, Doug tapped out and the match was over. After the match, time for a respectful handshake.
Result: Storm def. Williams - 21:45
Rating: 47




4. Dan Severn (w/P. Ellering) vs. Fit Finlay
Much of The Flagstaff crowd will say this was the ‘Match of the Night’ of Ring of Honor’s debut. Pure competitive wrestling, somewhat of a clash of styles with a lot of intensity in common.
From the beginning, we had what we expected, as Finlay put on his absolute fighting best to stop the legit technical skill of ‘The Beast’. Not really an easy task, as Severn’s submissions took their toll on Finlay’s body from the start. Limbs and torso, all were victimized, from Heel Hooks to Key Locks, Finlay got to the ten-minute mark suffering.
Paul Ellering, silent and always serious looked closely while holding both the NWA and the UFC belts. The Irishman, usually had his breaks but after a while, Finlay got a big chance, nailing some strikes and hitting the Celtic Cross successfully. 1…2… and a close call!
After that, ‘The Belfast Bruiser’ was fired up, motivated as hell to fight a beast. The crowd was behind him and Ellering, still silent, watching expectant, as if he was scouting Fit too. Finlay got Severn up, clenched teeth and all. Was he going for a Kneeling Reverse Piledriver?
Well, he was, but Dan sneaked out, got behind Finlay and locked in the Beast Choker. A little loose, though, as Finlay got to the ropes.
Smartly enough, Severn knew the match could be in his hands if he locked it in successfully. So… he simply pulled Finlay up and got a better hold this time: Beast Choker! Again! Fit Finlay tried to roll, but it was hopeless. He tapped out! Severn got the win!
The fans were on their feet for both wrestlers. Severn was a ferocious master, Finlay was a fighter, and Severn knew it. So, he patiently waited for Finlay to stand up and shook his hand. Paul Ellering also shook the Irishman’s hand.
Result: Severn def. Finlay - 15:42
Rating: 64


Four Corner Survival Match
5. Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy vs. Shane Helms vs. Shannon Moore
The stunt showcase of the show, if we can call it that way. Most of the fans surely know The Hardys from some WWF appearances. However, Shane Helms and Shannon Moore (17 years old!) were unknown to the tri-state crowd. The southern fans, however, may know all of them. All hail from North Carolina and all grew up wrestling each other.
The fast-paced match featured some jaw dropping moves to the outside, at the inside, constant show-off and innovative tag team combinations between The Hardy Boyz and Helms and Moore. All of them left the fans in awe, while an obvious lack of psychology hurt the match quality-wise. Matt and Shane put up the best work and it showed while together in the ring.
At the end, Shane Helms hit a HUGE move, probably never seen in that part of America: a neck-breaking-but-not-actually Vertebreaker on his “sometimes-partner” Shannon Moore did the job.
Result: Helms def. Moore - 12:53
Rating: 47




6. Rob Van Dam (w/M. Hyatt) vs. The Great Sasuke [M-Pro]
This one could have happened in Japan. RVD came out first, mentioned by Don Callis as ‘The Most Chilled’ and alongside him came Missy Hyatt, coined as ‘The Hottest’, and who the hell can argue with that? Van Dam displayed his laid-back style from the get-go as Hyatt flirted around with the camera for posterior joy of tape-traders everywhere. Then came the face of Michinoku Pro, in his traditional black outfit that Missy found odd.
The match… it wasn’t all that good. Decent, sure, but another bout lacking psychology made some of the fans feel not exactly at home. A botch here and then by both didn’t help either and Missy must have sensed it as the provokingly raised her short shorts to show some more skin as the match reached climax.
There were some high moments, often involving the ropes and, in all fairness, a Sasuke Special dodged by RVD and followed by a Spinning Wheel Kick caught all eyes in attendance. The ending also looked beautiful and got a great reaction: Sasuke hit Van Dam’s back of the head with a nasty looking Mule Kick and went for the Thunder Fire Powerbomb. Miraculously, RVD countered it with a back roll and managed to disorient Sasuke, landing a nice Springboard Leg Lariat. Van Dam then positioned him, Hyatt looking expectant, and a fascinating Split Legged Moonsault followed! 1…2…3! Sasuke lifted his shoulder but… after the fall.
After the match, Van Dam asked for a kiss and, of course, Missy Hyatt responded by kissing his neck, with RVD waving his head cockily. Sasuke got up, RVD shook his hand.
Result: RVD def. Sasuke - 15:01
Rating: 48


7. Brad Armstrong vs. Rick Martel
Perhaps not the right main event choice. But, with the highest-profile wrestler of the roster present in the match in Rick Martel, it’s understandable. Plus, the bout was good and the time given allowed both wrestlers to show their strengths and psychology pluses.
From the get-go, ‘The Model’ worked more aggressively than usual, adding some more impactful moves to his arsenal and aiming at Armstrong’s back instead of focusing of his opponent’s legs, like he often does. The Armstrong brother was in pain shortly after, as Martel rejoicingly played up to the crowd.
Seven minutes in, Armstrong began to push forward and got the crowd on his back completely by failing a comeback, only to successfully get in contention for the match right after. Instead, it was Brad who began to work on Martel’s legs. However, whenever the opportunity to make a pin attempt came, Brad would seize it and a Swinging Neckbreaker nearly got Martel down to the three.
Both wrestlers showed signs of fatigue as the wear-and-teary match progressed. With a dirty tactic here and then, not seen by the referee, Martel unleveled the balance to his side. He quit that strategy, though, as it almost led him to defeat. After an eye poke, Martel played up to the crowd and Armstrong, blinded and all, instinctively hit his Russian Leg Sweep successfully.
Traditionally, he’d go for the pin, but not here, as he grabbed Rick’s left leg and got up to apply a Figure Four Leg Lock. Some fans, naturally, shouted «Woo!» Martel was in pain and reluctantly thought of tapping out… only for…
…out of nowhere, Lanny Poffo, aka ‘The Genius’ showed up to distract Brad Armstrong, even trying to get inside the ring. Armstrong released the hold and was ready to strike Poffo, but Martel ended up preventing it, simply rolling Brad. 1…2… but nothing. Rick’s leg was still hurting, but he managed to stand up. Another unseen eye poke would give him the definite advantage he needed and, after an impressive new move, The Quebec-Breaker (a Double Underhook Suplex Backbreaker), Rick Martel took the win with the 3 being counted as Lanny Poffo cheared, unlike the ROH crowd.
The question in the air now was: what is Lanny Poffo’s association with Rick Martel?
Result: Martel def. Armstrong - 21:15
Rating: 54