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Post by AstroBoy on Jan 6, 2018 17:14:40 GMT -5
Danielson gets ambitious with Paul London in the best ROH match ever up to this point. The genesis of the dueling chant but fans are passionate in their support for both guys and it feels real. Danielson makes the top rope back suplex a story throughout the match and makes it mean so much as they build it up and pay it off. Paul London is such a fantastic babyface here and they just work a classic, classic match. A sign of what Danielson would go on to do in the future and of what London was capable of in these moments.
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Post by shittylilboots on Jan 21, 2019 14:44:32 GMT -5
Love the unique character work that they lay out in the first fall to set the tone for the rest of the match; Danielson & London both have some respect for one another, but they clearly do not like each other. They tell that story pretty much perfectly throughout the first fall w/ great, competitive, tight work on the mat. The first real major moment comes when Danielson shoves London's face w/ his foot, and London has this expression that says "oh yeah? that's what we're doing?" - the match starts to get more intense by the minute, they're busting out strikes & putting forearms on each others' faces while having holds in & THEN in THE major moment of the first fall, as Danielson has London in the abdominal stretch, London yells to him "YOU'RE MY BITCH!", which Danielson then answers to accordingly by smacking the crap out of his FACE. That's when the tone REALLY changes & Dragon starts blasting London all around the ring; London is wonderful taking a beating from Danielson, as he makes every strike he receives look like million bucks. The finish to the first fall, with London reversing Bryan's back bodydrop off the top rope attempt into a pin, was brilliant too & Danielson's facial selling of that was superb. Then as the 2nd fall officially begins, London, in a great callback to the first fall banter between them, offers a handshake to Bryan in the name of HONOR & all, and Bryan accepts, but right after he had very quickly shook London's hand, he blasts him with a slap, followed by a barrage of forearms & chops. It's fairly even, awesome back & forth for a while - that is until Danielson dropkicks London's knee as he was on the top turnbuckle, trying to go for that SSP of his. The knee becomes an instant target for Dragon, as he goes to town on it. London's selling is terrific & I love, love, LOVED all of his comebacks after the knee comes to play; he becomes aggressive & super crappy. It's really great. Bryan eventually gets the 2nd fall w/ a half crab, and they bring that up a few times in the last fall w/ him trying to go for it - it created for some nice drama, and London's selling is still really great throughout the final fall. The finish with him basically sacrificing his knee in order to execute that SSP was superb. It's a real classic overall with terrific performances by both; fantastic, somewhat unique psychology w/ the character work + great limb work & great selling. One of my favorite matches ever.
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Post by superstarsleeze on Feb 19, 2019 22:49:08 GMT -5
Does someone have a link to this match? I am interested in seeing this. I feel like I would like it a good bit. Thanks!
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Post by Cap on Mar 6, 2019 16:28:44 GMT -5
Third This.
I am not sure I would call it the best ROH match to this point, but it was probably my pick for #2. This is a really good, really exciting match and you can tell both these guys were destined for big things.
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Post by elliott on Sept 21, 2023 11:43:18 GMT -5
Well executed & great for what they're going for but oh boy this is not for me
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Post by mrjmml on Feb 24, 2024 18:23:06 GMT -5
Paul London vs Bryan Danielson (ROH - 4/12/2003)
2003 is a very special year in the history of Ring of Honor; Samoa Joe is crowned champion and so began his amazing title reign that lasted almost two years after beating the second (and one of the worst) champion in the company’s history Xavier. Many wrestlers that had a prominent role in 2002 (their first year) stepped up significantly both in-ring and on the card such as these two. Paul London had been the company’s main babyface guy for a year now while Bryan Danielson was putting up technical masterpieces at the top of the card consistently since the very first show The Era of Honor Begins so the audience knew what they were about to witness first-hand, the indie version of an NWA title bout for nothing but bragging rights and the thrill of competition. For those who don’t already know I’m a big Bryan Danielson fan, I love his style, his facial expressions and range as a worker so this match is right up my alley but I can see how some people may not like this match as much as I did. It’s an above average ROH epic with a great atmosphere around it like most do but what makes this match worth of a review is Paul’s astonishing performance that surely elevated this bout to MOTY consideration for me, even if you don’t like what they went you have to appreciate his effort both selling his leg and taking bumps in a way that didn’t break the overall dramatic tone of the match which was set up by the first fall and continued through the last two. None of that would be possible if Danielson wasn’t there, I don’t think anyone else (except Samoa Joe maybe) would have been able to direct the match the way he did truly showing of his talent as ring general making his opponent shine and taking the loss obviously it couldn’t have ended any other way.
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