Round Robin Challenge Match #1: American Dragon vs. Christopher Daniels
Add another terrific theme song to Danielson’s theme song history - Self Esteem by The Offspring. Continuing with the theme of the early shows being built around three guys, this continues that further, putting them all against each other in singles matches. The first match with Christopher Daniels vs Bryan Danielson, called American Dragon. The match begins with aggressive technical wrestling as both scramble for control. Danielson is clearly the more skilled but Daniels is smarter and is able to have his time on top in a credible way. Naturally, Danielson wins the battle and decides to work a deep side headlock with Daniels struggling to escape, which he eventually does, working Danielson’s neck himself. This is a key point in the match as Danielson also has an injured neck (when hasn’t he?). He works without much finesse unlike Danielson, preferring to snap at the neck and stick with the basic manoeuvres with the occasional eye poke. Danielson keeps plugging away, hitting a diving headbutt in true Harley Race style but Daniels remains the dominant wrestler in the match. Daniels escalated well, hitting a moonsault for a nearfall which also coincides with the pace getting quicker once more. Danielson gets more desperate, chaining submission holds, going from Cattle Mutilation to a rings of saturn in order to get a victory, or simply turn the match in his favour. The neck comes into play once more - and this is where Danielson’s selling was great - after a piledriver and Daniels submits Danielson with a crossface submission. The commentators claim that they have never seen Danielson tap, although I didn’t think the fans reacted appropriately as that win may have deserved. This was a rock solid opener. I only wish they went more with the form of grappling they began with, instead of settling for the basic pro-style form. ***3/4
Round Robin Challenge Match #2: Christopher Daniels vs. Low Ki
This began much differently with Daniels slapping Low Ki rather than shaking his hand, leading to Low Ki trying to kill Daniels with kicks, including a sick running kappo kick. Eric Gargiulo and Steve Corino put over the character differences between the two wrestlers, emphasising Low Ki’s appreciation for respect which he practically teaches Daniels throughout. Low Ki is so badass in his assaults. He looks like he intends to kill his opponents and it’s always effective, particularly against someone like Daniels who is good in a despicable role. Daniels sneaks his way into control, slickly hitting a leg drop on a perched Low Ki and working the neck of Low Ki, since it gave him success against Danielson. Daniels hits angels wings and Low Ki kicks out to little fanfare which I don’t get but then Low Ki is able to hit a Ki Krusher not long after, so maybe I do understand it. They sort of restart following that and Low Ki hits an awesome springboard high kick. Daniels attempts angles wings once but Ki reverses it into a deep dragon sleeper for the win. Shit long term selling by Low Ki but he’s such a gold mine on offence that I can’t help but love him. Daniels was tired but was still game enough to be a solid, if not good opponent for Low Ki. Daniels feigns giving Low Ki #respect, heeling out on him and the crowd, further establishing his heel character, mentioning the Ring of Honor title! ***1/2
Round Robin Challenge Match #3 (Special Referee: Ken Shamrock): American Dragon vs. Low Ki
And finally, the match we all wanted to see out of the potential matches. Ken Shamrock comes down into the ring, praising the two wrestlers for their skills, offering his services as a referee out of respect which is a great way to put these two over as Shamrock is such a legitante figure in both wrestling and MMA. Great technical wrestling to kick off the match. Danielson is able to snag an arm triangle out of a cross armbreaker attempt by Low Ki. Ki escapes the triangle, taking Danielson’s back, squeezing him with a body scissors while hitting him from behind. Neither are afraid of hitting each other with stiff strikes while working the mat either, adding a little more flair to the technical work. They also don’t simply move on from the technical wrestling either, progressing it further with the same technique but with a bit more deliberate intent, such as Danielson doing a nasty bow and arrow crossface and Low Ki emulating Antonio Inoki with his crab wall, gaining distance and luring Danielson into a big kick to the face which stunts Danielson. Low Ki brilliantly takes Danielson’s back, dragging him down to the canvas and Danielson,equally as great, reverses Ki’s control, tying Low Ki up in a nasty inverted indian deathlock from an elevated position. Danielson continues with the leg work, applying a heel hook which Low Ki escapes from via kicks. More kicks to Danielson's face, further cutting open the eye of Danielson. The two masterfully work a cattle mutilation attempt, swapping control doing it with both slickness and struggle. Danielson hits a dragon suplex for a close two count as they progress into more bombs. As they transition, they still sell the offence and fatigue of what came before it, therefore making the bombs come off as desperate opposed to the more composed technical wrestling spots. The pacing admittedly wanes, but the quality never does. The strikes are still stiff, the selling remains superb as well, and unlike earlier in the night, when Danielson kicks out of Low Ki’s big move, it means everything. Finally, Danielson is able to lock on Cattle Mutilation and Low Ki can’t escape and passes out. Ken Shamrock calls it and declares Danielson the winner in a classic bout. ****3/4
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