[2004-11-05-ROH-Weekend of Thunder: Night One] Jushin Liger vs Bryan Danielson

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[supersonic]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GedCwVCj6r8

Jushin Liger vs. Bryan Danielson

Up to this point, Liger's entrance was the biggest moment in ROH history, creating the most passionate and loudest crowd reaction. It surpassed the farewells of Paul London and Eddie Guerrero. The crowd was also awesome at the end when Liger won (as he should have.)

But this match hasn't held up over time. Don't get me wrong - this is a good match, but just an exhibition and nothing special outside of Liger's presence. Both men have done much better than this, and I'm still looking forward to the tag match. This is an entertaining novelty and nothing more.

Rating: ***

 

 

[G. Badger]

Throwback Thursday:

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PL53kKJBMWATdIPkA-8x6JXUhr8sE5zC9l&v=eK5rwHdw4GE

 

It think this match along with the Liger tag match the next night were good entry points for people curious about puro and unaware of tape/DVD trading and selling.

 

Also, having Liger come in and do a couple matches in 2004 helped ROH establish there was a demand for Japanese stars. The Kendo Ka Shin stuff turned it a little sour and they went with NOAH & Dragon Gate for a good while and now ROH & NJ are running shows together. AJ never was welcome back after Final Battle '03.

 

This match is pretty darn fun and only doesn't hold up well because international stars in ROH or in general is common place. So, yeah its a bit of a novelty almost like they did a highlights version of a Dragon/Liger match. But, the crowd is going ape and its really easy to get sucked into that even now.

[Tawren]

"How many times have you seen it on tape, now you get to see it live!" says the announcer at one point, which is why this match was so fun. I mean, I watched it on tape still but the point stands. 2002-2007 ROH is some of my favourite wrestling, even with some very major flaws, but as a younger fan into this style at the time it was really cool. 2004-06 Bryan Danielson is one of my favourite runs ever.

 

This match matters more for context and for building the ROH brand, and for the ROH and online fan view at the time. Re-watching it is a fun match but nothing crazy, certainly someone watching this from a 2017 perspective wouldn't see why this is special when Liger was just in NXT and PWG last year. But if you were around for the time, and remembering how hyped people were for Liger live, and Danielson continuing to develop into such a special wrestler, and this coming right on the heels of a great Samoa Joe vs Danielson match, and ROH really turning into something that felt like must-see wrestling, this match was a lot of fun.

 

Good times.

[ShittyLittleBoots]

Liger coming to ROH is a great moment. It is a great match too. Danielson is excellently entertaining with his work on top being an arrogant prick going after Liger's mask while beating him up with his brilliant, vicious arsenal. The match has just the right amount of him doing his thing & then Liger playing the hits. Super fun! ****