For over six years, the Ring of Honor wrestling promotion has given hardcore fans what they really want, great matches with great competitors. Sure, the production values pale in comparison to the WWE and even TNA, but the quality of the in-ring action is just as good as anywhere else in world, maybe better. With that being said, it was only a matter of time until the best matches in the young company’s history were compiled and put on DVD. Released in early April, ROH’s “Stars of Honor†features some of the greatest matches in the company’s history and is a great introduction to the promotion for wrestling fans that may not be familiar with it.
Featuring the likes of current TNA and WWE superstars like Samoa Joe, CM Punk, Jay Lethal, Christopher Daniels, Matt Hardy and Christian Cage, in addition to longtime ROH vets like Brian Danielson and Roderick Strong, this DVD compilation provides a wide range of action that is sure to satisfy every fan that watches it.
Despite the variety of the match types and A-list roster, the DVD isn’t exactly perfect though. Known for having wrestlers who push the envelope in ways not seen in the WWE, most athletes in ROH have finishers that would never see the light of day on primetime television due to the danger that comes with performing them.
However, several of the matches on the DVD are more on the safe side and don’t really show what the company is known for. Nevertheless, out of the eight matches on the DVD, there are at least four that are truly something special. The other four as well are far from mediocre, but they lack the awe factor that makes ROH such an intriguing option for wrestling fans.
Aside from the matches, the bonus features and the overall presentation take away from the luster of the in-ring action. Featuring a shoot interview with Mick Foley and a segment on the ROH appearance of Bruno Sammartino, these extras fail to captivate. The commentary on some of the matches by the wrestlers is also stale and without charisma. To make matters worse, the commentary during matches doesn’t do the amazing action in the ring justice, while the pre-match introductions in the ROH studio lack any real flair, as most of the time, the announcers aren’t looking into the right camera.
Despite these presentation problems, it’s hard to argue with how good the quality of the matches on this DVD are. Anyone sick of bad storylines on the WWE and TNA’s current focus on older wrestlers they’ve acquired from other promotions will find this a breath of fresh air into the wrestling industry and a must-own DVD worth watching numerous times.
I love watching wrestling and WWE on TV.wrestling is an awesome sport.;–