The weekend of April 3-5, in nerd circles, is Wrestlemania weekend and the editorial staff (and a few of us lowly writers) of CyberMonkeyDeathSquad descended on Houston, Texas like the Huns swept through Asia because we love wrestling. Let me state up front that we were not going to Wrestlemania and if you saw it you know why. It’s the stuff around Wrestlemania that makes the weekend and this one was big: Ring of Honor, the best promotion in the U.S. right now, was running Texas for the first time and thought enough of us to bring along Pro Wrestling NOAH superstars KENTA and Katsuhiko Nakajima for two rare Stateside appearances. We knew we were going anyway but this solidified it for all of us – the hottest feud in Japan right now right in front of our eyes! Not only that but Booker T, TNA Wrestling superstar, was running a charity signing featuring the Beautiful People, Team 3D, Kevin Nash, Mick Foley and Samoa Joe among others in the same building before Friday’s show! Icing on the proverbial cake! We got our best game-faces on and headed for Houston.

First up was the charity signing. Tons of superstars, split into two time-slots autographing for varying prices benefitting the Fight for Kids Foundation so we supported that wholeheartedly. Small scandal surrounding the event; WWE found out about the event and pulled a bunch of the committed talent so that sucked but TNA donated Foley, who had to fly back for a show in Louisiana (and, to our surprise, Jimmy Hart, whom WWE pulled but then allowed to appear after apologizing for the snatch). I went for Angel Williams and Velvet Sky – the Beautiful People – and got there plenty before the time-slot ended, early enough to see them from 2 feet away but when I went to get a ticket I was informed their time was up. Grrrrr. Well, Brother Hamilton was there for Joe so we got that ticket and got in line, passing the time with Matt Corley, who just may change the face of Texas wrestling and is one hell of a nice guy. Well, sooner than later my nicotine addiction kicked in and I headed outside… right into Jerry Lynn, former ECW superstar and fellow Minneapolis native, whom I had met previously at an ECW TV taping in 2000. I reminded him of his title victory over Justin Credible at Anarchy Rulz 2000 (I was there) and asked him how he felt about his title match with Nigel McGuiness, long-reigning ROH Champion later that evening. Lynn admitted he was “nervous about it” but “hoped he won.” Walking back indoors, who should appear next but Roderick Strong and Jay Briscoe (one heck of a nice guy), just stopping by to check out Samoa Joe and a few of the other superstars they knew. The one thing that will be reiterated ad nauseam this adventure is how nice and totally accessible all the personalities were during the hectic weekend.

Once the furor died down it was back to waiting Nate’s turn so I wandered the floor and ran into current TNA Knockout Daffney. Her’s is an interesting tale; she debuted in WCW as a valet of David Flair and was one hell of a wrestler but saddled with a gimmick where she relentlessly screamed at ringside. She later joined C.M. Punk and Colt Cabana in ROH as Lucy in the Second City Saints and wrestled in TNA and various indy’s as Shark Girl before returning to her first love: acting. She was totally underrated as an in-ring performer and actor, assuming different looks and move-sets as each new personality and it was a shame she retired. TNA recently did a gimmick mocking Sarah Palin and it took me a few weeks to realize the “Governor” was Daffney! She spoke with a Canadian accent and wrestled completely differently (again) and most recently appeared as herself, coming full circle and I couldn’t be happier. In person, Daffney is tremendously charming and enthusiastic, even after being bothered constantly by us mouth-breathers. She even remembered me at intermission of the next day’s show and we chatted several more times that day, which was a real treat. She deserves more attention and I cannot put her over enough. If you’re lucky enough to see her advertised, go. I urge you.

The shoe, however, had yet to drop. I stated I was going to ROH no matter what but I was there for KENTA and Nakajima. I’m never getting to Tokyo to see that match so major kudos to ROH for bringing it here. If you’ve seen any of the recent NOAH or Kensuke Office stuff with these guys you know it’s intense and brutally hard-hitting and we got them on opposite sides of a tag match on Saturday to look forward to and that night KENTA would defend the NOAH Junior Heavyweight Title, something else you don’t see in the States much. I’m headed back from my Daffney experience and right in front of me is Katsuhiko Nakajima, just chilling out. Damn, I thought, seeing these guys is a dream come true but to have him right there…! Before I could do anything, Nathan Hamilton came flying up to me, grabbing my arm and asking “Where’s KENTA?” KENTA? Beats me, I replied, but there’s Nakajima. “No,” he said, “you were standing right next to KENTA!” Holy Shit! Sure enough, there was KENTA, cheesing out with Samoa Joe, Jay Briscoe, Booker T and other dudes. After his “hello’s” he just wandered around, posing for pictures and chatting a little. I even cracked up the usually stern grappler by telling him he was “ichiban” but he is. Youtube him if you doubt me. Nakajima, the same. Spoke even more English and was happy to pose and sign and listen to his fans – and these are just ROH guys, not advertised or a part of the event. They just got their early and checked things out, donating their free time to the fans. It made the whole experience and the event hadn’t even started!

The events themselves were incredible and the best live wrestling I’ve seen since ECW in 2000. Both Supercard of Honor IV and Take No Prisoners (PPV – June, we think) will be on dvd in about a month from rohwrestling.com so I won’t bore you with the play-by-play. I will say KENTA giving a Michinoku Driver to Davey Richards from the apron to the floor; Jimmy Jacobs busting Necro Butcher open with a huge screwdriver; Colt Cabana!; much streamer; lost voice; Claudio Castagnoli; “you’re my HERO;” top rope snapping two minutes into the second match Friday; making “pals” with Blue Demon Jr. and Austin Aries; JIMMY JACOBS!; Carey Silkin; Wally Yamaguchi; extra Daffney; stiff kicks; Ninja Mike D meeting his hero; high-flying, brawling-through-the-audience action and, most importantly: Jerry Lynn won the World Title! That guy should pay me to follow him around or maybe it’s the Minnesota connection but if he and I are together Jerry Lynn will win the strap! Order the dvds or get the PPV – we had a lot of smart fans and if half the audience stuff shows up Texas will be the best crowd outside of New York and Philly. Needless to say (but you know it was coming), go to see ROH if they come to your area! Not a recommendation, it’s an order.

After the Saturday afternoon show, the wrestlers apparently decided to have their own Fan Access and came out to sign autographs, take pictures and just hang out before the WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony later that evening. Guests like Nakajima, Magno and Blue Demon Jr. along with ROH regulars such as the injured Nigel McGuiness and El Generico just wandered around talking to fans. Bobby Dempsey and Alex Payne stopped breaking down the ring to mug and chat while ROH owner Carey Silkin shook hands and thanked fans for the turnout. It was unbelievable and again reminded me of old school ECW in the sense that these are indy guys and they haven’t gotten their big break yet. They earn very little, respectively, and do way more than their WWE counterparts and do it because they love what they do. The fans can feel it and it’s a cool bond between performer and audience. The fact that they go the extra mile and talk to their fans and elevate the experience for both themselves and us is truly extraordinary. Jimmy Jacobs was all bandaged up and walking with an obvious limp and could not have been more gracious with his time, cracking wise and enjoying the aftermath instead of heading for a cigarette I know he wanted and a well-deserved nap. ROH deserves a hearty “thank you” from the fans for the great show and the graciousness and selflessness of it’s performers.

Ok, they didn’t bring any NOAH merchandise and no Claudio Castagnoli t-shirt, Necro Butcher and Chris Hero didn’t appear after the show (no Claudio either but Nate said “hi’ to him at breakfast) and Coke’s were $3 so that was a bummer, just so it’s not all roses. It’s hard to find negative. This was a total opposite of the NWA show we attended and was the real Wrestlemania . All of CyberMonkey had a spectacular time and we hope you get the dvds of these spectacular events. They won’t be the same but we can only pray that it gives some sense of how great this product is and how amazing all the talent from all the companies present was. I had a great time and would go again tomorrow. Here’s hoping for a Texas return and soon!