Background: Since losing the ROH World Championship to Jerry Lynn two months earlier, Nigel McGuinness had been recovering from the many injuries he sustained while Austin Aries reasserted himself as the best in ROH by becoming the company’s first two-time World champion.
End of an Age
Chicago, IL
June 27, 2009
Austin Aries vs. Nigel McGuinness
Though Austin Aries was a great grappler, Nigel McGuinness was right there with him; even frustrating the champ to the point he grabbed the microphone to question how someone with a busted bicep could mess him up as the fans declared Nigel would. Big clothesline from the champ when the pace quickened; giving “A-Double” chance to mouth off. McGuinness didn’t take kindly to Austin’s words, going for the McLariat early. Though Aries avoided the McLariat, the champ couldn’t follow up with a plancha when the challenger came running after him. McGuinness was in the driver’s seat, Irish whipping Aries around the ring. The left arm of Aries became the focus of Nigel saw the match progressed; forcing Austin to get dirty by raking the challenger’s eyes. Unable to follow up quickly, McGuinness took a dropkick that put him at ringside for the double axe handle.
Aries had taken control, looking to wear down the challenger with strikes and attacks rather than holds such as a face wash off the STO. The champ decided to go after that left arm of McGuinness that had torn time & time again. Reversing an Irish whip, McGuinness got Austin tied up in the ropes for a little ax & smash action. Using his right arm, Nigel was making a comeback until he went for the Tower of London after Aries took a back body drop into the front row. Aries almost rolled McGuinness up, survived the London Dungeon and connected with a lariat of his own topped off by the neck breaker. Aries was becoming predictable, giving McGuinness a chance to turn the IED dropkick into the Tower of London … for a near fall!
The fans were in full support of the challenger, only for McGuinness to have his McLariat countered with a clothesline-brain buster combo. When the pin failed and the Last Chancery didn’t end in a submission victory, Aries feigned the lariat off the ropes while McGuinness was straddling the top rope by jumping off the top rope and hitting the rope to create a low blow situation. With Nigel rolling to the floor, Aries wanted to use that heat-seeking tope. McGuinness stopped it with the Tower of London on the floor! The challenger wanted to follow up with another Tower of London, but had to go for broke and use the McLariat … to gain another near fall!
McGuinness got up with his left arm almost limp after the attack. Aries stopped the Jawbreaker Lariat, punting McGuinness on the head to set up a successful brain buster. Aries quickly made the cover, retaining his title via pin fall.
Winner: Austin Aries (20:17)
Is It A Classic: While it didn’t reach the heights of greatness compared to their previous title match, both men had a really good showing here with a nice story of McGuinness’ inability to hit the lariat and eventually utilizing the strike costing him in the end.
