Background: For the first time since 2006, Lance Storm returns to an ROH ring for a one on one match. And his opponent for the evening is none other than someone he had problems with a year ago and the man he and Kevin Steen overcame in tag team action in the form of Chris Hero.
Death Before Dishonor VII: Night Two
Toronto, Ontario
July 25, 2009
Lance Storm vs. Chris Hero
Hero gave Storm fair warning during the Code of Honor handshake. Storm was able to shoulder block Hero off his feet, leading to an exchange of holds. Hero tried to elbow his way out of the hammerlock, only for Lance to turn it into a stretch after hooking the incoming arm. Storm used the ropes to flip out of an arm wringer, dropkicking Hero to the outside. Hero gave the hand to the Canadian flag fan before reentering. Hero knuckle locked Storm off his feet, but that didn’t last long. “The Knockout Kid” decided to switch it up, using his strength by slamming Storm down before senton splashing Storm. Running dropkick to the rising Storm. Storm tried to fight back with some chops, so Hero went to the eyes. The former ECW Tag Team champion kicked out of the crucifix pin, only to succumb to a head scissors on the mat. Hero hesitated after the elbow, giving Lance the chance to kick out of Hero’s follow up pin. Hero pitched Storm to the floor so his second Shane Hagadorn could choke his opposition out of the ref’s view. Lance rose to his feet, sidestepping the baseball slide. Hero took a whip into the barricades, only to pay Storm back right after. Hero covered Lance in the ring mats, using another senton on the blinded Storm. Chris couldn’t get the pin off that move after they reentered, so he went for the submission via a cravat.
Lance got free and started chopping and punching Hero until he got a grip of Hero for the side Russian leg sweep. Leg lariat by Storm only gets him a two count. Hero tried to rolling elbow Storm, but ended up getting taken down by a springboard clothesline. Storm hit the ropes for something, but Hero sidestepped the attack, connecting with a Rolling Elbow for a shocking near fall. Running elbow by Hero to set up for the Liger Bomb. Storm blocked the bomb, hitting the ropes after a couple of forearms. Chris Hero started running as well, flash kicking Storm for another two count. Storm ducked the rolling elbow, super kicking Hero. Storm couldn’t believe it when Hero kicked out. Storm slipped through Hero’s legs after Hero whipped him for another elbow. Hero got pulled down into the Maple Leaf. Hero clawed his way to the ropes in an impressive show of heart. Hero rolled onto the apron, catching Storm by the neck before tossing him face first into the top turnbuckle. Hero ran to the top rope. Storm stopped whatever Hero had in mind; power slamming Hero to the mat after some fan yelled, “Bring him down the hard way!” He sure did, son. He sure did.
But it wasn’t enough to keep Hero down for the three count. Storm made his ascent up the ropes. Hero avoided the frog splash, rolling elbowing Lance on the back of his head with a sick smack. Somehow, Lance kicked out before the three count – causing Shane Hagadorn to jump on the apron in protest. This was actually a distraction so Hero could remove the emerald elbow pad of Misawa-ness out of Hagadorn’s jacket. Storm stopped the rolling elbow, back sliding Hero. Hero kicked out, connecting with the rolling elbow again when both men made it to their feet. A running elbow downed Storm. Hero jumped on top of Lance, picking up the win to the shock of everyone including the victor.
Winner: Chris Hero (16:45)
Is It A Classic: Lance Storm and Chris Hero truly went out and gave us their very best. While it didn’t live up to the caliber of Storm-Danielson from three years earlier, it was incredibly good. It really felt like a battle of young and old, with neither doubting the abilities of themselves or their opponent. It really came down to that could land that knockout blow, or lock in that unstoppable submission. Thankfully for Hero, he was able to hit that final elbow to pick up one of the biggest wins in his career up to that point.
