MICHAEL SHANE VS. PAUL LONDON (STREET FIGHT)
Ring of Honor Unscripted (21st September 2002)
Michael Shane charges at the bell, but London ducks and lays in some strikes of his own. Michael Shane sends London across the ring, but London avoids the turnbuckle and floats over Shane, Michael Shane turns into a spinning heel kick, and London hits him with a unique dropkick. London throws Shane overhead to the floor and the commentators have spent the whole match so far talking about how the Code of Honor has been waived in this match because it's a blood feud. Paul London gave up a big opportunity tonight to face Shane because his hatred for Shane runs that deep. London beats Shane around ringside until Shane sends him into the ring post. Michael Shane throws Paul London back in the ring. Michael Shane climbs to the top but takes too much time and gets crotched on the top rope. Back in July Michael Shane won a match against London for a Ring of Honor contract, and then again he beat London by faking an injury, so this is the rubber match. Paul London hits an enziguri to a kneeling Shane and gets a quick cover, but only a 2 count. London sends Shane into the corner, following him with a running forearm, chops by London in the corner but Michael Shane reverses the irish whip, London flips out of a german suplex landing on his feet, London hits another forearm, but Shane reverses a hip toss sending London over the top. London tries to skin the cat but Shane spears him through the ropes!
Michael Shane sends London into the guard rail, telling him he'll turn it into a street fight. He sets a table up from under the ring, but London is able to cut him off. London sends Shane back in the ring, grabbing a chair. London shows the fans the chair, and Shane's recovered in the ring, Shane with a running somersault senton over the top rope to the chair and London! The fans firmly behind London in this match, as Shane is able to make it to his feet. He grabs the chair, and we see London's busted open, possibly for the first time in his career. Shane brings the action back to the ring and he throws the chair at London, Michael Shane covers again, still only getting 2.Michael Shane hits a delayed vertical suplex and London hits the chair, another nearfall for Shane and he boots at London on the mat. London fights from his knees, but Shane rakes at his eyes. Shane grabs a cravat, but London this time does make it to his feet and backs Shane into the corner. Shane reverses an irish whip sending London back first into the corner. At this point in time, ROH had a long pad over the corners, but it didn't protect people from the patches of steel behind it. London falls to the mat as Shane grabs the chair wedging it between the ropes near the corner.
London strikes first with an overhand chop, Shane fires a knife-edge back. Short chop battle before Michael Shane knees London in the gut. London the one to reverse an irish whip this time, sending Shane face first into the chair! Great camera work as we now see Michael Shane busted open, making his way out to the apron. London attacks him with a pair of hard forearms, but Shane holds on. Michael Shane is hovering above that table, and he cuts off London with a knee to the gut. Shane drops down to the floor and grabs a ladder from under the ring. Shane avoids a running dropkick from Paul London, lifting the ladder, London ducks a swing and springs onto the apron and back off with a thrust kick in one move! Both men are down on the floor, and London moves the ladder, trying to make some room in the plunder. London's back to his feet first, but both guys are feeling the effects of the match. London throws Shane back in the ring, and the ladder follows him. London climbs to the top and comes flying off! London barely clipped Shane with his leg and it just looked like a really big back bump, a lot worse for London than anything. London gets to his feet and sets the ladder up in the corner before going back to Shane. Irish whip attempt reversed by Shane and he changes direction, sending Paul London into the corner, London lands on his feet from a monkey flip, but Shane ducks a clothesline. Overhead belly to belly suplex sends London back first on the ladder!
Michael Shane covers but London still kicks out at 2. Both guys are losing a lot of blood in this match, having been busted open early, as Shane scoops London up and slams him to the mat. Shane just drops the ladder over London's back, adding insult to injury, with a bit more injury too. London fires off some right hands but Shane has him in the corner. Michael Shane hits some chops and sends London across the ring. London able to catch Shane with a back elbow out of the corner, and he sends him out to the apron. Shane blocks a right hand, but takes too long pandering to the crowd, London uses the ropes to grab a headscissors and sends Shane through the table at ringside! Paul London gets a standing ovation when he eventually gets to his feet and he retrieves a second, taller ladder, from under the ring. Michael Shane's still down against the guard rail and London hits a dropkick. London brings it back in the ring, setting the taller ladder up in the corner. London attacks Shane with a running high knee but Michael Shane reverses the irish whip and forearms London. Shane charges but gets back body dropped on the ladder. Shane crawls out the ring and up the entranceway, deciding he's had enough, but London isn't finished, he runs up the ladder and dives with a somersault senton onto Shane!!
London slowly brings Michael Shane's dead weight back into the ring, and he sets a ladder up properly in the corner, London vaults over the ladder, but gets caught! Powerbombs by Shane! 1, 2, No! Michael Shane climbs to the top in the corner but London is able to crotch him on the top rope. London climbs up to meet Shane but gets shoved down to the mat. Picture perfect elbow by Michael Shane, and he covers but London still able to kick out! Michael Shane misses a bicycle kick, and London fires back with a leaping superkick! London hits a shooting star press from the top rope for another close nearfall. Paul London sets up the other ladder, and it's bent out of shape from the battering it's taken in this match. London goes to climb after trying to make the ladder as usable as possible. Shane able to cut him off, and he rams London's head into the ladder. London falls to the mat and Shane gingerly climbs the ladder. Shane with a picture perfect elbow off the ladder! 1! 2! 2.99, no! London still kicked out. Shane climbs once again, but London's on his feet.Paul London springboards off the second rope with a moonsault and catches Shane with a kick! London puts Shane where he wants him and climbs the knackered ladder. "please don't die" chant from the fans as London stands at the top of the unstable structure. London hits a shooting star press! Paul London covers Michael Shane for the victory.
WINNER: PAUL LONDON
I liked the layout of this match, Michael Shane had the match in his control for most of the time and London needed to pull something big out each time he wanted to shift the momentum, the minimal weapon use worked because both these guys are decent enough workers and it made them seem more meaningful. Both men gave and took a lot and the fans were into the match which always helps. – Rating: 6.6/10
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