STERLING JAMES KEENAN VS. DELIRIOUS

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How to make "Throwback Thursday" and "Flashback Friday different" hmmm... Well I'm going to go to the independents this week.Sterling James Keenan is someone I became aware of in the UK indy scene in the mid-2000's and he instantly impressed me. He also has a sick finisher called the MK Ultra. Delirious is, well delirious. I don't know what's happened to him in recent years honestly. Before the match a bald Sterling James Keenan cuts a promo backstage, it's pretty badass comparing himself to Jim Jones and threatening a massacre. Nice. Dave Parazak and Lenny Leonard handle commentary for this match. SJK slaps Delirious' hand in his corner to follow the Code of Honor.

STERLING JAMES KEENAN VS. DELIRIOUS

Ring of Honor Steel City Clash (20^th March 2009)

  Delirious does his crazy lap around the ring as the bell sounds with SJK backing off through the ropes. Daizee Haze is accompanying Delirious as usual in this match as they lock up. Keenan backs Delirious into the corner and gets a clean break. SJK's made a few appearances for ROH in the past. Delirious gets a waistlock before a standing switch, Delirious counters into an arm wringer, and chain wrestles his way around SJK, taking him down in a headlock. We learn that Delirious recently cut ties with the Age of the Fall stable, as he was being used by Jimmy Jacobs. Kennan gets to his feet, sending Delirious off the ropes, Delirious slides under SJK and pushes him into the ropes before tripping him from behind. Delirious trips SJK and both men immediately get to their feet. Delirious sends him over with an arm drag and keeps hold of his arm on the mat. Keenan makes it to his feet and backs Delirious into the corner, this time not giving him a clean break and socking him in the jaw twice before sending him across the ring.

SJK talks shit to the crowd and it costs him, as Delirious drop toe holds him into the middle turnbuckle. SJK avoids a Panic Attack (some running attack in the corner) from Delirious by going to ringside, but is distracted by Daizee Haze. Delirious hits a baseball slide dropkick to SJK sending him into the barricade. Keenan gets back in the ring but his attention's still on Haze. Delirious blocks a right hand that Stevie Wonder would have seen coming and hits SJK with forearms, backing him into the corner. SJK reverses an irish whip but Delirious vaults over the top rope to the apron, he tells Keenan to come get him and Keenan does, but Delirious drops to the floor at the last second. Delirious does a lap around ringside and throws a fan's hat across the arena before getting back in the ring. I wonder if he ever got that hat back? Delirious ducks a clothesline and hits a jumping variation knocking Keenan down. Keenan gets to his feet in the corner as Delirious winds up for another Panic Attack clothesline.

Keenan is able to avoid it by leaning outside the ring again and the referee backs Delirious off. If it's that easy to avoid it's not really the best move... Delirious charges again but gets booted in the face. Keenan brings Delirious to his feet and chops him. Delirious chops back from the corner but Keenan knees him in the gut. SJK hits a suplex getting a nearfall. He immediately covers again getting a 1 count and argues to the referee that it was three. I mean I guess it was added up, so on a technicality he's not wrong. Delirious fights to his feet with forearms and lifts SJK in a firemans carry, Keenan elbows out and hits a back suplex. Keenan gets a nearfall off a running fist drop as Leonard and Prazak talk about Delirious' 6-man tag match at ROH's 7^th Anniversary show tomorrow night. Keenan hits a European uppercut and gloats, but Delirious catches him with a drop toe hold. Delirious tries to lock in an Overstretch but Keenan scrambles away, trying to get a rope break but getting to his feet. He does get the rope too but Delirious still has control of the wrist. Keenan flattens Delirious with a short-arm lariat and gets another nearfall.

Delirious gets some encouragement from Daizee Haze before getting to his feet. Keenan doesn't release an irish whip, following Delirious across the ring and hitting him with a knee to the gut before doing the same on the other side. SJK hits a pumphandle slam for another nearfall. SJK applies a chinlock on the mat, driving his knee into Delirious' spine. Delirious makes it to his feet and drops back down with a jawbreaker. SJK reapplies the hold, but Delirious is quick to his feet and turns to face SJK before dropping with a sit-out jawbreaker this time getting some space. Keenan runs into an inverted atomic drop and Delirious headbutts him in the midsection (he's not like other guys...) he hits a Heart Punch which is to do with his new relationship with Haze apparently. Delirious misses a boot and runs into an STO. Keenan covers but Delirious kicks out at 2. The fans are split with some chanting for SJK and others filling the gap with sucks. Delirious hits some shots to Keenan's midsection but runs into a Death Valley Driver, giving Keenan another nearfall.

Keenan brings Delirious to his feet, kneeing his skull in a Muay Thai clinch and sends him into the corner. Delirious avoids the charge, sending Keenan chest-first into the turnbuckles. Delirious hits the Never Ending Story clotheslines. Turns out the story does end, and it ends with Keenan slumped in the corner falling victim to a running knee by Delirious. That's confused me even more on that move now... Keenan crawls away as Delirious climbs to the top rope and hits the Shadows Over Hell to Keenan's back. Delirious covers and gets the win.

WINNER: DELIRIOUS

Kennan got to look really good in front of his local crowd, against an ROH regular. However getting easily distracted by Haze and his arrogance was able to cost him, giving Delirious a nice win after a decent flurry of his signature stuff. This was a match I'm glad I found. – WORKRATE: 2.5/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 3.75/5 OVERALL 6.25/10

  Over the weekend I am looking to review the 6th episode of Lucha Underground in it's entirety. This follows the news hitting my desk tonight that they have a Season 4 confirmed. However I don't have details as of yet.

More SJK matches here
Buy Steel City Clash here
More Ring of Honor Throwback Thursday matches on their Youtube here