The Flying Hammerlock Video Review #22: The American Dragon Meets The Ugandan Giant

 

This review is dedicated to the memory of James "Kamala" Harris.  R.I.P.
 

ROH World Heavyweight Champion "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson vs. Kamala The Ugandan Giant (w/Kim Chee), Liberty States Wrestling, Cardinal Shehan Center, Bridgeport, CT, September 30, 2006.
 

Historical background: Well, there doesn't seem to be one.   Someone got the idea to book this match and it happened.  This was Bryan's 24th defense.   There is no commentary for this match.
 

Prince Nana, then the manager of The Embassy in Ring of Honor, is the special referee.  That is important.
 

The crowd is already cheering for Danielson.   The crowd starts chanting "Kamala's gonna eat you! Kamala's gonna eat you!"   Then they start chanting for Kim Chee.  (Don't know who's playing him here.)   The bell rings and Danielson offers a handshake as some fans start chanting "Code of Honor! Code of Honor!"   Kamala stomps the mat and raises his hand in a threatening manner, causing Danielson to back away from him.  Danielson offers the handshake again and the crowd chants "Bite his hand! Bite his hand!"   Kamala raises his hand again, causing Danielson to back away from him again.  Danielson and Kamala circle each other and Kamala backs Danielson into a corner without even touching him.   Danielson rolls out of the corner back into the middle of the ring.   They face off again and Kamala raises his hand yet again causing Danielson to back away from him yet again.   Kamala goes over to Kim Chee for some advice and Kim Chee slaps his hands together a couple of times.  Apparently that was the advice Kamala needed since he nods and goes back to Danielson.  They finally tie up and Danielson walks Kamala into a corner.  Kamala then shoves Danielson all the way to the opposite corner.   Danielson looks surprised by that.   Kamala slaps his belly a few times and does some kind of dance to celebrate.   Kamala goes over to Kim Chee who holds up the belt to remind Kamala what is at stake here.  They circle each other again and tie up again and Danielson walks Kamala into the corner again and Kamala shoves Danielson across the ring again.   The crowd starts chanting for Kamala.   Despite Kamala usually weighing twice as much as him, Danielson stupidly gets into a test of strength, which he promptly loses.   Danielson makes it to his feet and stomps on one of Kamala's feet to break it.   They tie up again and Kamala goes to the eyes and follows that with a shot to the top of the head and a chop to the chest.   Kamala headbutts Danielson.   Then a chop to the top of the head.  Danielson is staggering around.   Kamala whips Danielson into the ropes but Danielson ducks Kamala's chop.   Danielson hits three forearms which stagger Kamala.   Now in control, Danielson climbs up to the second turnbuckle and hits a dropkick which sends Kamala rolling out of the ring to the floor.  Kim Chee gives Kamala some advice, leading to Kamala grabbing Danielson's legs and pulling him out to the floor.   Kamala hits another chop to the top of the head, sending Danielson staggering to the guardrail.   Kamala sends Danielson face first into the guardrail and chops him in the chest, sending Danielson staggering all the way to another side of the ring.   Kamala follows and sends Danielson face first into the post.   Kamala headbutts Danielson, sending Danielson crashing into the guardrail.   Kamala rolls Danielson into the ring, and he is shown trying to shake off the cobwebs.  Danielson is shown crawling on the mat trying to get away from Kamala.  Kamala hits a chop to the back.   Kamala backs Danielson into a corner and gives him another chop to the head.  Kamala does a cross-corner whip but Danielson gets out of the way of the corner splash.  Danielson runs off the ropes and hits a forearm, which affects Kamala.   Danielson shakes his head "No" and hits another one.   Danielson runs to Kamala again, ducks Kamala's chop, and hits a big forearm that actually knocks Kamala down to the mat.   Danielson climbs up and hits the diving headbutt.  Danielson goes for the pin but Prince Nana won't count, drawing boos. Kim Chee pulls Danielson off of Kamala.   Danielson goes for another pin and Nana slowly counts to 2 before Kamala kicks out of the pin.   Nana signals that it was a 2 count and Danielson grabs him and threatens to punch him.  Kamala makes the save with another chop to the top of the head.   Kamala grabs Danielson and smashes his face into a turnbuckle followed by a chop to the chest.   Kamala casually tosses Danielson between the ropes out to the floor, where he hits the guardrail.   Kamala follows and headbutts Danielson, sending Danielson staggering yet again.   Danielson comes back with punches, sending Kamala walking the other way.   Danielson headbutts Kamala, which ends up hurting Danielson instead.   Kamala sends Danielson into the guardrail yet again.   Danielson punches Kamala, sends him into the guardrail and punches him again.   Then more punches.   Kamala rakes Danielson's eyes and sends him face first into the post.   Kamala grabs Danielson and they start to walk into the crowd. Kamala whips Danielson toward the wall, Danielson reverses, but Kamala reverses that, sending Danielson into some kind of barrier.  Kamala grabs some kind of object on the floor and hits Danielson over the head with it.   Kamala grabs Danielson and sends him face first into the wall.  Kamala gives Danielson a shot to the midsection.  Then they both walk through a curtain but out of camera view.   They come back with Danielson punching away at Kamala's head.   Danielson grabs the curtains that had been knocked down in the process and chokes Kamala with the curtain rod, bringing Kamala down to the floor.   Kim Chee tries to break it up so Danielson grabs him and throws him into that same barrier.   Nana objects, so Danielson does the same to him.   Danielson grabs a chair and he and Kamala fight over it, with Kamala winning.   Kamala takes the chair and hits Danielson with it and then tries to do something but the bell rings out of nowhere.   Kamala brings Danielson to his feet and looks to send him into the wall but Danielson counters and they fight to the back.   Then some guy comes out and announces that Kamala won by disqualification, disappointing the crowd. ***1/2.
 

This is a match that shouldn't have worked but, somehow, it did.   Danielson sold his ass off to make the 56-year-old Kamala's offense look devastating.    While it likely won't go into the annals of Ring of Honor history as one of the all-time great title defenses, it should be recognized as one of Kamala's better matches in the U.S.  Recommended and you can watch it here.