ROH CM PUNK: ICON (FSM 97; Sept 2013)

Information: - DVD Region: Region Free - Distributor: ROH Wrestling - Price: $19.99 - Other info: 370 mins - Release: Out now - Weblink: www.ROHWrestling.com

While there is no disputing that CM Punk is an icon in the recent history of pro wrestling, ROH's latest release doesn't quite do him justice.

Kicking off with an entertaining confrontation opposite Ricky Steamboat, the set establishes Punk as a babyface before focusing on his run as a tag team competitor, as well as his violent feuds against the likes of Jimmy Rave and The Embassy.

Colt Cabana makes his first of many appearances early on, in a solid but drawn out two-out-of-three falls match with Punk against The Briscoes. The stipulation means this match is more of a marathon than a sprint, and while it offers solid pacing, it suffers from weak crowd reactions. From a solid traditional wrestling match, proceedings segue to a violent war pitting Punk and Ace Steel against Dan Maff and BJ Whitmer. A blood-and-guts affair, this is certainly extreme, with Punk getting tossed through a board covered in barbed wire, in one of the more brutal exchanges. Punk and Steel tackle Whitmer again on Disc Two, as he teams with Jimmy Jacobs in a highly-entertaining encounter.

Punk and Cabana versus Ricky Reyes and Rocky Romero is a slick contest that doesn't really kick into top gear, finishing somewhat disappointingly. Similarly, Punk's clash with Austin Aries is a smartly-worked, psychology-driven battle, but doesn't feel like the main event epic it could have been. Things pick up with Punk and Steel's battle against Aries and Roderick Strong, in another hardcore fight. This wild battle is essentially a handicap match, as Generation Next's Jack Evans constantly interferes, before being taken out in spectacular fashion.

Punk's tangle with Brian "Spanky" Kendrick is a technically solid offering that serves as a refreshing break from the mayhem and tag team wars that make up the majority of this release. Likewise, a singles bout with Alex Shelley is an engaging match, thanks in part to an understated story, with Punk letting Shelley know that their pre-match handshake wouldn't be enough to earn his respect.

The first disc closes with Punk taking on Jimmy Rave - an appropriate move, as the second disc focuses on the pair's brutal rivalry. Their first bout is unremarkable but intense, and serves as a good illustration of the feud to come.

REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE
Several matches on Disc Two feel like filler, detailing Punk's encounters with The Embassy, without really developing the issue nor offering a must-see match. Cabana and Steve Corino join forces with "The Second City Saint" to battle the faction in one such contest, which feels like a pointless inclusion, especially as the next bout is a much more engaging No Disqualification affair pitting Cabana and Punk against Rave and Fast Eddie.

On a compilation featuring so many brawls and hardcore matches, the bloodiest encounter comes in the form of a chain match between Punk and Rave. With a believable sense of hatred and vitriol from both, this is a great match made better by an engaged crowd. Interference from his stablemates and some brutal chair shots from Rave have Punk in the classic role of blood-soaked babyface fighting the odds. The pair's cage match - the ultimate conclusion to their feud - is a satisfying and suitably epic confrontation, with call-backs to earlier moments in the angle, and a spectacular finish that will leave fans satisfied that the issue has been concluded.

The set ends on a high, with two of its best bouts: a stiff battle with Roderick Strong prior to Punk's WWE signing, and a surprise return in November 2006, which sees the indy dream team of CM Punk and Bryan Danielson take on Adam Pearce and Rave in a fun bout with a great atmosphere.

While the title of this set might lead some to the conclusion that this is the definitive CM Punk collection from ROH, that really isn't the case. A solid purchase for collectors and Punk fans, this retrospective lacks the truly excellent matches or promos to make it a must-own in and of itself.