Jamie Noble vs. Demarso Whitney ( Tommasso Ciampa) WWE Velocity 12-13-2005
There's a chance that I'm viewing it through rose colored glasses, but Jamie Noble's 2005 was something special.
Jamie Noble was always known as a great wrestler. IThe Jung Dragons were a really fun act at the latter part of WCW that I hope show up on this list. In WWE he transformed from just a really good wrestler to a great character as the Noble and Nidia Redneck Royalty stuff was really entertaining television. You were guaranteed a great time watching Noble, but WWE has a ceiling for guys like him. He's not a tall guy and he was too good at being a comedy act to get a serious push. When he was released in 2004( for a ridiculous story I won't get into here involving steroids and butts), Jamie knew he had to change.
He worked for New Japan and some other indies in 2004, but in February 2005 he wrestled Spanky in Ring of Honor and that was the beginning of a borderline Cinderella story. No comedy, no flannel, just James "By God" Gibson in Ring of Honor busting his ass every single show. I'm not sure how people felt at the time, but looking back on it I can't believe he got so over so quickly. . It's not like he had any major feuds or angles for his first few months other than James Gibson is here to prove he can wrestle. And Prove he did. People fell in love with him as slowly he became a top babyface in Ring of Honor. It wasn't just that a country boy could survive in ROH, it turns out he could thrive .It can't be understated what a big moment it was in August 2005 when he beat CM Punk for the world title. He had earned it and the people were there with him. Its not like Jamie proved to people he could wrestle, everyone knew he could and was good at it. I just don't know if anyone knew he was that good.
Shortly after the title win, Jamie's ROH run ended as he decided to return to WWE. I imagine at that point he had proved his point and it was time to go get paid. I can't say part of me wasn't disappointed, but wrestlers got to get their money man. I assumed that he would quickly be back in his cutoff jeans arguing with general managers about matches with The Undertaker.
That did happen, but not quite yet
This Velocity match is Jamie Noble's first Televised WWE match back since that amazing Ring of Honor run and he's clearly out to prove people wrong because he is absolutely vicious in this. His opponent tonight is Demarso Whitney/Tommaso Whitney/ Thomas Penmanship/ Tommasso Ciampa. If you've never seen young Ciampa, he is unrecognizable compared to his current appearance. I saw Thomas Penmanship a few times live and it was a fun gimmick especially when the inevitable drunk Boston fan would call him Penmanshit. From the get go, this is more James Gibson than Jamie Noble. There isn't a goofy redneck in jean shorts here. He's back in his trunks and he has come here to kick some ass.
From the get go, Jamie Noble is all over Whitney and hits ONE OF THE LOUDEST CHOPS I'VE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE. Whitney finally gets a headlock on Noble who BACK SUPLEXES HIM TO HELL. Everything Jamie does in this match is just mean. Scoop slams that look like they have an extra oomph on them. Every elbow and every knee looks like he is replacing therapy with violence. Then he pulls off the Samoa drop gut buster that Roderick Strong does and it looks like it kills. Finally he locks in a dragon clutch for the win. Then to be even more of a prick, he celebrates and steps on Ciampa's head on the way out.
This isn't Hall of Fame worthy, but it's awesome. It isn't too long before he's back to the old Jamie Noble, but this version is a killer. You have to imagine his size held him back, because if he was just a little bigger he'd be a squash match king. Highly recommend.
TLDR Review
James Gibson is better than Jamie Noble. Tommasso Ciampa is better than Demarso Whitney. Can someone explain Ray Jay Johnson to me?
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