Ring of Honor has a huge weekend coming up as they head to the Midwest for a double shot of shows in Cleveland on Friday and Detroit on Saturday. This column will be dedicated to previewing those shows as well as throwing in some perhaps controversial predictions about “Survival of the Fittest 3″ on Friday, and the huge show from Detroit on Saturday.
Survival of the fittest is always one of the most exciting shows on the Ring of Honor calendar. The first was Austin Aries coming out party. Eventhough he lost in the finals to current RoH champion “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson, he proved he could hang with the best in the world, and bested the best a few months later in a two out of three falls classic at “Testing the Limit.” Aries came up short again the following year after he and former Generation Next teammate Roderick Strong demolished the competition in order to see who was the better competitor. On that night it was Roderick Strong.
Here is what the field looks like for this year.
Qualifying Match: “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe
This is a rematch from “Fight of the Century” but the world title will not be up for grabs. Samoa Joe has made the main event of the past two Survival of the Fittest shows coming up short and is certainly looking for revenge after the one hour draw the last time he faced Dragon. Dragon is looking to prove he is the “Best Wrestler in the World.” I have a feeling that Samoa Joe is going to take this one and play up the injury to the shoulder of Bryan Danielson. I think that Joe will target the shoulder on his way to victory.
Winner: Samoa Joe
Qualifying Match: Christopher Daniels vs. Austin Aries
This match needs no hype. Daniels has not been involved in a major program in Ring of Honor for a while, and for that and other reasons he will not be advancing. This tournament is Austin Aries to lose in my opinion and he will at the very least advance to the finals.
Winner: Austin Aries
Qualifying Match: Delirious vs. Jimmy Rave
The future of the members of the Embassy will be revealed in this one. I think it will mark the official disbanding of the stable. Jimmy Rave will prove his worth without Prince Nana and advance to the finals.
Winner: Jimmy Rave
Qualifying Match: Matt Sydal vs. Davey Richards
A lot of fans are picking Davey Richards to win “Survival of the Fittest 3″ outright. I am not sure that will happen, but I think he will defeat Sydal, and fairly handily. I also think this will open the show.
Winner: Davey Richards
Qualifying Tag Team Match: Homicide and Roderick Strong vs. the Briscoes
The feud between Homicide and Jim Cornette via the Briscoe Brothers continues in this match. The winning team will advance both members to the finals. One possibility is a double pin where one member of each team advances. I don’t think it will happen. I think Homicide will get a win over the Delaware boys advancing him and Strong
Winners: Homicide and Roderick Strong
Tag Team Championship Match: The Kings of Wrestling: Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli (champions) vs. Team Lacey: “Classic Colt” Cabana the Mad Fat Chick Killer and “Lovelorn” Jimmy Jacobs the Soul Lost to Emo
The Kings of Wrestling are not losing the titles this early in their reign. I think Homicide and Joe could form a semi-permanent team and take the belts a little bit later. This match will be all sorts of entertaining and will do more to further the Cabana/Jacobs angle. Jacobs will end up eating the KRS-1.
Winners and still Champions: The Kings of Wrestling
Survival of the Fittest Finals: Samoa Joe vs. Austin Aries vs. Jimmy Rave vs. Davey Richards vs. Homicide vs. Roderick Strong
If all goes according to plan, this could be the most stacked Survival of the Fittest final yet. It is of course contested under Elimination rules. Before the match I have a feeling Jim Cornette and American Dragon will come to the ring and announce that American Dragon will be forfeiting the title due to injury and the winner of this match will be crowned the new champion. (There’s that controversial prediction I was talking about.)
The first eliminations will be Davey Richards and Jimmy Rave. The other possibility is that Joe will fall to Jimmy Rave which could set up some matches further down the line. If Joe is still around, however, Roderick Strong will eliminate him with help from Austin Aries, much like last year. Aries will then sneakily role up Strong, and make no apologies to his former stable-mate and co-tag team champion. This will leave Austin Aries and Homicide as the final two, and the results will be outstanding, of course. Aries will get the win turning heel, aligning with Jim Cornette and cheating to beat the Notorious 187 and winning the world title for the second time.
Survival of the Fittest 3 Winner and New World Champion: Austin Aries
I think that Ring of Honor will err on the side of caution and take the belt off of Dragon allowing him to heal his injuries and compete at a top level in a few months. This will also put heat back on the “Final Battle” that it might lose if the match is not Danielson vs. Homicide. This also sets up the possibility for Aries vs. Strong in a title match in the meantime, and possibly another match with Samoa Joe. While this may not happen, and odds are against it, this would open up many possibilities in the next few months.
The next night in Detroit will then be changed around because of the happenings at “Survival of the Fittest 3.” Most of the matches will remain as listed, but there will be some changes.
As when any new champion is crowned Austin Aries will open the show and address the crowd with Jim Cornette in tow to explain the previous night. Aries will defend the title against the winner of the Six Man Mayhem.
Six Man Mayhem: Jimmy Rave vs. Dave Crist vs. Jake Crist vs. Delirious vs. Shane Hagadorn vs. Pelle Primeau
Delirious will win this one pinning one of the Crists. This will set up the world title match for later in the evening. Aries may or may not attack Delirious after the match.
Winner: Delirious
SHIMMER Tag Team Bout: Daizee Haze/Mschif vs. Lacey/Allison Danger
I have enjoyed all of the SHIMMER matches I have seen at the RoH shows. The talent in this match is top notch and the winner is really the fans. Not for seeing the beautiful ladies, but for seeing the beautiful ladies that can put on stellar wrestling matches. For the sake of making a prediction let’s go with Danger and Lacey.
Winner: Allison Danger and Lacey
Tag Team Attraction: Christopher Daniels and Matt Sydal vs. Colt Cabana and Jimmy Jacobs
Daniels and Sydal have formed a team out of respect and partially out of Daniels not wanting to have to wrestle Sydal anymore. This will continue the Cabana/Jacobs feud, but as opposed to last night Colt and Jimmy will come out on top, but not after a hard fought contest.
Winner: Colt Cabana and Jimmy Jacobs
Special Challenge Match: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Davey Richards
This will be great. Davey most likely will take this one, but Claudio could steal a victory via his Haliburton briefcase.
Winner: Davey Richards
Grudge Match: Chris Hero vs. Roderick Strong
Roderick Strong tries to get revenge for the Tag Team Title loss at “Glory by Honor V night 2.” I have a feeling that this one could be a show stealer. I have a feeling that if Claudio loses his match, then Hero will win this and vice versa. However I am going to predict that the winner will be Roderick Strong building towards a title match later this month.
Winner: Roderick Strong
Tag Team Grudge Match: Samoa Joe and Homicide vs. Jay and Mark Briscoe
This match will be contested under relaxed rules, so it should be all sorts of ultra-violent. If their last match-up is any sort of judge this match should also be off the charts. Homicide will get the win as he marches towards Final Battle and his huge World Title Match. I think there is a chance that Homicide and Joe will win the tag titles thus allowing Homicide to stay if he does not win the world championship.
Winner: Homicide and Samoa Joe
Ring of Honor World Championship: Austin Aries vs. Delirious
This is certainly nowhere near as exciting or climactic as Austin Aries vs. “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson would have been, but it is certain to be a very good to great match. If Aries goes into this match as champion then no way is he losing. I even think that if nothing screwy, as I predicted, happens the night before Aries will still win the championship for a second time.
Winner:Austin Aries
I have made some bold predictions, that is undeniable. Most likely, however, nothing this crazy will happen. If it does, I want to be there looking like a genius or a lucky guesser. If you want to comment on my predictions or make some of your own, you can email me at bigandymac@yahoo.com
I’ll see you next time
