Preview this weekend’s huge shows and the Pay Per View airing tonight!
News of Honor
The next ROH PPV debuts this Friday
Stay tuned for a spoiler free preview, but if you read no more than this know that the Fight without Honor between Strong and Stevens is stiff with some awesome spots and the Danielson and Aries vs. Black and Jacobs match is a MOTYC shortlister.
9/19/08 in Boston will be the next PPV taping
Besides that one Edison show, every single ROH PPV has been great. Boston, always a hot crowd, is sure to be no exception. I’ll absolutely be doing everything possible to make this one!
Click Here for last week’s PPV taping results
Danielson vs. Black looks absolutely must see! I can’t believe I’ve missed every singles encounter between them thus far!
Click here for the Toronto debut results
This show looks like an instant classic. Danielson is certainly verging on Wrestler of the Year again, putting on his usual many ROH classics, but adding PWG, WxW, and NOAH to his list.
Ring of Honor Invades Japan talent includes: Naruki Doi, Masato Yoshino, BxB Hulk, Pac, Dragon Kid, Ryo Saito, Yamato of Dragon Gate and for NOAH: Kensuke Sasaki and Nakajima, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, KENTA, Naomichi Marufuji, Kota Ibushi, and more
This looks sick. I’m a mark for Nakajima at the very least and Sasaki is one of, if not the biggest name in Japan. Click here for the full card with Dragon Gate talent.
Glory by Honor VII will be at New Alhambra Arena on 9/20/08
New Alhambra is the former ECW Arena, always a huge place for an indy wrestling show. Glory by Honor is one of ROH’s huge yearly shows, with Supercard of Honor, Death Before Dishonor, and Final Battle. Expect a huge show; I know I do. Last year, we got Misawa. The year prior was Danielson vs. KENTA in their ***** classic. Make sure you get to this one!
Weekend Previews: Friday August 1 in Manassas, VA
Tag Title Match: Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black © vs. Go Shiozaki and Naomichi Marufuji
Why its happening: Go says he needs a title to validate his ROH run, while Marufuji is just a top dog who hasn’t challenged for a ROH belt since late 2005.
What to expect: Go and Marufuji are both heavyweights in Japan, although smaller ones. Tyer and Jacobs are both juniors, though Jacobs uses a lot of brawling. There are a lot of styles present here, with Tyler’s flying, Marufuji’s technical skill, Go’s striking and Jacobs brawling. The mix and match element should keep this fast paced and entertaining.
Who should win: Jacobs and Black are finally returning some consistency to the tag titles after much of this year felt like the belts were hotshotting around. Unless Black is to take the World Title the next night, his team will win here, especially with Go vs. Marufuji booked for the Hammerstein. I really hope Tyler pins Marufuji to set up a singles match, but that is extremely unlikely.
Who will win: I’d be shocked and it would be a huge upset if Marufuji and Go won, though Go is almost sure to take the pin. Tyler and Jimmy keep their gold.
ROH World Title Match: Nigel McGuinness © vs. Ruckus
Why its happening: Lower card worker Ruckus won the Honor Rumble, a 15 man ROH Royal Rumble to earn a title shot.
What to expect: Ruckus is simply too low on the card and not good enough to really trouble Nigel. They could do a story similar to Delirious sneaking up and giving Danielson a scare in 2006, but I’d hope they do that with a better worker than Ruckus.
Who should win: Nigel’s run hasn’t made him look great, but it’s built a number of serious challengers to a higher level than they were prior, including Tyler Black, Steen, and Claudio. Ruckus should not join them. Nigel should win handily.
Who will win: Nigel will win handily.
Dream Tag Match: Bryan Danielson and Austin Aries vs. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, the Motor City Machine Guns
Why its happening: Well, it’s a dream match, but there are issues here. Shelley lead the Generation Next Stable that Aries kicked him out of when he (Aries) won the World Title. They continued their feud during Aries Generation Next vs. the Embassy, which Shelley was a part of. The Embassy also tried to take Danielson’s ROH Title in 2006, leading to a minor rivalry between Shelley and Danielson. Danielson defended the ROH title in a much overlooked great match against Sabin.
What to expect: A great, great mat wrestling, high impact match. The worst this should be is great.
Who should win: Shelley and Sabin are a regular team, while Danielson and Aries are singles wrestlers who regularly team. Shelley and Sabin should win to continue to cement themselves as a top team in the world.
Who will win: Shelley and Sabin immediately look like gods winning here and will keep packing houses for special ROH runs so long as they are kept strong. Aries and Danielson can handle a loss, so they will take it.
Injustice Rematch: Roderick Strong vs. Necro Butcher
Why its happening: Necro beat Strong at Transform due to Stevens interference. Roddy wants revenge and Necro doesn’t back down from a fight. They also had an incredibly stiff 3-way with Stevens at the Sixth Anniversary Show.
What to expect: This will be a hard hitting brawl. Necro always makes these look great and Strong can really go to town on the butcher.
Who should win: Necro doesn’t look any less dangerous for losing a hard hitting contest and repaying the job to Strong, while Roddy is high enough up the card that he really shouldn’t be losing here.
Who will win: Strong is a near main eventer and while Necro is very interesting, he isn’t there yet.
Grudge Match: Chris Hero vs. Brent Albright
Why its happening: Albright was in Sweet and Sour, Inc. before turning face because he hated Sweeney. He’s cost SnS numerous matches since then. Hero is the main man of Sweet and Sour and wants revenge.
What to expect: Serious Hero is on one hell of a role, with great matches all around the world. As a face, Albright is one of the most over wrestlers on the roster. This has “sleeper hit†written all over it. A great performance here will go a long way to legitimizing both guys. At the least, the crowd will eat this up.
Who should win: Albright has a NWA title shot the next day and a lack of huge singles wins going into it. Beating Hero is instant momentum, so Albright should win.
Who will win: Hero will likely win to set up a rematch when Albright has the NWA Belt. This feud isn’t ready to blowoff, so that wouldn’t be a bad decision.
Delirious vs. Rhett Titus
Why its happening: Delirious really likes Daizee Haze. Rhett keeps interrupting his attempts to ask her out and eventually turned Delirious’s date into a three way training session. Now Rhett wants to test himself out against Del.
What to expect: Comedy and lots of it. This should be hilarious and might actually be touching. This is like a better version of TNA’s Lethal-Dutt-Val love triangle.
Who should win: Rhett Titus looks like a star, now he needs a win to start proving himself.
Who will win: Rhett on miscommunication to keep things going.
Briscoes vs. Shane Hagadorn and Adam Pearce
Why its happening: The Briscoes, after Mark’s return from injury, look to prove themselves and work their ways to a tag title shot.
What to expect: The Briscoes will squash Hagadorn.
Who should win: Briscoes and it isn’t close. Pearce shouldn’t get in.
Who will win: Briscoes will destroy.
Pelle Primeau vs. Rex Sterling
Why its happening: Sterling is a local indy worker getting a tryout against ROH’s top graduate.
What to expect: Pelle sells like a champ, making Rex look good in a short match.
Who should win: Pelle could use a win, since from what I hear Sterling won’t be a regular.
Who will win: Pelle will likely get the duke.
Death Before Dishonor VI on Saturday August 2, from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City
ROH World Title Elimination Match: Nigel McGuinness © vs. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Bryan Danielson vs. Tyler Black
Why its happening: Everyone here faced Nigel before and came up short. They all want a rematch and get one at once. This is Claudio’s third shot after A New Level and last week’s PPV taping. Danielson gets his second shot at Nigel after Sixth Anniversary Show and Tyler’s only after Take No Prisoners. Danielson has a rivalry with Tyler, where Tyler is just so close to beating him in a singles match to prove himself (Match 1 at Breakout, Match 2 at Southern Navigation, Match 3 at the last PPV taping), while Claudio and Danielson just split two matches at Vendetta 2 and the Toronto debut.
What to expect: This should be absolutely great as it’s the first title match in this style since Punk’s title defense at Redemption. The previous four way elimination at Final Battle 07 was a **** match that was a load of fun, as well. Nigel is the only pure heel here due to the reactions Tyler gets, while Claudio is teasing either leaving the company, winning the title, or turning heel. Danielson will likely leave for WWE soon, but is the top guy until the day he walks out. This one could go any way and the suspense is great.
Who should win: I’d have Nigel take out Claudio, then Tyler take out Nigel, then Danielson to establish himself as a top guy. Nigel as champion has run it’s course and it’s time to make a new main eventer. Tyler being tag champion would also prevent the title from being defended every show.
Who will win: Nigel will likely sneak away with a victory since it’s in his character.
NWA World Heavyweight Title Match: Adam Pearce © vs. Brent Albright
Why its happening: Pearce started the heel stable, the Hangmen 3 and Albright joined. Pearce then sold out to Sweeney to have the NWA Title in ROH, without consulting Albright. Albright hated Sweeney and since turning at the last Hammerstein show, wants revenge. Pearce has had the NWA title since it was separated from the TNA belt and kept it through being a cheating heel.
What to expect: Albright should destroy the cowardly Pearce, with peace cheating for any momentary advantage, that Albright can, in time, no sell to the crowd’s explosion. Pearce has been despised in NY since his role in the Homicide attacks of 2006, while Albright was ridiculously over when he turned on SnS at A New Level in the same building.
Who should win: Brent Albright should win and take the NWA title, becoming a top guy who can defend the belt regularly in ROH, particularly while (hopefully)Tyler defends the ROH title less.
Who will win: I have a terrible feeling Pearce cheats and gets the duke, to be destroyed after dragging things out. I really hope I’m wrong. Albright is hot now and ROH shouldn’t wait until he loses momentum to make the move. There’s another match for them booked on an NWA show the same weekend, though that will get less exposure and is the wrong place to make the move.
Dream Tag Match: Kevin Steen and El Generico vs. The Motor City Machine Guns of Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin
Why its happening: It’s a gigantic dream match against what are surely two of the top 5 teams in the world right now. Also, Steen and Generico can earn a title shot by beating the Guns (though I’m not sure if that angle’s been dropped).
What to expect: A near-classic with great selling, great passing, great storytelling, an amped crowd and a huge finish.
Who should win: Steen and Generico need to get a move on towards the tag titles, starting this night.
Who will win: Steen and Generico can establish themselves to anyone who hasn’t heard of them here and really should.
Triple Threat: Austin Aries vs. Jimmy Jacobs vs. Necro Butcher
Why its happening: Aries and Jacobs issues were chronicled here last week. Necro, last weekend, pushed both Jacobs and Aries off a huge ladder, refusing to be told what to do. Here he is against both of these hated enemies. Will he choose sides or just hit stuff?
What to expect: A hard-hitting match with both Aries and Jacobs constantly lobbying to get Necro on their side.
Who should win: Necro should screw both over and take the win to a huge ovation.
Who will win: Necro will likely cost one man the match. If I had to guess, that would be Jacobs for a swerve coming up in Chicago when Necro faces Jacobs one-on-one.
NOAH Special Attraction: Naomochi Marufuji vs. Go Shiozaki
Why its happening: Go was sent to America to get better. He’s been competing in ROH and training with Harley Race. Here comes Marufuji, a former GHC Champion, for him to test his mettle against.
What to expect: Go will spend the match trying to prove himself, while Marufuji stays a step ahead with speed and technical skill.
Who should win: Marufuji can stay just a step ahead of Go, keeping the younger wrestler training hard to make it.
Who will win: Marufuji is too high up the card in NOAH to lose to Go right now.
Roderick Strong vs. Eddie Edwards
Why its happening: Strong hates Sweet and Sour because Davey turned to join them, breaking up the NRC and attacking Roderick in the process. Roddy wants revenge on the heel stable.
What to expect: Gabe advertised this as a sleeper match and that would be great, since Edwards is a very good wrestler who just needs a push and time. Still, I rather expect a squash by Strong here.
Who should win: Strong can’t lose to Edwards, but he can continue to attack SnS, win, and make Edwards look great in the process.
Who will win: Strong will win and hopefully have the title by the end of 09.
Delirious vs. Chris Hero
Why its happening: No special reason, really, but Delirious was Pelle’s partner when Pelle was trying to take it to Hero, so Hero here gets to beat on a thorn in his side.
What to expect: Hero should basically squash Delirious in what will likely be the opener. It isn’t likely, but this would be a great spot for Human Tornado to return since he teamed with Delirious in ROH and has huge issues with Hero in PWG.
Who should win: Hero continues his slow climb up to the top of the card, knocking out Delirious on his way.
Who will win: Hero is just too good right now to not push.
Jay and Mark Briscoe vs. Jigsaw and Ruckus
Why its happening: Jigsaw and Ruckus beat Jay and Mark at Bedlam in Beantown, right before the Briscoes won the tag titles. Mark then got hurt before Ruckus and Jigsaw got a title shot. Now the Vulture Squad members are jockeying against the Briscoes for a tag title shot yet again.
What to expect: This will be a high flying spotfest low on the card that the hyper Hammerstein crowd will absolutely eat up.
Who should win: The Briscoes are being rebuilt to challenge the Age of the Fall and it was probably a mistake to have them lose to Jigsaw and Ruckus to begin with.
Who will win: The Briscoes will win and pop the crowd.
That’s it for me for the week. Check back over the weekend for results and full reviews of both shows. Now, join Andy Mac for a spoiler-free preview of the Pay Per View, Respect is Earned 2.
Big Andy Mac’s Big Andy Pay per View Preview: Ring of Honor Respect is Earned II
Ring of Honor returns with its seventh foray into the world of Pay per View, this one is called “Respect is Earned II.†RoH has set the standard for wrestling action on a premium channel basis. People much more well known, read, and respected than yours truly have been lauding this show as far superior to anything else on Pay per View this summer season, but if that is not enough to hype the show let’s take a look at the card to see just what you shouldn’t be missing.
ROH World Tag Team Title Match
Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black defend vs. Bryan Danielson & Austin Aries
This is the main reason any sane wrestling fan should want to see this show. If it needs anymore hype than four of the top performers in the company, I don’t know what else it could. To put it in perspective, if ten years ago…hell there was nothing like this happening ten years ago. Anyone who concerns themselves with seeing all possible “Match of the Year†contenders needs to see this match. It is some of the best tag team and individual storytelling to happen in an American ring in a long, long time.
ROH World Title Match
Nigel McGuinness defends vs. Go Shiozaki
These two had a match in Pro-Wrestling NOAH that was unfavorably reported on by many. This match is not a show stealer, but it is hard hitting, well paced, and exciting.
Fight Without Honor
Erick Stevens vs. Roderick Strong
This is the second blood feud conclusion that fans get to witness on PPV. The first was the much vaunted “Ladder War†between the Briscoe Brothers and Kevin Steen & El Generico. For the “hardcore†style wrestling fan this match will be right up their alley. For fans of great conclusions to great feuds, well… they must share an alley with the “hardcore†fans for this one.
Six Man Tag Team Match
Brent Albright, Delirious & Pelle Primeau vs. Chris Hero, Adam Pearce & Eddie Edwards
This is the beginning of the slowly burning Sweet and Sour Inc. vs. Ring of Honor hostile takeover feud extraordinaire. As six man tag team matches go this is much better paced than any thrown together match on Monday nights with just as whacky a cast of characters. This match shows RoH’s ability to build stars and angles from scratch.
Singles Competition
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Davey Richards
This is not the best match from either man, but their “off days†and I use that term loosely is far better than most wrestlers’ good days. More than anything this is a portent of just how awesome Davey Richards is going to be some day in the not too distant future.
Tag Team Challenge
Ruckus & Jigsaw vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico
This match is fast paced, crisp and fun. There is really nothing more that one needs from a lower card tag match. This is Steen and Generico’s first head to head tag match since losing the “Ladder War†at “Man Up†and the Vulture Squad’s attempt to rise up the card. So even though this is low on the card, there are still things at stake.
There you have it. If this show is as much fun on tape as it was live then the fans are certainly in for a very big treat.
