Usually when a new champion is crowned in ROH, I look at the roster’s chances to dethrone him. Nigel McGuinness has held the title so long, however, that that initial ranking no longer holds water due to his own heel turn and changes in the talent pool around him. Without further ado, here’s the new list.
25. Jigsaw
Since unmasking, Jigsaw hasn’t done anything more of note than a few good tag title matches. Those are notably mostly because of the death of quality besides. It’s amazing that in Chikara he was one of my most highly regarded young fliers. Now he’s an undercard talent, unless something huge changes, for the rest of his career, putting on fun spotfests to keep the crowd entertained. That isn’t the kind of guy who has any shot at dethroning a long-term heel champion.
24. Mark Briscoe
Mark is chasing the tag titles and when both he and Jay are healthy, they rarely do singles matches. If this was a tag title list, he’d be far higher up, but since he’s always focused on tags, there’s no way he belongs higher on this list.
23. Jay Briscoe
Jay is so dedicated to his tag pairing with Mark that when Mark was hurt in a motorcycle accident in 2004, Jay quit the business. Recently, when Mark was hurt, Jay focused on hurting the Age of the Fall, who are the ones who injured Mark. This kind of dedication to his brother and tag wrestling means the under-rated Jay Briscoe might never get the World Title run his skill warrants.
22. Ruckus
Ruckus is, essentially, an older and more over Jigsaw. He’s already had a World Title shot and was completely squashed. The most outside of outside chances as a fluke champion with a roll-up in a rematch, he’s far, far more likely to continue in undercard spotfests, which remain his specialty.
21. Rhett Titus
Rhett might or might not be the most talented in ring of the ROH trainees thus far, but he doubtless has the best character, look, and charisma of the group. Due to his recent destruction by Delirious, a minor face turn could be in order. If that goes on long enough, and Nigel retains the belt long enough, this overbearing, Rick Rude modeled jerk might earn a title shot on a B-Show. ROH has never had an upset at this level and Titus is a pure heel and a rookie; the odds of the first time a huge upset happens being Titus are next to nil.
20. Kenny King
King is the newest member of the ROH roster. He is a big, athletic heel, who wrestles for the YRR heel group in Full Impact Pro. He’s likely to fresh to now take the title, but if Nigel held the belt long enough, there’s no guarantee he won’t break out, as he certainly has the requisite potential. Still, there are others who have proven far more, and I don’t expect Nigel to hold the belt long enough for King to get established and turn face.
19. Delirious
Delirious recently turned heel and joined the Age of the Fall after being spurned by Daizee Haze. He’s an evil destroyer now. I could see bad-ass Delirious getting over as the fans really were sick of his old character, but were quiet because they genuinely liked the guy. The heel turn was needed for the character to move up the card, but he won’t rise anywhere near high enough or turn back to face in time for Nigel to lose the belt.
18. Eddie Edwards
Edwards is among the more technically sound wrestlers in ROH, but is an underling in SnS. To win the title now, he’d be looked at in the same light as Xavier and going from one heel to another won’t really work. Edwards can, in time, be an upper-carder in ROH, but, again, Nigel won’t be champion by then (I wouldn’t expect).
17. Claudio Castagnoli
The newly heel Claudio is an ally to Nigel who treated him with respect, unlike, as he feels, Bryan Danielson and the fans. Claudio might challenge for the title eventually, but for now he has his sites set on those who disrespected him.
16. Kevin Steen
Steen has lost to Nigel three times, and while the first was through cheating, the other two attempts were just Nigel being better. He could earn another shot, but if he won it might be seen as a fluke. Besides, as Brad Garoon says, he’s perfect at the bottom of the main event scene.
15. Go Shiozaki
Go is a heel and has the FIP Title. There is no reason for him to challenge Nigel again. He’s defeated Nigel in FIP previously in what is being reported as their best match, but having the FIP belt, he’s looking to focus on defending that. Besides, Go lost in his two previous ROH World Title challenges, and Nigel seems to have a different level he goes to in defending that title.
14. Jimmy Jacobs
Jacobs has become a true main event heel and is one of the most hated men in the company. He challenges for the ROH Title in Tokyo, but has little chance of taking the belt. A major heel unseating a major heel makes no sense, and Jacobs, though a more-than competent wrestler, can’t strike or mat wrestle with Nigel, one of the best in the world at each.
13. Necro Butcher
Necro is currently (likely) turning on Age of the Fall. As his reception at A New Level shows, fans love Necro and can get behind him against top guys. Unfortunately for Necro, the top guy he’s facing is Jacobs, not the man who holds the belt. Either way, though an awesome brawler, he lacks Nigel’s versatility and wouldn’t have the skills to succeed against the champ 9 times out of 10.
12. Jerry Lynn
Lynn has already shown that he is not to be underestimated at Vendetta II, nearly defeating Nigel and taking the belt. Still, until he’s a real regular, it’s hard to see him actually defeating Nigel. A lot of guys come close, but Nigel is still the champion.
11. El Generico
Generico is another man who has come close to defeating Nigel. He is absolutely the comeback king and with Nigel controlling so much, seems poised to defeat the champion. The problem is, Nigel’s lariats make him too deadly and, with ROH always trying to grow, a champion that looks like Generico might cause new fans to never give the product a try.
10. Chris Hero
Hero is doing his knockout heel gimmick currently, but SnS has to run its course sooner or later and when it does, should Hero end up a face, he’d be amazingly over. Fans always love cheering the entertaining Hero and with his WxW and PWG work selling me on him as a face, I’m certain he’d be viable on top in the ring. Still, SnS has a lot of legs left, Hero has plenty of feuds with Strong and Albright gunning for him, and Nigel won’t likely have the belt at the end of all that.
9. Rocky Romero
Romero has been MIA in ROH since the end of the NRC, working Mexico and Japan. It’s not unheard of for a man to return from a ROH hiatus and win the title; Bryan Danielson did it. Romero isn’t at that level of skill or overness, but with more time working around the world, it’s a possibility worth looking into. Still, it’s far more likely he gets involved with Davey Richards and Roderick Strong upon his return than the World Title picture.
8. Naomichi Marufuji
Marufuji is the one man on this list that Nigel has faced but never defeated. Their one match, for Marufuji’s GHC title at Glory by Honor V Night 2 was excellent, but featured Nigel far from the top level of his skill he’s displaying now. Since Marufuji barely won then, he’s likely in trouble. Add in that Nigel defeated Morishima, who has defeated Marufuji, and the match will be great, but Nigel will be victor.
7. Davey Richards
Davey is another man on hiatus. He’s improved amazingly and is now a top worker who has never had a title match. He could take the title from Nigel, but returning as a member of SnS, Inc would more likely chase the NWA or FIP (if someone other than Go gains it by then) and feud with the man he jilted when he destroyed the NRC, Roderick Strong. That’s a lot on his plate before the first ROH World Title match of his career.
6. Bryan Danielson
Danielson is the Best in the World and feuds with Nigel over that title. He’s currently involved in the biggest feud with Nigel and has beaten the current champion numerous times in the past. So, why is he so low?
Danielson challenges Nigel non-title in Japan. Danielson will almost surely bring his A game and win. That will earn him a title shot, but also likely leave him prone to overconfidence. An overconfident Danielson cannot defeat a frustrated and desperate heel Nigel.
5. Austin Aries
Aries is embroiled in a bitter feud with the Age of the Fall, after which, if he won, he could challenge for the World Title again. Focused and free of demons, he’d have among the best shots on the list of defeating Nigel McGuinness. Of course, Jimmy Jacobs is simply too tenacious an opponent to go down to Aries anytime soon, so Aries is likely a long way away from a World Title shot.
4. Brent Albright
Albright, the NWA Champion, is on a role, winning regularly at great matches. This could absolutely build to a unification match between he and Nigel, just like Nigel had one at Battle for Supremacy with Adam Pearce. Albright has to be considered a major threat for the title in that situation, but currently he also must first establish his own NWA title reign. With Super Agent Larry Sweeney constantly trying to get his guys shot at the prestigious NWA title and Albright being all too happy to try and dismantle his former (short-term) stable, Albright will remain distracted for the remainder of Nigel’s title run.
3. Erick Stevens
Stevens lost the FIP Title (again) and has proven a rather weak champion, but a tenacious challenger. He can either go for the FIP Belt again or turn his focus to the ROH World Title due to Nigel only defeating him the first time because Roderick Strong attacked Stevens before the bell. If Stevens decides to focus on Nigel, then Nigel is in trouble. Odds are, however, Stevens will be more focused on revenge on Sweet n Sour.
2. Roderick Strong
Roderick, as a face, is one of the top wrestlers in ROH currently. He’s been inches from the ROH World title numerous times: Escape from New York, This Means War, Vendetta, Supercard of Honor, Anarky in the UKand Without Remorse. The last of these close shots with the title was to Nigel himself. Roderick has a title shot coming up at the next PPV taping and is always a distinct threat to take the belt. He can mat wrestle with Nigel, strike with him, and has submission and impact finishers. If Strong isn’t distracted by his feud with Sweet n Sour, Incorporated, he may just finally win the title.
1. Tyler Black
Tyler has taken Nigel to the limit twice already. The first time was Tyler’s second match of the night at Take No Prisoners. The second time was Death before Dishonor VI where they were the final two in a four-way. Both times Tyler showed that Nigel could barely handle him when he wasn’t at full strength. At full strength, Nigel might just have no shot against the next big thing.
Stay tuned Monday for my thoughts on WWE Champion CM Punk!
