ROH invades Japan again! Let’s Preview!
Ring of Honor Preview for Tokyo, Japan on 9/13/08
ROH World Tag Team Title Match: Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black © vs. Jay and Mark Briscoe
Why it’s happening: The Age of the Fall debuted by attacking the Briscoes and tortured the duo for the end of 2007, even kidnapping Mark before finally ending the Briscoe Brothers’ record setting tag reign. Since then Jacobs and Black have beaten the Briscoes again, injured Mark’s wrist, lost and regained the tag titles, and, in the process rekindled this tag feud.
What to expect: These matches have been fast and hard hitting with a lot of overkill so far. The Briscoes promise less double teams and more punches in the face now, so I’d expect a brawl with a different dynamic and, as these teams always deliver, an exciting finish in a match around ****.
Who should win: Jacobs and Black are the top heels around and have a built in match with Steen and Generico still waiting.
Who will win: Jacobs and Black will escape while maintaining the tag titles, while the Briscoes continue their hunt of Age of the Fall at Glory by Honor VII in Philadelphia on 9/20 in Steel Cage Warfare.
Non-Title Match: Nigel McGuinness vs. Bryan Danielson
Why it’s happening: When Danielson was the World Champion and Nigel was the Pure Champion, these two engaged in a heated rivalry to see which was the better champion. Danielson won that. Then they raced to see who could dethrone Morishima and Danielson won first crack at Driven, though Nigel finally succeeded. Eventually, with Nigel disrespecting the title Danielson built and Nigel feeling disrespected by the fans, McGuinness finally turned on Danielson at Sixth Anniversary Show and got that elusive win over his rival. Since then, Nigel has ducked Danielson as a challenger, facing him only in a four-way. A win here guarantees Bryan a title shot.
What to expect: A great match. In ROH thus far their matches with ratings: Weekend of Champions Night 1 **** ¼, Generation Now ****, Unified **** ¾, Epic Encounter II *** ½, Driven **** ¾, Survival of the Fittest 2007 *** ¾, and Sixth Anniversary Show **** ½. So, yeah, a great match.
Who should win: Bryan Danielson should win here to finally earn his one on one title shot with Nigel.
Who will win: Danielson also has a huge GHC Title match the next night and will begin building momentum here.
Grudge Match: Roderick Strong vs. Davey Richards
Why it’s happening: Roderick and Davey were the found members of the NRC. They were the most dominant team in stable wars throughout 2007 and into 2008. Larry Sweeney began trying to recruit the entire stable, but Roderick had no interest. At Respect is Earned II, after Roderick was in a grueling Fight without Honor against Stevens, Davey turned on Roderick, then immediately went to Japan. This is Roderick’s revenge.
What to expect: These two have had numerous very good matches in FIP, but the hatred should take this to another level. Both men work stiff usually, but this should be reminiscent of the brutal Stevens vs. Roderick wars.
Who should win: Davey should win then stay in Japan for awhile, driving Roderick’s frustration through the roof.
Who will win: Davey will win to keep this feud going as it still has some good legs.
Dragon Gate Rules Match: Shingo Takagi, Dragon Kid, and El Generico vs. BxB Hulk, Naruki Doi, and Masato Yoshino
Why it’s happening: Shingo and BxB had a falling out as tag partners, leading to a realignment of DG’s stables. BxB joined with Doi and Yoshino, while Shingo recently began regularly tagging with Dragon Kid… after winning the Brave Gate, main singles Dragon Gate title. It’s Dragon Gate Stable warfare!
What to expect: The usual crazy DG spotfest will be here, with actual heat as Shingo takes on a former partner and two longtime rivals with his new allies. This should be incredible.
Who should win: Shingo, Dragon Kid and Generico for ROH DVD audiences who have seen Shingo as a regular and get to witness his growth here.
Who will win: BxB, Doi and Yoshino because I think Dragon Gate will send BxB to America for awhile. His push has recently stalled out and he’d likely return to Japan a huge star and title threat.
ROH vs. Dragon Gate: Austin Aries vs. Ryo Saito
Why it’s happening: This is your standard interpromotional dream match.
What to expect: Saito is a top guy in Dragon Gate and Aries recently had a solid match with Horiguchi.
Who should win: Aries should win, keeping ROH strong against international competition who too often steamrolls ROH competitors.
Who will win: Saito will likely win, as Aries returns the job to Dragon Gate for defeating Genki Horiguchi.
ROH vs. Dragon Gate: Eddie Edwards vs. Yamato
Why it’s happening: Because both were available for the card?
What to expect: A solid, but short and unspectacular match.
Who should win: Edwards should win to build momentum from his recent win over Strong.
Who will win: Yamato will likely win as DG takes the series in Japan after ROH won the
Dragon Gate Challenge II series earlier this year.
Ring of Honor Preview for Tokyo, Japan on 9/14/08
ROH World Title Match: Nigel McGuinness © vs. Jimmy Jacobs
Why it’s happening: Jacobs has had enough big wins to deserve a title shot, but both he and
Nigel are uber-heels in the states so the match would come off flat. Giving it here allows for a better dynamic.
What to expect: Jacobs rises to the level of technically sound opponents and this will be better than many expect.
Who should win: Nigel is a name in Japan for beating Morishima and being a NOAH regular gaijin. Jacobs isn’t.
Who will win: Nigel isn’t losing the ROH Title overseas because of the pop it would draw here and that those shows will sell themselves.
GHC Jr. Title Match: Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Bryan Danielson
Why it’s happening: Danielson has looked great in NOAH and earned a Jr. Title shot. What better time than a ROH show.
What to expect: Kanemaru often rises to the level of his opponents and with Danielson, that’s one hell of a rise. This will likely steal the show like Danielson vs. Shiozaki did at Live in Tokyo.
Who should win: Danielson because it allows his match with Nakajima upcoming added importance and with Kanemaru holding the Jr. Tag belts, he doesn’t need both that and the singles title.
Who will win: Danielson will win I believe as a strange concession to NOAH and WWE’s business dealings.
Dream Tag Team Match: KENTA and Kota Ibushi vs. Noamichi Marufuji and Katsuhiro Nakajima
Why it’s happening: It’s a dream match, but KENTA has his longstanding rivalry with Marufuji, his former partner and is feuding with Kensuke Office, of which Nakajima is a part. Marufuji, for his part, brought Kota to NOAH as his partner last year and now they face off. Nakajima and Kota might be the future of junior wrestling in Japan.
What to expect: This might be match of the year. These are some of the very best guys around and they all have something to prove against each other.
Who should win: Kota, by pinning either opponent, has most to gain in a win.
Who will win: Nakajima will likely get the pin, setting him up for his USA ROH debut at 9/20.
Kensuke Office vs. ROH: Kensuke Sasaki vs. Roderick Strong
Why it’s happening: Kensuke agreed to do the show and someone had to face him. He and Roderick are known for chops. Kensuke is the GHC Champion and a legend.
What to expect: Kensuke will annihilate Roderick. This will at least be fun because Roderick is great at the underdog babyface role, but really, Kensuke will eat him alive.
Who should win: Rode… can’t even write it. Kensuke is just too big.
Who will win: Kensuke will chop Roderick to oblivion.
Grudge Match: Austin Aries vs. Tyler Black
Why it’s happening: Aries is still trying to dismantle the Age of the Fall and Tyler is still trying
to get that elusive win against a top guy. Aries has beaten Black twice already.
What to expect: This should be the best straight technical match on the card and these two have shown they know how to have a fast, exciting match.
Who should win: Aries because Black’s build is that he can’t get that win against a top guy and when he does it will be Nigel for the title.
Who will win: Aries will win but make Black look great in the process, as usual.
Jay and Mark Briscoe vs. Takeshi Morishima and Davey Richards
Why it’s happening: This one is about as random as they come.
What to expect: The Briscoes will hit hard and bounce off Morishima.
Who should win: The Briscoes could really use a win over a former champion and former tag champion to stay in contention.
Who will win: Davey seems to be here just to take the pin, so he can do that. Briscoes win.
NOAH vs. ROH: Taiji Ishimori vs. El Generico
Why it’s happening: Well, it’s a pretty random pairing, but Generico works Dragon Gate and Ishimori is a Toryumon X graduate and they faced off in Germany’s WXW before and that was good, so why not?
What to expect: This should be fun and high flying. It would make a perfect opener.
Who should win: Ishimori is mostly useful as KENTA’s partner and shouldn’t beat Generico who has got a title shot coming up at, you guessed it, 9/20.
Who will win: Generico is getting a big push and will win.
Eddie Edwards vs. Kazushi Miyamoto
Why it’s happening: Another random match, Miyamoto is a former All Japan wrestler who works freelance now.
What to expect: Another short, but solid match. Honestly, I don’t know enough Miyamoto to be sure.
Who should win: Edwards beating two Japanese wrestlers would do wonder’s for his reputation.
Who will win: Miyamoto has yet to earn a full time NOAH slot, while Edwards is a regular gaijin performer, so Edwards wins.
