This week, Weekend Previews with guest thoughts from Cult of ROH writer John Wiswell. With Gabe Sapolsky gone from ROH, much of the booking is up in the air, so, while I’m usually fairly reliable for these, everything here could easily be turned on its head. Here’s hoping for the best!
ROH Weekend Previews: 11/7/08 in Montreal, Quebec
ROH World Title Elimination Match: ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness vs. FIP World Heavyweight Champion Go Shiozaki vs. ROH World Tag Team Champion Kevin Steen vs. ROH World Tag Team Champion El Generico
Why it’s happening: The four recognized champions in ROH will showdown to show which is supreme. Nigel has feuded with Steen and Generico, defeating the former three times and the latter twice, while he has defeated Go in ROH, but lost to him in FIP.
What to expect: Their was another one of these at Death before Dishonor VI, where Nigel battled different contenders and it ended up a strong MOTYC. This likely won’t be quite as good, though the talent is comparable, due to that one perfectly playing off recent storylines. That isn’t to say this won’t be great, and all of these guys can have a clear role here leading to this coming close to the first.
Who should win: Nigel should lose one-on-one to a major babyface, so he’ll likely win here.
Who will win: Having a heel lose in what can be seen as an odd-stacked-against match makes no sense. Nigel wins.
Wiswell’s Take: Your obvious main event has a lot riding on it. Could it go to a draw? If the time limit is 45-minutes and only one challenger lasts, it would certainly make one more Generico or Steen singles challenge special. But it’s overwhelmingly likely that McGuinness will pull out another victory. The format of eliminations can really build to an inspiring final fall, so it’s really a question of how far they go and how much they click. Go has worked well with Steen and Generico individually, while McGuinness has had some gold against Generico and one hot match against Steen in Canada. The elements are there.
Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black vs. Bryan Danielson & Austin Aries
Why it’s happening: This is essentially a number one contenders match for a tag team title shot. Danielson has his issues with Black over respect and Black trying to claw to the main event. Black has had problems with Aries in much the same manner, though to a lesser level. Jacobs and Aries wars are coming to an end shortly, but here they get another shot at hurting each other before their feud ending best-of-three runs out.
What to expect: At Respect is Earned 2 these two teams put on one of my favorite matches of the year. In deference to the main event, which it was that night, I would expect this to be a step below, but everyone here is a great pure wrestler and there’s enough feud heat here for them to potentially steal the show.
Who should win: Aries and Danielson are a fresh match for Steen and Generico, so I’d hope they win.
Who will win: Aries and Danielson will likely get their win back from RIE2.
Wiswell’s Take: Their match at Respect is Earned 2 is one of my favorite tags of the year, but there they main-evented and kind of had to save things after McGuinness/Go, whereas this time they’re likely the semi-main. Will they top themselves? Probably not, but it’s likely to be heated as we roll towards the conclusion of Aries’s feud with Jacobs.
Roderick Strong vs. Davey Richards with Larry Sweeney
Why it’s happening: Davey broke up the NRC by turning on Roderick to join Sweet and Sour. Since then they had one great match in Japan, won by Roderick, but one gets the feeling these two’s wars are just getting started.
What to expect: This should be very hard hitting and high on one upsmanship. Roderick is among the best faces at selling for sympathy and making his comebacks mean something, while Davey is awesome at being a dickish heel and making the crowd hate him while maintaining a good pace. This should be awesome.
Who should win: Davey needs his win back if this is to continue.
Who will win: Sweeney at ringside is a get out of jail-free card for Davey’s win. Davey can win and Roderick can get his heat back smacking around Sweeney.
Wiswell’s Take: A rematch from the acclaimed match in Japan should showcase excellent technical wrestling, throws and strikes. Given the rumors of ROH scaling back its style and the huge double main events, though, this may not get the time to be an excellent sequel. If it doesn’t it should be the first match, to let them do something briefer but still as impressive as possible. ROH needs to open up on Friday with a great match to reassure its fans.
Jerry Lynn vs. Delirious
Why it’s happening: Lynn seems to be working his way through the regular roster.
What to expect: Delirious’s new heel persona hasn’t had a really great singles match yet. I don’t know if Lynn’s the guy to get this, but his involvement should keep this heated.
Who should win: Delirous really needs a win to cement himself as something other than a joke.
Who will win: Lynn is aiming for a title shot and losing to Del effectively cancels that.
Wiswell’s Take: Lynn’s opportunity to pick up a win and Delirious’s opportunity to show off this slimy assassin character. It should be particularly interesting to see Lynn deal with someone substantially shorter than he is, as opposed to McGuinness, Hero and King.
The Necro Butcher vs. Brodie Lee
Why it’s happening: Necro was the Age of the Fall’s big redneck enforcer. That’s Brodie’s role now.
What to expect: Two big dudes hitting each other with tons of shit. I’m really looking forward to this.
Who should win: Necro is getting a title shot and needs a win here.
Who will win: Necro can hit Lee with enough to win, but keep Lee strong.
Wiswell’s Take: ROH likes Butcher too much for him to go down to a rookie, even a giant like Lee. This is a throwaway win to setup for his title challenge against McGuinness on Saturday. Hopefully it’s good. Probably someone is getting punched.
Jay & Mark Briscoe vs. Kenny Omega & Kenny King
Why it’s happening: The Briscoes put out an open challenge which was picked up by Omega and King. Omega is a new face-type who can do impressive spots and is fun, while King is a rich, pretty-boy athlete heel.
What to expect: The Briscoes will get a good sprint out of Omega and King, with heel miscommunication likely costing the Kennys.
Who should win: The Briscoes are too high up the card to lose here.
Who will win: The Briscoes.
Wiswell’s Take: Omega & King don’t have a prayer, but they’re really here just to show what they have. Both have definite ability, and King’s personality is bound to shine through. This is the one I’m watching most closely because I can’t comprehend how it could have few highspots, let alone be seventies style wrestling. The rumors of stylistic changes to ROH will be tested most here.
Erick Stevens vs. Eddie Edwards with Larry Sweeney
Why it’s happening: Stevens is in a battle with SnS, Inc and Edwards is their representative for the evening.
What to expect: This will be a lot better than people expect. If you’ve seen Death Before Dishonor VI, this match will be similar to Edwards vs. Strong from that.
Who should win: Stevens needs to be booked stronger, more consistently and should finally one up SnS.
Who will win: Edwards will likely get a cheap win here using Sweeney after an impressive performance.
Wiswell’s Take: This is something for these two guys to do. Realistically they both need to get it in gear, because Edwards still requires travel from Japan, and being booked to choke or not, Stevens has rapidly declined in the eyes and hearts of the audience. Hopefully Edwards’s heightened technical style, alluded to in a recent Newswire, will mesh with Stevens’s fire and selling capacity to create something decent. Shouldn’t go long, though.
Also Appearing: Dan Paysan, Exess, Stupefied, & Green Phantom from IWS.
ROH Weekend Preview: 11/8/08 from Markham, Ontario
ROH World Title Match: Nigel McGuinness © vs. The Necro Butcher
Why it’s happening: Necro has been on a tear. Now he goes for gold.
What to expect: Necro will hit Nigel hard… with everything in the arena, but lariats prevail.
Who should win: Nigel should win; Necro’s too limited to be champion.
Who will win: Nigel has the belt until at least his Danielson match on PPV.
Wiswell’s Take: McGuinness gets to lariat the punching bag this time. Crowds care for Butcher, so they ought to get some mileage out of McGuinness’s hundred-kickout formula. I don’t have too much faith in how much, though.
ROH Tag Team Title Match: Kevin Steen and El Generico © vs. Jay and Mark Briscoe
Why it’s happening: These two had wars in 2007 over the Briscoes’ tag titles. Now with Steen and Generico as champions, the Briscoes want their belt back from a team that could never beat them.
What to expect: The match of the night in a high impact war.
Who should win: Steen and Generico aren’t losing the belts here after such a build to them winning.
Who will win: Steen and Generico exorcizing old demons, take the big win.
Wiswell’s Take: It’s a year later and it’s in Canada. It’s time for Steen and Generico to get their big win in a title match against these boys. It’s their country, their belts and their time to become the main name in the ROH tag scene. If ROH wants to do a creative ending of some kind that builds to future matches between the two teams, fine. But let the Delaware contingent chase in 2009. Let Steen & Generico defend in a rematch against the Age of the Fall or in a huge first-timer against Aries & Danielson. This is your feel-good team. Keep the gold on them.
Dog Collar Match: Jimmy Jacobs vs. Austin Aries
Why it’s happening: This is the second of three in their feud blowoff. Jacobs won the first. There have been two great ROH Dog Collar matches in ROH, Punk vs. Raven and Punk vs. Rave, with one being actively bad- Delirious vs. Pearce. Here’s betting this resembles the former two.
What to expect: This should be a violent war.
Who will win: Naturally, Aries must get the victory here to make the third match mean anything.
Wiswell’s Take: This should be vicious. Aries doesn’t mind getting destroyed and Jacobs has shown no fear in hardcore matches in any promotion all year. I expect it to end with Aries dangling from the chain in a sick visual to setup one blow-off win for him in I Quit. This isn’t a traditional Best of Three series like Danielson/Aries last year, but a series of grudge matches. Going 0-2 here puts Aries in a tougher spot going into the finale.
Bryan Danielson vs. Tyler Black vs. Kenny Omega
Why it’s happening: Danielson is prepping himself for his Nigel bout by taking on two top young talents, one of whom (Black) has taken Danielson to the limit on more than one occasion.
What to expect: Black and Omega will fly all over the place, while Danielson uses well timed strikes and submissions to ground the fliers.
Who should win: Omega getting a surprise win here would elevate him unbelievably.
Who will win: Danielson will likely get the win here to maintain momentum.
Wiswell’s Take: What would have been a good exhibition is now lopsided. Even after Black’s series against Danielson, Danielson is still overwhelmingly likely to win. In fact he’s so likely that it’s best for Black to get the upset here.
Jerry Lynn vs. Davey Richards with Larry Sweeney
Why it’s happening: Lynn continues to work his way through the ROH roster.
What to expect: This should be a fast-paced, chain wrestling match, reminiscent of what Lynn and a Lance Storm would do.
Who should win: Lynn should get the duke here, building a letdown after Davey’s big win prior.
Who will win: I expect Davey to get a god push (left over mentality from Gabe booking), so I still guess he wins.
Wiswell’s Take: Just like Friday this has the potential for technical greatness. Just like Friday, winning here could help get Richards off the ground for big things now that he’s back in ROH. But while the Strong match has rivalry to it, this could be closer to the athletic competitions fans need to see ROH will still put on.
Also on the show: Brodie Lee and Delirious have an open challenge while Erick Stevens, Roderick Strong, Go Shiozaki, Eddie Edwards, and Kenny King are announced.
That’s it for this week. If you’re in the area, go check out these shows, if only to see ROH’s new direction take shape on shows mostly put together by Gabe, also known as When Booking Policies Collide!
