Quick News
Gabe Sapolsky now blogs. If you needed a reason to get a MySpace, that’s a pretty good one.
Wiswell wrote one of the very best ROH articles I’ve ever seen. Find it here.
In Manhattan, December 27, Bryan Danielson vs. Morishima in a Fight without Honor and in Philadelphia December 26, Marufuji vs. Aries. Both are dream matches and make the shows worthwhile alone.
Paul London isn’t returning to ROH, TNA, or even Japan. Instead he’s going to LA to be an actor/stuntman. Good luck Paul!
Former ROH World Champion Low Ki got a WWE tryout. Rey wants to work with him, but its hard to imagine his attitude or style playing in WWE.
There is now a ROH DVD subscription service. This is very convenient for those who want every show, as the 20 DVD package saves well over $100.
ROH Weekend Previews: 11/21 in Dayton, OH
Three Way World Title Match: Nigel McGuinness © vs. Austin Aries vs. Tyler Black
Why it’s Happening: Nigel is attempting to show up Danielson who was recently in a big three-way with Black and Kenny Omega. Aries is getting his third shot at the world title after the classics he and Nigel had at Rising Above and Supercard of Honor 3, while Black gets his third shot after the surprise hit Take No Prisoners and the Death before Dishonor VI 4-way. Aries and Black still have issues over the Age of the Fall’s feud with Lacey. Black has still yet to beat any of the three aces of ROH in a singles match.
What to Expect: This is real top talent and so the match should be amazing. Any lulls can be easily covered by their being three men in this, and its hard to imagine any of these rivals working together to slow the match down.
Who should win: Nigel has had the belt too long for him to lose in a three way. I’ll be amazingly annoyed if he isn’t involved in the decision, at any event.
Who will win: Nigel has to have the belt for the big match at the PPV the next night.
World Tag Team Title Match: Kevin Steen and El Generico © vs. Jimmy Jacobs and Delirious
Why it’s Happening: With Steen and Generico having defeated Jacobs and Black for the tag titles, the Age of the Fall is going for their titles back. Unfortunately for them, Black has a World Title match the same night, so Delirious takes his place. Maybe that’s not a bad things since Jacobs and Tyler have been having issues of late.
What to Expect: Steen and Generico are too experienced a team to lose to a new squad like Jacobs and Delirious. Given how good Steen and Generico vs. Jacobs and Black was, this has a lot to live up to and a lot is on Delirious’s shoulders, so he’d better deliver.
Who should win: Steen and Generico just won the belts.
Who will win: Steen and Generico waited too long to lose this soon.
Bryan Danielson vs. Claudio Castagnoli
Why it’s Happening: These two split two matches earlier this year. After Danielson won his match, he went on about how he was the Best in the World. Claudio felt disrespected by this and the fans and so attacked Danielson at Death Before Dishonor VI. Danielson now wants revenge.
What to Expect: Their first match was rather weak as it felt disjointed with three distinct segments. That was smoothed over in the second match and they delivered an amazing MOTYC at Northern Navigation. With this being a grudgematch, the comedy from the first match won’t appear and this should be match of the night.
Who should win: Claudio could use a win to cement his vicious heel status.
Who will win: If Danielson wins the next night, Claudio should win here to set up a title feud.
Brent Albright vs. Davey Richards
Why it’s Happening: Albright hates Sweet and Sour, while Davey is a member of SnS.
What to Expect: Both of these guys can go on the mat with personality and hit really hard. With Gabe booking, this might steal the show. As is, it’ll be a strong undercard match.
Who should win: Davey Richards is too hot to lose. Albright’s arm was hurt so he can be protected and tap to the Kimura.
Who will win: I’d guess this is where ROH’s complaints about SnS cheating surface and Albright takes a win via Dusty finish.
Lights Out Match: Roderick Strong vs. Chris Hero
Why it’s Happening: This is essentially a last man standing match. Roderick’s No Remorse Corps were broken up by Sweet and Sour recruiting Davey Richards and attacking him. Since then, Hero has loaded his elbow pad and knocked Roderick out numerous times.
What to Expect: This should be hard hitting. These two had a really good match earlier this year at Battle for Supremacy and should be able to repeat that here.
Who should win: Either can win without much being lost. Hero needs the build more.
Who will win: This is a blowoff so Strong will likely counter Hero’s big moves and cheating to finally get the win.
Jay and Mark Briscoe vs. Irish Airborne
Why it’s Happening: IA were semi-regulars in ROH in 2006, and the Briscoes beat them in several spotfests. IA is now back for more.
What to Expect: This will likely end up being essentially a Briscoes squash. It’d be more of a back and forth spotfest with Gabe in charge, likely, so this will be a great barometer to how much things have changed.
Who should win: IA immediately become roster regulars if they win and the Briscoes heel turn could be cemented, if that’s the direction.
Who will win: Briscoes will likely squash IA.
Four Corner Survival: Go Shiozaki vs. Sami Callihan vs. Rhett Titus vs. ????
Why it’s Happening: This is a random, thrown together match. If Necro is healthy, he’ll likely fill the free spot. If not, someone local will.
What to Expect: Callihan is making a name for himself, having won IWA-MS’s Ted Petty Invitational, which I didn’t see yet. Titus is now in a heel group with Kenny King and Go is the Japanese FIP Champion chop machine of Sweet and Sour, Inc. This should be short and keep the crowd hot.
Who should win: Callihan should beat Titus to build momentum if he’s as good as advertised.
Who will win: Go is likely too high on the card to lose even without dropping the fall.
ROH Weekend Previews: 11/22, Pay Per View Taping in Chicago, IL
ROH World Title Match: Nigel McGuinness vs. Bryan Danielson
Why it’s Happening: Nigel and Danielson have had a rivalry for years. Now that Nigel has become champion, he turned heel on Danielson at the Sixth Anniversary Show and has been mocking the American Dragon since.
What to Expect: This will be an instant classic.
Who should win: Nigel should win to validate his title reign and then drop the belt soon after to someone fresh.
Who will win: I get the feeling a big part of why Gabe was released was that he didn’t want Danielson to win here. Danielson will likely win here.
Samoa Joe vs. Tyler Black
Why it’s Happening: Joe is returning for one night only and Tyler issued a challenge.
What to Expect: Joe will deliver a sick beating and Tyler will come back with amazing near falls.
Who should win: Tyler would be a made man forever by beating Joe.
Who will win: No way TNA let Joe return to lose.
I-Quit Match: Austin Aries vs. Jimmy Jacobs
Why it’s Happening: Jacobs tried to recruit Aries. Aries said “no.†Lacey tried to seduce Aries, then left Jacobs for Aries. Jacobs went mad and tried to hurt both Aries and Lacey, who left wrestling. Aries countered by convincing Necro to leave Age of the Fall and beating the piss out of Jacobs. This is their final match. Unfortunately, both men have seconds. Aries is unannounced and Jacobs is Tyler.
What to Expect: A horribly brutal brawl that could be match of the year if not overbooked. I’d also expect a Lacey appearance.
Who should win: Jacobs has been elevated to a main event slot and would be helped hugely by defeating an Ace in a feud.
Who will win: Jacobs will likely win when Aries second turns on him.
Six Man Tag War: Brent Albright, Roderick Strong, and ??? vs. Chris Hero, Davey Richards and Go Shiozaki
Why it’s Happening: The faces want a Steel Cage Warfare match against the heels, but have to win here to get it. Erick Stevens was supposed to be the faces third, but SnS injured him.
What to Expect: This will be hard hitting, if short.
Who should win: The faces should counter the heels cheating to get the big win.
Who will win: Since the cage war will happen, the faces will win.
Shimmer Title Match: MsChif © vs. Sara Del Rey
Why it’s Happening: MsChif beat Del Rey for the title at a Shimmer show. Del Rey, now a striker, gets a rematch.
What to Expect: A very good, but too short, match between two of the better women’s wrestlers in the world. Unfortunately both are heels in ROH so the fan reaction will be lacking.
Who should win: MsChif won’t job to the woman she beat from the belt.
Who will win: If the title changes, it’ll be on a Shimmer show.
Delirious vs. Rhett Titus
Why it’s Happening: Delirious and Rhett both liked Daizee Haze. Daizee slept with Rhett, who reverted to being a scumbag and Del, spurned and destroyed, joined The Age of the Fall.
What to Expect: Del will try and kill Rhett. He might even succeed.
Who should win: Delirious can’t lose to Rhett and remain a dangerous heel.
Who will win: Del will win and make Rhett suffer more.
Four Corner Survival: Sami Callihan vs. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Silas Young vs. Alex Payne
Why it’s Happening: A thrown together four-way. Silas is an ex-WWE developmental guy who works similar to Aries. Callihan is the IWA-MS TPI winner, and Payne is Sugarfoot, the ROH trainee most over in Chicago for some reason. Claudio is an upper-carder who will smash them all.
What to Expect: Everyone putting on some fun, short spots and Claudio selling nothing.
Who should win: Claudio is newly heel and still needs big wins.
Who will win: Claudio is too high up the card to lose.
Both of these shows look like real winners as ROH is stacking cards to keep fans hyped with the new ddirection. Certainly not a ad plan.
