ROH Weekend Previews: 12/5/08 in the St. Louis Area
Nigel McGuinness and Claudio Castagnoli vs. Jerry Lynn and Bryan Danielson
Why it’s happening: Claudio decided to turn heel, essentially because Danielson and the fans didn’t respect him enough, while Nigel McGuinness did. He recently tried to interfere in Danielson and McGuinness’s PPV bout, leading to Danielson being extremely upset with him (along with several earlier assaults). Nigel is the champion and Danielson is his main contender. Nigel has defeated Danielson, but never without some controversy, and Nigel continues to mock Danielson in the ring. Lynn is a legend who has mutual respect with Danielson, but feels disrespected by Nigel, while having an upcoming match with each.
What to expect: As the main event, this should be a long match with a lot of counter wrestling, besides Claudio and Danielson who may use this to establish how much they hate each other. This should be similar to Double Feature’s great Danielson and Aries vs. Nigel and Go Shiozaki in structure.
Who should win: Honestly, it doesn’t matter, since this isn’t for anything, but Claudio could really be helped by going strongly over his opponents here.
Who will win: Lynn will likely pin Nigel to celebrate with Danielson, setting up Lynn vs. Nigel and Lynn and Danielson’s respect, while sending fans home happy.
Tyler Black vs. Austin Aries
Why it’s happening: I have no idea. Aries blew off his feud with Age of the Fall, but is still being put in matches with them.
What to expect: These two’s matches have been varying degrees of disappointing since they’re excellent, unscheduled opener at Unscripted III, so hopefully, in a top spot, they show better chemistry with one another.
Who should win: If Tyler is being groomed for the World Title, Aries has to beat him, as the story is he can’t get a big win. If he’s not getting the title, this is a suitable big win to help him breaking up with AOTF, beating the guy his leader, Jacobs can’t.
Who will win: I have a bad feeling we’re getting a non-finish or interference here. If not, Aries wins.
Gauntlet Match
Brent Albright & Erick Stevens vs. Jay & Mark Briscoe vs. Irish Airborne vs. ???
Why it’s happening: The winning team gets Sasaki and Nakajima at Final Battle 2008.
What to expect: This should be hard hitting and fairly faced paced.
Who should win: Albright and Stevens make for the best match for Sasaki and Nakajima, after Irish Airborne upset the Briscoes to keep them around viably.
Who will win: Briscoes vs. Sasaki and Nakajima sounds like a draw to fans, so I see ROH going that way.
Necro Butcher and Ace Steel vs. Jimmy Jacobs and Delirious
Why it’s happening: The Age of the Fall, Necro’s former stable, cost Necro his title shot against Nigel. Now he found a crazy man, Ace Steel, to help him get revenge.
What to expect: A brawl? Hopefully not a countout or disqualification.
Who should win: Steel is generally the patron saint of lost causes in ROH, joining feuds early while his side takes beatdown after beatdown before the eventually comeback. Why ruin that here?
Who will win: Jacobs is a main eventer, the rest are undercard guys and he’ll likely keep strong here barring a weak finish…. which is sadly quite likely.
Kenny Omega vs. Kenny King
Why it’s happening: King walked out on Omega in an earlier match. Now Omega wants revenge.
What to expect: Omega will hit fancy, flying spots, while King heels it up to ground him.
Who should win: Omega should go over cleanly since the crowd is so behind him.
Who will win: King will win with cheating to keep this going since they face off again tomorrow.
Shimmer Title Match: MsChif © vs. Daizee Haze
Why it’s happening:Daizee hates Age of the Fall, of which MsChif is a member.
What to expect: A short, but solid match where Daizee blows at least one spot.
Who should win: MsChif should win cleanly, since Daizee seems more focused on Titus and Delirious.
Who will win: The Shimmer title has yet to change hands outside of Shimmer, meaning Daizee loses.
Rhett Titus and Sal Rinuaro vs. Grizzly Redwood and Bushwhacker Luke
Why it’s happening: Grizzly and Luke formed a comedy tag team, which made Titus laugh. The faces then decided they’d beat respect into him, so he tapped Sal for a partner and we have a match.
What to expect: Lots of comedy here, that will be good for the live crowd at least.
Who should win: Titus and Sal should beat the faces or will look like eternal jokes.
Who will win: Titus is getting a push, so he and Sal win.
Card Prognosis: This looks beyond week, with only the two main events seemingly having the possibility to be above average.
ROH Weekend Previews:12/6/2008 in Nashville, TN
ROH World Title Match: Nigel McGuinness © vs. Jerry Lynn
Why it’s happening: Lynn is the cagey vet and Nigel’s the cagey champion. Nigel isn’t showing Lynn proper respect so Lynn is going for the World Title.
What to expect: Hopefully, this is much like their Vendetta 2 match, where both men try to out-think each other until the physical differences come into play in the finish.
Who should win: Nigel is ready to lose the title, but Lynn has nothing to do with it.
Who will win: Lynn’s status is ensured, so Nigel keeps the belt until he can make a star by losing it.
The Necro Butcher and Austin Aries vs. Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black
Why it’s happening: Age of the Fall cost Necro his title shot and feuded with Aries over… well, a lot that’s well chronicled. Aries vs. AOTF is supposedly over so I’m not sure why he’s here.
What to expect: This will be a big brawl, but given the participants, could be great anyway.
Who should win: Jacobs and Black are former two time champions and shouldn’t be losing to ad-hoc teams.
Who will win: Aries and Butcher will win to further the Jacobs Tyler breakup angle.
Bryan Danielson vs. Claudio Castagnoli
Why it’s happening: This is a grudge match due to Claudio’s repeated assaults of Danielson, including trying to cost him his title shot against Nigel McGuinness.
What to expect: These two will bring major heat at each other for the first time. Danielson has handled this before, Claudio hasn’t so we’ll see how he holds up. If the answer is “well†then we could have a classic.
Who should win: Claudio needs a win, cheating or not, to keep this going/
Who will win: Danielson will likely win, because that’s the way things have been going, to keep CC frustrated but leave him seemingly weak.
The Briscoes and Kenny Omega vs. Kenny King, Sal Rinuaro and Rhett Titus
Why it’s happening: The YRR cheated to beat the Briscoes in FIP and in ROH, King walked out on Omega during a match with Jay and Mark to join his new friends, the YRR. The Briscoes and Omega now go for revenge.
What to expect: This would be an awesomely, fun spotfest, but instead assume stalling heel tactics until the faces destroy…well, unless the Briscoes continue to turn heel here anyway.
Who should win: The Briscoes and Omega could look awesome with a huge, flashy win.
Who will win: The Briscoes could finally get revenge on the YRR here, and Omega takes a big one to keep his mini-feud going evenly.
Brent Albright and Erick Stevens vs. a Sweet and Sour Inc Team
Why it’s happening: The faces that have suffered at the hands of SnS get their hands on two mystery members.
What to expect: With no opponents announced, no idea.
Who should win: The faces need to look strong already or the fans will lose interest in her.
Who will win: The SnS teams have been cheating to get ahead and will continue to do so here.
MsChif vs. Serena Deeb vs. Sara Del Rey vs. Daizee Haze
Why it’s happening: This is just a random throw together of women on the roster.
What to expect: A short, inoffensive match to keep the card going/
Who should win: Del Rey winning might get her a shot at MsChif for the Shimmer title, which is her goal.
Who will win: MsChif will likely get a bit more establishment in ROH with another win.
Grizzly Redwood and Bushwhacker Luke Williams vs. Irish Airborne
Why it’s happening: A randomly thrown together face tag match.
What to expect: Something short here, that will hopefully fall more towards fun than offensive.
Who should win: IA need to be established.
Who will win: If IA lose, they cannot be taken seriously.
Card Prognosis: The top card here looks good, and while the lower card seems filler, there’s enough up top that should carry this show.
