A poll for the readership: next week would you rather have detailed match-by-match previews of the two Florida shows, or an in-depth look at Gabe Sapolsky’s “Book of Secrets†DVD detailing his plans for the company? Both will be addressed, but reader interest will dictate which is longer. Please leave your vote in the Comments section at the bottom of this page.
The big news this week is that ROH signed a television deal with HDNet. This could be great for the company, despite it being a premium channel that isn’t available on many servers (including mine). However they didn’t announce when ROH will begin broadcasting, what he format for shows will be or how long the initial television contract will last. We don’t know if they will shorten the gap between taping and airing these shows (it currently takes well over a month to release a DVD), if the current touring schedule will change, or what the nature of the shows will be. They didn’t even guarantee that ROH will be taping in High Definition (one can expect it, but they just bought new production cameras in December that aren’t HD). All we have this week is confirmation of the rumor from two weeks ago, and we’ve already covered the possibilities of this deal in depth here.
The lesser but still quite cool second bit of news is that D-Lo Brown is coming to ROH. Back when Sapolsky was booking he was a great prospect, as someone with enormous experience not just on WWE’s entertainment stage but throughout Japan (if you haven’t seen his GHC title match with Bull Buchanan against Naomichi Marufuji and Takashi Sugiura, find it). He’s got charisma, can fly, work power and can do the stiff nonsense that most ROH crowds will pop over. But now he’s in the Pearce-era ROH, the brand where Jerry Lynn is far from surefire hits. How well will he do here? We can only cross our fingers.
The third story is that ROH is running four shows in the next two weeks, including a PPV taping and debuting in a new Florida market. These should be blowaways. However, so should Manassas and Edison two weeks ago, which had arguably stronger cards than what we’re looking at right now. Their willingness to hold back in and even renege on big matches should leave most skeptical of what’s coming. There’s something to be said for the Pearce Era’s unpredictability, but when what you didn’t predict was a run-in, a count-out and a screwjob, you’re in the territory of people not enjoying what they couldn’t predict.
The plus side is that this format is supposed to save up and deliver blowaways on the big shows – primarily annual events (like Final Battle) and pay per view (Rising Above). This will be their second straight PPV taping at Chicago Ridge, so it ought to be a good crowd and may be pampered as one of their havens of quality shows. They’re coming with Black & Danielson Vs. Jacobs & Aries, McGuinness Vs. Generico and Steel Cage Warfare, so you ought to expect to get your money’s worth. But “your money’s worth†is a vague cliché. What should you really expect this weekend?
Friday, January 30, 2009
Michigan State Fairgrounds & Expo Center “Michigan Mart”
January 30th, 2009- 8:00pm belltime
1120 W. State Fair Ave.
Detroit, MI 48203
ROH World Tag Team Title Match: Kevin Steen & El Generico ( c ) Vs. Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards
Times are grim for Steen and Generico. Following defending the belts in the opener of Rising Above, they won’t even be defending them on this Saturday’s PPV. They haven’t been on the last two doubleshots. The new ROH doesn’t seem to give a crap about its tag titles and has paid so much lip service to the American Wolves that they’re likely to pick them up while Steen and Generico get scarcer and scarcer in the company. If that happens, shame on the new administration. As it is, we can’t even be confident that ROH will let the champs have a great main event defense. We can hope, though – Davey Richards has a lot of experience against Steen and Generico individually, and had what might have been the match of the show against them at A New Level. Now they might headline.
Winners: Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards
The Necro Butcher Vs. Brodie Lee
This is being billed as a rematch from The French Connection, which is funny since that match was a short dud that almost no one has kinds words for. I see no reason that the Age of the Fall wouldn’t just hit the ring and jump the Butcher again. There is no stipulation that they can’t and they still hate him. Maybe Delirious runs in, maybe Haze will be there with Butcher for an angle with Delirious, maybe Jerry Lynn will appear to defend his partner the next night – but this won’t go long and it won’t be decisive.
Winner: Necro Butcher by something or other
Roderick Strong & Erick Stevens Vs. Jimmy Jacobs & Delirious
Strong & Stevens are up against two factions here, wrestling the head of the Age of the Fall and looking at a climactic battle against Sweet & Sour Inc. the next night. There are so many possible permutations of interference that it’s a little sickening. Strong and Stevens have also been whipping boys so often that they could really use the victory here going into the cage, but don’t be surprised if the whole thing is thrown out.
Winners: Jimmy Jacobs & Delirious
Claudio Castagnoli Vs. Brent Albright
Another match where Sweet & Sour Inc. could interfere and cost one of their enemies a victory. Interference here might even court Castagnoli into the stable, setting up the much-demanded Kings of Wrestling reunion when Hero returns later this year, and might secure his services the next night in the cage match. That last is unlikely as he’s scheduled against Kevin Steen, but as ROH showed in Edison, cards are subject to change. All of this is gravy, though, for a squad that would just want to hurt Albright before getting into the cage against him. This angle is necessary to cover up for Castagnoli if his heel character is running cold (as it tends to on non-PPV shows), though they two have good chemistry: their last match, at Battle for Supremacy, was sorely underpraised. Under the in-ring restrictions of the new ROH, and with the difficulties of Castagnoli’s bad guy persona, they’ll need to work hard to do something worthwhile.
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli
Bryan Danielson Vs. Rhett Titus and Austin Aries Vs. Silas Young
Something is up with these two matches. Two top veterans against two absolute jobbers. Plus, Titus and Aries are similarly flamboyant types. Aries is now out for himself and has used people (Generation Next, the Resilience, the Briscoes) for his own ends before. Could Titus become his lackey? Could we see a switch-up that pairs Danielson and Young against Titus and Aries? It would turn this to a seven-match show, which has been the goal lately. If nothing screwy goes down, expect the vets to cream the kids.
Winners: The vets individually, OR, Austin Aries & Rhett Titus to establish them as a unit
Tyler Black Vs. Jerry Lynn
There is no reason for Tyler Black to lose after pinning the champ and then going to a dubious draw against him on consecutive nights. You already threw into question his ability to get the job done (and actually made fun of it by the ten run-ins) last time – he needs to be a roll. I realize ROH wants to make Lynn another contender, but it can’t be at Black’s expense. What it needs to be is a great athletic match that makes the fans happy they came and establishes both guys as great contenders. You know, the sort of thing you used to take for granted in this company. Grant it now and restore a little faith to the faithful fans.
Winner: Tyler Black
Nigel McGuinness Vs. Jay Briscoe
The title isn’t on the line, so there’s a possibility that Jay Briscoe will get some sort of upset win to set up a title challenge later. Of course, there’s also the possibility that someone from S&S Inch will run in and ruin things for him. The new ROH sure loves interference. The big question here is how well Jay Briscoe is in top-flight singles matches. His challenge at the beginning of McGuinness’s reign (all the way back in 2007) was one of the weakest. Since then he’s picked up in ROH and abroad with more hustle in holds and more aggression in striking. If he can step, here’s where he ought to show it.
Winner: Nigel McGuinness
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Frontier Fieldhouse
January 31, 2009- 7:30 pm belltime
9807 Sayre Ave.
Chicago Ridge, IL 60415
ROH World Title Match: Nigel McGuinness ( c ) Vs. El Generico
Here are McGuinness’s exact words on this match:
ROH officials contacted him by phone to discuss Generico’s request. “I’ve already defeated that skinny tart,†said Nigel. “Why on Earth should anyone believe he has a claim to the Title? … Maybe I should reconsider, and just take the PPV off. I’ve nothing to prove – and certainly not to that skinny pale immigrant.â€
And then:
“If the fans want me to wrestle on the Pay-Per-View, and if they want me to fight that masked tart again, then I’ll oblige. And trust me, Generico will regret it.â€
McGuinness teases not granting a title shot at all, and then says he will let the fans see him wrestle, but doesn’t explicitly accept a title defense. Don’t be surprised if they bait and switch it into a non-title match despite it being on PPV. The show is already named Caged Collision and it’s obvious that they’re not banking on this match. That would be sad, as their match at Age of Insanity was one of McGuinness’s best defenses (and best singles matches, period), and you can’t pretend that this will be as dramatic without the belt the on the line. It will be good regardless. It should be much more.
Winner: Nigel McGuinness
Tyler Black & Bryan Danielson Vs. Jimmy Jacobs & Austin Aries
Let’s skip why this match his a title stipulation to it, shall we? Thank you. So whoever gets the fall gets a title match whenever they choose. This seems like a prime setup for Tyler Black to get a big PPV pinfall and challenge Nigel McGuinness for a climactic showdown at the next PPV. Aries didn’t fumble the title shot only to get it back, Jacobs winning would mean Heel Vs. Heel in the new more classic-minded ROH, and Danielson just lost to McGuinness. Everything points to Black. Everything also points to this being a great match. It’s a remix of the Respect is Earned 2 tag main event and features four guys with proven track records in tags. Depending how much time this gets, it could make a great trifecta along with the World Title match and Steel Cage Warfare.
Winners: Tyler Black & Bryan Danielson
Claudio Castagnoli Vs. Kevin Steen
This is PPV, where Castagnoli is a monster. Steen will test him, but by hook or by crook, come up short. If Steen & Generico retain their belts on Friday, this will set up Castagnoli as a tag title contender.
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli
Jerry Lynn & The Necro Butcher Vs. Delirious & Brodie Lee
This could be ugly. Lee and Butcher don’t have a very good track record, Delirious and Lynn have underwhelmed against each other, Delirious and Butcher have worn out their shtick against each other, and Lynn has no track record against big guys. On the PPV stage, the biggest issue will probably have to do with Daizee Haze’s pursuit of Delirious. Lynn ought to win to help build him to challenge McGuinness some day, but this is likely to be so low on the card that its lack of a consequential ending won’t matter (at least in management’s mind).
Winners: Jerry Lynn & The Necro Butcher
Alex Payne Vs. Silas Young
While Young deserves a regular deal and a firm push, the angle at Rising Above suggests things are in store for Payne. Here’s where they begin. Or, Bison Smith runs in.
Winner: Alex Payne
Rhett Titus Vs. Grizzley Redwood
Very weird to see two jobber matches on the same card – don’t be surprised if something turns around or one doesn’t make the PPV. Redwood has considerably more Videowire coverage than Titus, while Titus has been treated like a total loser under Pearce’s regime. Redwood is more likely to win here unless things start to turn around for Titus on Friday. Or, Bison Smith runs in. You know, he might make a nice ROH 911-knockoff.
Winner: Grizzley Redwood
Steel Cage War: A Sweet & Sour Inc. Mystery Team Vs. Brent Albright, Roderick Strong, Erick Stevens, & Jay Briscoe & Their Very Own Mystery Man
The previous PPV ended with the bad guy retaining his title. It’s time to deliver a nice feel-good ending, and with McGuinness sure to keep his belt on this night, here’s where you give it to the fans. S&S has gotten on up on these guys way too often for the feud to survive without a loss here, if not the straight-up climax that most people desire. It should be wild with blood and head drops. Don’t be surprised if Gabe Sapolsky’s original plan of Bobby Dempsey being the “good†team mystery man comes true.
Winners: The Heroes
