Ring of Honor is bringing back several big names from Japan, Mexico and California. With business down, no more Bryan Danielson or Nigel McGuinness and Davey Richards and Gabe Sapolsky beginning northeastern competition with Evolve Wrestling (click here for everything we know about EVOLVE), ROH had to do something. They’re bringing in the following wrestlers: Katsuhiko Nakajima, Teddy Hart, Jack Evans, Alex Kozlov, Rocky Romero, and Human Tornado. Let’s look at what each offers:
Katsuhiko Nakajima: Nakajima is one of the best young wrestlers in the world, but he’s replacing KENTA on this next ROH tour. While the matches will be as good or better than KENTA’s they likely won’t get the same buzz. KENTA in America was carefully built as a monster by Sapolsky. Since then he’s had nothing but great matches and impressive wins to cement that. Nakajima, for all his quality, doesn’t have the name value that the build-up gave KENTA. Hopefully, this tour can begin to change that.
Teddy Hart: – The final child of the Hart family dynasty has been given every opportunity to be a star in wrestling, only for his attitude to cost him any chance. Of course, being a Hart means he still has huge name value and in his success perhaps lays ROH’s best opportunity to get back where they were. A number of great matches from Teddy Hart would sell DVDs and get people to tune in to HDNet. He’s never done it before, however, so there’s no reason to assume he would know… but at least he has a chance.
Jack Evans: Jack fills a niche in ROH which has only really the Young Bucks to fill their fans want for high fliers. This is an underrated niche in wrestling as there are fans who pay more attention to anything flashy. Jack can fill this role and help out if his return leads to regular bookings.
Alex Kozlov: This man working a Russian gimmick has been in ROH and TNA numerous times, yet never impressed. I’d assume he fails to impress again here.
Rocky Romero: – A recipient of training at the New Japan dojo and an inheritor of the Black Tiger mask that Mark Rocco and Eddie Guerrero wore so proudly, Romero is one of the more underrated wrestlers in the world, especially as Tiger where he does a world class Guerrero impersonation. With this gimmick he might become a draw, but without, he’s too familiar to independent fans as a mid-carder.
Human Tornado: – Sure, his pimp gimmick is silly and slightly insulting, but it’s still absolutely hilarious and fans love him. People have a great time at shows Tornado is on and, if he’s presented seriously enough to actually win, he could have a huge impact in ROH.
