ROH “Supercard of Honor VI” Preview

The name “Supercard of Honor” means many things to the ROH faithful, but one thing it has always represented is the absolute best in professional wrestling. From the amazing 6-Man Tag & Roderick Strong vs. Bryan Danielson World Title match in 2006, the Jimmy Jacobs vs. BJ Whitmer Steel Cage bout from 2007, the Nigel McGuinness vs. Austin Aries World Title match from 2008, the KENTA vs. Davey Richards GHC Jr. Title & Jerry Lynn vs. Nigel McGuinness ROH World Title matches from 2009, and the insanity of 2010 with the Kevin Steen vs. Colt Cabana Deathmatch, the KoW vs. MCMG Tag Title Match, and the Tyler Black vs. Roderick Strong World Title match, SoH has grown into a staple of the ROH calendar year, and in 2011 we return to its birthplace: Chicago Ridge, IL.

This Saturday night, May 21st, “Supercard of Honor VI” will go down at the Frontier Fieldhouse in Chicago Ridge, IL and features the most talented roster in all of professional wrestling. There is no better place for pro wrestling than Ring of Honor, and here’s a look at what brought us to the Windy City:

ROH World Title Match
Eddie Edwards defends vs. Roderick Strong with Truth Martini

At “Manhattan Mayhem IV”, Eddie Edwards shocked the world when he ended the 6 month World Title reign of Roderick Strong. In doing so, Edwards achieved a number of firsts; he became the first Triple Crown Winner in ROH history having previously captured the ROH World Tag & World TV Titles and became the first man in ROH history to successfully capture the World Title after winning the Survival of the Fittest tournament to earn his championship opportunity. In the months since capturing the belt, Edwards has retained the title on two occasions; first against Christopher Daniels at “Honor Takes Center Stage: Chapter One” and then just two weeks ago at “ROH Revolution: Canada” in an absolute war of attrition against Chris Hero. Strong, on the other hand, has been embroiled in a battle of his own against El Generico, and found a new ally in Christopher Daniels. Now, in the very same building where he took Bryan Danielson to the limit 6 years ago, Strong will get his opportunity to reclaim the World Title and become the 2nd two-time champion in ROH’s history. For Edwards, it will be another opportunity to prove that no matter what you throw at him, he will persevere. Given the familiarity these two individuals have with one another, from their tours of Pro Wrestling NOAH together, to their time in ROH, to their battle at “MMIV”, it is evident that each individual will have no hesitation to tear into one another when that title is on the line.

Chicago Street Fight
Jay and Mark Briscoe vs. The All Night Express

Just as the Strong/Edwards story began at “MMIV”, so did this chapter of the Briscoes/ANX tale. That night their bout, one in which the ANX was victorious, erupted into chaos after the match and that violence carried over into the locker rooms of the Grand Ballroom. They met once more in Atlanta in a Grudge Match at “Chapter Two” and both Jay Briscoe & Rhett Titus spilt blood in a contest the former 6-Time Tag Champions won, but that wasn’t enough to settle things. They met once more at “Revolution: USA” in a 1st Blood match that the Briscoes won in a somewhat dubious fashion. Mark Briscoe was the first man to bleed, but the official of the match failed to recognize it, and saw Titus’ crimson mask first, thus awarding the bout to the Briscoes. A challenge was issued by the ANX and promptly refused by The Briscoes as you can see above, hence the impetus behind the ANX interfering in the WGTT/Briscoes World Title match the following night at “Revolution: Canada”. Now these four men will go at it once more, this time with any rules tossed straight out the window. The history of Street Fights in the Frontier Fieldhouse is quite violent and bloody, and if their previous encounters are any indication, parents beware…this may be too much for the faint of heart.

Grudge Match
Claudio Castagnoli w/ Shane Hagadorn vs. ROH World Tag Champion Shelton Benjamin

Claudio tapped out…in Atlanta, Claudio tapped out and the nearly one year ROH World Tag Title reign of the Kings of Wrestling came to an end while the reign of Benjamin & Charlie Haas began. That is a fact that has not sat well within Claudio the past several weeks, and it was an anger he took to the UK & Germany with him last weekend. There, he & Chris Hero dominated in two tag team bouts against Takeshi Morishima & Atsushi Aoki one night and Morishima & Shuhei Taniguchi the next. Then Castagnoli took on Takashi Sugiura for the GHC Heavyweight Title and, although they battled for just over 20 minutes, Sugiura beat the former tag champion. Now Claudio has an opportunity to get a piece of redemption for himself when he takes on Shelton Benjamin in Chicago Ridge, while Benjamin has his first opportunity in ROH to prove himself as a singles wrestler and garner another victory over the KoW. Will it be the power of Double C or the pure athleticism of Shelton that wins the day?

Special Challenge Match #1
Davey Richards vs. ROH World Tag Team Champion Charlie Haas

Pure wrestling…despite the fact that Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin hold a victory over Davey Richards in tag team action, this is a match about pure athletic competition. Both Haas & Richards come from a strong amateur wrestling background and have used that knowledge to establish themselves as two of the preeminent mat wrestlers in ROH. While those skills have remained a strong part of Haas’ offense, Richards tends to rely on his vicious striking abilities to wear down his opponents before going in for the submission kill. Haas obviously has the size advantage, but Richards has proven time and again that it’s an advantage that he can overcome. This is sure to be an example of just why ROH is the home of true professional wrestling…

Special Challenge Match #2
Chris Hero with Shane Hagadorn vs. El Generico

Both men have challenged for the ROH World Title in 2011, and both men failed in their bids. Generico has spent his time since that loss embroiled in battle with the House of Truth, while this bout will be Hero’s first in ROH since his loss to Edwards two weeks ago. As mentioned above, Hero used that time to battle in the UK & Germany with Claudio, and is coming off a hard-fought loss against KENTA the same night Castagnoli battled for the GHC Heavyweight Title. Both Hero & Generico want to remain in the title picture, and a victory here will certainly keep the winner’s name in the short list of contenders. Just like the Haas/Richards bout, this is a battle of two of the best in will showcase pro wrestling at its finest!

Non Title Grudge Match
World TV Champion Christopher Daniels with Truth Martini vs. Colt Cabana

Christopher Daniels is a changed man, no doubt about that. He has given up on the idea of being a fighting champion and of doing things the honorable way. Instead he has fallen in with The House of Truth and taken to the disreputable tactics that helped Roderick Strong keep the ROH World Title for 6 months. Colt Cabana was one of the first victims of The Fallen Angel’s new outlook on life back in Atlanta, and saw that same side at “Revolution: USA” as well. Now a frustrated Cabana has called Daniels to the table, and although the “only television star in ROH” has accepted the challenge, he refuses to put the World TV Title on the line. The man Daniels once was would have disregarded ROH officials ruling that the TV Title would be on hiatus for the time being and put the belt up anyway, but the man that stands in Chris’ place today is not that guy. Will Colt find the strength in his hometown to overcome the odds of the HoT? Or will the numbers game once again be the deciding factor?

One Final Time
Steve Corino vs. “The Prodigy” Mike Bennett
***Brutal Bob is banned from the building***

The story of Steve Corino has been well-told since “Final Battle 2010”; his road to recovery, his quest for acceptance by the fans & in the locker room; it is all quite familiar to the ROH faithful and to Mike Bennett as well. “The Prodigy” has done his best to taunt Corino every step of the way, and forcibly push him off the wagon at every turn. It worked at “MMIV” and the result sent Corino to Australia & Puerto Rico for the month of April to find his way back. As Corino told the world in Dearborn, he found a sponsor, a man who had gone through a similar situation, and was looking for the same acceptance as Steve. Bennett chose to spoil that announcement, and then in Toronto, once again spoil the recovery of Corino with some assistance from Brutal Bob. Well now they will meet one more time, one final time, no Brutal Bob to play a role this time, just one-on-one as far as the match goes. Corino has promised that this sponsor…whomever it may be…will be with him in Chicago Ridge, ROH management isn’t so keen on this idea given their assumptions on this person’s identity. Who will this person be? More importantly, will Steve finally be able to shake the monkey known as Mike Bennett off his back?

Singles Action
Homicide vs. Michael Elgin with Truth Martini

“The Notorious 187” has hit a roadblock in the shape of Tommaso Ciampa & The Embassy. Twice now he has lost to “The Project” and to say he is frustrated would be a gross understatement. On the other hand, Michael Elgin is coming off “ROH Revolution” weekend riding high. With two very impressive victories, including the first ever Double Danger match, the powerhouse of the HoT has never been hotter. Will Elgin continue his domination? Or will the ROH Legend fully open the gates of Hell and release his own beast within? Michael Elgin & the HoT should beware; a Homicide in this position is probably the scariest version of Homicide there is…

“Only The Strong Survive” Rematch
Adam Cole & Kyle O’Reilly vs. The Bravado Brothers (Lance & Harlem)

These two young teams have battled on multiple occasions throughout the country and in the process the ROH faithful have seen a whole new side of the Bravados emerge. Perpetrating themselves as Southern Gentlemen, Lance & Harlem have become disingenuous and disrespectful to those around them while wondering just why no one gives them respect. Conversely, Cole & O’Reilly have battled their hearts out against every one ROH officials have put in front of them: the Briscoes, the KoW, WGTT, it hasn’t mattered what team…Adam & Kyle have fought each fight like their lives depended on it. They have garnered their respect (both from the fans & within the locker room) the hard way…they have earned it. Now, after being disrespected to their faces by the Bravados in Toronto, Cole & O’Reilly look to shut the never quiet mouths of Lance & Harlem at “Supercard of Honor IV”.

9 matches featuring the best pound-for-pound pro wrestling in the world, that is “Supercard of Honor VI”, that is Ring of Honor! Join us live in Chicago Ridge THIS Saturday night for a night that is sure to go down in history! Tickets will be available to purchase at the door!!