ROH Preview 12/22/06 Hartford and 12/23/06 Manhattan
The Ring of Honor Reviewer: 12/22/06 Hartford and 12/23/06 Manhattan
-Pulse Glazer
These are the big Final Cards of the Year. Final Battle, the very last show, is usually a one shot, but this year it’s two shows, both of which are stacked. You’d have a great time at either, as when ROH pulls out all the stops the shows are really special.
Hartford, CT – 12/22/06 Preview
ROH World Tag Team Title Match
CIMA and Shingo vs. Christopher Daniels and Matt Sydal (c)
This won’t be a title change, but it sure could be a Match of the Year contender. Shingo and CIMA are Dragon Gate representatives, and CIMA is certainly a world class athlete. Shingo is CIMA’s protege, much the way Sydal is Daniels in America, and Daniels is another world class worker. If Sydal’s hurt knee doesn’t derail this match, this is one to watch.
Four Corner Survival Match
Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe vs. Homicide vs. Nigel McGuinness
The four biggest wrestlers on the roster against each other in a match that’s sure to have title shot implications down the line. This is truly up in the air as each man can use a big win. Nigel is elevated by beating any of these guys and just tapped twice to Jimmy Rave last week, so he could certainly use a win. Danielson and Homicide could both use momentum going into their big match the next night. Joe lost his title match two weeks back and could use a big victory to gain a rematch with whoever the new champion is. Overall this should be at least solid. Ask four people who the best worker in the match is and you’ll get four different answers. These are phenomenal workers and this will likely be an amazing match.
FIP Title Match
Roderick Strong (c) vs. Davey Richards
Another match with little to no possibility of a title change that should be fabulous. Davey and Aries stole the show at last month’s Edison show; now Davey has a chance to do the same with Aries tag partner Strong. Strong and Davey usually both put together a great match and work stiff. I’m really looking forward to this one. The improvement of Roddy as a worker this year is amazing and this is a great chance to see how much he’s grown as he gets to lead a less experienced worker.
Tag Team Attraction
Jay and Mark Briscoe vs. The Kings of Wrestling
Dream match time. Two of the best tag teams in the world, guys that if they stayed together could be all time greats, against each other for the very first, and possibly last, time. Both are heels, but Jay and Mark will likely play face due to Chris Hero’s remarkable heel heat. As one of Claudio’s last matches I’d expect them to lose, giving the Briscoes the rub as the best tag team in the world today and the uncrowned champions. This is an absurdly interesting match and it’s a true shame we won’t get to see this more than once. Whether the match works well or not, and I can’t imagine it being bad. This is a dream match any tag team fan should see.
Grudge Match 1
Colt Cabana vs. Brent Albright
This one is set up by Lacey hiring Albright as her assassin to take out Colt for spurning her love. Brent is on quite a roll while Colt is lacking the drive and direction of earlier in the year when he had the Homicide feud and was a serious title contender. Albright will be considerably higher up the card with a win and Colt really can stand a loss due to his charisma and comedic presence. I’m not a Cabana fan, but this is about where he belongs on the card. Seeing the Shooter, Albright, deal with Cabana’s antics should be quite entertaining. I see Albright getting the win here.
Grudge Match 2
Adam Pearce vs. Delirious
Another guy I’m not a huge fan of is Pearce, although with the help of his manserveant, Shane Hagadorn, he is quite formidable. Delirious just made Danielson tap out last show and is on quite a roll. I don’t see him losing here with his momentum.
Mixed Tag Team Match
BJ Whitmer and Daizee Haze vs. Jimmy Jacobs and Mercedes Martinez
This should be really good. Jimmy and BJ have great chemistry and always bring an entertaining dynamic, while both Mercedes and Haze are quite good workers in their own right. I’d rather see a Fight without Honor blow off the Jacobs and BJ feud, but with the addition of Colt and Albright, the feud has found new legs and looks to go on for quite awhile. I’d expect BJ to get the win here, as Daizee’s feuding with Lacey and it doesn’t make sense for her to lose to some other woman put in her way.
Special Attraction Match
Austin Aries vs. Eddie Edwards
Eddie Edwards is a NOAH worker and that’s all that I know about him. Considering he gets Aries his first time out, I’d guess Gabe, the head booker, thinks fairly highly of him. That said, no way he beats Aries, but hopefully he’s a fabuluous worker who sticks around.
Bonus Match
Jimmy Rave vs. Jason Blade
Squishity Squash goes Jason Blade- in all likelihood anyway. Rave is too hot to lose a singles match right now, but if they tore the house down, this would be great for Blade’s career. Rave is a heat drawing machine so the crowd should be into this at least.
New York, NY – Final Battle 12/23/06 Preview
ROH World Title Match
Bryan Danielson (c) vs. Homicide
This is the big one. Danielson’s title reign has reached legendary proportions and this is likely the blow off to his amazing run. Homicide has been chasing the title for years and never achieved ROH gold. He swears to leave Rign of Honor for good if he does not get the title here. As Danielson needs time off for his shoulder to heal up, the smart money is on the title switch. The fact that New York is Homicide’s hometown makes it all the sweeter. This should be fantastic. These two have had many matches before, including a Best of 5 Series, and will be sure to bring something extra for a match this big.
Dragon Gate Rules
Austin Aries, Roderick Strong and Delirious vs. Shingo, CIMA, and Matt Sydal
Dragon Gate performers this year has given us our likely Match of the Year, in the Do Fixer vs. Blood Generation match from Supercard of Honor, as well as several other absolutely great matches. This match has a lot to live up to, but considering the lesser workers in this match are quality upper card workers like Delirious and Sydal, this should be amazing. Sydal and Delirious also get to continue their lengthy rivalry on a big stage here. To say I’m looking forward to this one is an understatement. I’d expect Aries or Strong to pin Sydal here and set up a title shot against Sydal and Daniels somewhere down the line.
Special Challenge Match
Samoa Joe vs. Nigel McGuinness
This is set up because Joe wants to challenge NOAH and Nigel tours for them. This match has taken place many times before, but Nigel has improved a great deal since then. Joe is Joe, but with a hurt knee, we’ll see how well he can go. Considerring Joe vs. Punk II saw Joe banged up, I’m not very worried. I’d expect Joe to get the win here to set up more NOAH challengers at the 5th Year Festival in Febuary and March.
Grudge Tag Team Match
Brent Albright and Jimmy Jacobs vs. BJ Whitmer and Colt Cabana
If they keep comedy out of this and go ultaviolent then this can steal the show. I don’t even know what to say for this one except that if you don’t like blood, then look away. This will be so violent as to lead to a no contest likely, mostly due to their being no point in blowing this off without Lacey present(she’s out because Whitmer spiked her in the head at one of the Chicago shows).
Four Corner Survival
Chris Daniels vs. El Generico vs. Jimmy Rave vs. Davey Richards
Generico is the new lower card comedy act, a spot which needed filling after Delirious’s elevation. Rave is on an amazing hot streak, making Nigel tap twice last weekend, but doesn’t need the win. I wouldn’t expect to see him as a part of this match’s finish. Daniels is a tag champ and doesn’t need the win here. That leaves Davey, sure to lose on Night 1, likely to get his win back here. I’d guess he pins Daniels, setting himself up as a challenger to Sydal and Daniels tag straps.
Tag Team Attraction
Jay and Mark Briscoe vs. Shane Hagadorn and Adam Pearce
And with this and last nights matches, the Briscoes are at the least tweeners. Pearce blames the Briscoes for failing to stop Homicide so he’s challenged them to this match. The regular and fantastic team of the Briscoes will likely win. Watching Adam Pearce get stiffed sounds quite fun.
Chris Hero’s farewell to Claudio Castagnoli
No idea what this could be, but smart money is on Hero turning Claudio face by attacking him and setting up a dream match between the two. Hero as a major heel at the top of the card gives ROH it’s first fully hated heel at the top of the card since Homicide’s reign of terror. This should be fun, between Rave and Hero adding true villiany to the roster atop the card for fans who could never quite fully hate the amazing Mr. Danielson.
Updates will come as ROH adds new matches, which they surely will.
