The Wrestling 5&1 06.25.11: Torrie vs. Kelly Kelly in Week 5 of the Versus Summer League!

When you write for 411Mania, you learn very quick about hosting images. All of the images we use for our columns are hosted on the site. You can’t see it, it’s not in the image code, but we do it. And occasionally, we log-in to find that our graphics have gone POOF! As in they’re gone. No idea where they went, or why it happens. It doesn’t happen to everyone, but it happens to several when it does. And……..it happened to ME! I logged into the site to check something from last week’s 5&1 and I saw this…

Last week: Meet the new #1…same as the old #1. Well, an old #1, anyway. Maryse took full advantage of the VSL to regain the top spot in the Wrestling 5&1 Hall of Bang. I’m working on an all new graphic, it’ll debut in a few weeks. Trish comes in at #2 in the Hall, followed by Layla and Velvet Sky, bring up the rear! (Badumpcrash!) SeewhatIdidthere?

This week: Next week we’re kicking off an exciting part of the VSL…the first ever Versus TAG TEAM Tournament! Eight* teams, sixteen beautiful women to vote on! Who will be crowned the first ever Versus Tag Team Tournament winners? Tune in and find out!

*actually, there’s nine teams, more on that next week…

But this week, we’re taking a little mid VSL break from bracketed competition to present a Versus match-up that will help us reset things. Since WrestleMania, we’ve had two VS streams going at the same time. When we paused for our summer of fun, we were left with Torrie Wilson and Kelly Kelly ready to compete. Well, taking the advice on one Patrick O’Dowd, I’ve decided to get it back to one stream. How do we do that? Funny you should ask…

Who will it be…the Barbie look-a-like or the Barbie look-a-like named Barbie?!

You Decide: Who will continue her journey towards the Hall?

Photos courtesy of SexyWrestlingBabes.net.

P.S. – I know there’s only one set of pics. You know what they look like. And I had to do a lot of extra work. It’s called Google, try it. Oh, and don’t worry, the loser will get to come back for the very next chance.

It might be on the internet, but it’s still pay-per-view!

Ring of Honor presents its first event under the Sinclair Broadcast Group umbrella, aptly titled Best in the World. The show will be streamed online via iPPV at GoFightLive.tv. You can see what’s probably going to amount to a four hour show for $15. It doesn’t take Don West to know that that’s a great deal!

When the Best in the World name was put out there, ROH diehards immediately assumed the promotion was going to bring in outside talent. They have brought in a few “extras,” but the top of the card is completely filled with ROH mainstays. The company is out to show that the “Best in the World” are right there on the roster, no need to showcase someone else’s wrestlers.

The promotion loaded this card, just take a look:

ROH World Championship: Eddie Edwards (champion) vs. Davey Richards
ROH World Tag Team Championships: Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin (champions) vs. The Kings of Wrestling vs. Jay & Mark Briscoe vs. The All Night Express
ROH World TV Championship: Christopher Daniels (champion) vs. El Generico
Steve Corino w/Jimmy Jacobs vs. Michael Elgin w/Truth Martini
Mike Bennett vs. Jay Lethal
Street Fight: Homicide vs. Rhino w/Truth Martini
Colt Cabana vs. Tommaso Ciampa w/Prince Nana
Arena/DVD only dark match: Generation Me vs. Alex Cole & Kyle O’Reilly

I will preview this loaded event throughout this week’s column. If you’ve ever considered checking out ROH, this is the best opportunity. Click here to order!

I’m not going to give CM Punk the attention he deserves this week, but I’m sure if he reads this (and we all know he doesn’t) he’d be okay with me giving the bulk of my attention to his beloved Ring of Honor. But Punk was the best part of RAW, as he singlehandedly made that show watchable. He cut two amazing promos. And thanks to the magic of the interwebs, here they are!

I don’t think he’d be talking about it on TV if it weren’t an angle. And I’m glad, because he’s the best promo guy in all of wrestling today.

And as an added bonus…

Once again, the thanks for this awesome video goes to Alex O’Keefe!

Eddie Edwards defends the Ring of Honor World Championship against his tag team partner and top contender Davey Richards in the Best in the World main event. When Roderick Strong defeated Tyler Black to capture the ROH World Championship 99% of the fans out there immediately assumed Richards was going to unseat Strong. But it was Eddie Edwards who defeated Roddy, celebrating in front of an amazing crowd at Manhattan Mayhem V, alongside Davey Richards. The American Wolves were challenged when trying to stay on the same page from that date on. Davey outwardly said he was happy for Eddie, and didn’t want to take away his spotlight. Eddie wasn’t as easygoing about the situation, thinking Davey was “doing him a favor” by stepping aside. Finally, it was Eddie who initiated the challenge to Davey, saying he’d quit ROH if Davey didn’t take match. Obviously, he did.

I think we’re going to see two things here. First off, we’re going to see an amazing match. They’ve only faced off once in ROH, and Eddie got the better of that encounter, being crowned the first ever ROH World TV Champion. Now, over a year later, a much larger prize hangs in the balance, and both guys are going to pull out everything they can—in an attempt to put on the best match ROH fans have ever seen. And second, I think we’re going to see a turn. The easy money in wrestling is having a face challenger chasing the heel champion. ROH, starting a new TV show in the fall, would be perfectly poised for a tremendous fall run in that scenario.

Prediction Time: I’m going to waffle just slightly from my predictions made during Tuesday’s Greg DeMarco Show (featuring Cary Silkin and Ari Berenstein!). I’m sticking with the half of the prediction where I stated Eddie Edwards will retain the ROH World Championship. But in the hell turn, I originally picked Eddie Edwards. That I am changing. I will predict a heel turn for Eddie Edwards that leads into the finish of the match. I hate to see yet another ROH World Champion turn heel during his reign, but this one makes sense in the greater context of the storyline. And despite his claims, Davey Richards will find himself challenging Eddie once more in the future, and that is where Davey will capture the championship.

Five Things You Didn’t Know About… Davey Richards !

1. Richards, whose real first name is Wesley, has also wrestled under the names Wayne Kerr and Davey Phoenix.

2. He joins Daniel Bryan/Bryan Danielson as the only man to hold both the FIP and PWG World Championships.

3. Davey has the distinction of vacating both the PWG World Tag Team Championships and the PWG World Championship during his career.

4. Davey is married to female indy wrestler and body building competitor Christie Summers. It was their 2010 separation that caused him to cancel his plans to retire from wrestling. They’re still married.

5. Richards has won the ECWA Super 8, PWG’s Battle of Los Angeles and the Jeff Petersen Cup. Many (myself fincluded0 expect him to win this year’s Survival of the Fittest in ROH to earn one more shot at the ROH World Championship.

Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin—dubbed Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team—defend the ROH World Tag Team Championships in a 4-Way Elimination Match against The Kings of Wrestling (Chris Hero & Claudio Castagnoli), Jay & Mark Briscoe, and The All Night Express (Kenny King & Rhett Titus). Up until this week, it appeared as though the Briscoes were preoccupied with the ANX, but their attention suddenly turned back to the tag straps this week (not that they’ve forgotten the ANX, either). How? This promo…

That promo was fantastic. Absolutely awesome. It drives home the importance of the tag belts, ROH as a company, and Mark & Jay’s role in it since, well, Day 1. They do run the risk of turning the Briscoes face, but one or two actions in NYC and that’ll be erased.

As for the match itself, ROH usually does very well with 4-way elimination matches. I think this match will elevate The All Night Express, as well as showcase the WGTT. Hero & Claudio, fresh off of their WWE tryouts, will still make an impact as well. And the Briscoes will obviously be in full force.

Prediction Time: Haas & Benjamin retain. But let’s go further. The Briscoes, after that awesome promo, will get eliminated first by the ANX. I see the WGTT eliminating the Kings of Wrestling, bringing it down to the WGTT and the ANX. From here, I think this is where the Briscoes show their true heel colors, causing a distraction that leads to the loss for the ANX. Regardless, this should be awesome.

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We’ve covered the top two matches, which as I’ve said before are usually the biggest selling points of any card. Now, let’s take a look at the rest.

ROH World TV Championship: Christopher Daniels (champion) vs. El Generico
Prediction: Generico wins the strap
Christopher Daniels’s ROH status is up in the air, as the promotion readies itself for a TV debut in 3 months with a TV champion that regularly appears for TNA. Daniels is a top notch performer pushing 20 years in the business and deserves the biggest paydays he can get, and it he gets that in TNA. He’s an ROH founding father, so while I hope he can stick around when the new era starts, I don’t feel like he owes the promotion of the fans anything. As for Generico, he’s an awesome choice for TV champ. He’s crazy over, can be a great merchandise seller, and rarely has a bad match.

Steve Corino w/Jimmy Jacobs vs. Michael Elgin w/Truth Martini
Prediction: Elgin via Matrini interference
I think this one breaks down at the finish for one reason: Kevin Steen. Steen has promised to be in NYC for this card, and I fully expect an in arena appearance where Steen hits someone and is then escorted out. For effect, I’m hoping for a full on riot to break out thanks to Steen, who joins Corino & Jacobs as a “changed man.” Storyline wise, this is the best program in ROH.

Mike Bennett vs. Jay Lethal
Prediction: Bennett wins clean
Jay Lethal makes his ROH return, and should get a great response from the NYC crowd. Conversely, Bennett will be garnering crazy heel heat. Even if Lethal is sticking around (and he’s likely not), Bennett needs the win to continue his development and further his push.

Street Fight: Homicide vs. Rhino
Prediction: Rhino
The announcement of Rhino as Prince Nana’s protection was met with apathy by many ROH fans. And I have no idea why. I love the idea of Rhino in ROH. The vocal fans aren’t giving him credit, he’s still very capable of putting on great matches. I think the opener will bleed into this match (ECW style) after Nana involves Rhino in an attack on Cabana. Homicide is reportedly signed to a contract with the Urban Wrestling Federation, and off of ROH shows for at least 6 months. I don’t think this run ends well for him here. I think he’s stretchered out, setting up a return at either Final Battle or in January. And I think Rhino is really going to surprise the naysayers here, too.

Colt Cabana vs. Tommaso Ciampa
Prediction: Cabana
This is my choice for the opener. Ciampa hasn’t really lost in ROH since becoming a member of The Embassy. Most think this is a definite win for Ciampa, but I don’t see it. I think Cabana goes over with some fancy roll-up, sending Nana into a frenzy that gets Rhino involved and kick starts the street fight that should follow. Granted, Rhino can also cost Cabana the match and achieve the same goal, but I don’t see much value in a lower card winning streak for Ciampa.

Non-PPV Dark Match: Generation Me vs. Adam Cole & Kyle O’Reilly
Prediction: Cole & O’Reilly
I don’t expect much psychology here. This is a great way to get the crowd hot, and should accomplish just that. I expect the Bucks to play heel here, playing up their spots in TNA. I expect a ton of highspots and I expect the young team of Cole & O’Reilly to go over and get a tag title shot in Charlotte.

So, with time not on my side this week, I was going to skip this section. But you deserve at least one, right? I picked a good one.

“I have to ask, De Marco….Do you even watch wrestling? You sound like you are writing about something you know nothing about, but have maybe picked up a few news items here and there.”
~Guest#7509

My initial reaction:

Then I came up with a few responses for you…

Response #1
No, I don’t in fact watch wrestling. You see, I really want to write about international beach volleyball, but Widro took that section to Inside Pulse. Bastard!

Response #2
Shut-up! Why?

And my favorite…

Response #3

So I talked about a few news items? That’s your problem? Well let’s see…oh yeah, this is a NEWS & OPINION COLUMN. That’s what I do, moron! Sure, I could break down the 5 Moves of Doom*, but that’s outdated and better served for the podcast.

*For the record, they are…

Bret Hart: inverted atomic drop, side-Russian leg-sweep, back breaker, elbow from the second turnbuckle, Sharpshooter. Sometimes he kicked it off with a bulldog or snap suplex.

John Cena: shoulder block, hip-toss or clothesline, side release slam, Five Knuckle Shuffle, Attitude Adjustment. This is adjusted based on the opponent’s size and if he’s setting up the STF.

And just for fun…

Hulk Hogan: finger wave, block a punch & point, punches, big boot, leg-drop.

I like response #3 the best, but #2 best applies to you.

Fresh off her most recent appearance on The Greg DeMarco Show, we have our beloved Buggy, who released some a new pic this week. Enjoy…

And you still ask for Easter Eggs? Pffft.

Tuesday’s Greg DeMarco Show has easily become the most listened to of all of the broadcasts to date (a whopping FOUR!), thanks in large part to our outstanding 25 minutes with former owner and current ROH Ambassador Cary Silkin! Cary was as candid as he could be, and his time was very much appreciated. Ari Berenstein filled in for the vacationing Patrick O’Dowd (three weeks in and he earned a vacation—it’s awesome working for me!) in hour number one (plus ten minutes) and broke down ROH’s Best in the World iPPV (along with a great appearance from Michael Ornelas, as usual). Definitely a great preview to the show. Hour number two featured my former Impact Zone Wrestling broadcast partner Justin “JT O’Sullivan” Freemyer (he used the name first, by the way), Buggy, Steve Cook and tons of talk about the role of referees and the sharing of some old stories. Listen to it here!

Or, listen to it here:

Listen to internet radio with Greg DeMarco on Blog Talk Radio

Patrick O’Dowd returns next week, and I just might have a trick or two up my sleeve for Mr. Cook. Mwahahahahah!

I promised her last week, and here she is: Katie Lea / Winter!

Note to TNA: if you’re going to go zombie lesbian with she and Angelina Love, go all the way DAMMIT!

Normally I link many of the awesome columns we have here. Due to time constraints, we’ll join those columns in progress by telling you to hit up the Columns and News Reports sections of the site. Awesome stuff packed into both!

Don’t forget to read The Wrestling Sandwich!

Listen to the Podcasts!

Take the time to vote for Versus, a Barbie’s future hangs in the balance! If you get a change, check out ROH’s Best in the World iPPV this weekend. You’ll be glad you did. And check out Ari & I on the preview.

And Ari also makes a big return this week for his own BitW preview, check it out here! It’s a great read.

Until next time…

Listen to the show!

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• 0 - 0.9 Torture
• 1 - 1.9 Extremely Horrendous
• 2 - 2.9 Very Bad
• 3 - 3.9 Bad
• 4 - 4.9 Poor
• 5 - 5.9 Not So Good
• 6 - 6.9 Average
• 7 - 7.9 Good
• 8 - 8.9 Very Good
• 9 - 9.9 Amazing
• 10 Virtually Perfect