411’s Buy or Sell 06.26.11: ROH presents Best in the World on iPPV!

Ari Berenstein: BUY – In our interview with former ROH owner and current ROH Ambassador Cary Silkin this week on The Greg DeMarco Show (which you can still listen to, plug, plug), Silkin seemed to indicate that the ROH show this weekend was very close to its record crowd in the Hammerstein. I believe that record is up in the 2,100 area (the venue is usually 2,500 capacity for wrestling shows, 3,000 for concerts). I believe that ROH will either tie or break that record given the massive push its done for this show combined with the major importance of the Richards / Edwards main event title match and a very smart business decision to sell balcony seats (except for the first row of the first balcony) at general admission prices. I don’t know that ROH will be able to sustain that kind of attendance over the long haul but I think they can do it one time for this show.

Greg DeMarco: BUY – I think the promotion decided to spend the extra money to bring in The Young Bucks because they were close. And I think they’ll pull it off. With Sinclair’s backing, I expect a better marketing push in ROH’s biggest markets, even if they don’t have TV in NYC. NYC, Toronto, Chicago and eventually Philly could start to get some huge shows and draw some great crowds.

1 for 1.

Greg DeMarco: BUY – Richards will win the belt, and he will win it from Eddie, but not at Best in the World. Despite the stipulation, Davey will lose and likely win Survival of the Fittest in the fall to gain another title shot. I hope they don’t go with the obvious and hold that match at Final Battle, unless Final Battle is in a different city this year. This isn’t the end, it’s the beginning for an actual Davey-Eddie feud. I will change one thing I said on the podcast, and that’s the heel turn. I think Eddie turns heel, and I think he’ll be an outstanding heel. And a heel Eddie offering Davey all the non-title matches he wants can be very entertaining.

Ari Berenstein: BUY – Man have I been wavering back and forth about what ROH does with this one, but I stuck my neck out on the radio show by stating that Eddie Edwards would retain either straight-up or via a one-hour draw. I’ll stick to my guns here. Though ROH has booked itself into a corner, there are “ways out” of this being Richards’ last shot at the title (heel turn and going back on his word, a draw or double pin which would leave issues unsettled, etcetera). Davey Richards leaving ROH at this point is ludicrous unless he has decided that he really is going to leave the entire business this time for good. I don’t see that happening since he has a future booking with PWG. So, ultimately, Edwards will retain here and something will happen either at the finish or post-match that will lead to Richards both sticking around and challenging for the ROH World Title once again in the future. OR, Richards could win the title outright.

2 for 2.

Ari Berenstein: SELL – Jay may have cut one of the best promos of the year and reinforced what The Briscoes are all about, but… it makes more sense to me to have Haas and Benjamin remain the champions walking into the new television era. Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team just became champions and have only one defense (a win against The Briscoes, mind you), so we’re still early in their title run and while the tag team title do change hands more often than the singles titles, I don’t think this is the right time to do it. Haas and Benjamin have both the name value and the skills to be the backbone of the tag team division throughout the rest of the year. The Briscoes are heels right now, which means a loss here makes them even angrier and more dangerous down the line in future opportunities. Plus, they still have outstanding issues with The All-Night Express and I believe those two teams will cancel each other out during the four-way elimination title bout.That was one hell of a promo though.

Greg DeMarco: SELL – One thing the press conference told us is that ROH is going to focus on character development more. And the Briscoes have a ton of character. I think they’ll be just fine in the heel challenger role for a bit. Plus, they displayed Charlie Haas as the “refined champion” character, which will play perfectly against The Briscoes. It might lead to a double turn, but hopefully that’s way down the road. The Briscoes still have an issue to resolve with The ANX, which probably gets resolved before TV starts.

3 for 3.

Greg DeMarco: BUY – When Best in the World was announced, everyone assumed overseas talent would be used. That didn’t turn out to be the case, as ROH used that name to display its own talent as the “Best in the World.” While Christopher Daniels is appearing on television for TNA, he’s always be considered a “TNA talent” by casual fans watching ROH’s TV show (if they find ROH’s show, they likely watch a lot of wrestling, including TNA). Generico’s biggest US exposure is ROH, and he’d make a great face champion. So, yes, I consider it a given.

Ari Berenstein: SELL – It’s not a given, but it’s a very damn large possibility that Christopher Daniels drops the belt to El Generico at this show. However, I just have this feeling that Daniels is still sticking around ROH for at least a short while even though he also is appearing on TNA. His situation is an intriguing one, as he was contracted to ROH and appears in TNA due to ROH’s good graces. Now, with this new Sinclair ownership, many contracts will have to be re-signed. Daniels will have a choice to make (if he hasn’t done so already) as to if he leaves for TNA again or sticks with ROH. That said, I can see Daniels retaining here due to chicanery from The House of Truth leading to a small chase from El Generico and then perhaps the popular luchador winning the title on one of the initial episodes of the new television show.

3 for 4.

Ari Berenstein: SELL – Bennett doesn’t have much of a body of work to go on since he’s only about six months into his ROH career as “The Prodigy”. He’s had average to below-average matches (for ROH) throughout that time, but I’d consider his best match to be the finals of the Top Prospect tournament where he wrestled against Kyle O’Reilly. I like Jay Lethal and I’m glad to see him back, but I see this as only a solid undercard bout and I don’t believe he will be able to pull out of Bennett a match that bests the one against O’Reilly.

Greg DeMarco: BUY – Mike Bennett fits the mold of the WWE or even TNA better than he fits the mold of ROH. The Action Soap Opera Superstar has taken that on as his character, and gained a few more fans because of it. Jay Lethal is an ROH original who expanded his experience in TNA. He has experience working athletic matches in a sports entertainment environment, which—in my opinion—makes him the best possible opponent for Jay Lethal. I think this match will surprise some people.

3 for 5.

Greg DeMarco: BUY – I can’t see any scenario where he doesn’t at this point. And I’m not at all upset about the fact that he’s violating his stipulation from Final Battle. He’s a “changed man” along with Steve Corino and Jimmy Jacobs, and I expect him to eventually earn his way back into Ring of Honor with some heroic act that saves a mega face, possibly El Generico. As soon as that happens, expect the “Changed Men” to change right back, and go on a violent tear that provides tons of entertainment. But that’s long-term. I expect him to get one shot in at Elgin or Martini, and get mobbed by security/students. It’ll be a riot like atmosphere, and everyone will be pumped for Steen’s eventual full-time return.

Ari Berenstein: BUY – Oh, given the last video that was released where Corino told Jimmy Jacobs he had already purchased Steen’s plane ticket, I’d say the chances of a Steen appearance (whether running through the crowd, in a mask or flying through in a jet-pack) are about 1,000%. ROH has told fans to be on the look-out for Steen and to report if they spot him (very clever) but I believe Steen will get in anyway. However, this is just the beginning of this whole Steen return, so don’t expect him to stay very long before being chased out by officials and the student patrol.

4 for 6.

Ari Berenstein: SELL – Ciampa is the lone regular active wrestler in the new Embassy unit (Rhino is making his first appearance here and Dave Taylor was a one-off for now) and so it’s important for him to be presented as a winner and someone to keep an eye on. Cabana will do his entertaining act but I believe he loses here to help push Ciampa, who hopefully works hard and redeems his not-so-great effort against Grizzly Redwood last March in NYC.

Greg DeMarco: BUY – I disagreed with Ari on the podcast, thus I disagree here as well. Ciampa is the current top member of The Embassy, but he doesn’t need an undefeated streak to get any more over than he is. A Cabana victory that leads to a Rhino and Ciampa beatdown is the perfect way to kick-off Rhino-Homicide, and Ciampa won’t be any worse for the loss. He can get his revenge in Richmond or Charlotte (assuming Cabana gets added to those shows).
4 for7.

Greg DeMarco: SELL – It’s going to be a spotfest that people will be talking about. The crowd is going to be amazingly hot after it, and I hope they delay it so it ends right before the iPPV starts, so the crowd doesn’t have too much down time and loses steam. The Bucks are going to be mega heels representing TNA against ROH’s youngest team. I think it’s a great way to kick off this night. But Richards-Edwards is going to top it. This card has to amazing bookends and some great books in between.

Ari Berenstein: SELL – Don’t get me wrong–this is going to be one hell of a match and very likely can steal the show, but for the fact it goes on early, may not be seen by the entire attending audience and that there are other possibilities (namely the three title matches) that will likely be better. However, I am very glad to have this match on the card (and as a bonus match for the DVD) not just for the return of Gen Me but because there is no doubt that these two teams are exciting, entertaining and will give a lot of themselves to help get the crowd going and ready for the iPPV broadcast.

4 for 8.

Want more of Ari & I previewing Best in the World? You can catch that in hour #1 if Tuesday’s The Greg DeMarco Show! Plus, you get out 25 minute interview with ROH Ambassador Cary Silkin! Listen to it here!

Or, listen to it here:

Ari & I go 4 for 8 this week, and are both obviously pumped for Best in the World! Week 214 is in the books. Stay tuned for next week two more 411Mania staff members battle in the Buy or Sell arena.

Be sure to share your answers to this week’s questions in the comments section. Also, have an indy fed you want to see covered here? Drop me a line at [email protected] and let me know!