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Column of Honor 5.03.08: Part Two – Ghosts of Honor
ROH Preview: 05/09/08 in Manassas, VA
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FIP World Champion Roderick Strong, Rocky Romero & Davey Richards vs. GHC Heavyweight Champion Takeshi Morishima, Naomichi Marufuji & Go Shiozaki
Why this match is happening: The NRC has developed a bit of a rivalry with NOAH, courtesy of the all-star six-man tags that have taken place recently. Now the NRC looks for revenge
Why Roderick Strong, Rocky Romero, & Davey Richards are winning: Because they’ve lost two all-star tag matches, it would make some sense to have them come up with the victory here, since they need momentum after losing the tag belts.
Why Takeshi Morishima, Naomichi Marufuji & Go Shiozaki are winning Go needs a win to really establish himself in ROH a little bit more. Morishima and Marifuji need a good warm-up before their huge matches the next night.
Bryan Danielson vs. Tyler Black
Why this match is happening: Tyler Black disrespected Bryan Danielson at “Breakout.” He came within one second of beating Dragon, courtesy of his Phoenix Splash. Danielson used his cunning to get Black in the small package and pick up the win.
Why Bryan Danielson is winning: After missing the last six shows, Danielson needs a good start to his weekend. He’s also got a match with Marifuji the next night, so a win here is important.
Why Tyler Black is winning: This will be a very telling moment in how this company will go about the rest of the year. If Black wins here, I believe this is the second sign that Black will leave “The Age of the Fall” soon to go out on his own, and challenge for the world title. The first sign was everything that happened in Chicago, including getting the pinfall in the six-man tag against the Vulture Squad. If Black pulls off the upset, the whole face of the company could change.
Austin Aries vs. Erick Stevens
Why this match is happening: They’ve already battled once in a singles match for the FIP championship, and then in a three-way two weeks later. Aries is seeking his revenge.
Why Austin Aries is winning: Aries needs to start winning again after ending his slump and banging Lacey.
Why Erick Stevens is winning: Stevens has been in a mini-slump of his own lately, after starting the year off with a hot start. But since he’s challenging for the FIP title the next night, I think he’s losing here.
Jay Briscoe vs. Jimmy Jacobs
Why this match is happening: Jimmy Jacobs stabbed his brother in the wrist and put him out of action for several months. (going with the kayfabe reason here guys)
Why Jay Briscoe is winning: I think of this match very simply. Whoever wins here is losing the next night. Jay will win here because he can get personal revenge and will then better be able to afford losing the tag straps the next night.
Why Jimmy Jacobs is winning: Jacobs is still so consumed by his anger after what happened to Lacey, that it naturally leads to a complete domination of his part of Briscoe.
Jack Evans vs. Necro Butcher
Why this match is happening: They had a very interesting match at Final Battle 2007, where Evans beat Necro by the skin of his teeth. Now it’s time for Necro to get his revenge.
Why Jack Evans is winning: Evans and The Vulture Squad need as many wins as they can get. And, how much fuel could be added if Jack could say he beat someone from Age of the Fall…twice?
Why Necro Butcher is winning: Necro is wrestling Morishima the next night, and needs a win to look strong before getting dismantled the following night.
Non-title: Claudio Castagnoli vs. ROH World Champion Nigel McGuiness vs. Brent Albright vs. Damien Wayne
Why this match is happening: ROH wants Virginia to be successful so they never have to think about Long Island again. What better way to do this then have the two challengers in the main event from Hammerstein in the same ring together the night before?
Why Damien Wayne is winning: ROH loves this guy and wants to make him an instant contender. As I mentioned earlier, I think he’s going to be another part-time member of Sweet ‘n’ Sour Inc. So, they could tease that here as well by pinning Albright, while Claudio and McGuinness brawl with each other.
Why Albright is winning: Since Albright and S’n’S are likely to split soon, why not give Albright the win here, and set him up for a future program with whomever the champion is. Pinning either Claudio or Nigel would be huge for his standing at this point. It would also give him a much-needed singles win.
Why Claudio is winning: Challengers for the world title especially don’t win the night before they challenge for the belt. If Claudio does win here, you can kiss his chances of winning the next night goodbye. I don’t see him getting the win, but if ROH wants to shock everyone, give him the win here and then shock everyone by having him go over the next night, too.
Why Nigel is winning: If Nigel is losing the belt, I expect him to win here. See Danielson winning the four-way at International Challenge the night before losing to Homicide the next night for an example of that. Nigel could use some extra heat and having him sneak a pin on Albright or Wayne would be an interesting way to go about it. Speaking of the main event of Hammerstein…
A Purely European Odyssey
Before August 10, 2006, did you really believe Nigel McGuinness could be the world champion? Sure, he strutted around with the Pure title. But up until that hot summer night in Liverpool, it seemed inconceivable that McGuinness had a chance of becoming the company’s top wrestler. With some 1,500 Englanders behind him, he put together a gallant effort and came oh so close to ending the title reign of the seemingly unstoppable Bryan Danielson. Sadly, it was not meant to be.
Before August 10, 2007, did you really believe Claudio Castagnoli could be the world champion? Sure, he strutted around with those tag titles and the “Road to the Top” trophy. But, up until that hot summer night in Boston, it seemed inconceivable that Castagnoli had a chance of becoming the company’s top wrestler. With some 800 New Englanders behind him, he put together a gallant effort and came oh so close to ending the title reign of the seemingly unstoppable Takeshi Morishima.
These two men have undergone a long and similar road to the main event of the first Hammerstein show. Both have played the role of the underdog babyface. Both have played the role of dastardly heel, willing to do anything for the win. This isn’t a first time dream match, but rather the culmination of a journey. Three long years ago, these two met for the first time. During the fall and winter of 2005-2006, these two men engaged in a feud for the Pure championship. Through his use of the iron and other underhanded tactics, McGuinness managed to stave off the upstart Claudio. In a way, their match on May 10 will feature the same two wrestlers playing similar characters.
Nigel McGuinness is a bitter champion looking for respect from the fans, while Claudio Castagnoli is the plucky underdog, who some don’t take seriously. But, to say this will be a similar match to the ones they had for the Pure title is discrediting the efforts these two have undergone. Claudio went from doing almost nothing, except uppercuts, to becoming one of the most consistent wrestlers going in Ring of Honor. Nigel McGuinness, as he put so well in an interview with Dave Prazak, went from wristlocks to lariats. The improvement of both men means this will be a very different contest, a better contest, not just because the biggest prize in Ring of Honor is on the line. Perhaps the largest crowd in ROH history will be on hand. Perhaps they will have to follow some of the greatest matches ever seen on an ROH show. One thing I have confidence in is that these two will show all those New Yorkers that Europeans can do it better sometimes.
Going Home
**The Independent Buy In**
2008
**CHIKARA “Cibernetico & Robin” (Torneo Cibernetico: Kings of Wrestling vs. Dorado’s Luchadores, The Olsen Twins / Cheech & Cloudy, Quackenbush / Donst, The Colony / BLK OUT ) High Recommendation
**CHIKARA “Brusied” (Kingston / Donst, Campeones de Parejas: F.I.S.T. vs. Incoherence / Castagnoli / Taylor, The Colony / Brodie Lee & Olsen Twins, Cheech & Cloudy / Osirian Portal ) High Recommendation
**Pro Wrestling NOAH “Special Budokan Double Shot”7/15 & 9/9/07 (Determination League Semi Finals & Finals, NTV Cup Finals)High Recommendation
**PWG Battle of Los Angeles Night 1 (Castagnoli / Williams, Evans / Pac, Black / Shelley, Aries / Strong, PWG Tag Titles: Generico & Steen / Dragon Kid & Susumu Yokosuka)Medium Recommendation
**PWG Battle of Los Angeles Night 2 (CIMA / Tornado, Steen / Butcher, McGuinness / Richards, Kid / Yokosuka) Low Recommendation
**PWG Battle of Los Angeles Night 3 (the entire show) High Recommendation
**Shimmer Volume 11 (Sarah Stock / MsChif, Sarah Stock / Cheerleader Melissa, Sara Del Rey / Cindy Rogers, Nikki Roxx / Lacey, Daizee Haze / Malia Hosaka, Allison Danger / Hosaka)High Recommendation
**SHIMMER Volume 12 (Del Rey / Lacey, Del Rey / Sarah Stock, Haze / Lacey, Portuguese Princess Ariel / Josie / Nikki Roxx / Portia Perez, Melissa & MsChif / Lexie Fyfe & Hosaka)High Recommendation
**SHIMMER Women’s Athletes Volume 13 (Melissa / Portuguese Princess Ariel, “Dark Angel” Sarah Stock / Daizee Haze, Portia Perez / MsChif, Del Rey & Roxx vs. Rain & Lacey, O’Neal vs. Melissa) Medium Recommendation
**SHIMMER Women’s Athletes Volume 14 (SHIMMER Title: Del Rey / Lacey, Nikki Roxx / Amazing Kong, Two out of Three falls: Allison Danger / Cindy Rogers, Portuguese Princess Ariel / Amber O’Neal) Medium Recommendation
**CHIKARA The Battle of Who Could Care Less (Incoherence & Tim Donst / BLK OUT, Claudio Castagnoli & Equinox / Hero & Hawke, Lince Dorado & Pantera / Olsen Twins, Quackenbush & The Colony / F.I.S.T. / Osirian Portal) High Recommendation
**CHIKARA The Sordid Perils of Everyday Existence (Campeones de Parejas: Incoherence / Cheech & Cloudy, Lucha de Apresta: Chris Hero / Equinox, F.I.S.T., Ellis, Ryder / Quack / Donst / Super Smash Bros.) Medium Recommendation
**CHIKARA Chapter 11 (Hallowicked / Kingston, Colony / Super Smash Brothers & Shane Storm, Tex-Arkana Title Match: Alvarez / Sweeney, Quack, Trik Davis & Helios / Shayne Hawke & The Osirian Portal, MIYAWAKI, Hasegawa & Pantera / Cheech & Cloudy & Delirious) High Recommendation
This section needs your help! If you want to recommend some good independent wrestling to your fellow internet readers out there, drop me a line for the column.
ROH @ 411:
J.D. Dunn checks in with a look at the 6th Anniversary show.
Dunn also discusses ROH’s first night of their Double Feature.
Honor Bound Links
Jeff Harris checks in with a look at one of the biggest films of the summer, Iron Man.
I think President Bush should be applauded for this accomplishment.
Michael Weyer looks at commentators in professional wrestling. Very timely topic.
Aaron Hubbard discusses Backlash, ROH Pay-Per-Views, and his match of the year.
Finally, Samuel Berman says a fond farewell…sort of.
Ghosts of Honor
What began as just another independent promotion has now turned into a national company about set to hit the world of Pay-Per-View. From Murphy Rec to The Armory. From The Ballroom to the Manhattan Center. From the Frontier Fieldhouse to the Windy City Fieldhouse. They have crossed an ocean and landed in the land of rising sun. But, the ghosts still linger. The men who’ve made ROH what it is today. They echo. You can still see them…if you look hard enough.
He started out as a foil for Raven; just some punk wrestler from the Midwest trying to hit the big bad northeast. But in one swift motion, he became the conscience of the company. By showing how one-hour draws can still be done, he showed that he is indeed better than us. With a summer no one will ever forget and a return in a blizzard everyone will remember, he showed just how cool straight-edge can be. Things have gone so well, he’s pure money in the bank and damn near became a king.
He started out by wearing a Michael Myers’ mask and ended as the peoples’ champion. For five years, he stuck with the company through all of the ups and downs. He threw fire. He threw chairs. He threw alcohol. He threw Drain-O. He helped redefine what an epic feud could be. And, he showed in one glorious moment that it’s not about how long you hold onto the title, but the journey that brought you to it.
Some would say he’s phenomenal. He formed one of the best high-flying duos of all-time, and showed that everything in wrestling hasn’t been done. And while he never won a world title, he defended the move he originated and left a stamp on ROH that no one should ever forget.
If one wrestler is the conscience, then he is the franchise; The man who took a regional title and made it a world title. He proved just what a long championship reign can mean. He ole’d his way into the hearts and minds of every fan he came across. He muscled his way onto the national scene, but remained in ROH long enough to wrestle an icon, engage in feuds with two other promotions, and put away the notion that muscles make a wrestler.
The next showstopper also wrestled on ladders and stole shows. And although his stay was short, he left an indelible mark and had an epic encounter of his own. He kissed ROH goodbye, but set the stage for four more years of greatness. He would go to the big, bad company and hold a tag title for almost a year. And no matter how dark the situation, he always seemed to have a smile on his face. And although he never won a single championship in ROH, he will always be a true champion with the fans.
Wrestling and having passion were always his fashion. He provided so many fans with good times, great memories. Even when he was hit by brass knuckles or had Draino poured down his throat, this was a true “mat classic” in every sense of the word. From his hello to his farewell, he always had something. And get those pencils ready, because you might want to erase his farewell. Who could ask for more if he ever does eventually come back?
Even though he earned the title of “fallen angel” with what he said, he always spoke the gospel. He christened the tag team championships and was the first heel in the company. He feuded with every major star in ROH and helped create future stars. And while he never shook hands for four years, he was always honorable and just a little underappreciated. He is a man who entered and exited ROH in disgrace. The only question is whether this gospel has been finished or not.
The Rodney Dangerfield of the company never got the respect he deserved. He would participate in a false prophecy, barb wire matches, cage matches, and Faction Warfare. He would powerbomb his opponent into anything and throw himself onto everything. He would be shoved out by a group that was anything but sweet. But no one will ever forget the beat of his chest or the sacrifices he put forth for the fans on his own scarred body.
Ten months shouldn’t be enough time to become a legend. And even though he wrestled in Madison Square Garden, his best moment came in front of barely 600 fans in Dayton. He showed what cruiserweight action is all about. And he was noble throughout his efforts by being the MVP of ROH in 2005.
No matter what his attitude is like, he was the key to ROH’s early success. This was a man who was anything but low key. With great match after great match and punch, and an amazing Matrix sequence that Keanu Reeves would have even said “Whoa!” to, he disgraced himself. But not before breaking the ice on a new promotion and a new championship.
But now Ring of Honor is led by a group of men willing to do anything for their company. One is a bitter champion who’s fighting for respect. Another is the best wrestler in the world. One man should never have seen this ring of honor ever again, but he has come back better than ever and perhaps found true love. Two are upstart challengers, one who’s a “Hey” man of a different color, while another calls himself Mr. Wrestling. Another is a generic luchador, while another is a man on the edge of sanity. Another is in the second chapter of his ROH career who must “choo-choo” his way to the next level. The final man is a hero to no one but his serious self.
ROH used to have trouble filling gymnasiums in high school. Now they will fill the same building that housed ECW’s two One Night Stands, Rob Van Dam’s only world title win, the WWE debut of a ghost of honor, and perhaps most fittingly, the final Pay-Per-View for a company that did everything in its’ power to be hardcore.
Whether you enjoy what’s going on right now, whether you love or hate Faction Warfare, whether you love or hate Age of the Fall, whether you think Ring of Honor has already peaked, next Saturday will be the greatest night in the history of a company that tried to exhibit nothing but honor. For everyone who’s wrestled, managed, refereed or attended a show, this is a night of celebration
So after the night of the Butcher, an American Dream, a kiss in the ring, the scandal, the pullout, being re-born, seeing it all begin, the great managerial debate, a step for all “Mankind,” the summer of punk, a feud with hardcore, a commissioner gone bad, a five year odyssey coming to an end with a world title, the titles going to Japan, a legend saying farewell, Faction Warfare, an emo group taking control, Kobashi, Misawa, a west coast black-out, being re-born again and a foray into a PPV, ROH takes yet another step forward.
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