Column of Honor: 10.11.08: Chikarmy Invasion!

Corrections from last week:
-Austin Aries vs. Go Shiozaki took place at the Sixth Anniversary Show, not Final Battle 2007 as I wrote last week (thanks to soulpower).
-619 is not a palindrome, no matter how much I want it to be (thanks to Dude).

Chikarmy Invasion

Holy Darkness Crabtree, ROHbots! Look who’s coming to Ring of Honor!

Homicide and Hernandez aren’t the only ones looking to make a big splash by returning to ROH. It was announced this week that ROH would be bringing in two tag teams that have been performing well across the independent landscape. The team of Up In Smoke featuring Cheech and Cloudy as well as The Osirian Portal of “The Funky Pharaoh” Amasis and the serpentine-like Ophidian are wrestling for Ring of Honor on October 25th in Edison, New Jersey.

This announcement results in a bit of a CHIKARA-led invasion of ROH as we head into the end of the year. It’s not the first time this has happened either. Both teams enjoyed a great amount of exposure in CHIKARA Pro, based out of Pennsylvania and booked / promoted by “Lightening” Mike Quackenbush. Mike Quackenbush received rave reviews for his short stay in ROH during 2007 (with fans STILL asking about when he is coming back for a elongated run). He brought a few of his pupils from CHIKARA with him, including Hallowicked, Jigsaw and Gran Akuma.

While Jigsaw is the only one of that bunch who has stuck around for the long term, there is a lot to be said about the talent and abilities of those who wrestle in CHIKARA and work through Quackenbush’s CHIKARA Wrestle Factory training school. These guys are given a great amount of training and then a consistent platform to learn and perform through the CHIKARA promotion. Now, at least one team out of that facility could get a real shot at making it in ROH and one team is making a return to a promotion many fans may not recall they were actually a part of for a long time.

Longtime Ring of Honor fans will remember Cheech and Cloudy as former members of the Special K faction as well as Lacey’s Angels. They were last seen as a regular part of the company in late 2005. The Osirian Portal has also made an appearance in Ring of Honor, although only as a pre-show try-out match earlier in the year in Philadelphia.

The Osirian Portal may be rookies, only being in the industry as active wrestlers for about a year. However, in that time they quickly rose up in popularity in CHIKARA, as well as climbing up the ranks of the tag division. They’re still rough around the edges at times (as students one year in would obviously be). Yet they have absolutely come a long way in a short amount of time, thanks to the fantastic teaching of Mike Quackenbush and those at the CHIKARA Wrestle Factory, as well as frequent touring not just in CHIKARA but in other east coast promotions.

Cheech & Cloudy have been up and down the independent scene in America as a tag team over the last several years. They work a very upbeat and light hearted style. Even though the tag duo is inspired by the Cheech & Chong” stoner flicks and wear tights often adorned with the colors of the Jamaican flag (and you easily dare your own conclusions about what that means), they have succeeded in doing a very child friendly act based on baby face antics, good emotional connection to the crowd and some impressive double team maneuvers. They come out to “It Takes Two” by Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock, a terrific choice for an entrance, both endearing and adrenaline pumping at the same time. They have outgoing personalities, outwitting and out-maneuvering their often larger opponents. Then they’ll close the deal with “Partly Cloudy with a Chance of Cheech”, a combination 619 / dropkick, or the Deluxe Go 2 Cheech, a combo move involving a variation of KENTA’s Go 2 Sleep.

I really enjoyed Cheech as a part of the Special K and Lacey’s Angels factions. He rarely if ever was involved in the ring as a part of Special K, but even just walking around the ring as a part of the entourage, you could tell there was a ton of potential waiting to be acted upon. His interaction with the fans were engaging and entertaining. I saw many a fan try to talk to him during Special K and Lacey’s Angels matches, if just to see what he would say or what he would do around the ring. Later on he began to become more actively involved in the ring as a part of Lacey’s Angels, but he was very green and had a lot to learn. I had hoped he would do that learning within ROH, but he and the rest of the Angels were broken up and most sent packing out of the promotion. In the back of my mind, I always hoped he would be one of those wrestlers who stuck it out, learned what he could to improve and then find his way back to the promotion.

Cloudy is the smaller of the two, but he has also come a long, long way from his earliest moments in ROH. Here is a guy who I recall as being just plain awful and spotty in the ring as a part of Lacey’s Angels. Nowadays he had become a great face based on the classic tag team psychology. He can do some moves with flash and get the crowd interested, he can take the heat of a massive beat down and draw some very good sympathy and then make a passionate comeback when required. Together he and Cheech have great chemistry and can create some very good matches.

I also really enjoy the act of The Osirian Portal. They have a winner of a gimmick here. What is great to see is that both are wholly committed to the characters they portray. Even though the gimmicks seem totally preposterous—I mean, a wrestling snake?—the effort and thought they both put into it leads to a willing suspension of disbelief that these character can exist in the crazy world of professional wrestling. Amasis can often be found getting jiggy with it before the match and being self-aggrandizing during. Ophidian’s act is a tour de force of reptilian behavior, from slithering around the ring during his entrance, to hissing during the match and in promos (extending the “s” sound in words) to the moves based off the gimmick (“snake bite” head butts and a coil like choke out). It’s safe to say that they are their character from the moment they come out the curtain to the moment they come back through it.

Both teams fit right in with the tone and mood of CHIKARA and represent that wrestling product well. However, an important question that comes up with the main show debut for The Portal and the return for Cheech and Cloudy is can they do the same in the more serious environment that is ROH? My answer is if Delirious and Kikutaro and El Generico can find a measure of success in ROH, then so too can both Up In Smoke and The Osirian Portal. If we can have a wrestling half-man, half-lizard or a Japanese clown, why can’t a snake like creature and his “Egyptian”, obsessed with Stargate comrade do the same? Why can’t Cloudy run circles around Davey Richards in an attempt to totally confuse him, this taking the advantage of a match? They can and hopefully will do so and not just with one appearance, but with more to come in the future.

In bringing these two teams into ROH for a main show appearance, ROH is (for at least this show)not only adding on to a tag division that threatened to be repetitive and derivative of the last yea r and helps to bring a more light-hearted atmosphere to their shows. After all, even though there were many awesome matches between Kevin Steen & El Generico, The Age of the Fall and The Briscoes over the last year, they can’t keep wrestling just against one another. Like Jello, there’s always room for more teams in a tag division, especially given that ROH has tried its best to have an expanded tag division in an era when tag teams aren’t the focus of a professional wrestling promotion. Adding two new teams for a try out, even if they are right now on the lower card scale of the tag ranks, is a great call to help to refresh a division that is starting anew with Steen & Generico at the helm and looking for challengers to their tag titles.

In fact, if I can make an impassioned call to action right now it would be for both of these teams to become a more regular part of Ring of Honor. Quite frankly ROH needs these teams, or someone like them, especially for what they can provide when it comes to comedy in professional wrestling.

Ring of Honor developed a reputation over the years of being the serious wrestling company, wholly concentrating on the in-ring work and serious storylines above all else. Now, if you look closer into the history of the company you can see that is not the complete picture of what the promotion has offered through the years. There have been many comic wrestlers, light-hearted matches and funny moments both in the ring and in vignettes. No one should forget the influence of Colt Cabana and his many years of comic interludes in ROH, from the “Good Times, Great Memories” talk show to his banter within the ring. Prince Nana may have tried to be the royal ruling class as a manager in Ring of Honor, but he was often someone we laughed at or with due to his Eddie Murphy-esque “Coming to America” persona and his proclivity for insulting the wrestlers, the referee and telling his boys they were going out for steak dinner. Along the way many other wrestlers from Alex Shelley to Brian Kendrick to Kikutaro and Jack Evans have given us some fantastic moments where it’s all we can do not to completely break down in fits of laughter or tears from laughing so hard.

However, as of late ROH has become closer in tone and mood to the “Serious Sam” of the wrestling industry that some naysayers claim. Over the last few months there has been a real lack of comic moments, aside from a few comments here and there by Nigel McGuinness on commentary or The Briscoes being The Briscoes in a few character vignettes. If you take a close look at the roster, there are almost no real “comedy” based wrestling characters (Mitch Franklin’s Grizzly Redwood character has only appeared once) and those that previously were providing the entertainment like Chris Hero and Bobby Dempsey, have had their characters overhauled or downplayed. Hero is no longer the megalomaniacal show off who would do an arm drag and then spend two minutes utilizing calisthenics to pat himself on the back for his good work. Bobby Dempsey is no longer the pure comic foil for Sweet & Sour Incorporated, but rather an impediment to them being serious who is generally disregarded or dealt with quickly. Instead of getting involved in matches as farce and folly, Dempsey is forced to hide under the ring for the duration of a match. It gets heel heat, yes, but it reduces Dempsey to a one-note moment in the match. The fans chant for Dempsey, he gets pushed under the ring, that’s it. That’s it?

Even Delirious, the last bastion of wacky irreverence in Ring of Honor in 2008 has been turned into a serious, near-sociopathic monster. Now, turning heel and joining The Age of the Fall may very well be a very effective direction for his character and it was well received by fans who thought he had run his course as a babyface. However, it once again reduced the amount of comedy found in an ROH show by taking away a key provider of the lighter side of sports entertainment. Even the Joker would look at ROH and ask “Why so serious?”

Comedy is important to have in a wrestling show. It gives a break to the tension and drama that unfolds in the top matches and angles. It allows the fans to catch their breath. It gives another dimension to the stories being told. ROH has no doubt had some great wrestling action this year and some very serious angles (Age of the Fall vs. Aries, Danielson vs. McGuinness, but maybe the focus has been too much on drama and tragedy to the detriment of the overall balance of the product. We still get a few touches of comedy from time to time, but not nearly enough. In addition to aiding the refresh of the tag division, the CHIKARA teams of Cheech & Cloudy and The Osirian Portal are perhaps the first steps to getting back some of the more jolly moments in wrestling and restoring a bit of an upbeat tone to the promotion.

Actually, maybe Ring of Honor shouldn’t stop at using only those two teams from CHIKARA. How about:

Team F.I.S.T.: A few months ago I wrote that these two were absolutely ready for ROH and that I would bring them in along with Chuck Taylor. Nothing has changed since then to alter that notion. Gran Akuma and Icarus are generally a more serious tag combination, but they are willing to show ass when necessary. Icarus in particular does a great job of freaking out due to the actions of babyfaces, running away and looking the part of the coward when necessary. Akuma is the “bad ass” of the duo and has a number of vicious looking strikes, including the Chia Swipe, a seated sweeping shin kick to the jaw of his opponents that has incredible velocity and looks absolutely killer. The one big thing I still feel Akuma has to work on is his visuals, as usually his face is locked into a dopey looking grin. It makes him look like he’s permanently stoned. Sometimes they also are a bit sloppy in matches, but lately those moments have been few and far between. Bottom line is that they would be of great use to Ring of Honor because they are a heel team that is very easy to boo as they get under your skin very quickly and you want to see them get their butts kicked. ROH could use as many of those teams as possible.

The Colony: Fire Ant, Worker Ant and Soldier Ant have been lighting up CHIKARA over the last year with enjoyable in-ring work and the terrific use of their gimmick in matches. Fire Ant in particular has enjoyed a very nice push, winning the Young Lions Cup VI tournament a few months back. Worker and Soldier haven’t slouched either, wrestling their ant hearts out against the likes of Mitch Ryder and Jimmy Olsen. Like The Osirian Portal, the question comes up of how this team would fit into the landscape of Ring of Honor, but again I say that if there has been a way to make Delirious and Hallowicked fit in, then there is absolutely a way to include these three into ROH without making it look ridiculous. The ants have improved way too much in the ring and with their characters to just disregard their viability because of their insect-like disposition.

Super Smash Brothers: Player Uno and Stupified (a.k.a. Player Dos) have just won the CHIKARA Campeones de Parejas from Incoherence. They have become very popular with the crowd thanks to their video game related gimmick. Uno’s costume in particular, with the Nintendo controller, is a bit of genius that makes complete sense within the context of the CHIKARA-verse. Stupified has donned a similar mask and tights outfit with a NES base that he can insert video games into and “learn” the moves from that game to use in the match—think “The Matrix” when Neo “downloaded” the programs into his brain, only this is a much more retrograde version of that concept. The use of video game moves like the Hadouken and Shoryuken are terrific, but this may be the line drawn between CHIKARA and ROH. I don’t know how much fans would buy the invisible energy blast throw or a ring darkening as someone screams out “Finish Him” as a viable moment in the match. It works in CHIKARA, but maybe not so much in Ring of Honor. Also, while they are the current CHIKARA champions, both are still prone to bouts of sloppiness and blown moves, far more than rookies like The Portal. I enjoy their act a heck of a lot, but I’m not sure I’d bring them in just yet.

There are quite a few other choices from CHIKARA, such as The Fabulous Two of Mitch Ryder and Buck (Shayne) Hawke, or The Sea Donsters of Tim Donst and Hydra. Perhaps if ROH added all of these teams they would have a tag division or company that looked and felt too much like CHIKARA itself. As I said before, there has to be a balance. However, there is nothing wrong with giving more of these teams a chance to prove themselves. The fans will choose who they are most interested in seeing and that will lead to better business and the development of more wrestlers on the independent scene in the long run. You’ll also have a more colorful, diverse selection of wrestlers who not only have the in-ring skills, but the personality to attract the attention of fans and maybe even add more to the shows.

I’m ready for a CHIKAR-my invasion in Ring of Honor. Get the masks and the lucha and the comedy ready. Come on over and play. You can bring back Quack with you as well.

Chikara vs. Ring of Honor BEST OF SEVEN SERIES Round 1

And with all of that said comes the next big feature for Column of Honor. I’ve shied away from overt fantasy booking or fantasy / dream match discussion in this column, but this is the right time and the right concept to do just that. Every week for at least the next four weeks I’ll match up some of CHIKARA’s best with some of ROH’s best in the wacky battle burger royale to beat all wacky burger battle royales…with cheese even. It’s CHIKARA vs. ROH in a best four out of seven series of dream matches!

The best part is that THE READERS DECIDE WHO WINS. That’s right, be sure to vote at the bottom of the page in the comments section or send me an email me with your vote about who you think would win. I’ll post results in the following week’s column.

So without further ado, here we go with Round One:

The Vulture Squad (Jigsaw, Ruckus & Jack Evans with Julius Smokes)
-vs.-
The Colony (Fire Ant, Worker Ant & Soldier Ant)

It’s going to be the ants versus the vultures in an insect and animal kingdom showdown to open up the crossover between the two companies. The Vulture Squad reunites in full force, with Jack Evans coming in for a special appearance. Meanwhile The Colony is at its best as a trio. Who wins this six man tag match?

Vulture Squad

Strengths: flight and a combined aerial attack that throws off their opponents. They can continually bring the pressure of rapid fire dives and splashes until it overwhelms and destroys their opponents. They get extra motivation from J-Train Julius Smokes at ringside, firing them up at the right time to fight back. Most fans know that Jack Evans is Mr. Bendy and can take a heck of amount of punishment.
Weaknesses: Known for a bit of lack of self-confidence in the ring this unit seems to crumble when their backs are against the wall and they need to do something in the clutch. Lack of power and a well developed ground game would hurt them against technical savvy teams, but that’s not really The Colony’s style.
Best moves: Doublestomp Jig’n’ Tonic, Flip Fisherman Suplex into Powerbomb, Moonsault legdrop (Ruckus), Corkscrew Senton (Ruckus), 630 Splash (Evans), Multiple Dives

Video by: Chris803

Video by: ringofhonor

The Colony

Strengths: The ants work well as singles wrestlers, but as a unit, they have at least ten times the power and ability of your average wrestling ant. These guys are the definition of tag team specialists, coming up with out there but effective tag combinations that not only look great but also fit in with their persona. They can also get the crowd behind them and fire up like crazy when needed (especially fire ant).
Weaknesses: The Colony tends to be a bit too trusting of their opponents and fall victim to trickery. They are also, like real ants, a bit too set in their ways. If something happens to them they find it difficult to change their game plan.
Best Moves: G.I.Ant (Transformer / Power Ranger-like formation giant ant splash).The Ant-apault, Ants Go Marching (triple dropkick into corner), combination Powerbomb-neckbreaker, Antziguiri (Tenryu-style high angle roundhouse enziguri) (Worker Ant), Beach Breaker (Fire Ant), TKO (Soldier Ant)

Video by: Suicidal Dragon

Video by: HIW

So who wins this first monumental showdown in the Column of Honor between CHIKARA and ROH? YOU DECICDE! Again, submit your choice in the comments section or email them to me and results will be next week!

ROH Call

ROH Champions—As of 10/11/2008

ROH World Champion—Nigel McGuinness (champion since 10/06/07, 28 successful defenses)
–defeated Takeshi Morishima in Edison, New Jersey to win the championship.

Next Defense: vs. Bryan Danielson, Chicago Ridge, IL 11/22/08

V.1 defeated Jay Briscoe, wristlock submission (10/21/07 San Francisco, CA)
V.2 defeated Chris Hero, wristlock submission (11/02/07 Philadelphia, PA)
V.3 defeated Austin Aries, Jawbreaker Lariat (12/29/07 Manhattan, NY)
V.4 defeated Go Shiozaki, London Dungeon (wristlock submission) (01/20/08 Tokyo, Japan,)
V.5 Steel Cage Match: defeated Chris Hero (01/25/08, Dayton, OH)
V.6 defeated Roderick Strong, Jawbreaker Lariat (01/26/08, Chicago Ridge, IL)
V.7 defeated Bryan Danielson, London Dungeon (02/23/08, Manhattan, NY)
V.8 defeated Tyler Black, London Dungeon (03/16/08, Philadelphia, PA)
V.9 defeated Larry Sweeney, Jawbreaker Lariat (03/22/08 Crystal River, FL)
V.10 defeated Austin Aries, Jawbreaker Lariat (03/29/08 Orlando, FL)
V.11 defeated Erick Stevens, London Dungeon (04/11/08 Boston, MA)
V.12 defeated Kevin Steen, roll up holding the ropes (04/12/08 Edison, NJ)
V.13 defeated Kevin Steen, Jawbreaker Lariat (04/19/08 Chicago Ridge, IL)
V.14 defeated Claudio Castagnoli, London Dungeon, (05/10/08, Manhattan, NY)
V.15 defeated KENTA and BJ Whitmer, Jawbreaker Lariat to Whitmer (05/15/08, Tokyo, Japan)
V.16 defeated Go Shiozaki, London Dungeon (06/07/08, Philadelphia, PA)
V.17 defeated Vic Viper, London Dungeon (06/14/08, Tallaght, Ireland)
V.19 defeated Keith Myatt and Lionheart, (06/20/08, Doncaster, U.K.)
V.20 (title for title) defeated NWA Champion Adam Pearce, Jawbreaker Lariat (06/27/08, Dayton, OH)
*match later reversed via DQ, both men keep their respective titles.
V.21 defeated Kevin Steen, Lariat off Turbuckle, (07/25/08, Toronto, ONT, CN)
V.22 defeated Claudio Castagnoli, Jawbreaker Lariat (07/26/08, Detroit, MI)
V.23 defeated Ruckus, London Dungeon (08/01/08, Manassas, VA)
V.24 Four Way Elimination Match: defeated Bryan Danielson, Tyler Black & Claudio Castagnoli (08/02/08, Manhattan, NY)
V.25 defeated El Generico, London Dungeon (08/15/08, Cleveland, OH )
V.26 defeated Jimmy Jacobs, Jawbreaker Lariat (09/14/08, Tokyo, Japan)
V.27 defeated Roderick Strong, (09/19/08, Boston, MA)
V.28 defeated El Generico, roll up, (09/20/08, Philadelphia, PA)

**

ROH World Tag Team Champions—Kevin Steen & El Generico (champions since 09/19/08, NEW CHAMPIONS)
–defeated The Age of the Fall of Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black on September 19th, 2008 in Boston, MA to win the championship.

Next Defense: vs. Jay & Mark Briscoe, Toronto, Canada, 11/08/08

**

NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion: Adam Pearce (since 09/20/2008)
-defeated Brent Albright via submission with the crowbar to win the title.
FIP Heavyweight Champion: Go Shiozaki (since 08/23/2008) * NEW CHAMPION
-defeated Erick Stevens via pinfall with help from the Heartbreak Enterprises to win the title.
SHIMMER Champion: MsChif (since 4/26/2008)
-defeated Sara Del Ray via pinfall with the Descrator DDT to win the title
Top of the Class Trophy (for ROH Students): Rhett “Addicted to Love” Titus (since 06/07/2008)
-defeated Ernie Osiris via pinfall to win the trophy.
Sweet & Sour Incorporated Presents The Intergender Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Of The World—Chris Hero & Sara Del Rey (since 01/12/08)

**

Top Feuds & Pairings:
-Bryan Danielson vs. Claudio Castagnoli
-Nigel McGuinness vs. Bryan Danielson
-Austin Aries vs. Jimmy Jacobs vs. Necro Butcher
-Sweet & Sour Inc. “Corporate Takeover”
-Brent Albright vs. Sweet & Sour Inc.
-Roderick Strong vs. Davey Richards
-Delirious as a part of AotF

ROH News
(via the ROHnewswire… and other sources when attributed)

Nigel Hits the One Year Mark as ROH World Champion

This week ROH World Champion celebrated his one year anniversary as Ring of Honor World Champion. He is only the third ROH wrestler to go over a year as champion, and one of the few wrestlers in any promotion to go over a year as champion in this century. It says a lot for Nigel that he was able to beat back early set-backs like injury and the fans turning their back on him and using those factors as motivation to carry him through 2008. He has been a World champion that ROH needs, someone who can provide fantastic, must-see matches while being someone the fans react to either positively or negatively.

Early on into his run, I had hoped that Nigel would be the long term babyface fighting champion that ROH has lacked since the days of Samoa Joe. Something ROH is still very weak at is providing a pure face champion we can get behind for the long term (note that I said champion, not contender). That seemed to be the direction they were going for, especially in using Chris Hero as an antagonist and slating him against heels. However, the fans lost their confidence in McGuinness because of his bicep injury and a pure face run was dashed thanks to the controversy that resulted. The strongest backlash was in New York City (although, being live in attendance for Final Battle 2007 I can remind everyone that the majority of fans supported Nigel and ended up “winning” against the naysayers in terms of volume and crowd support that night). However, the writing was on the wall that eventually Nigel was going to have to turn heel. To his credit, he has made the absolute most of that turn in direction and most of the time is able to have the fans absolutely hate his guts and want someone to take the belt from him.

The desire to see a title change has resulted in a number of terrifically dramatic title bouts against a diversity of opponents, from Kevin Steen to Bryan Danielson to Austin Aries to Claudio Castagnoli to Tyler Black and on and on. The end run of these matches has the fans popping left and right for false finishes and near-wins by the challenger to the belt.

The big question left to answer is if Nigel McGuinness will break through Bryan Danielson’s fifteen month streak as champion set from 2005-2006. Danielson will have the best shot of stopping him when they will go head-to-head for the ROH World Title on November 22nd in Chicago for a Pay Per View taping. Naomichi Marufujii is also in the wings awaiting a title shot that some seem to believe is going to happen at Final Battle 2008. Tyler Black has also come on strong in recent months and a large section of fans seem to want him as a singles champion (although a recent story on the ROH website claims that he and Jacobs are going to be rededicating themselves to regaining the tag straps).

Machine Guns Pulled for Japan Appearance

Courtesy the ROH Live Journal:

— The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) were pulled off the Ring of Honor shows this month is because they are heading over to Japan for the Pro Wrestling Expo along with Christopher Daniels & Eric Young. The expo takes place on the same days as the Ring of Honor shows — 10/24 and 10/25. MCMG’s images are the first ones shown at www.ProWres-Expo.com . LAX is taking their place on the ROH shows.

Well, that just plain sucks, even more than if TNA had pulled them to wrestle on one of their own shows. The Machine Guns are very popular over in Japan and have succeeded well as a team there for Zero-1 Max, so it makes sense they make those dates. However, I hate when multiple bookings on the same date cause these conflicts. This news piece doesn’t mention which show was booked first, but the ROH dates were announced several weeks back. I don’t know if “first come, first served” has any meaning these days, but it should.

Danbury and Edison Takes Shape

The Necro Butcher has signed for a new match on 10/24 in Danbury, CT since Jimmy Jacobs will now be in the Iron Team Match. It will be a No DQ Three Way Match pitting The Necro Butcher vs. Delirious vs. Mark Briscoe.

Jerry Lynn has joined the ROH roster and he wants to be tested. He will get that test on 10/24 in Danbury, CT. It will be Jerry Lynn vs. Claudio Castagnoli when ROH returns to Connecticut.

The card as announced so far for 10/24 in Danbury, CT:
Iron Team Match
The team that scores the most falls in 30 minutes wins – Non-Title
ROH World Tag Team Champions Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. LAX of Homicide & Hernandez vs. Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black of The Age Of The Fall vs. Chris Hero & Davey Richards with Larry Sweeney of Sweet & Sour Inc.

FIP World Heavyweight Title Match
Go Shiozaki (if still champion) defends vs. Austin Aries

No DQ Match
The Necro Butcher vs. Delirious vs. Mark Briscoe

Special Challenge Match
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Jerry Lynn

Four matches in and this is looking to be a really solid card, but I do have to say that the main event is THE match to watch for this show. The three way makes sense but I would have thought the Briscoes were done with Age of the Fall now that they received ultimate revenge in the Steel Cage Warfare match. Maybe they’re in there fighting for the honor of Daizee Haze, who knows. Castagnoli vs. Lynn should be a good straight up wrestling match (unless they go with Claudio’s new bitter streak dominating the bout) and once again shows the diversity of quality matches you can book with Lynn in your promotion. Let’s hope that they’re not all used at once and that he gets a solid direction in the company before too long.

ROH is looking to increase the competition in its tag division and will give two new teams a shot to do or die in Edison, NJ. ROH World Tag Team Champions Kevin Steen & El Generico will be a non-title match against The Osirian Portal. A team from The Age Of The Fall will be faced with Cheech & Cloudy. The duos of both The Osirian Portal and Cheech & Cloudy have a high-flying, innovative style. 10/25 in Edison will see if they do or die against ROH’s most established teams.

Tyler Black will not be on the The Age Of The Fall team against Cheech & Cloudy in Edison. It is because Jerry Lynn has now found himself without an opponent on 10/25 (we’ll get to that in a minute). 10/25 in Edison, NJ will now have Black vs. Lynn.

Davey Richards, Lynn’s original opponent for 10/25, has been pulled out of his scheduled match on 10/25 by his agent Larry Sweeney. Due to Sweeney’s negotiations, Richards will now face off with Brent Albright in Edison. The Albright vs. Sweet & Sour Inc. feud will continue on 10/25 in this first time ever match.

Here is the card so far for 10/25 in Edison, NJ:

The Main Event – Dream Tag Team Match
Jay & Mark Briscoe vs. LAX (Homicide & Hernandez)

FIP World Heavyweight Title Match
Go Shiozaki (if still champion) defends vs. The Necro Butcher

Special Challenge Match
Jerry Lynn vs. Tyler Black

Grudge Match
Brent Albright vs. Davey Richards with Larry Sweeney

Do Or Die Tag #1 (Non-Title)
ROH World Tag Team Champions Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. The Osirian Portal

Do Or Die Tag #2
A team representing The Age Of The Fall vs. Cheech & Cloudy

It’s obvious given the couplings for The Portal and Up In Smoke that they are long shots to actually win the matches. I don’t expect the tag team champions to lose to first timers on the main show. I also don’t think Jacobs and Delirious as a unit will be losing to Cheech & Cloudy, although since Jacobs and Black are the consistent unit of the stable an upset win, if any, would likely happen in that match. I’m hoping the crowd gives each team a chance and enjoys them for what they are and what they bring to the table. Albright looks to continue the feud with Sweeney by matching up with Davey Richards. I expect Albright and Roderick Strong to be tied together in dealing with The Inc. for some time to come. I l of course whole heartedly approve of the LAX vs. Briscoes match—that’s the one the people seem to want to see and is the best use (aside from a title match) for LAX. Now, how will the crowd react? Edison, New Jersey is a bit hard to predict as far as crowd support. Remember, this is the same venue where Homicide’s title match vs. Samoa Joe laid an absolute egg. On the other hand, this is also the venue where they went nuts for Homicide when he fought Steve Corino.

Florida Dates Rescheduled for February 2009

The ROH events originally scheduled for this weekend in Florida have been postponed and will now take place on 2/6 in Coral Springs and 2/7 in Orlando. Tickets for the postponed events will be honored in February.

It’;s good to know that it won’t be that deep into the new year when they come back to Florida, but I’m still mystified by the postponement in the first place. There is still no word on if another show in 2008 will take over the “Survival of the Fittest” format or if the tournament will be pushed back into 2009. While the last two tournaments were weaker than the first two incarnations, this year’s tournament on paper was looking to be the best one yet. Hopefully they can place the tournament elsewhere and maintain the booking of the previously slotted wrestlers.

1. Batista: I am getting back to feeling the levels of attitude and likeability for him that I had back in 2005 when he broke from Evolution. He may not be as popular as he was back then but he is getting some massive crowd response and is doing a really nice job as a babyface. I really liked the spine buster he laid down on Jericho and the whole “mess with the bull, you get the horns” statement—its true to his character and jump started the build to the title match at Cyber Sunday.
2. Shawn Michaels: Revenge is either sweet or a dish best served cold, but HBK was dishing it out all over the place on Monday Night Raw. I love a great and righteous babyface vindication win and this demolishment of Lance Cade was exactly that. I love how Michaels has “snapped” and if you look back from a year ago until now you can see how his character has progressed and changed as a result of all the things that has happened to him.
3. Larry Sweeney, Bryce Remsburg & Ultramantis Black : Some of the best commentators on the block. They really provide the CHIKARA DVDS with a lot of personality and not only have good interactions with each other but help to get over the wrestlers in the match as well.
4. Eddie Kingston: One of the wrestlers on the independent scene you can never really tell just where the line between real person ends and wrestling character begins. The intense hatred and abject disdain he demonstrates on CHIKARA DVDs commands and demands your attention. Plus, he went to town by verbally decimating the majority of the apathetic crowd in attendance at “Vanity & Violence” back in August at the New Alhambra…and well deserved at that.
5. Tim Donst & Hydra: An unlikely but fun combination. Hydra’s face turn came as a result of befriending Donst when the latter infiltrated the Order of the Neo Solar Temple and they have been pals ever since.

Going Home

The Song Book

Still looking for suggestions for a new theme song for Austin Aries. I suggested : “Sunday Bloody Sunday” by U2 would be a great replacement. What do you think? Send in your picks (and a brief explanation if you wish) to here.

Ringtones

Sami Callahan rules!

Posted By: The Bagman (Guest) on October 04, 2008 at 08:04 PM

Agreed…the more I see of him, the more I dig his act and where he’s coming from. He’s also got this insane move, a headlock driver…which, first of all, how do you even think to make a driver type move from a simple headlock of all things? I don’t even know how people agree to take it, but damn it looks super vicious and insane.

I still find it strange that Alex Shelley has never held a title in ROH (and so far, in TNA).

Posted By: JS (Guest) on October 05, 2008 at 04:44 AM

One of the major crimes of the twenty-first century I believe. MCMGs for TNA Tag champions!

Great stuff Ari. Couldn’t agree with you more about SD!. Lately I have found myself wanting to talk more SD! than TNA or even ROH for some reason.

Posted By: cgstong (Guest) on October 05, 2008 at 04:21 PM

Well, to be honest, I actually think Raw is better than Smackdown these days…they have the larger depth chart of talent and it’s the show with CM Punk on it. However, WWE has definitely improved over the last year/ two years when it comes to the in-ring. The fed is definitely providing a better balance between “wrestling” and “sports entertainment” and that’s what keeps the buzz on them and away from ROH and TNA.

are you going to do the top ten feuds? that would be awesome. how about the top ten matches?

Posted By: the dude (Guest) on October 08, 2008 at 06:56 PM

No, god no. Ten feuds would be difficult enough…but top ten matches of all time for ROH? I am not going to lose my mind thinking about that one! It would drive me crazy trying to decide.

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
**SHIMMER Women’s Athletes Volume 15 (SHIMMER Title: Sara Del Rey / Amazing Kong, Daizee Haze / Sara Stock, Cheerleader Melissa / Alexa Thatcher, Minnesota Home Wrecking Crew / Ariel & Josie, Sereena Deeb / Jetta) High Recommendation
**SHIMMER Women’s Athletes Volume 16 (SHIMMER Title Two Out of Three Falls: Sara Del Rey / Sara Stock, Amazing Kong / Cheerleader Melissa, Daizee Haze MsChif & Eden Black / Lacey, Rain & Jetta, Portia Perez & Nicole Matthews / Ariel & Josie, Sereena Deeb / Jetta) High Recommendation
**CHIKARA Two Eyebrows Are Better Than One (Castagnoli, Lince Dorado & Ophidian / Quackenbush, Donst & Amasis, Kingston / Storm, Colony / F.I.S.T., Moravian Greyhound / Zombie Plantain / Hydra)Medium Recommendation
**CHIKARA King of Trios Night One (Colony / Go, Nakazawam Shimizu, Osirian Portal & Mecha Mummy / Quackenbush, Storm & Skayde, Cheech & Cloudy & M.C. KZ / Quackenbush, Storm & Skayde, Delirious, Hallowicked & Helios / The Cartel) High Recommendation
**CHIKARA King of Trios Night Two (Player Uno, Stupified & El Generico / Cannon & North Star Express, Lince, Pantera & Incognito / Los Ice Creams & Glacier, Sweet & Sour Inc. / F.I.S.T. & Taylor, Donst, Gulak & Sumner / Fabulous Three / ) Medium Recommendation
**CHIKARA King of Trios Night Three (KOT Quarter, Semi Finals & Finals, Tag Team Gauntlet) High Recommendation
**CHIKARA Deuces Wild (NWA Jr. Heavyweight Title: Mike Quackenbush / El Pantera, UltraMantis Black / Tim Donst, Young Lions Cup: Helios / Lince Dorado, Colony / Osirian Portal, Robbie Ellis / Ice Cream Jr.) Medium Recommendation
**CHIKARA Passion and Persistence (Brodie Lee / Claudio Castagnoli, Campeones de Parejas: Incoherence / F.I.S.T., Quackenbush, Shane Storm, Cheech & Cloudy / Mitch Ryder & Shayne Hawke, Larry Sweeney & Robbie Ellis, Hydra / Chuck Taylor)High Recommendation
**CHIKARA Grit & Glory (Castagnoli, Sonjay Dutt & Pantera / Quackenbush, Jorge Rivera & Turbo, Campeones de Parejas: Incoherence / Osirian Portal, Storm / Kingston, Vin Gerard/ Lince Dorado, Colony / Fabulous Three, Hydra & Tim Donst / Super Smash Brothers, Gran Akuma / PSYCHO, Daizee Haze & Chuck Taylor / Sara Del Ray & Bobby Dempsey)High Recommendation
**CHIKARA AniversarioMA (Atomicos Increibles: Mike Quackenbush, Cheech, Stupified & Worker Ant / Cloudy, Player Uno, Soldier Ant & Shane Storm, Brodie Lee, Mitch Ryder & Shayne Hawke / Incoherence & Claudio Castagnoli, Chuck Taylor & Gran Akuma / Turbo & Lince Dorado, El Pantera vs. Jorge Rivera , Osirian Portal / 2.0) Medium Recommendation
**CHIKARA AniversarioCT (Osirian Portal / Shane Storm & Mike Quackenbush, Super Smash Bros. / Cheech & Cloudy, Hydra & Tim Donst / Los Ice Creams, F.I.S.T. / The Colony, Brodie Lee / Claudio Castagnoli) High Recommendation
**FIP Cage of Pain II (Cage of Pain II, Roderick Strong/Larry Sweeney, Delirious & Hallowicked & Jigsaw/BxB Hulk & YAMATO & Jack Evans, Erick Stevens/Necro Butcher) High Recommendation
**FIP Redefined (Erick Stevens/Roderick Strong in their best encounter in FIP or ROH, Austin Aries/Davey Richards, Nigel McGuinness/Necro Butcher, Shawn Murphey/Heartbreak Express, Sal Rinauro/Tyler Black) High Recommendation
**CZW Deja Vu 3 (No Rope Barbed Wire Match: JC Bailey/Necro Butcher, El Generico/Super Dragon, B-Boy/Nate Webb, Ruckus & Mike Quackenbush/Kings of Wrestling) High Recommendation
**SHIMMER Volume 17 (Sara Del Rey & Allison Danger / MsChif & Cheerleader Melissa, Lacey / Sara Stock, Mercedes Martinez / Wesna Busic, Amazing Kong / Ariel, Daizee Haze / Cindy Rogers) High Recommendation
**SHIMMER Volume 18 (Amazing Kong / Wesna Busic, SHIMMER Title: Sara Del Rey / MsChif, Cheerleader Melissa / Sara Stock, Mercedes Martinez / Cindy Rogers, Minnesota Home Wrecking Crew / Ashley Lane & Nevaeh) High Recommendation

As soon as I finish my current crop of CHIKARA DVDs I believe we’ll get another installment of the Independent Buy In Spectacular.

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.

Get With the pROHgram:

Now Available: SHIMMER Volumes 19 & 20 on DVD. MsChif’s first title defenses against SHIMMER competition…plus the very first SHIMMER battle royal, Sara Del Rey vs. Ariel, Cheerleader Melissa vs. Mercedes Martinez (19) and the return of Lufisto and Nikki Roxx!

November 14th, 2008: ROH Driven 2008 premiers on Pay Per View with Age of the Fall vs. Steen & Generico for the ROH World Tag Team Titles.

December 26th & 27th, 2008: Ring of Honor runs Philadelphia, PA and the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City for the final two shows of the year.

ROH @ 411

Mathew Sforcina begins a journey to the land known as SHIMMER with his Evolution Schematic series. Check out parts one and two here.

411 Buy or Sell looks at Tyler Black and issues in FIP.

Mike Campbell discusses the pluses and minuses of ROH and wrestling fans throwing trash in the ring.

Honor Bound Links

High Road and Low Road on Primo and Carlito as WWE Tag Champions.

The Fink’s Payload is fantasy booking dream scenarios for Survivor Series eliminations.

Shining the Spotlight on Bret Hart and his autobiography. You know it was just released in the U.S. but I read that last year!

Bayani gets political!

Ask 411 goes intercontinental and international.

Steve Cook looks at the stereotypes of wrestling fans in this week’s Cook’s Corner.

Also, be sure to check out my guest spot covering last week’s WWE Friday Night Smackdown in Larry Csonka’s Wrestling 4R’s.

That’s going to be it for this week. Don’t forget to vote for this first week of CHIKARA vs. ROH action and we’ll do the results and round 2 next week! Also, next week we preview the Danbury, CT show and classic promos month 2 is coming soon!

BROOKLYN! DA EM BAH SEE!
–Ari—