Column of Honor: 10.18.08: Part Two—Kizolum of Honor

And here we go again with all the things you said and not a minute spent, to think that we’d regret:
Welcome back to the column.

ROH Call

ROH Champions—As of 10/18/2008

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: a. Four Way Elimination Match vs. Go Shiozaki vs. El Generico vs. Kevin Steen, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 11/07/08
b. 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)

Bryan Danielson Drops GHC Jr. Heavyweight Strap to KENTA

Via the Wrestling Observer: As expected, KENTA pinned Bryan Danielson in 33:21 with the Go 2 sleep to win the GHC jr. title on 10/13 in Hiroshima before 2,500 fans, making the match with Marufuji most likely a title vs. title match with the GHC belt and All Japan World belt at stake.

Unfortunately, most fans verses in the interaction between American independent wrestlers and Puro companies could have told you right when Danielson won that he likely wasn’t long for the belt. It would have been very cool for Danielson to be a longer term champion and get some more cross over going between ROH and NOAH, but in the end, this seems to be for the best. The Marufuji-KENTA rivalry does benefit a great deal in that it becomes a title for title situation. Meanwhile, Danielson is free to concentrate on achieving the big win against ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness for the PPV taping in November. Dropping the strap now helps prevent any telegraphing of the outcome of that title match whereas if Danielson had commitments to Japan to defend the Jr. title at that point, winning the ROH World Title would have seemed like much less of a possibility.

Can’s Opened for Montreal and Toronto, Canada Shows

ROH announced the following talent rosters for the November 7th and 8th shows in Montreal and Toronto: Signed for both shows are: ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness; ROH World Tag Team Champions Kevin Steen & El Generico; FIP World Heavyweight Champion Go Shiozaki, Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards of Sweet & Sour Inc. with Larry Sweeney; Bryan Danielson; Jay & Mark Briscoe; Austin Aries; Roderick Strong; Jimmy Jacobs, Tyler Black & Delirious of The Age Of The Fall; The Necro Butcher; Erick Stevens; Kenny King plus more to be announced!!!

Jerry Lynn has been added to both the 11/7 Montreal and 11/8 Toronto events.

The main event matches for 11/7 in Montreal and 11/8 in Toronto have been signed. “Death Before Dishonor VI” last August in Manhattan featured a Four Way Elimination Match for the World Title. ROH officials were so happy with how this match went that they have signed another to be the main event of 11/7 in Montreal. This one will feature four current champions, but only the ROH World Title will be on the line. 11/7 in Montreal will see ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness vs. FIP World Heavyweight Champion Go Shiozaki vs. ROH World Tag Team Champion Kevin Steen vs. ROH World Tag Team Champion El Generico in an Elimination Match.

A rematch of the “Respect Is Earned II” pay-per-view main event will take place on 11/7 in Montreal. It will have Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black vs. Bryan Danielson & Austin Aries with the winners challenging for the ROH World Tag Team Titles on 11/21 in Dayton, OH.

A grudge match has also been signed for 11/7 in Montreal. It will pit Roderick Strong vs. Davey Richards. These two recently battled for almost 25 minutes in Japan. Now the feud between these former No Remorse Corps partners comes to Canada.

We already know that Kevin Steen & El Generico will defend the ROH World Tag Team Titles for the first time when ROH returns to Toronto on 11/8. Their first challengers will be the team that they could never defeat for the belts in Jay & Mark Briscoe. Now two more matches have been signed. The first is a very unique bout as ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness takes on The Necro Butcher. It has not been decided yet if this will be for the ROH World Title.

Also just signed for 11/8 in Toronto is Jerry Lynn vs. Davey Richards.

I like that ROH is bringing back the four way elimination—it’s a format that has worked well for them over the years and always provides a bit of drama. This one that main events the Montreal show seems to be a champions’ gala, but the focus will likely be on Steen and Generico considering it’s their homecoming for being tag champions on an ROH show in Canada. Now the focus may become centered on if they will team up and isolate McGuinness and Shiozaki or if they will fight each other during the match and see who the “better man” is on their team? Meanwhile, Aries & Danielson vs. Age of the Fall continues to be a money match, because all four men put in a ton of effort when they go out there. The match also turns into a bit of a mini tournament to get to 11/21 in Dayton, as The Briscoes fight Steen and Generico to for the tag title and the winners move on to defend the belt against the number one contenders in Dayton.

Jerry Lynn continues to be added onto shows as a feature attraction and his fight against Davey Richards in Toronto should be a nice selling point on the undercard of the show. It also continues Lynn’s pursuit of Sweet & Sour Inc. in order to avenge the beatdown they put on Lance Storm, a fellow ECW alumn.

Danbury and Edison Additions
Two more matches have been signed for the 10/24 Danbury, CT event. A battle of power will see Brent Albright vs. Jay Briscoe. SHIMMER action comes to Danbury when Sara Del Rey faces Ariel.

The Aries vs. Jacobs feud will continue on 10/25 in Edison, NJ. It will be Austin Aries vs. Jimmy Jacobs in an Anything Goes Match when ROH finally returns to Edison.

I’ll comment on the Danbury matches below. Aries vs. Jacobs was originally set for the Florida shows, so aside from the Survival of the Fittest tournament itself, most of the marquee matches from those shows will have shifted over to other ROH cards. This just seals the deal of what should be an incredible card in Edison, headlined by LAX vs. Briscoes. I think this could be the renaissance show for Edison if all goes well.

1. Shawn Michaels: His opening promo on Raw was very strong…I’m glad the direction is that he is not over his feud with Jericho and knows his own bias. In fact, he revels in it. His attack on Y2J was great because its exactly what he should have done when confronted face to face with his bitter rival.
2. Delirious: The word on the street(z) was that Delirious as a babyface was stale and boring in Ring of Honor, but in CHIKARA he is still terrific as a light hearted insane-o maniac. His interactions with opponents, whether technico or rudo, are entertaining and meant to emphasize both his own wacky persona and underline his opponents’ character traits. I really enjoyed watching his run with Hallowicked as the CHIKARA Campeones de Parejas.
3. Evan Bourne: He continues to be one of my personal favorites and part of it is because he is bringing the style he used in the indies and successfully using it (with help from his opponents) to something viable for the mainstream. He is still enthusiastic in his role as an over the top goody-goody, but it never gets annoying, mostly because there’s no time to think about it since he’s amazing you with one spectacular move after the other.
4. The Great Khali: Just for the laugh he had when he was face to face with Johnny Knoxville. This was a very entertaining moment in a sea of apathetic mush that was that segment.
5. Batista: Jazz hands. That is all. Easily the greatest pre-tape and two second moment in WWE this year.

Honorarium

-So who’s the better duo—Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins or Mitch Ryder and Buck Hawke? Inquiring minds want to disregard the existence of these men.

-One of the positives you can really see in WWE these days is the kind of progressive character evolution both in the short term and over the long haul. What I mean by that is that the wrestlers don’t just change characters overnight like they might have just a few years ago, but that they are evolving and changing through programs and interactions with other wrestlers. They are changing and being changed, sometimes overtly and sometimes in more subtle matters through these interactions. Take Shawn Michaels—if you were to look back one year ago, you’d find a completely different HBK character. It’s because of his interactions with Ric Flair, which led to chain reactions from Batista and Chris Jericho, that has led us to the point where you see the Michaels of October 2008 being so completely different. The same applies for Chris Jericho, or MVP, and even now we are starting to see a progressive change for The Great Khali of all wrestlers. In that difference lies excitement and a new appeal to continue watching WWE even in week’s where they are up and down in quality of programming and in ring action. A story is being told, one of character change and adjustment that is necessary, especially in order to keep the cycle of wrestling continuing onwards.

-Johnny Knoxville looks like Vince Vaughn who looks like Josh Duhamel who looks Ryan Seacrest without the frosted hair who looks like an older, more metrosexual Drake Younger.

-Some are knocking the Kizarney character already; surprisingly I kind of dig it. I think he’s got a cool look and the carnival gimmick hasn’t been done in a while. Sinn is also a very competent wrestler, so if given half the chance he may just impress the heck out of people. Or he may become the next Phantasmo or Papa Shango.

-Lance Cade was looking to be a “golden boy” of WWE in that he had a big name like Shawn Michaels as his mentor and rabbi and they always wanted to do something with him. He kept getting chance after chance. Me, I never really understood what the big deal with him was and why everyone seemed to keep saying he was going to be this major superstar in the future for WWE. I was never impressed with him in the ring and found his personality to be slightly less cardboard than Eddie Edwards and Jason Blade (well before Blade found his inner arrogant heel). I can’t say I was a fan of Cade’s in-ring work, but obviously I’m not reveling in what happened to him on that plane or the subsequent firing by WWE. I’m hoping he can pull through these troubled times and get his stuff together

ROH Preview: LAX comes to Ring of Honor! October 24th, 2008 in Danbury, CT

8:00pm belltime
Danbury Police Athletic League Building
35 Hayestown Road
Danbury, CT 06811

This event replaces the show scheduled for the Expo Center in Hartford, CT. All tickets for Hartford will be honored in Danbury.

Iron Team Match
The team that scores the most falls in that 30 minutes wins

ROH World Tag Team Champions Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. LAX vs. Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black vs. Chris Hero & Davey Richards with Larry Sweeney

My guess is that this will be a thirty minute balls to wall affair, but that the most cheers and affection from the fans will come for LAX. It’s Homicide’s first appearance back in ROH and wrestling in over a year…and my guess is that it’s going to be all about him for the first ten minutes or so. However, there are three other teams here and you’d be sadly mistaken to think AoTf, the tag champions and a combination of Hero and Richards are going to take being overshadowed lightly. It’s going to be a fun watch to see who will win the falls and how. I think it makes sense either for Steen and Generico to win the final fall and win the match or set one of the other teams up to earn a future title shot against them.

FIP World Heavyweight Title Match
Go Shiozaki (if still champion) defends vs. Austin Aries
Aries tore it up with Shiozaki back at the Sixth Anniversary Show. It was a physical affair and actually much closer than you’d think. Go gave him a run for the money, but Aries prevailed on that day. This time I think we’re going to go the other way around. Shiozaki is in the driver’s seat as FIP champion and will likely be put over to keep the spotlight on his success and on Sweet & Sour controlling a title belt.

No DQ Three Way Match
The Necro Butcher vs. Delirious vs. Mark Briscoe
This looks to be the “Katie-Bar-The-Door” brawl of the event, with Necro going hardcore and punching people flat out, as usual and Delirious, being draw to the dark side of Age of the Fall likely to be more violent than usual. Mark Briscoe? He’s just crazy!

Special Attraction
Jay Briscoe vs. Brent Albright

There’s no real reason for these two to fight each other except for honor and fighting spirit. In fact these two now enjoy a healthy respect for each other since Albright helped Briscoe out of a funky situation with Pearce and Hagadorn back in early August. I expect Albright to rumble on through here and get some momentum as he heads back to fighting the good fight against The Inc.

Special Challenge Match
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Jerry Lynn

This is likely to be the technical wrestling and chain sequence style match, at least at first. If Lynn upstages Claudio, look for the embittered Swiss man to switch gears and grind out Lynn with trickery and subterfuge. Castagnoli has shown no remorse since his turn and will likely go to great lengths to get the one up on the veteran Lynn. A win here should help both men move up the ladder and start thinking about title contention.

SHIMMER Action
Sara Del Rey vs. Portuguese Princess Ariel

I’m very glad to see that Ariel is being given a shot here on an ROH card. She’s a very “happy” face who concentrates on fan interaction in her entrance, but she can go well in the ring. I’m hoping this is not one of those two minute squash matches for Del Rey (which seems to be all she’s been doing in ROH lately) and that they’ll get a decent amount of time to show off what each can do in the ring. Not holding my breath though.

Going Home

The Song Book

We’ve got some good answers for our search for new music for Austin Aries. We may like to “reach out and touch faith”, but sometimes we need something else besides a personal jesus. What did you guys come up with?

The Briscoes
Column of Honor Suggestion: “Ramble On” (Led Zeppelin)
YOUR Suggestions:
roXXXas: “Second To None” by Style From Beyond f. Mike Shinoda
Andrew Crow: “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” by Johnny Cash.

Daizee Haze
Column of Honor Suggestion: “Because I Got High” (Afroman)
YOUR Suggestions:
ausjimmy: “Santeria” by Sublime
Jsin51: “Smoke Two Joints” by Sublime
bosh: Anything Reggae for Daizee

Austin Aries
Column of Honor Suggestion: “Sunday Bloody Sunday” by U2
YOUR Suggestions:
Chimera: “Believe” by Breaking Benjamin

Aries’ music – while this is nowhere near as good as Personal Jesus, I think at least the lyrics of Breaking Benjamin’s _Believe_ fits:

At least during his AotF squabbles over Necro …I don’t listen to any ‘harder’ stuff, since that’s what makes me think of Aries.
Steve Rodocker: “Janie’s Got a Gun” by Aerosmith for reasons semi-similar to your U2 mention.

“Dragula” by Rob Zombie – Hard rock, rocking hard.

Thanks to both for sending in your choices. We’ll be back with a new selection next week!

Ringtones
PWInsider’s audio man and 411 alumni Stuart Carapola touched base with me to spread the following crotch hurting video.

So you guys know how I ride on Matt Cross for blowing nearly every move he tries? Just to illustrate that this is nothing new, I refer you to this PWG match from mid-2004 where Cross goes for…something on Super Dragon and…well, see for yourselves.

And Ari, you HAVE to put this in CoH tomorrow. I demand it!

Ask and ye shall receive. Anyways, OUCH!

Cgstong is in with comments about CHIKARA:

Man it is a tight match with Vulture Squad vs the Ant COLONY but I have to say that with a lot of tight spots, high flying action with some damn good moonsaults going on in my head I would have to give this match to The Ant COLONY (dammit been reading too many KENTA results). They have cohesiveness and their triple moves are just down pat.

BTW.. I’m not sure I’ve seen you say it Ari but what would you have thought of an Incoherence in ROH?

Incoherence in ROH, before Delirious turned anyway would have been great. I don’t understand why Gabe just didn’t go with the flow and insert Hallowicked into Delirious’s elongated feud against the Hangmen 3–it would have given D someone to back him up on a consistent basis and someone who wore a mask–which could mean more antagonist actions against a masked man by the HM3. It’s too late now though and I don’t think they should bring him in to team with Delrious now that he is a heel.

Chimera, who has sent feedback before as rejectedloserbabe, writes in again:

Howdy, Ari.

In response to your suggestions for the CHIKARmy invasion – I would not be
against Gran Akuma coming in, but keep Icarus away, please. I’d rather have Matt Cross back than Icarus. Having said that, however, I don’t think I could count myself as a wrestling fan if I didn’t want the Colony in at least part time.

Thanks for taking the time to vote on the ROH vs. CHIKARA feature–I’m very excited to see how people vote in the next few weeks.

I don’t get the dislike of Icarus…I’ve watched plenty of CHIKARA DVDs and especially recently he seems to be really consistent in the ring. He has taken on a more wacky heel persona, insulting the fans in over the top ways. I think he and Akuma are a good tandem and I’d think they’d fit better in the tag ranks for ROH rather than just Akuma in as a single.

I don’t know, I think that Akuma’s cheesy grin fits him. He just looks like someone who really enjoys kicking people as hard as he can.

Posted By: soulpower (Guest) on October 11, 2008 at 04:27 PM

It’s dopey! Dude looks like he’s hopped up non Quaaludes!

As much as I like the idea of transporting CHIKARA teams to ROH, the former has to keep its strong tag division…uh, strong as well, so I don’t know about having these two teams stick around long-term.

Posted By: B.W.G. (Guest) on October 11, 2008 at 08:34 PM

Well, I figure since ROH and CHIKARA don’t really run against each other, that they could share and share alike. I just wish there was a little more interaction and trade off between the two companies, hence my crossover special.

Interestingly enough, there’s going to be a champions vs. champions matchup in C*4, with Steenerico vs. the SSB. I might get the DVD just for that alone.

Posted By: Matt (Guest) on October 11, 2008 at 09:36 PM

I heard about that match…and it’s given me an idea for the ROH vs. CHIKARA series, if we get to it. I may just buy that DVD just for that match alone. Also, one of the things I kept seeing in the comments was just how much people enjoy and get into The Colony. You really can’t help but get into it.

I agree that the tag ranks could use an infusion of new talent but I think bringing in all the teams you mentioned would be too much. The Portal and Up In Smoke definitely deserve a spot, but after them, has anyone considered bringing in The Lords of the Ring Rob Conway and Nick Dinsmore. Sure there would be some Eugene backlash, but a few witty recants and great performances by Dinsmore would put that behind him. And from what i’ve heard of his OVW history he has the talent to pull it off. Plus, long-term Dinsmore could be one of the top singles talents in ROH and even a possible future champ.

Posted By: bosh (Guest) on October 12, 2008 at 12:19 PM

I would have more personal backlash against Conway than Dinsmore. Like with Cade, I never saw what others seemed to see in Conway. I didn’t get into his act in WWE and his singles run was a disaster of leopard skin pattern proportions. As a serious heel tag team though, maybe there is something really cool that can be done with them in ROH. I’d think they would be able to get some good heel heat…and that’s something really important nowadays when half of the heels are actually cheered.

ROH @ 411

Mathew Sforcina continues his tour de force recap of the evolution of SHIMMER.

411 Buy or Sell looks at events on SHIMMER, CHIKARA and FIP.

Honor Bound Links

I think if it weren’t for Dunn’s onslaught of Kelly Kelly pictures I could have taken this week’s 200th edition of the 411 Fact or Fiction.

The only column where you’ll see the dream match of Hulk Hogan vs. Mickey Mouse is in this week’s Wacky Wrestling Theory.

Shining A Spotlight on wrestling books that could have been.

Slimmer looks at the possibility of wrestling returning to pop culture status in this week’s Don’t Think Twice.

Lansdell asks 411 so he doesn’t have to steal Sarnecky’s magic eight ball.

That’s gonna be it for this week—a mammoth double edition for you all. Next week the CHIKARA vs. ROH series continues with results and our next match up! Plus, results from 10/24 in CT and a preview of the LAX vs. Briscoes dream match and the rest of the Edison, NJ card next week.

BROOKLYN! DA EM BAH SEE!
–Ari—