Ring of Honor 1/26/13: Recap

Image courtesy ROH wrestling

This weeks show starts off with Nigel in the ring. He has security with him and around the ring. I guess this can only mean one thing. Kevin Steen will be coming to the ring. Jay Lethal asked for this time to talk to Kevin Steen. Kevin Steen comes to the ring with the rest of S.C.U.M. When everyone is in the ring, Lethal says he just wants to challenge Steen for the title. Steve Corino instead does all of the talking for Kevin. Lethal says Steen isn't like all the former ROH Champions. Not if he keeps ducking him. If Steen wants to destroy ROH by beating every wrestler that believes honor lives, he must have missed the biggest name on the list. Jay Lethal. After Jay tells it like it is, all Steen say is, "I accept".

11th Anniversary 
Saturday, Mar 2, 2013 07:30pm EST

Top Prospect Tournament

Truth Martini is ringside for the top prospect tournament

Silas Young vs Adam Page

• I like like what I am seeing from both of these guys for different reasons. 
• Silas definitely can play the heel role. He has strength and some agility.
• Adam Page has a wrestlers look. And he hits a nice move off the apron, I won't ruin it for you.

Silas gets the win with a Stock Lock. This was a good match. I feel both of these guys could be additions to the roster. Silas can be a good heel and Adam Page could really go somewhere in the business.

Instead of and Inside ROH Charlie Haas is pissed and comes to the ring. After running down the Baltimore crowd, he runs down his list of problems with ROH. During his time one of the ring attendants is cleaning debris from the ring as the crowd is throwing streamers and toilet paper and whatever else at Haas. Charlie takes offense to him being in his ring at his time. He renames Brendell Cheeseburger because looking at him makes him hungry. Haas asks is he is a wrestler, Cheeseburger say yes. Bad Idea. He goes on to say he is a student in ROH DoJo. He says tonight is his chance. Haas vs Cheeseburger. He is super skinny. The crowd is egging Cheeseburger on. Haas destroys Brendell and put him in the Haas of Pain. Say a prayer for Brendell.

Rhett Titus vs Matt Hardy

• In case you wondered, I only do bullet point of matches because I don't want to ruin the suspense of watching a match. 
• Rhett has his ribs taped up and it obviously is a target for the vet Matt Hardy. Matt has no inhibitions about targeting them either.
• Rhett does seem to get in more offense than I would expect, but the injury is too much. It seems to me Rhett has been hurt a lot. He may need to take some time off.

Matt Hardy get the win with the Twist of Fate.

ROH World TV Championship

BJ Whitmer vs Adam Cole

• No pre-match interviews like last week. I liked that last week. Maybe there wasn't enough time.
• BJ's neck still isn't 100% after  Final Battle be he still gives it a go.
• Matt Hardy comes down to the announcer table to watch the match. He feels he should get a title shot at Cole.
• This is another good match well worth your time. Adam Cole is a real talent I wonder where he will be a year from now.
• BJ takes quite bit of abuse to his neck and this match took toughness from Whitmer.

Winner Adam Cole via Florida Keys.

Ring of Honor 1/19/13: Recap

Obviously this is the start of a new season. The show has a much better look and feel to it. The first year under SBG was obviously a learning year. Now with things looking to be more planned, I expect this to be a very good year for ROH fans. One thing I immediately notice in Caleb is the color guy again. They didn't mention anything about his replacement, so until further notice he is it.

Alabama Attitude vs Fish and O'Reilly

• The crowd likes "Team Am Fishing" (Caleb actually shots out my favorite ROHCast with his reference).
• AA looks good as a team, I hope they get a few more chances at getting TV time.

Team Am Fishin' gets the win. This was an enjoyable match. Not sure if it was Fish and O'Reilly that made the match so well; or if Alabama Attitude added more than I expected.

Nigel McGuinness confronts Jay Lethal

• Fans are hot for Lethal, he gets a very good reaction as he comes out.
• Nigel tells Lethal what happened at Final Battle, while understandable it can never happen again. This will be Lethal's last warning.
• Lethal just wants to know what he has to do to get a title shot against Steen.
• Nigel tells him he has to convince Steen to accept the match.

Inside ROH

• Nigel wasn't impressed with how Matt Hardy won his match with Adam Cole. Matt's blatant low blow cost him as he wasn't awarded a title shot. Instead, BJ Whitmer will have a TV Title match next week. 
• Both Matt Hardy and Charlie Haas are not happy with this title match. Haas is upset because he beat Whitmer at Final Battle. Hardy is uspet because he beat the Champion Adam Cole at the same show.
• Also there is a rumor that says Kevin Steen has changed since his Ladder Way with El Generico. He hasn't been quite his old self. Steve Corino then tell us not to believe the rumors and only believe facts.

Top Prospect Tournament

Truth Martini is doing color ringside so he can scout for new HOT talent

Mike Sydal vs QT Marshall w/ RD Evans

• Quite Terrible Marshall (I hope you saw my sign on the show) is showered in TP as he comes to the ring.
• Loud "Marshall Sucks" chant!
• Sydal really looks good in this match he carried QT to a good match.
• Martini had a strange comment that was interrupted by a nice move. Not sure where he was going with it but it was strange.

QT get the win as a expected. I am not going to get into that now, that is for another post.

ROH is doing a good job of building up the Main Event of the Show. I like how they are using their time wisely in an hour long show.

ROH World Tag Team Championship Match

Cedric Alexander and Caprice Coleman vs The Briscoes

• Crow is torn, they like both teams.
• This is a quality Main Event. I would say it is a must see match.

The Briscoes get the win in a great match. After the match S.C.U.M. run out and attck the four men. Rhino hits a gore as they go off the air.

This was a very enjoyable episode. I like the new feel. I think the build up to the 11th anniversary show will be fun.

Killer Instinct Fallout

Things really heated up at the "Killer Instinct" show this past weekend. The show was awesome I hear, I wouldn't mind seeing this as a road rage episode.

The talk around ROH is the Lethal vs Steen match. The match broke down and totally went to chaos. You can read about it here.

Without the benefit of seeing this match, I think Lethal has shown some viciousness that many say he lacked. I am sure Steen hasn't seen the last of Lethal, as now he needs to avenge his mother. I couldn't imagine seeing someone spit at or near my mother, I would have snapped also.

 I am on record as not being a Steen fan, but this solidified it for me. Steen, I don't care how Evil you are, Lethal will have his revenge.

The main other match I really want to see is Richards vs Mondo. I thought this could be a show stealer, and it sounds like it was. I am a fan of Davey, but I like Mondo's hunger. He always come to fight, and won't back down.

All in all it was a good show.I hope I get to see it.

Killer Instinct

R

Picture Property of ROH Wrestling

While I don't think it will happen tonight, I do think Jay Lethal will soon be the ROH Champion. In Rahway NJ, Lethal finally gets his shot at the most coveted title in ROH.

It's no secret, I'm no fan of Kevin Steen. I hate what he did to The generic luchador and I can't believe El Generico has not returned for his revenge. Don't take that to mean Steen is an impostor. He isn't. He is a crazy, evil, hardcore wrestler. He had been doing his thing for years.

One week from now, Michael Elgin challenges for the title. And if it is still Steen it will be one heck of a fight. I like Elgin, he's strong as on ox. But I think its too soon for him. So tonight, I'm pulling for Jay Lethal. I just think somehow he will get screwed tonight out of a victory. But that won't be the final chapter.

ROH Real Professional Wrestling

One of Pro Wrestling's future stars.By Anton from USA

I have been a fan of ROH Wrestling for over a year now. I had grown tired of the WWE formula and their desire to embarrass their employees. When I learned a different option would be available in my market, I jumped at the chance to check them out.

ROH has giving me all the entertainment I could have asked for. It has some one of the best professional wrestling available, the commentary is good, and there is plenty of drama surrounding the World Championship.

The first Champion that I got to know was Dave Richards.Davey was a good champion, but he didn't get to defend his title on air as much as I would have liked. Part of the reason for that is the time he spent in Japan, but just as his reign was getting good in came Kevin Steen.

Steen "Wrestling's Worst Nightmare" isn't my cup of tea, but the crowd reacts to him well. He holds a grudge against Jim Cornette and other ROH officials for keeping him out of ROH for over a year. He now is the Champion and is holding the company hostage as his buddies also hold the tag team gold.Whomever  finally wins the championship from Steen will be a hero in ROH.

If I were a gambling man, I would pick either Michael Elgin or Jay Lethal to be the next ROH Champion.The thing I know for, whoever it is will have to go through hell to become the ROH champ.

In addition to a good World Title "division", they have historically the best tag team wrestling  in professional wrestling today. The hot new team of Coleman and Alexander have really impressed me with their ring work. These guys will be champs before long.

They also have guys that could be future stars in other promotions like WWE. One example of that is Kyle O'Reilly. This guy has put on numerous great matches and he has the look and is decent on the mic. If you don't know who this guy is, you will soon enough.

The main complaint I have with ROH is it seems the don't record enough television episodes. This causes them to have many "Road Rage" episodes. These episodes are matches from live events or past PPV's. This is a lot of wasted time that could be used to build interest in PPV's. If they would us their TV time better their overall produce would receive a boost.

So, I have made the switch and have no regrets.Not everyone will just drop WWE cold turkey, but ROH is definitely worth your time.

Final Battle 2011 Preview and Predictions

Final Battle is upon us at last. This, Ladies and Gentleman, is the ROH event of the year. This event is on pace to be the biggest iPPV to date for ROH. The card is stacked with great matched. The only question is "Will there be another Match of the Year Candidate?"

World Title Match

Davey Richards with Team Richards defends vs. "Die Hard" Eddie Edwards with UFC Hall of Famer Dan "The Beast" Severn

This is the story of one Tag Team, The American Wolves. The story of two friends. They used to call each other brother. Those times are long gone. Only one thing could have driven these two apart. The desire of both men to be the best. This is Richards/Edwards III. How fitting for this to be the Main Event of Final Battle 2011. Since the last time these two fought, things have changed. Edwards is training with Dan "The Beast" Severn. This is even bigger new because Richards wanted to train with his childhood idol. Richards told Eddie about it naively thinking nothing of it. Eddie liked the idea so much he decided to train with The Beast himself, behind Davey's back. Once the news got out, things changed. This match is not going to be like its predecessor. Eddie now has new techniques such as the Dragon Sleeper. Davey feels betrayed. Something tells me this is going to be personal.

Prediction

Ring of Honor Wrestling Review 12/17/2011

Ladies and Gentleman, this is the "Go Home" show. The last show before Final Battle. This has been quite the build, especially for a former WWE Fan. It is definitely a change for the better.

The main event tonight will be Michael Elgin vs Davey Richards. This will be a Proving Ground Match. If Elgin wins or goes the time limit, he will get a shot at the world title. For Davie, this close to Final Battle, it is a severe test to see if he is ready for Eddie Edwards.

Eddie Edwards cut a promo, he says he is ready for Final Battle. Dan Severn has taught him to reverse Davey's Ankle Lock and taught him the Dragon Sleeper. Now, that is all in the gym. He says we will find out on December 23rd what will happen.

Andy "Right Leg" Ridge vs "Die Hard" Eddie Edwards. Truth Martini come out to join the commentators during this match.He is putting his support behind Eddie at Final Battle. If Eddie were to join House of Truth, he would change his life forever. Right Leg is putting up a little fight, but he isn't in Eddie's class. They keep hinting that Martini has ulterior motives behind Elgin challenging Davey right before Final Battle. Truth denies it, but keeps saying Eddie should join hit team. Winner: Eddie Edwards via Dragon Sleeper. After the match, Martini show his approval but applauding Eddie. Is the the beginning of Eddie's heel turn?

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Now, they are reviewing the Tag Team Title situation with ANX and the Briscoes fueding to be the number 1 contender for WGTT and their Title.  Then they reveal that Last week the Briscoes cracked Benjamin's rib with the chair shot last week. Benjamin will wrestle with Haas to defend there Championship and pay #DemBoys back. Will his cracked rib have an impact on the match?


INSIDE RING OF HONOR

Davey beat Eddie for the World title at Best in the World. After the match his emotional speech seemed to imply that his friendship with Eddie would life on. Fast forward to now, and that doesn't seem to be the case. Davey feels betrayed that Richards took his idea to train with Severn.

Rodderick Strong, Michael Elgin, and the rest of the House of Truth have been in the middle of this also. Don't be surprised if they get involded some how. 

"Unbreakable" Michael Elgin vs "The American Wolf" Davey Richards Proving Ground Match Elgin does not honor the code of shaking hands before the match. He is in no mood for that. Elgin is definitely the stronger of the two. Richards is taking quite the beating. Elgin is a beast. Richards should not be in this match. They don't cut to commercial break as they usually do they said they would but they just fast forward. This is a battle. You have to see this match awesome. Winner: Davey Richards. Elgin and Truth attack Davey after the match. Eddie come out for the save, but but somehow he hits Davey by accident. A huge brawl breaks out and this is now personal.