411’s Buy or Sell 6.12.09: Deathmatches Today, Chris Hero’s PWG Title Reign, Ric Flair and Austin Aries Rivalery, More

Posted by Michael Bauer on 06.12.2009

This week, the 411 staff gets ready Ring of Honor action this weekend in Hammerstein as Michael Bauer battles Bayani Domingo in Buy or Sell!

Welcome everyone to WEEK One Hundred Twelve of BUY or SELL. For those of you who haven't been with us since the beginning, here's the Reader's Digest version of what this column is all about. BUY or SELL is very much like 411's long-running Fact or Fiction column. The main difference is that BUY or SELL focuses on topics like the U.S. Independent scene, Lucha Libre, Japanese Wrestling and pretty much anything else that isn't mainstream wrestling, WWE and or TNA. This allows for these areas to get a bit more press and for you, our loyal readers, to learn even more about the sport of professional wrestling.


Week Number 112's Match-Up:

Going to be in the front row at Hammerstein this weekend- Michael Bauer!
vs.
Going to be in the front row for another Chris Hero no show- Bayani Domingo !

There is no reason at all for Ultra-Violent Deathmatches to occur in Wresling today.

Michael Bauer : BUY. Clearly, somebody is eventually going to die and by then it will be too late. Having a guy in the hospital, because he landed wrong on fucking broken glass should not happen in any sort of entertainement. Yes, accidents do happen and accidents do cause injuries. But there is a huge difference between landing wrong on a spot and blowing out a knee or breaking your collarbone and nearing stabbing yourself to death. There is also a huge difference when the first example takes place where guys are making five or six figures with some sort of insurance and the second one takes place for a couple hundred dollars with having nobody to go back to for our own stupidity. Fans love the hardcore matches, I get that, but at least have the smarts to not get involved in something so freaking stupid. A person's life is not worth one payday that is less than what I make in a month by sitting at a desk.

Bayani Domingo : SELL. So no one has ever heard of the Deep South? C'mon, while I'm no fan of the Ultra-Violent Deathmatch I can certainly see how such a niche form of wrestling still has at least a small following. I mean when you look at the landscape of wrestling there has been a bit of a decrease in true hardcore wrestling in the mainstream, or at least has been tame by today's standards. Look I understand that guys like Drake Younger and Brain Damage would basically be anonymous without the ability to endure 18 light tubes to the face, or at least more anonymous than they are now, I still think that in today's wrestling scene limiting these kind of matches to maybe one tournament a year and a few really important blow off feuds is about the limit. It just doesn't seem to pay off in the long run when you consider the real damage this has on Indy guys today and in the future, but let's face it, if a few dozen people are willing to pay to see it, in today's market that's reason enough for a promote to book some slabs of meat.

0 for 1.

With Chris Hero missing another PWG show in July, his 13 month title reign is becoming more and more meaningless.

Michael Bauer : BUY. Yeah, I hate to say it, but it is true. Let's look at his title reign. He won the title on July 6th against an injured Human Tornado. After back to back defenses at All Star Weeeknd 7 the next month, he went to the battle of Los Angeles and lost in the finals, but never defended the title. The next show he missed, but he was Express Written Consent to defend the belt. So that was from late August 2008 to February without a title defense. Yes, he defended the belt at each of the last three shows, but missing this one could mean another six months without a defense and a total 6 defenses in over a year in PWG, not including two defenses elsewhere. I think that just about says it all.

Bayani Domingo : BUY. Sorry Chris, but it's true. Joey Ryan defended that title a hell of a lot more times than you have and to be honest I'm getting tired of hearing about the title being defended rather than actually seeing it for myself. Considering how many problems that PWG as a company has had in securing enough consistent dates and venues it's not entirely Hero's fault. I guess this just goes to show that not all title reigns are created equal. It's a good thing there isn't a 30 day title defense clause in PWG. Wait…wasn't there a case where the tag titles were forfeited when…oh that's right…who pays attention to continuity these days?

1 for 2.

The Young Bucks will win one of their two tag matches this weekend in Ring of Honor.

Michael Bauer : BUY. I don't think there is a chance in hell they beat Steen and Generico. That said, with their Hammerstein debut the next night against Kenny King and Rhett Titus, I think they have a shot. Yes, Titus and King are getting huge momentum, but if they are serious about building a real tag team division, the Young Bucks need to get a win.

Bayani Domingo : SELL. Sorry ‘bucks but no way are you going over Steen-erico in RoH. Sure you got the drop on them in PWG last time around but I don't think you guys are ready to take that next step quite yet. Generally newbies eat a few pins before they get a win and the ‘bucks best chance lies in their match against Titus and King. I'm still giving Titus and King the edge however because they have definitely been given a push lately and it looks like they should be able to at least eke out a tainted victory this time around. I believe that the ‘bucks will get a win soon, just not this weekend. In fact I think they'll be on the fast track soon enough and perhaps will be in line for a push later this ummer.

1 for 3.

SWITCH~!

At least one of the recently released Ken Anderson or Umaga will be seen in Ring of Honor this year.

Bayani Domingo : SELL. Umaga isn't taking Indy bookings yet and I'm not sure Mr. Kennedy is really RoH material. He's never been that dynamic in the ring and without the weekly TV shows I'm not sure what the big appeal would be with him considering he'd probably cost the same as booking 2 or 3 of the RoH regulars. Then again I never thought I'd see Ric Flair in a ring and look at this. Still, Umaga and Kennedy are NOOOOOOO Nature Boy. Then again that D'lo sighting doesn't help my argument does it?

Michael Bauer : SELL. Yeah, Umaga not taking bookings right now is a sign he won't be coming in soon. He might later this year, but I don't see him fitting in well with Ring of Honor's style. I will admit that I would love to see Kennedy in Ring of Honor, but something tells me that RoH will see it like Bayani and not like me. I think he would be great in Ring of Honor, especially with his promo work to go against Hero, Danielson, Nigel, and just about anyone else. His in ring work I always thought was decent, but considering he had like one match in the past year is not a way for me to remember any of it.

2 for 4.

Tyler Black will defeat Jerry Lynn in their non-title contest in Virginia.

Bayani Domingo : SELL. It just seems too predictable doesn't it? That's why I'm going with the "Sell". I think pushing Black as a future champion has gone on so long that it would be almost anti-climactic to put him over Lynn this soon. I'm still of the mind Black will win the title alright, probably at "Final Battle", but a win here doesn't make much sense since he can't keep up 6 months worth of momentum. My guess is it's either a "draw" or a flash roll-up, a good effort from Black, but not the duke.

Michael Bauer : BUY. Normally, if you getting a guy ready to take the title, you have him win in a non title contest first. Ring of Honor is notorious for doing this, especially when we know Tyler Black is getting a title shot at the next set of Television Tapings. So yeah, I fully expect Tyler Black to get the win over Jerry Lynn this time. The other reason I state this. Tyler Black and Jerry Lynn have faced each other twice. The first time Tyler Black won and the second time it went to a draw. So for Black to have Lynn's number when the title is not on the line will make that title defense on television so much more intriguing.

2 for 5.

Ric Flair will end up costing Austin Aries the RoH World Title at Hammerstein Ballroom.

Bayani Domingo : SELL. I think Aries will cost himself. My guess is he'll either go after Flair and get caught by Lynn or will be posturing and will lead to him getting pinned. Having Flair screw over Aries doesn't pay anyone off because Flair won't be in RoH much longer and it won't really lead to any kind of a program between the two. It just doesn't make sense to have Flair cost Aries the win if there is going to be no "receipt".

Michael Bauer : BUY. Yeah, but Bayani, isn't that really same thing? If Aries gets himself distracted by Flair, it is still Ric Flair costing him the belt, at least in my eyes and probably Double A's as well. Something tells me that Ric Flair being an outside referee and Nigel McGuinness being at ringside will lead to some crap with a ref bump (something very rare in RoH), Nigel being involved, Flair being involved, and that combonation will cost Aries the match. It is pretty obvious to me, since the words "outside referee" always equal trouble.

2 for 6.


The One Hundred Twelvth edition of BUY or SELL finishes at 2 for 6! Stay tuned for next week as two more people will go head to head with a whole new set of topics.