411’s Buy or Sell 8.28.09: The Final Countdown Tour, IWGP Heavyweight Championship is Vacated, Chris Hero Defends the PWG World Title, and More!!
Posted by Michael Bauer on 08.28.2009
This week, the 411 Wrestling Staff and the world is still reeling from Bryan Danielson’s WWE contract as Jeffrey Harris battles J.D. Dunn in Buy or Sell!
Welcome everyone to Week 122 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.
BANNER!
(Special thanks to Jasper Gerretsen)
Shinsuke Nakamura will win the vacated IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
Jeffrey Harris : BUY. I'd say Nakamura is the best option at this point, even though he maliciously injured the true undefeated champion, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and tried to end Tanahashi's career. That's fine though. Nakamura will win, and Tanahashi, the true champion will return and put an end to Nakamura and the joke of a career he's had as an underachieving, paper, transitional IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Tanahashi has always been the guy that's carried the company on his back over the last several years. He ended the legendary reign of Mutoh. He bailed the company out after Lesnar turned out to be the ridiculous investment he was and we had to witness freak shows like Akebono competing for the title. Tanahashi beat Nagata, Mutoh, Giant Bernard, Goto, the best and brightest NJPW had to offer. Nakamura couldn't take that. Nakamura couldn't take that he lost to an old, washed up Mutoh. He couldn't take that Tanahashi was being the fantastic champion that Nakamura always wanted to be but couldn't. So Nakamura will win, but he will once again only be a footnote before Tanahashi returns and takes back what is rightfully his.
J.D. Dunn : BUY. Nakamura is the name that makes the most sense. And I agree that it sets up the logical match with Tanahashi. These have been two of the most consistent names in recent years, and sometimes it makes as much sense to set up one big feud rather than just transitioning to a guy for the sake of finding a new guy on which to hang your hat.
1 for 1.
Chris Hero will still be PWG World Champion entering 2010.
Jeffrey Harris : SELL. Who knows. WWE is apparently interested in some ROH talents, and Chris Hero could be one of them. There were rumors about some WWE interest or Hero signing with WWE before. Hero might not have the typical look of an ideal WWE performer, but the dude has mad skills, knows how to work a great match with just about any body in any style, and he's the freaking saviour of professional wrestling. I dunno, I don't think we can count on this happening with PWG for sure.
J.D. Dunn : SELL. I agree that Hero could easily make the jump to the WWE (probably better than Danielson will). But there are other reasons as well. With ROH getting a TV deal, CHIKARA building a fanbase, and Dragon Gate already generating buzz, it would behoove PWG to shake things up a bit, if for no other reason than to draw interest to the promotion.
2 for 2.
Due to his new contract, Bryan Danielson will not show up for PWG's events this weekend and next weekend.
Jeffrey Harris : SELL. I see no reason he wouldn't be at the shows and honor his current commitments. Frankie Kazarian still appeared at the awesome All Star Weekend Shows in 2005 after he signed with WWE. Every indication is that Danielson is still going to honor his indy show dates through September.
J.D. Dunn : SELL. I don't know how much import Danielson puts in PWG as compared to other promotions, but it seems like he would want a nice sendoff tour in PWG just as much as in ROH.
The move on TV to Monday Nights will end up being the start of the death of Ring of Honor.
J.D. Dunn : SELL. In my area at least, there is no direct competition with the WWE, so there's nothing to worry about there. In fact, it helps that there is already a Monday night audience for wrestling. It's like when someone opens a Taco Bell on the corner, and everyone goes. But then, someone decides, "Hey, there are a bunch of hungry people there, maybe they'll get there and decide they want pizza instead." So, they open a Pizza Hut. The audience was there first, and the show adapted to their tastes.
Jeffrey Harris : SELL. ROH WILL NEVER DIE! Well, maybe not. But look, ROH is already on a pretty marginal extra premium cable network. They are a one hour show that to my understanding won't be playing directly against RAW, so I don't see the issue. I'd like it though if TNA would go up against RAW because I would hope that would finally kill TNA.
4 for 4.
Ring of Honor will lose at least two more main event wrestlers by the 8th Anniversary Show.
J.D. Dunn : BUY. That's an eternity in wrestling terms, especially when the ROHers are no longer under contract. Danielson has already signed. I think there are a few other guys who would make the jump to the WWE with greater ease and success than Danielson. Think of a quarterback who has a great career in college running the wishbone but finds his options limited in the pros. I fear that's what Danielson will run into. Other guys like Austin Aries, Tyler Black, and Nigel McGuinness may not have Danielson's broadly storied career, but I think they might do better in the big tent.
Jeffrey Harris : BUY. I wouldn't be surprised. But I mean, this has quite frequently been the norm for ROH before. I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out to be Nigel McGuinness and Chris Hero. Austin Aries? Hmm, maybe.
5 for 5.
Bryan Danielson will pull a CM Punk and win the Ring of Honor World Title in his "final match".
J.D. Dunn : SELL. I would hope not. That was like catching lightning in a bottle. To try to reproduce that angle or that feeling would make the "Summer of Punk" less special. Danielson going out losing (or even in a time-limit draw) just seems like a much more fitting end.
Jeffrey Harris : BUY. Yeah, I'll buy that just because I would love to see it happen. In 2005, that was one of the greatest storylines of all time in the history of professional wrestling. TNA and WWE seldom come up with anything that creative. Unfortunately for Gabe, those types of great ideas seemed to run dry after a while.
5 for 6.
The 122nd edition of BUY or SELL finishes at 5 for 6! Stay tuned for next week as two more people will go head to head with a whole new set of topics.
If you haven't already, make sure you bookmark 411 or better yet, set us as your homepage! As always, thanks for choosing 411 for all of you pop culture needs!
Danielson draws with Aries, but makes him tap during post match shenanigans, that way when Danielson leaves Aries can gloat about how the only person who could've ever beat him is long gone.
That way, when Tyler Black or whoever else available defeats Aries, they get an assload of cred.
Posted By: John De Large (Guest) on August 27, 2009 at 11:55 PM
"I'd like it though if TNA would go up against RAW because I would hope that would finally kill TNA."
I'm glad we agree, Mr. Harris!
Posted By: Empire Of Ownage (Guest) on August 28, 2009 at 12:29 AM
Harris, you fail. Nakamura is the most badass wrestler in the world.
Posted By: Guest#5861 (Guest) on August 28, 2009 at 04:11 PM
"I'd like it though if TNA would go up against RAW because I would hope that would finally kill TNA."
And it's newb mark comments like that which causes no one to take 411wrestling seriously. TNA has actually gotten better and is watchable unlike that march to death which is ROH. Consider their biggest news all year is someone leaving. That should tell you how sad things are. They are not even the top indy anymore. And Hamada > than anything in ROH.
ROH is already dead thanks to Pearce. Csry Silken is bleeding money left and right. Pull the plug.
Posted By: Kel (Guest) on August 28, 2009 at 04:16 PM
Here's hoping ROH learns from their mistake and puts everyone under contract.
Posted By: spawnsyxx9 (Guest) on August 28, 2009 at 06:07 PM
I think Dragon will do it. Remember, he's agreed to a contract "IN PRINCIPLE", and everybody seems to be overlooking that.
Until his name is on the line, nothing is official.
Posted By: ausjimmy (Guest) on August 28, 2009 at 09:09 PM
The main ROH talent is see jumping ship is Delirious. He has a gimmick tailor made for WWE's new PG era. He's been crude in the past, but his gimmick can be tweaked so the lizard man will be a kid-friendly attraction.
And of all the guys that could benefit from a jump to WWE, I think Aries wouldn't be one. For all his charisma, the dude's only 5'7" and his offense is a bit too high impact for WWE. He might get an Evan Bourne-style push at first but I think he'd quickly fade into the background so they could use him as job fodder for bigger guys (physically speaking).
Posted By: Guest#3639 (Guest) on August 30, 2009 at 08:54 PM
i dont see aries going to wwe, not for awhile at least
when i heard they were gonna raid roh i immediately thought nigel, delirious, hero, and possibly steen & generico
Posted By: Guest#1938 (Guest) on September 01, 2009 at 02:51 PM
