411’s Buy or Sell 11.20.09: PWG’s Battle of Los Angeles, Ring of Honor Imports AAA Talent, CHIKARA Careers On The Line, More!!

Posted by Michael Bauer on 11.20.2009

This week, the 411 Wrestling Staff gears up for the 2009 Battle of Los Angeles as Bayani Domingo battles Samuel Berman in Buy or Sell!

Welcome everyone to Week 133 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.

Questions are sent out on Monday Night.

BANNER!


(Special thanks to Jasper Gerretsen)

Hydra will be forced to leave CHIKARA, just to return without the mask.

Bayani Domingo : SELL. We really need to repackage this guy? Seriously? Jigsaw, Equinox, Akuma, Icarus, and now Hydra? Is he somehow going to become a super duper star on his own without a mask? I hate to say it but CHIKARA just does not need another generic lookin' white boy running around its ranks. I know a lot of people aren't so hip to the character anymore, but it has a lot more legs than it does as just another guy working Lucha-esque/comedy matches without much more gimmick than that. Then again we also have Donst, he's actually obtained a mild amount of success outside of CHIKARA and to be honest it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to boot him out of the company. That makes me think that Hydra would be the more likely candidate to leave and be repackaged, I mean it makes sense right? Then again, this is CHIKARA and really their style of booking is totally foreign to me so I'll say Donst loses, leaves, and then comes back under a mask. What? Like that hasn't happened before?

Samuel Berman : SELL. I actually think that Tim Donst will be the one to leave CHIKARA, only to return with a mask. Furthermore, I wouldn't be completely surprised if Donst was revealed as Carpenter Ant somewhere down the line. If nothing else, call this the Helios Theory.

1 for 1.

The rules for EVOLVE Wrestling make little sense in today's Wrestling standards.

Bayani Domingo : SELL. Really? We're saying that something is illogical by wrestling standards? That seems like an oxymoron within itself. As far as I know the concept of this whole company is that they are trying to be slightly different than the other companies and creating a dedicated roster to one division or the other and by doing so would have to have a fairly large AND committed roster. That's commendable, but I'm still not sure if we need another company right now, unless they are bringing vastly different rules and participants to the table. In this case it's just a Tag and Singles division and some qualifying matches instead of the "Gut check" type ones we've seen elsewhere. To me this doesn't seem radical enough to really resonate with fans yet, but considering they haven't put on their first show yet I guess we should let the in-ring product speak for itself. But this is far from illogical or unreasonable, by any standards. Unless of course the qualifying matches are all done in hot oil or in a Gravy Boat.

Samuel Berman : SELL. While I think that the rules may turn out to be a bit convoluted in practice, if the company is willing to sell them, they'll make perfect sense. Remember when Ring of Honor began using the Pure Wrestling rules? People thought they were too complicated to get over. Given time to adjust to the style, fans got used to things and the rules were utilized creatively on a number of occasions.

2 for 2.

Rocky Romero and Alex Koslov fit better in the current Ring of Honor product than Jack Evans and Teddy Hart.



Bayani Domingo : BUY. Sadly it used to be the other way around. Don't get me wrong, Rocky and Alex are both find wrestlers, good workers, and nice guys and all, but I've really been holding out that one day I'd see the New Hart Foundation put back together and in RoH. But you know, things have changed HD or not and to be honest it seems like the new RoH has been focused more on the mat aspect of wrestling and not as much show and flash and if you had to pick some solid workers who can mesh well with a bigger array of workers and not necessarily go "Spot, spot, rest, spot, spot", then these two are a better fit. Plus, with the past injuries to some of the bigger names in RoH this year and the effect it's had on the company, as well as the wrestlers, then I think you'd want to go with the guys less likely to put someone on the shelf for an extended amount of time.

Samuel Berman : SELL. I think all four men fit equally well in the current ROH product. While Hart's previous appearances with the company leave me dubious that his return is a smart decision, he's certainly been reasonably acceptable during his recent stint in Mexico from what little I've seen. Also, I like Romero, Koslov and Evans, so having all three back in ROH is a good move as far as I'm concerned. The question now is how permanent a fixture the four men become.

2 for 3.


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Austin Aries vs. Brian Kendrick should have never been booked as a first round match in the Battle of Los Angeles.

Samuel Berman : SELL. Should never have been booked? Why not? While the BOLA field has a couple of ducks in it, I don't really see any reason why two big names shouldn't face off in the first round. It actually adds intrigue going into the tournament because at least one main event player won't advance to the second night. It's like in the 2006 TPI when Colt Cabana and Mike Quackenbush, both popular picks to make a run to the finals, met in the opening round.

Bayani Domingo : SELL. C'mon, who wants to buy Night 1 of a show if there are only predictable matches that night? I mean…you have to have at least a couple big matches to sell the seats and the DVDs. It's just good marketing, besides, only one guy is going to win the whole thing so does it really matter when a "Big Name" goes out in the tournament? Hell, I'm even considering going to my first PWG show in 7 months on Night 2.

3 for 4.

Within the weaker half of the brackets, one of the Young Bucks will make the Semi-Finals of the 2009 BoLA.



Samuel Berman : SELL. I believe I won the staff BOLA contest last year, which probably means I'm destined to have a terrible bracket this time around, but I just don't see PWG pushing either Jackson brother over some of the other Block C and Block D competitors. You'll see exactly what I do pick in my brackets a little later on.

Bayani Domingo : SELL. Because really? Who would be the better buck? Okay, most of you say "Mr. Instant Replay", but that's just cuz' the guy is more jacked and has those oh so fuzzy ‘burns. I would like to think that it makes no sense to put one over the other and if either of them went it would probably be Nick since he just has to beat Brandon "Nitro" Gatson and possibly a very beat up El Generico or Alex Shelley, whom he already has beaten in tag action. But I think it makes more sense to do what PWG has been waiting too long to do and pit the MCMG's against each other in the semi's. that of course means poor Roddy Strong has yet another stalled push to what SHOULD be his first PWG Championship, but I can't imagine that PWG would miss the boat yet again to do so. But hell, I'm going to go ahead and bet on PWG not putting on the match that SHOULD happen, but rather give the belt to one of the two men who will be there for a good long run. So for me I hate to say that I'm not expecting to see Shelley/Sabin, but something tells me we'll see a Strong/Spanky finals. But I could be wrong, either way though I just can't see either ‘Buck making it to the semis.

4 for 5.

One of the four former PWG World Champions in the Battle of Los Angeles will reach the Finals.

Samuel Berman : BUY. With the PWG World Title on the line, I cannot help but think that PWG will use this opportunity to re-establish a former champion as the top man in the company. While El Generico would be my dark horse candidate to take the belt, I think that Human Tornado will end up besting Kenny Omega in the finals to capture his third PWG World Championship.

Bayani Domingo : SELL. So we got Joey, El Generico, Steen, and Tornado. Nope, don't see it happening. If it did I'm assuming we're looking at Joey going over and I just can't stomach it. Tornado is the longest shot, as is Generico considering his current string of matches, and I'm not sure that Steen is ready to be 100% PWG right now. That leaves…Joey. Oh no…oh HELLLLL no. I don't care if while I'm writing this I'm thinking that odds are that he MIGHT actually go to the finals, I just refuse to pick it. Nope, no way.

4 for 6!!


The 134th edition of BUY or SELL finishes at 3 for 6 as these match up half the time! Stay tuned for next week as two new people step up to the plate on Buy or Sell!



But before we go, the annual tradition continues! I have ask any and all staff member to give us their brackets for the 2009 Battle of Los Angeles for a little internal competition. Here are the picks for this year:
(Note: All picks were submitted before the change of Chris Sabin to Johnny Goodtime.)

Bayani Domingo
2009 Battle Of Los Angeles – Night One
1. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block A Match: Kenny Omega vs. Kevin Steen - Winner: Omega
2. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block A Match: Scott Lost vs. Jerome "LTP" Robinson – Winner: Lost
3. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block B Match: Austin Aries vs. Brian Kendrick – Winner: Kendrick
4. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block B Match: Colt Cabana vs. Joey Ryan – Winner: Joey
5. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block C Match: Brandon Gatson vs. Nick Jackson – Winner: Nick Jackson
6. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block C Match: El Generico vs. Alex Shelley – Winner: Alex Shelley
7. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block D Match: Chris Sabin vs. Roderick Strong – Winner: Roddy Strong
8. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block D Match: Matt Jackson vs. Human Tornado – Matt Jackson

2009 Battle Of Los Angeles – Night Two
1. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block A Match: Omega/Steen winner vs. Lost/Robinson winner – Winner: Omega
2. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block B Match: Aries/Kendrick winner vs. Cabana/Ryan winner –Winner: Kendrick
3. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block C Match: Gatson/Jackson winner vs. Generico/Shelley winner – Winner: Shelley
4. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block D Match: Sabin/Strong winner vs. Jackson/Tornado winner – Winner: Strong
5. 2009 BOLA Semi-Final Match: A Block winner vs. B Block winner – Winner: Kendrick
6. 2009 BOLA Semi-Final Match: C Block winner vs. D Block winner – Winner: Strong
7. 2009 BOLA Final: Semi-Final Winners Face Off – Winner (PWG Champ): Roderick Strong


Samuel Berman
2009 Battle Of Los Angeles – Night One
1. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block A Match: Kenny Omega over Kevin Steen
2. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block A Match: Scott Lost over Jerome "LTP" Robinson
3. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block B Match: Brian Kendrick over Austin Aries
4. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block B Match: Joey Ryan over Colt Cabana
5. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block C Match: Brandon Gatson over Nick Jackson
6. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block C Match: Alex Shelley over El Generico
7. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block D Match: Chris Sabin over Roderick Strong
8. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block D Match: Human Tornado over Matt Jackson

2009 Battle Of Los Angeles – Night Two
1. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block A Match: Kenny Omega over Scott Lost
2. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block B Match: Brian Kendrick over Joey Ryan
3. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block C Match: Alex Shelley over Brandon Gaston
4. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block D Match: Human Tornado over Chris Sabin
5. 2009 BOLA Semi-Final Match: Kenny Omega over Brian Kendrick
6. 2009 BOLA Semi-Final Match: Human Tornado over Alex Shelley
7. 2009 BOLA Final: Human Tornado over Kenny Omega


Michael Bauer
2009 Battle Of Los Angeles – Night One
1. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block A Match: Kenny Omega over Kevin Steen
2. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block A Match: Scott Lost over Jerome "LTP" Robinson
3. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block B Match: Brian Kendrick over Austin Aries
4. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block B Match: Colt Cabana over Joey Ryan
5. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block C Match: Nick Jackson over Brian Gatson
6. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block C Match: Alex Shelley over El Generico
7. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block D Match: Roderick Strong over Chris Sabin
8. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block D Match: Human Tornado over Matt Jackson

2009 Battle Of Los Angeles – Night Two
1. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block A Match: Kenny Omega over Scott Lost
2. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block B Match: Brian Kendrick over Colt Cabana
3. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block C Match: Nick Jackson over Alex Shelley
4. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block D Match: Roderick Strong over Human Tornado
5. 2009 BOLA Semi-Final Match: Brian Kendrick over Kenny Omega
6. 2009 BOLA Semi-Final Match: Roderick Strong over Nick Jackson
7. 2009 BOLA Final: Roderick Strong over Brian Kendrick


Jasper Gerretsen

2009 Battle Of Los Angeles – Night One
1. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block A Match: Kenny Omega over Kevin Steen
2. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block A Match: Scott Lost over Jerome "LTP" Robinson
3. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block B Match: Austin Aries over Brian Kendrick
4. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block B Match: Joey Ryan over Colt Cabana
5. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block C Match: Nick Jackson over Brandon Gatson
6. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block C Match: El Generico over Alex Shelley
7. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block D Match: Roderick Strong over Chris Sabin
8. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block D Match: Human Tornado over Matt Jackson

2009 Battle Of Los Angeles – Night Two
1. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block A Match: Kenny Omega over Scott Lost
2. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block B Match: Austin Aries over Joey Ryan
3. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block C Match: El Generico over Nick Jackson
4. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block D Match: Roderick Strong over Human Tornado
5. 2009 BOLA Semi-Final Match: Austin Aries over Kenny Omega
6. 2009 BOLA Semi-Final Match: Roderick Strong over El Generico
7. 2009 BOLA Final: Roderick Strong over Austin Aries


ARI
2009 Battle Of Los Angeles – Night One
1. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block A Match: Kenny Omega over Kevin Steen
2. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block A Match: Scott Lost over Jerome "LTP" Robinson
3. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block B Match: Brian Kendrick over Austin Aries
4. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block B Match: Joey Ryan over Colt Cabana
5. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block C Match: Brandon Gatson over Nick Jackson
6. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block C Match: El Generico over Alex Shelley
7. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block D Match: Roderick Strong over Chris Sabin
8. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block D Match: Human Tornado over Matt Jackson


2009 Battle Of Los Angeles – Night Two
1. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block A Match: Omega over Lost
2. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block B Match: Kendrick over Ryan
3. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block C Match: Generico over Gatson
4. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block D Match: Strong over Tornado
5. 2009 BOLA Semi-Final Match: Omega over Kendrick
6. 2009 BOLA Semi-Final Match: Strong over Generico
7. 2009 BOLA Final: Kenny Omega over Roderick Strong


Steve Cook
2009 Battle Of Los Angeles – Night One
1. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block A Match: Kenny Omega over Kevin Steen
2. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block A Match: Scott Lost over Jerome "LTP" Robinson
3. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block B Match: Brian Kendrick over Austin Aries
4. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block B Match: Joey Ryan over Colt Cabana
5. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block C Match: Nick Jackson over Brandon Gatson
6. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block C Match: Alex Shelley over El Generico
7. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block D Match: Chris Sabin over Roderick Strong
8. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block D Match: Human Tornado over Matt Jackson

2009 Battle Of Los Angeles – Night Two
1. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block A Match: Omega over Lost
2. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block B Match: Ryan over Kendrick
3. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block C Match: Shelley over Jackson
4. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block D Match: Sabin over Tornado
5. 2009 BOLA Semi-Final Match: Omega over Ryan
6. 2009 BOLA Semi-Final Match: Shelley over Sabin
7. 2009 BOLA Final: Omega over Shelley


Chad Nevett

2009 Battle Of Los Angeles - Night One
1. 2009 BOLA First Round - Block A Match: Kenny Omega over Kevin Steen
2. 2009 BOLA First Round - Block A Match: Scott Lost over Jerome "LTP" Robinson
3. 2009 BOLA First Round - Block B Match: Austin Aries over Brian Kendrick
4. 2009 BOLA First Round - Block B Match: Colt Cabana over Joey Ryan
5. 2009 BOLA First Round - Block C Match: Nick Jackson over Brandon Gatson
6. 2009 BOLA First Round - Block C Match: Alex Shelley over El Generico
7. 2009 BOLA First Round - Block D Match: Chris Sabin over Roderick Strong
8. 2009 BOLA First Round - Block D Match: Matt Jackson over Human Tornado


2009 Battle Of Los Angeles - Night Two
1. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final - Block A Match: Omega over Lost
2. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final - Block B Match: Aries over Cabana
3. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final - Block C Match: Shelley over Jackson
4. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final - Block D Match: Sabin over Jackson
5. 2009 BOLA Semi-Final Match: Aries over Omega
6. 2009 BOLA Semi-Final Match: Sabin over Shelley
7. 2009 BOLA Final: Aries over Sabin



Ryan Byers

2009 Battle Of Los Angeles – Night One
1. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block A Match: Kenny Omega over Kevin Steen
2. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block A Match: Jerome "LTP" Robinson over Scott Lost
3. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block B Match: Austin Aries over Brian Kendrick
4. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block B Match: Colt Cabana over Joey Ryan
5. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block C Match: Nick Jackson over Brandon Gatson
6. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block C Match: Alex Shelley over El Generico
7. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block D Match: Roderick Strong over Chris Sabin
8. 2009 BOLA First Round – Block D Match: Matt Jackson over Human Tornado

2009 Battle Of Los Angeles – Night Two
1. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block A Match: Omega over Robinson
2. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block B Match: Cabana over Aries
3. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block C Match: Shelley over Jackson
4. 2009 BOLA Quarter Final – Block D Match: Strong over Jackson
5. 2009 BOLA Semi-Final Match: Omega over Cabana
6. 2009 BOLA Semi-Final Match: Shelley over Strong
7. 2009 BOLA Final: Omega over Shelley