wrestling / Columns
411’s Buy or Sell 03.19.10: Big Weekend for The Bruderschaft, Davey Richards vs. Kenny Omega, Chris Hero’s EVOLVE Status, and More!
Welcome everyone to Week 149 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)
Ari Berenstein : BUY. The logical progression of an invasion storyline such as this is the power grab and BDK is certainly on its way towards completing that goal. I believe that it was inevitable that The Colony would lose the Campeones de Parejas to the BDK once they were formed–it was only a question of which combination would take the belts. Initially it seemed that Del Rey and Haze would be the first woman team ever to become Campeones de Parejas, which would have been a remarkable development in that they were “neglected” by the company and then forced their way to the top. However, the more immediate (and probably more acceptable in the overall scheme of things) outcome seems to be Claudio and Ares winning it this weekend–thus putting the top two wrestlers from that stable in possession of the most meaningful belt in the company. I don’t expect Tim Donst to lose the Young Lions Cup anytime soon, so that means BDK will hold all of the gold into this weekend–and will likely maintain control through the summer.
Kevin Ford : BUY. The quick ascension of Claudio and Ares as a tag team over the last weekend of shows tells me that they’re taking the belts from The Colony. However, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if some people got involved to guarantee the win for either team (i.e. The BDK interferes to make sure Claudio/Ares win, or members of the CHIKARA locker room to make sure The Colony win). The BDK have the strength in numbers scenario, and destroyed the entire locker room once already in November, so I think the BDK will win the belts here. I also see Donst retaining the Young Lions Cup over Dasher. As much as I love Dasher, Donst has been on fire since turning Rudo and deserves the distinction. Not to mention the power it adds to the BDK.
1 for 1.
Ari Berenstein : BUY. I have The Bruderschaft dominating and winning straight-throughthe first night (“Wit, Verve and a Bit O’ Nerve”). However, it will be at the ironically titled “A Touch of Evil” on March 21st in Connecticut that CHIKARA will finally fire back at BDK with a touch of Good. I believe The Colony will begin to avenge their Campeones de Parejas loss the previous night with a win over the lower-tier BDK members (Haze, Del Rey and Donst) in their scheduled trios match. I also believe that Eddie Kingston and Lince Dorado will be thrown out due to Excessivo Castigo (disqualification via unnecessary force) from of all people Lince Dorado, so that makes two wins for the technicos. However, those two wins will be all they’ll get this weekend, as Claudio, Ares and Tursas will defeat Team Frighting in the main event to reinforce that BDK has the advantage at this point.
Kevin Ford : BUY. I think for certain Kingston’s beating Dorado. I know I said that with Tursas, but I think this time around it’s the sure thing. I could also see Team Frightning or The Colony unseating the BDK in their trios matches. Aside from that, it’s also possible for Equinox to defeat either Dorado or Pinkie Sanchez (but I don’t think both). While it could very well be more losses for the BDK than two, I think this will be their last ultimately dominant weekend before their fall at King of Trios. But we’ll cross that bridge later.
2 for 2.
Ari Berenstein : SELL. For the very simple reason that EVOLVE booker Gabe Sapolsky has already released a new mission statement through their website stating that the company will not longer revolve around one particular wrestler on the roster but rather on the style they are presenting to their audience. In my mind, that’s the smarter play no matter what–EVOLVE has to continue to define itself to their fan base and to potential new customers, and the way you do that is through word of mouth about the matches and the style and not the particular wrestlers being booked. Remember, this is a roster filled with a lot of talented but less known names, so pushing someone as the “face” of the company isn’t going to be all that important until someone becomes over and recognizable enough with the fans such that doing so is worth it. Sapolsky learned well from the Davey Richards’ debacle that you cannot depend on just one name alone to be there for your company. While Sapolsky does book special attractions like Hero, Tommy Dreamer and Jimmy Jacobs for these shows, it is ultimately the stories being told and the in-ring product that will keep his company afloat.
Kevin Ford : SELL. I don’t sell this because I think he is going to be the new face, but it’s way too soon to be asking this question. Hero has yet to be under contract to Ring of Honor, has always committed to his dates (see his attempt to grab a plane to 16 Carat a couple weekends ago after missing his originally scheduled flights), and is pretty much a universally liked and respected wrestler. Hero wrestles all styles and has consciously adapted his style in a way that just so happens to fit EVOLVE. I think Hero and Claudio were excellent choices to bring into the fold, and I hope to see more out of them in the future.
3 for 3.
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Kevin Ford : SELL. CHIKARA running the same weekend almost kills the argument. I understand a guy could fly out the next day or something, but I don’t think that’s very likely. The only CHIKARA guys who regularly compete in ROH are Claudio, Delirious, Kingston, and Player Uno. The first two aren’t booked, Kingston seems to only come in for Philly/NYC shows, and Uno is injured (hence why Dos has a mystery partner). My guess is a student will partner up with him, or someone like Frankie the Mobster who has a past with ROH in that area.
Ari Berenstein : SELL. I agree with Kevin for the most part but I do have to say its logistically possible for a CHIKARA roster member to appear because this show takes place one day before the CHIKARA events and it’s not that much of a stretch to make it from Dearborn, Michigan to Easton, Pennsylvania in one day’s time. However, it doesn’t seem to work that another CHIKARA guy would be involved, considering ROH has limited the booking of talent from that company and given the tension between DGUSA and ROH. I just don’t see Quack or Hallowicked for instance wrestling for both companies at this time. Now, I didn’t have the slightest (good) idea what ROH could do to replace Player Uno (out due to injury) in this match…until a “eureka” moment hit me as I was writing this blurb. See, Kevin Steen doesn’t seem to like masked wrestlers much…and there is a wrestler on the roster he is feuding against that has a masked alter ego ROH fans have recently seen. So it is my prediction that Player Dos will have none other than “Mat Classic” as his tag team partner on March 19th in Dearborn, Michigan, which will certainly be a “Good Times, Great Memories” moment. I’m sure it will also drive Steen & Steve Corino crazy. Book it Pearce and Cornette!
4 for 4.
Kevin Ford : BUY. Once this whole Black/Aries/Strong mess is all said and done, Davey’s the next guy in line to challenge Tyler. I think those two will have an awesome program with some great matches. They’ve had a couple in ROH so far (off the top of my head, they fought during the 2009 Proving Ground weekend and at “A Cut Above” in April 2009) as well as in FIP. If they want Davey to be the next guy in line, they got to do it right and have him rack up nothing but wins. Omega just happens to be the first guy in line to get thrown to the wolf.
Ari Berenstein : BUY. Again, if you haven’t seen these two rip it up during Clash of the Contenders, go right now and buy that DVD, because that one match alone is so good its worth the purchase (but its a solid card throughout as well). I’d agree with Kevin’s reasoning, although it doesn’t always work out in ROH that being “next in line” for contention guarantees that you’ll win out the rest of the way up until you receive your title shot. Omega and Richards kept their first match a close one, keeping the fans guessing as to the result and my guess is that they will do the same here. This could also potentially become a Pick 6 rankings match if Omega wins his match against Roderick Strong in Dearborn. Richards would then make it on the list if he were to win against Omega in Mississauga, which brings him one step closer towards challenging Black for the ROH World Title.
5 for 5.
Kevin Ford : SELL. I’m sure Ari can expand on this, but when I hear “Fight Without Honor”, I think of it as the final match of a feud. Steve Corino and Homicide’s final match against each other in 2006 was a Fight Without Honor. Danielson and Morishima’s last match was a Fight Without Honor. More recently, Hero and Kingston’s last match was a Fight Without Honor. Ring of Honor seems cognizant of the fact that this tagline is saved for the purpose of final matches in a feud. That’s not to say every feud ends with one, but a Fight Without Honor is a big red flag to signal it.
Ari Berenstein : SELL. Kevin is exactly right on this–sorry readers, it seems this is a non-controversial edition of Buy or Sell! Lynn vs. King is a program that has been built up slowly since last Summer (when King and Titus jakked him with a spike piledriver and put him out of commission until the beginning of this year). Now Lynn is back and once again is rejuvenated–AND the fans are far more accepting of him in this role than as the ROH World Champion. The Lynn-King feud is starting to pick up some steam as a result, which means there should be quite a few matches between the two in the months ahead. Phoenix will not be their last fight and billing their Phoenix match as “No Holds Barred” is the right call since the designation of a “Fight Without Honor” is meant for feud ending matches. I do believe that these two will likely have a really intense fight, use weapons and even bleed befitting of such a stipulation, but no matter who comes out the winner there will be more on future ROH shows.
3 for 6!!
The 149th edition of BUY or SELL finishes at 6 for 6 as these two do nothing but stay in agreement! Stay tuned for next week as two new people step up to the plate on Buy or Sell!
