411’s Buy or Sell 7.30.10: The Brotherhood Dominates CHIKARA, EVOLVE vs. ROH, Bryan Danielson Dominates, More

Posted by Michael Bauer on 07.30.2010

This week, the 411 Wrestling Staff takes a look back at the busy weekend east of the Mississippi in Indy Wrestling, as Michael Bauer battles Ari Berenstein on Buy or Sell!

Welcome everyone to Week 166 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.

Chris Hero will regain the PWG World Championship from Davey Richards this weekend.

Michael Bauer: SELL. I'm gonna sell this one. I kinda think Richards will have at least one more defense before he hangs up the boots and calls it a career. I can see him dropping the belt back to Danielson or whoever else at the annual Battle of Los Angeles tournament in November to cap off his west cost career. But giving the belt back to Hero now, after having him drop to Danielson and then having no real consistency since that decision seems like a wasted year.

Ari Berenstein : BUY. Richards has been vocal about his desire to retire from professional wrestling at the end of the year. There are only about five months left and given PWG only runs about once a month these days, that means there will need to be a title change soon. It might as well be right now, during their seventh anniversary show. Richards hasn't been able to make consistent bookings with PWG, at one point missing three shows in a row this year. Hero, like Richards, had some problems at the beginning of his PWG title run in terms of being able to make bookings, but he is the better choice at this point because he is the safer bet to stick around in the long term. Unless PWG is planning to make Danielson their next champion (which has been done twice before, mind you), Hero is the right call.

0 for 1.

DDT should continue to run events in bigger venues like the Sumo Hall instead of places that held just several hundred people.

Michael Bauer: BUY. It almost seems like they have to step up and become that up and coming promotion. The numbers don't lie and they are two for two in selling out Sumo Hall, meaning they definitly should continue to book the place in order to get those major crowds. It a wise financial decision for the company if they truly want to grow, which every company should be thinking about.

Ari Berenstein : BUY. If it continues to work, continue to do it. This was their second Sumo Hall show they ran and the second sellout of over 8,000 in attednance. Now I'm not saying run there every month, but certainly bi-annual shows isn't reaching too far beyond their means, so long as they carefully book to some major marquee matches.

1 for 2.

The Brotherhood of the Cross not losing a match last weekend is a sign that this angle will last until CHIKARA's next season.



Michael Bauer: BUY. Yeah, it's pretty obvious that this is no longer a one year storyline for CHIKARA, much like their build was last year. Claudio and Ares have been dominant as Campeon de Parejas and Tim Donst has been nearly as good as the Young Lions Cup Holder. I think this will end up lasting until the end of 2011 at this point, with some small chink in the armor happening at the end of this current season.

Ari Berenstein : SELL. I don't believe its the results of this past weekend's shows that indicate the BDK will continue to exist throughout this season and into the next, but rather the slower than expected progression of the angle. Issues between the faces and the BDK contingent continue to simmer and linger on. The BDK invasion is also drawing more than the CHIKARA regulars into the story, including Tommy Dreamer (since May) and the Soul Touchaz during the mid-west weekend in June. There are many players and many branches to this angle left to be resolved before moving on to another company defining angle. Furthermore, there are only seven shows left until the end of this current season (including a three-show Young Lions Cup tournament where the focus will be on the younger wrestlers and less on the BDK as a whole). I guess there could be more shows added for November and December (typically CHIKARA is winding down and entering its "off-season" at that point). Still, there seems to be no choice but to continue the presence of BDK into 2011, although there does need to be some sort of dramatic twist, such as BDK losing political power (maybe Director of Fun Dieter Von Steigerwalt is fired and Leonard F. CHIKARASON is back in control to help the technicos regain a fair fight), throwing out "weak links" in the group or even an unexpected heel turn from the technicos side that changes the complexion of the struggle between the two forces. I believe a definite turning point could be the "Dark Cibernetico" event, but that CHIKARA won't be completely rid of BDK in some form until next season.

1 for 3.


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Given that Ring of Honor will now hold a Pay Per View on Sept. 11th, EVOLVE's event will fail on the same day.



Ari Berenstein : SELL . Not with Bryan Danielson on the card that's for sure. Right now, Danielson is the great equalizer on the independent scene. Right now, DGUSA and EVOLVE have him; Ring of Honor doesn't. His presence is a compelling reason to buy a ticket to any show, and EVOLVE is smart to have secured him for that date long ago. Follow that up with a long teased Amazing Kong appearance (against Mercedes Martinez) and there is plenty of reason already to buy tickets for the show. Even if fans want to go the Ring of Honor show as well, they can just hop a train from Rahway to Penn Station and get to the Manhattan Center with just enough time to spare.

Michael Bauer: BUY. I buy this, especially since Ring of Honor is not known for fans who show up right before the doors open AND for the fact that you have Terry Funk autograph signing starting at 6 PM. There is no way EVOLVE finishes in two hours for the fans who want to see Danielson, Kong, and Funk. I don't care how close the two events are to each other, it's not going to change the fact that people like me, who get those front row tickets every show, will be standing out there on line when the first match starts for EVOLVE. By the way, who says RoH doesn't pull a rabbit out of there hat and get Danielson also that night? I mean, he is in town.

1 for 4.

Amazing Kong and Sara Del Rey will have a third match in their series during Glory by Honor IX.

Ari Berenstein : SELL . However, I'm buying the hope that this will actually happen. One match between the two has already taken place in New York and a rematch in the same building would only be natural. The problem with guaranteeing a match for iPPV is that most of the build for these shows ties into the Ring of Honor on HDNet television tapings. Unfortunately, Amazing Kong has not been featured on the television show and did not make any appearances two weeks ago (for shows that will air around the time of the iPPV). That makes the chances of seeing the rubber match in NYC on this show less likely than if this were just a major house show like Supercard of Honor V. I do have one suggestion though for ROH whenever the inevitable third match does occur between the two--GIVE THESE LADIES SOME TIME! The first match was eight minutes and the second was six--that's downright criminal given the ability and reputation of these ladies. Let them put in a lengthy, epic match for their third bout, at least fifteen minutes. They've pulled it off in SHIMMER and they can definitely pull it off on any given ROH show.

Michael Bauer: SELL. As much as it would make sense, Ari makes a very good point here. Having this match on Pay per View would ned some television hype and we don't have that at all with Kong and Sara. But then again, a match like this wouldn't need the hype. Anyway, I do expect this feud to finish either at Final Battle (still at NYC) or maybe in the return to Charlotte.

2 for 5.

Bryan Danielson will not lose a match on the Independent Circuit until he either returns to Ring of Honor or is resigned by the WWE.



Ari Berenstein : SELL. I don't know if I can speak to the booking philosophies of what is like a dozen different wrestling companies who are booking Danielson over the next two months. Yes, Danielson is returning from the majors and is a draw on his name and reputation alone. Its not normal protocol in that situation to job someone, where going over on the first show (to milk the "welcome back" appreciation from the fans and keep them happy) can help lead to future appearances and a stronger and more effective draw. However, I don't believe that Danielson is going to have a problem putting over someone else if that's the call that will be made. Danielson's mission statement (as he has written about on his website) is to help the independent scene for as long as he continues to be available for appearances. If putting over a promotions' local talent or losing a major dream match against a top competitor (like against YAMATO in DGUSA) is what is required, Danielson will be professional and do that job.

Michael Bauer: SELL. He will eventually have to lose. The question though has to be not if, but when. Does he lose to Roderick Strong in PWG this weekend? Does it wait until his second EVOLVE show, when he main events again? Honestly, I can't predict when he will lose, but I don't think it will coincide with him returning to Ring of Honor. I will say though, I wouldn't be surprised if the WWE resigns him without him losing a match.

3 for 6!!


The 166th edition of BUY or SELL finishes at 3 for 6 as we don't know whether or not to agree or disagree! Stay tuned for next week as two new people step up to the plate on Buy or Sell!