411’s Buy or Sell 8.27.10: Briscoes Resign with RoH, Young Lions Cup This Weekend, Wolves and Kings to Feud and More!

Posted by Michael Bauer on 08.27.2010

This week, the 411 Wrestling Staff takes a look at huge events for Ring of Honor and CHIKARA this weekend, as Ari Berenstein battles Kevin Ford on Buy or Sell!

Welcome everyone to Week 169 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 Tuesday Night.

Adding Homicide to the 9/11 show is a wasted opportunity for EVOLVE, as they are already overloaded on talent.



Ari Berenstein: SELL. A wasted opportunity to do what—sell more tickets? Draw more attention to the promotion? Give me a break. Homicide's debut with EVOLVE is as much a boon to the promotion as Bryan Danielson's appearances in that it provides the return of a well-known and well-liked name from the glory days of the past decade on the independent scene? Homicide would only do a few appearances here and there for other promotions like JAPW while under TNA contract, but only made two appearances for ROH and that was three years ago during Gabe Sapolsky's run. Homicide will now be on the card in front of a Sapolsky-loyal audience, most of who witnessed his ROH World Title run and fondly recall what makes Homicide a unique personality. However, this is not just about nostalgia, as Homicide can help work with some of the younger talent on the show and his wrestling would mesh well with the more realistic environment in the promotion. All told, booking Homicide is a win for Sapolsky…and a one-up on ROH. Even if Homicide comes in as a surprise appearance for Glory By Honor IX, EVOLVE can always claim they booked him and had him first.

Kevin Ford : SELL. It's unlikely that Homicide is wrestling on this show for one. If anything, it's most likely he will cut a promo or do something to set up something for EVOLVE 6, so people in attendance have something to already look forward to for the next show. Also, how is the card "overloaded on talent" already? Aside from Sawa and Danielson, the card features people who are EVOLVE regulars. Not that the talent booked isn't good (I think they are), but it's not as if EVOLVE is putting on a supercard with a lot of outside talent. And if it were, why would Homicide be a bad idea? That would be like ROH turning down Bryan Danielson for Glory By Honor IX if the opportunity for him to come in were available, because there's an "overload of talent". On top of all that, EVOLVE needs to strike while the iron is hot and have Homicide in their organization while there is still a fresh "buzz" to him. I think anyone saying Homicide coming in at EVOLVE 5 is a mistake (business wise) is silly.

1 for 1.

A member of The Brotherhood of the Cross will win The Countdown Showdown on Night 3 of the Young Lions Cup.

Ari Berenstein: BUY. It makes sense to me that members of the BDK wins given that it and CHIKARA and have been splitting their series of matches as of late and my prediction for who wins the Young Lions Cup (see below) is a CHIKARA wrestler. BDK will need something to take away here during the three-night event and a win during this Royal Rumble style match could be it. However, that's not to say that I'm one-hundred percent buying the BDK win, simply due to the number game—there's plenty of other talent, both technicos and rudos and even some guest-stars and out-there surprises that will be sure to appear that could upset the apple cart and lead to a non-BDK win. However, some of the stronger BDK members will be in this match, including Claudio Castagnoli, Sara Del Rey and Pink Ant. It's plausible that they will unify to help at least one of them win the match.

Kevin Ford : SELL. At least I hope not! Something like this is a good turning point for CHIKARA to get a simple one-up on the BDK. In fact, I think whoever wins this will be a prime recruit for Ultramantis to enroll in Team CHIKARA for the Cibernetico in October (unless it is Mantis who wins this Showdown, of course). It's tough to pick a winner, but I feel somewhat certain that a non-BDK member will take this.

1 for 2.

Neither Frightmare or Lince Dorado will win the Young Lions Cup 2010 tournament.

Kevin Ford : SELL. I'm placing my bets on Frightmare in here. In fact, I think the two names here will end up being in the Finals. Much like Fire Ant vs. Vin Gerard in the YLC finals two years ago, this has the opportunity to be an electrifying final with the fans chomping at the bit for Frightmare to defeat Lince. To me it's the best way to go, and a good first-step in showing that CHIKARA actually could have a chance to defeat the BDK after all. That, and the Coundown Showdown of course.

Ari Berenstein: SELL. I agree with Kevin here in picking Frightmare against the field. It is time for a huge CHIKARA technicos win in the war against the BDK. Tim Donst has held the equivalent of the CHIKARA singles title for most of the year, but under Young Lions Cup rules must give up the title so these other wrestlers can vie for this year's version. This leaves an opening for a huge win for the good guys. Frightmare is both popular and involved in the feud against the invading faction, not to mention he has been considered the best rookie / young wrestler on the current roster. I also agree with Kevin that it will be a Frightmare vs. Lince Dorado finals (with Green Ant as a dark horse), as many of the other upcoming independent talents featured on the show just don't have the tenure or importance to the promotion in order for their win to mean anything in the long run other than to their own careers. A win for Frightmare in the Young Lions Cup will represent a real progression in his run with the company and advance storylines for the rest of the year.

2 for 3.


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If Richards is truly retiring, a Kings of Wrestling vs. American Wolves feud would be a fitting ending to his Ring of Honor career.

Ari Berenstein: BUY. Not just a fitting end, but an appropriate conclusion for an obvious storyline playing out between Richards and his manager Shane Hagadorn. They've gone from being on the same page when The Wolves were dominant champions to disagreeing about everything. Meanwhile Hagadorn, who had managed both The Wolves and The Kings at the same time, still has control of champions. The Wolves and The Kings have fought on the same side, but now there is a great opportunity to transition into a series between the two based on Hagadorn's loyalties. Both teams are incredible and could provide many main event matches at the back end of the year. Of course, I wouldn't mind Richards and Edwards going at it in a final singles match if Richards is to retire, but that's second to what could be a great Kings vs. Wolves finale.

Kevin Ford : BUY . I had to think about this one for a bit, but in the end I decided this would be a fitting end for Richards. For the most part, Richards cut his teeth in ROH as part of a stable or duo. Of course most of Richards' most memorable matches are singles bouts (KENTA, Omega, Danielson, Black, etc.), he's been tied to Hero for half of his ROH career as a part of Sweet N' Sour Inc. and became the main eventer he is with Eddie Edwards. The storyline set-up here is perfect as well, so I think this would be a fantastic way for Richards to bow out of Ring of Honor.

3 for 4.

Jay & Mark Briscoe re-signing with Ring of Honor guarantees that they will make it to the finals of Tag Wars 2010 in Charlotte.



Kevin Ford : BUY . I'm buying this more because I believe they are making it to the finals, not so much because they resigned (though that does add more fuel to the that fire, I guess). But I don't think anyone suspects Erick Stevens and Necro Butcher beating the Briscoes. If they do, then ROH will receive one angry email from yours truly, filled with capital letters and superfluous question marks.

Ari Berenstein: BUY. The Briscoes have been the constant of the Ring of Honor tag team division for the better part of four years now and I believe they will always have a place either as champions or challenging for the title. Of course, after six title runs its difficult to keep the team together as fresh and interesting, but 2010 has been a banner year for Jay & Mark in tag teams and they have managed to outpace even their previous bests with the company. In re-signing with ROH they guarantee a continued spot near or at the top of the tag division for some time to come. I believe The Briscoes were headed for a slot in the Tag Wars Ultimate Endurance before the contract extension. Now it's a guarantee they are one of the three finalists in Charlotte.

4 for 5.

ROH's roster shake-ups ultimately will make the promotion stronger than their line-up from Death Before Dishonor VIII.

Kevin Ford : SELL. This is a very interesting question. Stronger is the word that made me sell this. I think they'll continue to prosper and be a very strong company overall, but I think the loss of Tyler Black, Davey Richards, Delirious likely stepping down, and the potential loss of Roderick Strong will have some negative effect. Then again, ROH has shown a tremendous ability to come back strong whenever they lose some top performers, so I wonder who will step-up in the wake of the shake-ups.

Ari Berenstein: SELL. At this point ROH is entering another rebuilding phase and there really isn't anyone on the level of a Tyler Black or Davey Richards right now to come in and immediately replace them. Also thinking about the wrestlers on the roster at the time, Kenny Omega is all but missing in action right now on the roster and Delirious seems to be taking himself out of active competition as he assumes the role of ROH booker. However, there is always the doubt lingering in my mind that somehow Richards is going to stick around. I also don't believe Strong is going to TNA at this time. ROH will lose other talents and sign some others, but these new talents will have to be built up over time. However, let's not forget that a lot of the wrestlers on that show, such as Kevin Steen, El Generico, Christopher Daniels, The Briscoes and The Kings of Wrestling, Aries and The All-Night Express, Colt Cabana seem to be sticking around. The ROH roster can find a strength and stability with the veteran and big names on the roster, but I don't think that in the short-term they will add up to the kind of core roster strength represented at Death Before Dishonor VIII. In time, perhaps they will, but not now..

4 for 6!!


The 169th edition of BUY or SELL finishes at 4 for 6 as these two choose to agree more often than not! Stay tuned for next week as two new people step up to the plate on Buy or Sell!