411 ROH Roundtable Preview: Boston & Edison - Pay-Per-View Taping - 10/5 & 10/6
Posted by Samuel Berman on 10.05.2007
The 411 staff comes together to preview Ring of Honor's upcoming weekend of action, featuring Nigel McGuinness' third shot at Takeshi Morishima, Anything Goes between Jay Briscoe and the Necro Butcher, and a huge weekend for Austin Aries!
Welcome back loyal readers, and thank you for joining us for another 411 Ring of Honor Roundtable Preview. This week, we're going to be taking a look at another big weekend for ROH, complete with the company's 4th Pay-Per-View taping on Saturday in Edison, NJ. This weekend features a number of huge matchups, including Kevin Steen's first shot at Takeshi Morishima and the ROH World Title, a rematch between former partners Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli, and the beginning of a Best-of-Three series between longtime rivals Austin Aries and "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson. Those bouts are only the beginning, however, as Aries will also go toe-to-toe with former partner and stablemate Roderick Strong, and fans will also be treated to the first matches in the Briscoes' war with The Age of the Fall. And as if that wasn't enough, Nigel McGuinness will be challenging for the ROH World Title in the main event of the Pay-Per-View taping. Before we get to our thoughts on this weekend's shows, let's take a look at this week's contributing staff:
Now that the staff's been introduced, here is our preview for this weekend's shows. Cards are current as of Wednesday, 10/3.
[Editor's Note: Due to late breaking injury updates on Mark Briscoe and "Lightning" Mike Quackenbush, the cards for this weekend's shows were changed as late as mid-day Wednesday. Due to these changes, not all writers will have commented on every match. Also, please note that some writers submitted their picks prior to the changes.]
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2007 - BOSTON, MA
Erick Stevens & Matt Cross vs. Brent Albright & Adam Pearce
Jerome Cusson: Why does ROH continually do this to the Resilience? They book them in a match where they're almost sure to lose. The Resilience needs to start winning matches. Stevens is starting to get over. Aries is hot off his TNA deal, and Matt Cross fits in perfectly in tag matches. Sadly they do another job here.
Winners: Brent Albright & Adam Pierce
Erick Stevens & Matt Cross vs. Brent Albright & Adam Pearce
Matt Adamson: Erick Stevens and Matt Cross still appear as jobbers to me, which Albright and Pearce really are under-pushed in my opinion. I think that unless something is up the collective ROH sleeve, Albright and Pearce have this one in the bag.
Winners: Albright & Pearce
Jarrod Westerfeld: And now we enter into bizarro world where, away from the pay-per-view filmings, Albright doesn't look quite as dominant as the Resilience needs to pick up some wins to still look like a unit of guys worth paying to see. They can have Albright toss around Cross all they want, but at the end of the night, this team can't pick up the win without completely hurting the Resilience and their credibility any further than it's already been hurt thanks to all of their losses to No Remorse Corps. But expect the beat down at the end that degenerates into a full on war that may lead to Whitmer laying out Stevens to really sell Whitmer as being this new monster that can really stand with Albright and his aggressive nature.
Winner: Erick Stevens & Matt Cross
Michael Bauer: This match should do two things. One is build momentum for the PPV taping. The other is give us a reason to think Stevens and Cross won't be teaming up much longer.
Winners: Albright and Pearce
Ari Berenstein: Stable wars is kicking off and this means we'll be getting lots of combinations of tag teams booked against each other in matches such as this one. Stevens & Cross don't really have anything against Pearce & Albright and vice versa but I guess we're getting right to the placement and rankings of the stables. Cross & Stevens are heading into battle against the NRC the next night and could use the lift, but so could The Hangman's Three since they're a relatively new stable. Let's say some wacky craziness involving Delirious attacking Hagadorn distracts the H3 long enough for Stevens & Cross to capitalize and get the win.
Winner: Stevens & Cross
Bayani Domingo: So here we are into the fray of the "Stable Wars". First up is the Jr. Resilience versus the big brawlers. I'm going to go ahead and ay that in light of the HM3 just being newly ormed, which by the way is a pretty f'd up name considering Hagadorn is their "valet" but can't even get in the billing for the group, I think they take it in this match up. Besides, with the "loser leaves RoH for a few months" match coming up they need to build some doubt for Aries' crew.
Winner: 3 and a Half Hangmen
Stuart Carapola: Oh come on, haven't Stevens and Cross been made to look like a big enough couple of bitches? They'll put up a good fight, but will ultimately lose to Albright and Pearce. I also expect this to create some dissension that will result in their loss the following evening.
Winner: Brent Albright & Adam Pearce
Brad Garoon: The Hangmen Three (hee hee hee) need big wins to look like dominant bruisers and the Resilience have been more than happy to be a stronger group's whipping boys in the past. I don't see the trend changing here.
Winners: Albright & Pearce
Samuel Berman: I'm running a bit behind schedule this week, so my comments throughout will be relatively brief. Pearce & Albright need the win more to establish themselves, so that's what's going to happen.
Winners: Adam Pearce & Brent Albright
411 Staff Picks: Adam Pearce & Brent Albright (7-2)
Four Corner Survival: Nigel McGuinness vs. Tyler Black vs. El Generico vs. Hallowicked
Jerome Cusson: Since this is such short notice I'll say John Walters because he's from Boston and he'll get a nice pop from the crowd. Meanwhile, Tyler Black comes in with a group that wants to destroy Ring of Honor. His second official match comes in a four corner survival where he has rivalries with no one. That makes sense. Walters probably jobs to Nigel to set him up for his world title match.
Winner: Nigel McGuiness
Matt Adamson: Unless there is a reason to push somebody to the moon besides McGuinness than this one seems pretty obvious. Maybe that's WWE logic and predictability driving me, but it still seems clear cut.
Winner: Nigel McGuinness
Jarrod Westerfeld: You don't involve a main eventer in this role to lose the night before a title match – and ROH isn't the type of company to try such a move themselves. Although with Tyler Black being involved, you can see them having a screwy finish that leads to the Briscoes and the Age of the Fall coming out to battle either leaving it the remaining three in the ring, or causing so much chaos that the finish of the match doesn't even matter anymore. If anything, this looks more thrown together than their tag team fillers.
Winner: Nigel McGuinness
Michael Bauer: Ok, first things first, Mitch Franklin was my original pick to be the fourth guy. With that out of the way, let's think about who is the one man who has a worthwhile match the next night. Yeah, I think he wins.
Winner: Nigel McGuinness
Ari Berenstein: This particular 4CS seems to be cursed as it has changed a few times since it has been announced AND El Generico is not 100 percent due to injuries from the ladder war on 9/15. Regardless, this one is Nigel's to win in order to give him that final push to his title match in Edison. ROH has deeked out fans lately with their pattern of pushing title challengers the show before to build up momentum for a title opportunity, but I don't think there will be a swerve here. For the record, I think Tyler will either pull himself out of the match or maybe he'll punk out Generico and then walk out. Hallowicked is a fine choice as a 4th man and will help keep the match stable in quality, especially if it comes down to a one on one against Nigel.
Winner: Nigel McGuinness
Bayani Domingo: Wouldn't it be nice for Hallowicked to win this one? Yeah, right. The one thing I love about RoH is that they keep giving us these matches where seemingly no one can afford to lose, yet someone always does. This time around I can't see it being Nigel, nor Generico, or even Black. Sorry ‘wicked. I'll go with the darkhorse to win here and hopefully continue his rise through the mid-card into singles stardom.
Winner: Ole Ole Ole Ole….El Generico
Stuart Carapola: On the one hand, it would make sense for Tyler Black to win to get the Age Of The Fall angle over, but I don't know if they're ready to put him over Nigel or Generico. On the contrary, I think Generico, who ROH obviously sees a lot in since he got pushed to the finals of the RTTT Tournament, needs something to do now that the feud with the Briscoes is over, and a win here would be a good start.
Winner: El Generico
Brad Garoon: Each of these guys needs a big win here for different reasons. Nigel needs the momentum going into his Pay Per View main event ROH World Championship match against Morishima the following night. Generico needs a comeback win after his devastating ladder match lost at Man Up. Black needs to make an impact as a member of new stable the Age of the Fall. With all that in mind a series of coin flips gave me my prediction.
Winner: El Generico
Samuel Berman: McGuinness will probably win, because he's fighting for the title in Edison, but I would put over Black, because he needs a marquee solo win early on to establish himself. I'll pick that, even though I think it's unlikely, because Hallowicked is as good a guy for him to go over as anyone.
Winner: Tyler Black
411 Staff Picks: Nigel McGuinness (5-3-1-0)
BJ Whitmer vs. Delirious
Jerome Cusson: Why the bloody hell isn't this match on the Pay-Per-View? This just seems so natural instead of having yet another six man tag on the Pay-Per-View. Whitmer's streak is now over and this angle finally gives Delirious something to do.
Winner: Delirious
Matt Adamson: Delirious is the guy that needs a Rey Mysterio circa 2006 type push, Whitmer, while a hard worker, just isn't the guy to bring things to the next level. I know, you've heard this somewhere before... creepy.
Winner: Delirious
Jarrod Westerfeld: And here we have the battle of ‘No Charisma' taking on ‘Wild Charisma', only thing is one needs to win to maintain their heat while the other can basically lose every match ever and still be over enough to sell us cupcakes for an hour and still be loved by all. This is a feud that Whitmer needs to take on for his character to work and this is a nice start in the right direction of lending enough credibility to Whitmer on his own, as too many of their guys now rely on building themselves up within their faction rather than outside of it.
Winner: BJ Whitmer
Michael Bauer: This should be fun and make it very obvious who Delirious' partners will be on Saturday Night. So, for that to happen, Whitmer needs to win or lsoe via DQ. I'll go with the latter.
Winner: Delirious by DQ
Ari Berenstein: This should be a decent if ultimately forgettable mid card match that will mix brawling around the ring with the ROH frenetic build finish. The Hangman's Three will likely get involved after the match result to cause some more damage to Delirious. I still think this feud needs to have someone on the H3 rip off Delirious' mask (we don't have to see his face but it would be enough to build some major heat for the program).
Winner: BJ Whitmer
Bayani Domingo: Many a man has fallen before the BJ, but I think Delirious will not be one of them. Is he even supposed to be in a stable? I really wish they would have paired him up with ‘Wicked and Jigga but I guess he's blazing his own unintelligible trail.
Winner: Delirious
Stuart Carapola: If it were just these two, I'd pick Delirious. However, I expect interference from Albright and Pearce to affect the outcome of this match.
Winner: BJ Whitmer
Brad Garoon: Delirious will be recruiting partners to help him fight off the Hangmen Three (I didn't expect this but the more I say it the less I hate the name) the following night in Jersey, and he'll need more rage to be a leader in that match. With that in mind I think Whitmer will defeat him and humiliate him again in Boston.
Winner: BJ Whitmer
Samuel Berman: Whitmer in his new role doesn't do a lot for me, but if this is Delirious' new program, then he needs to get beaten down a bit before he gets his big comeback win.
Winner: BJ Whitmer
411 Staff Picks: BJ Whitmer (5-4)
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Chris Hero
Jerome Cusson: This appears to be a long-term rivalry and since Claudio won the first match, I say Hero wins the match here to even things up.
Winner: Chris Hero
Matt Adamson: What a winning combination. Hero and Castagnoli. This should be truly fun as it always seems to be. I'm please with ROH's decision to utilize these two much better than they were (especially with Hero). This is one of those times I have no idea who's going to win so...
Winner: NOBODY! No Contest!
Jarrod Westerfeld: A rematch from their Manhattan show casing, and hopefully this'll be better than that outing. And hopefully in the end, someone in ROH will finally stop using Hero as a jobber and have him go over big time here, which'll probably lead to Hero wanting to sign a full time deal with the crew. To really keep this feud going, Sweeney is going to have to be involved in the outcome somehow to further emphasize that this is Claudio versus Sweet ‘n' Sour Inc. not another Claudio versus Hero feud. I'll be willing to bet this gets blown off at a pay-per-view down the road, with Claudio getting his hands on Sweeney.
Winner: Chris Hero
Michael Bauer: I saw these two in the NYC and that match will be tough to top. The ladies on the outside add some intrigue, but I doubt it will play into the decision. Claudio won the first bout, it's time to even the score.
Winner: Chris Hero
Ari Berenstein: This was supposed to be Castagnoli vs. Generico, then Castagnoli vs. Quackenbush and now it's Claudio vs. Hero and you know what? Any one of those three matches equals quality, because every one of those guys is hitting the prime of their careers. Claudio vs. Hero will not be a let down for Boston and may end up being a "classic". I have a hunch we'll see a rematch for the PPV taping or maybe a tag match involving these guys on either side. I would have said Hero if this was on the PPV, but I'll go with the face on this one.
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli
Bayani Domingo: I've seen them face off twice. I was very impressed once, I was mildly under whelmed the second time, and this time I bet it tears down the house. Sadly it seems like Hero is falling by the wayside and unless he can manage to marry Silkin's daughter someway I doubt that my prediction of a Hero Title Reign shall come to fruition.
Winner: HEY…Double C
Stuart Carapola: These two are probably going to be trading wins and losses for a while, and I'll go with Hero here since Claudio won last time.
Winner: Chris Hero
Brad Garoon: I just watched these two wrestle at PWG Cruisin' for a Bruisin' and didn't much care for the match at all. Reportedly their matches since then have been stand out, so I hope that's the trend they follow here. Claudio is moving up in the world and there seems to be so salvation in sight for Hero.
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli
Samuel Berman: If you read the recent Buy or Sell where I extolled Hero's virtues and cried foul about ROH's horrendous mismanagement of his talents, then you know what I'm picking here. Hopefully this is the start of something great.
Winner: Chris Hero
411 Staff Picks: Chris Hero (5-3-1)
Jack Evans, Ruckus & Jigsaw vs. Roderick Strong, Davey Richards & Rocky Romero
Jerome Cusson: Another new group that needs some victories. I'm expecting an insane match. The cool part about this match is we have opposites on each side. Speed vs. power. I want to see lots of selling by the babyfaces and just a thorough domination before the Vulture Squad gets the win.
Winner: The Vulture Squad
Matt Adamson: Um, NRC in the house right? Yeah and they are taking on the masked ICP. I'm all about Jigsaw, but if ROH wants to get serious for a moment, Strong, Richards and Romero have what it takes.
Winners: Strong, Richards and Romero
Jarrod Westerfeld: The most random tandem in the history of wrestling taking on the more focused team that makes the most sense, why would I want to bet on random? Well, besides the fact that it's a fun bet. This is the match that makes the Vulture Squad and begins to show the signs of what they truly mean – so far, everyone is only buying them based on the name vulture meaning one thing, flight. Time to have Jigsaw show up as the weakest link of this unit, lose this match for them, and show signs that Evans, Ruckus and Smokes don't like that, and turn on him with a new member in the more realistic choice for this unit, Eddie Kingston. After all, what is a vulture if not a scavenger of the weak and dying? And who better to demonstrate that than Eddie ‘I'll fuck your mother with a telephone book without any lube' Kingston?
Michael Bauer: This match needs to do two things. One is establish The Vulture Squad as the real deal against the NRC and that Jigsaw was the right choice. The second is just like with Stevens and Cross. They need to make us believe that Richards and Romero won't be together for a while.
Winners: The Vulture Squad
Ari Berenstein: The Vulture Squad fly together for the first time this weekend. There has been a bit of criticism for the selection of Jigsaw to the V Squad, but overall I'm fine with it and willing to give it a chance. No, it's not the perfect fit, but Jig has done well thus far in ROH and could break out through this role. It may also be a ruse for the V Squad to debut another member. I don't know about that, but regardless I am excited for this one. The NRC is THE dominant faction (TM WWE) in Ring of Honor and I think their team cohesion and overall brutality will overwhelm the high flying trio.
Winner: No Remorse Corps
Bayani Domingo: Jigga what? Looks like an interesting set up and to be honest I have my doubts as to whether this isn't a big swerve somehow but I have the feeling that the NRC is going to get surprised here and somehow RoH might manage to have another Ace up their sleeve for this match. I just don't see what J-Train sees in Jigga..and you know this…………………………..man.
Winner: Vulture Squad
Stuart Carapola: Why is it that Roderick is the only former Gen Next member who knows how to put together a stable that isn't full of jobbers? Jobsaw takes the fall for another NRC victory.
Brad Garoon: This is Jigsaw's chance to prove that he's not the sore thumb of stable warfare. If it were up to me I'd have probably liked to see an angle in which Jigsaw, Hallowicked and Akuma all teamed with Quackenbush against Hero, Toland, Dempsey and Sweeney only to have Quackenbush's team turn on him and start their own stable. As it is Jigsaw is a Vulture and the fanbase is skeptical. They need a win way more than the NRC does here, so I'll pick them
Winners: The Vulture Squad
Samuel Berman: Bringing in the Vulture Squad only to job them out to the already-established (but uninteresting to me personally) NRC seems counterproductive at best. That said, what I described is pretty much EXACTLY what happened to the Resilience, so who knows. Jack's crew in a close one, but I have no confidence whatsoever in that pick.
Winners: Jack Evans, Ruckus & Jigsaw
411 Staff Picks: Jack Evans, Ruckus & Jigsaw (5-4)
Gauntlet Match: Jay Briscoe vs. Jimmy Jacobs & Necro Butcher
Jerome Cusson: There has to be a twist of some sort in this match because on paper this is a pretty stupid idea for a match. I'd rather have them go handicap. Why would the Age of the Fall play by the rules here? If you're gonna do an outsiders feud, do it right and make this a 2-on-1 beatdown. If they do the gauntlet match, Briscoe beats Jacobs but loses to Necro to set up their match for the next night.
Winner: Necro Butcher
Michael Bauer: A guantlet match with only two people to face, huh? Seems a little too wasy, but that makes me think even more that the Age of the Fall will win here.
Winners: Jimmy Jacobs & Necro Butcher
Ari Berenstein: Jay is just asking for it in this one. Mark is out injured and Jacobs * Necro are out for more blood. The Age of the Fall is one of those stables that is going to come right out of the gate and crush all opposition, especially when it's a "gauntlet" ERRRRRRRRRR Handicap match. Unless Mark somehow gets involved, forget about it. It's Age of the Fall in a walk.
Winner: Jimmy Jacobs & Necro Butcher
Bayani Domingo: This seems odd because you can't have Jay job out both AotF guys and if Mark gets involved, and you know he will, then it would seem weak of them to lose to 1 healthy Briscoe and one gimpy one. So if Jay wins then the AotF are buried from the start, if he loses then he was supposed to lose. Yikes. I'll put my faith in Gabe though not to bury these stables from the start cuz' as far as I know Jay isn't married to anyone's daughter.
Winner: Panic at the Necro
Stuart Carapola: I'm not entirely clear on the rules of this one, but I assume that Briscoe will have to beat them both in separate singles matches to win. Jay will probably lose because, if he beats them both on Friday, where's the suspense in the main event the following night?
Winner: Jimmy Jacobs & Necro Butcher
Brad Garoon: With Briscoe and Necro following in the footsteps of Bryan Danielson, KENTA, Delirious & Matt Sydal as main eventers of the Bonus Match DVD this one becomes tougher to predict. Logic has the AotF going over both nights, but somehow I don't see that happening. On this show I see Briscoe barely getting passed Jacobs and then losing quickly to Necro to add a little intrigue to their match in Jersey.
Winner: Necro Butcher
Samuel Berman: ROH sometimes pulls a fast one by using an unorthodox result (i.e. Briscoes winning 2/3 Falls matches in two straight), so I wouldn't be shocked if whoever Jay faces first beats him, but no matter what it's WAY to early for the Briscoes to be defying the odds against the Age of the Fall.
Winners: Jimmy Jacobs & Necro Butcher
411 Staff Picks: Jimmy Jacobs & Necro Butcher (7-0)
1st Match in Best-of-Three Series: Bryan Danielson vs. Austin Aries
Jerome Cusson: This is a nice idea to get Aries back into the title picture cause I don't see a point to another Dragon title shot until they can work a full angle with Nigel when he becomes champion. In this match though, I say Dragon takes it.
Winner: Bryan Danielson
Matt Adamson: The idea of a "Best-of-Three Series" is that it be a two out of three falls match, so WHY ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH aren't they doing all three falls here? Is there really a reason or does ROH just want to screw with me? I believe they are jackasses attempting to hijack my brain.
Winner: Aries
Jarrod Westerfeld: Way to make the Resilience further mean nothing, ROH. Have Aries involved in a series of matches that not only means more than the team he's involved, but have him involved in a series of matches that only elevates him and not the team. This is a series of matches we want to see, but what does it mean again? After all, Bryan is chasing Morishima and Aries is looking for Roderick's blood – how did we get to this point again? Oh well, we'll have a solid series of matches and maybe, just maybe, this'll be all the credibility the Resilience needs.
Winner: Bryan Danielson
Michael Bauer: This should be an easy match of the night. I think the right way to go is to give Danielson the first win, but is all depends on how much they wish to play up the injury to his eye. So I will go against my own logic for once.
Winner: Austin Aries
Ari Berenstein: I think this was the right time to pull the trigger on the reintroduction of the competitive rivalry between Danielson and Aries. Dragon needs a program to buffer his title shots and Aries can use this to re-establish his role in the main event scene. Right now I think Aries may very well win the series, but Danielson strikes first here in a very high quality match and a good tone setter for the best of three.
Winner: Bryan Danielson
Bayani Domingo: I have no logical thinking here. I want to say Aries comes out ahead because he has more to gain from winning than Danielson, but something tells me that people will be more interested in the match if he loses so he can work babyface. I'll go with that theory.
Winner: Danielson
Stuart Carapola: I think we all know that the series is going three matches, so it's a tossup as to who wins this one. Though I think Aries will win the series and wouldn't be surprised to see him go on to win the title from Morishima, I'll go with Danielson here because Aries has been fighting from behind all year, and this would add another chapter to that story.
Winner: Bryan Danielson
Brad Garoon: It doesn't actually matter who wins this match because this series is going to three anyway. I'm using the same approach I used for the four way here. Tails, Aries wins.
Winner: Austin Aries
Samuel Berman: Danielson's untouchable in the fans' eyes, but I think that instead of jobbing him here, they'll put him over so that Aries seems to be in a huge hole for the rest of the series. That means that Aries' eventual back-to-back wins will seem even more impressive. Danielson here, leading to Aries overall.
Winner: "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson
411 Staff Picks: Bryan Danielson (6-3)
ROH World Title: Takeshi Morishima (c) vs. Kevin Steen
Jerome Cusson: I have no idea what to expect, but this will be a great match. Only problem is Morishima makes a better heel than face. Steen will be the heel so I think the heat In this match will be hurt. Should still be a great match though.
Winner: ROH World Champion Takeshi Morishima
Matt Adamson: Here that? That's the sound of my interest in this show TANKING! There was so much promise but then we get flushed down the toilet with this underwhelming main event. Sad day for me. Funny thing is that I actually like Steen, but in the right place, and this is not the right place. He and Morishima will bulldoze each other and it won't be pretty.
Winner: Morishima, could you HONESTLY imagine Steen vs. McGuinness?
Jarrod Westerfeld: I have faith in Kevin Steen. I have faith in the underdogs of the world, and this is the match we'll get to see a new ROH World Champion – just like this is the year the Mets will finally win a…oh, right. Morishima is the champion that will only lose this title on a pay-per-view, the question is which pay-per-view and to whom. Either Nigel or Danielson is taking this title off of him, unless ROH wants to swerve us the way they swerved us with Joe and Punk. Expect this one to be like his battle with Roderick Strong, just to give us die-hard fans a hard, smash mouth wrestling match we come to expect from ROH.
Winner: Morishima
Michael Bauer: With Nigel looming on a PPV taping, there is no chance Steen wins here.
Winner: Morishima
Ari Berenstein: Kevin Steen put the challenge out there and it has been answered. If there is one thing we have learned about Morishima's title shots, is that he does "big man vs. big man" power style very well (see his stuff with SHINGO and upcoming DVD releases in matches against Albright and Stevens). I see this one being similar in style and quality. Maybe I even see Morishima being the face here with Steen pulling off his "dick heel" persona in an attempt to give him the edge in this match. Ultimately Steen will come close, maybe very close, but the song remains the same. Backdrop Driver, pinfall.
Winner: Takeshi Morishima
Bayani Domingo: Damn you Steen, you pulled out of the PWG show in a week because of an "injury" and now you're facing Morishima? Well I guess we know how this match is going to go then.
Winner: Baby Huey….I mean Morishima
Stuart Carapola: I don't know why I even bother writing anything for Morishima's matches anymore. Kevin Steen is a great wrestler and would have been believable taking the tag title from the Briscoes, but I just can't picture him with the ROH World Title.
Winner: Takeshi Morishima
Brad Garoon: As awesome a character and in-ring performer as Steen has been during this recent ROH run there's no way Morishima is losing the belt the night before the PPV. No way, no how.
Winner: Takeshi Morishima
Samuel Berman: Bigger, stronger competitors have fared well against Morishima (see also: Shingo, Albright, Castagnoli, Stevens), but all have come up short in terms of winning the belt. Expect that trend to continue here.
Winner and STILL ROH World Champion: Takeshi Morishima
411 Staff Picks: Takeshi Morishima (9-0)
PAY-PER-VIEW TAPING
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2007 – EDISON, NJ
Adam Pearce, Brent Albright & BJ Whitmer vs. Delirious and two partners of his choice
Jerome Cusson: Originally I had Cross and Stevens in here. Instead I'll go with Steenerico. Steen turns on Generico and Delirious though and Generico and Steen can begin their own feud.
Delirious' Partners: Kevin Steen & El Generico
Winners: Adam Pierce, Brent Albright, and B.J. Whitmer
Matt Adamson: Unless there is something off the charts planned, I'm guessing that it will be Cross and Stevens and... yawn... I won't care. too bad too.
Delirious' Partners: Matt Cross & Erick Stevens
Winners: Pearce, Albright and Whitmer
Jarrod Westerfeld: If ROH is going to keep this thing moving, they might as well play off of what was established at Driven, the team of Delirious and the Resilience members in Matt Cross and Erick Stevens. It's only fitting as who else could team up with Delirious in this current run of storylines and this current roster? What - randomly stick him in there against a hardcore team of monster builds that are looking dominant in their pay-per-view roles with Pelle Primeau and Mitch Franklin? After all, it's not like the Resilience really is Aries team anymore, seeing as he's so much better than the rest that he's off in singles matches with American Dragon. If they are going to put Delirious over, it'll be over Pearce, and of course this'll end with the Hangman's team beating down on Delirious and possibly even Stevens and Cross, further establishing that feud.
Delirious' Partners: Matt Cross & Erick Stevens
Winner: Adam Pearce, Brent Albright & BJ Whitmer
Michael Bauer: This is actually very hard to pick, with every stable pretty much set in matches already. The people who are scheduled, but not booked, are Bryan Danielson, Chris Hero, Claudio Castagnoli, Jigsaw, and El Generico. Yeah, that helps me even less.
Delirious' Partners: Mitch Franklin and Jigsaw
Winners: The Hangmen Three
Ari Berenstein: Originally I was thinking Stevens & Cross because they've teamed up with big D before… AND all three work exceedingly well together. That looks not to be the case and therefore looking at the available talent left to be added into the match; El Generico & Kevin Steen stand out as the natural fit. Well, that would be a pretty bad ass match actually, so hopefully we do get that and not Irish Airborne or Eddie Edwards & Jason Bland ERRRR I mean Blade. It's early in the feud here and I expect Delirious to continue to get massacred by the H3 until they go over the line and force the green guy to go even crazier than ever before.
Delirious' Partners: Kevin Steen & El Generico
Winner: Hangman's Three (Pearce, Albright & Whitmer)
Bayani Domingo: Let's go with the theme of guys having a good showing in the 4 ways of previous shows joining up with a guy who needs a partner in a later show. So I'll go with Hallowicked and…eh…let's say Claudio in this one. To bad it won't matter.
Delirious' Partners: Hallowicked & Claudio Castagnoli
Winner: 3 and a Half Hangmen
Stuart Carapola: If I look at the list of announced talent, I come up with Danielson, Claudio, and Hero, who I think are all too big to be in this match. There's also Jigsaw and Generico, and I think a masked trio of Delirious, Generico, and Jigsaw would be a lot of fun. I also think they'll look great bumping like pinballs for Pearce's group, so I'll go with them. I also think they'll lose.
Delirious' Partners: Jigsaw & El Generico
Winner: Adam Pearce, Brent Albright & BJ Whitmer
Brad Garoon: This is a no brainer, just look at the card for Boston. Cross and Stevens owe Delirious for the help he gave them against the NRC, and he's going to cash it in now against the biggest collection of brawlers ROH has ever seen. Like the night before I don't think Delirious is ready to beat the big men yet.
Delirious' Partners: Matt Cross & Erick Stevens
Winners: The Hangmen Three
Samuel Berman: Delirious should go to some other masked men to make this one interesting. Let's say it's Hallowicked & Jigsaw, but that they all fall short anyway.
411 Consensus Pick for Delirious' Partners: No Consensus
411 Staff Picks: Adam Pearce, Brent Albright & BJ Whitmer (9-0)
Jack Evans & Ruckus vs. Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black
Jerome Cusson: I originally said it would be Jacobs and Black anyway so this comes as no surprise to me. I'll go with Jacobs and Black since ROH thinks this is the next big heel group.
Winners: Jacobs and Black
Matt Adamson: Jack Evans is sooo cool man, Parkland in the hizzouse! Actually, if this isn't Necro and Jacobs I'll be disappointed as will Evans who should be wanting sweet revenge. He shouldn't stand a chance, are you afraid of Jack Evans? No? Me neither, but I bet he's a great guy to play Xbox 360 with.
Winners: The Age of the Fall
Jarrod Westerfeld: I think because this is the Vulture Squad taking on the Age of the Fall, we should expect Jacobs and Black to team up for this one, while Necro plays the outside enforcer that throws the match out and starts to pound on everyone and everything in the ring, minus his teammates. And with this being the in-ring debut of the Age of the Fall, I have to believe this'll be their moment of victory that gets cut off thanks to the Briscoes, which may lead into some other members joining in the fight to help out the Briscoes level off the playing field – perhaps Generico whose gained a lot of respect for them through their on-going feud. This could then thicken the plot to allow Age of the Fall to further grow into a bigger faction, which will be needed to help put an end to all the other factions.
Winner: Age of the Fall (Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black)
Michael Bauer: Well, this is a tough call because both groups are upstarts. Considering the Age of the Fall happened on a Pay Per View taping, I give them the edge.
Winners: Jacobs and Black
Ari Berenstein: Vulture Squad is getting itself involved in grudges against two stables at the same time and it may be two too many for them. Evans and Ruckus are talented and may even get some prime offense against the D.I.F.H. combination of Age of the Fall. However and again I repeat that Age of the Fall are the super killer faction of the moment and they are going to get theirs for the next few months, at least until the ROH babyfaces get their act together.
Winner: Jacobs & Black
Bayani Domingo: The VS seem like the better team here, but something tells me that they won't go 2 – 0 this weekend.
Winner: D.I.F.H.
Stuart Carapola: I want to see both teams win, but I feel like AOTF is a bigger deal and should walk out with the win, burying another Gen Ex faction in the process.
Winner: Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black
Brad Garoon: Look at all the possible three man teams ROH has. Does anyone else think now more than ever there is a need to bring back the trios tournament? I say Jacobs and Black go 2 for 2 over Evans and his high flying friend.
Winners: Jacobs & Black
Samuel Berman: The Age of the Fall will go over here, hopefully with Black getting the decisive victory over Evans to jumpstart yet another branch on the stable wars tree. Hopefully Ruckus and Black will get the chance to shine next to the ROH veterans here, because I personally really like both guys and am glad they're finally with the company.
Winners: Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black
411 Staff Picks: Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black (9-0)
Sara Del Rey vs. Daizee Haze
Jerome Cusson: Honestly, I'd rather have seen Amazing Kong here because of how over she was in Chicago. This should also be a good match as I think the SHIMMER matches are finally starting to win over crowds. Since this is not for Del Ray's SHIMMER championship, I'll go with Haze to set up the title shot down the road.
Winner: Daizee Haze
Michael Bauer: Non title match, time for the femine power of the Sweet n Sour Inc. to lose a match.
Winner: Daizee Haze
Ari Berenstein: This is a fine combination that has been seen many times in ROH, SHIMMER, CHIKARA and other promotions, but somehow it never seems to get old. These two go at one more time, but with the added involvement of Sweet & Sour Inc. I just don't see Haze getting the win.
Winner: Del Rey
Bayani Domingo: Not only does "Death Rey" eat chicks like this for breakfast. She later shits them out and fertilizes her garden with them. She's grew some great summer squash this year and some succulent Logan Berries. Seriously, that woman can certainly make a mean jar of preserves.
Winner: "Death" Rey
Stuart Carapola: This match again? Okay, Daizee got her one fluke win and now we get to watch Sara squash her for the rest of time. Great.
Winner: Sara Del Rey
Brad Garoon: This match needs to be very, very good. SHIMMER's tapings are one week from this match and if they want to entice the Jersey fans into making the trip to Chicago this has to blow them away. These two had a really good main event in SHIMMER, so I hope they can perform or exceed that standard on this show.
Winner: Daizee Haze
Samuel Berman: Don't care, sorry. I guess Haze because it's non-title and upsets breed interest.
Winner: Daizee Haze
411 Staff Picks: Daizee Haze (4-3)
Loser of the Fall Leaves ROH for 60 Days: Erick Stevens & Matt Cross vs. Davey Richards & Rocky Romero
Jerome Cusson: Okay, here's something I can work with. This is the most interesting match on the card in my opinion. I love stipulations like this because it means a storyline will be advanced one way or the other. Richards and Romero are listed for San Francisco on the 21st while Stevens and Cross aren't (although that might mean nothing). Still, I think Matt Cross goes away from ROH for 60 days while Aries focuses on his world title shot and Stevens gets a big singles push.
Winners: Davey Richards and Rocky Romero
Michael Bauer: This is the most interesting stipulation I have seen in quite some time. Romero has been absent a lot lately, so this may be a way for him to be able to be away from the RoH for a little while. The other option is to have Cross lose and work some respect back into his game. I don't buy that option.
Winners: Stevens and Cross
Ari Berenstein: One man of the four is heading on a tour of Japan and is also a lead candidate to participate in the upcoming American Gladiators remake. That man is Matt Cross and this match may be the excuse to give him the time to accomplish those events. This is of course a shame, since Cross has turned a corner in ROH, not just for me but also I think in general regarding his ROH activities. His participation in the six man war at the Driven PPV and his matches in August and September have been tremendous and worthy of praise. Of course, Cross losing also comes at the worst time for The Resilience since this is likely for PPV and they've lost out on all their PPV appearances. Not to mention they've been jobbing out left and right on regular DVD events and they could really, seriously use a win. But they won't get it.
Winner: Romero & Richards
Bayani Domingo: So my only reasoning here is that someone is going to tour some place. My guess is someone is going overseas, or somebodies are going over seas. Namely Japan. Which in the case of two of these wrestlers seem pretty likely. I know M-Dogg does shows in Europe on occasion and Davey and Rocky have both recently done Japanese tours and Stevens…well he hasn't done anything. Oh, that makes this easy then.
Winner: Resilience
Stuart Carapola: If I believed in god, I would pray to him that ROH would use this match to get rid of Cross for 60 days and get him the hell out of the promotion. But since that's what I want, I know it won't happen, so here's two other alternate possibilities I see. Either Cross will blow the match and cause Stevens to lose and create heat between Cross and Stevens, who will return in 60 days and fucking crush Cross for totally derailing his career, or one of the NRC will take the fall and, now one man short, they will finally be at a disadvantage against The Resilience. Since that would probably make more sense, I'll go with that.
Winner: Erick Stevens & Matt Cross (Romero takes the fall)
Brad Garoon: This is a very interesting match. I have a feeling this is going to be ROH's way of giving Romero a chance to go back to Japan for a while. He's not scheduled for NOAH's October tour, but maybe something else is planned for him. If that's the case I'd really like to see the NRC add Gran Akuma, as he fits in with their short guys with an aggressive style theme. I don't know if anyone else would like to see it, but I think it makes more sense than adding Jigsaw to the Vulture Squad. At any rate it's either Romero or Cross who are getting booted here, and since I haven't heard any rumors I'm going with the prediction I described.
Winners: Stevens & Cross
Samuel Berman: I know I'm out on the fringe with this one, but if any member of either group needs a break, I think it's Roderick Strong. As it is, I'd bet Romero's poised for a tour abroad, so he'll be the one on his back here. Oh, and let me refute Stu's inexplicable hatred of Matt Cross here: he's really, really solid both in tag matches and singles contests and it's actually his booking that's making him look bad, not his talent. And I like Brad's theory involving Gran Akuma, so put me on board with that idea.
Winners: Erick Stevens & Matt Cross
411 Staff Picks: Erick Stevens & Matt Cross (5-2)
Anything Goes: Jay Briscoe vs. Necro Butcher
Jerome Cusson: These two have had some wild matches in FIP and this should be no different. It will make ROH different when Necro wrestles, but ultimately he can only wrestle one style of match. I just can't see Necro long term as an ROH wrestler. New group here too so you know the drill.
Winner: Necro Butcher
Matt Adamson: Sweet! This one ought to be bitchin'. While anybody would prefer a tag Briscoe's match, if it's going to be one, I prefer it be Jay 100% of the time. He's is basically the Jack of Jack and Gerry. Jack and Jill? WHAT? Anyway, Necro Butcher is going to tear it up here.
Winner: Necro Butcher
Jarrod Westerfeld: Tag gold or not, this is a match where the rules favor dishonorable interference, and if there's anything that can gain you major heel heat within ROH almost instantly, it's dishonor. The numbers favor the Age of the Fall, and the Briscoes are clearly too tough to drop to just numbers, but this is the one match that may help sell ROH fans on Butcher if they still think of him as a worthless yardtard in the middle of a wrestling ring he's unfit to be in. And this is a chance for ROH to really show that this Age of the Fall unit is still just a small part of the bigger picture of Project 161, which should be something Earth shattering, much like now.
Winner: Necro Butcher
Michael Bauer: Wow, this match will be brutal and bloody. I just hope that jay doesn't join Mark on the injured reserve in this one. The Briscoes need one win this weekend and this match is the prefect chance for it.
Winner: Jay Briscoe
Ari Berenstein: This is going to main event the second half of the show and that means one thing—WILD & CHAOTIC BRAWL A MANIA! Of course when you're dealing with any of the two Briscoes and NECRO FREAKING BUTCHER, then this can only be a good thing. Look for HUGE Age of the Fall related madness to end the show in chaos. Once again, Mark Briscoe may surface and help out his bro, but with a bad wheel he won't help much. This smells like déjà vu all over again-an Age of the Fall rout over The Briscoes.
Winner: Necro Butcher
Bayani Domingo: Jay loses the first night…not the second. This is going to be bloody, brutal, and a measure of retribution for the only brother to "man up" this weekend.
Winner: J-Bo
Stuart Carapola: From what I understand, this is main eventing the DVD portion of the show. Mark's going to be in attendance, and I have no doubt that he will play into the outcome of this match. Again, I don't know if it makes sense for Necro to take a fall after just getting back to ROH, but I also don't see Jay looking like a total bitch. If anything goes, though, that means that AOTF can interfere freely and Mark, being injured at the moment, probably won't be able to help much, if at all.
Winner: Necro Butcher
Brad Garoon: I had different thoughts about this match before it became the main event of the second half of the Jersey show. The match will obviously be more wild now because ROH has to keep the fans interested in the bonus halfs of these shows. Somehow I see Jay coming out on top, squeaking it out after losing badly to Necro the night before.
Winner: Jay Briscoe
Samuel Berman: I also flip-flopped on this one after it was announced that it would main event the second half of the PPV taping. Jay should get the hard-fought win, leaving fans with some hope that the Briscoes can overcome the Age of the Fall.
Winner: Jay Briscoe
411 Staff Picks: Necro Butcher (5-4)
Austin Aries vs. Roderick Strong
Jerome Cusson: Aries gets revenge on Strong for his loss back at the SuperCard of Honor. This should be a great match that won't get lost either. Interesting that we have a battle of former TNA stars battling. I expect something extra special for this reason.
Winner: Austin Aries
Matt Adamson: A combination that work, that many would call winning, but that I would disagree with. They are both extremely talented and frankly I'm excited to see it, but it's nothing that hasn't been done to death in ROH before. So more of the same, I guess it is to showcase something that once worked, but this time on PPV. Aries is the man here.
Winner: Aries
Jarrod Westerfeld: And this'll be the blow off to the Resilience tandem under Aries' leadership and guidance, as well as the blow off to the feud between these two men. Seeing as they've already involved Aries in another program with Danielson, expect Aries to go over clean, big time here. This'll be the match that we'll have wanted to see since Driven, but the problem is there isn't a stipulation here to justify this as a blow off to the feud, which may just lead this to a continuation – but I'll put down money this ends it to move Aries over into the main event role again.
Winner: Austin Aries
Michael Bauer: The grudge match of a lifetime finally happens. If I am right about Aries coming off a win against Danielson, he will need to beat Strong or it makes Danielson look really weak by comparison.
Winner: Austin Aries
Ari Berenstein: It's the former tag team champions turned enemies and leaders of rival factions battling it out on PPV. Aries has received the big push at the PPV tapings since his return to ROH, but Strong is undefeated as well. My guess---Aries wins this one in a very tough fight and gets revenge for being wronged by Strong.
Winner: Austin Aries
Bayani Domingo: someone is going on a losing streak here, I can just feel it. So I have Aries losing night 1 and then Roddy losing his back up. Hmmm… you know, I hate to do this but I think Strong needs the win more than Aries does at this point, but then again if Aries wins Night 1 then he won't win here. Eh…I'll flip a coin….and….
Winner: Rowdy Roddy Strong
Stuart Carapola: Could this be The Resilience's night to turn things around on the NRC? I picked Cross & Stevens to win earlier, and I think that Aries coming out on top here (since the FIP Title isn't on the line) would make a great night overall for his pack o' losers.
Winner: Austin Aries
Brad Garoon: It's time to put the feud that started stable warfare in ROH to bed. Aries is inching his way back into the title picture and Roderick has more to do with the NRC. The logical winner here is Aries.
Winner: Austin Aries
Samuel Berman: Aries MUST win here, because Strong's been completely uninteresting since his heel turn and Aries is just on a whole different level from him at this point. Aries' defection to ROH from TNA should be one of the storylines being trumpeted by Ring of Honor, and if they haven't started it in earnest yet, they've got to start on this Pay-Per-View. My thinking has Aries being the guy to beat Morishima, and this is the start of his rise.
Winner: Austin Aries
411 Staff Picks: Austin Aries (8-1)
ROH World Title: Takeshi Morishima (c) vs. Nigel McGuinness
Jerome Cusson: After everything Nigel had been through, all the losses and tough matches, this is his moment. If not, then ROH might as well release him because there is nowhere else for Nigel to go. This weekend was originally slated to be a trip to England. I think this has been the weekend Nigel was supposed to win once and for all since Morishima laid out Homicide with a backdrop driver.
Winner and NEW WORLD CHAMPION Nigel McGuinness
Matt Adamson: I'm going to continue picking McGuinness, because he has to be the next in line. He's great and I'd love to see him ruling the ROH world like a true product of a Monarch run society should. LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!
Winner: McGuinness
Jarrod Westerfeld: This'll be the match that we'll want to see after Morishima decimated Danielson at the last pay-per-view taping, and it's a good rematch from their Tokyo bout. Here's where we get to show the world what was so great about the Tokyo show and what makes Morishima deserving of this title, so expect a blood bath here. We should also expect a dominant champion to walk out of this one still looking dominant, as at this point, I think we may just see someone not named Danielson or Nigel take this title off of Morishima, or if we do see AmDrag or Nigel take it, it'll be in a elimination style triple threat match which may just come down to Morishima and Danielson after about 40 minutes of battle. So I'm not expecting this match to deliver us a new champion, only a strong match that further establishes the legacy of Morishima's title reign.
Winner: Morishima
Michael Bauer: Danielson has lost twice. Nigel has lost once, if not twice. I honestly don't believe Nigel is the man to take the belt off of Morishima and I even more believe that the time is in New York City at Final Battle. I've said this for months and I'll stick with it.
Winner: Morishima
Ari Berenstein: Well, this isn't the triple threat match I thought we'd have for the main event of the fourth PPV. I still think we'll get that match and that there won't be a switch until it takes place. I think I see the pattern of the PPV's playing out. Morishima got two squash type matches to set him up as a dominant champion. He faces Danielson and McGuinness in separate title defenses and defeats them both. This sets up the triple threat for the fifth or sixth PPV. It seems rather simple and it makes sense, but I know that a Nigel loss here won't help to stop the voice of fans who seem to think Nigel has been getting too many chances and choking on every one of them. I like Nigel; I want him to win and I think the story since the beginning of Morishima's run has been his rivalry with Nigel. I hope we get a title change here, but I don't see it happening.
Winner: Takeshi Morishima
Bayani Domingo: I'm sorry, but I could give a shit about this match. Yeah, I know it should be good and both men will give their all. Yeah, I know they have good chemistry and they keep trying to make Nigel into the underdog who could finally end Morishima's reign of terror…and tour of Northeastern Dinners, but Nigel is a choker. They made him out to be a "world beater", but he's just choked so many times and lost to Morishima that I don't even care anymore. They make Nigel lose again here and he's a JTTJ (That's – Jobber To The Japanese). But if he wins, then his win really wasn't built well enough as this title shot seems even less built up than the last few. Oh well, maybe this will signal a turning point for Nigel. Good or bad? Who knows? But maybe I'm coming around a bit on Morishima's title reign. At first I felt it was forced as he was just killing everyone. But in the end it comes down to one thing: Big Asian dudes beatin' the hell out of crackas left and right. I'm down with that.
Winner: Morishima
Stuart Carapola: When Morishima first won the title, my immediate thought, and probably a lot of other people thought so as well, was that Nigel would be the one to take the title from Morishima. I no longer think this. Once he lost to Morishima in Japan (where I was sure he was taking the title), it started to look more and more like he's going to be the bitch that Morishima beats time after time before dropping the title to Danielson or Aries. I see another loss and more frustration for Nigel, possibly leading him to start getting a little more desperate.
Winner: Takeshi Morishima
Brad Garoon: This is a really tough call. I wrongly asserted that Danielson would go over in Chicago for the title. All signs point to Nigel going over here because if he loses then the two top contenders to the belt are pretty definitely done. I can't honestly think of anyone else who should take the belt from Morishima either, so unless they're planning a three way at the fifth Pay Per View it'd be wise for Nigel to win the title here. On the other hand since Misawa is reportedly only going to be wrestling his fellow Japanese NOAH stars during his ROH visit it wouldn't be a terrible idea to leave the title on Morishima until then to get it into a match with Misawa. I'm having a really hard time predicting this one, but I'm going to play it safe again and say the belt stays where it is.
Winner: Takeshi Morishima
Samuel Berman: Jerome's note that this weekend was originally scheduled to be in the U.K. was an element I hadn't thought of, but still, I just don't think Nigel's going over here. I'm actually kind of with Bayani in that I don't really care about this matchup at all anymore. At the beginning of Morishima's reign, Nigel was the hottest act in the company (who was going to be around past April) and seemed like the best option to end a short stint with the strap. However, as Morishima's time with the belt has continued, Nigel has been played more and more as a solid challenger who just can't win the big one. Conventional wisdom might say that Nigel's going to win here, but I just don't think it's going to happen with Misawa's appearances right around the corner.
Winner and STILL ROH World Champion: Takeshi Morishima
