411’s Buy or Sell 03.07.08: MCMG, Takeshi Morishima, TNA Defections, and more!

Posted by Samuel Berman on 03.07.2008

The 411 staff discusses the Independent scene as Larry Csonka battles Michael Bauer!

Welcome everyone to WEEK FORTY-SIX 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.


Week Forty-Six's Match-Up:
Wrestling Zone Editor Larry Csonka vs. The ECW Recap's Michael Bauer!

A former ROH wrestler will leave TNA by choice and return to Ring of Honor by the end of 2008.

Larry Csonka : SELL . It isn't totally out of the question but I just don't see it happening right now. While many guys "reportedly" bitch non-stop about the promotion, their booking, their pay and the fact that they want out, they have been given the chance and they haven't pulled the trigger. The fact is that these guys are on national TV, they do make good money and the Independent date they work are guaranteed dated, guaranteed pay because they get booked through TNA and it isn't nearly as bad as some people want you to believe. Sure someone could get upset and leave, that is not impossible, but I just don't think it will happen under the current climate in TNA. I think something else would have to go down to really piss someone else off.

Michael Bauer : BUY . Um, what are you talking about Larry? Low Ki walked out of the promotion already with how pissed off he was and the Murder City Machine Guns are not too far behind them. Especially with the fact that they are appearing on two ROH shows in April, you have to imagine something is up and I think it is their time in TNA. Now, it is possible that the words "by choice" may not fully apply to those two when it is all said and done, but I have a gut feeling that it will be their decision on the end. And yes, I am aware they never were full time Ring of Honor guys, but they have some appearances, so I'll count it. Yes, the national exposure and higher pay is an incentive, but that didn't stop Low Ki and Austin Aries from leaving already.

0 for 1.

The Murder City Machine Guns of Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin will be able to top last year's match with Jay & Mark Briscoe in one of their two upcoming ROH outings.

Larry Csonka : SELL . This is not an insult to Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin, who I believe will be working their asses off to put on a good show. But I think that the match with the Briscoe's was a damn good match, and for them to top that match would take something really special. It is not out of the realm of possibility for them to do, but it will take an inspired effort from not only them, but also their opponents. But if they do top it, I will gladly admit to being wrong because I hope that they do top the previous match, because it is good for them as performers and great for the fans. Prove me wrong boys, please, prove me wrong.

Michael Bauer : BUY . This is not an insult to you Larry, but nobody thought Nigel and Danielson could even come close to matching their PPV battle from last year and if they didn't match it, they came really damn close. I think Sabin and Shelley will be extremely motivated in this match for two reasons. First is the obvious of getting their win back from the Briscoes. But secondly is maybe to show something to TNA management about how they have been used lately, that there is a reason for they way they feel they should be used. While I agree it will also take an inspired effort from Jay and Mark, I can't remember the last time they didn't give one. This match will be a top 3 match for 2008, much like last year's was, but that can't happen if it doesn't top it.

0 for 2.

[Editor's Note: For more discussion of Shelley & Sabin's upcoming ROH appearances, be sure to head over to The Cool Kids' Table.]

Jack Evans will actually not wrestle for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla this weekend despite being advertised as the challenger to Human Tornado's PWG World Title.

Larry Csonka : BUY . At least I hope that this is the case. While I am sure that jack wants to get back in the ring as soon as possible and do 73-FLIPPY DOO'S, I don't think that he should. The man just had his face imploded not that long ago, and the doctors were saying April as a return time. I don't know about you, but if my face exploded and looked like his did, I would take the full recovery time and then some. And while I made the "FLIPPY DOO" joke, Jack doesn't hold back and work safe. He's balls to the wall and FLIPPY to the DOO to the MAX. He goes all out, and while I admire him for wanting to put on a great show, it is also dangerous. Stay home Jack, rest up and come back when you are completely healed.

Michael Bauer : BUY . Yeah, I gotta agree with you on this one. Jack Evans, for as talented as he is, always seems to just be one move away from fucking his career and breaking his neck or something. If anything, Jack should look at Nigel and he style. Think about how many injuries has he had just in the past six months and yet he still keeps coming while at less than 100 percent. Jack is a fighter though and hates to miss a show, but Jack should do what is best for business and not risk putting himself on the shelf for any longer than he needs to be. There will be a shot waiting for him, I am sure of it, when he is ready to come back.

1 for 3.

SWITCH~!

Takeshi Morishima was the right man to unseat Mitsuharu Misawa as GHC Heavyweight Champion.

Michael Bauer : BUY . Takeshi Morishima has gotten more mainstream exposure than any other rising star in NOAH lately, especially after a very under-appreciated RoH Heavyweight Title reign. Morishima defeated Danielson, KENTA, Nigel, and anyone else thrown his way as champion and now he has beaten Misawa to claim Japan's highest honor. Let me say that again… He Beat Misawa! Only Samoa Joe has done that lately, but that was in a tag match. Morishima was absolutely the right choice to unseat Misawa because he is the future of Japanese wrestling. It's not Kobashi, thought we'd like it to be. KENTA could be as well, but I still think he should be given a little more time before winning the title.

Larry Csonka : BUY . I will agree here. This has been rumored to be the plan for sometime. That's why Morishima was sent to America, like the old days when they always sent Muta and others to the US, to gain more experience and grow. Morishima did his time in the US, he won the ROH title and that was more along the lines of grooming him for the eventual GHC Title run. He did the time in the US, he had the run and then he returned home and they pulled the trigger. And not only did they pull the trigger with the title change but they pulled the trigger with Mitsuharu Misawa dropping the belt to him. They may as well tattooed "NEW STAR, CHEER NOW" on him. It was the plan and it was expected, and in the end it was the right call.

2 for 4.

Lince Dorado should have been set up as the challenger to Mike Quackenbush's NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title instead of El Pantera.

Michael Bauer : BUY . Fair warning, I am not too familiar with the NWA World Junior Title or who has gone after it. That said, Lince Dorado makes more sense from the standpoint of being known. Yes, El Pantera got the pinfall on Quack, so make they wish to build him up, but I would go for the bigger commodity in Dorado. Not only that, but Dorado was the man to make Kingston tap out in the finals, meaning he is more than capable of challenging Quack for the title.

Larry Csonka : BUY . Agreed again! Seriously, Dorado is money I think and should be the one to get the push and battle Quack for the title. I personally think that since they were winning the tournament that not only should he have made Kingston tap, which he did; but also HE should have been the one to pin Quack. I just think that he is the one to feud with Quack, not El Pantera.

3 for 5.

With his momentum as a singles competitor at an all-time high, Masato Yoshino is a lock to defeat CIMA for the Open the Dream Gate Championship.

Michael Bauer : SELL . I never call anything a lock anymore when it comes to wrestling because it is just too unpredictable. That said, Masato Yoshino is anything but a lock to defeat CIMA. Is he on a roll? No question. Did he defeat CIMA recently? Yes he did. Does that mean he can do it again? Not necessarily. If there one constant in wrestling, it is that momentum against another person cannot last forever. Eventually you lose that momentum when the timing is the worst and it will be the worst timing when CIMA has to face him again, this time for the Open the Dream Gate Championship. Don't get me wrong, I like his chances, but I can't say that he will definitely be the guy to do it.

Larry Csonka : BUY . I am running out of money because I have to buy this one as well and have to disagree with Michael. CIMA is on a roll, and the person to beat him for the title needs to be hot and needs to be on a roll to make the title change hot, and that person is Masato Yoshino. Yoshino, as the statement says is on an all-time high and they need to pull the trigger before he cools off too much. Sometimes you can wait, and sometimes you get burned when you do. Now is the time, do the change and make it important. Rock on Yoshino.

3 for 6!


The forty-sixth edition of BUY or SELL finishes at 3 for 6. Stay tuned for next week when two new men will go head to head with a whole new set of topics.