411's ROH Roundtable Review: Toronto & Detroit, July 25th and 26th, 2008
Posted by Ari Berenstein on 07.25.2008
The 411 staff gives its thoughts on this weekend’s Ring of Honor shows, including an important debut in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and a Pay Per View taping in Detroit, Michigan! Two title fights and the return of Lance Storm highlight the shows, so what do 411’s writers believe will happen? Find out inside!
Heyyyyy! Welcome back to the ROH Round table, where we are gearing up for a tremendous two weeks of Ring of Honor wrestling. There are four ROH shows within two weeks, which means a ton of wrestling and chances for a lot of shakeups and changes within the landscape of the company. This weekend the 411 staff is taking a look at ROH's debut in Canada with its show in Toronto, as well as the eight Pay Per View taping that takes place in Detroit, Michigan. Title matches headline both nights, with Nigel McGuinness defending against Canadian born "Mr. Wrestling" Kevin Steen and the winner of that match defending the next night against challenger Claudio Castagnoli. Castagnoli has stated that if he loses his title match here that he will end his tenure within Ring of Honor. There's a lot at stake in the title matches, plus Austin Aries and Jay Briscoe will continue their warfare against The Age of the Fall, Naomichi Marufuji returns to the ROH ring, Erick Stevens makes his first appearances as two-time FIP Heavyweight Champion and Lance Storm appears on both shows for autographs…and maybe, a little bit more? We'll have to wait and see for that, but wait no longer for 411's prediction staff. This time around its:
Samuel Berman, our resident Cool Kid at the Roundtable.
1. Rocky Romero & Davey Richards beat Jack Evans & Kotaro Suzuki (411 Mania Said: Davey Richards & Rocky Romero 5-1) 2. Shuhei Taniguchi beat Akihiko Ito
3. Jimmy Rave beat BJ Whitmer (411 Mania Said: Jimmy Rave 4-1) 4. Bryan Danielson defeated Go Shiozaki (411 Mania Said: Bryan Danielson 6-0) 5. Delirious beat Roderick Strong in a Fight Without Honor (411 Mania Said: Draw 3-3) 6. Naomichi Marufuji & The Briscoes defeated Matt Sydal, Ricky Marvin, & Atsushi Aoki (411 Mania Said: Naomichi Marufuji and Jay & Mark Briscoe 5-1) 7. Takeshi Morishima beat Nigel McGuinness to retain the ROH World Title (411 Mania Said: Draw 3-3)
**
Live In Osaka from Osaka, Japan 7/17/07
1. Jay & Mark Briscoe beat Jimmy Rave & Genki Horiguchi to retain the World Tag Team Titles
2. Nigel McGuinness beat BJ Whitmer (411 Mania Said: Nigel McGuinness 6-0) 3. Jack Evans beat Roderick Strong (411 Mania Said: Draw 3-3) 4. Matt Sydal, Dragon Kid, & Ryo Saito defeated Delirious, Masato Yoshino, & Naruki Doi (411 Mania Said: Draw 3-3) 5. Jay & Mark Briscoe beat SHINGO & Susumu Yokosuka to retain the World Tag Team Titles (411 Mania Said: Jay & Mark Briscoe 6-0) 6. Bryan Danielson, CIMA, & Naomichi Maruji defeated Davey Richards, Rocky Romero, & Masaaki Mochizuki
**
ROH from the Round
ROH IN CANADA
FRIDAY, JULY 25TH, TORONTO, ONT, CANADA
Chris Hero with Larry Sweeney vs. Ruckus
Samuel Berman: Fun fact: this was a marquee CZW matchup less than two years ago. Anyway, Ruckus is a waste in ROH right now... meaning they'll probably put him over Hero so that Hero's new "serious" angle really has the chance to take off. Sigh.
Winner: Chris Hero
Jarrod Westerfeld: I'm not willing to bet on the second string member of the Vulture Squad to go over the number one guy of the Sweet n' Sour Inc. corporate takeover. To put it bluntly, I see Hero taking this match easily, even though this isn't Jigsaw.
Winner: Chris Hero
Michael Bauer: With little time, I gotta make these quick. Chris Hero does not lose to Ruckus. Especially if they want us to believe he is for real.
Winner: Chris Hero
Chris Lansdell: Oh, the "Chris is Awesome!" chants will ring forth lustily from my lungs. He might actually lose this one though. Sure, why not.
Winner: Ruckus
Ari Berenstein: This is an obvious opportunity for Hero to jack up another lower card ROH wrestler. It will further his "serious" Hero gimmick, but sooner or later he's going to have to step back up to the mid card and see if it plays out there.
Winner: Chris Hero
411 Mania Picks: Chris Hero (4-1)
Sara Del Rey vs. Jennifer Blake
Samuel Berman: Don't know Blake. Don't care either. Sara in a walk.
Winner: Sara Del Rey
Jarrod Westerfeld: I'm unfamiliar with Jennifer Blake, but a new person in ROH usually means the newbie gets beat, and seeing as she's taking on the beastly Goddess known as Death Rey – yeah, this may just end up being a funeral service for the former Blake.
Winner: Sara Del Rey
Michael Bauer: I have no clue who Jennifer Blake is. I'll go with the known part.
Winner: Sara Del Rey
Sara Del Rey vs. Jennifer Blake
Chris Lansdell: Local talent. squash. Next.
Winner: Death Rey
Ari Berenstein: Well, I DO know who Blake is…she is known as "Dynamite Girl" and is supposed to have this crazy finisher that is a butterfly Canadian Destroyer. She hasn't broken it out in SHIMMER yet but she had one really cool spot on SHIMMER Volume 17 where she dropkicked Rain who was sitting on a chair. I thought her matches on SHIMMER 17 and 18 (tag matches) were kind of sloppy, so I'm a bit nonplussed about this one. Hopefully it surprises instead. I don't think she gets either move in for this match, which again serves as a backdrop for a Sweet & Sour Inc. wrestler getting over in a squash.
Winner: Sara Del Rey
411 Mania Picks: Sara Del Rey (5-0)
Delirious vs. Kenny Omega
Samuel Berman: Omega has some notable hype but heaven knows I've never seen him. Delirious has been somewhat lost in the ring as of late, so putting Omega over doesn't really cost him anything. Besides, Delirious' focus is on Daizee anyway.
Winner: Kenny Omega
Jarrod Westerfeld: I've become a fan of Kenny Omega's based on a music video, one clip of a promo featuring him, and seeing him live and in person against Xavier and Teddy Hart at a JAPW show back in early February. I do believe this kid could be a bright star that ROH could tap into. But with all of that said, I can't see him winning his debut match, and against Delirious no less. The only plus to give any reason for him taking this match is he's a residential Canadian, but other than that I'm still not entirely sold on it.
Winner: Delirious
Michael Bauer: Kenny Omega gets a real shot at being an RoH member. But since Delirious has something on an angle, he gets the nod.
Winner: Delirious
Chris Lansdell: Let's see...RoH mainstay and perennial upper midcarder vs debut boy. Expect Omega to get in his spots, do everything he can to earn a roster place, and lose.
Winner: Delirious
Ari Berenstein: Omega has the buzz, but I haven't seen any of his matches so I'll reserve comment on what he can bring to the ring. Delirious needs a bit of a win to get some momentum back in his sails and I think this one is a safe bet for him.
Winner: Delirious
411 Mania Picks: Delirious (4-1)
FIP World Heavyweight Champion Erick Stevens vs. Go Shiozaki (non-title)
Samuel Berman: Fifteen minutes of these two stiffing each other? Sign me up. I like the idea of Shiozaki beating Stevens with Sweet 'n Sour-ference so that Stevens and Strong end up teaming together. It's a topic that's actually discussed on the most recent podcast over at The Cool Kids' Table.
Winner: Go Shiozaki
Jarrod Westerfeld: Stiff fest and a half with Shiozaki getting a big showing to possibly give Stevens a new feud for the FIP Championship that doesn't involve the murderous Strong. I would've thought that Stevens eats the pin here, but being a newly crowned champion of the FIP strap, I would think that they don't want him looking weak on his first weekend with the strap unless they really hold plans for Shiozaki to threaten the reign. In the end, I can see Sweet n' Sour Inc. beating down on Stevens that could lead to a new tandem in Stevens and Strong to combine their efforts to get their vengeance on the group led by Larry Sweeney.
Winner: Erick Stevens
Michael Bauer: This match should be a precursor to the FIP Title match next month. As such, I give Go a win here to build on it.
Winner: Go Shiozaki
Chris Lansdell: This should be fun. With Stevens being the FIP champ now there's always a possibility they make this a title bout, but if they do it will be the second obvious-result title match on the card. Hopefully they keep it non-title and allow Go to pick up a win. Stevens has enough momentum right now that the loss won't hurt him. I'm looking forward to this. A lot.
Winner: Go Shiozaki
Ari Berenstein: THIS looks to be a big time quality slugfest…or should I say chop fest. I like these two together in the ring just bashing each other with brawl and power moves. Stevens is once again FIP Heavyweight Champion and I expect him to win his matches in ROH on a consistent basis until he drops the strap.
Winner: Erick Stevens
411 Mania Picks: Go Shiozaki (3-2)
Roderick Strong vs. Naomichi Marufuji
Samuel Berman: These two team on Pay-Per-View, so I'm sure ROH will go with the whole 'we fight to earn each other's respect' thing. Whatever. Match should be great, but will be heightened or lessened by how much silliness gets added by potential Sweet 'n Sour-ference.
Winner: Naomichi Marufuji
Jarrod Westerfeld: Strong isn't champion anymore, and Marufuji is a tough opponent for Roderick. But what gives this one up is the fact that Roderick is turning face, which could leave him to take this win in a respectful manner before any shenanigans that feature Sweet n' Sour Inc.
Winner: Roderick Strong
Michael Bauer: I hate how they face off here and team the next night. I can't see Marufuji losng here.
Winner: Roderick Strong
Chris Lansdell: This match kind of goes the opposite way to the previous one in terms of momentum. Strong has just lost his stable to Larry Sweeney and his title to Erick Stevens, and REALLY needs a big win against a decent name to get himself back on track. Unless, you know, he's joining Age of the Fall. As the two are teaming the next night I expect either a stiff brawl where they tease some disharmony or a begrudging respect by the end of the match.
Winner: Roderick Strong
Ari Berenstein: Now that Strong is no longer FIP champion, it doesn't look so terrible if he drops one to Marufuji, who rarely loses in ROH as it is. Marufuji did drop a match to Danielson at "A New Level", so I'm expect he goes over here as a return receipt. The match is a first-time ever though, so expect some fresh spots and good action while it lasts.
Winner: Naomichi Marufuji
411 Mania Picks: Roderick Strong (3-2)
Bryan Danielson vs. Claudio Castagnoli
Samuel Berman: I just hope they go with a full-on 12-minute headlock this time. Match will rule, with Claudio getting the duke heading into his match with Nigel.
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli
Jarrod Westerfeld: Danielson needs to win over former opponents of Nigel's in order to get his next shot, despite already being lined up for the Hammerstein show in a four way. Claudio needs a win as he has another title bout for the pay-per-view the next night, so who really needs the momentum? Well, I guess it's Claudio…
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli
Michael Bauer: Claudio needs all the momentum in the world going into his match with Nigel/Steen the next night. End of story.
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli
Chris Lansdell: If this match wasn't almost certain to be Danielson getting his win back from Double C, I'd be salivating over it. As it is, I'm just looking forward to it. Despite having a strong feeling that I know the result, I still want to see how they get there.
Winner: Bryan Danielson
Ari Berenstein: ROH booked itself into a Catch-22 here. Danielson could use the win after losing many of his recent matches. It would certainly help to stop the "Danielson is leaving" rumors that get fueled with each and every loss. Meanwhile, Claudio has his title shot the next night on PPV and a loss here would do no good for him. He just received the rub from a win against Danielson, why take it away from him? Therefore my only logical conclusion…
Winner: Time Limit Draw or Double Pin
411 Mania Picks: Claudio Castagnoli (3-1-1)
No Disqualification: Austin Aries & Jay Briscoe vs. ROH World Tag Team Champions Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black
Samuel Berman: If the titles were on the line, I'd say Jacobs & Black win easy. With the match being non-title, Aries & Jay have a shot, though I think this is going to be another case of Black earning the victory for his team in a crucial tag match. Eh, why not go for broke? Black pins Aries clean. Also, Necro gets involved but does NOT directly cause the decision.
Winners: Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black
Jarrod Westerfeld: Blood alert! Expect this one to get violent, nasty and completely inappropriate for younger viewers. I'm not even sure I know what to think about this beyond the obvious – Mark Briscoe will play a role in this match one way or another. In the end, this will probably tear Black and Jacobs relationship a bit, which will of course leave us asking why the tag titles are on them instead of on Steen and Generico given that the division needs a serious tag team not named the Briscoes to help carry them to prosperity again.
Winner: Austin Aries & Jay Briscoe
Michael Bauer: I wonder how much tamer this match will be than Hammerstein. Tag Champs need the win and they get it here.
Winner: The Age of the Fall
Chris Lansdell: First of all, I think Mark Briscoe and Necro Butcher get added to this one. I also think it's my best shot at getting on camera. It will be crazy, there will be spots a go-go, and in the end the faces pretty much have to lose.
Winners: Age of the Fall
Ari Berenstein: A rematch from a very hot and very intense fight from "A New Level". I expect them to match the action and drama from that fight and expand upon it, especially now that the Aries-Jacobs feud has evolved along the way.
Winner: Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black
411 Mania Picks: The Age of the Fall (4-1)
ROH World Title: Nigel McGuinness (c) vs. Kevin Steen
Samuel Berman: The 'hometown challenger' theory is nice; the timing of this matchup not-so-much. Steen would be a very good choice to dethrone Nigel for the belt, but the fact is that there's absolutely no way that ROH moves the World Title the night before a Pay-Per-View, especially with a major defense against Claudio looming for McGuinness. Best case scenario for Steen fans is some sort of disputed decision (double pin?) that leads to a fourth match between the two, but ROH needs to be careful how many unsuccessful shots Steen has before he wins the belt. It's a problem that can be overcome (Nigel certainly has proven to be a worthy champion), but why stack the deck against one of your future stars?
Winner and STILL ROH World Champion: Nigel McGuinness
Jarrod Westerfeld: One would think this is the stage to finally pull the trigger on Steen's words and give him the ROH strap that he's promised all of his fans to have laid claim to, but there's still plenty of time in the year left, and there's still time for him to fulfill that promise. As it stands, I just don't see Nigel dropping this strap anytime soon, despite many fans turning on Nigel to the point that he's as hated as Triple H circa 2003. So in the end, I see yet another successful title defense for Nigel.
Winner: Nigel McGuinness (RETAINS ROH World Championship)
Michael Bauer: Sorry Steen, but you are from Montreal, not Toronto. You'll have to wait to win the RoH World Title. Nigel and Claudio is just too money to not be on Pay per View.
Winner: Nigel McGuiness
Chris Lansdell: YAY! My favourite RoH guy vs the homecountry hero...who's actually from Quebec. Ontario and Quebec are not exactly known for their warm fuzzy feelings to each other. However, he should still get the crowd behind him. If there wasn't a PPV title defence the next night, I'd say Steen might be in with a chance. In fact, a small part of me wants to believe that RoH will pull the "anything can happen" card and have Steen win, then lose on Saturday to give Claudio a title run without having him beat Nigel. I fear it's a pipe dream, though.
Winner: Nigel McGuinness
Ari Berenstein: I don't discount the possibility of a title change here, but it doesn't look as possible as it did since the title match on PPV with Castagnoli was announced. The issue is McGuinness-Castagnoli, not Steen-Castagnoli and the former match would be the one that sells any PPV buys. Although, an impromptu new champion could help to shake things up…it worked for WWE didn't it? Steen will give it a great try, but I think McGuinness wins, wins clean at that and Steen goes back to work with El Generico to get back to number one contender status in the tag team division.
Winner: Nigel McGuinness retains the ROH World Title
411 Mania Picks: Nigel McGuinness (5-0)
**
ROH Videowire: July 24th, 2008
**
ROH PPV TAPING
SATURDAY, JULY 26TH, DETROIT, MI
Chris Hero & Go Shiozaki with Larry Sweeney vs. Roderick Strong & Naomichi Marufuji
Samuel Berman: Strong & Marufuji are easily the favorites here, but a win for Sweet 'n Sour might finally solidify Hero as a force to be reckoned with (and do good for Shiozaki as well). I'll go with the underdogs here just for fun.
Winners: Chris Hero & Go Shiozaki
Jarrod Westerfeld: Seeing this makes me think that perhaps Strong and Marufuji's match from the night before will end in a no contest, but I'm still going to chance that there will be a clean finish to the bout. The end result here is that you have one odd man in this bout who just doesn't have that strong a beef with Sweet n' Sour Inc. to justify being in this tag bout. It does kind of lead me to think that perhaps Stevens will just make a run-in at some point that could end up playing to lead into Strong and Marufuji to pick up the win here.
Winner: Roderick Strong & Naomichi Marufuji
Michael Bauer: On Pay Per View, Sweet N' Sour has been more sour. I almost think they need the win more, but I'll go against them here.
Winner: Strong and Marufuji
Chris Lansdell: It'll be stiff, I know that much. The chop exchanges between Go and Strong should be something to behold. I can't see Strong getting revenge on S&S just yet though, so the heels to triumph it is.
Winners: Sweet n Sour Inc
Ari Berenstein: It's ROH & NOAH vs. ROH & NOAH, so we're even up in the political game. I do think Shiozaki, being the new mainstay import from NOAH, could use the win here to boost his reputation and put another feather in the Sweet & Sour Inc. pocket. Strong continues his war for revenge against S&S Inc. and would be denied here, further fueling his will to win. Shiozaki over Strong in this one.
Winner: Chris Hero & Go Shiozaki
411 Mania Picks: Sweet & Sour Inc. (3-2)
Bryan Danielson vs. ROH World Tag Team Champion Tyler Black
Samuel Berman: Match will be fantastic, but with the newly explained (thanks Gabe...) storyline clearly leading to a Danielson vs. McGuinness Pay-Per-View match, the finish isn't really in doubt to me. In a perfect world, ROH would have the stones to put Black over and then pay things off by giving him the belt, but I don't think that's really going to happen. If it does, I'll gladly eat my words. The winner here becomes the de facto #1 Contender to Nigel.
Winner: Bryan Danielson
Jarrod Westerfeld: These two have worked so well with one another throughout the year, and Black was made into an instant star after his bout at Take No Prisoners that one has to figure that this will be the stage that Black finally showcases that he's the real deal for ROH's future as he gets a win over the journeymanned Danielson. The fact that Danielson ate pin losses to Claudio and Stevens in a single weekend some time back, should kind of point to the idea that Bryan might be coming up for a change in character.
Winner: Tyler Black
Michael Bauer: There is no way Danielson can lose twice on one weekend, can he? Tyler Black needs the win if we really think he is ready to up his game and after a great PPV showing previously, this could be the time.
Winner: Tyler Black
Chris Lansdell: Oh yes, these two have some great chemistry and this should be tremendous. I have to think that this is where Tyler gets his win that propels him to the upper echelon, and richly deserved it is too.
Winner: Tyler Black
Ari Berenstein: Since the Danielson run to the title is a "PPV ONLY" (BLAH!) storyline, this match is where the real work for a title shot begins. As such, Danielson will win the third match in their series in order to need just one more win (Go Shiozaki) to get the title shot on PPV. I'll go out on a limb and say that this one will be the best yet of their series.
Winner: Bryan Danielson
411 Mania Picks: Tyler Black (3-2)
ROH World Title: Nigel McGuinness/Kevin Steen 7/25 winner defends vs. Claudio Castagnoli
Samuel Berman: Nigel's not losing to Steen, no matter what I would personally prefer to have happen. Claudio winning would be a nice moment, especially with the alleged 'leave if I lose' stipulation hanging out there, but Nigel's reign still has legs (something that I can't believe I just typed) and he absolutely has to have a final match with Danielson and a rematch with Black before all is said and done.
Winner and STILL ROH World Champion: Nigel McGuinness
Jarrod Westerfeld: I'm guaranteeing this bout will feature Nigel McGuinness, and I'm guaranteeing that Nigel retains the title over Claudio, once more, to showcase the company has faith in Nigel to have a very lengthy title reign that could trump Bryan Danielson's title reign. I just don't see the company pulling the trigger to make Claudio the guy that dethrones their champion.
Winner: Nigel McGuinness (RETAINS ROH World Championship)
Michael Bauer: Claudio's statement of walking away from RoH if he doesn't win makes you think he will win. But I don't buy it.
Winner: Nigel McGuinness
Chris Lansdell: Surprisingly, I think this is another one that's easy to call. Nigel's held the title for a good while now, and even if Steen wins it could be the first short reign in ROH history, because Claudio's time is now.
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli
Ari Berenstein: It makes sense for this title match to be McGuinness vs. Castagnoli in the rematch from "A New Level". Their match at that show was pretty average for a main event, but I know they have it in them to have a much better match against each other. McGuinness has not yet disappointed in a PPV main event title match situation and I think he takes it upon himself to have these fantastic and much talked about bouts. This could be Castagnoli's best shot for a win and if he doesn't supposedly he walks away from ROH. For that matter, Castagnoli winning the title is very likely, in fact the most likely time and place for a switch since Nigel's run began. I just don't see it happening just yet. I think McGuinness vs. Danielson is still in the cards.
Winner: Nigel McGuinness retains the title.
411 Mania Picks: Nigel McGuinness (4-1)
BONUS Questions:
1-What role (aside from signing autographs) will Lance Storm play during the Toronto debut?
Samuel Berman: None. I mean he'll give a speech or some such thing, but nothing of note (other than a possible one-night-only altercation with Sweet 'n Sour) will come of it. That's not to say having Storm on the show is a bad thing; I'm all for any reasonable move that makes the ROH product more accessible to "mainstream" fans. That said, I don't know that having Storm become actively involved in the company's storylines is a good thing if he's not going to wrestle.
Jarrod Westerfeld: I'm willing to bet that it could lead into a confrontation with Nigel, who tries to prove his worth to the world that he can do what Bryan has done as champion, defeating all those that Bryan had once defeated, while Danielson continues to fail at defeating all those that Nigel had defeated during his reign. With Nigel playing the hell, this could only further get him over as such with a new audience who is going to look to Lance as the face simply because of his heritage within the country.
Michael Bauer: I don't think we do much. If anything, he will have some interaction with Kevin Steen, being the fellow Canadians, but I can't see a whole lot else.
Chris Lansdell: Possibly some interaction with Hero and Sweeney, since they like to interrupt guests.
Ari Berenstein: I see Storm doing something with Sweet & Sour Inc. Perhaps Larry Sweeney tries` to buy his services and help to train the guys in his stable, but then Storm rejects the offer and fends off an attack from S&S Inc. with help from Strong, Stevens or Albright.
2-What match not yet booked on the PPV would you like to see happen?
Samuel Berman: The easy answer is Jimmy Jacobs vs. Austin Aries. That said, I'd actually be just as interested in seeing Delirious finally snap and decimate Rhett Titus. Hopefully we'll get both.
Jarrod Westerfeld: There's only one of two bouts I'd like to see, and they all involve Jimmy Jacobs representing the Age of the Fall. The problem is, though, I can't figure out whether they should pull the trigger on him and Aries for a pay-per-view bout, or if they'll go with Jacobs battling Jay Briscoe to keep the PPV audience in the loop of the Age of the Fall and Briscoes feud. Other than that, I'm not certain of any other bouts I'd love to see featured on this event just yet.
Michael Bauer: I'm not sure if I really want to see it or not, but man would Austin Aries vs. The Necro Butcher make sense.
Chris Lansdell: Depends on the previous night. Aries-Jacobs would be good, but maybe too soon. If Mark comes back, some Briscoes action is required, possibly with Steenerico?
Ari Berenstein: Austin Aries & Jay Briscoe have formed a makeshift tag team to combat The Age of the Fall. I'd like to see them team up again, to fight Jacobs & Necro Butcher for the PPV. It keeps the continuity in the PPV storylines together with the Briscoes feuding with AotF and gets the Aries-Jacobs storyline some PPV air time.
Also, in a Non-PPV Match, ROH will present the first ever Honor Rumble for a future World Title Shot on 8/1/08 in Manassas, Virginia.
Be sure to visit 411 over the weekend for the results from the shows and all of the fallout. We'll see you next time on the Roundtable!
--A—
Is it me, or is ROH about 2 years late in pushing a legit Chris Hero?
I've always felt the he had great heat coming into ROH, after the war, but the politics of ROH kept him playing for laughs, tagging with CC and then being a comedy act.
I find it funny, that ROH can snowball a top talent, like Hero, for 2 years and catch no flack for it from the IWC, but that's another story.
Hopefully Gabe can grow a pair, and let a guy like Hero, who made his name working outside of ROH, a legit chance to get over as championship material.
But, since Gabe books a lot like Vinnie Mac, I doubt it.
The fact that guys, like Chuck Taylor, Eddie Kingston,Quackenbush, "Machine Gun" Anderson, and others, can't get a real shot in "the top independent wrestling promotion in the world", is disgusting.
Posted By: scipio2009 (Guest) on July 25, 2008 at 04:28 AM
It's so wierd - I only just discovered they do PPV storylines and original recipe storylines. It explains so much why I was confused about ROH.
Posted By: Matt P. (Guest) on July 25, 2008 at 09:09 AM
Actually ROH has been criticized by people plenty for not pushing Hero as much as they should, including myself and Sam Berman among others.
Quack did get a real shot in ROH, but his concussion injury in '07 forced him to decide to back off doing so many independent shows. That's not ROH's fault. Kingston and Anderson did get some matches in ROH, but nothing long term. What can you do? Sometimes that happens.
@ Matt P.: ROH has previously incorporated mentions of non PPV shows on the PPV itself to link together the stories, but the PPVs themselves retained a tight continuity. This Danielson story is the first move to do a PPV only storyline in ROH.
Posted By: Ari Berenstein (Registered) on July 25, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Man, Lance Storm is TOTALLY joining the Age of the Fall.
Posted By: Guest#5456 (Guest) on July 25, 2008 at 12:13 PM
411 Mania Update: the picks staff went 4 for 8 on the Toronto show for an even 50%.
Posted By: Ari Berenstein (Registered) on July 26, 2008 at 01:41 AM
411 Mania Update: the picks staff went 1 for 3 for the PPV taping. Doh!
Posted By: Ari Berenstein (Registered) on July 27, 2008 at 12:12 PM
