Column of Honor: 08.09.08 Part Two: News, Departments and My Two Cents with Chris Miccio

Posted by Ari Berenstein on 08.09.2008

The full card for ROH’s 200th show in Japan, the NWA shows video of the Albright title win, ROH in PWI’s 500, M2C on Death Before Dishonor VI, a preview of ROH in Cleveland, OH and more!


ROH Call

ROH Champions—As of 08/09/2008

ROH World Champion—Nigel McGuinness (champion since 10/06/07, 24 successful defenses)
-defeated Takeshi Morishima in Edison, New Jersey to win the championship.

Next Defense: vs. El Generico, Cleveland, OH 08/15/08

V.1 defeated Jay Briscoe, wristlock submission (10/21/07 San Francisco, CA)
V.2 defeated Chris Hero, wristlock submission (11/02/07 Philadelphia, PA)
V.3 defeated Austin Aries, Jawbreaker Lariat (12/29/07 Manhattan, NY)
V.4 defeated Go Shiozaki, London Dungeon (wristlock submission) (01/20/08 Tokyo, Japan,)
V.5 Steel Cage Match: defeated Chris Hero (01/25/08, Dayton, OH)
V.6 defeated Roderick Strong, Jawbreaker Lariat (01/26/08, Chicago Ridge, IL)
V.7 defeated Bryan Danielson, London Dungeon (02/23/08, Manhattan, NY)
V.8 defeated Tyler Black, London Dungeon (03/16/08, Philadelphia, PA)
V.9 defeated Larry Sweeney, Jawbreaker Lariat (03/22/08 Crystal River, FL)
V.10 defeated Austin Aries, Jawbreaker Lariat (03/29/08 Orlando, FL)
V.11 defeated Erick Stevens, London Dungeon (04/11/08 Boston, MA)
V.12 defeated Kevin Steen, roll up holding the ropes (04/12/08 Edison, NJ)
V.13 defeated Kevin Steen, Jawbreaker Lariat (04/19/08 Chicago Ridge, IL)
V.14 defeated Claudio Castagnoli, London Dungeon, (05/10/08, Manhattan, NY)
V.15 defeated KENTA and BJ Whitmer, Jawbreaker Lariat to Whitmer (05/15/08, Tokyo, Japan)
V.16 defeated Go Shiozaki, London Dungeon (06/07/08, Philadelphia, PA)
V.17 defeated Vic Viper, London Dungeon (06/14/08, Tallaght, Ireland)
V.19 defeated Keith Myatt and Lionheart, (06/20/08, Doncaster, U.K.)
V.20 (title for title) defeated NWA Champion Adam Pearce, Jawbreaker Lariat (06/27/08, Dayton, OH)
*match later reversed via DQ, both men keep their respective titles.
V.21 defeated Kevin Steen, Lariat off Turbuckle, (07/25/08, Toronto, ONT, CN)
V.22 defeated Claudio Castagnoli, Jawbreaker Lariat (07/26/08, Detroit, MI)
V.23 defeated Ruckus, London Dungeon (08/01/08, Manassas, VA)
V.24 Four Way Elimination Match: defeated Bryan Danielson, Tyler Black & Claudio Castagnoli (08/02/08, Manhattan, NY)

**

ROH World Tag Team Champions—The Age of the Fall (champions since 06/06/08, NEW Champions)
-won an eight man, single elimination tournament on June 6th in Hartford, CT to determine new champions

Next Defense:vs. Jay & Mark Briscoe, Tokyo, Japan, 09/13/08

V.1 defeated Austin Aries & Bryan Danielson (06/07/08, Philadelphia, PA)
V.2 defeated Go Shiozaki & Naomichi Marufuji (08/01/08, Manassas, VA)

**

Sweet & Sour Incorporated Presents The Intergender Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Of The World—Chris Hero & Sara Del Rey (champions since 01/12/08, 2 successful defenses)
Belt Re-recognized in this column as of 06/07/08 as both Hero & Del Rey are bringing them to ROH events.

V.1 defeated Ernie Osiris & Alexa Thatcher (01/12/08, Edison, NJ)
V.2 defeated Kyle Durden & Alex "Sugarfoot" Payne (01/26/08, Chicago Ridge, IL)

**
NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion: Brent Albright (since 08/02/2008)
-defeated Adam Pearce via submission to win the title.
FIP Heavyweight Champion: Erick Stevens (since 07/19/2008)
-defeated Roderick Strong via pinfall to win the title in a strap match.
SHIMMER Champion: MsChif (since 4/26/2008)
-defeated Sara Del Ray via pinfall with the Descrator DDT to win the title
Top of the Class Trophy (for ROH Students): Rhett "Addicted to Love" Titus (since 06/07/2008)
-defeated Ernie Osiris via pinfall to win the trophy.

**

Top Feuds & Pairings:
-Bryan Danielson's road to an ROH World Title Shot
-Bryan Danielson vs. Claudio Castagnoli
-Nigel McGuinness defends the belt against top contenders
-ROH and the NWA Heavyweight Title
-Austin Aries vs. Jimmy Jacobs
-The consequences of Necro Butcher's decision
-The Age of the Fall vs. The Briscoes
-Sweet & Sour Inc. "Corporate Takeover"
-Brent Albright vs. Sweet & Sour Inc.
-Roderick Strong wants payback on Sweet & Sour Inc. for Richards' betrayal of the NRC
-Delirious / Rhett Titus / Daizee Haze Triangle


ROH News
(via the ROHnewswire… and other sources when attributed)


ROH September 14th 2008 Japan Card Announced

ROH followed up on their announcement of the complete card for their September 13th, 2008 show in Japan by announcing the full card for the next night. This will be their two hundredth show. Here is the card:

Ring of Honor
Differ Ariake
September 14, 2008- 4:00pm belltime
1-3-25 Ariake, Koto-Ku
Tokyo, Japan 135-0063
Ph: 03-5500-3731

ROH World Title Match (if McGuinness is still Champion)
Nigel McGuinness defends vs. Jimmy Jacobs

GHC Jr. Heavyweight Title Match
Yoshinobu Kanemaru defends vs. Bryan Danielson

Dream Tag Team Match
Naomichi Marufuji & Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. KENTA & Kota Ibushi

Kensuke Office vs. ROH
Kensuke Sasaki vs. Roderick Strong

ROH Grudge Match
Austin Aries vs. Tyler Black

Special Attraction Tag Team Match
Jay & Mark Briscoe vs. Takeshi Morishima & Davey Richards

NOAH vs. ROH
Taiji Ishimori vs. El Generico

Bonus Match
Eddie Edwards vs. Kazushi Miyamoto

According to the Wrestling Observer newsletter, "There is also talk of Sasaki & Nakajima coming to the U.S. within the next several months."

I am torn on this card as on paper it does seem impressive in the scope and diversity of the show. Fans on the message boards who are knowledgeable in Puro can't stop talking up the massive "Match of the Year" possibilities of Marufuji & Nakajima vs. KENTA and Ibushi and considering their massive talents and past history I'm not surprised. However, I wish that the entire cards of both Japan shows were dedicated to NOAH vs. Ring of Honor matches. I know that Japanese fans deserve to see some authentic Ring of Honor action, but to me, the unique and one-of-a-kind nature of these shows should mean a total crossover between NOAH and ROH talent. I would compare it to when comic book companies crossover (or at least when that didn't happen every week). If Marvel and DC have a crossover series, I would want to see Superman and Spider-Man teaming up instead of Superman and Batman. Not to say that the latter duo isn't a special combination, but chances are you can see that in some DC Comic coming soon. The Marvel vs. DC series only happens once in a blue moon, and given that, you go all the way with it. I feel the same way with the ROH shows in Japan. I don't necessarily think, for instance, that Aries vs. Black is the best match given the crossover talent available, or that Nigel McGuinness should be wrestling Jimmy Jacobs for the ROH World Title when he could wrestle against a NOAH talent for the belt (Yes, Jacobs should get a title shot, but it could have waited just a bit until he was back in the states, where the heel heat for his title attempt would have been in full effect). I know that politics can get in the way of that sort of event, but with Morishima on the card, I'm sure a tit for tat agreement could have been arraigned.

ROH is trying to walk the fine line of mixing NOAH vs. NOAH, ROH vs. NOAH and ROH vs. ROH matches. Ishimori vs. Generico took place in Germany earlier in the year and was well received by those who watched the match—I'm glad to see it a part of this card. Sasaki vs. Strong is a bit one-sided towards the veteran Sasaki but it should be an interesting experiment of a match if nothing else. There is also the possibility of a title switch when Danielson takes on Kanemaru for the GHC Jr. Title, a match NOAH didn't deliver on earlier in the year. I give them credit for the effort, but as Bayani Domingo likes to say, for me, it comes up just a little bit short. Then again, I'm not the one in Japan who is going to see the shows, am I?

I would welcome more NOAH and Japan talents to the states, especially those on the level of Sasaki and Nakajima. Even though officially these guys will be appearing on Ring of Honor produced shows, the United States is their main base of operations. It would be more special and unique for these wrestlers to make the trip over and wrestle for the North American ROH fans. Of course, that is also given they are placed against worthy adversaries and not just each other. Give us the first time matches, the crossover matches.


NWA Title Switch and Pearce / Albright Promos Made Available on the Internet

Give the NWA credit; they're on the ball with capitalizing on what was their biggest newsmaker in quite some time. They have a full fourteen minute package about Albright, Pearce and the title switch ready and available to view. There are some fantastic pre and post match promos from Adam Pearce and of course clips of the match and the finish.



Pearce's promos are very impressive, very old school and very dramatic. He seems to really dig in on the "sport" of professional wrestling concept while still remaining a heel, and the fire-y promo he does vowing revenge was really cool.

The one thing I'm not so keen on is NWA's overuse of the "suits" in their video. Dave Marquez is very effective in the role here as interviewer, but using NWA representative after representative and having them talk for so long takes some of the edge off the presentation. It's especially dry when these guys look and act like corporate men (which they are and thus it's no fault of their own). Even Cary Silkin was in on the act as a way to co-promote Ring of Honor, although I give kudos to NWA really hyping up the Hammerstein show and the four way main event on their show. It did become a bit too much. Let the action speak more for itself and let's leave the stuff board room meeting atmosphere behind.


SHIMMER to Introduce Tag Team Titles to the Promotion on Volumes 21 / 22

Just one week after I mentioned in my review of SHIMMER Volumes 17 and 18 that it was time for the women's wrestling company to introduce tag team titles, lo and behold Dave Prazak sends word that this is exactly what is happening at the next SHIMMER tapings. (I'm sure my suggestion had nothing to do with it, because it probably took a bit to get those belts created). The tag straps will be decided in likely an eight tag single elimination tournament during volume 21 (with MsChif also slated to defend the SHIMMER Women's Title on those shows). Here is a picture of the new tag belts, which look pretty damned pretty:








Ring of Honor's Listmakers for the 2008 PWI 500

For as much as its worth, the list of Ring of Honor wrestlers who made this year's 2008 Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 is as follows:

8. Nigel McGuiness
11. Takeshi Morishima
13. Bryan Danielson
31. Austin Aries
44. Adam Pearce
49. Jay Briscoe
50. Mark Briscoe
52. Claudio Castagnoli
58. Chris Hero
74. Jimmy Jacobs
88. Tyler Black
103. Roderick Strong
107. Davey Richards
108. Rocky Romero
120. Brent Albright
129. Kevin Steen
136. Erick Stevens
143. El Generico
156. Delirious
162. Necro Butcher
178. Go Shiozaki
188. Human Tornado
199. Ruckus
202. Jigsaw
298. Larry Sweeney
307. Pelle Primeau
311. Rhett Titus
343. Shane Hagadorn
375. Bobby Dempsey

And for references sake, here is the official top 10:

1. Randy Orton
2. Kurt Angle
3. Triple H
4. Samoa Joe
5. Edge
6. The Undertaker
7. Shawn Michaels
8. Nigel McGuinness
9. John Cena
10.Shinesuke Nakamura

Nigel making it to number eight is pretty good as far as "making it" with the mag, which focuses mostly on WWE and TNA. PWI usually tries to give Japan one or two slots in the top ten (as they did here with Nakamura at 10). I can't really argue with Orton at one or the wrestlers in the top five, although Angle at two seems a bit off. Danielson at number 13 is pretty good as well. And amazingly, Dempsey wasn't 500… well done chap, well done.


Jimmy Jacobs Interview with Rolling Stone

Via 411: ROH's Jimmy Jacobs is interviewed on Rolling Stone's website. In the interview, he talks about how his musical background saved his ROH career, his experience with Wrestling Society X, his favorite match, and more! Check out the interview here.

It's a pretty standard interview although its worth reading, You'll learn about his employment history as a mover or how WWE decided to use him for the match against Eddie Guerrero--he wasn't going to be there but then decided to go and they needed someone who looked good getting beat up…oops! Now you know! Still, read it!


Fall Out from Death Before Dishonor VI Reaches To Cleveland and Chicago

Via the newswires:
ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness grows momentum as his incredible 2008 continues. McGuinness has signed for his next defense. He said he has beaten Kevin Steen so many times that now he wants to beat his partner. Nigel has offered El Generico a ROH World Title shot and Generico has accepted. McGuinness vs. Generico for the World Title will go down on 8/15 in Cleveland!!!

I like that McGuinness vs. Generico is being done now, as Cleveland needed a very good main event to balance out what looks to be a weaker under card than normal (yes, any card with Bryan Danielson vs. Kenny King is going to be weaker than normal). The match would have been a bit stronger if it had taken place the night before a Steen title challenge (or even if they fought non-title in that situation), but I think this will be a well received title match. Its fresh, Generico is way over with the crowds and he can really bring the underdog spirit out for his challenge.

Claudio Castagnoli showed a vicious streak we have never seen in him before when he brutally attacked Bryan Danielson after being eliminated in the Four Way World Title Match last Saturday. Now Danielson is looking for revenge and a main event tag team bout has been signed for 8/16 in Chicago. The Frontier Fieldhouse will witness ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness & Claudio Castagnoli vs. Bryan Danielson & Austin Aries!!!

Danielson and Aries have gone from an off and on team to a more regular unit based on both needing each other to help out in their grudges. Danielson vs. Castagnoli is going to be really heated as a grudge match, especially if Claudio can manage to stay one step ahead of Danielson. I do believe Danielson still needs to defeat Claudio on Pay Per View to earn a title shot at McGuinness (according to the champ's rules) so maybe we'll get another singles match between the two on the Pay Per View taping in Boston.

FIP World Heavyweight Champion Erick Stevens says he will be a fighting champion. Now he is backing up those words. Stevens will defend the belt on 8/15 in Cleveland against Claudio Castagnoli. If he retains the title, he will immediately put it back on the line 24 hours later against Chris Hero in Chicago. Stevens vs. Hero will take place in Chicago even if Stevens is not FIP Champion. Both Hero and Castagnoli want FIP bookings and now if they win the title they will get them.

Claudio and Hero on back to back nights… hmmm, that seems a bit… familiar… hmm… well, even if the Kings of Wrestling do not reform here, both of these matches are strong title matches for Stevens and should be good for getting the crowd into the action.

Go Shiozaki needs to win a title for his excursion to the United States to be a success. Larry Sweeney promised him title shots. Sweeney has delivered. New NWA World Heavyweight Champion Brent Albright will make his first defense of the belt in ROH against Shiozaki on 8/16 in Chicago.

Albright vs. Shiozaki is a rematch from Double Feature but more importantly it continues the Albright vs. Sweet & Sour angle. Sweeney will now be desperate to take back the NWA title and the leverage it gives him in negotiations for ROH—the big question will be if Shiozaki goes full out heel in the ring to obtain a title for both himself and his agent?

Mark Briscoe's wrist is almost 100% and he is ready for more competition. In fact, The Briscoes want The Age Of The Fall and a very interesting bout has been signed for exactly one week from today in Cleveland. Jimmy Jacobs says he will bring a mystery partner to Cleveland on 8/15. It will be Jay & Mark Briscoe vs. Jimmy Jacobs & ??? when ROH finally returns to Cleveland in one week. What does Jacobs have in mind for Cleveland?

A few of the more recent members of The Age of the Fall have been M.I.A. including Zack Gowen and Joey Matthews, so they could be prime suspects in who Jacobs will bring as a mystery guest. Or…we could see someone new making their debut for the Ohio chapter of Age of the Fall.


Steen & Generico Receive Title Shot on Ninth PPV

ROH will tape PPV #9 on September 19th in Boston, MA!!! New England, you can be there live and witness it for yourself. The first match has been signed. El Generico & Kevin Steen will finally get their shots at the ROH World Tag Team Titles. It will be Generico & Steen vs. the winners of the Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black vs. Briscoes match in Tokyo.

Steen & Generico came out clear number one contenders after defeating the Machine Guns. They're back on a roll and take the momentum of that win and their PPV win against Jigsaw & Ruckus to the title match here.





1. Tyler Black: How about them apples? Even I was hoping for the title change in New York City.
2. Santino & Beth Phoenix : These two are on such a huge roll with their "coupling". They really hit on something good and these two can't help but be entertaining together. The mutual patting on the butt, the awesome contemplation of Santino possibly becoming Women's champion, the pronunciation of Adamle as "Adam-alay", it was all golden.
3. Rhett Titus: Daizee Haze on his tights. That's all I have to say.
4. Naomichi Marufuji: The awesome snapmare driver made me mark out like crazy. He put in a ton of effort into his match against Shiozaki.
5. Batista & John Cena: Its like if Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior teamed up to win the tag team titles before they faced off at Wrestlemania VI. Well…maybe not exactly, but it was still cool to see these two demolish Rhodes & Debiase. Hey, those two young punks were asking for it!


Honorarium

-If you think about it, counting "Take No Prisoners", "Respect is Earned II" and the next PPV, Black will have been in the main event of three consecutive PPV shows. That's probably not a coincidence.

-Some more notes on the Hammerstein show that didn't fit in with my feature style write up earlier in the column:

There are some interesting exclusive pieces of merchandise sold during the show, not available online, or at least not yet. There was a new version of the ROH logo hat in camouflage on sale. There was also a humorous green colored Larry Sweneey shirt on sale, with the phrase WW(image of Sweeney's face)D? on the front and Sweet and Sour on the back. I was VERY tempted to splurge on that shirt. Interestingly enough, NRC shirts were still being sold, even though the group seems to be defunct for now. Keeping the hope alive or selling back catalogue? You decide.

This was my first Ring of Honor show in six months, so my resolution was to just have fun during the show and not let any other fan behavior, individually or collectively, get to me. I have been accused of perhaps being too serious and taking some things during the show too personally (the reaction to Nigel McGuinness back in December 2007 for instance, led to me writing one of my more extreme pieces of the year for this column). This time, I wasn't worrying about the actions of the so called super-fans, or if some fan made an incredibly vulgar and profane remark about punching someone in the dick. I wasn't upset if the fans as a group chose to boo someone I thought they should be cheering (as was the case with Claudio Castagnoli) or cheering someone it seemed that they should be booing. So I didn't do all of that, and had one of the more fun experiences in my history of attending Ring of Honor shows. I also had fantastic seats in the first balcony with a clear and central view of the ring, which was awesome.

About those "Fuck TNA" chants… it still amazes me that even in 2008 certain Ring of Honor fans in attendance at these shows will still chant this. They just cannot seem to get over this idea that TNA somehow personally fucked with the ROH fans individually. Or maybe they're just demonstrating their dislike of the current TNA product, maybe even stating this to protest just how badly the Machine Guns have been booked in that company (but I'm not buying that for a second when it comes to the fans' reaction during Shelley and Sabin here). Regardless, Why even bother anymore? I've written it before and I'll write it again, but TNA is the very company allowing Shelley and Sabin to even make appearances for Ring of Honor in the first place. I also have for my part NEVER heard of fans in Florida or anywhere TNA does house shows chant the following phrase "Fuck ROH". Its either never come to their minds or there has been no need for it. Now I have seen ROH been the target of many a 411 commenter's blast in other columns, but that's something else entirely. What I am suggesting is this: if the TNA fans can't be bothered saying "Fuck ROH", maybe the ROH fans who still chant "Fuck TNA" can stop bothering to chant "Fuck TNA" during an ROH show? Let's be done with the whole matter and each fanbase go on its merry way.

Yeah, I know, one can dream and all that.

If there is something I can start to find fault in the working of matches (aside from too many unprotected chair shots, especially taken by Necro), its that as of late there are too many times where one move is repeatedly done over several matches. For the New York show it was the unique new "step up enziguri" hybrid that everyone seems to be throwing around these days. Of course many people on the roster seem to love the superkick in one form or the other. While I love that in ROH you get to see so many different moves you most likely would never see in WWE and only rarely in TNA, I think there used to be more control about who did what move and making sure to keep those big moves to one or two times a night.

I should also send a shout out to for 411 alumnus and current PWInsider writer Stu Carapola, who joined me and Chris before, during and after the show for some great conversation. Stu is a hysterical dude and I guess it is unfortunate for Chris and I that we likely won't have him for company during intermission much longer as he heads down to Florida in the near future. Well, unfortunate for Stu as well, because ROH doesn't run Florida nearly as much as it does elsewhere. He'll have to settle for FIP instead!

-Mick Foley, now that your WWE contract is set to expire, come on back to Ring of Honor for a spell and let's have some more Foley fun…BANG BANG!

-Better hairstyle: Erick Stevens' (former) Mohawk or Jimmy Jacobs' squeeb?


My Two Cents with Chris Miccio

Sometimes, that "its your week, dude" email just comes out of nowhere, but this week, even with everything doing in my world, I just couldn't wait to put my two cents out there for everyone, because right now, I'm totally recharged, as far as wrestling goes, and I know that that's part and parcel to the fact that I got to see a live Ring Of Honor show. As I came home from the Hammerstein Ballroom last Saturday night, I realized that my pro wrestling malaise fell right in a drought of seeing ROH live, and now that I've been a part of that again, I remember why I love pro wrestling today, and why I've loved it for the past 20 years. If you have yet to go to a live ROH event, run; don't walk to the next show in your neck of the woods. You WILL NOT be disappointed. So, without further ado, let's get it.

1. Impressions of the Hammerstein Ballroom --- so, this was the first venture into the Hammerstein Ballroom for Ari and I, as we couldn't make the "A New Level" show, due to family constraints, but let me tell you, it was well worth the wait. Now, I've been in the HB many times for many different concerts, but this was the first time for a wrestling show, and at first, I really didn't like the way it looked in the venue, as there was A LOT of empty space on the floor level, but after a while, I didn't even realize it. Another thing that I never knew about the HB was that the walls are painted yellow, and I guess I didn't know because when you go there for a concert, the place is a black as death, and that's not only for metal or hard rock shows. It was nice to see the real beauty of the venue, and it actually made the show feel a little more special than other ROH shows that I've been to. Sure, the Inman Sports Complex in Edison, New Jersey is a nice venue, but the HB blows that completely out of the water, and has an ambiance that no other ROH venue has. It's a classy place, and I really enjoyed being there, and I can't wait for Final Battle 2008, which Ari and I will be going to, as we've already gotten our tickets for the show. In fact, I'm so enthusiastic for that show because my girlfriend, after hearing how much fun we had at the show said a few magic words to me, "can I go with you to the next show?" Now that's marriage material if you ask me. It was also really good to see former 411mania staff member Stu Carapola at the show, and I want to take a second to wish him all the best on his move to the south. I know I'll miss your sarcasm and spot on analysis of what's been going on at the show. Good luck, and Godspeed, my friend.

2. Impressions of the Hammerstein Show --- okay, enough with the architecture and whatnot, lets get down to the wrestling aspect of the show. I thought that everyone on the card really busted their ass to make this a memorable show, and that was no surprise, as the NYC shows usually feature some memorable action, however, on this night, there was one star who shined brighter than any other, and that was Tyler Black. I've only seen Tyler in person a few times, but last Saturday night was his coming out party in NYC. His performance in the 4 Corner Survival was unbelievable, and that's saying something when you consider who he had to outpace in that match. The last 15 minutes of that match, when it was just Tyler and Nigel going at it had a very special feeling to it, and the crowd was just so into Tyler, so much so that the place was almost shaking with the "Let's Go Tyler!" chants that you knew you were seeing a very special performance, by a athlete who has an unlimited amount of potential, and in my opinion, can be, and should be the next big thing in Pro Wrestling in the United States. The crispness of his moves and the fluidity of his movements is a thing of beauty and a joy forever, and if you haven't jumped on the Tyler Black bandwagon just yet, you better hurry up and get on. Sure, his performances on the ROH PPV and DVD's have been amazing, but to see him do it live is something else. If Gabe knows what's best for ROH, he should listen to the fans, and make Tyler Black a singles competitor and find Jimmy Jacobs and The Age of the Fall another member, so that Tyler can be exclusively a singles guy. In addition, I think that the crowd is just begging for Tyler to be a face, so pull the trigger on it, and give the crowd what they want, and in my estimation, that's more Tyler Black. No other wrestler on the card that night got as much reaction from the crowd as Black, so make it happen. Oh, in addition to this, I really enjoyed seeing Brent Albright win the NWA Heavyweight Title from Adam Pearce. Brent is another guy, somewhat like Black, who the fans had always had the desire to pull for, and when he won that belt, the crowd really showed him the love that they have always wanted to. Maybe he's not as charismatic as Black, but I think that ROH has a real winner with Brent. I really can't wait to see more of both of these guys. ROH really has so much going for it right now, with these fast risers, as well as all the established talent, who also just seem to get better and better every time they step in the ring. Only better things are coming if ROH's management keeps all of these guys together.

3. The WWE and Ric Flair part ways --- so, this one came as a little surprise to me the other day. I always kind of figured that Flair would make an appearance here and there for the WWE, but to hear that they had cut ties was really surprising, but then I started to hear about how much money people were willing to pay Flair for appearances, and I knew exactly why this move was made. To be able to get between 15-20,000 dollars for just showing up at an event or a wrestling show is something that no one would pass up, and I really can't blame Flair for wanting to sever the ties because of that. There is just one thing that I never want to see, and that's Ric Flair in the ring, as a wrestler. The way that his career ended at Wrestlemania 24 and then the next night on Raw was the right way to wrap it all up, and it would be a shame if he sullied that ending by stepping back into the ring as a competitor again, would it be okay for him to be a special referee or something like that? Most definitely. But please, Ric. Let it go, and keep those beautiful images from earlier this year intact. Now, I've heard that he and his representatives say that that's the plan, but as we have all come to know in this business, nothing's as it seems. I would love to see Ric do an appearance and a signing at an ROH show, just so I could personally thank him for all that he's done for the business, and how he made me into the wrestling fan that I am today. Nature Boy, enjoy the retirement and the easy money. Don't look back, and for god's sake, don't get back into the ring, even if TNA offers you a shitload of money. Resist and stay a legend. Otherwise, you risk tainting a spotless record.

4. The Continued Championship Run of CM Punk --- another week, and our boy still hasn't dropped the belt. If he still has it after the JBL match at Summerslam (which I might even watch), I'll be a happy guy. If not, I'll just take solace in the fact that he held the belt in the first place. By the way, wouldn't you have rather seen Punk-Jericho at the PPV? I know I would have. That could have been something really special, and you never know, it still might happen at some point.

5. UFC 87: Seek And Destroy Preview and Thoughts --- so, tonight the UFC comes back with a show that has three really good fights at the top of the card, with two of them having fight of the year potential, and one having a great side-show appeal to it. I'm really looking forward to the GSP-Fitch fight, as it puts the two hottest 170's into the cage to settle the question as to who is the best in the world. Fitch is riding an amazing 5+ year undefeated streak, and GSP is maybe the best fighter alive today, so you have to expect fireworks. This match truly is like what Gorilla Monsoon used to say, "The irresistible force meeting the immovable object", and we all get to sit back and enjoy it. In addition to this amazing fight, we also get the Roger Huerta- Kenny Florian 155 pound war, which I think will steal the show, and will become the 2008 UFC Fight of the Year. Both of these fighters are in top shape and at the top of their game, and it has all the potential to be a great set up fight for the #1 contenders hip for BJ Penn's Lightweight Title, and I would really love to see either of these guys get in the cage with Penn. On top of all that goodness, we still have the second fight for former WWE wrester Brock Lesnar, as he faces Heath Herring, a fighter that I never thought lived up to his potential. I would love to see Brock win this one, as I've been a big fan of his since his collegiate wrestling days at the University of Minnesota (yes, if you look hard enough for it on cable, you can actually find collegiate wrestling), and I hope he doesn't make a stupid mistake like he made in his UFC debut against Frank Mir. I'm really pulling for Brock tonight. So, without any more delay, here are my predictions for the card. GSP over Fitch in a 3rd round TKO, Huerta over Florian by majority decision, and Lesnar over Herring by a first round TKO.

Well, that's it for this week. I'll be back in two with my thoughts on the UFC show and all things wrestling, as well as a bad attitude, due in part to the start of the high school football season, and the temporary end of my social life until it ends. . And on that note, I'll take my leave. If you liked what I had to say or not, feel free to let me know what you think. Email me at [e-mail]. Have a great two weeks, and I'll catch you next time.


ROH Preview: ROH returns to Cleveland, OH—August 15th, 2008

Cleveland Gray's Armory
8:00 pm belltime
1234 Bolivar Road
Cleveland, OH 44115

ROH World Title Match
Nigel McGuinness defends vs. El Generico

Generico is usually the underdog in his matches, but that's when his will to win increases. If Nigel doesn't take Generico seriously and let's Generico build up some momentum on offense, it could be all over for his title run. Generico's Yakuza kick is one of the more consistently impressive crowd popping moves and while one is usually devastating enough, if he chains two or three together in this match, Nigel's concussion injuries of the past won't even compare to how he'll feel in Cleveland. The possibility that Kevin Steen could make his presence known before or during the match is there as well. So even though this match certainly seems on paper as an easy win for McGuinness, this is anything but.

Grudge Match
Austin Aries vs. ROH World Tag Team Champion Tyler Black

Aries and Black have tangled paths in the past, but that was before Aries declared war on Age of the Fall and vice versa. The speed and aggression of this match should be picked up a notch now that this is about a grudge and a reason to hate instead of a reason to show who's the best man in the ring. And Aries should remember that Jacobs is hiding out somewhere in the back and could come running out here for his revenge.

FIP World Heavyweight Title Match
Erick Stevens defends vs. Claudio Castagnoli

The FIP Title seems refreshed again under new ownership. Stevens is going to have to prove that he can keep the title around his waist for the long haul. Getting past a newly embittered and hostile Castagnoli could be a big problem. Castagnoli may be past any boundaries or restrictions in behavior…and that will work against Stevens if this becomes a wild and out of control brawl style match. Usually he would be favored in that style of contest, but not against Castagnoli right now. Stevens will have to use his power moves and capitalize on Claudio possibly being distracted or losing his temper in order to win the match.

Grudge Tag Team Match
Roderick Strong & Brent Albright vs. Go Shiozaki & Chris Hero with Larry Sweeney

Strong and Albright teaming up has a good ring to it…and since Strong looked out for Albright during the NWA Title match last weekend I'd expect Albright to return the favor here. Shiozaki and Hero is a very cool combination for Sweet & Sour Inc blending the knock out power of both men. Adam Pearce could be an x-factor here in the wake of losing to Albright, but I expect Strong and Albright to have the chops (and suplexes…and backbreakers) necessary to deal with that sort of trouble.

Special Attraction
Bryan Danielson vs. Kenny King

King is being tested in a big way this upcoming weekend, sort of the way ROH used to do with their "Do or Die" specials. I'd think there should have been a more main event worthy match for Danielson on the card, but this one could also surprise given Danielson's immense talents and King's athletic ability. He has impressed in the limited action he's seen so far in ROH and has long been a mainstay in FIP, so best of luck to him in this one.

Rematch From Virginia
Delirious vs. Rhett Titus

The saga of Delirious, Titus and Daizee continues here. Delirious won their first match but anything could happen in this one. Where Haze's head is at is anyone's guess but for that matter, no one ever seems to know where Delirious is at! Titus could take advantage of Delirious's vulnerabilities, that of the heart and the mind, and manipulate his way to victory here.

Special Challenge Match
Kevin Steen vs. Jigsaw

The momentum is in Steen's favor after huge tag and singles wins in the past few weeks. Jigsaw hasn't come up with much in the way of wins, but he has the athletic ability to string together some great offense. The Jig n Tonic is enough to put opponents away, but is he powerful enough to execute it against someone Steen's size?

Also signed to appear: ROH World Tag Team Champion Jimmy Jacobs; Adam Pearce with Larry Sweeney; Jay Briscoe; plus many more to be added!!!



Going Home

Honor System: following what's naughty and what's not in ROH:

Honorable
|
emancipation from someone else's orders.
|
winning the big title when it counts.
|
chanting Ole!

|
using the "its not you, its me" line to decline a date.
|
putting an image of a girl on the back of your tights, and then knowing that the thrust is a must…well, nevermind.
|
attacking a man in the eye when you know it is his weak spot
|
Dishonorable



Ringtones

Eric is looking to fantasy book the Aries vs. Age storyline and has some comparisons to Spider-Man 3 as well:

Hey man, love the Column and ROH. I wish I could have followed it more, but can't afford it. I do love this Age/Aries thing going on and in a weird moment, it all clicked with me. This just came to one day and I just had to write it down before I forgot it. If they wanted, they could pull ideas from Spiderman 3. Jacobs would be Harry, Aries would be Peter, Lacey would be MJ, and the Fall would be Venom and Sandman. Of course, I've been out of the loop for a while, so it might already be over, but I thought I'd send this your way anyway. This is a little long.

The following would be played out over several months. Jacobs gets pissed enough to the point where he challenges Aries for Lacey.

Jacobs vs. Aries. A match that is all about the story, with both men putting it all on the line to prove that they love Lacey more. Great match until Aries makes Jacobs pass out to the Horns. After the match, Jacobs reluctantly shakes Aries hand. Tyler Black gets pissed and says Jacobs has gone soft and the AOTF proceed to kick his ass. Tyler turns and nails Aries with the microphone and says "This is all your fault!", beat down, Age stand tall (Jacobs-less) .

Over the next few shows, The Fall take this time to beat down Aries and Lacey whenever they can, while Jacobs gets extremely depressed and starts "no-showing" events and walking out on matches.

Aries is fighting the Fall until he finally gets a match with Black. Great match until the Fall runs in and Black wins. Beatdown, Lacey runs down and shields Aries, but they grab her and kidnap her. Aries is left in the ring bloody and beaten.

Aries gets a tag match with Necro and Matthews, but Black says he can only have one partner, Jacobs.

The day of the event: Backstage Jacobs is sitting alone in a dark room (maybe drinking if he's that kind of guy) and Aries tries to get him out there. (Think the end of S3 when Peter is trying to get Harry to fight Venom and Sandman) Jacobs refuses and Aries is going to go it alone.

The set up: somewhere high above the ring, the Fall has Lacey tied up. (I actually have two scenarios here, one dangerous, one not so much. One: she could just standing up there with them or Dangerous: She could be tied and hanging high above the floor (similar to MJ in S3) Black: "If you don't win this Aries, then we DROP her. There is a reason we're called the Age of the Fall."

Matthews/Necro vs. Aries. Aries puts up a hell of a fight, but can't fight the odds. He looks like he's going to lose but keeps kicking out. Hopefully the crowd would be chanting for Jacobs and he walks out. Everytime Aries kicks out, Jacobs gets a little closer, as he realizes that Aries actually cares for her and wont let himself lose. He gets all the way to the apron, but looks Aries in the eye and turns away. Lacey screams and Jacobs can't turn away from that. He goes back to the apron, gets the tag and goes wild on the Fall (similar to the save Harry made). He basically squashes them and pins Matthews.

Tyler says they both proved a lot, but proved they were fighting for nothing. This is where the two scenarios thing becomes tricky. In the dangerous version, Black drops her to the floor, but BJ Whitmer catches her at the last second. Of course this is extremely dangerous and unless they're positive they can pull it off and Lacey and Whitmer are okay with it, then they should not do this. Because the easy way is she's standing up there next to Black and he pulls a knife on her and Whitmer makes the save up there. I only proposed the dangerous way because this'll never happen and it incorporates the "Fall" theme.

But anyway the point is that BJ Whitmer returns and saves Lacey and they both fight the Fall on route to the ring. They clear the Fall out of the ring and all that's left is Aries, Lacey, Jacobs and Whitmer. Aries/Lacey reunite (in a romantic way) as do Whitmer/Jacobs (in a manly way). They say they're going to end the Age of the Fall.

Next few weeks is combinations of singles and tags with the Fall leading, but not totally jobbing out the faces. Aries makes the ultimate challenge: 4 on 4. Cage Warfare, Wargames style. The Age accept.

This should be at an important event, Final Battle would be ideal.

Black/Necro/Matthews/Rain vs. Aries/Jacobs/Whitmer/Lacey. This of course would be a badass bloodfest of a match and ends with Jacobs making Black tap. Jacobs and Lacey are face to face and Jacobs finally lets her go. She hugs him and tells him she'll never forget him. Jacobs has closure. He shakes Aries hand like a man and finally gets over this emo shit. Says he and Whitmer can be champions again, if BJ is interested. BJ is and they all raise their hands and celebrate with the crowd.

The Age is dead, but Black can still be pushed, BJ and Jacobs win the tag belts, Aries wins the World Title and he and Lacey are happy together.

Too silly?

Well, I certainly see where you're going with the analogy to Spider-Man 3, where the one man you'd never thought you'd see help Peter was the guy who hated him so much. I think variations of that sort of plot have actually occurred several times in wrestling and in ROH. Colt Cabana and Homicide partnered up a year after their blood feud to take on common enemies. Aries and Strong actually stood next to each other to block Nigel McGuinness from leaving and dishonoring the ROH World Title at the Sixth Anniversary Show. Shawn Michaels and Triple H reunited Degeneration-X after years of feuding against each other when they both had common enemies. So while it's not exactly like what you described, there's definitely precedent for this sort of event to occur.

You may have read and caught up about the Aries-Lacey-Jacobs storyline to realize that we're probably too far into the storyline right now to go with what you're suggesting. The Fall is crumbling around Jacobs. Black may still kick Jacobs out of the group and restart it in his image, but I doubt it. As to your scenario, it would take an awful big sacrifice on the part of Jacob's character to give up on the first love of his life…which is always the hardest to give up as it is. While it would certainly continue to show Jacobs evolving and "maturing" as a character going from boyhood to manhood, it would take at least a year from right now to get him to that point.

There's also the trouble of the "fall" stunt, which I don't really feel easy with…and while Jacobs has pulled out his spike from the staff during matches, I don't think anyone has ever pulled out a "knife" in ROH and that would be perhaps a bit over the line for a wrestling angle…although then again, this is the place where Homicide attempted to pour "Drain-O" down Cabana's throat, so maybe not.

The storyline reads well and has a clear beginning, middle and an end that allows a lot of the characters to go forward, so it could have worked with some editing and fidgeting around. I do think maybe one day we'll see BJ Whitmer and Jimmy Jacobs reunited as a tag team, but not until perhaps 2009.


The Independent Buy In

2008

**CHIKARA "Cibernetico & Robin" (Torneo Cibernetico: Kings of Wrestling vs. Dorado's Luchadores, The Olsen Twins / Cheech & Cloudy, Quackenbush / Donst, The Colony / BLK OUT ) High Recommendation
**CHIKARA "Brusied" (Kingston / Donst, Campeones de Parejas: F.I.S.T. vs. Incoherence / Castagnoli / Taylor, The Colony / Brodie Lee & Olsen Twins, Cheech & Cloudy / Osirian Portal ) High Recommendation
**Pro Wrestling NOAH "Special Budokan Double Shot"7/15 & 9/9/07 (Determination League Semi Finals & Finals, NTV Cup Finals)High Recommendation
**PWG Battle of Los Angeles Night 1 (Castagnoli / Williams, Evans / Pac, Black / Shelley, Aries / Strong, PWG Tag Titles: Generico & Steen / Dragon Kid & Susumu Yokosuka)Medium Recommendation
**PWG Battle of Los Angeles Night 2 (CIMA / Tornado, Steen / Butcher, McGuinness / Richards, Kid / Yokosuka) Low Recommendation
**PWG Battle of Los Angeles Night 3 (the entire show) High Recommendation
**Shimmer Volume 11 (Sarah Stock / MsChif, Sarah Stock / Cheerleader Melissa, Sara Del Rey / Cindy Rogers, Nikki Roxx / Lacey, Daizee Haze / Malia Hosaka, Allison Danger / Hosaka)High Recommendation
**SHIMMER Volume 12 (Del Rey / Lacey, Del Rey / Sarah Stock, Haze / Lacey, Portuguese Princess Ariel / Josie / Nikki Roxx / Portia Perez, Melissa & MsChif / Lexie Fyfe & Hosaka)High Recommendation
**SHIMMER Women's Athletes Volume 13 (Melissa / Portuguese Princess Ariel, "Dark Angel" Sarah Stock / Daizee Haze, Portia Perez / MsChif, Del Rey & Roxx vs. Rain & Lacey, O'Neal vs. Melissa) Medium Recommendation
**SHIMMER Women's Athletes Volume 14 (SHIMMER Title: Del Rey / Lacey, Nikki Roxx / Amazing Kong, Two out of Three falls: Allison Danger / Cindy Rogers, Portuguese Princess Ariel / Amber O'Neal) Medium Recommendation
**CHIKARA The Battle of Who Could Care Less (Incoherence & Tim Donst / BLK OUT, Claudio Castagnoli & Equinox / Hero & Hawke, Lince Dorado & Pantera / Olsen Twins, Quackenbush & The Colony / F.I.S.T. / Osirian Portal) High Recommendation
**CHIKARA The Sordid Perils of Everyday Existence (Campeones de Parejas: Incoherence / Cheech & Cloudy, Lucha de Apresta: Chris Hero / Equinox, F.I.S.T., Ellis, Ryder / Quack / Donst / Super Smash Bros.) Medium Recommendation
**CHIKARA Chapter 11 (Hallowicked / Kingston, Colony / Super Smash Brothers & Shane Storm, Tex-Arkana Title Match: Alvarez / Sweeney, Quack, Trik Davis & Helios / Shayne Hawke & The Osirian Portal, MIYAWAKI, Hasegawa & Pantera / Cheech & Cloudy & Delirious) High Recommendation
**SHIMMER Women's Athletes Volume 15 (SHIMMER Title: Sara Del Rey / Amazing Kong, Daizee Haze / Sara Stock, Cheerleader Melissa / Alexa Thatcher, Minnesota Home Wrecking Crew / Ariel & Josie, Sereena Deeb / Jetta) High Recommendation
**SHIMMER Women's Athletes Volume 16 (SHIMMER Title Two Out of Three Falls: Sara Del Rey / Sara Stock, Amazing Kong / Cheerleader Melissa, Daizee Haze MsChif & Eden Black / Lacey, Rain & Jetta, Portia Perez & Nicole Matthews / Ariel & Josie, Sereena Deeb / Jetta) High Recommendation
**CHIKARA Two Eyebrows Are Better Than One (Castagnoli, Lince Dorado & Ophidian / Quackenbush, Donst & Amasis, Kingston / Storm, Colony / F.I.S.T., Moravian Greyhound / Zombie Plantain / Hydra)Medium Recommendation
**CHIKARA King of Trios Night One (Colony / Go, Nakazawam Shimizu, Osirian Portal & Mecha Mummy / Quackenbush, Storm & Skayde, Cheech & Cloudy & M.C. KZ / Quackenbush, Storm & Skayde, Delirious, Hallowicked & Helios / The Cartel) High Recommendation
**CHIKARA King of Trios Night Two (Player Uno, Stupified & El Generico / Cannon & North Star Express, Lince, Pantera & Incognito / Los Ice Creams & Glacier, Sweet & Sour Inc. / F.I.S.T. & Taylor, Donst, Gulak & Sumner / Fabulous Three / ) Medium Recommendation
**CHIKARA King of Trios Night Three (KOT Quarter, Semi Finals & Finals, Tag Team Gauntlet) High Recommendation
**CHIKARA Deuces Wild (NWA Jr. Heavyweight Title: Mike Quackenbush / El Pantera, UltraMantis Black / Tim Donst, Young Lions Cup: Helios / Lince Dorado, Colony / Osirian Portal, Robbie Ellis / Ice Cream Jr.) Medium Recommendation
**CHIKARA Passion and Persistence (Brodie Lee / Claudio Castagnoli, Campeones de Parejas: Incoherence / F.I.S.T., Quackenbush, Shane Storm, Cheech & Cloudy / Mitch Ryder & Shayne Hawke, Larry Sweeney & Robbie Ellis, Hydra / Chuck Taylor)High Recommendation
**CHIKARA Grit & Glory (Castagnoli, Sonjay Dutt & Pantera / Quackenbush, Jorge Rivera & Turbo, Campeones de Parejas: Incoherence / Osirian Portal, Storm / Kingston, Vin Gerard/ Lince Dorado, Colony / Fabulous Three, Hydra & Tim Donst / Super Smash Brothers, Gran Akuma / PSYCHO, Daizee Haze & Chuck Taylor / Sara Del Ray & Bobby Dempsey)High Recommendation
**CHIKARA AniversarioMA (Atomicos Increibles: Mike Quackenbush, Cheech, Stupified & Worker Ant / Cloudy, Player Uno, Soldier Ant & Shane Storm, Brodie Lee, Mitch Ryder & Shayne Hawke / Incoherence & Claudio Castagnoli, Chuck Taylor & Gran Akuma / Turbo & Lince Dorado, El Pantera vs. Jorge Rivera , Osirian Portal / 2.0) Medium Recommendation
**CHIKARA AniversarioCT (Osirian Portal / Shane Storm & Mike Quackenbush, Super Smash Bros. / Cheech & Cloudy, Hydra & Tim Donst / Los Ice Creams, F.I.S.T. / The Colony, Brodie Lee / Claudio Castagnoli) High Recommendation
**FIP Cage of Pain II (Cage of Pain II, Roderick Strong/Larry Sweeney, Delirious & Hallowicked & Jigsaw/BxB Hulk & YAMATO & Jack Evans, Erick Stevens/Necro Butcher) High Recommendation
**FIP Redefined (Erick Stevens/Roderick Strong in their best encounter in FIP or ROH, Austin Aries/Davey Richards, Nigel McGuinness/Necro Butcher, Shawn Murphey/Heartbreak Express, Sal Rinauro/Tyler Black) High Recommendation
**CZW Deja Vu 3 (No Rope Barbed Wire Match: JC Bailey/Necro Butcher, El Generico/Super Dragon, B-Boy/Nate Webb, Ruckus & Mike Quackenbush/Kings of Wrestling) High Recommendation
**SHIMMER Volume 17 (Sara Del Rey & Allison Danger / MsChif & Cheerleader Melissa, Lacey / Sara Stock, Mercedes Martinez / Wesna Busic, Amazing Kong / Ariel, Daizee Haze / Cindy Rogers) High Recommendation
**SHIMMER Volume 18 (Amazing Kong / Wesna Busic, SHIMMER Title: Sara Del Rey / MsChif, Cheerleader Melissa / Sara Stock, Mercedes Martinez / Cindy Rogers, Minnesota Home Wrecking Crew / Ashley Lane & Nevaeh) High Recommendation

This section needs your help! If you want to recommend some good independent wrestling to your fellow internet readers out there, drop me a line for the column.


Get With the pROHgram:

Now Available: ROH Battle for Supremacy: McGuinness and Pearce fight title-for-title while Roderick Strong looks to start his grudge against Sweet & Sour Inc. by fighting Chris Hero.

Right Now ROH Fan Appreciation Sale: Get 30-35 % Off ROH and non-ROH merchandise this weekend.

August 16th, 2008—Chicago Ridge, IL: Roderick Strong attempts to run through the Sweet & Sour Gauntlet in an attempt to get his hands on Larry Sweeney.

September 20th, 2008—Philadelphia, PA: ROH presents Glory By Honor VII, with apparently some "huge" deal being negotiated for that show (my guess would be McGuinness vs. Marufuji for the ROH World Title).


ROH @ 411

411's Buy or Sell has Mike Bauer and Jarrod Westerfield looking at ROH's expansion, CHIKARA news and Claudio's heel turn.

Jarrod also has some of his own thoughts about this past weekend's show in the Hammerstein in his Scripted Through Sin.

Mike Campbell goes retro-FIP back to 2005 for the first Unfinished Business, which FIP apparently never finished because they have this show annually now.


Honor Bound Links

Yours Truly can be found guest starring in this week's The Cool Kids Table Podcast discussing the Hammerstein show, ROH in Japan, ECW, the WWE's Communist strategy and more.

Speaking of, Samuel Berman of TCKT has an awesome, awesome, awesome, AWESOME, follow up to a column he wrote for 411 called Wrestling With the Inevitable. He manages to connect tightly personal life with wrestling storylines and for my money does it perfectly.

Bayani met The Rock for eight seconds and managed to write an Odyssey length story about it. Geez dude, I got to see 50 Cent for like ten seconds and you didn't see me writing a column about it. Oh. Wait.

Michael Weyer has his ultimate DVD list in this week's Shining A Spotlight.

411 Alumni Iago Ali dropped a line to note that he is in development of a play based on professional wrestling. Here is how he describes it:

I've worked on a bunch of different plays over the last few years, and my newest piece is about professional wrestling. And it's not a Ready to Rumble/No Hold Barred kinda thing--it's a play that looks beyond kayfabe and explores some of the behind-the-scenes politics in a major (fictional) wrestling organization. The main characters are loosely based on Vince McMahon and The Rock, and the lead is a company man kind of figure whose job it is to make the big stars look good. The play's about (and I'm serious here) world politics, the United States' unique approach to cultural insensitivity, wrestling stereotypes, economic power--and, of course, wrestling. And it's funny, if I do say so myself. It's called The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity.

Anyway, the play is going to have a public reading next weekend in Chicago at a pretty major theater (the Victory Gardens Theater) as part of their IGNITION Festival of new plays (more info here: http://victorygardens.org/content/node/690).


So wraps up another huge week here at the Column. I hope every enjoyed the extended weekend reading. Next week I'll be back with results from Cleveland, a preview of the show in Chicago Ridge and the first of two special feature countdown lists.

BROOKLYN! DA EM BAH SEE!
--Ari--