Column of Honor: 09.06.08: Fall 2008 Preview

Posted by Ari Berenstein on 09.06.2008

BREAKING NEWS on Kensuke Sasaki winning the GHC Heavyweight Title, plus an extensive look at ROH's Fall 2008 season including the events you need to see and the wrestlers you need to know! Plus...it's time to play the HONOR FEUD!

Welcome to the Column everyone! Its an action packed week so let's get to it!



Ring Toss

-BREAKING NEWS: Sasaki Wins GHC Heavyweight Title
-ROH Fall 2008 Preview: The Shows / The Questions / The Wrestlers
-ROH Call
-ROH News
-My Fave Five
-The Honor Feud
-Honorarium
-Ringtones
-Independent Buy In
-ROH @ 411
-Honor Bound Links

BREAKING NEWS: Kensuke Sasaki defeats Takeshi Morishima for GHC Heavyweight Title

Green Destiny has the latest results from the 9/6/08 "Shiny Navigation" show that took place in the Tokyo Nippon Budokan. The main event saw a title change as Kensuke Sasaki unseated Takeshi Morishima to become the 13th GHC Heavyweight Champion. Sasaki defeated Morishima with a Northern Lights Bomb at 22:02 to take the title from Morishima, who rumors were swirling about that he would be heading to WWE as part of an agreement between the two companies. Morishima had two dark matches at WWE two weeks ago, but news that a reported deal between the two had fallen through due to Vince McMahon and several agents not thinking too much of Morishima's ability to connect with the crowd and his physique. Sasaki made history with this win, becoming the only man to hold the IWGP, GHC and Triple Crown Heavyweight Titles, the trifecta of major titles in Japanese wrestling history.

Now that Morishima had lost the title, those rumors of his signing with the WWE may pick up again…or this could just be NOAH tipping their cap to that information while trying to do something new with their title picture. Morishima without the title and not signing with WWE does open up the possibility of a long awaited match for ROH fans: the final, feud ending rematch between Takeshi Morishima and Bryan Danielson.
Fall and Winter 2007 held several amazing matches between the two as both were able to convince the fans through their actions that they outright wanted to maul the other. The feud began with a title match where Danielson's orbital bone was injured. In the second match, Morishima promised he wouldn't attack the injured eye but blatantly broke that promise. Danielson sought retribution in the rematch at Glory By Honor VI Night 2, repeatedly stomping Morishima in the balls as retribution. Morishima returned the favor at Rising Above. A fifth and final match, which many were thinking could be contested under Fight Without Honor rules, never took place because Morishima won the GHC Heavyweight Title. It wouldn't be becoming of Morishima, as a young first time champion, to fight and likely lose to Danielson at that point in time. Now, the circumstances would be entirely different.

Kensuke Sasaki is currently scheduled for two appearances on ROH events, one in Japan and one in America. He will fight Roderick Strong in Japan and Claudio Castagnoli on September 20th for Glory By Honor VII. No word on if these matches are likely to become GHC Title fights.


Fall Preview 2008

As Summer gives way to Fall, things remain hot and heavy within the world of professional wrestling that is Ring of Honor. Rivalries are set to culminate, debuts in new towns are in the works and championships will no doubt be decided in the coming months. Here is what you need to know about the next three months in ROH. I'll cover the shows you need to know about, the questions still burning in the minds of the fans and the wrestlers you need to watch in the next three months. Here is ROH's Fall 2008 season:

The Shows

September 13th, 2008—Tokyo, Japan:
ROH World Tag Team Title Match (if Jacobs & Black lose the tag titles on 8/1 another stipulation will be announced for this match): Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black defend vs. Jay & Mark Briscoe, (Non-Title) ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness vs. Bryan Danielson, Roderick Strong vs. Davey Richards with Larry Sweeney, Dragon Gate Rules Six Man Match: Naruki Doi, Masato Yoshino & BxB Hulk vs. El Generico, Dragon Kid & SHINGO, Austin Aries vs. Ryo Saito, Eddie Edwards vs. Yamato

What To Look For:
This is the second tour of Japan for Ring of Honor. They like to bring the "authentic" ROH experience, which means including a selection of wrestlers who don't normally do tours for NOAH, referees and ring announcers, and the ring and stage set up. The show videotaped very well at the Differ Ariake last year and with Samurai TV producing again this time around the results should be similar. ROH is looking to give the fans in Japan a mix of ROH vs. Japanese talent and "classic" ROH rivalries from the past year. The undercard matches on this first show are an example of the former while the main event matches are an example of the latter. McGuinness and Danielson have never had a bad match against each other and I think they'll look to continue their match of the year worthy efforts. Meanwhile The Briscoes and The Age of the Fall go at it and for the first time in a while their rivalry feels fresh again thanks to The Briscoes promo from the video wire where they demonstrated what they would do to AotF with guns and tin cans. The Dragon Gate six-man brings a little bit of homebrewed goodness to the Japanese public and likely another worthy watch for fans who purchase the DVDs.


September 14th, 2008—Tokyo, Japan:
ROH World Title Match: Nigel McGuinness defends vs. Jimmy Jacobs, GHC Jr. Heavyweight Title Match: Yoshinobu Kanemaru defends vs. Bryan Danielson, Naomichi Marufuji & Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. KENTA & Kota Ibushi, Kensuke Sasaki vs. Roderick Strong, Austin Aries vs. Tyler Black, Jay & Mark Briscoe vs. Takeshi Morishima & Davey Richards, Taiji Ishimori vs. El Generico, Eddie Edwards vs. Kazushi Miyamoto

What To Look For:
The first real chance for Jacobs to become ROH World Champion occurs on foreign soil. McGuinness has run through a number of challengers, but he has yet to face someone with the cunning of Jacobs. Or the backup, as Age of the Fall may seek to take their opportunity here with the numbers game. Ultimately McGuinness may be outheeled here and lose the championship—which for the fans would mean the title would just go to a worse devil than before. The title change is at least a possibility considering ROH has never done a title change in Japan before and the temptation of doing something historical, on the two-hundredth show no less, could be too much to resist. Speaking of title changes, the GHC Junior Title is a possibility to be changed here as Danielson is now a long-time fixture for NOAH and would have no problem making appearances in the near future to defend the title. The ROH vs. Puro talent matches here are a step above the earlier night's efforts. Sasaki vs. Strong is a chop and suplex guy vs. a chop and backbreaker guy, and will likely make the fans in Tokyo go wild with the brutality of the back and forth strikes. Ishimori vs. Generico is just bound to impress with speed and impact being their centerpiece. The highlight for the Japanese crowd and a likely show stealer will be the tag match of Marufuji & Nakajima vs. KENTA & Kota Ibushi. This is going to be an example of what is considered the tag team action that is taking place today in Japan. The fans there eat it up, and so too do the rest of the fans who manage to find them.


September 19th, 2008—Boston, Massachusetts: Pay Per View Taping
ROH World Title Match: McGuinness/Jacobs 9/14 Winner defends vs. Roderick Strong, World Tag Team Title Match: Briscoes/Age of the Fall 9/13 Winner defends vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico, Three Way Elimination Match: Bryan Danielson vs. Claudio Castagnoli vs. FIP World Heavyweight Champion Go Shiozaki

Also scheduled to appear: ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness; ROH World Tag Team Champions Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black; Erick Stevens; NWA World Heavyweight Champion Brent Albright; Austin Aries; Jerry Lynn; Sweet & Sour Inc. of Chris Hero, Adam Pearce, Sara Del Rey, Shane Hagadorn, Eddie Edwards, Bobby Dempsey with Larry Sweeney; Jay & Mark Briscoe; The Necro Butcher; Delirious; Daizee Haze; plus more will be added!!!

What To Look For:
Only three matches have been signed and announced for the ninth Pay Per View taping, but they are all important matches that will help to shape the short term future of ROH in the Fall and longer term direction of ROH's PPV showcases. Danielson will have his best chance to catch up to McGuinness and the champion's edict that Danielson must defeat everyone he had already defeated on PPV in order to win a title shot. This show is also Steen & Generico's best chance to win the ROH World Tag Team Titles and likely they will do so here. Strong will have another opportunity for a title shot and he always provides great efforts in these situations. Expect appearances on Pay Per View from Jerry Lynn, Austin Aries and as announced on a recent newswire, the Young, Rich and Ready for Action will make their PPV debuts on this show.


September 20th, 2008—Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Glory By Honor VII
Steel Cage Warfare: The Briscoes & Austin Aries vs. The Age of the Fall of Jimmy Jacobs, Tyler Black, & Delirious vs. The Necro Butcher, ROH World Title Rematch (if McGuinness is still champion): Nigel McGuinness defends vs. El Generico, Kensuke Sasaki vs. Claudio Castagnoli, Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Bryan Danielson, NWA World Heavyweight Title Rematch (if Albright is still champion): Brent Albright defends vs. Adam Pearce with Larry Sweeney, Kenny King vs. Jerry Lynn, FIP World Heavyweight Champion Go Shiozaki will defend the title vs. To Be Announced

What To Look For:
ROH is running the seventh annual Glory By Honor at the New Alhambra (formerly ECW Arena) due to the Philadelphia Armory mobilizing troops on that date. GBH is known for having some awesome matches take place (Joe vs. Low Ki (I); Danielson vs. Gibson (IV); Danielson vs. KENTA (VI night 2) ). Some major decisions could be made in the Age of the Fall saga. I feel this Steel Cage Warfare match will give momentum to one side or another and likely for good. The focus on the card is the Japanese talent making appearances. Sasaki and Castagnoli is a very interesting match and if their styles can mesh we could be looking at a fondly remembered match…or it could be a mess of epic proportions. Nakajima vs. Danielson is another dream match scenario that ROH fans knowledgeable in Puro have wanted to see happen. El Generico has been known for the upset win. Some were very surprised when he won the PWG Title back in 2006, but he served very well as a defending champion for that company. Who would have thought he'd be in a position to do the same with ROH? Note: the show starts a bit late, an 8p.m. bell time, in order to accommodate Velocity Pro Wrestling, which is running a matinee show at the same location at 2:30 p.m.


October 10th, 2008—Coral Springs, Florida: Survival of the Fittest 2008
Survival of the Fittest 2008
Winners of six singles matches will advance to a final elimination match
-Austin Aries
-ROH World Tag Team Champion Tyler Black
-FIP World Heavyweight Champion Erick Stevens
-Kevin Steen
-El Generico
-Jerry Lynn
-The Necro Butcher
-Davey Richards
Plus more to be announced in upcoming weeks!!!

What To Look For:
The annual tournament looks to elevate a wrestler into the upper echelon. The winner received a "money in the bank" opportunity of sorts—a future ROH World Title shot. This year's tournament will feature none of the previous years' winner, thus guaranteeing a brand new champion. It's a very strong field thus far, with basically anyone likely to win the whole thing. The "B" story of this tournament has been Aries's attempts to win the whole thing—he is usually the bridesmaid and never the bride. I'd also expect a ROH World Title match here unless McGuinness or whoever is the current champion is entered into the tournament. This show marks a debut in the territory usually run by its sister company FIP. It's a smart move to debut in an area that has already had some seed planting.


October 11th, 2008—Orlando, Florida:
A Rivalry Renewed: Jay & Mark Briscoe vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico, Tyler Black vs. Jerry Lynn

What To Look For:
It will be interesting to see how well ROH draw in Orlando now that they are not piggy-backing off of Wrestlemania. Will they be able to draw the local fans back to the show, or did they rely too much on those travelling to see WWE? If either one of The Briscoes or Steenerico has the tag titles, look out, because the intensity will be upped a notch. Black vs. Lynn is an interesting match in that it puts new school vs. old "new f'n show" school. Black is on the rise in ROH and a win against a well-respected veteran like Lynn would go a great distance in putting him over the top.


October 24th, 2008—Hartford, Connecticut: Motor City Machine Guns in action
What To Look For: The Machine Guns will likely be put up against a top tag team or in marquee singles matches to help sell tickets. Hartford has received a mix of B show and major shows over the last year, with the latest show back in June being the biggest in terms of relevance to ROH with the tag team title tournament for the vacant straps. Fan attendance is below the ROH average for other venues, so its hard to determine what kinds of matches will make its way to this show right now.


October 25th, 2008—Edison, New Jersey: Motor City Machine Guns in action
What To Look For: The likelihood is that the Machine Guns will receive a tag title shot here. Edison also tends to have really interesting ROH World Title matches booked here, where there is more than a possibility of there being a title switch. Edison has some rowdy and unpredictable fans, which is sometimes very good for the show and other times will negatively impact the DVD presentation. Which New Jersey crowd will show up this time around?


November 7th, 2008—Montreal, Quebec Canada Debut:
What To Look For: ROH's second major ROH debut in the Great White North and it will be an important one. Montreal and Kevin Steen go together like Kevin Steen and Tim Horton's, so expect a rabid crowd of canuckers and ROH putting together a really good show for a very important crowd. Steen could walk into his hometown a champion, or emerge from it a NEW champion, depending on the outcome of the Boston PPV taping and where he is booked on the card here. And Kevin, I kid, I kid.


November 8th, 2008—Markham, Ontario:
What To Look For: ROH returns to the Toronto area, looking to make this a major stop on their tour circuit. I expect continued focus on Kevin Steen and El Generico as well as continuing to build up Danielson and Tyler Black as marquee attractions for that area.


November 21st, 2008—Dayton, Ohio:
What To Look For: This is Kevin Steen's deadline to win an ROH World Title. He's either going to come into this show "the man" or as someone who can't fulfill his promises.


November 22nd, 2008—Chicago Ridge, Illinois: Pay Per View Taping
What To Look For: It's a bit hard to look this far down into the future, especially considering most of the card for the previous PPV hasn't even been announced as yet. My guess is that this is where we could see the big Danielson vs. McGuinness title showdown, which could go a long way towards determining the future direction of ROH as it heads into 2009. If that's the case, Danielson is going to have the opportunity to stop McGuinness from breaking his very own fifteen month long streak as champion, second-best in ROH history. It would be a very personal encounter to say the least.


Five Questions About Ring of Honor's Fall Season

1. Will Kevin Steen live up to his vow to win an ROH championship by November 21st 2008?
In 2006, Homicide laid down a personal ultimatum—he would either become a champion Ring of Honor by the end of the year, or he would leave the company. Homicide would eventually fulfill his vow by winning the ROH World Title at Final Battle 2006. Two years later, Steen has made a similar vow. While he hasn't outright stated he would leave ROH if he didn't win a title, you can bet he still feels the same sort of pressure to live up to his promise, to himself and to the ROH fans who support him. Steen's best chance to win a title comes on September 19th, 2008 in the tag title match against Age of the Fall which will be taped for PPV. Steen & Generico came very close to defeating that very team during the tag title tournament, but fell short due to injuries. This time around it looks like they will come into the match relatively fresh and ready for action. If Steen doesn't win a title there, it's a bit cloudy as to when he could fit in for another ROH title shot, be it World singles or World Tag Team. It would give him about two months to work back into contention for either shot. In that situation, chances wouldn't be good for Steen doing what he set out to do.

2. Whose side is Necro Butcher on?
It will be three on three on one at the Steel Cage Warfare match, pitting allies Austin Aries and The Briscoes up against the terrorizing trio of Jimmy Jacobs, Tyler Black and Delirious, against… The Necro Butcher. Necro had been loyal previously to Age of the Fall, but a series of unfortunate accidents culminated at Death Before Dishonor VI where Aries engineered Necro Butcher's defection from that group. Aries was playing mind games with Jacobs and in doing so, set Necro free to be his own man. That would be the point of this match then—Necro is very much his own man here. He is no longer with The Age of the Fall, but neither does he side with Aries and The Briscoes. It's clear that Necro is on one side only—his own side. He doesn't fight for Jacobs' cause and he certainly is no friend of Austin Aries. He fights for himself now. At Steel Cage Warfare, the odds may be stacked against him, but Necro will fight until he can no longer fight anymore. And if he wins…what a moral victory that will be!

3. Will Daizee Haze save Delirious?
Daizee Haze may have made the biggest mistake of her career when she told Delirious they should just remain friends. Now she and Ring of Honor are worse for wear because of it. Delirious has sunk into the darkness and his own personal madness. Haze needs to save Delirious from that madness, if not for ROH's sake then for her own conscience. How she can exactly do that remains a big mystery. Can she "talk" or communicate with him to explain the misunderstandings which drove him off the edge of sanity? Will it take a hug…or a "kiss that doesn't miss"? Haze may try, but success is not guaranteed in this endeavor.

4. Could Nigel McGuinness drop the ROH World Title… to El Generico?
While Steen & Generico fight the night before for the tag straps, Generico's major title opportunity occurs the next night at Glory By Honor VII. McGuinness has outlasted all of his challengers, including El Generico, but it can't be denied that the luchadore gave the champ a clear run for his money. This time McGuinness may not be able to make it past Generico's resolve to win and the offensive firepower in his arsenal to back it up. A title change would be a massive upset, but in a way it would be an example of the best of what ROH has to offer. Even better, it would put Kevin Steen in an interesting conundrum…would he continue to work with El Generico to win the tag straps, or would he choose to fight his own tag partner for the right to be called the best wrestler in ROH?

5. Will Sweet & Sour Incorporated add onto their corporate portfolio?
Larry Sweeney may have had a short term setback when Adam Pearce lost the NWA Heavyweight Title to Brent Albright, but his agency went right back to work and with the help of Heartbreak Enterprises in FIP, The Inc's own Go Shiozaki won the FIP Heavyweight Title. Davey Richards, a recent signee to Sweet & Sour incorporated will be coming back to wrestle in the states, adding even more firepower to The Inc. Sweeney's plans to take over Ring of Honor and grab all the talent available will continue in the Fall, and there are certainly some hot prospects out there. Kenny King is looking to go long term, so a merger with the YRR is certainly a good option to look into. Sweeney has been looking to recruit the Briscoes but in lieu of them he could certainly look to steal away Jigsaw and Ruckus from J-Train with the promise of helping them fulfill their potential. In addition to adding new talent, Sweeney is going to continue to make trouble for Brent Albright in an attempt to help Pearce win back the NWA title. Sweeney and his company are going to be continued thorns in the side of the honorable members of the ROH locker room for some time to come.


Wrestlers to Watch

Bryan Danielson: Dragon is wrestling in marquee match after marquee match this Fall. He is THE guy to look at if you want to see some of the best wrestling matches around this season. Danielson should also receive his much awaited rematch for the ROH World Title somewhere before the end of the year.

Motor City Machine Guns: The NYC crowd began to turn on them a bit but I think that's only because they decided they liked Steen & Generico a bit more than Shelley & Sabin at that particular time. Against a heel team I'd say the Machine Guns will be cheered vociferously. How ROH books these guys for these shows will determine how the fans react to them in future semi-regular appearances.

Adam Pearce: Pearce and Albright had a tremendous match in New York City so the rematch in Philadelphia should be right up there. Pearce is a heel's heel and knows what he has to do in order to win the NWA Title again: whatever it takes.

The Briscoes: Not only have the next title opportunity, but will reignite their rivalry with Steen & Generico later on in the fall. Or…how about that rubber match against the Machine Guns?

Kensuke Sasaki and Katsuhiko Nakajima: It will be exciting for the ROH crowd in Philadelphia to see these guys wrestle live and in person. Sasaki walking in as GHC champion should up the crowd reaction even more.

Taijii Ishimori: Lightening fast strikes will hopefully get ishimori on the radar for trips to America.

KENTA & Kota Ibushi Popular during their U.S. appearances, KENTA and Kota team up in Japan and it looks to be awesome.

Davey Richards: What has Richards picked up from his stay in Japan? After a several months absence, he will get right back into the thick of things by reigniting the feud against his former partner Roderick Strong.

Tyler Black: A likely winner for Survival of the Fittest and maybe the next ROH World Champion.

Jerry Lynn: Lynn will provide some terrific wrestling matches and help to elevate some of the younger talent in the process.



ROH Call

ROH Champions—As of 09/06/2008

ROH World Champion—Nigel McGuinness (champion since 10/06/07, 25 successful defenses)
-defeated Takeshi Morishima in Edison, New Jersey to win the championship.

Next Defense: vs. Jimmy Jacobs, Tokyo, Japan, 09/14/08

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)
V.25 defeated El Generico, London Dungeon (08/15/08, Cleveland, OH )

**

ROH World Tag Team Champions—The Age of the Fall (champions since 06/06/08, 2 successful defenses)
-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: Go Shiozaki (since 08/23/2008) * NEW CHAMPION
-defeated Erick Stevens via pinfall with help from the Heartbreak Enterprises to win the title.
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
-Austin Aries vs. Jimmy Jacobs vs. Necro Butcher
-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 as a part of AotF


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

ROH Debut in Nashville, TN Announced

Ring of Honor will debut in Nashville, TN on Saturday, December 6, 2008. The event will take place at Vanderbilt University Memorial Gym, 2601 Jess Neely Drive, Nashville, TN 37212.

Tickets go on sale Friday, September 12th at 10am EST at www.rohwrestling.com.

After reports a few weeks earlier that ROH was looking to expand to Nashville, confirmation of a show comes from ROH. This is another example of the continued expansion of ROH into new cities which has been very successful throughout the year.


Florida Cards Begin to Fill Up

Florida is a destination point for wrestling fans on the Oct. 10th-12th weekend. Fans will get to see three great shows from two promotions and travel the Florida territory with this tripleshot. 10/10 will be "Survival Of The Fittest" in Coral Springs. Davey Richards and The Necro Butcher have just been added to the tournament, which will feature six single matches with the winners advancing to an elimination match main event. 10/11 will see ROH return to Orlando, FL to show everyone how it's done. Tyler Black vs. Jerry Lynn has just been signed for Orlando!!! Then on 10/12 you can experience FIP live at its homebase of Crystal River, FL.

Lynn, as mentioned before is going to be a regular in ROH for the forseeable future and also fight Kenny king in Philly during Glory By Honor VII. I'm glad to see him appear in these matches as they are definitely something different and fresh for ROH as we enter the fall.


SHINGO Still Gets His Name in Caps in Column of Honor

Ring Of Honor is getting ready to kick off a huge Fall season with four huge shows in one week. It all starts in Tokyo, Japan when ROH presents two cards at Differ Ariake on consecutive nights. The lineup for the first night has been completely announced as the mystery partner for the six man tag is former ROH World Tag Team Champion Shingo. The bout will pit El Generico, Dragon Kid & Shingo vs. BxB Hulk, Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino.

Since his departure from ROH last year to return to Japan, SHINGO has become quite the major deal for Dragon Gate. He is the current Open the Dragon Gate Champion and appearing on this card is a definite help to drawing DG fans from Japan to this show. Many fans, including myself, predicted that SHINGO would fill in the blank for this match, but sometimes predictability is a good thing. SHINGO and the rest of the wrestlers in this match will definitely create some good moments in the ring.


"The Wrestler" to feature ROH…and Springsteen!

The movie "The Wrestler" by Darren Aronofsky starring Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood is set to make its premiere at film festivals in Venice and Toronto this weekend. "The Wrestler" features a lot of ROH footage and many of your favorite ROH stars. Bruce Springsteen has written the closing song for the movie. For more information check out thewrestlermovie.com.

The movie has received some very positive press and Mickey Rourke in particular has been praised for his acting. Since the movie uses ROH wrestlers and the ROH ring and scenery, if this movie gets any traction at all and becomes a sleeper hit, then ROH is definitely looking to benefit in terms of increased exposure, if just by proxy.

WWE Gives It A Go

Lastly, Go Shiozaki did in fact have a try out earlier this week for WWE. Initially a false rumor was reported that Shiozaki would be trying out with WWE, but then it actually did come to pass thanks to Harley Race's connections with NOAH. Sometimes truth is stranger than net fiction…




1. Shawn Michaels : Sometimes I think about what would have happened had Shawn not returned at all in 2002… I definitely believe we the fans would have been worse off for it. The injury scare this week has me hoping HBK will continue to stick around for the foreseeable future, but it makes me thankful we at least had this much more time to watch him in the ring.
2. CM Punk: WWE seems to have more and more confidence in Punk and his abilities both in and out of the ring. He may not be the main event every week on Raw, but he has progressed on the totem pole so much even over the last several months as champion. Going word for word against Orton on the stick this past week is proof that Punk definitely has the ball in this title run.
3. WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009: Okay, technically not a wrestler, but I'm really liking what I'm seeing in the preview videos off of ign.com. I'm especially into the create-a-finisher: there is some seriously awesome things you can do with it. I can't wait to get started creating moves and you can even assign them some names ROH fans will be very familiar with, starting with "package piledriver". Nice.
4. TNA Impact ! Video Game: If I'm going to talk about one I may as well talk about the other. We're getting various and conflicting reviews about this game. Some reports say this is extremely limited in terms of roster and in game options, that it only supports four wrestlers on the screen at once and etc. However, regardless of its faults (and some of them may indeed be inexcusable for a wrestling video game in 2008), this is a video game where you'll actually be able to play as Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, The Motor City Machine Guns and so on without actually having to create them.
5. Brock Lesnar: Its awesome to know that Randy Couture is back in the UFC and fans will be able to see him fight once again. He is no doubt one of the best in the world whether or not he ever gets to fight Fedor Emalienko. However, it was Couture's opponent Brock Lesnar who stole the show at the press conference when he went on a profanity laced, highly funny tirade about how the press was asking too much about Fedor when he wasn't even under contract, and not enough about the fight that is going to take place. You tell em, Brock.


Honor Feud

When looking to spread the consumer awareness of the Ring of Honor wrestling product, ROH executives booked an appearance on a special celebrity edition of Family Feud! This was initially thought to be a coup for the independent company that could, but little did they know that this taping would end up in misunderstanding, chaos, insanity and utter fiasco. Luckily, we were able to steal the master tapes of this particular recording session and transcribe it to you loyal Column of Honor readers. And so, I present to you…


It's time to PLAY THE HONOR FAMILY FEUD!



Host: Welcome everyone to a special wrestling celebrity edition of Family Feud! Two teams of five are ready to strive to survive our survey based game show! Let's meet our players!

Team number one, they are the Sweeney Family of Sweet & Sour Incorporated! Captained by "Sweet & Sour" Larry Sweeney.



Team number two, they are the Jacobs Family of The Age of the Fall! Captained by Jimmy Jacobs!



Okay, let's talk to our captain. Let's go over to the right, where we have a lovely and plush game desk filled with wine and sushi as specifically requested by one "Sweet & Sour" Larry Sweeney! Larry, how are you doing?

Larry Sweeney: BEAUTIFUL BABY, beautiful. Yeah! Sweet & Sour Incorporated is ready to takeover and kick some family butt! YEAH!

Host: Great, tell us who your friends are here.

Larry Sweeney: You got it Mister Richard Dawson lookalike. See right here to my right right here, here is my top signee of Sweet and Sour Inc., the man of the hour, the man with the power, that young knock out kid Chris Hero! And next to him…yeahthat'sBobbyDempsey…and of course we have the brilliant, the loquacious, the effervescent Mister Adam Pearce and he's joined by his personal manservant, the genius in training Shane Hagadorn!

Host: Well, welcome to the game boys, good luck. Let's go to the other side of our studio to meet their opponents. Now it's a bit dark over on this side and well the décor is certainly unique and one of a kind, as specifically requested by the team captain of The Age of the Fall, Jimmy Jacobs. How are you doing tonight Jimmy?

Jimmy Jacobs: That's none of your damned business.

Host: Well, sorry I asked. Well, can you tell the studio audience about your teammates?

Jimmy Jacobs: Certainly. You see, my revolution is joined by a man who is my brother, my equal and together we will fight on this show tonight to show your audience just why their lives are so feeble and so meaningless that they have to watch a game show to escape from the morass that is their boring, pathetic lives. Tyler Black is here, as is the unpredictable and inconsolable rage of the man known as Delirious. We're joined by the beautiful and loyal Allison Wonderland, and a man who has risen past the handicaps of life, Zack Gowen. Together we will crush the opposition, win this game and spread our message all across TV land.

Host: I see, well, hopefully that message comes in the form of an answer to our surveys! Now, enough of the introductions, it's time to play the feud!

Round One: ( Larry Sweeney struts and preens to the center podium meanwhile Jimmy Jacobs intensely strides there as well, squeeb brilliantly flowing in mid-air.)

Gentlemen, the Top Six answers are on the board, We surveyed one hundred people and asked them this question: What would you do for a Klondike Bar?

<<<<<< BRRRRRRING!
Larry Sweeney: I'd sign it to a lucrative contract!

[X]

Jimmy Jacobs: I'd stab someone in the eye with my spike!

DING!

# 6 answer: Assault

Host: Pass or play Jimmy?

Jimmy Jacobs: I'm going to pass onto these pathetic slaves to capitalism! They will fail and fall into our revolution!

To Chris Hero, What would you do for a Klondike Bar?

Chris Hero: I'd run a marathon.

DING!

# 3 answer: Marathon / Physical Activity

Host: To Bobby Dempsey, What would you do for a Klondike Bar?

Bobby Dempsey: Klondike Bar? Where? Can I have one! I'd do anything for one!

DING!

Host: Anything is correct—that's our number one answer!

(The crowd explodes in chants of BOB-BY DEMP-SEY! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP CLAP CLAP!)

Larry Sweeney: That's it Bobby you know what to do!

(Bobby crawls under the podium in shame.)

Host: To Adam Pearce, What would you do for a Klondike Bar?

Adam Pearce: well, let me tell you, what would I do for a Klondike bar. I would push over my grandmother for a Klondike Bar, because I'm just that kind of guy.

Host: Can we see push over grandmother?

DING!

Host: # 5 answer. To Shane Hagadorn, What would you do for a Klondike Bar?

Shane Hagadorn: I agree with my mentor Adam Pearce!

Host: Um, you want to have the same answer as him?

Shane Hagadorn: Yes, yes I do! Show me push over grandmother!

[XX]

Host: Sorry Shane, since that answer is already up there it counts as a strike against you. Sweet and Sour has two strikes so Age of the Fall, confer over there, get ready because if Larry Sweeney gets this wrong you can try to steal the question. Larry Sweeney, we need another answer from you.

Larry Sweeney: I'd do lunch with one of those vulgarians or disgustos in the crowd.

Host: Does survey say: Do lunch?

[XXX]

Host: No I'm sorry that's not up there. Age of the Fall I'm coming to you and Jimmy Jacobs you have a chance to steal. What is your answer? What would you do for a Klondike Bar?

Jimmy Jacobs: I'll tell you exactly what I'd do---nothing! Why? Because Klondike Bars don't save! NOTHING SAVES!

Delirious: Good Anzah! Good Anzah!

Um….okay…I guess that's acceptable…judges? Okay.... Show me "Nothing!"

[X]

Sweet & Sour Incorporated gets the win and the points for the round! Let's see what else was on the board:

DING! # 2 "Sell my soul"
DING! # 4 "Rob someone"

Round Two: (Chris Hero confidently comes to the podium in his track jacket and headband. Tyler Black, dripping wet hair and all, comes to meet him for this second round.)

Host: Gentlemen, the top eight answers are on the board, We surveyed one hundred people and asked them this question: What is the root of all evil?

<<<<<< BRRRRRRING!
Tyler Black: GREED! The one commonality of all of YOU people in this unjust society!

DING!

Host: # 3 answer. Hero, your turn, the root of all evil…

Chris Hero: Bobby Dempsey!

Host: Bobby Dempsey?

Chris Hero: Bobby Dempsey!

[X]

Host: Tyler Black, pass or play?

Tyler Black: We'll play this round. We'll play by your rules and your system so that we can bring about change from the inside!

Host: Um…okay…I guess we go on To Delirious, What is the root of all evil?

Delirious: BAHBAHBAHBAHBAHBAHABAH!

Host: Excuse me?

Delirious: BAH BAHHHHH, BAHBAHBAHBAHBAHBAHABAH!

Jimmy Jacobs: You heard him!

Host: Um… okay…show meeeeee..whatever that guy said!

DING!

Host: I can't believe it but, that's correct! # 4 answer: insanity! To Allison Wonderland, What is the root of all evil?

Allison Wonderland: HATE! As we hate all of those who seek to oppress The Age of the Fall!

Host: Do we have …hate?

DING!

Host: # 2 answer. To Zach Gowen, What is the root of all evil?

Zach Gowen: Prejudice! As you all are when you look at me, a one legged man in professional wrestling!

DING!

Host:# 5 answer! Age of the Fall is on a roll here, let's see if team captain Jimmy Jacobs can keep it going. Jimmy, What is the root of all evil?

Jimmy Jacobs: LOVE! Love doesn't save! NOTHING SAVES!

Tyler Black: Good Answer, Good Answer!

Host: Survey Says!!!!! Love?

[X]

Host: That's one strike, Tyler, it's to you.

Tyler Black: Lust! As all of you lust for others' worldly material possessions!

DING!

Host: To Delirious, What is the root of all evil?

Delirious: BAHBAHBAHBAHBAHBAHABAH!

DING!

Host: That's correct! # 6 answer: jealousy! Back to Allison, there are two answers left on that board, can you give us one of them.

Allison: I…I ….

Host: Five seconds.

[XX]

Host: Oooo sorry Allison but that's two strikes. Sweet & Sour Inc. get ready to steal as we go to young Zach Gowen.

Zach Gowen: Temptation!

DING!

Host: # 8 answer! Just one left, Jimmy you're down with two strikes, can you tell me the root of all evil?

Jimmy Jacobs: LACEY! Lacey is the root of all evil!

[XXX]

Host: That's three strikes and we head over to Sweet & Sour Incorporated for the steal. Sweeney is conferring with his stable. Sweeney, do you have an answer for the root of all evil?

Larry Sweeney: MONEY! AHHHAHAHHAHAHAH!

Host: …Is it Money?

DING!

Host: Number one answer! Sweet & Sour steal the round and take a commanding lead!

Larry Sweeney: Yeah BABY! Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!


Round Three: (The point values have TRIPLED and this could decide the game. Here comes Bobby Dempsey, meekly inching his way over to his desk and on the other side we get Delirious…doing laps around the set until he comes back to the podium. He is crouched down with his hand over the buzzer and he is not moving!)

Host: …I guess we should get on with it then. Point values have TRIPLED and the top four answers are on the board, We surveyed one hundred people and asked them this question: Name a Great American.

<<<<<< BRRRRRRING!

Bobby Dempsey: Chef Boyardee?

[X]

Larry Sweeney: Dammit Bobby!

Delirious: BAHBAHBAHBAHBAHBAHABAH!

DING!

Host: George Washington is our number one answer!

Larry Sweeney: WHAT! How do you know he even said that?

Host: Delirious, pass or play?

Delirious: BAHBAHBAHBAHBAHBAHABAH!

Host: Okay, Age of the Fall will play the round. So we go back to Allison Wonderland. Allison, Name a Great American.

Allison Wonderland: Lewis Carroll.

[X]

Host: Nope. To Zach, Name a Great American.

Zach Gowen: Hulk Hogan!

Host: Survey says…

[XX]

Host: Sweet & Sour, get ready to steal. It's down to Jimmy Jacobs. Jimmy, Name a Great American.

Jimmy Jacobs: I AM A GREAT AMERICAN! I LEAD A REVOLUTION! I AM

[XXX]

Host: That's three strikes and so we move to Sweet & Sour Inc. for the possible steal and the game. Larry Sweeney, Name a Great American.

Larry Sweeney: Donald Trump!

Host: If it's Trump, you will get the steal and the win. Does survey say Donald Trump?

[X]

Host: No…it's the game and the points to Age of the Fall. We have a tie game! That means both teams will receive money for the charity of their choice.

Larry Sweeney: What! We're playing for charity? This is an outrage! I'll sue; I'll go to City Hall! I'll…

Host: That's all the time we have folks! Be sure to join us for more Honor Feud next time! So long, everybody!

(Many thanks to J.D. Dunn for the team picture images.)


Honorarium

-True admission fellow ROH fans. I was actually supposed to go to the TNA house show at the Manhattan Center this weekend. A friend of mine purchased tickets for me for my birthday and while I felt conflicted being an ROH fan attending a TNA show in what is realistically "ROH Country" , the guy wanted to have a good a time and enjoy himself with a bunch of friends, so okay, no problem. I'll go. Only…problem. As most people know by now, there was a whole fiasco with Ticketmaster and my friend ultimately had his tickets refunded. He felt it was too much trouble to deal with purchasing tickets again. So TNA has lost at least four ticket sales because of their trouble.

-No My Two Cents from Chris this week as he begins a very busy football coaching season (GO HORNETS!). M2C will appear from time to time when he's available. I'm also rotating a few features starting this week and introducing a new reader interactive feature next week, so stay tuned for that.


Going Home


Ringtones

Luke is in to debate the merits of Ring of Honor over the last two years. Here' what he has to say:
Just read your latest column.

I have to say, I'm really unhappy with ROH to the point where I'm in the verge of- if I haven't already- ceasing buying their dvds. Per my tastes and expectations, the company went into a tailspin beginning somewhere around October of 2006 and really haven't recovered. The booking continues to be increasingly micromanaged, the wrestling itself is perpetually being dumbed down and also- apparently- micromanaged (like most WWE matches).

I haven't seen the most recent shows, PPVs aside- the Sixth Anniversary Show being the most recent for me. I found it a HUGE disappointment. The Danielson-McGuinness main event was quite possibly the biggest letdown of potential I've yet witnessed in a pro wrestling ring.

And- to be honest- I feel ROH owes me a hand written thank you note for the McGuinness-Hero cage match NOT being the first every ROH match I watched. If it had been, I would've never spent the money I have on them.


My initial response via email:

Of course you're entitled to your opinion and I remember you sending me previous emails expressing your likes and dislikes of ROH, so its certainly not as if you're being negative just to be negative. I think ROH booking perhaps has peaked from the highest of the highs that were 2005-2006. However, I believe that so long as there as effective wrestling stories being told that don't insult my intelligence and good to very good wrestling matches on the shows, that ROH deserved my money and my attention. That is what began my fandom for ROH, because I couldn't say that much for WWE back in 2002-2003 and I certainly can't say that given TNA's last two years. Nowadays WWE has pulled out of its tail spin (2005-2006 coincidentally being the nadir of its quality) and has effective stories that usually don't insult the intelligence and solid matches on TV and sometimes very excellent matches on PPV. As for ROH, here have obviously been some disappointing shows, matches that are below the expectations from previous years' efforts and certainly some plot holes in booking, but overall there is still a lot of what brought me to the product in the current era. I look back to this year and I think this may be one of the most heavy four star plus filled years worth of matches. I think ROH really showed its stuff during April for the Wrestlemania shows, then again in June with the Aries-Age of the Fall story and the Machine Guns appearances. Death Before Dishonor VI, was off the chain great. It looks like September will be another huge month and then likely Final Battle will resolve some of the current era's long term stories. Everything seems to be setting up nicely, but then again if you're not into this era's angles, maybe not.

I'm not sure what you mean by "dumbed down" considering ROH still has all the aspects and execution of the various forms of wrestling, be it technical, high flying / sporfests, and hardcore / brawling. Maybe Jack Evans isn't there to do 8000 degree rotation dives, but these guys aren't slacking off in that regard.

I also can't agree with you on your assessment of Danielson vs. McGuinness. I thought the match itself as well as the booking around it and the resulting reactions from the crowd were absolutely epic. Until the Four Way Elimination from DBD 6, that was tied for match of the year with Aries vs. McGuinness from Rising Above. I'm really stumped as to how this match was a disappointment. I certainly wasn't happy that McGuinness went heel at the time, but aside from that in the ring these two were right at their usual quality level.

As far as Hero vs. McGuinness, that cage match was really different from what you would expect in a cage match. It was more like Bret vs. Ownm from Summerslam in that the focus was in the escape and not in the brutality of a cage envronment. That match isn't going to work for everyone, I agree, and the repetition in the match wasn't the best in keeping people's interests. If that wasn't your cup of tea, I can see why.

Hopefully if ROH isn't giving you what you're interested in as a wrestling fan, then maybe you can find it elsewhere on the independent scene or back in the big two.


Luke wrote back with the following, extremely detailed explanation:
Thanks for the well thought-out response!

I guess something I should add- perhaps for greater understanding- is that the very first wrestling I saw that was NOT WWF or WCW on television was a crappy quality tape of All Japan Women's Pro Wrestling. Shortly after that I discovered All Japan (the male one) quite by accident- its a story not really worth relating. Suffice it to say by the time I started watching ROH, I had already had tons of 90s Japanese wrestling in my back pocket, so to speak. So when I judge something as good, that is sort of the mindset I'm locked into. Obviously, I can't expect everything to match up to the 90s Budoukan main events, because something like that may never happen again...

Now, don't get me wrong, there is a lot of American wrestling I love and have loved- quite a bit in ROH. I'm not even one of these annoying purist types that hates anything that isn't a Misawa-Kobashi match. I direct you to something like the famous Dragon Kid-Darkness Dragon mask-mask match, or more occidentally, the Ric Flair - Kerry Von Erich match that's on the most recent WWE Flair dvd. That match was booked entirely to piss off the Texan fans and make it look like Kerry was screwed- but it worked and it was a great match.

Anyway...

When I say "micromanage", what I mean is that ROH is moving further and further from the "lets let the boys show us what they can do in the ring" approach to the "ok, you're going to do this this this and this at this this this and this time ONLY". The perfect example is Chris Hero. He's been a cartoon character in ROH for so long there are legions of people who have no idea what he is capable of, whether its his 93 minute match against C.M. Punk in IWA or his history in CHIKARA or what he's been doing in NOAH lately.

When I say "dumbed down", I guess I could less cynically put it as "statistically streamlined"- that is to say, ROH is moving towards a more WWE in-ring approach where guys all have a strict, sparse, easily identifiable moveset, with the drama of the matches coming from- shall we say- external sources occasionally re-directed back into the match.

To whit: In the 6th Anniversary show match, the drama wasn't Nigel and Bryan going all out to beat each other, it was Bryan not being able to go at Nigel's head. It was the fans turning on Nigel as though that is of greater significance than Danielson trying to win the title back. There was all kinds of non-sport matters hammered out long before the match even started that- in my eyes- tied rather large anchors around it. And, to be frank, I was really rubbed the wrong way that they 95% repeated the DQ/restart stuff from Danielson-Homicide at Final Battle 2006. But more than anything, its just a matter of comparing it to their other ROH meetings. I thought the #1 contender's match they had at Driven (I believe) was an unbelievable match, and I enjoyed the hell out of their 2006 meetings- though oddly enough, and contrary to most, I found their match at Unified to NOT be the best of the series. Not that it was bad, of course.

But I digress.

I think, more than anything, my current (and hopefully temporary) distaste with ROH is that it just feels to much like a A Product. They like having their little play by play guy loudly proclaim "THIS IS WRESTLING AS A SPORT" at every opportunity, yet it feels less like guys genuinely competing for the gold and more like a dull game of solitaire- you can keep reshuffling the deck, but the game isn't going to change on its own. Point A to Point B to Point C, repeat. There's really no.... SPARK... to anything. Yet. Time, as always, will tell.

Mind you... there's hardly any spark to NOAH, either, but that's a whole other ramble.

First off, the origin of your wrestling fandom being All Japan makes sense, but it seems to have colored you with very high expectations. All Japan around the time frame you mentioned was at an absolute peak, and for those that watched it in the earlier 90's (not me) it's a high benchmark for what pro-wrestling was all about. ROH has shown that it can get to that point, but that it can't get to that point on every show. It will peak and valley with these dramatic moments and matches that become legendary often, but as I've said before even today's best baseball players can't hit one out of the park every time at bat. As far as Chris Hero, I think a style change was needed if they wanted to keep him heel, which they did. "Wacky" Chris Hero with flips and comedy was only going to be cheered more and more and while as a Hero fan a face turn out of that would have been awesome for me, its not what they wanted to do. You say its "dumbed down" but I think sometimes its "simpler is better" If this is what it takes to get fans to boo Hero and at the same time it helps to get fans away from expecting he do his shtick every time out, I say that's a good thing.

Rather than respond point by point to the rest of the email, let me get the rest of you in on this conversation: what do YOU think—has ROH become too "micromanaged" or "dumbed down"? Post your feedback in the comment section if you've got an opinion.


ROH @ 411

Chris Lansdell reviews ROH: Bloodstained Honor compilation.


Honor Bound Links

Bayani Domingo and Mike Campbell go heads up discussing CHIKARA and PWG in this week's 411 Buy or Sell.

The 411 Staff including myself get in their picks for WWE Unforgiven in the latest 411 Roundtable.

Bayani previewed this weekend's Dragon Gate LA Extreme Night showcase in this week's Truth B Told.

Michael Weyer concentrates on the moving and shaking going on between WWE and TNA in this week's Shining a Spotlight.

Fellow Brooklyn-ite Dan Torkel looks at Wrestlemania matches that never happened in this week's Brooklyn Brawlin.

Chris Lansdell makes sure to answer your questions in this week's Ask 411…but you stick with Kramer.


That will do it for another week…some top 10 lists are coming up in future editions of the column and our Money Players and T-Shirt Squad features will also be back soon. And is it too early to plug Final Column yet…? See everyone next week…stay safe and out of the storm.

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