411’s Buy or Sell 2.27.09: GHC and NWA Champions Coming to Ring of Honor, The First RoH TV Main Events This Weekend, Houston Get RoH PPV, More

Posted by Michael Bauer on 02.27.2009

This week, the 411 staff looks up, down, and around everything happening in Ring of Honor as ARI Berenstein battles John Gregory in Buy or Sell!

Welcome everyone to WEEK Ninety Seven of BUY or SELL. For those of you who haven't been with us since the beginning, here's the Reader's Digest version of what this column is all about. BUY or SELL is very much like 411's long-running Fact or Fiction column. The main difference is that BUY or SELL focuses on topics like the U.S. Independent scene, Lucha Libre, Japanese Wrestling and pretty much anything else that isn't mainstream wrestling, WWE and or TNA. This allows for these areas to get a bit more press and for you, our loyal readers, to learn even more about the sport of professional wrestling.


Week Ninety Seven's Match-Up:

One of the lucky people like me getting to see KENTA, Quack, and D-Lo Brown at Hammerstein- ARI Berenstein!
vs.
Much like Byers and Berman, he is still hanging around- John Gregory !

Prince Nana's impending announcement to send shockwaves down RoH will end up not living up to the hype.

ARI Berenstein : SELL. Call me crazy, but I think there are some very exciting possibilities for what can be done with Prince Nana's gig in ROH. He's been "trying to come back to work for ROH" for a while now, but ROH officials "have been having none of it" and throw him out every time. So perhaps he's found some sort of way around that…maybe being brought into Sweet & Sour Incorporated…or perhaps starting up a new version of The Embassy to force his way back in? Either way, what happens to Nana could be really fun and end up changing some dynamics within the company's storylines. Even more important is that this is a booking move that Adam Pearce can really make the grade on by doing something intriguing or shocking. However, don't forget Prince Nana is the same man who (in story) promised huge surprises for his Embassy and ended up delivering…the Weapons of Mask Destruction, marks one, two five, nine and seventy-kajillion.

John Gregory : BUY. I'm hoping I'm wrong but recent history says I'm not. ROH has not been good with delivering on "surprises" the last year or so, and even with Gabe's departure it continued. Take for instance, the last two Chicago PPVs, both times which had a mystery tag team partner that ended up being Ace Steel. The first time was fine, I was happy to see Ace back. But why either bother making it a surprise the second time? Just announce him, don't give our hopes up! Or how about who was going to be in Aries corner in the I Quit Match? It turned out to be no one. So forgive me if I'm a little pessimistic about Nana's huge announcement.

0 for 1.

Nigel McGuiness' first TV Main Event should have been set as a RoH World Title match.

ARI Berenstein : SELL. It's enough for Nigel to be introduced to a new, broader audience as THE champion of the company and give him the chance to show his wares in a non-title situation, thus putting over his in-ring work and his worthiness of being THE guy. Also, remember, a champion doesn't have to put the title on the line in every match. A champion puts up the title only against those who have earned the right to fight for it. Jay Briscoe is an original member of the ROH roster and is an excellent opponent for anyone. He certainly is very talented and will have a great match against Nigel. However, as a tag wrestler being forced to go at it in the singles division due to his brother's injury, he doesn't have enough "cache" to fight an ROH World Title match at this point, in either a kayfabe or non-kayfabe context. The new ROH TV series will obviously be doing its best to introduce the top contenders to the belt, working their way to new opportunities at the title. You can save Nigel's first on-screen20defense against someone who has worked a few times on television and has amassed enough on-screen wins to earn that title shot. Or, of course, Nigel McGuinness could end up losing his title this Friday in Danbury, CT in the four corner elimination match, and this non-title match is just the cover story so that fans don't expect the switch…but, probably not.

John Gregory : SELL. Why does it need to be? The TV tapings have been said to be like an ROH seminar, getting new fans to know the whole roster. Nigel facing Jay should be a damn fine match, introducing both guys to the larger audience who is unaware of the product. The belt doesn't need to be defended, because to a new audience it won't matter. When Nigel will defend the belt on TV, I'm sure it'll be further down the line, with more of a build and with a higher profile challenger

1 for 2.

Of the first three TV main events announced, Bryan Danielson vs. Austin Aries is the best matchup.

ARI Berenstein : BUY. It's a close one between this match and Jacobs vs. Black, of which I really have a lot of faith in delivering a hot bout for the first show. H owever, while Black is the new "golden child" (and rightfully so), he and Jacobs are just beginning their program. I don't expect this match to be the be-all and end-all of their bout. Danielson vs. Aries is being chosen specifically to show off the "ROH Style", as neither man currently has a beef with the other. This (hopefully and I believe it will be) an out and out wrestling match, man versus man and may the best man win. Danielson and Aries have proven over the last five years that they have the ability when paired together to create greatness in the ring. Their match will give new fans a real solid look at the quality of in-ring action that ROH has given its fans before and will give in the main event programs on the new TV series. Now the one worry is that Aries' new heel persona will reduce the "workrate" of the match, but I have faith in both of them to work in the heel tactics smoothly within the body of the match and also delivering the quality of wrestling we've seen in previous efforts. Every match in their rivalry has been worth watching, whether it's for the athleticism, the "chess game" that they play in the ring, or for the evolution of their in-ring styles. I don't expect it to change for this match, and that's what makes it the best of the first three main events that will be taped for the HDNet series.

John Gregory : BUY. A few months ago, I would have called this matchup overdone. Now, with Aries heel for the first time since 2005 and in a completely different mindset, it's made fresh again. How has the friendship between these two changed because of Aries changing? Can Dragon trust him? Will Jacobs, Black, Claudio, or Bison Smith get involved? Where does the winner fit into the World Title picture? It has all the signs of a great TV main event: guys who aren't necessarily feuding with each other, but their other storylines can all be advanced through this match. Plus, I'm sure these two will tear it up for TV.

2 for 3.

SWITCH~!

The money used to sign Ric Flair to a signing appearances contract could have been better put to use in other areas of ROH.

John Gregory : BUY. Reports say that the talent who re-signed their deals were unhappy that they got a small, if any, pay raise. That'd be understandable considering the economy, but when you pay Flair up the ass just to appear, you can make your talent angry. With a company on the brink of a mainstream breakthrough, you need your locker room happy and your top stars wanting to stick around. Whatever benefit they get from Flair appearing is erased if this begins a mutiny.

ARI Berenstein : BUY. Look, I loved watching Ric Flair throughout his career and in hindsight I realize he has been one of my favorites almost since the day I first realized there were other wrestling promotions out there besides WWF (oh yes, brother, I was a massive Hulkamaniac brother as a child, brother). I even wrote a piece for 411 last year on Ric Flair and his participation in Wrestlemania. However, I have to admit my stomach cringed up when the deal to bring in Flair to ROH for a number of appearances was announced. I love Flair, but I think about the money being us ed for his appearance and just know that it could be, should be used elsewhere. ROH should always give back to their loyal members of the roster and right now, at the precipice of a television series emerging and several wrestlers' contracts coming due for resigning, that money should be going to suit those ends, not line the suit pockets of the Nature Boy. You need to keep the wrestlers happy and wanting to stay in ROH and make something of this new television deal. I want McGuinness and Danielson wrapped up and signed to contract extensions, and that money could have been used as signing bonus money for them or other wrestlers. Now I am uncertain this will happen, and that worries me. At the end of the day though, give ROH credit, they are going out there and taking a bit of a high risk for what could be a high reward. The name "Ric Flair" gets a massive amount of attention, and this signing could be coming at the right time for ROH to get its name out there to a larger audience, who will know who Ric Flair is and will likely pay attention to what he is doing.

3 for 4.

ROH bringing in Katsuhiko Nakajima and NWA Champion Blue Demon Jr. makes up for the loss of Dragon Gate wrestlers on the Wrestlemania weekend shows.

Editor's note: After this question was asked, KENTA was also added to this lineup.

John Gregory : BUY. As much as the Dragon Gate 6-man will be missed, the addition of these two with the expansion of the ROH roster will bring more than enough great wrestling for Houston. Lucha stars have not made much, if any, headway into ROH, and thus Blue Demon, Jr. provides all fresh matchups, a different style of wrestling, and maybe attract a few lucha fans to check out Ring of Honor. Nakajima is more experienced in ROH, but still there's plenty of competition he has yet to face (Richards, Nigel, Hero, even Paul London). I'd say that more than makes up for the loss of Dragon Gate guys.

ARI Berenstein : BUY. Initially this was a sell before the announcement of KENTA appearing on these shows as well. However, adding both Nakajima AND KENTA, plus perhaps more names from NOAH to be added later, changes the equation. I think NOAH / Kensuke Office wrestlers coming in, especially en masse, for these two shows, does make up for the lack of Dragon Gate wrestlers. I've really enjoyed watching Nakajima in action—his kicks are absolutely sick and his he has a quiet confidence and in-ring charisma about him even at a young age that makes him a compelling watch. I do not like the names from Lucha that ROH has announced as appearing on these shows (Incognito, Magno, Blue Demon Jr.) although getting THE names from C MLL or AAA like a Mistico was going to be an impossibility for the most part (both companies are extremely protective of their top stars and I believe AAA is running a U.S. tour around the same time). Blue Demon Jr. doesn't do anything for me. Losing at least six Dragon Gate wrestlers is a major (but not deadly by any means) blow to the annual Wrestlemania weekend shows, where every year the Dragon Gate wrestlers put out their best possible effort and created show stealing matches for ROH. CIMA and SHINGO especially, the two wrestlers who shined the brightest in ROH in their guest appearances from '05-'08, will be sorely missed. However, adding Nakajima AND KENTA to these shows goes a long way towards making it up to the fans.

4 for 5.

Holding a Pay Per View Taping on WrestleMania Weekend in an untested market is a huge mistake by Ring of Honor.

John Gregory : SELL. If this wasn't WrestleMania weekend, you'd be right. However, with the crowds normally attracted to WrestleMania, ROH has been able to pack places they haven't run in before (Orlando) or fill them well beyond their normal turnout (Chicago and Detroit). I'm sure Houston will be no different, and you'll get a hot crowd eager for ROH action. ROH has never been one to make stupid business decisions, and I'd bet that advance ticket sales had to be good for them to schedule a PPV in Houston.

ARI Berenstein : SELL. For one thing, this is Wrestlemania weekend, where ROH usually draws some of its largest crowds all year. I think ROH wouldn't have announced that one of their two shows during this weekend is going to be a Pay Per View taping if they didn't believe they had a strong enough advance to back up the thought process of giving Texas that kind of show. The crowd that comes for this weekend is going to be rabid for ROH action, especially considering it's the first swing in Texas in ROH history. The performers who would be busting their butt anyway that weekend because of the importance of the shows will kick up their efforts even more because it will be presented on Pay Per View. Besides, the last two Pay Per Views have=2 0taken place in Chicago, so it's just a great thing to get out of the standard and do something a little bit different as it regards to location. Although…getting back to my hometown of New York City to do the one afterwards would be nice too, hint hint, ROH.

5 for 6.


The Ninety Seventh edition of BUY or SELL finishes at 5 for 6! Stay tuned for next week when two new men will go head to head with a whole new set of topics.