NotoriousMEAT
TWITTER: @Son_Broku
Finally! The day that everyone (okay well at least me) has been waiting for. Ring of Honor returns to iPPV with Best in the World, live this afternoon from New York City. I've been excited for this show since the main event was revealed and haven't been disappointed by the card announcements since. Now I've heard some arguments that the under card doesn't deliver for what the title intends, but I think each match has it's story that if you just sit back and enjoy as a wrestling fan, can more then make up for some of it. Though I've gotta say, I really have a new appreciation for Roderick Strong. I've always respected his talents, but was never a big fan. But him not being on this card due to commitments in Japan kinda sucks. Anyways, here's my predictions for this card, and we're gonna work our way up.
Dark Match/DVD Exclusive: Generation Me vs. Adam Cole & Kyle O'Reilly
Not much to say for a dark match with no story behind it. Just a spot match that's sole purpose I imagine is to have the crowd hyped by the time the show starts. I predict the team of Cole & O'Reilly will win, with the Bravado's showing up after to attack them. Possibility that the Bravado's could cost them the match all together to go ahead and continue with the "Cole & O'Reilly haven't accomplished anything" argument. Could go either way.
Tommaso Ciampa vs. Colt Cabana
If I'm not mistaken, Ciampa is undefeated in ROH action. He's facing a man in Colt who's picked up a couple of big wins lately and has a TV Title shot in his very near future. Something's gotta give, and with it being 'Best in the World', I imagine they'll have Colt win to further build his cred towards a future title shot.
Street Fight: Homicide vs. Rhino
Homicide hasn't been very successful against members of The Embassy as of late, and now Nana has brought in Rhino to take on Homicide in a Street Fight, with the intentions of taking him out for good. I don't see Rhino joining the roster full time, and this will most likely be a one time appearance. They know he can pull off a hardcore match, and he's gotten some good reviews since returning to indy wrestling after his release from TNA. But with that said, I fully expect Homicide to pull out the victory.. and maybe even get his hands on Nana before it's all said and done.
Jay Lethal vs. Mike Bennett
I'm stoked Jay Lethal has returned to ROH, and I truly hope it's full time. I'm thinkin ROH has big plans for Mike Bennett, even if I'm still not buyin what he's sellin. Now even though a win over Bennett would start a full time return for Lethal off right, I'm thinkin he was more brought in to make Bennett look good and that he can beat someone other then middle aged men past their prime. With that said, let's head to the next match.
Steve Corino w/Jimmy Jacobs vs. Michael Elgin w/ Truth Martini
I've enjoyed Corino's road to redemption angle so far, and LOVE LOVE LOVE the return and involvement of Jimmy Jacobs. If they do indeed get Kevin Steen back involved, they could really have somethin big brewing. Career wise, Elgin needs this win more, but for this storyline to really pick up steam.. Corino needs to get a victory. How long can he convince himself that he's doing the right thing if he just keeps losing? I see a Steen run in leading to Elgin losing being a win-win for everyone. And that's how I predict it will go down.
ROH World Television Title Match: Christopher Daniels (C) vs. El Generico
Man I was really pullin for Colt to get his title shot on this night, but I can't complain about El Generico. We've finally reached the point in the card where the level of importance has UPPED in a big way. With the pressures and expectations of a new TV deal beginning, ROH has got to decide who they want leading them into the next chapter. While Daniel's reign hasn't been super long (in comparison's to Edwards') he has held the strap for 6 months, which is damn good. Also ROH has to consider Daniels involvement in TNA. ROH will be picking up more dates with this TV deal, and traveling to new markets on top of that. They may not want a man who's commitments are split to be holding a title that's required to be defended on every television/ppv broadcast. El Generico more then deserves a reign, and it may just be his time to claim the title. I see the House of Truth shaken from Elgin's loss and lacking Roderick Strong dropping a big goose egg on the night, and Daniels dropping the strap.
ROH World Tag Team Title Match: Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin (C) vs. The Kings of Wrestling vs. The Briscoes vs. The All Night Express
One word. Insanity. This match could and probably will be THE show stealer and is the perfect platform and set up to display what Tag Team wrestling can and should be. There are LOTS of dynamics in this match that could effect the outcome. We'll just list them by each team. Now WGTT aren't very long into their reign, however they're a great team to represent the division. Even though I think they've shed the idea of being WWE guys, are they the team that ROH want's to represent them into the next chapter? Kings of Wrestling, this might be the most controversial one. Almost everyone has heard that the KOW appeared at a week of WWE tapings and worked out. If it was a try out remains to be seen, but the speculation is there. I think losing the KOW would be a huge loss for ROH as not only are they a tremendous tag team, Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli as individuals are just as great, and potential World Champions in their own right. Putting the belts back on the Kings could be used to possibly keep them around a bit longer. Briscoe Brothers are simple. They ARE ROH Tag Team wrestling, and historically, could be the best team to represent ROH when they hit Sinclair stations. That leaves us with the All Night Express. Another amazing team, with two individuals who have loads of untapped potential. A HUGE title win here could show the young guys really do have a place and that anything can happen, and that anybody can win. This is the hardest one to call, but I'm gonna go ahead and say that Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team retain.
ROH World Title Match: Eddie Edwards (C) vs. Davey Richards
Finally, the main event. I don't have to talk about the history, but let's go over the outcomes. Let me just say, I don't see anyway in hell Eddie Edwards walks out the winner. Maybe the champion, but no way the clean winner. ROH has almost booked themselves into a corner just trying to put this dream match together. Eddie's reign is just under 100 days, and in ROH, that's very short. Short reigns have been forgettable reigns in most cases, and I don't think that's what they need for Eddie's career going further. Now Davey on the other hand, can they really have him lose? He's arguably the BEST wrestler on the roster, if not in the world. He's over with the fans as a worker, and a main eventer. They want him in that spot, and they want him to have the title. If he loses, he never challenges for the World Title again. That just can't happen. As much as I wanna just see Davey win and finally become champion, I think the best thing to do is have this thing go to an hour long draw. Eddie retains cred, Davey secures future title shot, and the plot thickens. The rematch would sell the next PPV by itself, and honestly.. this is what I predict will happen.
To recap this long post short, after thinking about it I really think these outcomes are the most likely.. but it's ROH, and anything can happen. Either way, I'm gonna sit back and enjoy. But I ask...
Who do you think is gonna win their respective matches?
Why should they or shouldn't they?
How will it effect ROH going into the future?
Enjoy and discuss.
Dark Match/DVD Exclusive: Generation Me vs. Adam Cole & Kyle O'Reilly
Not much to say for a dark match with no story behind it. Just a spot match that's sole purpose I imagine is to have the crowd hyped by the time the show starts. I predict the team of Cole & O'Reilly will win, with the Bravado's showing up after to attack them. Possibility that the Bravado's could cost them the match all together to go ahead and continue with the "Cole & O'Reilly haven't accomplished anything" argument. Could go either way.
Tommaso Ciampa vs. Colt Cabana
If I'm not mistaken, Ciampa is undefeated in ROH action. He's facing a man in Colt who's picked up a couple of big wins lately and has a TV Title shot in his very near future. Something's gotta give, and with it being 'Best in the World', I imagine they'll have Colt win to further build his cred towards a future title shot.
Street Fight: Homicide vs. Rhino
Homicide hasn't been very successful against members of The Embassy as of late, and now Nana has brought in Rhino to take on Homicide in a Street Fight, with the intentions of taking him out for good. I don't see Rhino joining the roster full time, and this will most likely be a one time appearance. They know he can pull off a hardcore match, and he's gotten some good reviews since returning to indy wrestling after his release from TNA. But with that said, I fully expect Homicide to pull out the victory.. and maybe even get his hands on Nana before it's all said and done.
Jay Lethal vs. Mike Bennett
I'm stoked Jay Lethal has returned to ROH, and I truly hope it's full time. I'm thinkin ROH has big plans for Mike Bennett, even if I'm still not buyin what he's sellin. Now even though a win over Bennett would start a full time return for Lethal off right, I'm thinkin he was more brought in to make Bennett look good and that he can beat someone other then middle aged men past their prime. With that said, let's head to the next match.
Steve Corino w/Jimmy Jacobs vs. Michael Elgin w/ Truth Martini
I've enjoyed Corino's road to redemption angle so far, and LOVE LOVE LOVE the return and involvement of Jimmy Jacobs. If they do indeed get Kevin Steen back involved, they could really have somethin big brewing. Career wise, Elgin needs this win more, but for this storyline to really pick up steam.. Corino needs to get a victory. How long can he convince himself that he's doing the right thing if he just keeps losing? I see a Steen run in leading to Elgin losing being a win-win for everyone. And that's how I predict it will go down.
ROH World Television Title Match: Christopher Daniels (C) vs. El Generico
Man I was really pullin for Colt to get his title shot on this night, but I can't complain about El Generico. We've finally reached the point in the card where the level of importance has UPPED in a big way. With the pressures and expectations of a new TV deal beginning, ROH has got to decide who they want leading them into the next chapter. While Daniel's reign hasn't been super long (in comparison's to Edwards') he has held the strap for 6 months, which is damn good. Also ROH has to consider Daniels involvement in TNA. ROH will be picking up more dates with this TV deal, and traveling to new markets on top of that. They may not want a man who's commitments are split to be holding a title that's required to be defended on every television/ppv broadcast. El Generico more then deserves a reign, and it may just be his time to claim the title. I see the House of Truth shaken from Elgin's loss and lacking Roderick Strong dropping a big goose egg on the night, and Daniels dropping the strap.
ROH World Tag Team Title Match: Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin (C) vs. The Kings of Wrestling vs. The Briscoes vs. The All Night Express
One word. Insanity. This match could and probably will be THE show stealer and is the perfect platform and set up to display what Tag Team wrestling can and should be. There are LOTS of dynamics in this match that could effect the outcome. We'll just list them by each team. Now WGTT aren't very long into their reign, however they're a great team to represent the division. Even though I think they've shed the idea of being WWE guys, are they the team that ROH want's to represent them into the next chapter? Kings of Wrestling, this might be the most controversial one. Almost everyone has heard that the KOW appeared at a week of WWE tapings and worked out. If it was a try out remains to be seen, but the speculation is there. I think losing the KOW would be a huge loss for ROH as not only are they a tremendous tag team, Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli as individuals are just as great, and potential World Champions in their own right. Putting the belts back on the Kings could be used to possibly keep them around a bit longer. Briscoe Brothers are simple. They ARE ROH Tag Team wrestling, and historically, could be the best team to represent ROH when they hit Sinclair stations. That leaves us with the All Night Express. Another amazing team, with two individuals who have loads of untapped potential. A HUGE title win here could show the young guys really do have a place and that anything can happen, and that anybody can win. This is the hardest one to call, but I'm gonna go ahead and say that Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team retain.
ROH World Title Match: Eddie Edwards (C) vs. Davey Richards
Finally, the main event. I don't have to talk about the history, but let's go over the outcomes. Let me just say, I don't see anyway in hell Eddie Edwards walks out the winner. Maybe the champion, but no way the clean winner. ROH has almost booked themselves into a corner just trying to put this dream match together. Eddie's reign is just under 100 days, and in ROH, that's very short. Short reigns have been forgettable reigns in most cases, and I don't think that's what they need for Eddie's career going further. Now Davey on the other hand, can they really have him lose? He's arguably the BEST wrestler on the roster, if not in the world. He's over with the fans as a worker, and a main eventer. They want him in that spot, and they want him to have the title. If he loses, he never challenges for the World Title again. That just can't happen. As much as I wanna just see Davey win and finally become champion, I think the best thing to do is have this thing go to an hour long draw. Eddie retains cred, Davey secures future title shot, and the plot thickens. The rematch would sell the next PPV by itself, and honestly.. this is what I predict will happen.
To recap this long post short, after thinking about it I really think these outcomes are the most likely.. but it's ROH, and anything can happen. Either way, I'm gonna sit back and enjoy. But I ask...
Who do you think is gonna win their respective matches?
Why should they or shouldn't they?
How will it effect ROH going into the future?
Enjoy and discuss.