The Bearded One
Love is not admissable evidence.
Ring of Honor returns to iPPV Friday night with Night One of Honor Takes Center Stage. Ring of Honor makes its Atlanta debut during the biggest wrestling weekend of the year and offer fans attending the sold out shows stacked cards. If you are unable to attend the shows live, you can watch both shows live on gofightlive.tv for $20 and if you enter rohworld into the promo code you have a chance of winning a signed poster by all the wrestlers on the card.
But lets take a closer look at each match.
ROH World Title Match
ROH World Champion Eddie Edwards defends vs World TV Champion Christopher Daniels
Eddie Edwards shocked the wrestling world March 19 at Manhattan Mayhem IV by defeating Roderick Strong to become the new ROH World Champion. The shocking win had the world talking and Edwards even trended on Twitter. Edwards winning the title is a moment everybody in attendance at the Manhattan Center will never forget. Edwards did not have much time to celebrate his victory, though, because Christopher Daniels had already been announced as the next person to challenge for the title. The Fallen Angel has had Edwards number since returning to the company nearly one year ago. Daniels has not lost to Edwards in three matches since his return. Daniels holds two victories over Edwards, with the second being for the World Television Title. The two faced off at the 9th Anniversary Show in a two out of three falls match. The match ended in a one to one draw after the time limit expired and Daniels was unable to continue due to injury. All of the matches these two have had over the past year have been tremendous and with the ROH World Title on the line, fans should expect another great match. Edwards is going to try and make this his first successful title defense of many, but Daniels hopes to finally win the one title that has been eluding him. The edge has to go to Daniels at the moment because of the history between the two, but Edwards wave of momentum may be too much for Daniels to overcome.
World Tag Team Title Match
The Kings of Wrestling (Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli) with Shane Hagadorn defend vs Wrestlings Greatest Tag Team (Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas)
This is the third meeting between these two teams since Benjamin and Haas made their Ring of Honor debuts at Glory by Honor IX in September against the Kings of Wrestling. The Kings reigned supreme in that match, but it came with the help of Heros lucky elbow pad. The teams once again faced off at SoCal Showdown II in January in a non-title match that was won by Wrestlings Greatest Tag Team. Benjamin and Haas defeated the Briscoes at the 9th Anniversary Show to become the number one contenders to the Kings belts. The win set up a grudge match between the two teams and the stakes could not be higher. The Kings have been on fire since winning the titles at The Big Bang in 2010 and are the longest reigning tag team champions in Ring of Honor history. Wrestlings Greatest Tag Team looks to dethrone the Kings on Night One of Honor Takes Center Stage and they have a great shot of ended the Kings of Wrestlings reign as champions.
Final Battle 2010 Rematch
Roderick Strong with Truth Martini vs Davey Richards
Most Ring of Honor fans thought the next time we saw this match would be for the World Title once again, but Richards American Wolves partner won the belt before that match could happen. Strong is looking to get back on track after his shocking title loss and a win here would put him right back into title contention. But it will not come easily because he is facing off against the man many consider the best wrestler in the world, Davey Richards. Richards is trying to learn about as many different wrestling styles as possible before challenging for the title for what may be his final chance. Richards knows Strong quite well and they have wrestled each other many times in the past, most recently at Final Battle 2010 when the World Title was on the line. Strong was able to pick up the victory then after Richards suffered a concussion. He will have his work cut out for him to make it two in a row as Richards has been on a major roll lately. There is no way of predicting who will win this, but it is almost guaranteed to be a Match of the Year candidate.
Tag Team Title Match
The Briscoes vs Adam Cole and Kyle OReilly
This is the biggest weekend of Adam Cole and Kyle OReillys young career. Cole and OReilly have been impressing Ring of Honor fans and executives alike with their exciting in ring performances. They picked up a huge win at Manhattan Mayhem IV by defeating the House of Truth. The two promising upstarts in Ring of Honor start the weekend out by facing the Briscoes, who appeared to have a change in attitude at Manhattan Mayhem IV. The Briscoes suffered another loss to the All Night Express, but beat them down after the match and appear to have a more aggressive attitude. Night One of Honor Takes Center Stage will be the first time they show their new mean streak off to the world and it comes at a bad time for Cole and OReilly. The Briscoes should pick up the win, but Cole and OReilly will not go down without a fight. This should be a fantastic and hard-hitting match.
Grudge Match
El Generico vs Michael Elgin
El Generico and Michael Elgin first faced each other at the 9th Anniversary Show and Elgin wowed the crowd with his strength and power, but Generico was ultimately able to get the victory after Truth Martini interference backfired. In this match, however, the House of Truth is banned from ringside. Elgin took Generico to the limit the last time these two wrestled, and it would not be surprising if the powerhouse picked up the win Friday. But Generico has shown time and time again that he is the most resilient wrestler in Ring of Honor. Another win over a wrestler as big and powerful as Elgin would be an impressive feat, but beating someone like Elgin twice in a row will be a difficult task. If their first match is any indication, this should be another very good match.
Women of Honor
Sara Del Rey and Serena Deeb vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto & Ayumi Kurihara
Sara Del Rey has been asking for more competition for women in Ring of Honor and people in charge have been answering her requests. Del Rey defeated MsChif as the 9th Anniversary Show in impressive fashion. Ring of Honor officials have booked Hiroyo Masumoto and Ayumi Kurihara from the S-Ovation promotion in Japan to make their debuts in the company Friday to try to answer Del Reys requests. Matsumoto and Kurihara are two of the best female wrestlers in the world and they are going to try an impress in their Ring of Honor debut. Del Rey teams with Serena Deeb, who she teamed with at Final Battle 2010 when they defeated Daizee Haze and Amazing Kong. Del Rey wanted a challenge and that is exactly what she gets at Honor Takes Center Stage.
The card looks great from top to bottom and should be an amazing night of action. The show is scheduled to start at 8 pm, which should be the start to the best wrestling weekend of the year.
But lets take a closer look at each match.
ROH World Title Match
ROH World Champion Eddie Edwards defends vs World TV Champion Christopher Daniels
Eddie Edwards shocked the wrestling world March 19 at Manhattan Mayhem IV by defeating Roderick Strong to become the new ROH World Champion. The shocking win had the world talking and Edwards even trended on Twitter. Edwards winning the title is a moment everybody in attendance at the Manhattan Center will never forget. Edwards did not have much time to celebrate his victory, though, because Christopher Daniels had already been announced as the next person to challenge for the title. The Fallen Angel has had Edwards number since returning to the company nearly one year ago. Daniels has not lost to Edwards in three matches since his return. Daniels holds two victories over Edwards, with the second being for the World Television Title. The two faced off at the 9th Anniversary Show in a two out of three falls match. The match ended in a one to one draw after the time limit expired and Daniels was unable to continue due to injury. All of the matches these two have had over the past year have been tremendous and with the ROH World Title on the line, fans should expect another great match. Edwards is going to try and make this his first successful title defense of many, but Daniels hopes to finally win the one title that has been eluding him. The edge has to go to Daniels at the moment because of the history between the two, but Edwards wave of momentum may be too much for Daniels to overcome.
World Tag Team Title Match
The Kings of Wrestling (Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli) with Shane Hagadorn defend vs Wrestlings Greatest Tag Team (Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas)
This is the third meeting between these two teams since Benjamin and Haas made their Ring of Honor debuts at Glory by Honor IX in September against the Kings of Wrestling. The Kings reigned supreme in that match, but it came with the help of Heros lucky elbow pad. The teams once again faced off at SoCal Showdown II in January in a non-title match that was won by Wrestlings Greatest Tag Team. Benjamin and Haas defeated the Briscoes at the 9th Anniversary Show to become the number one contenders to the Kings belts. The win set up a grudge match between the two teams and the stakes could not be higher. The Kings have been on fire since winning the titles at The Big Bang in 2010 and are the longest reigning tag team champions in Ring of Honor history. Wrestlings Greatest Tag Team looks to dethrone the Kings on Night One of Honor Takes Center Stage and they have a great shot of ended the Kings of Wrestlings reign as champions.
Final Battle 2010 Rematch
Roderick Strong with Truth Martini vs Davey Richards
Most Ring of Honor fans thought the next time we saw this match would be for the World Title once again, but Richards American Wolves partner won the belt before that match could happen. Strong is looking to get back on track after his shocking title loss and a win here would put him right back into title contention. But it will not come easily because he is facing off against the man many consider the best wrestler in the world, Davey Richards. Richards is trying to learn about as many different wrestling styles as possible before challenging for the title for what may be his final chance. Richards knows Strong quite well and they have wrestled each other many times in the past, most recently at Final Battle 2010 when the World Title was on the line. Strong was able to pick up the victory then after Richards suffered a concussion. He will have his work cut out for him to make it two in a row as Richards has been on a major roll lately. There is no way of predicting who will win this, but it is almost guaranteed to be a Match of the Year candidate.
Tag Team Title Match
The Briscoes vs Adam Cole and Kyle OReilly
This is the biggest weekend of Adam Cole and Kyle OReillys young career. Cole and OReilly have been impressing Ring of Honor fans and executives alike with their exciting in ring performances. They picked up a huge win at Manhattan Mayhem IV by defeating the House of Truth. The two promising upstarts in Ring of Honor start the weekend out by facing the Briscoes, who appeared to have a change in attitude at Manhattan Mayhem IV. The Briscoes suffered another loss to the All Night Express, but beat them down after the match and appear to have a more aggressive attitude. Night One of Honor Takes Center Stage will be the first time they show their new mean streak off to the world and it comes at a bad time for Cole and OReilly. The Briscoes should pick up the win, but Cole and OReilly will not go down without a fight. This should be a fantastic and hard-hitting match.
Grudge Match
El Generico vs Michael Elgin
El Generico and Michael Elgin first faced each other at the 9th Anniversary Show and Elgin wowed the crowd with his strength and power, but Generico was ultimately able to get the victory after Truth Martini interference backfired. In this match, however, the House of Truth is banned from ringside. Elgin took Generico to the limit the last time these two wrestled, and it would not be surprising if the powerhouse picked up the win Friday. But Generico has shown time and time again that he is the most resilient wrestler in Ring of Honor. Another win over a wrestler as big and powerful as Elgin would be an impressive feat, but beating someone like Elgin twice in a row will be a difficult task. If their first match is any indication, this should be another very good match.
Women of Honor
Sara Del Rey and Serena Deeb vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto & Ayumi Kurihara
Sara Del Rey has been asking for more competition for women in Ring of Honor and people in charge have been answering her requests. Del Rey defeated MsChif as the 9th Anniversary Show in impressive fashion. Ring of Honor officials have booked Hiroyo Masumoto and Ayumi Kurihara from the S-Ovation promotion in Japan to make their debuts in the company Friday to try to answer Del Reys requests. Matsumoto and Kurihara are two of the best female wrestlers in the world and they are going to try an impress in their Ring of Honor debut. Del Rey teams with Serena Deeb, who she teamed with at Final Battle 2010 when they defeated Daizee Haze and Amazing Kong. Del Rey wanted a challenge and that is exactly what she gets at Honor Takes Center Stage.
The card looks great from top to bottom and should be an amazing night of action. The show is scheduled to start at 8 pm, which should be the start to the best wrestling weekend of the year.