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ROH News: Matches and talent rosters for upcoming events, Sapolsky's last entry on Japan trip
Sep 16, 2008 - 2:10:04 PM |
By Sean Radican, PWTorch Columnist
-ROH booker Gabe Sapolsky posted his final entry with his thoughts on his trip to Japan and ROH's upcoming events this weekend on the ROH message board.
"Everyone has arrived safely back home from our second successful trip to Japan. I can't wait until next year and am already ready to go back. However, there is no time to think about that now as we have perhaps the biggest weekend of the year coming right up this Friday with the PPV taping in Boston and this Saturday with "Glory By Honor VII" in Philadelphia.
"Personally, this weekend means a great deal to me. I grew up in Boston so being able to put on a show as important as a pay-per-view in Boston is very special to me. In fact, I saw a NWA show in 1989 in the same complex so it is really cool that we are able to promote a PPV there. If you told me when I was watching Ric Flair vs. Lex Luger at BU in 1989 that I would be a part of a promotion running a PPV from the same location I would have thought you were crazy. Of course, I have a million memories from the former ECW Arena in South Philly. It is humbling to walk into that building with all the history there and all the personal history I have in that building. It feels like home there for me. It is really important that we add to the legacy of that building on Saturday. Anyway, sorry for the tangent. Here are a few final, random thoughts from the Japan shows:
"I had an opportunity to see El Generico perform in front of three different crowds and he was immediately over with each crowd. I mean he is just genuinely liked by the Japanese fans, just as much as he is by the ROH fans. They really wanted him to pull out the pinfall on last Thursday's Dragon Gate show and the fans were really happy for him when he scored the pinfall at last Saturday's show. Generico as ROH World Champion is definitely an interesting possibility. We'll see what happens Saturday.
"I have to admit that I marked out when we met Akira Hokuto. Anyone out there remember when Dream Slam happened?
"Naomichi Marufuji has a great mind for the business. It was really nice finally seeing KENTA back in a ROH ring. I still can't get over that tag on Sunday. I am trying to be careful not to over hype things, but oh my god.
"Bryan Danielson is so respected by the Japanese fans. He is really seen as a superstar by them. I got goose bumps by the reaction the fans gave him when he won the GHC Jr. Heavyweight Title. It was such a moment in time. You don't see very many moments like that. The finishing sequence of Bryan vs. Kanemaru was amazing.
"I was pleased at how different both shows are. I believe there were plenty of fans that came on both nights and they saw two unique cards. The second half of Saturday's show was perfect in my opinion. You had three quality matches that completely contrasted each other and brought three different styles to the show. I really love it when things come together like that.
"I have learned the difference between the Boeing 777 and Boeing 777-200. We had the 777-200 on the way home with over 250 movies and lots of TV shows on demand. Being able to watch "30 Rock" and "Taxi Driver" on the way home sure made the flight a lot easier.
"If you like sushi you need to make the pilgrimage to the Tsukiji fish market.
"I fear for both Bryan Danielson and Nakajima this Saturday. Bryan requested the match and said it would be a war and after seeing Nakajima in action in person I believe him. I'm beginning to question Bryan's sanity for requesting a match against Nakajima.
"It didn't take long for both Roderick Strong and Kensuke Sasaki's chests to become red in their match. Strong was there blow-for-blow with Sasaki.
"Yamato has a really cool look and gear now, much different than the last time I saw him. It is good seeing him climb up the ranks like that.
"Austin Aries' pendulum elbow is over with the Japanese fans. They ate up that move each night.
"Larry Sweeney got under the Japanese fans' skin pretty quickly. They also got into Jimmy Jacobs' Jerry Lawler like use of a chain.
"I'm going to be really interested to hear your opinions on whether you like the Dragon Gate six man from Saturday or the KENTA & Ibushi vs. Marufuji & Nakajima tag from Sunday better once you see the DVDs.
That's about it. Thank you to everyone who made the trip possible and most of all thank you to each and every one of you because this trip would not have been possible without your support. I hope the DVDs make a good reward for you. Thank you."
RADICAN'S ANAYLSIS
It's always a fun read when Sapolsky makes posts like this on the ROH message board. I'm really looking forward to several of the unique matches the company was able to present in Japan with cooperation from several promotions, including NOAH and Dragon Gate over the course of two nights. Of course, I can't wait to see several of the matches as well, including what I expect to be another great Dragon Gate Six Man tag, which reportedly spotlighted El Generico.
ROH is kicking into high gear, especially during the last month and a half. It's always a positive sign to see the company growing with expansion into Canada and Florida in the coming months as they look to be closing 2008 on a strong note.
UPDATED ROH LINE-UPS
September 19 in Boston, Mass. (PPV taping): Matches already announced include ROH World Tag Team Champions Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico, ROH World Hvt. Champion Nigel McGuinness vs. Roderick Strong, Ruckus & Jigsaw vs. Jason Blade & Kenny King vs. The Necro Butcher vs. The Briscoes in a Tag Team Scramble, NWA World Heavyweight Champion Brent Albright & Erick Stevens vs. Adam Pearce & Eddie Edwards, and Bryan Danielson vs. Go Shiozaki vs. Claudio Castagnoli in a Triple Threat Elimination match. Already signed to appear are Austin Aries, Chris Hero, Sara Del Rey, Jerry Lynn, Shane Hagadorn, Bobby Dempsey, Larry Sweeney, Chasyn Rance, Delirious, and Daizee Haze.
September 20 in Philadelphia, Pa.: Matches already announced include Austin Aries & The Briscoes vs. Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black & Delirious vs. The Necro Butcher in a Steel Cage Warfare match, NWA Hvt. Champion Brent Albright vs. Adam Pearce, GHC Champion Kensuke Sasaki vs. Claudio Castagnoli (non-title), Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Bryan Danielson, FIP World Hvt. Champion Go Shiozaki vs. Kevin Steen, ROH World Hvt. Champion Nigel McGuinness vs. Claudio Castagnoli, Erick Stevens vs. Rhett Titus, and Kenny King vs. Jerry Lynn. Already signed to appear are Chris Hero Eddie Edwards, Roderick Strong, El Generico, and Daizee Haze.
Oct. 10 in Coral Springs, Fla.: Already signed to appear are Austin Aries, Jerry Lynn, Tyler Black, Erick Stevens, Kevin Steen, Davey Richards, The Necro Butcher, and El Generico.
October 11 in Orlando, Fla.: Matches already announced include FIP World Hvt. Champion Go Shiozaki vs. Roderick Strong, Austin Aries vs. Jimmy Jacobs, and the Briscoes vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico.
Oct. 24 in Danbury, Conn.: Already signed to appear are Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin.
Oct. 25 in Edison, N.J.: Already signed to appear are Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin.
Upcoming events: Nov. 7 in Montreal, Quebec, Nov. 8 in Markham, Ontario, Nov. 21 in Dayton, Ohio, Nov. 22 in Chicago Ridge, Ill. (PPV taping), Dec. 5 in Collinsville, Ill., Dec. 6 in Nashville, Tenn., and Dec. 27 in Manhattan, N.Y.
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