By Pat McNeill, Torch Columnist

Wake the pets and call the neighbors. It's time for our semi-monthly ROH internet pay-per-view preview column!

DISCLAIMER: Projections are made by myself and for myself with absolutely no assistance from James E. Cornette, Gary Juster or The Man With The Lizard Face. No one knows the contents of these projections, but I, in my divine and mystical way, will ascertain the finishes to these matches while being several months behind on my Ring of Honor DVD's. A member of our studio audience will receive a Firebird fireplace heating system. Draws in cold air, forces out hot air. The Firebird makes more fireplaces more effective, so you can turn your thermostat down. And remember, if you come within $100 of the actual retail price of your showcase, you win both showcases. Remember, this is only an exhibition. This is not a competition. Please, please, no wagering. This lineup is based on the best available information as of this writing.

The big news going into Saturday's show is...Oh, just watch the ROH video wire. It's less typing for me. Plus, nothing says "heterosexuality" like former ROH World Champion Roderick Strong in his swim trunks.



And without further ado, let's roll right into this month's Wrestling History Lesson. Before Ring of Honor the "number three promotion" in North America was the Philadelphia-based Extreme Championship Wrestling. The original ECW ran from 1993 through 2001. Among the many wrestlers who passed through ECW were Steve Austin, Mick Foley and the late Eddie Guerrero. A young Gabe Sapolsky worked for the company, as did ROH founder Rob Feinstein and legendary manager Jim Cornette.

Back in the original ECW, the monthly cards at the ECW Arena meant everything to the insider fans. And back on August 24, 1996, at "ECW Natural Born Killaz," it was Tommy Dreamer (managed by Beulah McGillicuddy, no relation to Michael McGillicuddy) taking on Taz (managed by Bill Alfonso). No, really, Taz used to wrestle!


Tommy Dreamer vs. Taz by Anonymous Privateer

And, as your free gift for viewing this column, let's see more from our favorite homegrown main eventers, Rhett Titus and Kenny King. From ROH "Never Say Die" on May 8, 2009, it's the All Night Xpress taking on the Super Smash Brothers. It's fun for the whole family!



On with the projections for Sunday's show!

I have no idea what the dark match will be for this show, but I hope Andy "Right Leg" Ridge is involved.

El Generico vs. Jimmy Jacobs: Apparently Kevin Steen has promised to be in Manhattan for this weekend's big show (no, Night of Champions, you wiseacres) and to scope out the match between his former partner and Jimmy Jacobs. The problem is that El Generico seems purposeless now that he's without the television title. Projection? Steen interferes and knocks out Jacobs. Generico goes heel, pins Jacobs, and leaves with Steen.

Future Shock vs. The Young Bucks vs. The Bravado Brothers (Three Way Dance): Nothing against Cole, O'Reilly or the Bravado Brothers, but one of these teams is long like the idea. More importantly, only one of these teams is advertised for the next ROH television tapings. Projection? Harlem Bravado pulls the tights and pins Adam Cole. Nick Jackson pins Harlem after hitting the More Bang For Your Bucks.

Homicide & Jay Lethal vs. Rhino & Tomasso Ciampa (w/ The Embassy): Again, there are two guys in this match who need to be protected, and two who don't. Projection? Lethal pins Rhino after a dragon suplex.

Charlie Haas vs. Michael Elgin (w/ Diamond Dallas...I mean w/ Truth Martini): We haven't heard much from the House of Truth, and it isn't Jim Cornette not to have several tag teams in the mix. So... Projection? Martini nails Haas with the Book of Truth, Elgin gets the win, and maybe we end up seeing Haas & Benjamin vs. Strong & Elgin down the line.

Shelton Benjamin vs. Mike Bennett (w/ Brutal Bob): The Gold Standard is looking to have a breakout singles performance. So is The Prodigy. But that doesn't mean it's going to happen. Projection? Shelton wins with the Paydirt, and we hopefully have a good match.

Eddie Edwards vs. Roderick Strong (2/3 Fall "Ringmaster Challenge"): No, Steve Austin is not involved in this contest. The first fall is a pinfalls only match. The second fall is a submissions match, and the third is a fifteen minute Iron Man match. Got it? Projection? Strong takes the first fall, and Edwards takes the second and third for the victory.

The Briscoes vs. The All Night Xpress (Ladder War III: The Search For Dr. James Andrews): The most intense feud in the promotion gets settled in the most dangerous match in this promotion. In a normal wrestling promotion, you'd try to send the fans home happy. Projection? However, this is not a normal promotion. This is Ring of Honor. Both teams bleed, sweat and pay the price, and the Briscoes come away with the victory and the shot at the tag team titles.

Aftermath: The next internet pay-per-view? No idea. But "Glory By Honor X", will take place in November in New York City. Let's go with Haas & Benjamin vs. The Briscoes in a Fight Without Honor, Richards vs. Edwards II, and Jacobs & Corino vs. El Generico & Kevin Steen.

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Pat McNeill of Richmond, Va. has been a Torch columnist since February 2001. He asks you to support your local independent wrestling promotion, because that's where you'll see the superstars of tomorrow and the washed-up has-beens of yesteryear.

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