By Pat McNeill, PWTorch 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 Gary Juster, Nigel McGuinness or The Man With The Lizard Face. Projections are not predictions, because this is the column where everything's made up and the points don't matter. This preview has been sealed in a mayonnaise jar on Funk & Wagnall's porch since noon today. Some of our departing contestants will receive a year's supply of Hercules Hooks, the fastest way to hang just about anything. Just push, set and hang. Don't forget, when you land on "Bankrupt," you lose your cash but not your merchandise, because once you buy a prize, it's yours to keep. 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. These predictions are based on what the columnist would do if he had creative control over ROH, unless a better one-line comes along.

Yes, Jim Cornette is taking time off from Ring of Honor, and Nigel McGuinness is the new ROH matchmaker/authority figure. Say, if you want to hear from Nigel about Ring of Honor, or his documentary, or if you'd like to hear an interview with ROH Television Champion Adam Cole about tomorrow's show, you can listen to the Wednesday Livecast with me and fellow columnist Sean Radican. It's free, and if you don't like it, we'll give you your money back.

The big news going into Sunday is...Oh, just watch today's ROH television show. It's less typing for me. It features Jay Briscoe against Steve Corino in a violent Steel City Street Fight. Enjoy.



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 shows at ECW Arena in South Philadelphia meant everything to the fans. On January 11, 1997, ECW presented "House Party '97". This show brought us a battle between the legendary Terry Funk and "Bulldozer" Brian Lee. And ECW Champion Shane Douglas had a bounty out on Pitbull #2. Joey Styles and Taz had the call.



And, as your free gift for viewing this column, let's take you back to ROH Final Battle 2009. In case you're not familiar with Sunday's main eventers, let's go back and watch the little match that ignited this great war, as Kevin Steen & El Generico team up against The Young Bucks. Your announcers are Dave Prazak and Eric Santamaria.



On with the projections!

I have no idea what the dark match will be for this show, but I hope Adam Page is involved.

Prince Nana vs. "Barrister" R.D. Evans: After all this time, Prince Nana is a babyface in Ring of Honor. It doesn't seem possible, does it? Projection Q.T. Marshall tries to help Evans, but his interference is countered by the return of Tomasso Ciampa. Nana uses the dreaded international object to beat the Barrister.

Rhett Titus & B.J. Whitmer vs. Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin (New York City Street Fight): Titus and Whitmer have had all sorts of trouble with what used to be Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team. This should be the old-fashioned blood and guts match of the afternoon. Projection? Haas pins Whitmer after hitting B.J. with a toolbox from under the ring.

Jay Lethal vs. Rhino: Lethal's already said that he doesn't want to wrestler Rhino, and that he'd rather tear a chunk out of ROH champion Kevin Steen. Rhino's there to cause havoc. Projection? Lethal survives long enough to hit a Lethal Injection and score the pin.

Michael Elgin vs. Roderick Strong: This should be a classic between two of the top workrate guys in North America. Plus, there's a storyline here that's been building for several months. Projection? Strong hits the Sick Kick for a mild upset. Truth Martini, as you'd expect, sides with the winner, and Roddy is once again the cornerstone of the House of Truth.

Jerry Lynn vs. Mike Bennett: It looks like Jerry Lynn is serious about retirement, and that this is his final match in the Hammerstein Ballroom. Why would you have him lose? Projection? Lynn usrvives possible interference from Maria and Brutal Bob, and hits the cradle piledriver for the win. Then Jerry rides off into the sunset, as he should.

American Wolves vs. Kyle O'Reilly & Bobby Fish: The band's back together to face O'Reilly and former Pro Wrestling NOAH guy Bobby Fish. Fish is best known for the picture of him that was plastered all over recent Evolve posters. You know, the one that make Bobby look like a guy who rode the short bus with Harry and Lloyd. Projection? The Wolves are the best tag team in the world. Unless they're not. Fish pins Edwards after some shenanigans, and the Wolves have a reason to stay together after this weekend.

Jimmy Jacobs & Steve Corino vs. Jay Briscoe & Mark Briscoe vs. Caprice Coleman & Cedric Alexander (ROH Tag Team Titles): One of these teams just doesn't belong here. Come on, can you tell which one? Look, I like the C&C Wrestling Factory as much as the next guy, (unless the next guy is Jim Cornette) but they don't have a lot of star power. Why put them in the match unless.... Projection? Coleman pins Corino after a heel miscommunication, and the fellows for Tarheelia are the Ring of Honor tag team champions.

Adam Cole vs. Matt Hardy (non-title): This sounds like a great match, unless you've seen Matt Hardy wrestle in the last two years. Projection? Hardy gets some offense and Cole hits a superkick and pins Hardy, clean as a whistle, in the center of the ring. Cole is Ring of Honor's future, and should be booked strong until he finally wins the ROH Heavyweight Title.

Kevin Steen vs. El Generico (ROH World Title - Ladder War): You know why El Generico's in this match? Yeah, there's the rich history between Steen and Generico, blah blah blah, but the REAL reason he's in this match? Generico may be the only guy in the world who can get the Manhattan fans to root against Steen. That's why. Projection? Corino and Jacobs try to get involved early. Jay Lethal runs them off. The former teammates hit each other with everything, including the kitchen sink. Then Steen piledrives Generico on the ladder and retains the title.

Aftermath: We go to the 11th Anniversary show, for Steen defending the ROH Title against Lethal, Coleman & Alexander taking on S.C.U.M., and Adam Cole beating another ex-WWE cruiserweight. Seriously, is Brian Kendrick available for this spot?

***
Pat McNeill of Richmond, Va. has been a Torch columnist since February 2001. He'd take his RG3Skins against Cleveland tomorrow in NFL Football. You know, if gambling were legal.

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