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. Closed captioning is provided by America Online. Some of our departing contestants will receive a supply of Right Guard by Gillette. Right Guard, because men perspire more. 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-liner comes along.

Ring of Honor has its own set of "Big Four" pay-per-view during the year. There's the WrestleMania weekend show, ("Supercard of Honor" this year) the June show ("Best In The World"), the September show ("Death Before Dishonor" or "Glory By Honor") and "Final Battle" in late December. Obviously, this Saturday night's show in Toronto isn't one of them.

Look, Ring of Honor has been putting on some good pay-per-views over the past few months. For those diehard fans who have been disappointed in WWE Raw, I suspect you could order this weekend's Border Wars show, download it, load it onto your television somehow (DVD, DVR, whatever) and watch it this Sunday night on your big screen. You might very well enjoy the ROH show more than Raw. Then again, you might enjoy a pirated version of this week's TNA Xplosion more than WWE Raw. Your mileage may vary.

As for the storylines, well, why don't you watch last week's episode of Ring of Honor television? This is where ROH World Champion Jay Briscoe and top contender Adam Cole teamed up to fight Matt Hardy and Rhino of S.C.U.M. Kevin Kelly has the call.


ROH Wrestling 4/27/13 - Full Show (HQ) by WrestlingVidsUploaderHQv2

And without further ado, let's roll right into this month's Wrestling History Lesson. Twenty years ago, the big May pay-per-view wasn't called "Border Wars." It was called "WCW Slamboree." On May 23, 1993, we saw the first ever Slamboree in Atlanta, Georgia. Scott Norton did not make the trip to Atlanta to face Sting, so the Man In Paint took on The Prisoner. (For our UK readers, Patrick McGoohan does not appear in this match.) Tony Schiavone and Larry Zbyzsko had the call.



And, as your free gift for viewing this column, let's take you back to September 21, 2002, and the ROH Unscripted event from the Murphy Rec Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Here is the semi main event, with Paul London battling former TNA X Division champion Michael Shane in a Philadelphia Street Fight. Chris Lovey and the late Ray Morrow have the call.


On with the projections!

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

Roderick Strong has a match.: Let's say Strong's opponent is, I don't know, Pepper Parks? Why not? Projection? Strong forces Parks to tap out to the Stronghold. Dude needs a win.

ACH & Tadarius Thomas vs. C&C Wrestling Factory (Everybody Bump Now!) : No, I don't understand why there has to be so much brother on brother violence either. but yes, this should be a fun match, and possibly the start of a rivalry. Projection Coleman & Alexander get the win after hitting the Touch of Love of Thomas.

Jay Lethal & Michael Elgin vs. 2 Members of S.C.U.M. (w/ Steve Corino): Based on the stipulations, either Matt Hardy ends up with a shot at the ROH World Title, or Steve Corino leaves Ring of Honor. Which ending seems more plausible to you? Projection? Jimmy Jacobs & Rhino are chosen for Team S.C.U.M. Cliff Compton distracts Lethal, and Rhino gores Jay for the victory.

B.J. Whitmer vs. Rhett Titus (I Quit Match): Yeah, I know. You're underwhelmed. You might even be whelmed. I can tell you that one of these wrestlers has the next shot at the ROH World Title, if that helps. Projection? Whitmer forces Rhettski the Jetski to tap to, let's say the camel clutch. It's not like Whitmer has a long list of proven submission holds.

Matt Taven (w/ Ryback's Dad & Ms. Scarlett) vs. Mark Briscoe (ROH Television Title): Sure, it would be nice for the Briscoes to hold the two major singles titles in the promotion. But I suspect that's not happening now. Projection? Mark uses redneck kung fu on Truth Martini, but can't dodge that headlock driver, and Taven keeps the championship.

Davey Richards vs. Paul London: I'm not sure Paul London is a suitable substitution for Naomichi Marifuji, but he IS a very interesting substitution. Just keep him away from a live microphone. Projection? The Intrepid Traveler has eight lives, but can't survive the D.R. Driver. Richards with the victory.

Taiji Ishimori vs. Eddie Edwards (non-title): So, Ishimori is your Pro Wrestling NOAH GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champion. You know who else is in Pro Wrestling NOAH? Eddie Edwards. Maybe this could be a storyline. Projection? Edwards hits the Die Hard for the non-title victory, earning Eddie a title shot on his next tour of Japan.

Jay Briscoe vs. Adam Cole (ROH World Title): You know something? Adam Cole would make a fantastic heel champion in Ring of Honor. You know something else? Adam Cole might be headed to NXT before too long. Projection? Jay Briscoe wins with the Jay Driller. Even if Jay turns out to be a "transitional champion," he's not THAT kind of transitional champion. He can hold the belt more than a month.

Aftermath: On Sunday's big television taping, Taiji Ishimori beats Roderick Strong, the American Wolves drop The Briscoes, and Michael Elgin defeats Paul London. Then, we move on towards Jay Briscoe vs. Michael Elgin next month at "Best In The World 2013."

***
Pat McNeill of Richmond, Va. has been a Torch columnist since February 2001. He liked ROH's Supecard of Honor VII show last month, and he suspects you will too.

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