By Pat McNeill, PWTorch Columnist

Wake the pets and call the neighbors. It's time for our semi-monthly ROH internet VOD 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. And four whammies brings tears to your eyes and puts you out of the game. 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 frowned upon the idea of me posting recent episodes of the television show in my preview columns, because somebody might, I don't know, actually SEE their television show and get into the storylines or something. Hey, no problem. Here's the ROH show from February 9, which kicks off with Matt Taven taking on ACH.


ROH Feburary 9. 2013 by Anonymous

And without further ado, let's roll right into this month's Wrestling History Lesson. Twenty years ago, there was this company called World Championship Wrestling (WCW). WCW had a December pay-per-view called "WCW Starrcade 1993" on December 27th, 1993. I could tell you about it, or you can just watch the official WCW Starrcade preview show!


Starrcade 1993 pregame show Pt. 1 by Anonymous


Starrcade 1993 pregame show Pt. 2 by Anonymous

We can't show you the big Too Cold Scorpio & Marcus Bagwell vs. Paul Orndorff & Paul Roma match that kicked off WCW Starrcade 1993. But we CAN show you the return match, which aired AFTER Starrcade, but was taped before Starrcade, on December 13, 1993 at Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia. Does that count?


2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Bagwell vs... by Stinger1981

And, as your free gift for viewing this column, let's take you back to December 17, 2005 and Ring of Honor's Final Battle 2005 in Edison, New Jersey. It's KENTA taking on Low-Ki for the GHC Jr. Heavyweight Title, and it is awesome. Dave Prazak and Lenny Leonard have the call.



On with the projections!

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

Matt Hardy vs. Adam Page: While the storyline says this is Matt Hardy's final match on his ROH deal, word is that Hardy will be sticking around in some capacity. So why not kick off this show with a bang? Projection Hardy beats Page with the Twist of Fate, then takes the microphone to complain about the lack of competition. Enter tan, rested & ready Chris Hero, stopping by on his way to the Combat Zone show for a nice Hero vs. Hardy pullapart brawl. Just like that, we have our first match signed for the 12th Anniversary Show in February. You're welcome.

Mark Briscoe vs. Silas Young (Strap Match): Time for Silas to reach for the sky. Projection Mark Briscoe flays Silas Young and touches all four corners. Don't worry, the feud will continue (somehow) into 2014.

The Young Bucks vs. Adrenaline Rush: The Bucks are not putting their IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles on the line, but that's okay. Projection? Thomas & ACH give us some action, but fall victim to More Bang For Your Bucks.

Jay Lethal & Roderick Strong vs. Eddie Edwards & Mystery Partner: Let's go with an obvious solution. The mystery partner is Jimmy Jacobs, so it's still a battle of well-known veteran stars. Roderick Strong, last we hear, is done with his ROH contract and plans to work for both ROH and DGUSA for as long as both promotions will allow it. Projection Lethal drops Edwards with the Lethal Combination, and we have fond farewells all around for Eddie Edwards. Good luck, Die Hard.

Kevin Steen vs. Michael Bennett w/ Maria Kanellis (Stretcher Match): The loser of this match is barred from using the piledriver. The package piledriver is very much part of Kevin Steen's schtick, and has been for years. For Michael Bennett? Not so much. Projection? Steen eventually piledrives Bennett from existence, but the former prodigy will bounce back in 2014.

ReDragon (Yum!) vs. Outlaw, Inc. (ROH World Tag Team Titles) : It seems like a natural for Homicide & Kingston to capture the ROH World Tag Team Titles in their hometown, but there's more left to this story. Projection? O'Reilly pins Kingston after Chasing The Dragon. The Outlaws just started their chase for the tag team titles. It would be a shame to shorten this feud.

Matt Taven (w/ Truth Martini & the Dirty Martini Girls) vs. Tomasso Ciampa (ROH TV Title) : Matt Taven has recently become the longest-reigning television champion in Ring of Honor history. That's a cue for a change. Projection? Ciampa rolls over Taven and friends like the proverbial barrel of butcher knives, hits Project Ciampa and (finally) wins the ROH Television Title.

Adam Cole vs. Michael Elgin vs. Jay Briscoe (ROH World Title): All three wrestlers have delivered great prematch promos for this battle. The great thing about Ring of Honor's big storylines? They're built around championship gold. Projection? Jay Briscoe catches Elgin with the Jay Driller. Matt Hardy and Silas Young distract Jay, allowing Cole to steal the pinfall and keep the ROH World Title.

Aftermath: We hit the 12th Anniversary Show in February with Adam Cole vs. Jay Briscoe, Chris Hero vs. Matt Hardy and Red Dragon vs. Lethal & Strong.

***
Pat McNeill of Richmond, Va. has been a Torch columnist since February 2001. He'd take Cincinnati over Pittsburgh tomorrow on Sunday Night Football. You know, if gambling were legal.

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