SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
Wake the pets and call the neighbors. It’s time for our semi-monthly ROH pay-per-view preview column!
DISCLAIMER: Projections are made by myself and for myself with absolutely no assistance from Joe Koff, Greg Gilleland 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. 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. These predictions are based on what the columnist would do if he had creative control over ROH, unless a better one-liner comes along.
Before we look at tonight’s show, let’s roll right into this month’s Wrestling History Lesson. Twenty years ago, on October 5, 1997, World Championship Wrestling aired WCW Pro, pretaped in Orlando, Florida. That show opened with Billy Kidman battling Hector Guerrero. Pretty cool, huh? (Later in the show, a future legend almost cuts his first promo.) Scott Hudson & Larry Zbyszko had the call.
And, as your free gift for viewing this column, let’s take you back to November 3, 2007 for Ring of Honor’s “Glory By Honor VI” event from New York City. We had Mitsuhara Misawa defending the GHC Heavyweight Title against Kenta “Hideo Itami” Kobayashi. Yes, this actually happened. Lenny Leonard & Dave Prazak had the call. Enjoy.
More recently, here’s what the Women of Honor have been up to. On August 26th, at the “ROH Saturday Night At Center Stage” event, it was Sumie Sakai against Karen Q. Ian Riccaboni, Rico De La Vega & Deonna Purrazzo have the call.
I have no idea who will be in the dark match, but I hope Chase Brown is involved.
On with the projections!
Chucky Taylor vs. Marty Scurll: Wait, how is Evolve doing a show tonight if Chuck Taylor’s working for ROH? Oh, never mind. Projection? The Villain takes it with the Bird of Prey.
Jay White vs. Punishment Martinez (Las Vegas Boulevard Street Fight): Okay, I know Ring of Honor is building up Punishment for something big, but I’m not sure where the company is heading. Projection? Punishment kills Jay with South of Heaven through a table.
Jay Lethal vs. Silas Young (Last Man Standing Match): I like Silas Young. I like Beer City Bruiser. But Jay Lethal losing a gimmick match on an ROH pay-per-view? Highly unlikely, Brain. Projection? Lethal survives the interference from Bruiser and knocks Silas out by hitting him in the face with a brick, or something like that. Maybe we get Lethal vs. Punishment in New York in December. Maybe.
Bully Ray & The Briscoes vs. The Kingdom (Taven, Marseglia & O’Ryan): It’s good to see T.K. back at fighting strength. It’s even better for the heels, because the finish is fairly obvious. Projection? Jay Briscoe and Bully Ray can’t get along (again) and it costs them the match (again). The Briscoes versus The Dudleys at Final Battle? Or maybe Jay versus Bully in a Fight Without Honor?
The Young Bucks & Adam Page vs. Whoever Won The Match Above This One, Probably the Kingdom (ROH Six Man Tag Team Titles): I know what you’re asking yourselves. Where IS Adam Page? My guess is that the Hangman gimmick has run its course, and that Page returns tonight as Adam Buck, Matt & Nick’s cousin. This would enable the Young Bucks to defend the ROH Tag Team Titles under the Freebird rule… (Okay, maybe not, but the Hangman gimmick HAS run its course.) Projection? The Bullet Club wins after hitting the More Hanging And Banging For Your Bucks.
Yujiro Kushida vs. Kenny King (ROH Television Title): Normally, I would never pick a wrestler to win a major title in his hometown. But then I remembered that this isn’t a WWE main roster show. Projection? K Double his the Coronation, and Kushida gets crowned. We have a new ROH Television Champion.
The Young Bucks vs. Motor City Machine Guns (ROH World Tag Team Titles): Dear Matt and Nick: Since you name moves after well-known wrestling writers, I wouldn’t say no to the “Pat McNeill Snapmare”. Think about it. Projection? Jay White comes to ringside to counter the interference of Adam Page. The Guns win with the DIY Finish…I mean the Motor City Machine Guns Sandwich to set up the big rematch at “Final Battle”.
Cody Runnels vs. Minoru Suzuki (ROH World Title): It’s about time for the ROH World Champion to beat a New Japan main eventer,
and Suzuki was, technically, in a New Japan main event in 2017. Projection? Cody takes the best the Suzuki Gunner can dish out before winning with Cross Rhodes.
Aftermath: Ring of Honor has its TV taping tomorrow in Vegas. From there, we will somehow get to Final Battle 2017 in New York, with Cody defending against Dalton Castle. Be there!
Pat McNeill of Greenville, South Carolina has been a PWTorch columnist since February 2001. He’d take Utah to beat Arizona in tonight’s big college football matchup. You know, if gambling were legal.
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