The following is a match by match preview of Ring of Honor’s 10th Anniversary Show, which will cultivate from the legendary Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on Sun. March 4, 2012. Via creative influence, I have attempted to swiftly analyze what is booked for the event. Additionally, via creative influence, I have placed each match preview in specific order, from top to bottom; suggesting what I believe to be the most beneficial line-up for the overall delivery of the promotions most historical representation of honor….ever.
The “Quick Predict,” at the end of each match preview, abruptly, but efficiently suggests how I feel about what each match will do for the event and how it will be received. (Each do not necessarily suggest any final outcomes)
Glory by Honor X Rematch:
The All Night Express (Kenny King and Rhett Titus) against Wrestling’s Greatest Tag-Team (Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin) –
The addition of this rematch to the 10th Anniversary Card implies that each of the most recently dominant Ring Honor Tag-Teams will be in action on Sunday, March 4. Down the stretch heading into the promotions 10th Anniversary, The All Night Express and Wrestling’s Greatest Tag-Team have played an integral part in the tag-team division alongside The Young Bucks and the pioneers of the entire division, The Briscoe Brothers. With The Briscoe’s set to defend their Ring of Honor World Tag-Team Titles against the Young Bucks, showcasing this 10th Anniversary Glory by Honor Rematch, at this particular show, promises to fend off any idea’s suggesting the tag-team division in ROH has suffered a stunt in its growth. If you feel the need to include the House of Truth, do so. Otherwise, four of the most popular, established and integral, brotherly fellowships this company has to offer in present day will be on display March 4 at the 10th Anniversary Show. After the most successful year the All Night Express ever had in Ring of Honor, consider the reward, this rematch, on this stage. Better yet, let King and Titus open the show. I know Titus is more than ready to go! The All Night Express may not go-over here, but the heat placed on Haas and Benjamin in New York City and throughout ROH in general, could provide the All Night Express and furthermore the live audience a reason to be extremely vocal, even prior to the opening bell.
Quick Predict: Expressing Great Tag-Team Wrestling
Special Attraction Match:
Homicide against Mike Bennett –
One luxury to Ring of Honor throughout their 10 years of existence has been their ability to include/bring in talent amongst the entire independent professional wrestling scene; talent who do not directly correlate with the promotions roster page. Homicide served the company for the majority of 2011 as a half-way respected ingredient, but nevertheless, once again he appears to be no longer a permanent fixture in the eyes of ROH Management. Regardless, Homicide has fans and the event will take place in New York City. Enough said from a marketing perspective. Bringing in Homicide for a show of this magnitude, reflecting on a decade of honor, is above and beyond a half-way sensible idea. Therefore, this warrants the immediate cancellation of any thoughts suggesting this contest was selected as filler, a time-waster, one last pitch or a last resort. The match simply represents what Ring of Honor has been able to get away with for the past 10 years. There may be no current “beef” between Bennett and Homicide, but when you have two polar opposites, from polar opposite ends of the era of honor, a special attraction will surely emanate when these two confront each other on March 4 at the 10th Anniversary Show. The match should serve its purpose and provide Bennett one of the more noted singles victories of his Ring of Honor career
Quick Predict: Bennett Benefits
Special Tag-Team Attraction Match:
The Amazing Red and TJ Perkins against The House of Truth (Michael Elgin and Roderick Strong) –
If there is one and one match only that represents the entire decade of honor, I reckon it is this. In addition, this Special Tag-Team Attraction is exactly what it is, should, could and will be defined as come the end of the contest. The Amazing Red appeared on the “Era of Honor Begins,” show in 2002. T.J Perkins has been featured in and out of Ring of Honor for many years but anyone following the independent scene understands the popularity and appreciation for Perkins. Roderick Strong is a former ROH World Champion and a hypothetical Ring of Honor Hall-of-Famer. Michael Elgin is the 2011 Survival of Fittest Champion and one of the most watched and featured new-arrivals of the ROH locker room. Combine the popularity, combine the success, combine the chemistry and you have absolutely zero reason to surround this match with any negative connotations. It may be a dark horse, it may be exactly what we want to expect, but regardless this match could not depict a better looking challenge to represent a decade of remarkable tag-team wrestling.
Quick Predict: This is wrestling….this is wrestling.
No-Disqualification Grudge Match:
Kevin Steen against Jimmy Jacobs –
Have you seen the Fight Without Honor between Kevin Steen and El Generico from Final Battle 2010? Have you seen the No-Disqualification Match between Kevin Steen and Steve Corino from Final Battle 2011? Expectations for this match were set long ago. Therefore, why say anything other than this is going to be something to remember on the stage designed to remember the last decade? The antichrist of professional wrestling meets a mother f’n zombie princess; looks like a recipe for disaster, but a really great one!
Quick Predict: Via Kevin Steen – “This Sunday, we celebrate with blood.”
(https://www.rohwrestling.com/connect/blogs/kevin-steen/2012/mar/01/10)
ROH World Tag-Team Championship Match:
The Briscoe Brothers (Jay and Mark Briscoe) defend against The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) –
The pioneers of the Ring of Honor Tag-Team Division and quite frankly, two individual pioneers of Ring of Honor, The Briscoe Brothers, are set to defend their championship gold against one of the best tag-teams the entire world of professional wrestling has to offer, the Young Bucks. These two tag-teams cater to the majority of ROH fans and this particular match-up requires no introduction and no further debriefing. This tag-team contest can be considered as not only the pinnacle of Ring of Honor Tag-Team Wrestling, but it can be considered as the pinnacle of modern-day professional wrestling. On any given night, this match should supply you a fun, little ride. However, level up the importance of the bout and this match should supply you a thriller.
Quick Predict: Defining the division.
ROH World Television Championship Match:
Jay Lethal defends against Tommaso Ciampa –
In present day, Lethal can easily be considered as the most renowned, well-known professional wrestling talent ROH has; when connecting him to fans who do NOT consider themselves a piece of the faithful Ring of Honor followers. This idea can easily warrant the decision to turn Ciampa into a star; on a night where 10 years worth of Ring of Honor Stars will be represented. The idea is just an idea of course…for now. However, Ciampa being undefeated in singles action in Ring of Honor is NOT just an idea; and therefore the interest in this contest is undoubtedly surrounded by that fact. Personally, Lethal may be the most suitable piece of talent to carry the Television Championship inside of the current Ring of Honor SBG-Product, however, losing the title won’t exactly keep him off the network. The match itself will display what most are expecting, but will the outcome of the match impact the expectations and/or overall thoughts? The 10th Anniversary Show will determine that.
Quick Predict: Tommaso’s Validity (T.V)
10th Anniversary Main Event (Young Wolves Rising):
Davey Richards and Kyle O’Reilly against Eddie Edwards and Adam Cole –
The following link will direct you to a piece I wrote about Future Shock and their very recent emergence inside Ring of Honor: https://pwponderings.com/2011/12/18/plan-for-the-future-prepare-to-be-shocked/. The title of piece, “Plan for the future and prepare to be shocked,” connects to absolutely everything this match should be about. The lack of a ROH World Championship Match on the most historically-noted Ring of Honor event ever, was bound to create a premature series of negatively driven input regarding the show; and thus far it that has been the case. However, this tag-team challenge is about planning for the future. A decade of honor has come and gone but another decade of honor is already in the works. Richards, O’Reilly, Cole and Edwards should have what it takes to leave you shocked, but one question remains. Are they prepared to leave us shocked, at what the future holds for this company? You cannot question the talent in the contest. You can question what the quality inside the contest will provide. You may want to question the “bromance” that served as the main building-block leading up to this match, but nevertheless, you cannot question that this is great professional wrestling. You cannot question whether a decade of great professional wrestling will be represented or not. If this justification must come with the admittance of my “bromance,” for professional wrestling and more often than not with this company, then so be it. This gives me and perhaps many others the most honest rationale possible when choosing to honor this company through the purchase of a $10 iPPV, this Sun. March 4, 2012!
Quick Predict: Plan for the future and prepare to be shocked.
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