ROH SBG-ERA DVD Buyers Guide (2011/2012)

It cannot be denied that Ring of Honor Wrestling has experienced external and internal reconstruction for an entire year now.

Sinclair Broadcasting and Ring of Honor Wrestling, via ex-owner Cary Silkin, announced the sale of the promotion during the first quarter of 2011.

The company began airing its new television product in September of 2011 via the financial power of the Sinclair Broadcasting Group.

Despite the sale, Ring of Honor continued to tour and tape events throughout 2011.

This reconstruction has pushed fans away, but has also pulled new fans in.

To encourage the discovery of what Ring of Honor has always been praised for, the following is designed to provide a helping-hand to anybody wanting to discover modern-day ROH.

Despite the sale not taking place until around May of 2011, last year marks when the SBG-Era of Honor began.

If the reader is new to the product or has simply lost interest in following the company based on fear or dislike for transition, the ROH SBG-Era Buyers Guide below will hopefully supply you with a chance to catch-up with what is I believe to be the best material Ring of Honor had to offer in 2011/the best of the ROH DVD releases under SBG Management.

As a new fan, or even a fan looking to catch up to what they may have let go, contemplating the list below should be a chance to learn about the Ring of Honor Roster and the transition it has made as you continue to watch throughout 2012. Why does Kevin Steen hate everyone, why is Davey Richards such a big deal, why do the Briscoe Brothers and Wrestling’s Greatest Tag-Team always want to beat each other up with chairs?

I reckon that the television product will not provide you all of the answers you may be looking for, but a run through of various worthy viewing material throughout 2011 (barley into 2012) may just do that.

(Despite the title of this post, the correct date of the sale last year, and any contradiction that may appear from those facts; DVD-released events from January 2011 to present day will be included so the guide below can be put together without restriction or unnecessary complication)

MOTN: (Matches of the night)

Individually opinionated star ratings will appear next to the MOTN in order to enhance the purpose of a so called and personalized “buyers guide.”

ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE

MOTN – 

ROH World Television Championship: Christopher Daniels defends against Claudio Castagnoli – * * * 1/4

Chris Hero vs. Davey Richards – * * * *

ROH World Championship: Roderick Strong defends against Jay Briscoe – * * * *

Note:  This could be for anyone looking to discover what one Briscoe can do without the other. Other than that fact, this events purpose is plain and simple, a night of well-respected professional wrestling. This event also holds the proof suggesting Strong’s championship reign is well worth any fan’s time.

SOCAL SHOWDOWN II

MOTN – 

Davey Richards vs. T.J Perkins – * * * *

ROH World Television Championship: Christopher Daniels defends against Mark Briscoe – * * *

The Kings of Wrestling vs. Wrestling’s Greatest Tag-Team – * * * 3/4

ROH World Championship: Roderick Strong defends against El Generico – * * * 3/4

Note: This event can easily be described as one of the most consistent, top to bottom ROH shows of 2011. If the company goes to California, it consists of one trip per-year, so why not experience the only Californian Ring of Honor show in the last 15 months.

THE 9TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW iPPV

MOTN – 

ROH World Tag-Team Championship: The Kings of Wrestling defend against The All Night Express – * * * 3/4

ROH World Television Championship – 2 out of 3 Falls: Christopher Daniels defends against Eddie Edwards

– * * * * 1/4

The Briscoe Brothers vs. Wrestling’s Greatest Tag-Team – * * * *

Note: Homicide, Colt Cabana, The Queen of Wrestling, Sara Del Rey, The Kings of Wrestling, Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli, and the Fallen Angel, Christopher Daniels; are no longer a part of the rohwrestling.com core roster. All of the above talent is featured at some point during this show. Throughout nine shows over nine years titled to celebrate Ring of Honor’s existence in the professional wrestling world, different talent must come and go. Looking back, the second-half of the event, if not the entire show, now serves as a celebration of some of the best performers, who appear to be no longer Ring of Honor talent. Despite any negative vibes that have now come out, this show is worthy of being seen for the sheer reminiscence of what this product looked like a little over one year ago.

MANHATTAN MAYHEM IV

MOTN – 

The Kings of Wrestling vs. Homicide and Hernandez – * * * 1/2

Pure Rules Match: Christopher Daniels vs. Davey Richards – * * * 3/4

ROH World Championship Match: Roderick Strong defends against Eddie Edwards – * * * * 1/2

Note: Strong taking on Edwards is one of the best professional wrestling matches of 2011. If you are fairly new to ROH and want to experience what a pure rules match is all about, the one listed above is the most recent pure rules contest to date. LAX vs. KOW; is the proof not in the pudding above when explaining why any level of fandom could sit comfortably for this event? By the way, if you like Edwards, you will love this show.

HONOR TAKES CENTER STAGE NIGHT ONE iPPV (CHAPTER 1)

MOTN – 

The Briscoe Brothers vs. Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly – * * * 3/4

Roderick Strong vs. Davey Richards – * * * * 1/2

ROH World Tag-Team Championship: The Kings of Wrestling vs. Wrestling’s Greatest Tag-Team – * * * *

ROH World Championship Match: Eddie Edwards defends against Christopher Daniels – * * * * 1/4

HONOR TAKES CENTER STAGE NIGHT TWO iPPV (CHAPTER 2)

MOTN – 

The Kings of Wrestling vs. Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly – * * * 1/2

The Briscoe Brothers vs. The All Night Express – * * * * 1/4

Roderick Strong vs. El Generico – * * * 3/4

The American Wolves vs. Wrestling’s Greatest Tag-Team – * * * * 1/4

Note: At Ring of Honor’s version of Wrestlemania Weekend you are bound to see what this product has always tried to be so desperately about. If you are fan of professional wrestling, you will call yourself a fan of these two back to back shows after sitting through them. (If you missed one of the best rivalries in all of professional wrestling throughout 2011, this is where the blood between The All Night Express and The Briscoe Brothers spill over… literally!)

SUPERCARD OF HONOR VI

MOTN – 

Charlie Haas vs. Davey Richards – * * * 1/2

Shelton Benjamin vs. Claudio Castagnoli – * * * 1/4

Chicago Street Fight: The Briscoe Brothers vs. The All Night Express – * * * *

ROH World Championship Match: Eddie Edwards defends against Roderick Strong – * * * * 1/4

Note: To define this show I believe in saying nothing other than the following sentence. The title of the event speaks volumes here, this is a super-match card designed to honor what professional wrestling is and truly means to the most faithful Ring of Honor supporters.

BEST IN THE WORLD 2011 iPPV

MOTN – 

Dark Match/Exclusive DVD Release: Generation Me/The Young Bucks vs. Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly – * * * 1/2

ROH World Television Championship: Christopher Daniels defends against El Generico – * * * 3/4

ROH World Tag-Team 4-Way Elimination: Wrestling’s Greatest Tag-Team defend against The Briscoe Brothers,

The Kings of Wrestling and The All Night Express – * * * 3/4

ROH World Championship: Eddie Edwards defends against Davey Richards – * * * * *

Note: Following a match, when you can ask for or expect no more, or maybe even feel guilty desiring more, you have seen a five-star professional wrestling classic contest. Also, Kevin Steen’s comeback officially begins.

DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR IX iPPV

MOTN – 

3-Way Tag-Team Elimination: The Bravado Brothers vs. Future Shock vs. The Young Bucks – * * * *

The Ring Master Challenge: Eddie Edwards vs. Roderick Strong – * * * * 3/4

Ladder War III (Number One Tag-Team Championship Contender): The Briscoe Brothers vs. The All Night Express – * * * *

Note: After all of the piss and vinegar poured on top of this show because of Richards being left off the card for a tour of Japan; people shut right up as soon as this iPPV went off the air. Kevin Steen also managed to piss all over this show, much like he did during Best in the World 2011 on his campaign to be reinstated by Ring of Honor. However, his piss didn’t smell like the stream created by premature evaluators prior to the opening bell of the event.

FINAL BATTLE 2011

MOTN –

No Disqualification (If Steen defeats Corino he will be reinstated by Ring of Honor): Kevin Steen vs. Steve Corino – * * * * 1/4

ROH World Championship Match – Richards vs. Edwards III: Davey Richards defends against Eddie Edwards

– * * * 1/2

Note: Based on how recent this iPPV was, the only note sensible enough to a fan pondering what more recent ROH events to invest your time into, is as follows. If you have chosen not view this event based on negative internet reaction, but you have been trying to, or have followed what magic Kevin Steen and Ring of Honor put together in 2011, and you have seen the Best in the World 2011 Main Event; as logic would have, Final Battle 2011 will surely provide you something honorable enough to invest in. Otherwise, if you have not seen El Generico vs. Kevin Steen in a Fight without Honor from Final Battle 2010 and the other two epic encounters between Richards and Edwards, watch those bouts and then reconsider viewing what this show has to offer.

SBG-ERA (2011/2012 ) DVD Releases with SPECIAL, PARTIICULAR or SINGULAR appeal

Revolution USA: Honorable Feature(s) – No Disqualification: Roderick Strong vs. El Generico, plus, a First Blood Match that keeps the Briscoe's/ANX war moving…

Revolution Canada: Honorable Feature(s) – ROH World Championship: Eddie Edwards defends against Chris Hero, plus, the first ever Six-man Double Danger Scramble Match.

No Escape: Honorable Feature(s) – Steel Cage: Roderick Strong vs. El Generico plus, The American Wolves challenge Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly.

Survival of the Fittest 2011 Tournament: Honorable Feature(s) – Six-Man Survival of the Fittest Elimination Match, plus, the 2011 Champions Challenge Tag-Team contest featuring Wrestling’s Greatest Tag-Team against Davey Richards and Jay Lethal.

Glory by Honor X: Honorable Feature(s) – ROH World Championship: Davey Richards defends against El Generico, plus, the Kevin Steen vs. ROH saga reaches the boiling point.

Battle in the Carolina's: Honorable Feature(s) – An 80-minute, 8-man Elimination Tag-Team contest, plus a 20-man Honor Rumble stretched across two separate discs, from two separate events, from two separate states.

The Homecoming 2012: Honorable Feature(s) – Champion vs. Champion: Davey Richards vs. Jay Lethal, plus, a No Disqualification bout between Adam Cole and Roderick Strong. Most importantly, this event is to be recommended for the exclusive purpose of looking at what ROH and their roster look like in 2012; at the event immediately following Final Battle 2011. (Ring of Honor’s annual year-end event)

SBG-ERA (2011/2012) DVD Releases for COMPLETIST viewing purposes

World’s Greatest

Champions vs. All Stars

Tag-Team Turmoil

Defy or Deny

Gateway to Honor

https://www.rohwrestling.com/catalog/dvd-roh/2011

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