It was the culmination of a story that had seen Davey Richards stopped at every opportunity to become the ROH World Champion. His attempt to beat Tyler Black at Death Before Dishonor VIII was thwarted, his challenge at Final Battle 2010 for Roderick Strong’s title ended due to a concussion and in a fit of frustration he announced that whenever he challenged for the title next, if he failed, he would never challenge for it again.
For the better part of two years crowds passionately chanted “next world champ” in “The American Wolf’s” direction, whether he be teaming with Eddie Edwards or going it alone Richards quickly became one of Ring of Honor’s most consistently good performers and the fans took notice, when he didn’t win the World title on the first time of asking many believed “surely he’ll do it next time” and when he didn’t it’s fair to say some were disappointed.
While he was chasing the dream, Eddie Edwards was just doing his thing. The night Davey challenged Tyler in Toronto, Eddie was dukeing it out with five other men to earn a shot at the World Championship. Roderick strong wound up not only winning the Toronto Gauntlet but the ROH World Championship at Glory by Honor IX. And when Davey left his Final Battle 2010 match with Roddy empty handed Edwards was on the undercard against Sonjay Dutt and at the curtain to condole a defeated Richards.
Eddie had managed to triumph in the 2010 Survival of the Fittest tournament, earning a shot at the ROH World Championship and once the opportunity was presented to him at Manhattan Mayhem IV, “Die Hard” refused to lay down and would defeat Roderick Strong to become the new ROH World Champion and first ROH Triple Crown Champion. Davey came to the ring to congratulate his partner, place the belt around his waist and raise his hand – but all signals pointed towards an inevitably clash of The Wolves.
On television the commentary team made light of how everyone believed Davey Richards would be the first American Wolves member to become a World Champion, even suggesting that he may resent Edwards for capturing the title, but Davey rejected the notion and even rejected the idea of facing Eddie for the belt at Best In The World 2011, stating he did not want to be the one to end Edwards reign – until Eddie Edwards produced an ultimatum, if Richards didn’t face him for the ROH World title in New York City, he would quit.
Davey Richards found himself caught between a rock, hard place and the possibility of no longer having his American Wolves partner by his side. He would accept the challenge and the match was made for the main event of Best In The World 2011, and while it didn’t need any extra push it got one anyway, with a lot of buzz surrounding Ring of Honor the weekend of the pay-per-view following Sinclair Broadcasting’s purchase of the company from Cary Silkin.
On June 26, 2011 Eddie Edwards defended the ROH World Championship against Davey Richards in the main event of Best In The World 2011. For thirty-six minutes the two went back-and-forth, showcasing the pinicale of technical and submissive wrestling holds and transitions combined with several duals from fists to elbows and the finishing kicks to the head created a superb encounter and the culmination of Davey Richards quest – he’d finally became the ROH World Champion.
The music played for only a moment before dying down, the sold-out Hammerstein Ballroom on their feet gifting them a well deserved round of applause with the odd “That was Awesome” and “Match of the Year” chants, Davey taking the microphone, thanking Eddie Edwards, thanking the fans, pointing to the sky and in a state of tears screaming to the heavens and his grandparents who were looking down on him, “I DID IT!”
This event wouldn’t be the only time these two met. At Final Battle 2011 they would meet again with the ROH World title on the line, but this is recognized by most as the better of their two matches. It featured a great and honest moment as Davey stood arm raised with the title around his waist, visibly emotional, stating in the recent Steen Versus Richards shoot interview that it did something to him.
ROH Best In The World 2011 is the most purchased Ring of Honor pay-per-view event of all-time and it will take something special to top it. Is that special attraction The Briscoe Brothers coming to blows over the ROH World Championship? Only time will tell, but one thing we do know is this Saturday in Baltimore, Maryland ROH presents its third annual Best In The World event and with their recent PPV form in-mind It’ll hopefully live up to the expectations.
You can order ROH Best In The World 2013 NOW by going to ROHWrestling.com, and for an extensive preview checkout our Podcast of Honor preview for the event.
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