Post by MGH on Dec 30, 2007 16:27:41 GMT -5
Predictions! Once again, some of these are terribly hard to predict.
Easiest on the show to call. Vulture Squad are relevant, Cross and Fist are now. Always enjoy watching Ruckus and Jigsaw, so I'm sure it'll be full of flippy fun.
Steenerico and Delirious both got wins last night over the Hangm3n, so logic points to the Hangm3n getting their win back. Plus they already played up the Whitmer/Albright table match experience from FYF: NYC in one of the newswires. Going against logic though. Bring back El Steenerico in grand fashion this weekend, going 2-0.
I'm looking forward to this just to see what the hell they do. Necro could have some real fun with Jack. Jack will get his stuff in, and I can actually see a scenario where he wins on a fluke. Don't think it's happening though. Necro mauls him at the end and starts off what I think will be a huge night for the Age of the Fall.
This should be very good. I wanted Fuji and Aries going one on one, but I'll gladly take this. Aries takes a beating, hot tag to Marufuji, Davey gets pinned.
I'm really interested in how they book this. I don't see Sweeney getting the green light to wrestle a 15 minute match with Claudio straight up. This will be gimmicked to the hills. Think back to the Gen-Next three way at Manhattan Mayhem II. Something like that. Of course Claudio wins, but I expect another Puder attack after. I also expect to see Sweeney lost for the main event here.
If these two regain the magic they had at "Man Up", this could be one of the top two matches on the show. I've been saying forever that the FIP Championship will NOT change hands on a ROH show again. But with Gabe talking about FIP going in a new direction, and knowing his love for Stevens, I'm going to call for the upset and say we have a new FIP World Champion crowned.
It's been a hell of a run for the Briscoes, but I say it ends here. NOT on Pay-Per-View. Makes all the sense in the world. Face it, at this point the Briscoes have become bigger than the tag titles. They don't need them nor do the belts need to be on them to validate them as something meaningful. Jacobs and Black benefit in multiple ways from carrying those straps. Including their storyline. Not to mention that if the Briscoes beat them straight up again, what's the point? Why should they be considered a threat? Makes too much sense for the switch not to happen tonight. Going with the Age to end the reign of the Briscoes.
And then the big one. Most interested I've been in the booking of a match all year. So many ways this can go. Both good and bad. My greatest hope is Hero stealing it, but I doubt that's happening. Unless it's a 3 week reign and he drops it right back to Nigel in Dayton. I'm calling for order of elimination to be:
~Morishima via DQ (AGAIN, probably pissing off the crowd badly).
~Danielson after Morishima returns to the ring and causes Dragon to get DQ'd himself or thrown out or maybe even distracted and caught in a pin by Hero.
~Hero takes it to Nigel, and gets his head taken off.
Nigel retains.
Tag Team Challenge
Ruckus & Jigsaw with Julius Smokes vs. Matt Cross & Bobby Fish
Ruckus & Jigsaw with Julius Smokes vs. Matt Cross & Bobby Fish
Easiest on the show to call. Vulture Squad are relevant, Cross and Fist are now. Always enjoy watching Ruckus and Jigsaw, so I'm sure it'll be full of flippy fun.
Tables Are Legal
Kevin Steen, El Generico & Delrious vs. Adam Pearce, Brent Albright & BJ Whitmer
Kevin Steen, El Generico & Delrious vs. Adam Pearce, Brent Albright & BJ Whitmer
Steenerico and Delirious both got wins last night over the Hangm3n, so logic points to the Hangm3n getting their win back. Plus they already played up the Whitmer/Albright table match experience from FYF: NYC in one of the newswires. Going against logic though. Bring back El Steenerico in grand fashion this weekend, going 2-0.
Grudge Match
Jack Evans vs. Necro Butcher
Jack Evans vs. Necro Butcher
I'm looking forward to this just to see what the hell they do. Necro could have some real fun with Jack. Jack will get his stuff in, and I can actually see a scenario where he wins on a fluke. Don't think it's happening though. Necro mauls him at the end and starts off what I think will be a huge night for the Age of the Fall.
Tag Team Action
Naomichi Marufuji & Austin Aries vs. Davey Richards & Rocky Romero
Naomichi Marufuji & Austin Aries vs. Davey Richards & Rocky Romero
This should be very good. I wanted Fuji and Aries going one on one, but I'll gladly take this. Aries takes a beating, hot tag to Marufuji, Davey gets pinned.
Grudge Match
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Larry Sweeney
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Larry Sweeney
I'm really interested in how they book this. I don't see Sweeney getting the green light to wrestle a 15 minute match with Claudio straight up. This will be gimmicked to the hills. Think back to the Gen-Next three way at Manhattan Mayhem II. Something like that. Of course Claudio wins, but I expect another Puder attack after. I also expect to see Sweeney lost for the main event here.
FIP World Heavyweight Title Match
Roderick Strong defends vs. Erick Stevens
Roderick Strong defends vs. Erick Stevens
If these two regain the magic they had at "Man Up", this could be one of the top two matches on the show. I've been saying forever that the FIP Championship will NOT change hands on a ROH show again. But with Gabe talking about FIP going in a new direction, and knowing his love for Stevens, I'm going to call for the upset and say we have a new FIP World Champion crowned.
ROH World Tag Team Title Match
Jay & Mark Briscoe defend vs. Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black with Lacey
Jay & Mark Briscoe defend vs. Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black with Lacey
It's been a hell of a run for the Briscoes, but I say it ends here. NOT on Pay-Per-View. Makes all the sense in the world. Face it, at this point the Briscoes have become bigger than the tag titles. They don't need them nor do the belts need to be on them to validate them as something meaningful. Jacobs and Black benefit in multiple ways from carrying those straps. Including their storyline. Not to mention that if the Briscoes beat them straight up again, what's the point? Why should they be considered a threat? Makes too much sense for the switch not to happen tonight. Going with the Age to end the reign of the Briscoes.
ROH World Title Four Man Elimination Match
Nigel McGuinness defends vs. Chris Hero vs. Bryan Danielson vs. Takeshi Morishima
Nigel McGuinness defends vs. Chris Hero vs. Bryan Danielson vs. Takeshi Morishima
And then the big one. Most interested I've been in the booking of a match all year. So many ways this can go. Both good and bad. My greatest hope is Hero stealing it, but I doubt that's happening. Unless it's a 3 week reign and he drops it right back to Nigel in Dayton. I'm calling for order of elimination to be:
~Morishima via DQ (AGAIN, probably pissing off the crowd badly).
~Danielson after Morishima returns to the ring and causes Dragon to get DQ'd himself or thrown out or maybe even distracted and caught in a pin by Hero.
~Hero takes it to Nigel, and gets his head taken off.
Nigel retains.